We look forward to meeting you on campus from 7 September 2026, and we have an exciting programme of welcome events to help you settle in.
INCLUDE London 2026
INCLUDE London 2026 is an international conference organised by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. You will have the opportunity to explore some of the INCLUDE exhibition in the Hangar space when you collect your ID card.
Collect your ID Card
Once you are fully or temporarily enrolled, you can collect your RCA Student ID card. Each programme has a designated collection date and time. Follow the link below to find out how and where you can collect your ID card as a first year, or returning student.
Campus tours
Get to know the RCA through the eyes of those who know it best. Join our graduating Welcome Ambassadors for a guided tour of the campus.
- Days: Monday-Friday, 7 September - 18 September
- Times: 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm
- Meeting points:
- DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
- Courtyard Galleries, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Garden House, Reception White City RCA Campus
Monday 7 September 2026
Welcome mixer
Meet your peers and meet the ArtBar on your first day.
- Time: 6.00pm - 12.00am
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Tuesday 8 September 2026
Stars Gym
Meet our neighbours - Stars Gym and take on a rowing mini challenge! How far can you go in just 10 seconds? Everyone who takes part wins a FREE 7-day pass, with a special prize for whoever tops the leaderboard!'
- Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
Welcome picnic
Join us for a lunchtime mixer picnic in your new local park! Free lunch provided.
- Time: 1.00pm-3.00pm
- Location: Battersea Park (meet outside the Dyson Building at 12pm)
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
InnovationRCA welcome talk
This interactive talk will provide an introduction to InnovationRCA, the Royal College of Art’s centre for Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property and Commercialisation. It will provide students with an overview of the services available to them whilst they are studying at the College and the programmes on offer once they graduate. The talk will include examples of start-ups and creative businesses the centre has supported and their success stories.
- Time: 1.00pm-2.00pm
- Location: Gorvy Lecture Theatre, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
- Book: Eventbrite
President & Vice-Chancellor welcome (Battersea)
Students are invited to join Professor Christoph Lindner, the RCA’s President & Vice-Chancellor, for a Welcome Reception at the Battersea Campus. Refreshments will be provided. Space for this event is limited, and there will be opportunities later in the academic year to meet with the RCA President and Vice-Chancellor. We also invite you to watch Professor Lindner's Welcome message to all RCA students in the Your Student Journey course in Moodle.
- Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
- Book: Eventbrite
Board games evening
Test out your Sicilian defence and make some friends in a chilled environment.
- Time: 5.00pm
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Wednesday 9 September 2026
Stars Gym
Meet our neighbours - Stars Gym and take on a rowing mini challenge! How far can you go in just 10 seconds? Everyone who takes part wins a FREE 7-day pass, with a special prize for whoever tops the leaderboard!'
- Time: 11.00am-1.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
Welcome picnic
Join us for a lunchtime mixer picnic in your new local park! Free lunch provided.
- Time: 1.00pm-3.00pm
- Location: Hyde Park, Kensington
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
InnovationRCA welcome talk
This interactive talk will provide an introduction to InnovationRCA, the Royal College of Art’s centre for Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property and Commercialisation. It will provide students with an overview of the services available to them whilst they are studying at the College and the programmes on offer once they graduate. The talk will include examples of start-ups and creative businesses the centre has supported and their success stories.
- Time: 1.00pm-2.00pm
- Location: Lecture Theatre 1, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Book: Eventbrite
ArtBar Event: Drinks ‘Stock Market’ evening
Drink prices crash and spike depending on what everyone’s ordering!
- Time: 6.00pm-12.00am
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Thursday 10 September 2026
Technical Services Festival
The Technical Services Festival is a one-day event where technical staff from across the RCA will showcase a wide variety of materials and samples from their workshops. It's a fantastic opportunity for new students to discover the resources and expertise available throughout Technical Services, and to learn about the access requirements for each workshop.
- Time: 10.00am-1.00pm, 2.00pm-5.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea campus
- Find out more: See the Technical Services Festival website
Social Media Advice Desk
A chance to meet the RCA's social media team and get some guidance on how you can use your social media for self-promotion during your degree. You can also find out how to apply for roles working as a social media content creator with the RCA.
- Time: 10.00am-1.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea campus
Welcome picnic
Join us for a lunchtime mixer picnic in your new local park! Free lunch provided.
- Time: 1.00pm-3.00pm
- Location: Garden House, White City RCA Campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
President & Vice-Chancellor welcome (Kensington)
Students are invited to join Professor Christoph Lindner, the RCA’s President & Vice-Chancellor, for a Welcome Reception at the Battersea Campus. Refreshments will be provided. Space for this event is limited, and there will be opportunities later in the academic year to meet with the RCA President and Vice-Chancellor. We also invite you to watch Professor Lindner's Welcome message to all RCA students in the Your Student Journey course in Moodle.
- Time: 2.00pm-4.00pm
- Location: ArtBar, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington Campus
- Book: Eventbrite
Apperitivo night
It’s your chance to try out some of our drinks selection, all the spritz’s, negroni, white wines, prosecco & our bitter non-alcoholic options, and with that, you will get some Stuzzichini (little bites)
- Time: 4.00pm–10.00pm
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Friday 11 September 2026
Library orientation
An introduction to using the Library's services during your studies at the RCA.
- Time: 10.00am – 11.00am
- Location: Lecture Theatre 1, RCA Kensington campus and Gorvy Lecture Theatre, RCA Battersea campus or online.
Stars Gym
Meet our neighbours - Stars Gym and take on a rowing mini challenge! How far can you go in just 10 seconds? Everyone who takes part wins a FREE 7-day pass, with a special prize for whoever tops the leaderboard!'
- Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
Welcome Fair
Join societies, meet university departments, and grab freebies from brands at our ‘freshers’ fair.
- Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
- Location: Canteen, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Library tours
- Time: 1.00pm and 4.00pm
- Location: Library, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
ArtBar Late Welcome Party
A big bash in the ArtBar to welcome you to the RCA! Live DJ and discounted drinks! Food available at the bar.
- Time: 6.00pm-12.00am
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Monday 14 September 2026
Arts and crafts session
Swing by and meet the Student Union (SU) over some casual crafting.
- Time: 12.00pm–2.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Library tours
- Time: 1.00pm and 4.00pm
- Location: Library, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
South Kensington nature and climate guided tour
Get to know the local neighbourhood of South Kensington and learn about the impact of climate change on nature in the local area.
- Time: 4.00pm-5.00pm
- Location: Hyde Park, Kensington
- Book: Eventbrite
Tuesday 15 September 2026
Coffee and cake drop-in
Meet the Student Union (SU) and chat to your peers over coffee and cake.
- Time: 12.00pm-2.00pm
- Location: Café area, RCA White City campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Meet your new neighbours 'Lucky Dip'
'Making Roots with Student Success' - 1 of 3 creative, connecting activities focused on establishing a secure sense of home and community while studying at the RCA
- Time: 12.00pm–2.00pm
- Location: The Hangar, RCA Battersea campus
Library tours
- Time: 1.00pm and 4.00pm
- Location: Library, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
Rausing Research and Innovation building tour
Join the Research Centres Manager for a tour of the 7 floors of the Rausing Research and Innovation Building. This will include short introductions to the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Centre for Materials Science & Culture, Intelligent Mobility Design Centre, Bio Materials Lab and SNAP Visualisation Lab.
- Times: 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm
- Location: Rausing Building, RCA Battersea campus
- Book: Eventbrite
Finding Your Voice workshop
A workshop to support international students and build confidence during the shift to a new culture. Run by RCA alumni Terence Senford.
- Time: 5.00pm-7.00pm
- Location: STU 01.005, Studio Building, RCA Battersea campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Global mixer
Meet your peers from around the world at the ArtBar!
- Time: 6.00pm-10.00pm
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Wednesday 16 September 2026
Stars Gym
Meet our neighbours - Stars Gym and take on a rowing mini challenge! How far can you go in just 10 seconds? Everyone who takes part wins a FREE 7-day pass, with a special prize for whoever tops the leaderboard!'
- Time: 11.00am-1.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
Free house plants stall
'Making Roots with Student Success' – one of three creative, connecting activities focused on establishing a secure sense of home and community while studying at the RCA.
- Time: 12.00pm-2.00pm
- Location: Courtyard Galleries, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington campus
Pre-sessional EAP Showcase
Exhibition of online Pre-sessional student work from all Spring and Summer 2026 cohorts.
- Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea campus
Gemini AI at the RCA - Introduction
This workshop introduces Google Gemini as a powerful creative and academic thought partner for studio and research practice. Participants will learn how to access the platform, construct effective prompts, and seamlessly integrate Gemini across text, image, and data workflows to support conceptual ideation, research synthesis, and project planning.
- Time: 3.00pm-4.00pm
- Location: Zoom online
- Book: Eventbrite
Pub Quiz at The Rose
Know your pop culture? Any good at capital cities? Quiz with us at your new local!
- Time: 6.00pm
- Location: The Rose, Battersea
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Thursday 17 September 2026
Stars Gym
Meet our neighbours - Stars Gym and take on a rowing mini challenge! How far can you go in just 10 seconds? Everyone who takes part wins a FREE 7-day pass, with a special prize for whoever tops the leaderboard!'
- Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
- Location: DesignBar, Dyson Building, RCA Battersea Campus
Gemini AI at the RCA - Advanced
Building on introductory AI concepts, this workshop dives into Google Gemini’s advanced capabilities, transforming it from a basic text assistant into a deeply integrated, multimodal creative workspace. Students will learn how Gemini can support AI workflows that push the boundaries of their research, design, and studio output, without compromising their unique personal methodology.
- Time: 3.00pm-4.00pm
- Location: Zoom online
- Book: Eventbrite
South Kensington nature and climate guided tour
Get to know the local neighbourhood of South Kensington and learn about the impact of climate change on nature in the local area.
- Time: 4.00pm-5.00pm
- Location: Hyde Park, Kensington
- Book: Eventbrite
Finding Your Voice workshop
A workshop to support international students and build confidence during the shift to a new culture. Run by RCA alumni Terence Senford.
- Time: 5.00pm-7.00pm
- Location: STU 01.005, Studio Building, RCA Battersea campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
'Open mic' night
No sign-ups necessary, talk to the bar staff if you want to give it a go!
- Time: 6.00pm-10.00pm
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Friday 18 September 2026
'Techs on Decks' party
RCA technicians DJ up a storm at our first Techs on Decks of the year.
- Time: 7.00pm–late
- Location: ArtBar, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington campus
- Find out more: See the RCA Student Union website
Pre-sessional EAP showcase
Exhibition of online Pre-sessional student work from all Spring and Summer 2026 cohorts.
- Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
- Location: Courtyard Galleries, Darwin Building, RCA Kensington campus
Make a Study Journal workshop
'Making Roots with Student Success': 1 of 3 creative, connecting activities focused on establishing a secure sense of home and community while studying at the RCA
- Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
- Location: Café area, RCA White City campus
