21 June 2026: The Royal College of Art (RCA), the world’s number one art and design university, is expanding its partnership with the multi-award-winning animation studio, Aardman, by launching a groundbreaking new MFA postgraduate programme, which builds on the expertise of Aardman Academy, their world-class training facility.

The planned new two-year master’s degree will combine 40 years of the RCA’s experience in teaching, researching and making animation with the expertise of award-winning animation studio Aardman. For the first time, students will split their time between two centres of excellence, spending three terms immersed in the RCA’s practice-based, academically grounded London studios, and two terms in a professional residency at Aardman’s world-renowned facilities in Bristol.

The proposed programme will allow students to develop their directorial and artistic voice through an animation project in any medium, with mentorship from professional animators at the RCA a...