The Drawing Year

One year postgraduate-level course | No fees | Free studio space Application deadline: 3 April 2024

  • Postgrad 2

    Overview

    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 year. There are no tuition fees for The Drawing Year – all students are awarded a full scholarship and receive a free studio space.

    Overview

  • Drawing at The British Museum

    Structure

    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 taught ten-week terms, and a final self-directed studio term culminating in an end of year show and open studios. As well as taught classes every week, students attend a Wednesday Core Programme day, evening forums and lectures, alongside personal studio practice days. 

  • SPACE studios

    Facilities

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

    Facilities

  • The Drawing Year 2024-25

    Applications

    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 postgraduate level. Applications for The Drawing Year 2024-25 are now open.

    Drawing Year Applications

Faculty

Beth Rodway

"The method of taking the studio and effectively using set design to transform it into a colourful utopia was a process I adored; I had mostly worked in monochrome before The Drawing Year and this class taught me the importance of colour."

Read student story

"Using the most limited of means, drawing offers some of the most demanding opportunities for growth to a contemporary artist, both visually and intellectually, allowing a free transition between mediums."

Letter from the Founding Artistic Director

The Drawing Year 2024-25

Applications deadline 3 April 2024 | Apply now