Key details
Date
- 5 November 2025
Read time
- 2 minutes
Welcome to the World's No.1 Art and Design University.*
Build cultural experiences and enhance your practice with a master's degree in applied and fine arts. Work collaboratively to share knowledge and culture, test your ideas, and gain unrivalled opportunities to build networks and enhance your career, while making the most of London's cultural and creative environment.
* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Art & Design
Key details
Date
- 5 November 2025
Read time
- 2 minutes
September 2026 intake
Applications for our September 2026 intake are open now.
Featured programmes
Ceramics & Glass MA
Since its inception, this ceramics & glass programme has driven a global perspective on material-based pedagogy and a fusion of art, design and skilled making. During your studies, we offer a creative interface where your individual interests meet broader world views.
1 year programme | Full-time study
Sculpture MA
Sculpture encompassing, installation, object-making, moving image, sound, social and public practices. We encourage you to take a critical, reflexive approach in your work and give you the knowledge to situate your practice within contemporary social, political and economic contexts.
1 year programme | Full-time study
Print MA
Our approach to print is expansive and innovative, reflecting the centrality of print within contemporary art and culture. Print is explored through making, engaging with archives and global media, and methods of presentation and publishing.
1 year programme | Full-time study
Graduate Diploma Art & Design (Fine Art specialism)
The Graduate Diploma Art & Design prepares you for Master’s study at the RCA. The Fine Art specialism supports students aspiring to a Master's in the School of Arts & Humanities.
30 weeks | On-campus, online or dual-learning modes of study | January, May and September intakes.
Join the January 2026 cohort and graduate in time to commence a Master's programme in September. Application are open until 5 December.
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.
Canada
- Montréal: 12 November
- Toronto: 14 & 15 November
Mexico
- Mexico City: 7 & 8 November
Saudi Arabia
- Jeddah: 22 November
South Africa
Johannesburg: 25 November
United Arab Emirates
- Dubai: 21 November
United States
- New York: 7 & 9 November
School of Arts & Humanities
The applied and fine arts programmes live in our School of Arts & Humanities. Here we bring research and study in the arts together with curating, writing and the history of design.
Student profiles
Explore the work of recent applied arts graduates at RCA2025 through our online Student Profiles.
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 28,000 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.
