General Terms and Conditions for Students

These terms contain important information concerning your agreement with the Royal
College of Art (“RCA”) and you should take time to read them before accepting a place at
the College. Please contact the RCA for clarification if there is anything in these terms that
you do not understand.

We explain below the basis upon which the RCA will provide your programme, and the
obligations which you have both as an applicant and as a student. These terms create
obligations that are legally binding both on you and on the RCA. If you accept an offer to
study at the RCA, these terms will form your agreement with us.

Definitions

1. In these terms:

“RCA”, “we”, “us” and “our” refers to the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore,
London SW7 2EU.

“You” and “your” refers to you the student. Please note that these Terms and
Conditions apply to the RCA’s postgraduate taught programmes, postgraduate
research programmes and any pre-sessional programmes. These terms do not
apply to other RCA programmes (such as the RCA Post-Experience Programmes),
which have their own terms.

A student is considered as registered once they have completed steps publicised

by the Registrar to confirm their registration as a student of the College. These
normally include payment of fees (see paragraphs 16 - 29) and acceptance of
these terms and conditions.

Legal framework

2. The RCA operates within a framework of laws which can apply to it in certain
circumstances, for example:

(i) The Consumer Rights Act 2015 and other consumer laws, which contain
various provisions intended to protect consumers’ interests.

(ii) The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which contains provisions
requiring higher education institutions to have due regard to the need to
prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, and also to cooperate with
a local panel which has “the function of assessing the extent to which
identified individuals are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism”.

(iii) The Data Protection Act 1998, which sets out the principles on which
individuals’ personal data may be processed.
 (iv) The Education (No 2) Act 1986, which contains measures to ensure that
freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students and
employees of the RCA and for visiting speakers.

(v) The Equality Act 2010, which contains provisions promoting equality of
opportunity and prohibiting unlawful discrimination, harassment and
victimisation.

(vi) The Human Rights Act 1998, which contains provisions making it unlawful
for public authorities to act in a way which is incompatible with certain
rights under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms.

3. These legal duties can change if the law changes. These terms are subject to
those laws and any changes to these or other laws that the Government brings
into effect.

Accuracy of information we provide about your programme

4. The RCA makes every effort to ensure that the information provided to you about
your programme is correct, and that we do not omit telling you about important
information that might affect your decision to study at the RCA. Occasionally it
may be necessary to update published information, including the online
prospectus or other web pages, due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory or
academic reasons. The RCA will endeavour at all times to keep any changes to
such information to a minimum and to keep you informed appropriately.

Accuracy of information you provide to us

5. It is also important that you provide accurate information in your application to

study at the RCA. If it is later found that your application contained false or
misleading information or material omissions, then we may terminate your
registration as a student of the College. If you disagree with any decision made by
the RCA to terminate your registration then you will be entitled to challenge the
decision via the College’s Student Complaints Policy.

Applicants and students with disabilities

6. Students and applicants with disabilities are encouraged to notify the RCA at the
earliest opportunity so that any appropriate support arrangements can be
provided. We recommend that you contact the RCA Student Support team so that
they can help advise you and notify the relevant contacts at the RCA as
appropriate.

Your agreement to comply with the RCA’s regulations, policies and procedures

7. By agreeing to these terms, you are also accepting the RCA’s regulations, policies
 and procedures. These contain some important provisions, including, but not
limited to, those outlined below.

8. There are important provisions concerning academic misconduct, governing how

the RCA will ensure that students’ work is their own, and what the College will do
in cases where students have submitted work that is not their own work.

9. The RCA’s Regulations (rules that must be satisfied by students and other
stakeholders to enable given processes to take place) can be found on the RCA
webpages at:

https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/about-rca/official-information/governance/RCA-
regulations/

10. These regulations include the “Academic Regulations” (the rules which students
must satisfy to gain an award of the College) which set out, among other things:

(i) The awards that the RCA makes (different types of degree and other
awards);

(ii) The requirements for approved programmes of study, including the

circumstances and conditions under which the RCA may allow a period of
study to be interrupted where a student is ill or has another adequate
reason;

(iii) The power to terminate a student’s registration for lack of academic

progress or failure to meet the requirements of the programme, including
failure at examinations;

(iv) The power to terminate a student’s registration as a misconduct or

academic misconduct penalty (see paragraph 12 below).

