Royal Academy Schools admissions FAQs
Date updated: September 2023
If you have any questions that are not answered here please contact us.
Email: admissions@raschools.org.uk
Phone: 0207 300 5650
Date updated: September 2023
If you have any questions that are not answered here please contact us.
Email: admissions@raschools.org.uk
Phone: 0207 300 5650
About the Programme
Is your programme an MA course?
The programme is not accredited and is not a Masters degree. Those on the programme study here in order to develop as professional artists, at postgraduate level and upon completion will receive a Royal Academy Postgraduate diploma in fine art which is recognised internationally on prestige rather than as a formal qualification.
Do you offer any other programmes?
We offer one programme - the postgraduate programme in contemporary fine art.
Can I study with you on a part-time basis?
No, our programme is full-time for three years (minimum 35 hours per week).
What is the age limit for the programme?
There is no upper age limit for studying with us. Our student cohort age range fluctuates as applicants come to us from varying stages of their lives and practice.
What are your typical academic term dates?
The academic year runs from October to July and consists of three 10-week terms. There is usually a two-week break at Christmas and a three to four-week break at Easter.
What is a typical week like at the RA Schools?
Our programme is full-time, Monday – Friday. This consists of lectures and talks, group crits and tutorials. There is a weekly lecture or artist talk. There are Year Group Critiques (crits) with your tutor and guest artists in the Autumn Term and again in the Summer Term.
In the Spring Term, there are Cross-Year Crits which will allow you to present work for discussion and discuss the work of your peers across the school.
You will have one-to-one tutorials with your Year Group Tutor and invited international artists and visitors.
Our Critical Fellow runs sessions periodically throughout the academic year. You will exhibit twice: as a part of a group show, Premiums Interim Projects, in your second year, and in the graduation show, which takes place at the end of the three-year programme.
There is a requirement to complete two texts and an end-of-year reflective report each year. When not attending a lecture, talk, tutorial or crit, students are in their studios. The studios are open most days from 8am – 10pm, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The technical workshops are open Tuesday – Friday.
During your time with us, you will be offered the opportunity to do teaching placements on undergraduate fine art programmes. In addition, you will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the RA’s attRAct programme which supports young people interested in Fine Art into Higher Education.
Can I visit the Royal Academy Schools before applying?
Prospective applicants are invited to attend our Open Day / Webinars. This typically takes place in October/November each year. Our Open Day / Webinar will give you a chance to see our studios and workshops and our staff will be on hand to answer your questions. Please note places are limited and timed booking is required. Booking will open in September.
If you cannot attend our Open Day, we can sometimes arrange short visits for prospective applicants by appointment, under special circumstances. We do not have the resources to offer this to all applicants and encourage you to attend an Open Day. We are unable to accommodate visits without an appointment.
Application Process
When is the deadline?
The application deadline is 3 December 2023.
How do I apply?
You apply online via Slideroom. More information about the process including a summary of each stage, can be found on the How to Apply page.
To get started on your application, please visit raschools.slideroom.com.
If you need technical assistance with your online application, please visit Slideroom’s searchable support pages or email support@slideroom.com.
Can I apply this year and defer entry until the following year?
We do not accept deferrals to the programme. The panel views and reviews each artist at the time of their portfolio submission.
When will I find out if I have been shortlisted for an interview?
Please see the 'interviews' section in our Prospectus for more information.
Are interviews held in person?
All interviews will be conducted in person and will last between twenty and thirty minutes. Exceptions may be made for those based overseas. If you are based internationally this will be discussed with you when you are shortlisted.
What can I expect from my interview?
Interviews are scheduled to take 30 minutes. We ask all candidates to bring examples of recent work and the interview is an opportunity to discuss your practice with the academic team.
References
We will only request references from candidates who are shortlisted for an interview.
Who should I ask to provide a reference for me?
If you have finished a BA degree in recent years then we suggest you ask one of your BA tutors. If you do not want to use an academic reference then you may want to ask an artist or other arts professional with whom you have worked or collaborated.
How many references should I provide?
You can only provide one reference.
How does the reference process work?
