Royal College of Art Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

Royal College of Art in United Kingdom requires a minimum GPA of 3 in order to stand a good chance to get admission into Royal College of Art.This GPA requirement underscores the institution commitment to academic excellence and high standards in terms of GPA. Irrespective of that To be admitted to Royal College of Art, it is recommended to have a strong academic profile, including competitive scores . But the admission process at the university takes a holistic approach, considering multiple factors in the student's profile. These factors include Leadership, Work experience, essays, LOR and interviews that the students give during their admission process. 

Royal College of Art offers a variety of postgraduate programs for their international students across the disciplines of Art & Design. Annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at RCA is around 35L on an average, which can be considered expensive as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table listed below for course specific fees requirements:

Royal College of Art is the world's most influential postgraduate institution of Art & Design. In QS World University Rankings by Subject, RCA is ranked at #1 worldwide for its programs in fields such as Applied Arts, Architecture, Business, Communication, Contemporary Art, Curating & Culture, Design, Education, Environment, Experience Design, Fashion, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Humanities, Illustration, Industrial Design, Moving Image, Product Design, and Textiles.

When it comes to the RCA campus life, students get to study in one of the three campuses located in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. Royal College of Aart offers on-campus accommodation facilities to their international students, which comprise of amenities such as hot water points, fridges and microwaves, showers, Wi-Fi, free shuttle bus service between campuses, discounted food at campus canteens, and free period products.

The Royal College of Art application fee for international students is 348GBP (INR 36,612.74). This fee is typically non-refundable and covers the cost of processing and viewing the applications. It is important to note that the Application fee differs from the other fees.  However, the application fee might vary depending on the intake, and it’s suggested that students should check the official for more information depending on the course and requirements.

Royal College of Arts offer a variety of scholarships for their overseas audience. As students are considered automatically  for scholarships once they apply for RCA admissions, they do not need to submit any separate application. International students can avail these scholarships on the basis of their academic achievement, as they are merit-based. Disbursement amount of Royal College of Arts scholarships for international students can go upto £10,000 as a reduction in tuition fees.

Yes, the Royal College of Art does offer a range of scholarships for their international students. Listed below are the Royal College of Art scholarships for international students:

Royal College of Art accepts international applications through the Application Portal available on the college's website. While applying, students must fulfill all the Royal College of Art eligibility requirements and submit all the supporting documents.

Listed below are the steps to apply to RCA:

Stage 1- Submission of personal information: Provide personal details, date of birth and contact information. Additional information include:

• Predicted or achieved performance in previous qualifications and/or evidence of equivalent professional experience;
• Evidence of English language proficiency if English;
• Context in which qualifications have been achieved or are being completed; and
• Relevant employment history.

Stage 2- Submission of portfolio:

• Upload portfolio following the guidance provided. Depending on the program, the applicant's portfolio may include files of their work and any written descriptions, explanations or justifications required.;
• Provide a 300-word written statement;
• Complete the critical challenge – a short video, up to two minutes, of talking to the camera about personal creative journey; and
• Upload one written reference.

Prospective overseas audience of the Royal College of Art can apply through the Application Portal available on the college's website. While applying to RCA, students are required to submit the following documents:

• Official academic transcripts
• 300-word written statement;
• One written reference;
• UK student visa and
• Copy of passport.

Royal College of Arts offers on-campus accommodation facilities to their overseas students, which comprise of various amenities. Listed below are the Royal College of Art cost of living for international students:

In order to secure an admission, all overseas applicants must fulfill the Royal College of Art admission requirements listed below:

• Bachelor's degree;
• IELTS score;
• Personal Statement (SOP);
• Recommendation Letter (LOR); and
• Portfolio.

Note: Some Royal College of Arts programs may have certain additional requirements. Hence, students are advised to refer to the table below for course-specific requirements.

In order to get admitted in the Royal College of Art for master's courses, international students will have to fulfill the admission requirements, which consist of a Bachelor's degree, IELTS score: 6.5 overall as well as supporting documents like SOP and LOR. However, all applications are evaluated on their individual merits at the Royal College of Art. Additionally, the selection process consider includes the examination of creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in the candidate's portfolio, as well as their potential to benefit from the programme of choice and to achieve high standards overall.

As per the data derived from unofficial sources, only 28 out of every 100 applicants get enrolled as a student at the Royal College of Art. This makes RCA a very competitive institution to get into, with an acceptance rate of 28%. However, students must not feel discouraged and fulfill all the Royal College of Art admission requirements academic requirements, English language requirements & relevant documents in order to boost their chances of getting admitted in RCA.

Note: The data is derived from unofficial sources and is subjected to changes.

Prospective overseas audience of the Royal College of Art can apply through the Application Portal available on the college's website. While applying, students must be mindful of the deadlines for their choice of course and submit all the supporting documents. Listed below are the Royal College of Art application deadlines for international students:

Fulfilling the English language requirements is a major entry requirement at the Royal College of Art. RCA accepts IELTS score as a proof of proficiency in the English language and students can refer to the table below for minimum score requirements, as per the choice of course:

Royal College of Art is considered to be one of the best global Art & Design schools and is renowned worldwide for its Master's programs, including the MA in Service Design. RCA is well known for its cutting-edge design and innovation, and this is also true of its Service Design program. It's Service Design programme emphasizes practical, hands-on experience and collaboration with industry partners, preparing students for careers in designing and delivering services that meet user needs. Additionally, due to RCA's central location in London, students have easy access to a multitude of networks and resources. Instructors at RCA are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the field of service design, and they bring a wealth of practical knowledge and industry expertise to the classroom. Many RCA graduates go on to have successful careers in service design and related fields, making up the large and influential alumni network of the school. Overall, students planning to pursue MA in Service Design must consider Royal College of Art for their higher studies in UK.

Through its four academic schools, namely School of Architecture, School of Arts & Humanities, School of Communication, and School of Design, Royal College of Art offers various postgraduate courses such as Graduate Diploma, MA, MArch, MEd, MFA, MDes, MRes, MPhil and PhD degree programs across the disciplines of Art & Design. Listed below are the fields of study offered in RCA, for overseas applicants:

• Applied Arts;
• Architecture;
• Business;
• Communication;
• Contemporary Art;
• Curating & Culture;
• Design;
• Education;
• Environment;
• Experience Design;
• Fashion;
• Fine Arts;
• Graphic Design;
• Humanities;
• Illustration;
• Industrial Design;
• Moving Image;
• Product Design; and
• Textiles.