This year the Royal College of Art will be celebrating its dodransbicentennial – that is 175 years since it was founded in 1837.

To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the Royal College of Art (RCA) is planning several events throughout 2012, including exhibitions, alumni events in the USA and UK, and a publication on the history of the RCA.

In 1837, the then Government School of Design opened its doors for the very first time with an initial intake of just 12 students. It was located in a wing of Somerset House in Central London. 175 years on, the Royal College of Art has an enrolment of over 1,100 students from 58 countries.

The RCA is arguably the world’s oldest and most influential university of art and design, with graduates that include Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Frank Auerbach, Sir David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Sir James Dyson, Zandra Rhodes, Sir Ridley Scott, Tracey Emin, the Chapman Brothers and Orla Kiely.

Rector of the RCA, Dr Paul Thompson, says, “From its nineteenth-century roots through to the present day, the RCA plays a seminal role internationally in creative thought and practice. So many leading artists, writers, and designers have studied at the RCA, its influence over 175 years has profoundly shaped and enhanced modern life.”

The RCA is expanding and offering new Masters programmes in 2012 including Interior Design, Service Design, Games Design and Information Experience Design. There are also some other postgraduate programmes in the pipeline including M.Arch in Architecture in the City, Global Innovation Design, History of Photography & Film, Moving Image and Documentary Animation.

Looking for funding for postgraduate studies in 2012? Check out the exclusive bursaries on offer from Postgrad Solutions.

Content added on 24^th January 2012.

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