Architecture Royal College of Art

Overview

The  Architecture research programme at Royal College of Art supports experimental, practice‑led and interdisciplinary research focused on making a tangible public and social impact. Working at the intersection of theory, media, spatial practices, history, and ecology, the programme encourages you to investigate issues such as globalisation, migration, colonial legacies, climate justice and institutional change. You can pursue written academic research in history and theory, or more experimental practice-based work such as architectural projects, film, heritage preservation or community engagement. With supervision from experts across disciplines, you collaborate with both academic and non-academic partners, shaping a research project rooted in real-world relevance and critical inquiry.

Key Facts

The RCA hosts a Research Biennale every alternate February to showcase research publicly and extend perceptions of art and design research. Students also undergo Annual Progress Reviews to receive formal feedback and a Confirmation Exam midway through PhD study to ascertain readiness for submission; those who do not meet requirements may be recommended to submit for MPhil.

The RCA community includes more than 250 PhD students across Schools and Centres such as Architecture, Arts & Humanities, Communication, Design, Computer Science Research Centre, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Intelligent Mobility Design Centre, Material Futures Research Centre, and Robotics Laboratory. The College is ranked the most research-intensive university of art and design in the UK since 2014 and values the contributions of international students.