London, UK
Royal College of Art: English test requirements
The RCA is a postgraduate-only institution. It publishes one set of English scores per programme type (Graduate Diploma; MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes; MPhil; PhD), plus lower entry points for master's applicants who take its 6-week or 10-week pre-sessional course. Only IELTS Academic, Password Skills PLUS, LanguageCert Academic and PTE Academic are listed as approved tests.
Checked on 2 Nov 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
PG from 5.5
PhD from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
PG Not on the list
PhD Not on the list
PTE Academic
PG from 46
PhD from 59
Duolingo English Test
PG Not on the list
PhD Not on the list
Postgraduate taught
Scores are set by programme type. Master's applicants slightly below the standard level can enter with the RCA's BALEAP-accredited 6-week or 10-week pre-sessional course, which has its own lower entry scores. Tests must be no more than two years old at the programme start date, and individual skill retakes for IELTS and Password are not accepted. Individual programme pages state the IELTS score for each programme. Applicants with an upper second-class degree from a listed majority English-speaking country within five years of the start date are exempt.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmesSource for this group | 6.5minimum 5.5 in each skill | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 59Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 60, Writing 60 | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
| MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmes with EAP 6-week pre-sessional courseSource for this group | 6.0minimum 5.5 in all skills | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 55minimum 54 in all skills | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
| MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmes with EAP 10-week pre-sessional courseSource for this group | 5.5minimum 5.5 in all skills | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 46minimum 45 in all skills | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
| Graduate Diploma programmesSource for this group | 5.5minimum 5.5 in each skill | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 59minimum 59 in each skill | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmes, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 70; Password Skills PLUS 6.5
MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmes with EAP 6-week pre-sessional course, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 65; Password Skills PLUS 6.0
MA, MArch, MDes, MFA and MRes programmes with EAP 10-week pre-sessional course, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 60; Password Skills PLUS 5.5
Graduate Diploma programmes, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 60; Password Skills PLUS 5.5
“You can see the IELTS score requirement for each programme on the individual programme web pages”
English language requirements
Research degrees
MPhil and PhD applicants must take an approved test even if they hold a degree that would otherwise exempt them. The same two-year validity and no-retake rules apply.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil programmesSource for this group | 6.5Writing 6.5, other skills 5.5 | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 59Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 60, Writing 65 | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
| PhD programmesSource for this group | 7Writing 7, other skills 5.5 | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. | 66Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 66, Writing 66 | Not on the listNot among the approved tests on the page. |
MPhil programmes, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 70; Password Skills PLUS 6.5
PhD programmes, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 75; Password Skills PLUS 7
Other tests the university lists
- Password Skills PLUS
- LanguageCert Academic (in person, online and SELT)
- RCA EAP Pre-sessional courses (6-week and 10-week)
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS and Password individual skill retakes
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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