Freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2000 came into force in January 2005. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities (including publicly funded universities). It also sets out exemptions from that right (e.g. information about particular persons, which falls under the Data Protection Act) and places a number of obligations on authorities when responding to requests for information. For more information see the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website.

Under the Act you have the right to be told whether particular information exists and, subject to any applicable exemptions, the right to receive that information. Requests must be made in writing (though this can be an email or a fax) and you should state your name, provide an address for correspondence and describe the information requested as clearly as possible. The RCA will respond within 20 working days of receipt of the request. You can submit requests via email to [email protected] or by writing to: 

Governance Team
President and Vice-Chancellor's Office
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU

In general and unless stated otherwise, information will either be published free of charge on the College web pages or as PDFs downloadable from the College website. 

Where information is only available in hard copy, or where this is a requirement specifically requested by the applicant, a charge of 5p per page plus the cost of postage and packaging will be made. 

If you require information in a form other than that in which it is normally available please see our Charging Policy. 

The Act also requires that we institute and maintain a Publication Scheme including all the information the RCA routinely makes available or publishes. In July 2008 the Information Commissioner’s Office introduced a new model publication scheme that all public authorities were required to adopt from January 2009. The scheme has seven broad classes of information. For details of the scheme visit the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website.

Below you'll find a guide to published information, listing relevant ‘published’ information under the seven classes of the model Publication Scheme, indicating the format in which the information is available, how it can be accessed and any charges that apply. Wherever possible information is made available online, either as pages on the College website or as PDFs. The information can also be provided in hard copy if required, on request.

What about information not found in the Guide?

The College web pages in general contain a wealth of information which does not necessarily fall within the categories of the scheme but which might provide an answer to an enquiry you have in mind. If you cannot locate the information you require on our web pages please make a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) request by email to [email protected] or write to:

Governance Team
President and Vice-Chancellor's Office
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU