Overview
Important to our MA Photography at the Royal College of Art is a commitment to process; to the unknown, indeterminate, speculative, and hybrid.
Key facts
We are committed to probing what the photographic image is, and could be, across contemporary art practices. From diverse perspectives we consider digital and analogue forms of photography in relation to socio-political debates, intercultural discourses, exchanges between theory and practice, and emerging modes of circulation and distribution. Driven by research-led teaching and state-of-the-art technical facilities, you will contribute to vital discussions about the future of the image today at an urgent time of ecological crisis and technological change impacted by questions of visibility and representation.
Our faculty of artists, writers, and theorists will support you to develop your work into a critical, reflective, and professionally robust practice. Unique to your experience at the RCA will be the themed practice group that you will join at the start of the year. Each practice group is led by a faculty member; emphasising communal learning and encouraging curiosity. The practice group is an invitation to push at the critical, conceptual, practical, and material possibilities of your research and practice in dialogue with others. You will attend to important aesthetic, theoretical, cultural, and historical contexts for your work.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- In Term 1 you take Situating Photography: Practice & Discourse, introducing you to the programme community through resource inductions and workshops, while positioning your practice and ideas via dialogue, tutorials, and group work.
- In Term 2, Making Public explores photography as an expanded field, focusing on the materiality and performativity of the image. You also take the school-wide unit Urgency of the Arts, examining how arts and humanities practice can respond to urgent socio-political issues.
- In Term 3, the Independent Research Project is structured in three parts: exploring your independent practice, creating a public exhibition, and participating in professional practice seminars supporting dissemination and contextualisation.
- 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
- Apply before
-
Language
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Credits
Delivered
Campus Location
- London, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Design Photography View 394 other Masters in Design in United KingdomWhat students do after studying
Academic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
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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
-
International Applies to you
Applies to youNon-residents39200 GBP / year≈ 39200 GBP / year -
Domestic Applies to you
Applies to youCitizens or residents15600 GBP / year≈ 15600 GBP / year
Living costs
London
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/
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Scholarships Information
Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Photography.
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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