If you are shortlisted for an interview, we will invite you to request a reference from your referee through SlideRoom. A reference request will be sent by email to your referee immediately after you have completed the Reference section of your Slideroom application.
Your referee will see the following statement when receiving your request:
Please specify how you know the applicant and include comments on their experience, personal qualities and suitability for the Royal Academy Postgraduate Programme. If the information is available to you please indicate the cohort size in the year that the candidate graduated. It would be useful to be made aware if there is any reason why the candidate may not do him/herself justice at interview.
Please submit your reference as soon as you can.
My referee has not received an email. What shall I do?
If your referee has not received their automated email please send the above to them and ask them to email your reference to admissions@raschools.org.uk.
Media / Portfolio
I want to submit images and video. How many images and videos should I submit?
You can submit up to 16 images or 15 minutes of video, or a proportion of both, i.e. If you want to submit 5 minutes of video, you should only submit 11 images. If your video is longer than five minutes we strongly recommend submitting shorter extracts.
For more information on the submission requirements including the number of images you can apply with, how you will need to upload them and other criteria for media, please see the How To Apply page on our Prospectus. Alternatively, see the following link to Slideroom help portal on working with and uploading your portfolio, as well as their searchable support pages.
Can I submit work in progress in the portfolio?
At the application stage, we want to see work that is finished. We do not want to see unfinished or preparatory work as it is important for us to understand your intentions. If it has range then let us see that and perhaps you could talk your approach through in your statement.
Is it possible for a member of staff to review my portfolio before I apply?
We do not offer portfolio reviews to applicants. We always recommend applicants showing your portfolio to those whose decisions you trust as well as who you feel will give you constructive feedback and honest criticism.
Do you look at the Instagram accounts and the websites of applicants?
We only look at the websites and Instagram accounts of applicants if and where recent and relevant to their application and only if submitted as part of their portfolio.
Application Fee Payment
Why is the application fee in US dollars?
The application fee is listed in USD because it is collected via Slideroom and they are based in the US.
I’d like to apply but I can’t afford to pay the application fee.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties that may prevent you from being able to submit your application, please contact us at admissions@raschools.org.uk, and we will endeavour to help you.
Entry Requirements
What are the entry requirements?
Candidates have usually gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art (or similar) or have equivalent experience. In recent years we have accepted candidates straight from BA, but the majority have been working independently as artists. Candidates may have exhibited in group or solo shows, but it is by no means required.
I do not have a BA degree but I am a practising artist. How can I show that I have equivalent experience?
If you do not have a BA in Fine Art (or similar) then you will need to demonstrate in your application that you have equivalent experience to someone who has gained this qualification.
How you do this will vary for each applicant, but it should be evident that you have spent a considerable amount of time interrogating and developing your artistic practice.
For candidates who do not have a BA in Fine Art (or similar), other professional experiences as an artist – such as taking part in exhibitions, residencies, or other art projects / events – would be beneficial to your application.
I have an MA degree, am I eligible to apply?
As of this admissions season 2023/24, we will not normally consider applications from those who have an MA.
English is not my first language. Do I need to provide English Language certificates, for example IELTS (International English Language Testing System)?
We do not ask for any language certifications, but we do require candidates to be fluent in English. Fluency will be informally assessed in your written application and at interview (if applicable).
Do you accept applications from artist duos? What is the process for submitting a collaborative application?
We do accept applications from artist duos. If accepted onto the programme, you would be treated as one student. Therefore, you would share a studio, the bursary, and academic allocations i.e. tutorials, critiques, etc.
To apply, you will need to submit one application on SlideRoom.
International Applicants
What is the application process for international applicants?
This is communicated within the How to Apply page.
I am a citizen of the EU, am I considered an international applicant?
You are considered an international applicant and will need to be eligible to live or study in the UK, or be eligible to apply for the UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa. For more information please visit the Arts Council Website for UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa.
I am not sure if I am eligible for the UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa. Is it possible for the RA Schools to review my application and advise me on whether I should apply?
