Royal College of Art: international student trends
Non-UK enrolment, international share, and the top countries of domicile for students at Royal College of Art. Source: HESA/Jisc, 2024/25 release. Part of our UK international student statistics.
Royal College of Art enrolled 1,820 international students in 2024/25, making up 71.2% of the student body (down 8.1% over five years).
International enrolment over time
| Year | International students | Total students | International share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014/15 | 825 | 1,445 | 57.1% |
| 2015/16 | 910 | 1,610 | 56.5% |
| 2016/17 | 1,105 | 1,855 | 59.6% |
| 2017/18 | 1,415 | 2,155 | 65.7% |
| 2018/19 | 1,700 | 2,400 | 70.8% |
| 2019/20 | 1,980 | 2,645 | 74.9% |
| 2020/21 | 2,155 | 2,725 | 79.1% |
| 2021/22 | 1,880 | 2,575 | 73% |
| 2022/23 | 2,140 | 2,985 | 71.7% |
| 2023/24 | 2,105 | 2,850 | 73.9% |
| 2024/25 | 1,820 | 2,555 | 71.2% |
Top countries of domicile
| Country | Latest students | Change |
|---|---|---|
| China | 985 | +721% |
| India | 150 | +900% |
| United States | 140 | +133% |
| Korea (South) | 125 | +14% |
| Taiwan | 45 | +50% |
| Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | 30 | +200% |
Want to know what Royal College of Art graduates go on to earn? See graduate outcomes at Royal College of Art.
Methodology & attribution
Source: HESA/Jisc (hesa.ac.uk). International = non-UK country of domicile. Figures aggregated from country-of-domicile rows and rounded by HESA to the nearest 5, so small counts are approximate. 2024/25 release.
Frequently asked questions
How many international students does Royal College of Art have?
HESA/Jisc data (2024/25 release) shows Royal College of Art enrolled 1,820 international (non-UK domiciled) students in 2024/25. The table above shows the year-by-year trend.
What share of Royal College of Art's students are international?
International students made up 71.2% of the student body at Royal College of Art in the latest HESA release, up from earlier years shown in the chart above.
Is international enrolment at Royal College of Art growing?
International enrolment at Royal College of Art has fallen by 8.1% over the five-year period covered by the latest HESA data.
Which countries do most of Royal College of Art's international students come from?
China is the largest source country for international students at Royal College of Art, per HESA/Jisc country-of-domicile data. The table above lists the top source countries and how they've changed.
Can international graduates from Royal College of Art work in the UK after finishing?
Yes. Graduates of any UK university that holds a Student-sponsor licence, including Royal College of Art, can apply for the Graduate visa (2 years for bachelor's/master's, 3 years for PhD) without needing a job offer. To stay longer, a graduate typically switches to the Skilled Worker route with a sponsoring employer.
When is HESA international enrolment data refreshed?
HESA/Jisc publishes "Where students study" data once a year. We refresh this page from the new release shortly after it's published.