Visual Communication (Graphic Design, Illustration & Experimental Communication) at Royal College of Art - UCAS

Royal College of Art

Degree level: Postgraduate

Visual Communication (Graphic Design, Illustration & Experimental Communication) (Taught)

Course options

Course summary

Study at the World's number one ranked art and design university.* Visual Communication at the RCA has a long history that has radically examined the place of visual communication in relation to culture and society, while championing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. Situated at the forefront of critical experimentation, you will seek to forge fresh connections between criticality, radical thinking and making. By harnessing your creative and critical abilities, you will explore new vocabularies for our contemporary times, speculate on new realities and collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to create transformative movements that invite activism & change. You will be joining our community of critical thinkers and makers, leading the way in social practices. We have a long history of approaching the making of work through the collaborative, cooperative and compassionate ethos of listening, respecting and (un)learning. You will be introduced to a rich dialogic learning experience, where the conversation takes place between us, you, your peers and your audiences. Together, through a discursive inquiry and exchange, we will explore what it means to both speak and listen. You will become well practiced in interpreting ideas, events, complex data, knowledge and experiences, translating these into artefacts, narratives or connections that might manifest across or between the physical, digital or the virtual. Through language, storytelling, tools & materiality you will learn to elicit new knowledge and in turn create new insights. Your role as a communicator of such experiences is to form a bridge; to create forms of communication that can connect people and connect ideas. Referring to these exchanges as ‘conversations’ expands the possibilities for social accountability and creative consciousness. Our open and inclusive vision of the practice of communication produces work that is every bit as divergent in form as in content, embracing multidisciplinary approaches including sound, type-design,, performance, publishing, moving image, workshops, fieldwork, documentary, radio, virtual reality, comics, ceramics, happenings, drawing, walking and writing. Facilities Our mixed-discipline studios encourage cross-disciplinary thought, awareness and action. Studio workspace is provided for each student. In addition, you have access to craft and technical workshop areas and excellent technical support in the College. These include well-equipped computer studios for print and digital moving-image production, sound editing, a letterpress and book-binding workshop. 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

Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process considers 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. You will normally have completed a first-degree undergraduate qualification in a related subject or be able to evidence equivalent professional experience in related fields. Visit the RCA website for full entry requirements.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5If 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

Republic of Ireland £13500 Whole course
England £13500 Whole course
Northern Ireland £13500 Whole course
Scotland £13500 Whole course
Wales £13500 Whole course
International £32000 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 round 1.

Visual Communication (Graphic Design, Illustration & Experimental Communication) at Royal College of Art - UCAS