The Drawing Year is a full scholarship postgraduate-level course offering up to thirty students the opportunity to focus on drawing from observation for one academic year. There are no tuition fees for The Drawing Year – all students are awarded a full scholarship and receive a free studio space.

Courses at the Royal Drawing School are divided into three main areas: Drawing in the Studio, Drawing from Art and Drawing London. The programme is full time and made up of three ten week terms with an opportunity to extend the year into a further three month studio residency as a springboard into professional practice. As well as taught classes every week, students attend a Wednesday Core Programme day, an evening forum, and the Lecture Series alongside personal studio practice days. Throughout the year there are also extra-curricular events including Supper Clubs and Monday Night Drawing

Our Shoreditch campus is located in a converted warehouse at the heart of East London’s art, design and fashion scene. There are two spacious, well-lit drawing studios, a fully-equipped intaglio print studio, a large exhibitions gallery and a reference art library. Individual studios for Drawing Year students are situated at Space Studios in Hackney, a short journey from the Royal Drawing School.

Applicants for The Drawing Year will usually have completed a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art or a related subject, but this is not essential. Places are awarded based on portfolio and interview. Applicants are expected to show a strong portfolio of work demonstrating a commitment to drawing and a level of artistic professionalism appropriate for study at MA level. The deadline for applications is 28 April 2022.