Each research student works with at least one supervisor. An MPhil student will usually have one supervisor, or a team of two if the nature of the work is interdisciplinary and more than one expert is required. A PhD student has a team of two supervisors, and sometimes an external adviser. The main supervisor is always located within the programme where the student is based. It is not unusual for a student to have a second supervisor from another programme or one who is external to the College. No RCA supervisor will have more than six students at any one time. Research students receive a minimum of six formal tutorials per year, or, in the case of part-time students, at least three per year.

The Research Office is responsible for all aspects of RCA staff and student research, including cross-College research policy and strategy, funding and recruitment initiatives, as well as central monitoring, support and development of practice-based research and the promotion of good research practice. The Research Office manages the Research Methods Course for students and oversees an extensive training programme for staff.

All research student activities are coordinated and monitored by the Research Office, including the selection, admission, induction, training, supervisory arrangements and interim review of progress of research students.

The online Research Handbook provides research students with a comprehensive guide to the College’s research culture, training, assessment, good research practice, funding and the wider research environment.