MA in
MA Textiles Royal College of Art
Introduction
To provide prospective students with opportunities to find out about the RCA experience and programmes we run a number of on-campus and online open days and recruitment events in various countries around the world. In January 2023, opportunities to meet with RCA staff will occur in:
- India (Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai)
- Singapore
- San Francisco
MA Textiles at the RCA operates at the intersection of design, craft and fine art, and we encourage this mix of thinking to collectively challenge the role of the 21st-century Textiles practitioner. Practice-led research is a fundamental intellectual framework for how we develop textiles and materials; conceived and created by ‘thinking through making’, we are uncovering new insights through the material and process exploration in the physical and digital domains.
Diverse practice across the programme unites commercial designers, individual craft and gallery-based practitioners and smart textiles innovators fostering a vibrant community culture where this range of practice stimulates critical questioning of the discipline.
The MA Textiles enables the development of a personal creative identity through a combination of individual, personally driven initiatives, collaborative work, and industry-orientated and interdisciplinary projects.
With a focus on radical experimentation, material exploration and transformation, we encourage an exploratory, non-linear approach that embraces the conceptual, allowing space for the incidental and accidental processes of discovery that foster a culture of research through physical and digital making.
We critically engage with all aspects of the discipline to demonstrate our creative capability. We value all approaches and promote responsible and ethical values.
Meet the RCA
We host a range on online and on-campus open days as well as recruitment event in cities around the world. These events can include 1-to-1 meets and portfolio advice, informal chats, presentations and sessions with staff, students and alumni.
Check the Check the RCA event webpage for details of upcoming events.
Admissions
Curriculum
Programme structure
Term 1
Textile Alchemy – This unit will enable you to develop a strong foundation for establishing your practice through research, experimentation and exploration of colour, material and process. You are asked to identify and evaluate the most appropriate skills and techniques for your project and to critically engage with your choice and use of materials and processes. You will be expected to engage with and contribute to the studio culture of the Programme.
Across Terms 1 and 2, you will participate in AcrossRCA, the College-wide unit.
Term 2
Textiles Make – This unit enables you to develop a deeper understanding and skill capability within your chosen area of practice and is delivered through a series of masterclasses, workshops, technical negotiated learning and independent study. You will concentrate your study on a selection of available areas and develop your making skills alongside your critical development.
Textile Provocations – This unit enables you to develop a deeper understanding and critical capability within your chosen area of practice and is delivered through a series of masterclasses, workshops, technical negotiated learning and independent study.
The topics covered include but are not restricted to Sustainability and Responsibility, Gender and Politics in Textiles, Craft, Textiles as Fine Art, Textiles for Health and well-being, Mixed Realities, and Textiles as Soft Systems.
In term 2 all School of Design students will participate in the Grand Challenge, a School-wide unit. The aim of this unit is to connect and challenge all students in the School through the introduction of a ‘wicked’ design problem that requires a cross-disciplinary approach to problem-solving involving an external international scientific or industry partner (or both). This unit and lecture series have been hugely successful in connecting and disrupting disciplines, people, philosophies and approaches to design thinking whilst providing our student body with very unique networking opportunities.
Term 3
Independent Research Project – This final unit asks you to identify, develop and present a cohesive body of work that encapsulates and demonstrates your Masters-level expertise.
You are responsible for setting your own scope of work and managing your time and resources effectively. You must be able to demonstrate a sustained trajectory of progression through the unit that encompasses creativity, critical analysis, consolidation and resolution of their ideas. Your development will be supported by individual and group tutorials, seminars, workshops and technically negotiated learning.
All students will take part in a collective Textiles Festival that includes public dissemination and enables the students to critique their work in relation to others and the wider discipline of Textiles.
Program Tuition Fee
Rankings
The Royal College of Art has been ranked the number 1 university for art & design internationally for the 9th consecutive year, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 – the largest world-wide survey of academic and industry opinion.
Scholarships and Funding
Ameea Scholarship (Textiles)
Supporting Intelligent Mobility and Textiles students from the UK experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: One scholarship valued at £20,000
Boots Bursary
Supporting an MA Visual Communication student from the UK, experiencing financial hardship.
Eligible Programmes: Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: £10,000
Burberry Design Scholarship
Scholarships are targeted to students enrolling on a number of RCA MA programmes to enable students to unlock their full potential regardless of their financial circumstances. Preference will be given to students from underrepresented communities.