Unfortunately we are unable to review a candidate's application. We advise that you view the criteria for the UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa and make the decision as to whether you are eligible. However, should you be offered a place, we will guide you through the visa application process.
I do not think that I am eligible for the UK Global Talent Visa. Are there any other visas that I could obtain in order to allow me to study at the RA Schools?
Our independent status renders us ineligible for International Student Visas.
I am currently living in the UK but I do not have UK citizenship. Am I considered an international candidate? Do I still need to be eligible for the UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa?
If you hold British Citizenship or Permanent Residence status (e.g. Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK you are eligible to join our programme without a UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa. If you hold Permanent Residence status in the UK, you will need to provide evidence of this should you be offered a place. If you do not know whether you formally hold this status we recommend you speak to the UK Home Office to find out, and obtain formal documentation.
We cannot accept anyone onto the programme who does not have the right to live and study in the UK for a minimum of the three years of our postgraduate programme. This right needs to be confirmed before you apply.
After I graduate from my existing programme, I automatically have a two-year graduate visa to stay in the UK. May I still apply for the Royal Academy Schools, this year without a UK Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) Visa and apply once my existing visa expires?
We cannot accept anyone onto the programme who does not have the right to live and study in the UK for the three-year duration of our postgraduate programme. i.e. if you do not have an existing visa that lasts for the full length of the programme you will need to apply for the Global Promise Visa.
Finance
How much are course fees?
There are no course fees. A key principle of the RA Schools is that our programme is free of charge to every applicant offered a place.
Do you offer scholarships or bursaries? How do I apply for a bursary?
The Royal Academy secures funding to support our student bursaries. Successful applicants are typically provided with an annual bursary of no less than £3,500 per academic year, divided into three portions which are then transferred at the start of each term. You will not need to apply for this.
As the bursary will not cover the full cost of living in London students are encouraged to manage this bursary themselves and often use it to contribute towards living expenses, art materials or other costs they might have.
While we provide a bursary for students. Students also occasionally pursue additional funding privately.
As a student at the RA you would be free to use the UK Charity Commission website to search for trusts and foundations etc. that may consider supporting you during your time at the RA. However we work with many of the applicable supporters, therefore we ask that you first get in touch with our office team to check that we don't already have an existing relationship with the funding body.
It is also worth noting that subject to funding, we are able to provide some students with significant financial need with additional bursary funds.
All bursaries are allocated on a financial need basis.
Do you offer any other types of financial support?
In addition to the bursary, we also contribute to the costs of some consumable materials through our Workshops. This support will not cover the cost of all your materials.
We are also often able to offer students experiencing significant financial difficulty additional funding through our Student Support Fund. Students apply by providing a detailed Financial Assessment.
Are there any opportunities for additional funding?
We are occasionally able to allocate additional funding to students and do so whenever possible. This funding is allocated based on financial need assessed through the student’s Financial Assessment. However our bursaries are dependent on funding as we are a charity; this means the amounts students receive can therefore fluctuate depending on the success of funding applications throughout the year. Additional funding is allocated based on financial need.
Can I apply for external funding to support my costs while studying at the Royal Academy Schools?
Yes and we encourage you to do so, whilst communicating who you are applying to prior to doing so, in order for us to make sure you are not applying to one of our existing supporters.
Student Life
Do you offer student accommodation?
We do not offer student accommodation and we are not able to help you secure accommodation. However upon accepting an offer of a place on the programme, we can put you in touch with the existing student and graduate communities to be kept in the loop with housing opportunities.
Alternatively, we recommend searching on known letting websites such as spareroom.co.uk and gumtree.com for permanent rented accommodation.
How can I manage part-time work alongside my studies?
Although all students are awarded bursaries, these do not cover the full cost of living in London and the majority of our students work part-time to support their studies. However, as our programme is full-time and intensive, we request that students only work on evenings and weekends.
Can I work at the Royal Academy while studying at the RA Schools?
There are a number of opportunities for our students to work at the RA Schools while studying here, these range from regular bar work, cleaning, social media, admin and working at events. Additionally, there are opportunities to work part-time at the Royal Academy, in front-of-house / visitor experience roles or in the RA shop.