Enrolment

You’ll receive a few important emails from us to help you prepare:

1. Tuition fee invoice

By one month before your course start date, you should have received your tuition fee invoice by email (sent to the address you used when applying). The invoice will contain further detail about due dates, application of RCA scholarships and how to provide proof of external sponsorship, so please read all of the guidance carefully.

You'll need this invoice to pay at least 50% (Graduate Diploma 100%) of your fees by the 1st August 2025 before you can enrol, unless you are a Home student receiving Student Finance (see below).

For more information on how to pay your fees, or to provide proof of external sponsorship, see our Paying your fees page.

If you have not received your invoice by 1 August 2025, please email: accounts-receivable@rca.ac.uk.

Please note that if you are a returning student, you will receive your invoice slightly later, once the outcome from the exam board has been confirmed.

2. Pre-enrolment instructions

Approximately one month before your course starts, we’ll send instructions to your application email address on how to:

Access your RCA email account
Once your RCA account is activated all communication will be sent to your RCA email address. Please ensure you check it regularly for updates.

Agree to the RCA Terms and Conditions
You will be asked to read and sign these online.

If you are an Overseas student:

• You will need to upload your visa documentation in the RCA student portal.
• You will be issued with a digital status instead of a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
• To prove your immigration status, go to the View and Provide Immigration Status on the GOV.UK website and send your share code to rca.enrolment@rca.ac.uk to confirm your visa status to the RCA.

If you are a UK student
You will need to upload a copy of your passport in the student portal (if you hadn’t already done so in your programme application).

Upload a passport-style photo

This will be used for your Student ID card so please ensure:

• your face is fully visible and not smiling
• you are looking straight at the camera
• the lighting is even with no shadows
• you use a phone or camera in good lighting
• your background is ideally a plain wall
• you are not wearing sunglasses or a hat (unless for religious or medical reasons).

Confirm your addresses

This will be required to receive your official Student Status Letter so please ensure that you enter:

• Your home address
• AND your term-time address.

Watch this video which explains how to add and updating your address in the RCA portal, or download our step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

Once you are enrolled, your status will be one of the following two categories: fully enrolled or temporarily enrolled.

1. Fully enrolled

You will be fully enrolled if you:

• have paid your fees (or the RCA has proof of funding)
• have signed the RCA Terms and Conditions
• have a valid visa (if required).

Once you are fully enrolled, you will receive confirmation via your RCA email account.

2. Temporarily enrolled

You will be temporarily enrolled if you:

• have paid your fees (or the RCA has proof of funding)
• have signed the RCA Terms and Conditions
• are still waiting for your visa (if required).

Your temporary enrolment is valid for a limited period, which will be agreed with the Registry team. This means:

• you will have temporary access to all RCA services and your academic programme
• you won’t receive your Student Status Letter until you are fully enrolled
• If your visa is not confirmed by the agreed deadline, your enrolment will be withdrawn and your access to all RCA services will end.

You will receive confirmation that you are temporarily enrolled via your RCA email account, with clear instructions on what to do next.

Once you are fully or temporarily enrolled, in your first week of term you’ll get access to:

• your Student ID card (if you have uploaded a passport-style photo)
• the RCA Campus
• your academic materials
• the RCA Library and services
• technical support and workshops
• our full suite of online resources including RCA Moodle and the Student Journey Course which will introduce you to life at the RCA
• your timetable on Moodle - please note you won’t see your course-specific content just yet.

Read our Get connected guide on how to access all our online resources - from activating your account to accessing key tools and IT support.

Enrolment

The Registry team is here to support you at every step of the way. If you need help with enrolment, just email us at rca.enrolment@rca.ac.uk (please be sure to include your applicant ID number in the subject line of your email).

Fee payments

• For questions about fee payments, email: accounts-receivable@rca.ac.uk
• To provide proof of external sponsorship, email: scholarships@rca.ac.uk

Student Finance Registration (for UK students)

If you are a UK student receiving Student Finance from the Student Loans Company, please see our Paying your fees page for more information.

• For questions about Student Finance, email: student-support@rca.ac.uk.