Royal College of Arts Scholarships 2026-27

Q: Will Royal College of Art scholarships cover London living costs?

Partial fee discounts like the 9,000 Vice-Chancellors International Scholarship and the 10,000 GREAT award do not cover rent, food, or transport. UKVI requires Indian students to prove 1,483 (INR 1.90 Lakhs) per month, totalling 13,347 (INR 17.08 Lakhs) over the nine-month proof window. Fully-funded routes (Commonwealth, Chevening, Eranda Rothschild) include maintenance stipends that meet or exceed this threshold.

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Chetna Sharma

Study Abroad Content Writer | Updated on - Aug 11, 2026

RCA’s 2026/27 funding is concentrated at postgraduate level, with £10,000 (₹12.80 Lakhs) available through the India-specific GREAT Scholarship and £9,000 (₹11.52 Lakhs) through the President & Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship for eligible Overseas students. Its PhD funding is largely project-specific, while external options listed by RCA include Commonwealth, Inlaks, JN Tata and National Overseas Scholarships.

GREAT Scholarship: £10,000 (₹12.80 Lakhs) toward tuition for eligible Indian students on one-year taught Master’s programmes.
President & Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship: £9,000 (₹11.52 Lakhs) toward tuition for eligible Overseas students, including Indians.
PhD funding: RCA offers research studentships through research councils and funding consortia, with eligibility and funding varying by project.
2027 intake: Master’s, MPhil and PhD applications open 12 October 2026, with earlier application rounds recommended for scholarship consideration.

Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 GBP = INR 128 as of August 2026.

Table of Contents

Royal College of Art Scholarships for International Students
Royal College of Art Scholarships for PG Students
Royal College of Art PhD Scholarships
Royal College of Art External Government Scholarships
Royal College of Art Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions

Royal College of Art Scholarships for International Students

Royal College of Art runs no undergraduate degrees. It is a postgraduate-only art and design institution, so no UG-level scholarships exist. Indian bachelor’s graduates who need portfolio strengthening enter the one-year Graduate Diploma before a Master’s application.

Route	Overseas / EU Fee (2026/27)	Funding Position
Graduate Diploma (30 weeks, Pre-Master’s)	On-campus / Blended: £21,800–£22,650 Distance: £15,250–£15,850 Deposit: £2,000	No Overseas merit scholarship for Diploma-only students.
Direct MA / MFA / MArch / etc.	Typically: £38,650 Range: £32,100–£41,350+ Deposit: £2,000	Multiple RCA scholarships available, including merit, need-based, India-specific and GREAT scholarships. Early application rounds are preferred.

Verify portfolio expectations for your target programme on the Royal College of Art admissions guide.

Royal College of Art Scholarships for PG Students

For Indian postgraduate applicants, the Royal College of Art offers funding ranging from £5,000 to £10,000 (₹6.40 to ₹12.80 Lakhs) through key international and programme-specific awards. The GREAT Scholarship provides the highest fixed tuition support at £10,000, while the Leathersellers’ Bursary adds £6,000 toward living costs for eligible Overseas students

Scholarship	Value	Eligibility for Indian Students	Key Details
GREAT Scholarship (India)	£10,000 toward tuition	Overseas	Specifically for Indian passport holders applying to eligible one-year taught Master’s programmes
RCA President & Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship	£5,000 toward tuition	Overseas	India is an eligible country; merit-based and automatically assessed for eligible Round 1 and Round 2 applicants
Leathersellers’ Bursary	£6,000 toward living costs	Home or Overseas	Need-based award for students on eligible taught Master’s programmes; Overseas students can apply

Also read:

Royal College of Art PhD Scholarships

For Indian PhD applicants, the Royal College of Art offers multiple funded doctoral routes, with support ranging from full tuition and stipends to research and industry-linked funding. The listed awards typically cover 3 to 4 years of full-time study, with international eligibility depending on the specific AHRC, EPSRC or institutional funding quota.

