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Royal College of Art announces UK and Ireland-wide network of creative education partners

Key details

Date

  • 16 July 2026

Author

  • RCA

Read time

  • 2 minutes

The Royal College of Art (RCA) today announced four new partnership agreements with leading UK and Irish creative education institutions

Key details

Date

  • 16 July 2026

Author

  • RCA

Read time

  • 2 minutes

The Royal College of Art (RCA) today announced four new partnership agreements with leading UK and Irish creative education institutions - establishing a new network designed to increase access to university study and build educational collaboration in art and design disciplines across the UK and Ireland.

The partnerships with Arts University Plymouth, Birmingham City University, Leeds Arts University and the National College of Art and Design (Dublin) will include areas such as undergraduate and postgraduate teaching alignment, and postgraduate application guidance and financial support. In addition, they will explore areas of more in-depth collaboration, including around research, knowledge exchange, doctoral training, staff and technical exchange, and supporting civic and creative ecosystems.

RCA The corner of the Studio building

Each partnership has been tailored to the best areas of interest and opportunity for both institutions, with the details of each partnership as follows:

Arts University Plymouth

  • An articulation agreement creating a structured progression route for students graduating from a range of specified Arts University Plymouth undergraduate programmes to relevant RCA postgraduate taught programmes - including enhanced teaching alignment, application guidance and targeted financial support.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the ambition of both organisations to collaborate in areas related to teaching and curriculum; research and knowledge exchange; doctoral and postgraduate collaboration; staff and technical exchange; civic and creative ecosystems; and other areas of potential partnership.

Birmingham City University

  • An articulation agreement creating a structured progression route for students graduating from Birmingham City University BA (Hons) degrees in Photography, Product Design and Art & Design with Creative Technologies to relevant RCA postgraduate taught programmes - including enhanced teaching alignment, application guidance and targeted financial support.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the ambition of both organisations to collaborate in areas related to teaching and curriculum; research and knowledge exchange; staff and technical exchange; civic and creative ecosystems; and other areas of potential partnership.
  • One full PhD scholarship every year for five years, where an RCA graduate will conduct research at Birmingham City University.

Leeds Arts University

  • An articulation agreement creating a structured progression route for students graduating from the Leeds Arts University BA (Hons) degree in Textiles Design to the RCA Textiles MA - including enhanced teaching alignment, application guidance and targeted financial support.

National College of Art and Design, University College Dublin

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the ambition of both organisations to collaborate in areas related to sector leadership and specialist art and design education; teaching, curriculum and educational practice; research and doctoral collaboration; student opportunity and progression; institutional exchange and partnership development; civic and creative ecosystems; and other areas of future collaboration.

Admission to RCA is not automatic for students on programmes with an articulation agreement. Applicants must successfully complete their approved undergraduate degree, meet the RCA’s academic entry requirements; meet UK study visa and English Language requirements; demonstrate preparedness for postgraduate study through their portfolio and/or an interview; and satisfy any programme-specific requirements.

  • “Creative education - and creative graduates - have never been more important. The ability of creative graduates to ask new questions, bring concepts to life, invent products and systems, and connect to the heart of what makes human creativity special will be crucial to the UK and Ireland meeting the challenges of our times, such as thriving in partnership with AI tools and making sense of a fractured information landscape. It’s vital that creative institutions work together to share knowledge, increase access to study and champion creative futures. I’m delighted to be announcing these new partnerships, and look forward to the RCA working across the UK and Ireland to best support their creative ecosystems.”

    Professor Christoph Lindner President & Vice-Chancellor at the Royal College of Art

  • “The UK and Ireland have a world-leading network of creative education institutions, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Its strength comes from its breadth of locations across both countries, attracting a wide range of experience and perspectives and supporting country-wide creative and cultural opportunities. As a College, we’re excited to be working more closely and exchanging ideas with institutions doing incredible work in a range of cities; as well as increasing opportunities for those students who want to make postgraduate study in London part of their creative journey.”

    Professor Zey Suka-Bill Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education & Student Success at the Royal College of Art