Innovation Design Engineering MA

The Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) MAMSc at the RCA, run jointly with Imperial College London, is a two-year, 360-credit double Master’s programme combining design, engineering, science and enterprise. IDE is about transformation of disciplines, of understanding future challenges, and of you as a creative leader. You will design through experimentation and collaboration, prototyping and validating ideas, working in transdisciplinary teams across industry and academia. The programme nurtures a supportive, empathic culture “the IDE family” while preparing you to tackle complex societal and environmental problems. Through rigorous technical training and conceptual development, you will emerge as a curious, analytical and open-minded innovator. Graduates from IDE have worked on everything from biomaterials to medical devices, inclusive interaction to sustainable systems. Programme structure: Phase 1 (Terms 1 & 2) In phase 1, you take IDE Fundamentals; Transdisciplinary Practices; Cyber Physical Systems; Regenerative Materials; Structures & Aesthetics; and Impact. These units each involve a design-led project (sometimes with set briefs, sometimes self-initiated), where you generate imaginative ideas, build and test prototypes, simulate, and get feedback from expert stakeholders like engineers, designers and potential users. Phase 2 (Terms 3 & 4) In phase 2, you take Sustainable Systems and Agency & Implementation. This phase focuses on professional consolidation, developing your individual and team identity, engaging with organisations, planning your own projects, and defining your pathway for the next phase. Phase 3 (Terms 5 & 6) In phase 3, you lead significant projects through team-based work, individual projects, and an elective module. You build leadership, technical and professional agency, and carve out a specialism aligned with your emerging interests under the guidance of tutors. 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.

The programme accepts a wide range of applicants – we want diversity of expertise, culture and experience and we welcome applicants from fields such as business, social science, and the arts in addition to engineering, science and design. Candidates who can demonstrate outstanding potential to develop creative, technical and innovation qualities.Generally, we are looking for pioneering applicants to demonstrate their:creativity, imagination and innovation;ability to clearly display and articulate the intentions of your work;intellectual engagement in areas relevant to the work and subjects that matter to you;technical skills appropriate to IDE and rigour in your approach;potential to direct and navigate their learning journey within the structure of the programme, and achieve MA and MSc standards overall.IDE is a double Master's programme run jointly between the RCA and Imperial College London, and consequently, applicants need to meet the requirements of both institutions. Candidates for IDE are normally required to have at least a UK honours degree at 2:1 level (or the equivalent) in any subject relevant to innovation. It is desirable for candidates to have some relevant work experience.In exceptional circumstances applicants without the required degree qualification will be considered, for example, excellent professional experience or outstanding creative or technical abilities. Special cases for admissions require unanimous approval from the IDE Entrance Examination Board, then approval by the RCA’s Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline (ABCD) and Imperial’s Programme’s Committee.Portfolio requirementsUpload a single PDF format (maximum 20 pages) compilation of work from your previous studies, professional work and personal interests. This should aim to show:the excellence of your current expertise, study area or professional activityevidence of your interests and ability in the fields of innovation, design and/or engineeringsamples of your creative abilities.The portfolio content could include: projects and exercises from previous degree courses where relevant, examples of professional work; personal sketchbooks or working sketches; self-generated projects; evidence of an ability to make in 3D; as well as examples of creative work in any other areas.Each piece of work or project should include clear information about the nature of the work and your role in it, for example, if it is individual work, group work, commercial work in a team, etc.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