Painting

The Royal College of Art

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admissions@rca.ac.uk 
44 (0)20 7590 4444

Course Info

Subject
Contemporary Art
Languages
English
Duration
2 years
Degrees
Master

Course General Description

The Painting MA programme approaches the practice of painting as a self-reflexive, critical activity that draws on a wealth of varied historical, material and conceptual accomplishments related to the medium and its objects. We aim to provide a platform on which to engage with current issues and debates surrounding the challenges and location of painting as a part of contemporary art practice.

Disciplines

During your first year, you’ll undertake three units of study, each worth 40 credits and assessed through a combination of continuous and summative methods.

To support your progress in Units 1A and 1B, you will be assigned a personal tutor with whom you’ll discuss your work in six tutorials per academic year. You’re also guaranteed tutorials from other members of the programme team each term, and you’ll have the opportunity to request tutorials from other staff from the School, as well as from a broad range of visiting tutors.

Although working primarily on your own practice, throughout the year you’ll have access to group critiques, seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials with other members of the programme team and with staff and students from throughout the broader School. You’ll produce work for studio critiques that take place throughout term one and two.

As a first-year student, you’ll contribute to the Work-in-progress Show, held at the beginning of the spring term. Your work isn’t expected to be resolved at this stage, but it’s an opportunity to take risks and try new materials and ideas. As this is in a public context, it includes the question of spectatorship, enabling you to reflect upon the efficacy of the visual forms and concepts with which you’ve been working.
During your second year of the programme you’ll undertake three units of study: Unit 2A (40 credits), Unit 2B (60 credits) and SoAH School Unit (20 credits). These units are assessed through a combination of continuous and summative methods.

In your second year you’ll be assigned a relevant personal tutor who will support your practice throughout the year. You’ll produce a self-initiated body of work, which will be evaluated and discussed in group critiques and tutorials throughout the year.

In your third term you’ll exhibit in the graduate show. This will be part of the examination of Unit 2B, the Independent Research Project, which consists of a major project undertaken in your second year. Your art practice should now demonstrate that your are able to make, develop and realise work at Master's level. Your work should now have a clear direction and resolution, demonstrating an appropriate level of conceptual and technical competence. Your practice is expected to be self-initiated and thoroughly researched, and you’ll be asked to articulate your process in a viva voce examination.

Alongside your participation in programme-based units, you’ll also participate in the School of Arts & Humanities School unit. Alongside study groups, lectures, symposia, crits and tutorials, these will support you in discussing and evolving your work against a broader frame of reference.

Requirements

Academic Transcripts
Letters of statement
Portfolio
CV

Grants and Scholarships

Fast Retailing Foundation Scholarship

School Info

Region
Europe
Country
UK
City
London
Year of Establishment
1837
Number of students
2154
QS Rank
1
THE Rank
NA
Webometrics
2324

School General Description

The Royal College of Art is the world’s most influential postgraduate university of art and design. Specialising in teaching and research, the RCA offers the degrees of MA, MPhil and PhD across the disciplines of fine art, applied art, design, communications and humanities. There are over 1,500 Master's and doctoral students from 63 countries, and more than 1,000 professionals interacting with them – including scholars, leading art and design practitioners, along with specialists, advisors and distinguished visitors. It is the most concentrated community of distinguished artists, designers and communicators to be found anywhere.

School Contacts

https://www.rca.ac.uk/
info@rca.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7590 4444

Connections with Businesses

Burberry
IIS Tokyo Design Lab
British Land
Wallpaper
Brioni

Connections with other Schools and Educational Institutions

Barcelona en Comú
National University of Singapore
Architectural Foundation Partner

School Notable Alumni

Barbara Hepworth
Henry Moore
Frank Auerbach
David Hockney
Bridget Riley
Sir Peter Blake
Charles Tunnicliffe
Jake and Dinos Chapman
Tracey Emin

School Notable Academia

Jocelyn Sheppy
Dr Nadia Danhash
Dr Chang Hee Lee
Professor Teal Triggs

Exchange Programmes

Kyoto Exchange
Erasmus+

Extracurricular Life and Facts of Interest

Alumni Volunteers
'A' Alumni Magazine
Lectures
Workshops

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