Key details
Date
- 5 November 2025
Read time
- 2 minutes
Welcome to the World's No.1 Art and Design University.*
Push the limits of technology and design with a Master's in Digital Direction or Animation in the School of Communication. Join students from a range of backgrounds looking to enhance their creative practice and gain unrivalled opportunities to enhance your career, build networks and solve global challenges.
* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Art & Design
Key details
Date
- 5 November 2025
Read time
- 2 minutes
January 2026 intake
A number of programmes have an intake in January 2026 including the Communication MFA, Communication MPhil/PhD and Graduate Diploma Art & Design (Communication specialism).
September 2026 intake
Applications for our September 2026 intake are open now.
Featured programmes
Animation MA
Animation is a dynamic visual communication paradigm. Join us to develop your creative expertise to influence how audiences see and understand the social, political and cultural animated worlds and experiences you create.
1 year programme | Full-time study
Digital Direction MA
On the RCA Digital Direction MA, you’ll explore how technologies like VR, AR, AI, games engines, spatial sound and mobile platforms impact diverse storytelling practices, traditions, cultures and audiences. And you’ll look to emerging developments as you consider meaningful ways to communicate with others.
With us, you’ll learn to view the world critically, cut through hype and misinformation, and collaborate with others to experiment with how immersive and interactive storytelling can create positive and enduring change.
1 year programme | Full-time study
Graduate Diploma Art & Design (Communication specialism)
The Graduate Diploma prepares you for Master’s study at the RCA. The Communication specialism supports students aspiring to the Animation MA, Communication MFA and Digital Direction MA.
Join the January 2026 cohort and graduate in time to commence a Master's programme in September. Applications are open until 5 December.
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.
Online Open Events
Online Portfolio Q&A week: 1-5 December 2025
In-person events
Join us for a campus tour and experience what life at the RCA is really like. Explore our facilities, meet our community, and get a feel for studying here. Visit the link for more information and to see upcoming tour dates.
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.
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah: 22 November
South Africa
Johannesburg: 25 November
United Arab Emirates
Dubai: 21 November
School of Communication
The Animation MA and Digital Direction MA live in our School of Communication which interrogates the fundamental ways in which communication shapes our lives, and uses this knowledge to develop new ways of experiencing, interacting and communicating with the world.
Our alumni
Our alumni form an international network of creative individuals who have shaped and continue to shape the world. These include former students such as Toby Auberg, Wu-Ching Chang, Ian Gouldstone, Lena Dobrowolska, David Glueck and Saleh Kayyali.
Student Profiles
View the work of graduating Animation and Digital Direction students at RCA2025 through our online Student Profiles.
Ready to take the next step?
Apply now to start in 2026Why 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 30,000+ 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
- Dame Zandra Rhodes
- Bridget Riley
- Peter Schreyer
- Sir Ridley Scott
- Douglas Stewart
- Philip Treacy OBE
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.
