How to collect your RCA ID card
Jump to
Once you are fully or temporarily enrolled, you can collect your RCA Student ID card! Each programme has a designated collection date and time. Your ID card collection time can also be found in your programme timetable on Celcat. Please read the information below to find out how and where you can collect your ID card as a first year, or returning student.
Upload a passport-style photo
New students will have been asked to upload a passport-style photo as part of the pre-enrolment process. If a submitted photo doesn't meet the passport-style criteria, we will not be able to print your Student ID card until a suitable photo is submitted.
When uploading your photo, please keep in mind that we can only accept photos that meet standard passport-style photo requirements. If a submitted photo doesn't meet the passport-style criteria, it will lead to a delay in getting your Student ID printed.
If you're unsure what a passport photo looks like, you can find some helpful examples of acceptable/non-acceptable photos on the GOV.UK website.
If you think the photo you uploaded during Pre-enrolment does not meet the requirements, you can upload a new passport-style photo via this link.
To find out more about enrolment status, uploading your passport-style photo, photo requirements, and for the link to upload a new photo, please visit the Enrolment page.
Remember to bring proof of identity
You must bring a physical copy of your current, valid passport to be used as proof of identity to collect your RCA ID card. You will not be able to collect your ID card without your proof of identity.
Why is my ID card not ready?
Your ID card will only be ready to collect once you are fully or temporarily enrolled. To find out more about enrolment and what you need to do, please visit our Enrolment page.
When and where to collect your ID card
Incoming first year students (1YR)
If you are a first year student you can collect your RCA ID card on the date, times and the location listed below.
When your ID card is ready, it will be available to collect from the Hangar Space at the Battersea campus. We will be giving out ID cards here for the duration of Welcome Week (7 - 11 September 2026).
Hangar Space address:
Studio Building
Royal College of Art,
Battersea Campus
Howie Street
London SW11 4AN.
Please only visit the ID card collection desk during your programme’s allotted collection time which is listed below. If you cannot attend at this time, do not worry, your ID card will be available to collect from your primary campus reception desk the week commencing 14 September.
Returning students
If you're a returning student, from 14 September 2026 onwards you can collect your RCA ID card from the Reception Desk of your primary campus. You must complete re-enrolment, including payment of fees, before your card will be printed.
Collection dates and times
Monday 7 September 2026
- Animation (MA): 10:00-11:00
- Information Experience Design (MA): 11:00-13:00
If your surname/family name begins with A-M, you will collect your ID card between 11AM-12PM. If your surname/family name begins with N-Z, you will collect your ID card bettween 12PM-1PM. - Graduate Diploma Art and Design - Communication: 13:00-14:00
- Graduate Diploma Art and Design - Design: 13:00-14:00
- Graduate Diploma Art and Design - Fashion and Textiles: 13:00-14:00
- Graduate Diploma Art and Design - Fine Art: 13:00-14:00
- Graduate Diploma Art and Design - Research: 13:00-14:00
- Communication Research (PhD): 13:00-14:00
- Contemporary Art Practice (MA): 14:00-15:00
- History of Design (MA): 16:00–16:30
Tuesday 8 September 2026
- Fashion (MA): 10:00-11:00
- City Design (MA): 11:00-12:00
- Environmental Architecture (MA): 11:00-12:00
- Interior Design (MA): 12:00-13:00: 14:00-15:00
- Writing (MA): 13:00-14:00: 14:00-15:00
- Sculpture (MA): 13:00-14:00: 14:00-15:00
- Architecture Research (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Arts and Humanities Research (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Computer Science (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Design Research (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design Doctoral Programme (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- History of Design (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Materials Science Research (PhD): 14:00-15:00
- Photography (MA): 15:00-16:00
Wednesday 9 September 2026
- Architecture (MA) ARB/RIBA Part 2: 10:00-11:00
- Design Products (MA): 11:00-12:00
- Ceramics and Glass (MA): 12:00-13:00
- Creative Education (MEd): 13:00-14:00
- Design Practice (MArch): 13:00-14:00
- Arts and Humanities (MFA): 14:00-15:00
- Communication (MFA): 14:00-15:00
- Design Futures (MDes): 15:00-16:00
Thursday 10 September 2026
- Painting (MA): 10:00-12:00
- Curating Contemporary Art (MA): 12:00 -13:00
- Innovation Design Engineering (MA): 12:00 -13:00
- Service Design (MA): 13:00-15:00
- Textiles (MA): 15:00-16:00
Friday 11 September 2026
- Digital Direction (MA): 10:00-12:00
If your surname/family name begins with A-M, you will collect your ID card between 10AM - 11AM. If your surname/family name begins with N-Z, you will collect your ID card bettween 11AM-12PM. - Print (MA): 12:00-13:00
- MRes RCA (MRes): 13:00-14:00
- Jewellery and Metal (MA): 13:00-14:00
- Intelligent Mobility (MA): 13:00-14:00
- Visual Communication (MA): 14:00-16:00
If your surname/family name begins with A-M, you will collect your ID card between 2PM-3PM. If your surname/family name begins with N-Z, you will collect your ID card bettween 3PM-4PM.
