What will I learn?
The Master of Research MRes is an interdisciplinary programme at the RCA that equips you with the intellectual, technical and professional tools needed for PhD-level study or advanced research roles in industry. By bringing theory, methods and practice into dialogue, the programme helps you develop experimental and practice-led research skills across Architecture, Communication, Design, Fine Art and Experimental Humanities. You will develop your own research direction through interdisciplinary dialogue, supported by research-active practitioners, historians, curators, designers and artists. The programme encourages collaboration, flexibility and experimentation, enabling you to build a research identity rooted in art and design thinking and develop a substantial independent research project, either practice- or thesis-based. Programme structure: Term 1 In term 1, you take Research Methods Part 1: Developing Research Questions, which supports you in articulating concise research questions and developing an interdisciplinary toolkit of conceptual, analytical, technical and theoretical research methods. You also take Research in Practice Part 1: Testing and Experimenting, where you interrogate your research questions through visual or written practice, using experimentation and innovation to explore the relationship between theory and practice. Alongside these, you select a choice of elective units, allowing you to work across disciplines and broaden your research perspectives. Term 2 In term 2, you take Research Methods Part 2: Developing a Research Proposal, where you develop a research proposal that mirrors a PhD application, defining your aims, context and methodology alongside an annotated bibliography and research reference repository. You also take Research in Practice Part 2: Defining and Developing, where you determine which methods and approaches are most effective for your research practice and refine these towards your final Research Project. You also select a choice of elective units, working alongside students from other programmes and extending your research through interdisciplinary perspectives. Term 3 In term 3, you take Independent Research Project, applying your accumulated research skills to develop a substantial independent project. You can pursue either a practice-based or thesis-based project, with the practice-based route combining an original body of work with a connected thesis, while the thesis-based route develops an extended written research project. Through individual and group critiques and tutorials, you refine your research and position your work within your chosen field.Referring to the website: Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes. About RCA: The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.
