Eligibility and key dates

The RCA welcomes applications from talented, creative individuals from all over the world. Many are from backgrounds you might expect such as art, design, architecture, communications, media and humanities. Others come from disciplines as broad as engineering, social sciences, computer science, toolmaking, medicine, business, law, physics, life coaching, economics, teaching, music... the list is endless.

What RCA students share is the potential, commitment and ambition to make change in the world through art and design.

You'll need to fulfil specific academic criteria in order to apply for our programmes. Our programme pages explain the requirements for each programme.

Graduate Diploma Art & Design

If you feel you are not quite prepared to apply for an MA or MRes, we invite you to apply for the Graduate Diploma Art & Design pre-Master’s programme. Applicants come from an variety of backgrounds and disciplines and all applications are evaluated on their individual merits.

Taught Master's

Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process will consider creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.

Postgraduate research

Our MPhil and PhD programmes welcome applications from candidates from across the world and of all ages, including those with academic and professional backgrounds.

In addition to the RCA’s minimum requirements, students who need a Student Visa for their studies at the RCA will need to show that they have met Home Office’s minimum requirements for entry clearance. Further information can be found here.

The RCA receives over 10,000 applications each year, so we encourage you to complete your application as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing an offer of study.

You can apply for your programme of interest via our online application portal.

Applications are open for all MA and MRes programmes and all MPhil/PhD programmes except Arts & Humanities and History of Design.

Key dates and deadlines for MA, MRes MPhil and PhD programmes beginning in September 2022 are given below. Programme will close for new applications when all places are filled.

Round 4 (open)

Application deadline: No deadline, programmes will close when sufficient offer acceptances are received

Notification of outcome: Please allow at least six weeks from the date of your application

Offer acceptance deadline: Three weeks after your offer is issued

Round 3 (closed)

Application deadline: Wednesday 16 February, 2022 (midday GMT)

Notification of outcome: Wednesday 23 March, 2022

Offer acceptance deadline: Wednesday 13 April, 2022

Round 1 (closed)

Application deadline: Wednesday 1 December 2021 (midday GMT)

Notification of outcome: Wednesday 19 January 2022

Offer acceptance deadline: Wednesday 9 February 2022

Round 2 (closed)

Application deadline: Wednesday 12 January 2022 (midday GMT)

Notification of outcome: Wednesday 16 February 2022

Offer acceptance deadline: Wednesday 9 March 2022