Key details
Date
- 1 November 2024
Read time
- 3 minutes
Welcome to the World's No.1 Art and Design University.*
Build cultural experiences and expertise with a Master's from the School of Architecture. Work collaboratively to share knowledge and culture, test your ideas, and gain unrivalled opportunities to build networks and enhance your career.
Key details
Date
- 1 November 2024
Read time
- 3 minutes
Sign up for updates on programmes and applying
Applications for the September 2026 intake will open on 27 October 2025.
If you are considering applying for our September 2026 intake we encourage you to register for updates so we can keep you informed of admissions dates and deadlines, programme updates and events for prospective students in the UK and around the world.
January 2026 intake
A number of programmes have an intake in January 2026 including the Design Practice MArch, Architecture MPhil/PhD and Graduate Diploma Art & Design (Design specialism).
Featured programmes
Design Practice MArch
Engaging with the built environment in a sustainable way. The Design Practice MArch attracts architects and designers who want to study spatial practice in a broader sense.
Develop your practice in a flexible way. You take core units such as material processes and carbon economies and choose from a range of electives, including housing & social reproduction, digital storytelling or soundscapes.
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time programme
Environmental Architecture MA
Our MA Environmental Architecture creates a new field of knowledge production and practice for the design of alternative forms of co-dependence between life forms and earth systems. Studying with us, you’ll gain insight from leading figures in Environmental Architecture as you explore histories and theories of environmental change, multispecies and more-than-human design, environmental law and climate justice.
1 year full-time
Graduate Diploma Art & Design (Design specialism)
The Graduate Diploma prepares you for Master’s study at the RCA. The Design specialism supports students aspiring to a Master's in the School of Architecture.
30 weeks | On-campus, online or dual-learning modes of study | January, May and September intakes
Upcoming events for prospective students
Register for online and on-campus open days, portfolio Q&A sessions, campus tours and the chance to meet the RCA globally and in the UK.
On-campus Open Events
School of Architecture: Tuesday 4 November
Online Open Events
Online Portfolio Q&A: Wednesday 5 November
Design Practice MArch Online Studio Sessions
Join us online for a series of talks, screenings and discussions around the concerns of the Design Practice MArch programme.
11 November - with Caroline Till, co-founder of FranklinTill, a design futures consultancy activating colour and material innovation for positive social & environmental change.
19 November - with Jingru (Cyan) Cheng. Jingru works across architecture, anthropology, and filmmaking to draw out latent relations across scales, confronting intensified social injustice and ecological crisis.
27 November - with Seetal Solanki. Seetal is a ‘materials translator’ and Founder of Ma-tt-er, a practice focused on providing access to materials through researching, learning, advising and curating.
9 December - Roundtable with Omar Degan, Myles Igwebuike, Adrian Lahoud, Huda Tayob and Thandi Loewenson.
Meet the RCA around the World
RCA staff regularly host and attend events around the world for prospective students. Find out where you can meet the RCA around the World.
Seoul, South Korea
- Saturday 25 October
- Sunday 2 & Monday 3 November
- Thursday 6 November
Tokyo, Japan
- Thursday 23 October
Singapore
- Saturday 25 October
India
- Chennai: 24-27 October
- Hyderabad: 28-29 October
- Bangalore: 1-4 November
Australia
- Melbourne: 25 October
- Brisbane: 29 October
Canada
- Montréal: 12 November
- Toronto: 14 & 15 November
Mexico
- Mexico City: 7 & 8 November
Netherlands
- Eindhoven: 6 November
Saudi Arabia
- Jeddah: 22 November
South Africa
Johannesburg: 25 November
United Arab Emirates
- Dubai: 21 November
United States
- San Francisco: 2 November
- New York: 7 & 9 November
School of Architecture
The School of Architecture offers an unparalleled interdisciplinary context to pursue design research in the spatial disciplines. Located in Kensington, the School of Architecture provides a stimulating and vibrant cultural context for study in one of the world’s leading cities. Realise live projects and work alongside leading designers and artists in a postgraduate-only environment.
Find out more about the School of Architecture
Explore Student Profiles
View the work of graduating Fashion and Textiles students at RCA2025 through our online Student Profiles.
Explore RCA2025 Student Profiles
Our alumni
School of Architecture alumni form an international network of creative individuals who have shaped and continue to shape the world. These include former students such as Ben Kelly (MA Interior Design); Ed Barber & Jay Osgerby (MA Architecture); Maxwell Ayrton; Paul Karakusevic; Yussef Agbo-Ola (MA Environmental Architecture), Sadie Morgan and Alex De Rijke (MA Architecture); Sir Edwin Lutyens; Sir James Dyson (MA Furniture Design); Tom Coward AOC (Architecture & Interiors); Tom Emerson and Stephanie Macdonald (MA Architecture); Mingxin Li (MA Environmental Architecture).
Why choose the RCA?
Teaching and research expertise
The opportunity to learn from world-leading academic staff. We’re the only specialist art and design university where all of our permanent teaching and research staff are also research active and included in the RCA’s submissions to the UK Research Excellence Framework.
Renowned alumni
Our 33,000+ alumni are leaders in their disciplines, making national and international headlines. Alumni include:
- Hoor Al Qasimi
- Hurvin Anderson RA
- Christopher Bailey CBE
- Sir Peter Blake
- Sir Frank Bowling
- Sir James Dyson OM
- Dame Tracey Emin RA
- Sir Anthony Finkelstein
- Thomas Heatherwick RDI, CBE
- Dame Barbara Hepworth
- Lubaina Himid RA CBE
- David Hockney OM
- Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq
- Asif Kapadia
- Julian MacDonald OBE
- Henry Moore OM
- Erdem Moralioglu MBE
- Morag Myerscough
- Dame Magdalene Odundo
- Chris Ofili CBE
- Bridget Riley
- Peter Schreyer
- Sir Ridley Scott
- Douglas Stewart
- Philip Treacy OBE
- Dame Zandra Rhodes
A diverse creative community
The RCA is the world’s largest postgraduate-only art and design university, representing an exciting talent base and opportunities to build your network and collaborate. An RCA student might be working in industry or the arts, a career-changer, or come straight from an undergraduate course. We typically welcome students from over 70 countries.
Interdisciplinary connections
Our College and School-wide projects, activities and challenges help our students find like-minded creatives to solve major global problems, grow their networks, or find future business partners. Find out more about AcrossRCA.
Build your career
Find out more about how the RCA can help move your career to the next level with our Graduate Careers Report.