(v) Regulations for Research Degrees which include requirements for

submission, examination and award for research degrees.

11. The Academic Regulations are updated annually. The update supersedes the
previous version and applies to all students irrespective of their year of first
registration.

12. The RCA’s policies (commitments made by the College) can be found on the
College’s webpages at https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/about-rca/official-
information/governance/college-policies-and-codes-of-practice/ . Policies are
updated on a regular basis and apply for students from their date of adoption by
the College, when they supersede all previous versions. These include, but are not
limited to:

(i) Intellectual Property Rights, specifying the College’s commitments in

 respect of ownership of rights for student work.

(ii) The RCA’s Fair Admissions Policy, which specifies the College’s
commitments in considering applications to the College as well as matters
such as the requirement to provide satisfactory criminal records checks
where appropriate, the requirement to ensure than an appropriate visa is in
place and that you have complied with the requirements of UK immigration
authorities and proficiency in the English language (including a
requirement to provide certificated proof of competency in English). The
Policy also outlines the College’s reservation of the right to terminate a
student’s registration, or take disciplinary action, if, as an applicant, they
provided untrue or inaccurate information during the application process.

(iii) The Student Complaints Policy, which explains how the College will
respond to complaints, with guidance to students on how they can submit
formal complaints, and which also explains where students can obtain
assistance or advice in relation to complaints (or potential complaints).
The regulations also set out provisions for appealing to the Office of the
Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.

(iv) The Policy on Academic Appeals, which sets out the limited grounds on
which decisions of assessment boards or examiners may be challenged,
and the possibility of further pursuing an appeal to the Office of the
Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.

(v) The Policy on Student Misconduct, which sets out how the College will
consider allegations made against students concerning their conduct while
at the College. Students found to have breached the provisions of this
Policy may be subject to a range of sanctions, including termination of their
registration without refund.

(vi) The Policy on Academic Misconduct, which sets out how the College will
consider allegations of academic misconduct (such as plagiarism or
collusion) during their studies. Students found to have breached the
provisions of this Policy may be subject to a range of sanctions, including
termination of their registration without refund.

Updates and changes to RCA’s regulations, policies and procedures

13. During your agreement with RCA, the College may update and replace its
regulations, policies and procedures from time to time in order to ensure that it
operates efficiently for students, and meets relevant legal and regulatory
obligations. Important changes to the regulations, policies and procedures will be
appropriately notified to students.

Enrolment
14. It is a requirement when you enrol for each year of study that you comply with
RCA’s enrolment procedures, which are explained on our website. These may
include requirements to supply identity or other documents.

Tuition fees and deposits

15. You are liable for payment of the tuition fee published each year on the College
website, and advised to you via your invoice. This applies even if your fee is to be
paid by a sponsor; where the sponsor does not complete payment, you will be
required to arrange payment from an alternative source.

16. 50% of your tuition fee for the academic year will become due on the first day of
the first term of each academic year; the remainder will be payable by the first day
of the second term of the same academic year, with the exception of programmes
which complete within 15 months (see paragraph 17). If your tuition fees are not
paid when they are due, this can result in you being suspended, not being
allowed to enrol, not being allowed to graduate, not being allowed to
participate in the RCA Show and/or having your registration as a student of
the College terminated without refund

17. For programmes that are completed in 15 months, 50% of your tuition fee for the
academic year will become due on the first day of the first term of the first
academic year; the remainder will be payable by 30th April in the same academic
year. The tuition fee will be calculated as one fee for the whole programme rather
than an annual fee. If your tuition fees are not paid when they are due, this can
result in you being suspended, not being allowed to enrol, not being allowed to
graduate, not being allowed to participate in the RCA Show and/or having
your registration as a student of the College

18. Please also note that the College reserves the right to charge interest on unpaid
fees, and that debt collection fees may be recovered from you, and also that an
administration fee may be charged in respect of dishonoured cheques.

