Royal College of Art History and Affiliations
The Government School of Design, often known as the Metropolitan School of Design, was established in Somerset House in 1837. Richard Burchett took over as the institution's leader in 1852. It was enlarged and relocated to Marlborough House in 1853, and between 1853 or 1857 it was moved to South Kensington, where it now stands on the same grounds as the South Kensington Museum. In 1857 and 1863, it went under the names Normal Training School of Art and National Art Training School, respectively. It served as a teacher training institution for the majority of the later 19th century. Students during this time included Christopher Dresser, George Clausen, Kate Greenaway, Luke Fildes, and Gertrude Jekyll.
The institution changed its name to the Royal College of Art in September 1896, and the focus of its instruction switched to the practice of art and design. In the middle of the 20th century, courses in graphic design, industrial design, and product design were introduced. The institution grew even more in the 1960s, and in 1967 it was granted a royal charter, making it an independent university with the authority to award its own degrees.
The Royal College of Art debuted RCA 2020, its first-ever online graduating exhibition, in July 2020.
Infrastructure and Campuses
- There are three campuses for the college: White City, Kensington, and Battersea.
- Ceramics and glass, painting, contemporary art practice, etc. are all located on the RCA Battersea site. Numerous events and art exhibitions are also held there. The UK government also gave it cash in 2016 to design a new structure for the site.
- The Imperial College and Victoria & Albert Museum flank the Kensington Campus, which is situated in Albertopolis in London. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are also close by. It houses the RCA library in addition to the School of Architecture, School of Design, and School of Arts and Humanities programmes.
- The RCA's most recent addition is the White City campus. It was established in 2017 and is housed in the BBC Media Village. It provides graduate diploma programmes in art and design, as well as research programmes in communication design and the School of Communication. Additionally, it offers a number of workshops, technical rooms, and art studios for the use of the students.
- In the college, a student union has been established to serve as the student's voice and as a place for them to connect and network. Events showcasing a variety of abilities are also planned for the students.
Royal College of Art Accomplishments
The RCA has achieved the following things, to name a few:
- For nine years running, The RCA has held the top spot in the world for art and design according to the QS World University Rankings.
- At the Design Museum Awards, The RCA has taken home more than 200 honours, including the Design of the Year Award.
- The Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education, the highest accolade a UK university can get, was given to the RCA.
- The RCA had a significant role in the creation of numerous new technologies, including the first computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Many RCA alumni have started prosperous firms, giving the institution a solid reputation for entrepreneurship.
- With students and personnel from more than 100 nations, the RCA has a great reputation abroad.
Royal College of Art Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
Graduates from the school have gotten some of the top, highest-paying positions in the fields they've chosen. 90% of the students, according to the Royal College of Art, claim that the college has had a favourable effect on their careers. To help students get more familiar with the outside world, the college hosts a variety of seminars and fairs.
The Master's, MPhil, MRes, and PhD degrees offered by the Royal College of Art are all postgraduate programmes that are exclusively for postsecondary students. centred on the four schools of architecture, the arts and humanities, communication, and design. It has a history of excellence and innovation in creative education and is the oldest art and design university that has been in continuous operation in the entire world.
Royal College of Art Notable Alumni
Here are some of the renowned alumni of this London-based university
| Name | Job |
| David Hockney | British Painter |
| Yvonne McGuinness | Visual Artist |
| Bridget Riley | Fine Art Artist |
Admission Dates
For the September 2023 intake of the Graduate Diploma in Art & Design, applications are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is August 4, 2023, at 12 p.m. (GMT).
Application Fees
Application fee 348 GBP. Immigration health surcharge fee 300 GBP.
Royal College of Art Scholarships
Overseas students can opt for the following scholarships to study at Royal College of Art
| Name | One-Line Description | Value |
| Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust Scholarships | For Master/ Merit based | 6.9 |
| Saltire Scholarships | For Master/ Merit based | 8.9 |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Bachelor/ Company-Sponsored | 1.6 |
| National Overseas Scholarship | For Doctorate/ need based | 12.7 |
| Aga khan Foundation Scholarships | For Master/ Merit based | Variable |
| ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarships | For Bachelor’s/ Merit based | 3.3 |
Accommodation Facilities at Royal College Art
Although the college does not provide on-campus boarding, the following advice is nonetheless helpful for students' accommodations:
- The University of London Housing Service is available to students who have been accepted to the institution. This will provide them with guidance on a variety of topics, including housing, lodging, and legal counsel.
- In and around London, the cost of lodging varies from place to place.
- The type of boarding the student chooses to live in will also affect the cost.
Here are some rough costs for both long-term and short-term lodging:
| Type of Accommodation | Short term | Type of Accommodation | Long term |
| Hostel | INR 1500- INR 3000 per night | Shared House | INR 40,000- INR 1 lakh per month |
| Hall of Residence | INR 15,000– INR 40,000per week (bills included) | Studio Flat | INR 20,000per week |
| Hotel | INR 6200 minimum per night | 1 bedroom flat | INR 26,000 per week or more |
| Airbnb | INR 1500- INR 3000 per night | 2 bedroom flat | INR 30,000 per week or more |
Part-Time Job Opportunities
In London, study abroad students can opt for the following part-time jobs:
| Jobs | PPH |
| Part-time teaching assistant | INR 3200- INR 4100 Per hour |
| Part-time festival worker | INR 900- INR 1000 per hour |
| Customer Service Representative | INR 800 per hour (approx) |
| VIP Event Staff | INR 900 - INR 1500 per hour |
Post-Study Work Permit
International students may apply for a Post-Study Work Visa (PSW Visa) after completing a full-time postgraduate programme at the Royal College of Art (RCA). Graduates can stay and work in the UK for up to two years following graduation with the PSW Visa.
In order to be qualified for a PSW Visa, you must:
- possess a degree from an RCA full-time postgraduate programme.
- possess an active student visa
- own a strong record in school
- Have sufficient funds to cover your expenses and those of your dependents while you are in the UK.
A PSW Visa application can be submitted online or by mail. There is a GBP 700 application fee.
