Royal Academy Schools

Key dates

Applications open

7 September 2023

Open Day

1 November 2023

Application deadline

3 December 2023

Shortlisted candidates notified

Week commencing 22 January 2024

Interviews

31 January – 29 February 2024

The RA Schools is an independent, contemporary school of art at the centre of the RA.

We offer a diverse community of students space and time to focus on the development of their art practice at postgraduate level.

We are a studio-focused centre of learning, facilitating open and supportive critical discussion and the exploration of ideas through material and discursive forms. We support experimentation and risk-taking, encourage peer learning, thinking through making, and the development of material skills.

We encourage an engagement with the contemporary in the context of a historical institution. Ideas of the past, present and in progress are explored, challenging and redefining what it is to be making art today.

We aim to prepare our students materially and critically to make their own contributions to the future of art, culture and knowledge.

Studying at the RA Schools

We have three ten week terms and a full-time programme, with regular lectures, group critiques, tutorials, and artists talks. Our programme thrives on the commitment and intellectual inquiry of our students who attend and contribute to these activities, alongside the production of their studio work. As a student at the RA Schools, you will form part of a diverse community of motivated artists who aim to develop their work in an environment of discussion and investigation.

The programme is free of charge, 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 in London and most students undertake part-time work outside of their commitments to the course.

RA Schools students attend a lecture in the Benjamin West Lecture Theatre

photo: Catherine Garcia

Things to know before you apply

This is a full-time, studio-based course

Whatever the nature of your practice you will have your own studio in a shared open-plan space. You will also have access to specialist workshops in a range of media, and instruction in technical processes to realise new work.

Peer learning

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.

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

A range of discussion and learning formats

A programme of tutorials, group critiques and talks from visiting artists, plus lectures from a range of thinkers form the structure of the working week and expose you to new voices and ideas and methodologies. In addition to core staff you will meet visiting artists for one-to-one tutorials.

RA Schools Renewal

Work on the restoration project for the RA Schools began in 2023. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, together with conservation specialists Julian Harrap Architects, the project will restore our building and ensure that it remains fit for the future. While the l project is taking place, the students’ studios have been temporarily moved to other spaces within the Royal Academy. The building works will be completed in the spring of 2024.

Facilities

Printmaking workshops

Our printmaking studios offer a range of equipment for the production of intaglio, relief and screen-printing techniques. The studios currently house etching presses, a Columbian press and a large format screen printing bed, all supported by the relevant processing equipment.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Sculpture workshops

These include facilities for working in a range of 3D processes including wood, metal, casting, mouldmaking, soft sculpture and mixed media. Digital technology includes two large format 3D printers, embroidery and sewing machines, a laser cutter, some table top 3D printers and small scale arduino equipment.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Ceramics Workshops

Our ceramics workshop is fitted with two large top loading kilns and a test kiln for smaller production. The workshop is supported by a potter’s wheel and drying area. We work with a variety of different approaches and processes, and stock a selection of different clays and glazes.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Wood workshop

Our wood workshop is equipped with a large format wall saw, circular table saw, lathe, pillar drill, stretcher making facilities and a full range of hand and power tools.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Metal Workshop

The metal workshop includes welding equipment, guillotine, saws, folding and pipe bending machines and the supporting apparatus for large-scale production.

We support mould making, casting, carving and material approaches in plaster, jesmonite and clay.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Digital print workshop

We are supported by Epson with three large-format digital printers and a selection of smaller portable inkjet and laser printers. These can be used with a wide range of substrates, including various papers, canvas and vinyls. The workshop includes a number of Mac workstations, scanning equipment, a vinyl cutter, cutting matt, guillotine, and basic bookbinding equipment.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Photographic dark room

Available to students wishing to work with wet and experimental approaches to photographic production, the darkroom supports black-and-white analogue photographic works. This facility houses an enlarger, wet photographic processing equipment, UV LED exposure unit and plumbed processing tanks.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Digital media suite

Green and blue screen facilities are available, alongside photographic, audio-visual and media presentation equipment which includes high-end DSLR cameras, HD video cameras, large format camera,VR and AR facilities, sound recording and video editing hardware, lighting, monitors, production backdrops and sound recorders. Our Mac Pro suite features a range of digital moving image and sound production software.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Royal Academy Library and collections

Books, exhibition catalogues, monographs, art magazine subscriptions and periodicals on international contemporary and historical art are all available on loan. Special library collections also include examples of early printed and illustrated books, and the RA’s permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings and photographs.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Studios

Whatever the nature of your practice, you will be allocated a dedicated, shared studio space working alongside your fellow students.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

Bookable Project Spaces

Bookable project spaces are available to facilitate short term work that may need more space or focus outside of your shared studio. A dedicated space is available for those needing a clean and versatile area for performance, photography, video, or audio work.