19. The amount of your tuition fees may vary depending on whether your fee
status is classified as a “Home/EU” or “Overseas”. Information about fees and
funding is available on our website here:

https://www.rca.ac.uk/studying-at-the-rca/fees-funding/tuition-fees/

22. Where a student is in receipt of an authorised Career Development Loan, then the
College shall enrol a student on receipt of documentation confirming that the loan
shall be paid, assuming that the loan is sufficient to cover at least 50% of fees.
50% of the fee shall become payable to the College in such circumstances one
day after the scheduled disbursement of the first loan payment. Payment of the
remainder of the loan shall be in accordance with the usual payment schedule
 described in these terms and conditions.

23. Where a student has paid a deposit as part of the offer process, that deposit shall
be subtracted from the fees to be paid in the first year; 50% of the remaining fee
shall become due on the first day of term.

24. Students will be invoiced for fees before the commencement of their programme.

25. Students who receive loan funding direct are responsible for making payments to
the RCA in the same way as self-funding postgraduate students.

26. If you are a student being partly or fully sponsored by an external body agreeing to
pay your tuition fees, you should provide a valid sponsor letter on or before
enrolment. The invoice will be sent directly to the sponsoring organisation.
Payment of the invoice is due 30 days from the invoice date. A student sponsored
by a friend or relative will be regarded as responsible for their own fees. In the
event of non-payment of part or all fees by the sponsoring organisation, the
outstanding amount will be invoiced to the student and be payable within 14 days.
The student will, in these circumstances, be directed to RCA Student Support to
discuss their financial plans and any available alternative sources of funding. If you
are receiving part funding of your tuition fees from your sponsor then the part that
is self-funded will be invoiced to you in the same way as for other self-funding
students.

27. Any variation to the arrangements specified in these terms in relation to payment
of fees may only be approved with the explicit, written consent of the Registrar.

Referrals / Deferrals

28. Students may, at the discretion of the College, enrol solely to complete a piece of
work that they have been “referred” for, or which they have “deferred”. In these
cases these students shall be charged £500 for each term of enrolment. This
amount shall become payable on the first day of the term in which they are
enrolling.

Continuation Status

29. Research students may, at the discretion of the College, move to “Continuation
Status” once they have completed the research component of their programme
and are writing up their thesis. Such students shall not have access to the College’s
studios but shall have access to the Library, and shall be entitled to three formal
tutorials during the academic year. In these cases these students shall be charged
£500 for each term of enrolment. This amount shall become payable on the first
day of the term in which they are enrolling.

Tuition fee increases

30. Tuition fees are charged annually (with the exception of programmes that are
 completed within 15 months, for which only one fee will be charged at the outset of
the programme). Most programmes last more than one year, and it is likely that
tuition fees will increase annually, reflecting the changes in costs of delivering
your programme and any changes in government policy or regulation.

31. In such cases, the RCA reserves the right to increase fees annually to recognise
these changes. This may mean that any tuition fee increases apply to overseas
fees status students, but not to home/EU fee status students, where those fees
may be subject to a cap imposed by regulatory requirements. Where such
increases are necessary, the RCA will give affected students not less than 3
months’ notice before the start of the academic year to which the fee increase is
intended to apply.

32. Any such increase shall also be subject to any restriction on such increases
imposed by legislation or regulatory requirements.

33. Where a student takes a leave of absence or is required to repeat part or all of
their programme, the tuition fee charged will be the tuition fee for the year that
the student returns to.

Refunds

34. A student withdrawing from the programme must submit notification of their
withdrawal to the Registry, at admissions@rca.ac.uk. Withdrawal shall be dated
from date that this notification was received in the admissions@rca.ac.uk inbox.
35. A withdrawing student shall be liable for the whole fee for each term that they
have been enrolled for, up to and including the term in which the withdrawal is
dated. Where withdrawal occurs before a term starts then the student shall not be
liable for the fee for that term.

36. When a student’s withdrawal is confirmed then the Finance Office shall calculate
the tuition fee that the student is liable for. If the student has paid more than this
sum to the College, then the amount overpaid shall be refunded to the student.

Intellectual Property Rights

37. Intellectual property generated by taught and research students in the course of
their study is owned by the College between registration and completion of the
programme. Further detail is given in the College’s Intellectual Property Rights
Policy.

