History
The Royal College of Art started life in 1837 as the Government School of Design. Granted a Royal Charter and university status in 1967, today the RCA remains the world’s most influential postgraduate institution of art, design and architecture.
Education
Our postgraduate programmes enable you to tackle complex issues, push the boundaries of your practice, build your networks and find your voice as a professional in a changing world.
Committed to creating the next generation of artists, designers, researchers, creators and innovators, the RCA’s world-leading academic staff will guide and challenge you to push the boundaries of your practice. As the world’s largest community of postgraduate-only art and design students, you will be part of a collective of inspirational creative peers opening new opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The RCA offers a pre-master’s Graduate Diploma, Master’s and PhD degrees, plus short courses and executive education.
Research
The RCA excels in world-leading art and design research with real-world impact. Research is a core strength, with the RCA leading advancements in areas like cities and mass migration; future mobility; healthcare and wellbeing; ageing populations; art, culture and conflict; ceramics and digital printing; future materials and sustainability; communication and identity design; and inclusive design.
The Research Excellence Framework 2021 results (an assessment of the quality of research taking place in UK universities) show that the Royal College of Art continues to be a world-leading research-intensive institution – with an increased proportion of outputs classed as internationally excellent and world-leading.
Career
Graduating from the RCA opens up a wide range of opportunities within and beyond the creative and cultural industries. RCA graduates are highly sought after due to the college’s reputation for excellence, with 9/10 graduates saying they apply their learning from RCA directly to their current work.
Many students secure roles in design agencies or in-house design studios in a vast range of industries around the World. Many students exhibit their work in leading galleries, festivals, biennials and public spaces.
For the entrepreneurs, the RCA supports graduate start-ups through the incubation programme InnovationRCA. The RCA is among the top ten UK universities for the number of spinouts between 2011-2024.
Student services
Campus life
Our three London campuses are located in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. Students have access to specialist workshops, studios, and technical spaces tailored to the creative disciplines. These facilities include 3D printing labs, metal and wood workshops, digital fabrication labs, visual & immersive technology labs and AV production suites.
Ranked as the best city in the world for students (QS Best Student Cities, 2025) London is a global centre for culture including world-class museums, galleries, theatres, and cultural landmarks. Excellent transport links make it easy to access the city’s events, exhibitions, and creative hubs as well as the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe.
