Course summary
Learn to develop innovative curatorial proposals with London-based arts organisations. Study at the World's number one ranked art and design university .* The Curating Contemporary Art MA has a commitment to collaborative group project-based work that integrates theory and practice. The programme approaches the field critically and theoretically, ensuring that the knowledge and understanding of these practices is grounded in the context of public audiences, urbanisation and the digital. Research-led and practice-led teaching by staff and visiting tutors ensures the curatorial and artistic significance, intellectual value and critical vitality of the programme. Students undertake a graduate project with external high-profile partners as well as an independent research-based dissertation. You’ll gain an awareness of wider social, political and economic contexts and an understanding of transnational contexts and issues of diversity and inclusion. What our students say "There is at the RCA a sense of community that I hadn’t witnessed in other universities. Being surrounded by talented artists and creators is also very inspiring. The ability to meet with academic staff and the RCAs incredibly talented technicians really surprised me too. The graduate project was definitely one of the highlights of my experience at RCA. Working with partners to design a project from scratch was a great opportunity. The RCA teaching staff provided support in the process but also gave us a lot of freedom and independence. " - Anna DuFour Montuori (Curating Contemporary Art, 2018) About the RCA The Royal College of Art, is an internationally renowned art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. A small, specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university based in the heart of London, the RCA is a high performing institution, a radical traditionalist in a fast paced world. The RCA's approach is founded on the premise that art, design creative thinking, science, engineering and technology must all collaborate to solve today's global challenges. *The RCA was named the world’s leading art and design university for the seventh consecutive year (2015-2021) in the QS World University subject rankings.
Entry requirements
You are generally expected to have a good undergraduate degree from an arts or humanities background.If your undergraduate degree is not arts or humanities-based you should be able to articulate its relevance, or how it informs your aim to study Curating Contemporary Art. You also need to be able to demonstrate an active interest in contemporary art and its presentation and mediation, and have some practical experience of working within the visual arts or cultural sector that is relevant to the field of curatorial practice. Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process will consider creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall. Visit the RCA website for full entry requirements.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need the equivalent of an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with a 6.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE). |
Students achieving a grade of at least 6.0, with a grade of 5.5 in the Test of Written English, may be eligible to take the College’s English for Academic Purposes course to enable them to reach the required standard. You are exempt from this requirement if you have received a 2.1 degree or above from a university in a majority English-speaking nation within the last two years. If you need a Tier 4 visa to study at the RCA, you will also need to meet the Home Office’s minimum requirements for entry clearance.
More information about English language requirements
https://www.rca.ac.uk/studying-at-the-rca/apply/entrance-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £35950 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £15150 | Whole course |
| England | £15150 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £15150 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £15150 | Whole course |
| Wales | £15150 | Whole course |
| International | £35950 | Whole course |
Additional fee information
Visit the programme page on the RCA website for details of fees for each year of this programme.
Sponsorship information
Visit the RCA website to find out more about scholarships and funding opportunities. Most RCA scholarships require you to submit your MA application in application round 1.
Provider information
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
Kensington and Chelsea
SW7 2EU