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/MRes 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.

Applications are now open for all MA, MA/MSc, MRes, MFA, MDes and MEd programmes.

You can apply for your programme of interest via our online application portal. All times shown are UK time, you can find out UK time in your timezone using timeanddate.com. You can also register to join an online or on-campus open day to find out more about programmes, entry requirements and the application process.

Graduate Diploma Art & Design

Applications are currently open for the Graduate Diploma Art & Design intake in September 2023. The application deadline is 4 August 2023 at 12 noon (GMT).

MA/MSc, MRes, MFA, MDes and MEd

The RCA receives thousands of 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. Key dates and deadlines for programmes beginning in September 2023 are given below. Subsequent application rounds dates will be published after the current application deadline.

Round 3 (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: Five weeks after your offer is issued

Round 1 (closed)

Notification of outcome: Wednesday 15 February 2023

Offer acceptance deadline: Wednesday 22 March 2023

Round 2 (closed)

Notification of outcome: Wednesday 29 March, 2023

Offer acceptance deadline: Wednesday 3 May, 2023

MPhil and PhD

Research degrees at the RCA are very popular and supervisory capacity is filled quickly, so we strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible. Key dates are below and subsequent application rounds will be held for programmes with remaining places.

Round 1
Notification of outcome: Tuesday 10 January 2023
Offer acceptance deadline: Tuesday 31 January 2023

Round 2
Applications open: Wednesday 1 February 2023
Application deadline: Monday 31 July (12 noon BST). Individual PGR programmes may close earlier if full.
Notification of outcome: applications will be considered on a rolling basis
Offer acceptance deadline: three weeks after the date of offer