The strength of the RCA’s funding model is the balance between Research Council funding, trusts and foundations and industrial support. The UK Higher Education research funding league tables placed the RCA as a leader within the visual and performing arts sector for funding from industry, charity and the UK Research Councils in 2006. In September 2007, the THES and Research Fortnight listed the RCA as the institution with the greatest incremental increase in external funding nationwide with a 60 per cent success rate on the previous year.

Staff and students have a range of funding opportunities open to them. The College encourages applications to the AHRC Doctoral Awards scheme and currently has Research Council-funded students within each school. PhD students may be offered part-time teaching, demonstration or research work, for which payment may be made according to the College guidelines to help support them in their studies. MPhil students are eligible for the RCA bursary scheme. For more information, contact the Research Office by e-mail at research@rca.ac.uk.