Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Study Details: 1 (FT) / 2 (PT) year programme
Full-time or part-time study
Objects shape everyday life, now and in the past. We study how objects are created, used and circulated around the world. We see design history in everything: in the materials that objects are made from, in their processes of production, and in the networks that they are part of.
Studying with us, you'll develop your research skills and be inspired by future-facing approaches from design history. Our students explore diverse and global topics from fashion and textiles history to graphic, architectural and urban design. Histories of theatre and performance and the material culture of photography are a regular focus. Digital materialities are as relevant to us as histories of craft, making and the decorative arts.
We’ll encourage you to communicate your views on urgent design and heritage issues such as social injustice, decolonising and climate change. By our end-of-year symposium, you’ll also be writing and presenting your research confidently and professionally.
Design impacts everyone, everywhere. Our research-led teaching empowers our students to become independent thinkers and future leaders in sectors such as museums and cultural organisations, design and media, as well as journalism and consultancy.
Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process will consider creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your application, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.
You should have a good first degree in an arts and humanities or an art, design, photography or performance practice background. If you have a different background, for example in the social sciences or professions, we encourage you to apply. We welcome applications from students of all ages, and view both prior academic and professional experience as valuable.
RCA/V&A History of Design alumni are working successfully in a range of positions across universities, museums, cultural organisations, design firms and media outlets, as well as in independent practice.
Artefacts in History (30 credits)
History as Public Practice (15 credits)
Research in the History of Design and Material Culture (30 credits)
Urgency of the Arts (School-wide unit) (15 units)
AcrossRCA (College-wide unit)
Independent Research Project (IRP)
Ranked for twelve consecutive years as the world’s number 1 art & design university*, the Royal College of Art’s postgraduate programmes enable yo...
Thu 18 Jun 2026