Royal College of Arts Admissions 2022

  • Programs: Royal College of Art offers 40 programs - including Master's, Ph.D., and Graduate Diploma. The highest paying degree at the university is Masters of Arts, with alumni earning an average salary of EUR 50,000 which is equivalent to 42.58 lakhs.
  • Enrollment: Royal College of Arts is a competitive university with an acceptance rate of 27.2%. In the recent academic year, The Royal College of Art saw an enrollment of  2,300 students.
  • Admission Requirement: International applicants planning to enroll in RCA must have a good undergraduate degree in a related subject area along with an average IELTS score of 7.0. Applicants should also be able to present their technical skills through portfolios, short videos, and a statement of purpose.
  • Admission Deadline: The general application deadline at Royal College of Arts for January 2022 is December 1, 2021. There is no deadline for a Graduate Diploma in Arts and Design (which has intakes in January and July). However, applications are processed on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Royal College of Arts Highlights

Application Portal applications.rca.ac.uk
Acceptance Rate 27.2%
TOEFL iBT 100
IELTS 7
Academic Calendar Term-based
Intake Sessions Summer/Autumn
Work Experience Required
International Admissions +44 (0)20 7590 4444
international@rca.ac.uk

Royal College of Arts Admissions for International Students

RCA accepts international applicants given that they have met the minimum eligibility criteria for various test scores, provided the required information in the application form, met the portfolio requirements, and have authenticated financial support to comfortable study in the UK.

The admission process for international applicants varies slightly than domestic applicants. International applicants need to fulfill some additional requirements.
Application Portal: Official website 
Admission Requirements:

  • A completed application
  • All required transcripts
  • A portfolio of their original work
  • IELTS or TOEFL test score reports
  • Evidence of enough funds

English Proficiency For International Applicants

International applicants are required to present the mentioned scores of one of the many testing options in order to demonstrate their proficiency in English. The minimum scores required by RCA are tabulated below, however, they are different for many programs so a broad range has been provided.

TEST Minimum Score Required
IELTS 7
TOEFL iBT 100
Pearson Academic 59-69
Cambridge CPE & CAE 169-185
TEEP 6.0-7.0
OIBEC Pass

After the acceptance of the application, students are required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place in the upcoming class. After this, the UK government's home office will issue a CAS(Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number for you and this will be sent to you by the college three months prior to the program start date. You will need this CAS number to apply for a visa.

Student Visa Process For International Students

International applicants can apply for a student visa to study in the UK right after the issuance of the CAS number by RCA. To receive a Tier 4 visa you need to score 40 points.

  • 30 points for your CAS number
  • 10 points for authenticating financial evidence to cover tuition fees and living costs.

Additional Required Documents (original only) for visa processing:

  • A valid passport
  • 1 recent passport photograph
  • Application fee 348 GBP
  • Immigration health surcharge fee 300 GBP
  • Financial evidence: Bank statements or scholarship letter
  • Academic qualifications including eng proficiency test scores
  • TB Certificate
  • Certified English translations of documents.

After approval of your application, you will receive a letter from the home office stating where to collect your Biometric Residence Card.

Graduate Diploma Admissions

RCA offers various Graduate Diplomas in Art & Design. Aspirants are required to submit their personal and academic details along with their portfolio during the time of application.
Where to apply: RCA's online application portal: applications.rca.ac.uk
Admissions Requirements:

  • Ten digital images in JPG format no larger than 2MB
  • Images to be in 1024 x 768 pixels or greater
  • All image files must be saved as JPG format
  • Links to videos hosted on sites such as Vimeo or Youtube may be uploaded, please make sure that they are publicly viewable

Graduate Admissions

RCA offers MA & MRes degrees in Architecture, Arts and Humanities, Design and Communication to all the students, including domestic as well as from all around the world. These are offered in more than 20 specific degree majors.
Here are the academic requirements for some of the popular graduate programs offered by RCA. Programs require a high standard of final year undergraduate work reflected in the portfolio or in the degree classification.

  • Transcripts
  • Official test scores for English proficiency
  • Portfolio
  • A statement of purpose
  • Work experience
  • Letters of recommendation
  • A short video, as specified by the program
  • Admission interview (If applicable)
  • Practical Test (If applicable)

Students can get in touch with their admission tutors through email for any sort of queries. The visa processing takes time (prepare your applications three months in advance). So the International applicants are advised to apply early for the program for timely issuance of CAS number. For more information or any queries contact the student support or email: student-support@rca.ac.uk

FAQs

Ques. My Email Address Has Changed. What Should I Do?

Ans. If your email address provided in your application has changed, then submit your new address by email: admissions@rca.ac.uk Also include your name, applicant number, and the title of the course you have applied to study.

Ques. Do I Have To Pay The Fee Deposit Before The University Applies For My Cas Number?

Ans. If you have applied for a taught postgraduate course, then the university will ask you to pay the fee deposit before applying for your CAS number.

Ques. Where Can I Find Information About Other Aspects Of The Visa Processing?

Ans. You can find detailed information about visa processing on the home office website. Advice is available from the UKCISA website.

Ques. Visa Application Centres In My Country Are Closed. What Can I Do?

Ans. We recommend that the prospective students should continue to keep a track on the VFS Global website for news on when the visa application centres may reopen. You can expect a delay in CAS issuance due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Ques. Will I Be Able To Defer My Place If I Can't Enrol Due To Covid-19 Situation?

Ans. We are unable to offer deferred places. An offer of a place to study can't be carried over to next academic year. An offer holder who wishes to study at the RCA in the subsequent year will have to re-apply and achieve admission standards at that time.