Royal Academy Schools Prospectus
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Applications for entry in October 2022 are now open and will close 10th December 2021.
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The Royal Academy Schools thrives on the commitment and intellectual inquiry of its students. Our aim is to provide an environment in which you can test and re-evaluate your practice in dialogue with a diverse group of contemporary artists. The programme is full-time, with regular lectures, group critiques, tutorials, and artists talks. Students attend and contribute to these activities, alongside the production of studio work. As a student at the RA Schools you will form part of a diverse group of motivated artists who aim to develop their work in an environment of discussion and investigation.
Tuition and studio space is free, and the RA Schools offers additional financial support through bursaries and contributions to the cost of some materials. This support does not fully cover the cost of living and studying in London and most students undertake part-time work outside of their commitments to the course.
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![Studying at the RA Schools]()
Studying at the RA Schools
Our high tutor-to-student ratio ensures that each artist’s individual practice is subject to in-depth discussion.
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Things to know before you apply
This is a full-time, studio-based course
During your three years at the RA Schools, you will have your own studio in a shared open-plan space, whatever the nature of your practice. You will also have access to specialist workshops in a range of media, access to instruction in new skills, plus technical support in realising new projects.
Peer learning is essential
The students and staff at the RA Schools represent a diverse range of positions and approaches. Students work closely with one another, with an emphasis on constructive critique and peer learning.
All students attend weekly lectures and artists talks
A programme of tutorials, group critiques, lectures and talks from visiting artists, form the structure of the working week and expose students to new voices and methodologies. In addition to core staff you will meet visiting artists for one-to-one tutorials.
Each year group has a designated Senior Lecturer
These lecturers will work closely with you and your peers: Year 1 Margarita Gluzberg Year 2 Richard Kirwan Year 3 Brian Griffiths
RA Schools Renewal
Candidates applying from October 2020 onwards should be aware that, from 2022, the RA Schools will undergo significant building work to upgrade its studios and facilities. We will do everything possible to minimise the impact on the RA Schools programme during the building work.
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Facilities
![Printmaking workshops]()
Printmaking workshops
![Photographic dark room]()
Photographic dark room
![Digital media suite]()
Digital media suite
![Bookable project spaces]()
Bookable project spaces
![Ceramics workshops]()
Ceramics workshops
![Epson digital suite]()
Epson digital suite
![Royal Academy Library]()
Royal Academy Library
![Studios]()
Studios
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![RA Schools lecture with Humphrey Ocean RA]()
Lectures
Delivered by key thinkers, writers, scientists, cultural theorists, film-makers and so on, the lecture series covers theoretical, philosophical and political ground. Recent speakers:
Amelia Groom Andreas Reiter Raabe Bob Mills Bronwyn Ormsby (Professor of Chemistry) Chris Kraus Claire Bishop Darian Leader Dawn Ades Donna McCormack Esther Leslie Farshid Moussavi RA (Professor of Architecture) Federico Campagna Hanna Al-Taher Isabel Parkes Julia Armfield Laura Benitez Valero Laura Vallés Luce DeLire Mara Polgovsky Mark Pomeroy Marie de Brugerolle Pandora Blake Roberto Cipolla Roger Cook Roger L Kneebone (Professor of Anatomy) Richard Dyer Samuel McAuliffe Simon Critchley Victor Wang
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![A lecture by Donna McCormack in the RA Schools Life Room]()
Artist talks
A programme of talks, screenings, performance, selected and invited by the 2019 second year group. Last year’s artist talks:
Aaron Angell Alex da Corte Alicja Rogalska Alice Theobald Alison Wilding RA (Eranda Professor of Drawing) Alvaro Barrington Athanasios Argianas Appau (Junior) Boakye-Yiadom Antony Gormley RA Basim Magdy Bedwyr Williams Celine Condoreli Charlie Fox Christina Mackie Chris Sharp Claire Fontaine Col Self Dale Holmes David Steans Esmeralda Valencia Lindström Fashid Moussavi RA (Professor of Architecture) Fiona Banner RA (Professor of Perspective) free.yard (Adam Farah) Francis Upritchard Ghislaine Leung Greta Alfaro Harun Morrison Haegue Yang Heath Bunting Jason Evans John Cussans Kevin Gallagher - Starr Fellow 2021 Linda Stupart Lubaina Himid RA (Professor of Painting) Macon Reed - Starr Fellow 2020 Marianna Simnett Mike Nelson RA (Professor of Sculpture) Merlin James Nicolas Deshayes
Onkar Kular Oreet Ashery Phyllida Barlow RA Rana Begum Richard Deacon Roy Claire Potter Shezad Dawood Tonico Lemos Auad William Kentridge Hon RA Wolfgang Tillmans Yoshua Okon -
![Crits at the RA Schools]()
Crits
In 2019*, students presented their work to their peers and the following artists:
Adham Faramawy Alastair Mackinven Alex Frost Allison Katz Alex da Cunha Andreas Reiter Raabe Andrew Hunt Aura Satz Chantal Faust Claire Hooper Clarrie Wallis Clunie Reid Dan Perfect Emma Hart Evan Ifekoya Fionna Banner Gina Buenfeld Johnny Slyce Laura Grace Ford Lee Triming Neil Rumming Nicholas Hatfull Milena Dragicevic Oscar Murillo Paul Clinton Phoebe Unwin Sally O’Reilly Sara Knowland Saskia Olde-Wolbers Simon Bedwell Stuart Middleton Tom Morton **Due to the COVID pandemic no Crits took place in 2020*
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Tutorials
Adham Faramawy Alex da Corte Alex Frost Ali Eisa Alice Theobald Alison Wilding RA Ana Genoves Aura Satz Brian Catling RA Catherine Story Cathie Pilkington RA (Keeper of The Royal Academy) Chantal Joffe RA Clunie Reid Danielle Braithewaite-Shirley Danny Rolph
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Gail Pickering Gary Hume RA Gili Tal Harold Offeh Isobel Harbison Janette Parris John Cussans John Russell Johnny Golding Katharina Hoeglinger Lindsay Seers Lisa Milroy RA Mali Morris RA Mark Leckey Michael Landy Michelle Williams Gamaker
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Milena Dragicevic Nicole Wermers Phoebe Unwin Sacha Craddock Samara Scott Sarah Jones Shaan Tariq Hassan Syed Simeon Barclay Tom Chamberlain Uta Kogelsberger Vanessa Jackson RA
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Exhibitions
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![RA Schools exhibitions]()
Exhibitions
Premiums
Exhibitions of work by the artists in their second year are held in the Weston Studio of the Royal Academy during the autumn and spring terms. This is an opportunity to make decisions, evaluate progress and work as a group to install the show.
RA Schools Show
At the end of your third year the RA Schools’ studios are transformed into large exhibition spaces that attract thousands of visitors and professional scrutiny. -
![RA Schools student]()
Texts
The text component of the programme is an opportunity to explore and research ideas that arise in the studio in written form.
A short written text, supported by an invited artist-writer and your year tutor, is completed during the first year of the programme.
In the second year, you will receive individual tutorials and feedback sessions to assist in the production of a longer text. This work is completed during the summer period prior to the third year of the programme, and presented to your peers in the first term of your final year.
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![Jessy Jetpacks sits in front of Yayoi Kusama's ‘Pumpkin’ on Naoshima Island, Japan, during her student exchange at The University of the Arts, Tokyo.]()
Travel opportunities
Our travel opportunities are currently suspended, however there may be an opportunity to apply in future.
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