Pre-sessional English Course Costs

38. Students who do not meet the required English Language assessment standards,
as described on the College website:

https://www.rca.ac.uk/studying-at-the-rca/apply/entrance-
 requirements/english-language-requirements/

may be required to take a pre-sessional English language programme at the

College as part of their programme of study. This course includes an additional
cost, of £3,000, payable prior to enrolment

Other costs

39. You are responsible for your own living expenses, travel and accommodation
costs. If the programme you are studying requires other costs to be incurred as
part of the programme (for example if there is a compulsory field trip), then this
will normally be notified to you at the beginning of term and in any event no later
than 5 working days before the trip is scheduled to take place.

40. Costs of materials that students use on their programme will differ from
programme to programme; applicants should contact their Head of Programme to
discuss. In general, the College provides workshops, including heavy machinery
(such as printing presses) while students are expected to pay for consumables
such as paint or textiles.

When can we make changes to programmes or close programmes?

41. The RCA will only make changes to programmes, or close programmes after the
acceptance of an offer in the limited circumstances set out below. Examples of
“changes” include changes to the content or structure of programmes, or to the
location or method of teaching or assessment, or to the type of award. The
circumstances where changes may be made or required are:

i. Where changes are in students’ overall interests, for example because of

developments in teaching practice or technology, new assessment
methods, or where a campus redevelopment or restructuring of the RCA
means that teaching locations change to a different site; or

ii. Where a key member of staff is no longer available (e.g. through illness or
resignation) and suitable alternative teaching or supervision arrangements
cannot be provided. This might be where the member of staff concerned
has a particular specialism which cannot be adequately covered by other
members of RCA staff, or by other resources (e.g. temporary staff) that the
RCA would normally engage in such circumstances.

iii. Where a teaching location becomes unavailable for reasons outside the
RCA’s control, for example because of flooding or fire.

iv. Where regulatory or government requirements mean that changes have to

be made to better ensure compliance. Examples of such changes might be
changes to how the RCA is required to operate because of changes to
immigration rules or other laws/regulations.
42. Where changes or programme closures are proposed or have to be made for the
reasons outlined at paragraph 41 above, the RCA will take all reasonable steps to
minimise disruption to students. This will include:

i. Informing students of the changes in advance, and giving them appropriate

opportunity to comment on the proposals.

ii. In the case of substantial changes (for example, closing a programme during
a student’s studies), consulting with students to seek their views on the
changes/proposals and any potential alternatives or steps to minimise the
impact on students.

43. The RCA only closes programmes in exceptional circumstances. If it is ever

necessary to close a programme to new entrants, the RCA’s preferred approach is
to continue to teach the current students on that programme until they have
completed their studies. If exceptionally this is not possible, as part of the
approach at paragraph 41 above, the RCA will explore other options with the
affected students, for example by considering whether:

i. current students’ programmes can be completed at another institution; or

ii. current students can be offered places on alternative programmes at the

RCA.

Students’ Union

44. The RCA has a Students’ Union. All students are members of the Students’ Union but
retain the right to terminate their membership at any point during their time at the
RCA. Alumni are associate members of the Students’ Union.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

45. The RCA is very mindful of any duties it may have under the Safeguarding
Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended) (“SVGA”). These duties may apply (for
example) in the case of:

i. Students who are aged under 18; or

ii. Students who are “vulnerable adults”; or

iii. Students who may come into contact with vulnerable adults or children
during the course of their studies.

46. The RCA expects all its staff, students and contractors to be alert to any concerns
about the welfare of children or vulnerable adults and to report any such concerns
they may have, however apparently trivial, as soon as possible to the Registrar.

47. The SVGA may require the RCA to:

 i. Check whether certain individuals are barred from undertaking activities
regulated by the SVGA, and/or to undertake criminal record checks; and

ii. Supply certain information about individuals to the Disclosure and Barring
Service, for example, where the RCA considers someone to pose a risk of
harm to children or vulnerable adults.

Offers and programmes which are conditional on criminal records / Disclosure and
Barring Service, ATAS or Occupational Health checks
48. The RCA may withdraw an offer, refuse to admit you or may withdraw you from
your programme or research activity, for any failure to comply with the terms of
any requirements (whether imposed by legislation or regulatory requirement, or
otherwise reasonably required by the RCA) that your offer, studies or research
activity require, including:

i. Satisfactory criminal record/disclosure and barring service checks;

ii. An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (including

compliance with its terms);

iii. Satisfactory occupational health checks (but subject to the RCA’s

obligations under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of students with
disabilities).

