Overview

The MA Information Experience Design at the Royal College of Art enables is designed to challenge. You’ll engage deeply with society and the environment, integrating experimentation with activism and empathy.

Key facts

IED projects go beyond the personal to embrace collective, trans-individual, and more-than-human perspectives. You might design a light installation in a forest, a global museum, a podcast fiction, a breathing chair, a VR adventure in a microbiome, an emotionally responsive game for dogs, or a wearable that can sense deep time.

Past students have gone on to launch startups, games and design studios, develop commercial applications and work in the cultural and tech sectors. Many also work as practising visual and digital artists, or continue to pursue PhDs. Graduates of IED have in recent years secured honours including the prestigious Lumen Prize, a number of Bloomberg New Contemporaries, and one graduate even winning a Grammy.

Study a unique programme that encourages you to integrate methods from fields beyond art and design with tested fine art and speculative design practices

Benefit from our unique and experimental teaching approach, informed by leading practitioners and researchers in immersive and experimental design

Build a practice that can translate computational and living systems into meaningful and beautiful experiences and artworks

Programme Structure

Courses include:

In Term 1 you take Form & Method, developing experimental conceptual tools and testing them through creative practice while engaging with systemic, post-digital, and cultural theory and selecting technical skills to support your ideas.

In Term 2, Situated Practice refines your work through making, research, and critical reflection, applying conceptual tools to real-world systems and shaping a proposal for your final project. You also take the school-wide unit Making Worlds with Others, collaborating across programmes on a shared project exploring complex cultural, social, or ecological contexts.

In Term 3, the Independent Research Project supports a self-directed, practice-led body of work integrating technical and conceptual development, culminating in a public presentation and critical reflection.

AcrossRCA in Terms 1–2 enables cross-programme collaboration on themed projects addressing cultural, social, environmental, or economic issues.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-14 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-03 00:00:00

More details

Applications are now open for September 2026 entry. Round 2 application deadline: 17 March 2026, 12:00 (UK time). Round 3 deadline: Wednesday 3 June 2026(12:00)

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

London, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Design User Experience Design Information Systems View 51 other Masters in User Experience Design in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and from all over the world.
RCA alumni come from a wide range of backgrounds and industries, bringing diverse experiences including those unrelated to art, which enrich the creative community and drive fresh perspectives.
As part of your application, you may need to submit:
- A portfolio showcasing your work and artistic vision.
- A personal statement (around 300 words) describing your interests, motivations, and future goals.
- An introduction video (maximum 2 minutes) to introduce yourself and explain your artistic approach and project ideas.
To help you prepare your application, we host regular portfolio and video Q&A sessions. Please visit the RCA website to learn more about these events and to register.
Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up to date information on entry requirements for this programme.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

38650 GBP / year

≈ 38650 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

15450 GBP / year

≈ 15450 GBP / year

Additional Details

Please refer to the programe webpage for the most up-to-date information on tuition fees, deposits, and additional costs for both home and overseas/ EU students

Living costs

London

United Kingdom

1137 - 2157 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

RCA offers a wide range of funding opportunities to support postgraduate study, including a variety of tuition fee and living cost scholarships.

Beyond financial support, many of these scholarships also provide networking opportunities with peers, partnership organisations and professional bodies to enhance your experience.

You can find more information about available scholarships and their eligibility criteria here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-to-study/funding-your-studies/rca-scholarships-and-awards/

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Information Experience Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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About

Overview

Key facts

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

London

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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