Please note that some programmes may have requirements for MPhil/PhD applications which differ from the guidelines on this page.

• The College welcomes expressions of interest and applications to study for a Research degree (MPhil or PhD) at any time. Registration will usually commence at the start of the coming academic year.
• Applications can be made for any of the College’s programmes, and in any academic or creative discipline in which the RCA is able to provide supervision.
• For applicants wishing to be considered for an AHRC Doctoral Award or RCA 175 Anniversary Scholarship, there is a deadline of 25 January 2013 to enable a selection panel to review applications.

Check you are eligible as a candidate by reading the Research section.

• You will be expected to demonstrate that you have a good knowledge of the English language.
• MPhil candidates must achieve at least 237 in the TOEFL test with an additional writing test TWE 4.5, TOEFL IBT 92 with 24 in writing, an IELTS examination score of 6.5 with 6.5 in writing or a Pearson Academic (PTE) score of 62 overall with 62 in the writing.
• PhD candidates must achieve a TOEFL score of 250 with an additional writing test score of TWE 5.0, TOEFL IBT 100 with 30 in writing, an IELTS score of 7.0 including 7.0 in writing or a Pearson Academic (PTE) score of 68 overall with 68 in the writing. Tests must be no older than two years.
• If English is not your first language, you will be asked to take an external language test. If you apply to take a TOEFL test, the College’s code is 9079.
• Although your English may improve dramatically once here – thinking, listening, speaking and reading English every day – it is important that you are able to participate fully from the start of the course. Those students who develop these abilities late in the programme may be disadvantaged. If your English is not fluent you should consider delaying your application to the College until your language ability has been developed to a higher level.
• Students who need a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK should note that if they are offered a place at the RCA, they will be required to take an external test (IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson) as a condition of their offer in order to meet UKBA’s English Language requirements. For more information, please see English Language Requirements.

MPhil:

The maximum registration periods with the possibility of transfer to PhD:
MPhil, full-time – two academic years
MPhil, part-time – four academic years
MPhil/PhD, full-time – four academic years
MPhil/PhD, part-time – six academic years

PhD*:

The maximum registration periods:
Full-time – four academic years
Part-time – six academic years

*Please note that only those applicants who have already completed a research degree in the same field of study will be accepted directly onto the PhD register.

If you are prevented because of ill health or other circumstances from making progress with the programme of research, the registration may be suspended with the agreement of the Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline but not for more than one year at a time.

• Email research@rca.ac.uk to let the Research Office know that you are interested in applying.
• Contact the Research Coordinator of the relevant programme to establish whether your subject is appropriate and whether a suitable supervisor is available. Research students are recruited to existing areas of strength or expertise and we can’t accept a research project that we are unable to supervise.
• After discussions with the relevant programme, submit your application and research proposal.

After 1 November 2013, go to Online Applications to start your application. You will be able to save your work and retrieve it later, so you do not have to complete it all in one go. Once you have registered with the application system, you will be given an Application Reference Number. This number should be quoted in all further correspondence and on any papers that you wish to submit separately.

You will need to provide the following:

• Personal and contact details
• Previous Education details and Previous Experience
  Details should be entered in the online form and a copy of your degree or diploma (if you have graduated) should be uploaded to the online form. If this is not possible, a photocopy can be sent directly to the Admissions Office. It must be clearly marked with your name, course and Application Reference Number.
  All candidates with overseas undergraduate degrees must also include a full transcript of their first degree course covering each year of their studies and stating subjects taken and marks obtained. The offer of a place to a candidate who is undertaking a degree at the time of application will be dependent upon the candidate producing proof of having fulfilled the College’s criteria for admission. Transcripts may be sent separately to the Admissions Office and must be clearly marked with your name, course and Application Reference Number.
• Additional Information
  • Financial Support
    Please indicate how you will support yourself financially if you are offerred a place. If you want to be considered for Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding, please select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu. Please note that applicants for AHRC funding are required to submit two references. You must read the following information before applying for this funding: AHRC Doctoral Awards – How to Apply
  • Disability or Learning Difference
    The RCA welcomes you if you have a physical disability or learning difference. You are required to present a portfolio or other evidence of creative work on a level with other candidates, but the entry requirements may be varied. The Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline (ABCD) can make judgements about the extent to which qualifications or experience gained elsewhere may be accepted in partial fulfilment of its requirements for a given award.
    You are advised to visit the College in advance of your application to ensure that the study environment will suit your needs or can be reasonably adapted to do so. The assessment of a disabled applicant’s needs is coordinated by the Student Adviser and you are encouraged to make contact to arrange a visit and discuss any concerns on telephone +44 (0)20 7590 4140 or via email.
• Course Details
  
• Research Proposal
  You will need to give the title of your Research and state whether it will be by Thesis or Project. You will also need to describe the programme of study, answering the following questions (1,000 words maximum).
  1. What is your particular research question, argument or hypothesis?
  2. How do you propose to address these questions and find out the answer (what is your methodology?)
  3. How do you see your work in the wider context of the discipline? Who else’s work might be relevant to your project?
  4. What skills, knowledge and experience do you have which are relevant to this study?
  5. At the RCA it is possible to pursue a research degree through thesis only study or through a combination of studio-based and thesis study. If you are proposing to undertake a studio-based research degree, how will the studio and written work relate to each other? 
  6. If you are proposing to undertake a PhD, what is the original contribution to knowledge and understanding? 
  7. How do you propose to reflect upon or analyse critically your approach to the project?
  Describe the programme of work, identifying stages and content with estimated duration and completion dates of each phase. Also include the duration and mode of study for the complete project.
  It is essential that a detailed bibliography and reference to other work is included with your application in order to give further contextual information about your proposal.
• Resources and Supervision required
  You will also need to describe the resources you require (space, equipment, materials, etc.) and information services needs (library, computing, etc.)
  You are advised to contact the programme that you wish to join in order to discuss your research proposal and supervision arrangements before you make your application.
• Reference
  When you make an online application, a request for a reference will be automatically be emailed to your referee. Please make sure that you provide your referee’s full contact details when you make your application. Applicants who wish to be considered for AHRC funding require two references.
• Payment of the Application Fee
  The Fee for 2013/14 is £65.
  Payment must be made online, and full instructions are given in the online application form. Please note that payment will be required before you can submit your application. Application fees are non-refundable.

Any queries about the application process should be addressed to:

Admissions
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
UK
T: +44 (0)20 7590 4444
E: admissions@rca.ac.uk

Not all programmes require portfolios therefore only submit a portfolio if applicable. We receive hundreds of portfolios so it is vital everything is properly packed and labelled. Please see MA Application Process for details of how to submit a portfolio.

The first part of the Entrance Examination consists of a review of the application and, in some cases, a portfolio of work. If you are not successful a letter notifying you of this decision will be sent out as soon as possible.

Applicants for MPhil and PhD who are selected will be invited to attend an interview at the College. If English is not your first language and you have not achieved the necessary level of English language prior to interview, you will be given a one-hour assessment by the College at the time of your interview.

The results letters will be sent as soon as possible after the examination.

Students who are accepted to the College will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit in order to secure their place. The deposit is £500 for Home/EU students and £2,000 for Overseas students and will be offset against the 2013/14 tuition fees.

• Portfolios will be returned to you as quickly as possible after the examination.
• To avoid the possibility of damage in transit, you are advised to make personal arrangements for collection, if possible.
• The College cannot accept any responsibility for work lost or damaged.