Master of Arts [M.A] Architecture

at Royal College of Art

Year 1

Studio I, Studio II & Studio III
 

In your first year, you'll work on a live project, and a studio project within a pedagogical framework established by the Architectural Design Studio (ADS) tutors. Once briefed on the nature of each ADS, each student is invited to nominate their order of preference. Places are allocated on the basis of an entrance interview.
 

The ‘Live’ project introduces the student to forms of external engagement, industry practice and the role of field work in a design process. The ‘Live’ project brief is set by the ADS tutors and is integrated into the overarching studio brief.
 

The individual studio project is a contained and defined project coming out of your own research into the ADS thematic, in preparation for the independent research project in the second year.
 

Successful projects will develop a spatial proposition in response to a clear research question that is developed and tested against a context and set of parameters identified by the student.
 

The studio project is also the basis for the Technical Studies unit, with both units assessed in parallel. Successful studio projects will integrate and be informed by work done in the Technical Studies curriculum and visa-versa.
 

Technical Studies I & Technical Studies II
 

This unit provides first year students with a comprehensive understanding and working knowledge of the technologies and innovations in construction, engineering and environment and energy associated with the built environment. Technical Studies is an integral part of the studio design project and essential in the advanced development of the design. As such it complements ADS project work. This unit emphasises the importance of effective partnership between architects and related engineering disciplines in fostering design excellence.
 

The Technical Studies unit also equips students with an understanding of contemporary challenges around engineering and construction industries. In doing so, it challenges them to engage with larger global questions inherent in contemporary practice. Students will explore broader ideas of sustainability that extend beyond the detailed design of the building envelope and services, and that acknowledge larger environmental and contextual developments. Students also engage with physical exploration of a technical aspect of their building through a physical (and or digital) one-to-one scale test. This one-to-one material or detail test of the project, which is unique to the RCA, tests a portion of their design through actual fabrication. As part of any design development it is essential to research, test and design through physical prototypes.
 

Elective unit
 

All Architecture students will be offered an Elective unit.

Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process considers creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.
 

You should have achieved a high quality first degree in architecture (RIBA Part I) or an international equivalent degree or higher and should have at least one year’s work experience in a design office. Alternative undergraduate qualifications will be considered based on portfolio and personal statement.
 

You are required to submit a completed RCA MA application form and a portfolio of completed student projects together with any relevant supporting design material. If you wish to gain exemption from RIBA Part II, you must have completed their RIBA Part I satisfactorily. Design and critical thinking are prioritised in the selection of candidates.

Portfolio requirements
 

Your portfolio is a showcase of your work as an artist or designer and can be made up of images, videos or writing examples. Your portfolio helps us to better understand your application and allows you to show evidence of your ability and motivation to undertake a given programme.
 

Generally, we’re looking for you to demonstrate your:

• Creativity, imagination and innovation
• Ability to articulate the intentions of the work
• Intellectual engagement in areas relevant to the work
• Technical skills appropriate to the work
• Potential to benefit from the programme
   

The MA Architecture programme prioritises innovation and experimentation and we are looking for students with a strong sense of curiosity, independence and agenda who want to be challenged. The majority of our students come from undergraduate studies in architecture but this is not essential and we enjoy a diverse community of students. We also strongly encourage a minimum of one year’s work experience (in a related field) before entering into masters studies.
 

We would like you to submit a ONE SINGLE COMPILED PDF PORTFOLIO with no more than 5 projects of maximum 10 pages per project – this should be a carefully considered document. Video/media files can be embedded or uploaded separately.
 

The portfolio can be evidenced through any media from drawings, images and models to film and writing, but the work must be succinct, dense and well curated and clearly articulate your interest in and intentions for the MA Architecture programme. Remember we will be viewing the document on screen so consider your layout to suit this.
 

In curating your portfolio it is important to prioritise student and independently led work, professional work is only of interest if it was an exceptional experience. All projects should be accompanied by a concise written description and images and content carefully selected to both communicate a coherent project trajectory and also demonstrate skills and aptitude.
 

Your portfolio should communicate who you are and your potential. It is important to choose the best projects that truly represent your interests, that unpack issues that are important to you or that you may wish to pursue in your masters education. Work should be well presented both visually but also in depth of content and communication. Fundamental to any work included in the portfolio should be: research, rigour, invention and visually and materially rich design exploration and representation.

English-language requirements
 

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need the equivalent of an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with a 6.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE) and at least 5.5 in other skills. Students achieving a grade of at least 6.0, with a grade of 5.5 in the Test of Written English, may be eligible to take the College’s English for Academic Purposes course to enable them to reach the required standard.
 

You are exempt from this requirement if you have received a 2.1 degree or above from a university in a majority English-speaking nation within the last two years.
 

If you need a Student Visa to study at the RCA, you will also need to meet the Home Office’s minimum requirements for entry clearance.

Overseas and EU - £24,000 per year