The Royal College of Art is a welcoming, dynamic, global art and design university based in one of the most exciting capital cities in the world.
It sustains a tradition of creative and intellectual excellence, combined with a modern work culture that supports diversity, equal opportunities and work/life balance.
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is the only entirely postgraduate institution of university status devoted to research and knowledge exchange, teaching and practice in art, design, communication and humanities. In 2018/19 the College has some 2,300 students registered for Graduate Diploma, MA, MRes, MPhil and PhD degrees. There are over 450 permanent academic, technical and administrative staff, with more than 1,000 visiting lecturers and professors.
Creative Capital
The College is located across three sites in central London, in South Kensington, Battersea and White City.
The Kensington site includes among its neighbours Imperial College London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal College of Music, the Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Science and Industry.
The Battersea site has expanded rapidly over the past decade, while ongoing UK Treasury-backed expansion at Battersea, due to complete in 2021, cements the RCA’s position at the centre of a vibrant hub of creative companies and designers.
A third hub opened in White City in 2017, London’s newest research and creative quarter, within the regenerated BBC Media Village.
A World-leading University
Ranked as the world’s number one university of art and design for five consecutive years in the QS World University Rankings, the College has an august history in art and design education, numerous eminent graduates and a remarkable record of graduate employment. Truly a leader in its field, its excellence in teaching and research has been consistently recognised as being of the highest standing. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results cemented the RCA’s position as the UK’s leading university of art and design, with its research gaining more 4* ratings than any of its specialist competitors. Crucially, the College is ranked as the most research intensive art and design research environment to be found in the UK.