Digital Narrative Arts MA

Learn to view the world critically, cutting through hype and misinformation. Collaborate with others to explore how digital narrative arts and immersive, interactive storytelling can create positive and enduring change. Shape the future of narrative and storytelling, working creatively and critically with emerging technologies as part of a world-leading community of researchers and practitioners. Engage sensitively with diverse traditions and cultures, building an understanding of ethical and equitable narrative practice, and critical and analytical approaches to technology. Evolving from the RCA’s Digital Direction MA programme, Digital Narrative Arts MAMFA is a collaborative, interdisciplinary community exploring new approaches to narrative practice and global storytelling through emerging technologies. We create immersive, interactive, digital and generative narrative experiences, including art, games, film, sound, and live performance, combining research and experimentation with collective practice to rethink how contemporary digital narratives are shaped, shared and experienced. We work creatively and critically with artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), including game engines, virtual and augmented reality and real-time 3D, advanced sensing, physical computing and mobile platforms. Developing diverse narrative logics, structures, ways of making and disseminating meaning, we create new possibilities for what narrative and storytelling can be; and explore how they can operate as critical tools for addressing social and ecological challenges, as a means for creating fairer and more sustainable futures. Join us to research knowledge systems and paradigms, and explore ways of working with people and other species to develop equitable planetary storytelling for real-world contexts.

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/MFA standards overall.You will normally have completed an undergraduate qualification in a relevant subject or be able to evidence equivalent professional experience in fields such as filmmaking, broadcasting, media and communication, fine art, graphic design, sound, music, illustration, theatre, writing, HCI or digital production.All candidates are required to submit an online portfolio of work to be assessed by the programme team; see below for more detail.Candidates are selected on the basis of a body of work that demonstrates an advanced understanding of the subject and sufficient technical skill to realise intentions, evidence of commitment to the subject, intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, the ability to collaborate, to engage in debate and respond to criticism, and the ability to engage in sustained and consistent study. We also look for enthusiasm for your practice and a strong sense of personal responsibility for your own learning and development.Portfolio requirementsDigital Narrative Arts addresses our urgent need for inclusive and relevant storytelling, examining the emergence of new technologies and time-based media (which means media that change over time, such as video, sound, immersive environments, mobile platforms, VR, AR, games etc) alongside the future of storytelling itself. The programme is for creative and critical practitioners with diverse backgrounds who want to experiment creatively and collectively with new narrative approaches driven by ethical, environmental, epistemological and social imperatives, and who have a passion for exploring how storytelling can inform positive change.Please submit one PDF portfolio containing documentation of no more than three projects or pieces of work that evidence your match and potential for meeting the aims of our course. We expect to see evidence of great interest in using technology to push the boundaries of storytelling, as well as the ability to bring a critical perspective to the hype surrounding such technologies.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