Royal College of Art

Summary

Mission

MISSION STATEMENT

The Royal College of Art aims to achieve international standards of excellence in the postgraduate and pre-/mid-professional education of artists and designers and related practitioners. It aims to achieve these through the quality of its teaching, research and practice and through its relationship with the institutions, industries and technologies associated with the disciplines of art and design.’ The College aims to achieve these standards of excellence:
• by fostering a high level of understanding of the principles and practices of art and design
• by encouraging individual creativity among staff and students
• by recruiting students of proven ability and by providing pre-professional and post-experience study opportunities
• by continuously enhancing appropriate links and collaborations with industries and professional bodies
• by exploring the innovative applications of technologies and processes to the disciplines of art and design
• by encouraging awareness of social and environmental developments insofar as they relate to art and design
• and through co-operation and partnership with other institutions

National role

Since October 1999, ‘MAP/making’, a major research project in collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the London School of Contemporary Dance, has investigated the potential for bringing together music, art and performance, most notably in an acclaimed series of performances at the Bath International Music Festival in July 2002, The City of London Festival in 2003 and 2004 and the Aldeburgh Music Festival in 2005.

InnovationRCA is a network set up by the Royal College of Art to bring RCA graduates together with business in order to create innovation opportunities.

InnovationRCA aims to help business organisations of all kinds to innovate by introducing new knowledge, new products and new practices from the multi-disciplinary community of designers, artists and researchers at the Royal College of Art.

InnovationRCA meets the RCA’s Royal Charter commitment to collaborate with industry and commerce, manages the College’s growing portfolio of Intellectual Property, and provides enhanced levels of professional support for RCA graduates and alumni.

Its knowledge transfer programmes enable the College’s graduates and business partners to innovate more effectively. Whether you want to develop new knowledge, new products or new innovation practices, talk to the InnovationRCA team: email innovation@rca.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)20 7590 4249.

The Helen Hamlyn programme looks at how a socially inclusive and human-centred approach to design can support independent living for ageing and diverse populations, improved standards of healthcare and patient safety, and innovation for business.

It works with four design communities – student, new graduate professional and academic – in response to the commitment in the Royal College of Art's Charter to 'advance learning, knowledge and professional competence' in relation to 'social developments'.

Endowed by the Helen Hamlyn Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people by design, the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre engages a range of external commercial, academic, government and voluntary sector partners in its work.

Main focus

MA, MPhil, PhD
The RCA is the world's only wholly postgraduate university institution of art and design.

Education

Faculties and departments

School of Architecture
School of Communications
School of Fashion & Textiles
School of Fine Art
School of Humanities

Bachelor level programs

n/a

Master level programs

All departments award Masters degrees (MA RCA) – 2 years

School of Architecture
Architecture and Interiors
Design Products
Industrial Design Engineering
Interaction Design
Interaction Design Research
Vehicle Design

School of Communications
Animation
Communication Art & Design

School of Fashion & Textiles
Fashion
Textiles

School of Fine Art
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Drawing Studio

School of Humanities
Conservation
History of Design
Curating Contemporary Art
Critical & Historical Studies

Research

Research activity and main areas

RESEARCH
The College has a large number of international, full- and part-time research students who are part of a cohesive staff and student body, sharing studios and workshops with MA students, and participating in seminars and other departmental activities. Research takes place within the 18 departments of the College, each of which has its own specific research areas.

Current Research Activity
Alongside the broad areas described below, individual staff members have their own interests and expertise. Detailed information about individual, group, departmental and student research (including research centres) can be found on the College website – www.rca.ac.uk/research

Research is also undertaken in the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Inclusive Design based in the College’s Steven’s building.

Doctorate level programs

All departments (above) award MPhil and PhD degrees – 2-6 years

Exchange

Subject areas for exchange students

n/a

Application deadlines

n/a

Teaching languages

English

Semester dates

September - December
January - March
April - July

Cost of living per month (studying and living)

UK & EU £3950 p.a. (2005/6)
Overseas students: £19.250 p.a., living expenses: minimum £10,000 p.a.