12 monthsProgramme duration
40,200 GBPTuition Fee/year
08 Jan, 2027Application Deadline
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Communication and Media Studies
Degree
MA
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Description:
The Visual Communication MA at the RCA supports designers to develop thoughtful, collaborative and socially engaged practices. Communication is understood not as transmission, but as conversation: situated, embodied and grounded in listening. Through a research-led and interdisciplinary approach, you will work with communities, contexts and the politics of visual culture, exploring design as inquiry, resistance and care. You will translate ideas, events, data and experiences into artefacts, narratives or connections in the physical, digital or virtual, building bridges between people and ideas. The programme embraces diverse media and practices including type-design, moving image, publishing, sound, performance, and writing, enabling you to ask better questions and participate in reshaping the world.
Programme structure:
Term 1
In term 1, you take Encounters, which develops conversations within a critical framework by staging interactions with other disciplines, communities and sites, encouraging inquiry into what if existing models of knowledge production were unsettled.
Term 2
Following on from Encounters, the Affinities unit asks you to expand and communicate your enquiry by developing prototypes, formats and conversations that test how your work engages with others. The emphasis moves from method to relation, treating communication as a reciprocal exchange that shapes both method and outcome.
Also in Term 2, a choice of elective units allows you to shape your own learning journey. You can work alongside students from other programmes, bringing your practice into dialogue with different creative approaches through interdisciplinary projects, ‘wicked’ design problems and socially engaged practice.
Term 3
In Term 3, you take the Independent Research Project, focusing on locating and establishing yourself and your work within the external contexts in which you seek to engage and connecting your practice to emerging critical discourses. You apply the critical frameworks, methods and tools developed throughout the programme. Towards the end of the programme, you participate in a collectively curated and produced public-facing activity, which could include a group exhibition, publication or curated event, contributing to the body of work presented for assessment.
Referring to the website:
Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes.
About RCA:
The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world.
For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Communication and Media Studies
Degree
MA
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Description:
The Visual Communication MA at the RCA supports designers to develop thoughtful, collaborative and socially engaged practices. Communication is understood not as transmission, but as conversation: situated, embodied and grounded in listening. Through a research-led and interdisciplinary approach, you will work with communities, contexts and the politics of visual culture, exploring design as inquiry, resistance and care. You will translate ideas, events, data and experiences into artefacts, narratives or connections in the physical, digital or virtual, building bridges between people and ideas. The programme embraces diverse media and practices including type-design, moving image, publishing, sound, performance, and writing, enabling you to ask better questions and participate in reshaping the world.
Programme structure:
Term 1
In term 1, you take Encounters, which develops conversations within a critical framework by staging interactions with other disciplines, communities and sites, encouraging inquiry into what if existing models of knowledge production were unsettled.
Term 2
Following on from Encounters, the Affinities unit asks you to expand and communicate your enquiry by developing prototypes, formats and conversations that test how your work engages with others. The emphasis moves from method to relation, treating communication as a reciprocal exchange that shapes both method and outcome.
Also in Term 2, a choice of elective units allows you to shape your own learning journey. You can work alongside students from other programmes, bringing your practice into dialogue with different creative approaches through interdisciplinary projects, ‘wicked’ design problems and socially engaged practice.
Term 3
In Term 3, you take the Independent Research Project, focusing on locating and establishing yourself and your work within the external contexts in which you seek to engage and connecting your practice to emerging critical discourses. You apply the critical frameworks, methods and tools developed throughout the programme. Towards the end of the programme, you participate in a collectively curated and produced public-facing activity, which could include a group exhibition, publication or curated event, contributing to the body of work presented for assessment.
Referring to the website:
Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes.
About RCA:
The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world.
For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.
Admission Requirements
English Language requirements:
Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information on English language requirements.
You can also find further details on English language requirements, approved English language tests, equivalent IELTS scores, exempt criteria, and more through the link below.
https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/apply-to-study/english-language-requirements/
Entry Requirement:
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.
- Candidates are required to submit an essay(s) for acceptance
Tuition fees
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