Photo: Catherine Garcia

- 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 have included:
  
  Jennifer Higgie
  Dorothy Price
  Axel Rüger
  John Cussans
  Miranda Irwin and Clare Farrell
  Federico Campagna and Prof. Charles Burnett
  Esther Leslie
  Laura Lopez
  
  Artist’s talks
  
  A programme of talks, screenings and performance. Last year’s artist talks included:
  
  Unyimeabasi Udoh
  Appau Junior Boakye-Yiadom
  Jane and Louise Wilson RA
  Maria Lisogorskaya rep. Assemble RA
  Harold Offeh
  Tai Shani
  Zineb Sedira
- Crits
  
  In 2023, students presented their work to their peers and the following artists:
  
  Jennifer Martin
  Allison Katz
  Daniel Sinsel
  Sean Steadman
  Enrico David
  Paul Noble
  Phoebe Unwin
  Ali Eisa
  Laura Grace Ford
  Harold Offeh
  Rut Blees Luxemburg + Axel Rüger
  Unyimeabasi Udoh (Starr Fellow)
  Simeon Barclay
  Milena Dragicevic
  Shaan Tariq Hassen Syed
  Georgina Starr
  Francis Upritchard
  Matt Williams
  Lindsay Seers
  Andrew Pierre Hart
  Ivan Seal
  Phoebe Unwin
- Tutorials
  
  In 2023, students engaged in tutorials with visiting artists, including:
  
  Clunie Reid
  Rut Blees Luxemburg
  Enrico David
  Eddie Peake
  Kira Freije
  Allison Katz
  Brian Griffiths RA
  Alice Theobald
  Jennifer Martin
  Joy Gregory
  Oliver Osborne
  Eloise Hawser
  Andreas Reiter Raabe
  Eranda Professor of Drawing, Alison Wilding RA
  Prem Sahib
  Sarah Jones
  Vanessa Jackson RA
  Andreas Reiter Raabe
  Michelle Williams Gamaker
  Hew Locke RA

- Exhibitions
  
  Premiums
  
  A series of group exhibitions of work by students in their second year are held in the Weston Studio of the Royal Academy during the Spring term. This is an opportunity to select work to show and how to show it, evaluate progress and work as a group to install the shows. Find out more about Premiums 2023.
  
  RA Schools Show
  
  At the end of your third year the RA Schools’ studios are transformed into large exhibition spaces that support individual or collaborative exhibitions for each graduating student, that attract thousands of visitors and invite professional scrutiny. Find out more about RA Schools Show 2023.
- Texts
  
  The text component of the programme is an opportunity to explore and research ideas that arise in the studio in written form.
  
  You will complete a short written text, supported by an invited artist-writer and your year tutor, 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.
- Travel opportunities
  
  Travel prizes are awarded providing financial support to visit e.g. the USA.

- Staff
  
  Keeper of the Royal Academy of Arts
  Cathie Pilkington RA
  
  Curator & Director of RA Schools
  Eliza Bonham Carter
  
  Executive Assistant to Keeper of the Royal Academy & Director of RA Schools
  Jemima Fitzjohn
  
  Senior Lecturers
  Margarita Gluzberg
  Brian Griffiths RA Richard Kirwan
  
  Head of Fine Art Processes
  Mark Hampson
  
  Programme & Alumni Engagement Manager
  David Cooper
  
  Programme Administrator
  Gwendolen Jones
  
  Student Services Administrator
  Geraldine Vaughan
- Sculpture Workshop Manager
  Richard Elliott
  
  Sculpture Workshop Technician
  Martha Todd
  Rachael Barker
  
  Digital Print Tutors
  Guler Ates
  Madalina Zaharia
  
  Printmaking Tutors
  Leigh Clarke
  Katherine Van Uytrecht
  
  Digital Media Instructor
  James Irwin
- Professors
  
  Professor of Anatomy
  Roger L Kneebone
  
  Professor of Architecture
  Peter St John RA
  
  Professor of Chemistry
  Bronwyn Ormsby
  
  Professor of Computer Vision
  Roberto Cipolla
  
  Eranda Professor of Drawing
  Alison Wilding RA
  
  Professor of Painting
  Lubaina Himid RA
  
  Professor of Perspective
  Fiona Banner AKA The Vanity Press RA
  
  Professor of Sculpture
  Mike Nelson RA
  
  Visiting Professors
  Daphne Wright
  Neil Walton

Royal Academy Schools

Key dates

Applications open

Open Day

Application deadline

Shortlisted candidates notified

Interviews

Studying at the RA Schools

Things to know before you apply

This is a full-time, studio-based course

Peer learning

Each year group has a designated Senior Lecturer

A range of discussion and learning formats

RA Schools Renewal

Facilities

Lectures

Artist’s talks

Crits

Tutorials

Exhibitions

Premiums

RA Schools Show

Texts

Travel opportunities

Staff

Professors