Arts University Plymouth and Royal College of Art announce new postgraduate progression agreement

<p dir="ltr">The articulation agreement will support eligible students from specified Arts University Plymouth undergraduate programmes to prepare for relevant Royal College of Art postgraduate taught programmes through application guidance, portfolio preparation and progression planning, underpinned by collaboration between academic teams on teaching activity, curriculum approaches, shared course information and progression opportunities. Students will continue to apply through the Royal College of Art’s standard admissions process, with admission subject to its academic, portfolio and programme-specific requirements.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alongside the progression route, a new Memorandum of Understanding sets out both institutions’ ambition to collaborate across teaching and curriculum, research and knowledge exchange, postgraduate and doctoral activity, staff and technical exchange, and civic and creative ecosystems.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Professor Paul Fieldsend-Danks, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Arts University Plymouth, said:</strong> “This agreement is about opportunity, confidence and ambition for creative students in Plymouth and the South West. Arts University Plymouth has always been rooted in this city, from our foundation as Plymouth Drawing School in 1856 to our work today as a specialist arts university with strengths in studio practice, circular materials and place-based creative education.</p> <p dir="ltr">"By partnering with the Royal College of Art, the world's best creative university, we are creating a dedicated pathway that supports talented graduates in continuing their postgraduate studies at the highest level. This initiative highlights the outstanding calibre of our students and the strength of creative education in the South West, reinforcing our commitment to building accessible routes for exceptional minds to advance their practice."<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">The partnership follows a significant year for Arts University Plymouth, which is celebrating 170 years since its foundation as Plymouth Drawing School and has recently launched its Centre for Circular Materials. The Centre for Circular Materials brings together research, teaching, making and partnerships to explore how materials are designed, used and kept in circulation, with a focus on the South West’s natural and industrial assets.</p> <p dir="ltr">The agreement also identifies scope to explore targeted progression support for eligible Arts University Plymouth graduates, including potential financial support and transition activity.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Professor Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, said:</strong> “Creative education - and creative graduates - have never been more important. The ability of creative graduates to ask new questions, bring concepts to life, invent products and systems, and connect to the heart of what makes human creativity special are crucial to the UK meeting the challenges of our times. It’s vital that creative institutions work together across the UK to share knowledge, increase access to study and champion art and design in all their forms.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Arts University Plymouth brings distinctive strengths in specialist creative education, material practice and place-based learning. The Royal College of Art is pleased to be developing this partnership with Arts University Plymouth, and supporting clearer progression pathways for talented creative students from Plymouth and the South West. This agreement reflects a shared commitment to supporting student ambition and developing future collaboration between two specialist universities with complementary strengths.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Royal College of Art was ranked number one internationally for art and design for the 12th consecutive year in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.</p> <p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth has been consistently recognised for student experience, ranking 6th in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2027, after four consecutive years as the top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK in the National Student Survey from 2022 to 2025. The university was also named Winner for South West England in both Facilities and Student Support at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026.</p> <p dir="ltr">The agreement between Arts University Plymouth and the Royal College of Art will be reviewed annually and will remain in place for an initial period of three years.<br /></p>