Royal College of Art

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 and design.

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 up new opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The RCA offers a Graduate Diploma, Master’s, MRes and PhD degrees, plus short courses and executive education.

RCA research addresses major societal challenges, including 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.

Students come to the College from across the globe and bring with them a wide range of backgrounds, educational approaches and experiences - due to the cross-disciplinary nature of our work, and our growing range of courses, nearly 25% of students now come to the RCA with a Bachelor's degree in a subject other than art and design.

Whatever your creative career aspirations, the RCA can help you realise them. A qualification from the world’s number one ranked university for Art & Design has proven invaluable to the careers and practice of thousands of graduates. You too could be part of our international network of creative individuals who have shaped, and continue to shape, the world  surrounding  us, and address some of the biggest global challenges of our time.