Welcome.

The Royal College of Art is the world’s most influential, wholly postgraduate university institution of art and design – fine art, applied art, design, communications and humanities – offering the degrees of MA, MPhil and PhD. It is the most concentrated community of young artists, designers and communicators to be found anywhere; a community focused on art in a design environment and design in an art environment. There are some 800 students at any one time, with an average age of 27 years. They are taught by around 120 members of staff, all of whom are distinguished artists, designers and writers who practise and research. The number of visiting lecturers and practitioners in an average year is huge.

At the College’s heart is a firm belief in project-based education, face-to-face teaching and learning and professional orientation – a belief that these are the ways in which postgraduates can best be encouraged to ‘find their own voice’ and discover how best to use it. This is an approach that seems to work. At the last official count, covering the years 2002–2008, we discovered that over 93% of our graduates make their livings, at an appropriate level, in the subjects they studied and practised at the College, or in related subjects. In some areas, the figure is as high as 95% and in one area 100%. The added value of experiencing the RCA is world-renowned.

The College’s international reputation for excellence in art and design education is firmly built on the achievements of its staff, students and graduates. These achievements depend on our ability to be inclusive – to recruit talented students of great variety and complexity, whatever their background. We are proud of the fact that our students come to us from all over the world as well as from all over the UK. This commitment to diversity and inclusion makes our ability to give financial support to as many students as possible very important.

The RCA gives you the freedom to experiment, to think differently, debate, challenge and practise. The chance to find your voice. We want you to leave with the confidence to follow your own path and pursue your goals with the right set of skills, and we work hard to ensure that happens.

Dr Paul Thompson
Rector and Vice-Provost