Scholarship	Award	Duration	Indian Eligibility
Creative and Caring Communities Doctoral Landscape Award (AHRC)	Full fees + £22,780 (INR 29.16 Lakhs) annual stipend	4 years full-time	Yes; open to home and international applicants; UK residency for the majority of study required
Doctoral Landscape: Net Zero Futures (EPSRC)	Full tuition + monthly stipend at the UKRI minimum	3.5 to 4 years full-time	Yes; international students eligible within the EPSRC quota
Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships (AHRC)	Full fees + stipend + industry placement	3 to 4 years	Yes; international eligible within the AHRC 30% international cap
Paul Mellon Centre Scholarships	Fees + maintenance package (varies by scheme)	3 to 4 years	Yes; British art history research focus

Royal College of Art External Government Scholarships

Two UK government schemes and one Indian government scheme deliver the largest single stacks for Indian Royal College of Art candidates. Both UK schemes cover full tuition plus maintenance, so a successful Chevening or Commonwealth application removes the need for any RCA internal award.

Scholarship	Funder	Award	Deadline (2027 entry cycle)	Key Criterion
Chevening Scholarship	UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office	Full tuition + monthly living stipend + travel; total value approximately £50,000 (INR 64.00 Lakhs)	6 October 2026, 16:30 IST	2,800 hours of post-graduation work experience and a 2:1 equivalent bachelor’s
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship	Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (UK)	Full fees, return airfare, monthly stipend of £1,781 (INR 2.28 Lakhs) in London	Tentative mid-October 2026 via SAKSHAT and CSC portals	Demonstrated financial need; no prior UK Master’s; return-to-India commitment
National Overseas Scholarship (India)	Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India	Full tuition + annual maintenance of USD 15,400 (INR 12.94 Lakhs) + contingencies	Tentative 31 March 2027 (annual cycle)	SC, ST, denotified, or landless-labourer household; family income cap applies
Education Future International Scholarship	Education Future Foundation, India	Tuition-linked award of INR 1 to 20 Lakhs	Tentative 30 April 2027 (annual cycle)	Indian citizens with a confirmed overseas Master’s offer; means-tested

Explore More: Royal College of Art rankings and QS performance

RCA’s funding ranges from £6,000 to £10,000 across key Indian accessible Master’s awards, while funded PhD routes can cover full tuition plus stipends depending on the project.
For 2027 entry, Indian applicants can combine RCA scholarships with external funding such as Chevening, Commonwealth and National Overseas Scholarship to reduce the overall cost of study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Do I submit a separate scholarship application at Royal College of Art?

Ans. You submit one shared Royal College of Art scholarship form after receiving a Round 1 or Round 2 offer. That single form covers Eranda Rothschild, LoveFrom, GREAT, House of Fraser, Leathersellers’, the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship, and every other internal merit award. External bodies (UK government routes, Indian foundations, private trusts) each require their own dedicated application submitted directly to that funder.

Ques. How competitive is the GREAT Scholarship for Indian students at Royal College of Art?

Ans. Royal College of Art awards a single GREAT scholarship to India each year; acceptance sits below 5 percent of eligible offer holders. Successful profiles hold Round 1 offers, an exhibited portfolio, and a specific plan tying the MA to a post-graduation contribution in India. The £10,000 (INR 12.80 Lakhs) tuition discount is announced to shortlisted candidates in June or July 2026.

Ques. Will Royal College of Art scholarships cover London living costs?

Ans. Partial fee discounts like the £9,000 Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship and the £10,000 GREAT award do not cover rent, food, or transport. UKVI requires Indian students to prove £1,483 (INR 1.90 Lakhs) per month, totalling £13,347 (INR 17.08 Lakhs) over the nine-month proof window. Fully-funded routes (Commonwealth, Chevening, Eranda Rothschild) include maintenance stipends that meet or exceed this threshold.

Royal College of Art Scholarships: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 3 Reviews

The college offers a variety of scholarships, including RCA Scholarships and Awards, GREAT Scholarships, and specific program and demographic scholarships. There are over 300 scholarship opportunities available for the incoming year. These scholarships vary in their coverage, with some providing partial or full tuition fees, and others also covering accommodation and daily essential expenditures. Eligibility criteria determine the amount and type of coverage provided. Additionally, a few students have received the Apple scholarship, which covers the entire tuition fees.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Scholarships offered

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $100,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Doctorate
Number of Scholarships: 480

VueVille Future Technology Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $1,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 1

Saltire Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $8,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: 50

Bharat Petroleum Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $3,105
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Doctorate
Number of Scholarships: 50

Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 10

Reviews

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3 Reviews Found

Nikita Raina

Royal College of Art( Enrolled 2022 )M.A Digital DirectionsMarch 10, 2025

6.3 /10

My Hustle at: Royal College of Art

Likes

Most of the class were international students so getting to learn & collaborate in a diverse team environment
We had a shuttle bus that took students between all 3 campuses
Getting opportunity to collaborate with Snapchat & their products for a research project

Dislikes

Structure of our schedule/curriculum was sometimes very unorganized
Masters was too short and condensed for 1 year
Not having our final grad show in a proper venue outside of campus in London

Scholarship

No, I did not receive any scholarship. My university did not offer many opportunities and they were mostly for domestic students.
A few of my batchmates had the Apple scholarship, which paid for their entire tuition fees.
My university currently has over 300 scholarship opportunities for this incoming year and they vary in amounts (partial amount of tuition fees, full amount, full amount plus living costs)

My university did not have any on-campus accommodation so I went with off-campus housing with a private company; I just searched on Google to find my student housing. My monthly rent was around 1100 GBP, which included power, water & wifi and full furnished apartment with bed, study desk, sink, 2 closets.
We also had communal bathrooms, cinema room, and a common room. Due to the housing crisis in London, it is very difficult to find a room, especially within the month of August - I was able to secure one of the last rooms in my house.
I recommend student housing as you can easily book a room online without a viewing; it also allows international students to meet a lot of new people from around the world really fast.
Depending on the campus, my accommodation was between 20-40 minutes away from all 3 locations. Most of the Indian students that I knew personally were staying in student accommodation.

+7 more

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 6/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 4/10

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Arpita

Royal College of Art( Enrolled 2024 )January 22, 2025

5.7 /10

Royal College of Art - My Experience

Likes

- Networking and Diversity: I appreciate the diversity of people and the ease to connect with peers.
- Access to resources (tangible and intangible): It is amazing how easy it is to access the tangible resources, computers, materials. I also appreciate the ease of access to tutors and facilitators and the guidance provided by them
- Wellness support: The college keeps supporting in mental health awareness sessions and also helps with brief financial support when required

Dislikes

- Infrastructure: The spaces are nice but the building sometimes are too complex
- Connections with the industry: It has a great networking community which can help us with industry connections and access, they aren’t made visible
- Cost of education: As an international student, the cost of living and the tuition fee is exceptionally high

Scholarship

There are Scholarships available for students who fall under the eligibility criteria.
The ones that college provides are the following:
- RCA Scholarships and Awards
- GREAT Scholarships
- Specific Program and Demographic Scholarships
The amount varies for each scholarship and depends on the eligibility. These scholarships can cover accommodation, tuition or even daily essential expenditure.

We do not have campus accommodation. I booked mine through an online service suggested by the college which was quite smooth.
The monthly rent is 1170 GBP and it includes all the bills, water, electricity and we do not have to pay the council tax as students.
The main challenge was not being able to see it in person and trust the images shown. It usually is very different than what is shown in pictures.
Go for student accommodations if you wish to be a person who networks and would like to meet more people. If not, you can choose for separate flats which is much reasonable in terms of price. Choose accommodations closer to your college that makes you cut down on travel costs.
My flat is a 30 minute walk to the nearest campus. Indian students are scattered all over London but they are mostly corse to one of the campuses.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 6/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 2/10

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Tanvi Gosalia

Royal College of Art( Enrolled 2021 )MA in Service DesignJune 7, 2023

5.7 /10

Learning Beyond Borders

Likes

Having already studied product design during my undergraduate studies and having worked as a digital interactive designer, pursuing service design was a complementary choice that built upon my previous learning and experience.
The curriculum is extensive and covers all aspects of the design process, from research to testing to implementation, which is impressive. This means that I am getting a well-rounded education that prepares them for real-world situations.
Additionally, the emphasis on group work and hands-on workshops during the lectures helped to build practical skills and promoting collaboration.

Dislikes

One aspect that I am not particularly fond of regarding the college is the relatively high course fees compared to other universities. However, it would be beneficial if they could incorporate more field visits outside the campus to provide a more immersive learning environment.

This was the best decision I have ever made. Leaving a secure job in my home country and traveling to a new one to pursue my education was completely worth it. The university provides an excellent platform for interacting with professionals and students from diverse backgrounds.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 5/10

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