The Royal College of Art (RCA) in London is a model of excellence in postgraduate education in art and design. Since its inception, the RCA has become one of the world’s leading institutions, offering master’s and doctoral programs in various disciplines, including fine arts, design, architecture, humanities and communication. Known for its distinguished faculty of practicing artists, designers, and scholars, RCA offers an inspiring interdisciplinary environment that fosters critical thinking, innovation, and creativity. With strong industry connections and cutting-edge resources, the college equips its students to launch successful careers in the arts and beyond.
By supporting an international community of students and fostering an inclusive and vibrant campus culture, RCA is committed to making its world-class education accessible. To support this mission, RCA offers a range of scholarships tailored to ease the financial burden on eligible students. Here we will look at the structure, benefits, eligibility requirements and application process of RCA scholarships.
Description of the scholarship:
- Host university: Royal College of Arts
- Host country: United Kingdom;
- Level of study: Master level;
- Type of scholarship: Partial financing;
- Scholarship value: Check the details below;
- Eligible countries: International students;
- Available topics: All subjects;
- Application deadline: The stock market is open.
The Royal College of Art offers various scholarships aimed at helping students finance their studies. These scholarships are designed to meet the diverse needs of students, with funding available to both UK (home) and, in some cases, international students. The scholarships cover a range of financial requirements, allowing students to focus on their studies and creative development without being hampered by financial constraints.
RCA scholarships are generally divided based on students’ needs and circumstances, including financial background, disability, refugee status, career changes, etc. RCA’s scholarship program is structured to enable students with different financial situations and life experiences to receive the support they need to thrive in their respective fields of study. Through these scholarships, RCA promotes inclusion and diversity within its vibrant community.
Scholarship Benefits:
RCA scholarships provide significant financial assistance that can cover various aspects of a student’s education:
- Full Tuition and Living Fees: Some scholarships provide comprehensive coverage, taking care of tuition and living expenses, allowing recipients to focus entirely on their studies and personal growth.
- Full tuition fees: For students who only need help with tuition fees, some scholarships cover the full cost without additional help with living costs.
- Partial tuition fees: For students who can partially finance their education, partial tuition scholarships cover a portion of tuition costs, thereby alleviating some financial pressure.
- Contributions for living expenses: Some scholarships offer stipends or stipends specifically to help students manage their living expenses, covering essentials such as rent, food, and transportation.
These scholarships are structured to meet a variety of financial needs, whether a student requires full support or just needs additional help to fill a financial gap. Through RCA’s commitment to inclusiveness, financial support options are available for students from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
Eligibility requirements
Eligibility for RCA scholarships varies depending on the type of scholarship and the applicant’s situation. Here are some of the main criteria RCA considers when evaluating scholarship applications:
- Financial context: Applicants must demonstrate financial need through appropriate documentation, such as confirmations of previous scholarships, student loan documents, or government benefit statements. RCA places great importance on supporting students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Disability: Students with disabilities may provide medical records or other documentation explaining the impact of their disability on their daily life and educational needs. This criterion ensures that students facing unique challenges have access to additional support.
- Refugee or asylum status: Student refugees or asylum seekers may submit copies of their Application Registration Card (ARC) or other authorization to stay documents to support their application. RCA aims to provide opportunities to people who have experienced significant disruption in their lives.
- Experienced care: For students with care experience, social welfare or local authority documents are accepted for background checks. This measure is in place to support students who have had unique life experiences that may have an impact on their financial situation and educational journey.
- Care responsibilities: Students with caregiving responsibilities, such as caring for children or the elderly, can provide documentation (such as child benefit letters or tax credits) to support their responsibilities. These scholarships recognize the financial and time constraints that caregivers often face.
- Career change or interruption: RCA also supports people who are undergoing significant career changes or breaks. A resume, resignation letter, or reference letter is often required to verify this eligibility criterion, recognizing that students transitioning between fields may need additional financial support.
In addition to these specific criteria, RCA encourages students who do not meet these exact requirements to submit a brief personal statement (150 words) explaining any unique circumstances that may justify their scholarship.
Application process
The RCA scholarship application process is designed to be transparent and accessible, allowing students to effectively present their financial aid package. Here is a breakdown of the process based on application rounds and student program levels:
Round 1 and 2 candidates
During the first two cycles of scholarship applications, students are subject to priority evaluation:
- Priority Eligibility Questions: Students begin by answering questions about their financial situation, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and other factors reflecting financial need or difficulty. This first step allows RCA to identify students in need of immediate financial support.
- Personal Statement Questions: Applicants must submit short personal statements (150 words each) detailing their background, financial planning, the impact of the scholarship on their educational journey, and their career aspirations. These statements help RCA understand each applicant’s unique motivations and goals, as well as the impact a scholarship will have on their lives.
Third round candidates
Even though the third round of applications offers fewer scholarships, RCA still offers limited support to students facing unique challenges. Scholarships available at postgraduate level are mainly aimed at specific programs or are awarded in special personal circumstances, with a focus on UK students. Updated information regarding the availability of these scholarships will be announced by RCA starting June 2024.
Graduate Diploma and PhD Candidates
- Graduate Diploma Applicants: For students applying to the graduate diploma program starting in September 2024, detailed information on scholarship options will be available soon. RCA aims to provide financial support to graduate students wishing to continue their studies in art and design.
- Doctoral candidates: Those pursuing doctoral studies at RCA are encouraged to contact [email protected] to find out more about doctoral training grants and other funding opportunities. RCA offers competitive financial support to research students, facilitating advanced study and groundbreaking research in art and design.
Official website:
For more information, please visit the official university website: https://www.rca.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/great-scholarships-2025/#:~:text=The%20RCA%20GREAT%20Scholarships%20are,as%20a%20tuition%20fee% 20discount.