Eligible Programmes: Print MA, Digital Direction MA, Visual Communication MA, Fashion MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: Up to seven full-fee tuition fee scholarships
Haberdashers' Scholarship
Supporting MA Textiles students from the UK experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: Full fee scholarship of £13,500
House of Fraser Bursary
Supporting students in any MA programme from the UK (Preferably a Scottish national), experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Architecture MA, Interior Design MA, City Design MA, Environmental Architecture MA, Ceramics & Glass MA, Contemporary Art Practice MA, Curating Contemporary Art MA, V&A/RCA History of Design MA, Jewellery & Metal MA, Painting MA, Photography MA, Print MA, Sculpture MA, Writing MA, Animation MA, Digital Direction MA, Information Experience Design MA, Visual Communication MA, Design Products MA, Fashion MA, Global Innovation Design MA/MSc, Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc, Intelligent Mobility MA, Service Design MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: £10,000
Kay Cosserat Scholarship
Supporting MA Textiles or MA Fashion students experiencing financial hardship and specialising in knitting/knitwear
Eligible Programmes: Fashion MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: One full tuition fee (£13,500) scholarship in either MA Textiles or MA Fashion
Osborne & Little Bursary
Supporting MA Textiles students from the UK, experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: £10,000
Roger Walls Binns Bursary
Supporting MA Fashion and MA Textiles students experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Fashion MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: Full fee scholarship
Sir Frank Bowling Scholarships
The Scholarship supports 21 UK MA, MRes and PhD students every year from across all RCA MA, MRes and PhD disciplines.
Eligible Programmes: Architecture MA, Interior Design MA, City Design MA, Environmental Architecture MA, Architecture Pathway MRes RCA, Architecture MPhil/PhD, Ceramics & Glass MA, Contemporary Art Practice MA, Curating Contemporary Art MA, V&A/RCA History of Design MA, Jewellery & Metal MA, Painting MA, Photography MA, Print MA, Sculpture MA, Writing MA, Fine Arts & Humanities Pathway MRes RCA, Arts & Humanities MPhil/PhD, Animation MA, Digital Direction MA, Information Experience Design MA, Visual Communication MA, Communication Design Pathway MRes RCA, Communication MPhil/PhD, Design Products MA, Fashion MA, Global Innovation Design MA/MSc, Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc, Intelligent Mobility MA, Service Design MA, Textiles MA, Design Pathway MRes RCA, Design MPhil/PhD, Healthcare & Design MRes, Intelligent Mobility MPhil/PhD, Materials Science MPhil/PhD, Computer Science MPhil/PhD
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: £21,000
The Coats Foundation Trust Bursary
Supporting MA Textiles students from the UK, experiencing financial hardship
Eligible Programmes: Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status only
Value: Eight tuition fee bursaries of £3,000 each
The RCA Logitech Scholarship Programme
To provide scholarships to students in any RCA programme, from underrepresented communities, and facing financial challenges. Preference will be given to those identifying as Black or Black British; Asian or Asian British; or from a mixed background.
Eligible Programmes: Design Products MA, Fashion MA, Global Innovation Design MA/MSc, Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc, Intelligent Mobility MA, Service Design MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: Any
Value: Up to sixteen full-fee scholarships
The Tony Snowdon Scholarship
Applicants must make an application via the application portal on the Snowdon Trust website from Jan 2023: https://www.snowdontrust.org/scholarships
Eligible Programmes: Architecture MA, Interior Design MA, City Design MA, Environmental Architecture MA, Architecture Pathway MRes RCA, Ceramics & Glass MA, Contemporary Art Practice MA, Curating Contemporary Art MA, V&A/RCA History of Design MA, Jewellery & Metal MA, Painting MA, Photography MA, Print MA, Sculpture MA, Writing MA, Fine Arts & Humanities Pathway MRes RCA, Animation MA, Digital Direction MA, Information Experience Design MA, Visual Communication MA, Communication Design Pathway MRes RCA, Design Products MA, Fashion MA, Global Innovation Design MA/MSc, Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc, Intelligent Mobility MA, Service Design MA, Textiles MA, Design Pathway MRes RCA, Healthcare & Design MRes
Eligible fee status: Any
Value: Up to £15,000 in tuition fees + £15,000 maintenance support
The Virgil Abloh Scholarship
Supporting School of Design students from the UK from under-represented communities. Preference for those identifying as Black or Black British (Caribbean); Black or Black British (African), or other Black backgrounds.
Eligible Programmes: Design Products MA, Fashion MA, Global Innovation Design MA/MSc, Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc, Intelligent Mobility MA, Service Design MA, Textiles MA
Eligible fee status: UK fee status
Value: One scholarship valued at £35,000