Materials Science Royal College of Art

Overview

The MPhil/PhD Materials Science at the Royal College of Art, based in the Materials Science Research Centre, focuses on inventing and experiencing materials to address real‑world challenges such as environmental sustainability, and human health and wellbeing. Research areas include regenerative and circular materials, programmable biomaterials, bio‑mimetic systems, digital materials for new tangible interfaces, and the perceptual experience of materials (both analogue and digital). You will design and manufacture materials at different scales in the body, on the body, interacting with the body, and placing the body in space. The programme encourages interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, human‑centred design, phenomenology, neuroscience, experimental psychology and psychophysics. Sustainability and creativity underpin all levels of research from material development, through production, to end‑use.

At the RCA, we offer both MPhil and PhD research degrees, which can be studied full-time or part-time (subject to approval) and undertaken by project or thesis modes. A research degree emphasises independence of learning and increased specialisation, requiring you to manage your own research project to investigate your topic in depth and produce new ideas, arguments, and solutions.

A PhD is awarded to students who produce a substantial piece of original research that contributes to the field, either as a thesis (60,000–80,000 words) or a project with a thesis (25,000–40,000 words). Full-time PhD registration is normally three years, with submission within four years; part-time is six to seven years. An MPhil is awarded for original research and submission of a thesis, normally two to three years full-time or four to six years part-time.

RCA research students undertake training both at a college-wide level and within their Schools/Centres, providing robust preparation for research progression and future careers. All students must attend Doctoral Training Weeks in September, February, and July, which include professional development, writing, publishing, achieving impact, and presenting research.

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.