Contemporary Art Practice MFA

The Contemporary Art Practice MAMFA will be available either as a one year MA or a two year MFA. This programme at the RCA offers a discursive, research driven environment for ambitious and exploratory artists, blending theory and making as you develop contemporary artwork in media such as installation, moving image, performance and emerging technologies. Through individual tutorials, group critiques, lectures, seminars and workshops, you will situate your practice within current cultural, political and ethical debates, while critically responding to the world and shaping speculative futures. The programme supports collective and peer led learning, with collaboration, experimentation and public presentation (such as exhibitions and events) at its heart. While the intensive one-year MA route focuses on developing critical and technical agency through an Independent Research Project, the extended two-year MFA route builds on this foundation to cultivate sustained creative practice and professional leadership. Programme structure: Term 1 In Term 1, you take Situating Contemporary Art Practice, which provides theoretical and practical foundations through lectures, workshops, seminars, individual tutorials and group sessions, supporting experimentation and helping you position your practice within contemporary debates. Term 2 In Term 2, you take Demonstrating Contemporary Art Practice, focusing on making-public and collaborative practices. You engage with external partners, organise public events, and present your work in an artist talk or similar format. In Term 2, you can also choose from a range of elective units, allowing you to shape your own learning journey and work alongside students from other programmes, bringing your practice into dialogue with different creative approaches. Term 3 In Term 3, you take Independent Research Project, which culminates in a public exhibition, critical reflection, and planning for your practice beyond graduation, supported by tutorials and college-wide professional practice workshops. Year 2 – MFA Term 4 In Year 2, you take Advanced Practice in Context, which enables you to deepen your critical and contextual understanding of contemporary art practice. Through research, discussion, tutorials and experimentation, you situate your developing practice within wider cultural, social and artistic contexts while establishing a sustained direction for your work. Term 4, 5, and 6 Across Terms 4, 5 and 6, you develop an Advanced Practice Portfolio that brings together sustained research, experimentation and making. Through individual tutorials, group critiques, workshops and independent practice, you refine your artistic approach, develop a substantial body of work and critically reflect on its development. The portfolio supports you in consolidating your professional practice and preparing for continued creative work beyond graduation.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.

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 Master's standards overall.Candidates are generally expected to have a good BA degree from a fine art course. You should be able to demonstrate an original and critical approach to fine art as well as an ability to engage with current theories of art and culture that inform their practice.Portfolio requirementsWe invite you to submit a curated selection of your recent practice. The examples can be in any media or form reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of the Contemporary Art Practice Master's programmes.All works may have a consistent form (e.g. a selection of photographic works) or be different. Video or sound work should be edited extracts no longer than five minutes each. Alongside the examples of your work, we would like you to describe how your work is situated within, or engages with, the histories/futures, theories and production of contemporary art.Let us know what thinkers, writers and artists interest you and speculate upon why this is so. We would like to hear about your opinions and thoughts on global, social and political issues; in what way does your work and practice engage with crucial concerns – either personal and/or global?Introduce us to your work and speculate on how your artworks address this or respond to it; this could be through the use of different processes, material choices, technologies, sites, interventions with groups or publics, critical writing, performance and the performative.We are committed to decolonising the institutions of art and education; our current students work with a range of ideas regarding class, race, gender (feminism and trans) and disability.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