Visual Communication MA

The Visual Communication MA at the RCA supports designers to develop thoughtful, collaborative and socially engaged practices. Communication is understood not as transmission, but as conversation: situated, embodied and grounded in listening. Through a research-led and interdisciplinary approach, you will work with communities, contexts and the politics of visual culture, exploring design as inquiry, resistance and care. You will translate ideas, events, data and experiences into artefacts, narratives or connections in the physical, digital or virtual, building bridges between people and ideas. The programme embraces diverse media and practices including type-design, moving image, publishing, sound, performance, and writing, enabling you to ask better questions and participate in reshaping the world. Programme structure: Term 1 In term 1, you take Encounters, which develops conversations within a critical framework by staging interactions with other disciplines, communities and sites, encouraging inquiry into what if existing models of knowledge production were unsettled. Term 2 Following on from Encounters, the Affinities unit asks you to expand and communicate your enquiry by developing prototypes, formats and conversations that test how your work engages with others. The emphasis moves from method to relation, treating communication as a reciprocal exchange that shapes both method and outcome. Also in Term 2, a choice of elective units allows you to shape your own learning journey. You can work alongside students from other programmes, bringing your practice into dialogue with different creative approaches through interdisciplinary projects, ‘wicked’ design problems and socially engaged practice. Term 3 In Term 3, you take the Independent Research Project, focusing on locating and establishing yourself and your work within the external contexts in which you seek to engage and connecting your practice to emerging critical discourses. You apply the critical frameworks, methods and tools developed throughout the programme. Towards the end of the programme, you participate in a collectively curated and produced public-facing activity, which could include a group exhibition, publication or curated event, contributing to the body of work presented for assessment. 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.

Our students come to Visual Communication from disciplines including graphic design and illustration but develop the tools to allow communication and connections across disciplinary boundaries. This interdisciplinary environment draws from diverse geographies, rich cultural contexts and multiple fields of study.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 standards overall.You will normally have completed a first-degree undergraduate qualification in a related subject or be able to evidence equivalent professional experience in related fields.All candidates are required to submit an online portfolio of work to be assessed by the programme’s senior staff team. Candidates should create an online portfolio that best reflects their abilities, experience and interests. The portfolio must follow College guidelines for uploading work such as using the College application site and giving a brief description for each piece of work.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 want enthusiasm for your practice, commitment and a strong sense of personal responsibility for your own learning and development.Portfolio requirements -The majority of our students come from the disciples of Visual Communication but this is not essential, we welcome career changers and those from other fields. We welcome a diverse community of students who are interested in many different things. We are looking for potential and the ability to challenge and push at the boundaries of the disciplines. When putting together your application, think about which projects matter to you the most.We are looking for creative potential, critical curiosity, and a willingness to question and expand the boundaries of visual communication. When putting together your application, focus on the projects that matter most to you, those that reflect your ideas, values, and ways of working.Please submit a PDF portfolio of no more than 25 slides. Your PDF should include a short introductory text of no more than 200 words that responds to the question:How do you hope your practice, as represented in your portfolio, will develop during and beyond the MAPersonal 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