The submission for the degree MPhil by Thesis (MPhil (RCA)) shall consist of a written thesis in English presenting the results of research in the field of history, theory or practice of art, design or communication, supported, where appropriate, by practical work related to the research. The required length of the thesis shall be between 30,000 and 40,000 words (exclusive of footnotes and appendices), illustrated as necessary and accompanied by a summary and bibliography. Any thesis which is over 40,000 words in length will be referred.

The submission for the degree of MPhil by Project (MPhil (RCA)) shall consist of a work or a group of works of art, design or communication, presented in the form of original(s), prototype(s), scale model(s), drawing(s), CD-ROM(s), photograph(s), film(s) or sound and vision recording(s), together with a piece of written work in English, defining the purpose of the work, the factors taken into account in its conception and development, and explaining the results. The work submitted must demonstrate progression in knowledge or understanding in the candidate’s discipline, or in related disciplinary areas.

The length of the report and other written work shall be 5,000 to 20,000 words (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography). The textual and practical elements of the project should be conceived as a whole, with both aspects reaching the required standard of MPhil as outlined above. Any report which is over 20,000 words in length will be referred.

The submission for the degree of PhD by Thesis in a theoretical discipline (PhD RCA) shall comprise a written thesis in English presenting an account and the results of a programme of research in the field of history, theory and practice of art, design or communication, supported, where appropriate, by practical work related to the research. The thesis shall be between 60,000 and 80,000 words in length (exclusive of footnotes and appendices). It shall be illustrated as necessary and accompanied by a summary and bibliography. Any thesis which is over 80,000 words in length will be referred.

The submission for the degree of PhD by Project in a studio discipline (PhD RCA) shall comprise a work or works of art, design or communication, or a group of interrelated works of art, design or communication, presented as appropriate in the form of original(s), prototype(s), scale model(s), drawing(s), CD-ROM(s), photograph(s), film(s) or sound and vision recording(s), together with a piece of written work in English, defining the purpose of the work, the factors taken into account in its conception and development, and explaining the results.

The work submitted must demonstrate progression in knowledge or understanding in the candidate’s discipline, or in related disciplinary areas. The written component shall not be less than 25,000 words and not more than 40,000 words in length (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography). The textual and practical elements of the project should be conceived as a whole, with both aspects reaching the required standard of PhD as outlined above. Any written component which is over 40,000 words in length will be referred.