What will I learn?

Benefit from our flexible programme structure, working with subject experts from different backgrounds Immerse yourself in core units about design research, complex systems and envisioning futures before developing your independent research project Enjoy a wide range of electives in subjects such as design resilience, design ethics and design innovation alongside electives from across the College Develop professional and entrepreneurial skills to prepare you for real-world opportunities Engage individuals in debate, develop alternative strategies and change minds and behaviours as a design futures practitioner. Working individually and with peers, we’ll encourage you to explore how design futures can address complex social and environmental challenges. On the RCA Design Futures MA, you’ll develop a transdisciplinary approach to your design practice and strengthen your research methodology so you can refine your thinking. You might come to this programme with an established design practice that you want to push further or from outside traditional design fields, but with a desire to integrate design tools into your work.

Which department am I in?

School of Communication and Design

Study options

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees

£40,750.00 (44,39,965) per year

Cost of living - Estimated annual costs lower range: £15,200 Estimated annual costs upper range: £35,688

This is a fixed fee

Application deadline

02/06/2027

Start date

September 2027

Venue

Royal College of Art- Kensington Campus

Darwin & Stevens Buildings Kensington Gore,

London,

SW7 2EU, London (South West), United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For international students

Candidates are selected entirely on merit. We welcome applications from all over the world, as well as from mid-career designers and career changers.The selection criteria considers creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio or equivalent professional experience, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve the MA standard overall.Portfolio requirementsFor your application we want you to compile a single illustrated document (PDF, maximum ten pages and project proposal) showing us a diverse range of projects from previous studies, professional work or self-initiated work and you must include a project proposal. This should show clearly through writing and images of your own work your interest in pursuing Design as an interdisciplinary field that seeks to address current and future challenges.If you are currently a designer or design student, select a few of your most creative, original and ingenious pieces of work, including your process and decision making, the skills and tools used, as well as its purpose and final outcome. If you're not a designer or a student from a different discipline, dont worry – show us how youve achieved excellence in your own field, communicate it in writing and/or visually, and make it personal, evidencing your unique creativity and how this might be relevant to Design. In both cases we are interested in how you think, what gets you excited, your desire to learn new skills, and your ability to build and grow ideas that contribute to the future of design and the planet.Project proposalWord count: 700 wordsFont: Minimum 10ptFormat: Include at the end of your portfolio PDFThe project proposal (700 words) is an indicative statement about what you intend to explore as a Design Futures issue on the programme. It is recognised that this will change and develop while you are studying. We want to understand your interests, your particular angle on this topic, the context, and how you would approach it. Avoid generic statements about global issues.Personal statementPlease provide a 300-word written personal statement that addresses the following points:Introduce yourself, your interests and your motivations for applying to the Royal College of Art, and to this programme in particular.Briefly summarise any educational background and professional experience to date that will support your application.Tell us what you want to do in the future.Video requirements

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.