Overview

The Research at the Royal College of Art that equips you with the intellectual, technical and professional tools needed for PhDâ€‘level study or advanced research roles in industry.

Key facts

By blending theory, methods, and practice, the programme helps you to develop experimental and practiceâ€‘led research skills. You will choose a specialism amongâ€¯Architecture, Communication, Design, Fine Art and Experimental Humanities, and be assigned a supervisor to help you shape your independent, creative research project, whether it is thesisâ€‘ or practiceâ€‘based. The MRes encourages collaboration, flexibility, and experimentation, enabling you to interrogate your discipline through crossâ€‘disciplinary dialogue and to build a research identity rooted in art and design thinking.

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Programme Structure

Curriculum:

Research Methods Part 1: Developing Research Questions, articulating research themes by interrogating your practice and building a toolkit of interdisciplinary methods. You also take Research in Practice Part 1: Testing and Experimenting, exploring your research questions through theoretical and practice-based approaches.

In Term 2, Research Methods Part 2: Developing a Research Proposal focuses on writing a PhD style proposal defining aims, context, and methodology. Research in Practice Part 2: Defining and Developing refines your practice-based approach.

In Term 3, the Independent Research Project applies your accumulated research skills to complete a substantial practice-based or thesis-based project under expert supervision.

AcrossRCA in Terms 1–2 supports collaboration on themed projects addressing cultural, social, environmental, or economic issues.

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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

Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

London, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Design Educational Research Data Science & Big Data View 128 other Masters in Educational Research 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

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

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.

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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

37750 GBP / year

≈ 37750 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

15150 GBP / year

≈ 15150 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.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Research.

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

Get more details

Programme Structure

Check out the full curriculum

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

Explore more key information

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Other requirements

General requirements

Make sure you meet all requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

London

Funding

Check for any work restrictions

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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