The Royal College of Art (RCA) in London has been ranked the number 1 university for art & design internationally for the 12th year in a row, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 – the largest world-wide survey of academic and industry opinion, with other UK institutions also being highly ranked.
The latest results demonstrate the College’s reputation with an overall score of 98.5 percent.
The UK’s strength in creative higher education directly feeds into the country’s reputation as a leader for its innovative creative industries and as a global destination for culture, and supports the UK’s creative economy, which contributed £145.8bn in GVA in 2024 and grew at four times the rate of the wider economy between 2023 and 2024.
As with previous years, University of the Arts London takes up the second place in the Art and Design rankings, with both UK institutions ahead of major international universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rhode Island School of Design and Parsons School of Design in the US, and European institutions such as Aalto University in Finland and Politecnico di Milano in Italy.
Professor Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, said:
“To be ranked the world’s top art and design university for 12 consecutive years is an extraordinary milestone. This accomplishment reflects the imagination, rigour, passion and originality of our students, staff and alumni – a community that continually pushes the boundaries of creative practice. Global in outlook and grounded in London, the RCA is a place where exceptional talent comes together to challenge conventions and shape what comes next.”
The news follows the launch of the RCA’s new Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and a bold renewal of its historic Kensington campus. Together, they signal the next chapter in the College’s evolution, setting a clear course towards its 200th anniversary in 2037.
