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MPhil/PhD tuition fee bands for 2024

Last updated 24 August 2023

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The RCA has two separate fee bands for MPhil/PhD students in the academic year 2024/25.

Candidates applying to commence doctoral study in autumn 2024 should indicate at interview which mode (high residency, low residency or distance) they wish to pursue.

Existing students will also have the opportunity to select the low residency route in the 2024/25 academic year, where appropriate.

The lower fee band cannot be applied retrospectively for existing students.

RCA staff responsible for PGR students in the relevant School or Research Centre will confirm the student’s choice, ensuring space and other resources are available for every student on each fee band, and ensuring students adhere to the space, resource provision and other expectations associated with the relevant fee band.

Low Residency

The Low Residency route is available to students studying full-time and involves:

  • Full-time fees of £8,400 (Home) and £25,700 (Overseas)
  • Study and supervisory contact mainly on campus
  • 22 direct academic contact hours per year across two supervisors (plus additional staff time for non-contact and assessment responsibilities)
  • Access to the College library and online resources
  • Access to a shared/bookable workspace and open study spaces
  • Access to a low level of technical provision
  • Participating actively in on-campus activities and events and in the research student community (e.g. through the RCA doctoral training programme and School/Research Centre seminar series)

High Residency

The High Residency route is available only to full-time students and involves:

  • Full-time fees of £10,250 (Home) and £30,450 (Overseas)
  • Study and supervisory contact mainly on campus.
  • 22 hours of direct academic contact hours per year across two supervisors (plus additional staff time for non-contact and assessment responsibilities)
  • Access to the College library and online resources
  • Access to a dedicated workspace within a larger shared space (reviewed annually)
  • Access to a higher level of technical provision
  • Participation in on-campus activities and events (e.g. the RCA doctoral training programme and School/Research Centre seminar series)
  • Being present on campus regularly, making good use of the space allocated and participating actively in the research student community (e.g. through the RCA doctoral training programme and School/Research Centre seminar series).

The College reserves the right to charge students the higher fee band if, having agreed the lower fee band, a student is found to be occupying space and using resources in line with the ‘high residency’ provision.

Frequently asked questions

The new fee bands recognise that MPhil/PhD students do not always need or want the full range of facilities; this may be because they have technical support and/or work space nearer to their place of residence, or because their project does not require high levels of studio space and technical support.

Some of the costs associated with supporting doctoral study are the same whether a student is studying Full-Time or Part-Time, and this fee model, which is widely in use across UK universities, more accurately reflects these costs.

Full-Time High Residency fee level is equivalent to the previous Full-Time fee and the Part-Time Low Residency fee level is equivalent to the previous Part-Time fee. The new Full-Time Low Residency mode represents a saving on the previous Full-Time fee.

Continuation fees sit outside this high/low residency approach. Students in Continuation Status are expected to have completed all their doctoral research, and will not have access to Technical Services or space during this period. This is reflected in a much reduced fee level.

All MPhil/PhD students will complete a Technical Services plan each year for the coming year, that will be reviewed against their registered mode of study. Part-Time students would ordinarily be expected to require a lower level of Technical Services compared to those studying in Full-Time High Residency mode.

No, this will not be possible, because Technical Services staffing levels will be set for the year. Any changes can be reviewed in the annual Technical Services plan.

Students can make a request to change during the period of their study; any approved change would take place at the start of an academic year. Mid-year changes are not possible.

Please speak to your supervisor in the first instance, and the PGR Lead for your School or Research Centre if you need further advice.