49. If you believe a decision by the RCA in respect of such matters is incorrect, you
may invoke the relevant complaints policy.

Visas: you must comply with any visa requirements

50. If you require a visa to study in the UK, it is your responsibility to ensure that you
have the correct visa throughout your programme. You must comply with any
conditions that apply to your visa, including in relation to attendance, and our
requirements for monitoring attendance. You must also present original copies of
appropriate documentation upon enrolment, including your passport, confirmation
of any previous qualifications relevant to your study at the RCA, confirmation of
English language qualifications (where appropriate) and Biometric Residence
Permit, which the RCA will keep copies of in your student file. If you fail to comply
with any conditions, the College may report this to the UK immigration authorities
in order to comply with the RCA’s own duties under immigration law. If you lack the
required permissions to study in the UK, or attached to any permission then the
RCA may refuse to admit or enrol you, and may withdraw you from your
programme. If you believe such a decision is incorrect, you may invoke the Student
Complaints Policy (see paragraph 12).

Your cancellation rights

51. You have the right to cancel your acceptance of a place at the RCA for any reason
(including if you change your mind) during a 14 day cancellation period (the
“Cancellation Period”), which will start on the day you accept an offer from the
RCA.

52. To cancel your acceptance, you must clearly inform us in writing of your decision
to cancel before the Cancellation Period has expired. We ask that you do this via
email, to admissions@rca.ac.uk. Alternatively, you may contact the RCA Registry
by letter.

53. To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your
communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the
Cancellation Period has expired. We do not have to have received it before the
expiry of the Cancellation Period.

54. If you cancel your acceptance within the 14 day Cancellation Period, we will
reimburse any tuition fee payment including any deposit received from you as
soon as we can, and no later than 14 days after the day on which you informed us
of your decision to cancel your acceptance.

Limitation of our liability to you and others

55. Nothing in these terms and conditions will limit or exclude the RCA’s liability for
death or personal injury arising from our own negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent
misrepresentation.

56. Otherwise, our liability to you with respect to the provision of your programme,
the cancellation, postponement, or amendment of the programme, any
negligence, any breach of these terms and conditions, or arising in any other way
out of the subject matter of these terms and conditions, is limited to the total
amount of tuition fees paid by you in respect of the programme.

57. The College accepts no liability for loss of property from any part of the College
premises.

58. For the purposes of paragraphs 54 - 55 “RCA” also includes RCA officers,
employees and agents, and those paragraphs may be enforced by such officers,
employees and agents. Otherwise, neither party intends that any of these terms
will be enforceable by any third party.

No liability for acts outside our control

59. We shall not be liable to you arising from matters outside our control. This
includes but is not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe
weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist
attack, war (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by
government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, or failure of
 public utilities or transport systems.

How we use your personal data, and students’ obligations

60. The RCA’s Privacy Notice explains what data we might hold about you, how we use
it, who we might share it with and the reasons for doing that:

https://www.rca.ac.uk/contact-us/about-this-website/privacy-cookies/
61. Students who are involved in dealing with other peoples’ personal data (for
example in some research projects) must ensure that they abide by the
requirements of data protection law (which contains requirements about security
of personal data, and how such data is used and shared). They should refer to
relevant policies (for example RCA’s policy, or a placement provider’s policy if
applicable) and seek guidance from their tutor or supervisor where appropriate.
The RCA’s data protection policy is available here:

https://intranet.rca.ac.uk/data-protection-policy/

Use of Images

62. From time to time the RCA will photography or film activity within the College.
These photographs and films will be used for a variety of purposes including the
production of print and digital publicity materials. The RCA will take reasonable
steps to advise students, through established communication channels, when
filming or photography is scheduled, and to give students the opportunity to opt
out of inclusion in these still and moving images.

Governing law and jurisdiction

63. These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with
English Law. The English Courts have non-exclusive jurisdiction to deal with any
dispute arising out of or in connection with them.