Academic Registrar

Dixon Walter; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious art and design university in Greater London seeks a strategic leader for its Academic Registry and Student Success functions. This role requires extensive experience in higher education administration, particularly in student records systems and compliance with UK policies. The successful candidate will lead the integration of various student support services, enhancing the overall student experience from application to graduation. Strong interpersonal and management skills are crucial to ensure a responsive and efficient service.

Qualifications

• Experience in a leadership role in an HE academic registry environment.
• Significant experience with student records systems and data management.
• Strong understanding of compliance requirements and academic regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the entire student lifecycle.
• Ensure seamless integration of Academic Registry and Student Success functions.
• Demonstrate commitment to service excellence and highly effective people management.

Skills

Leadership in HE academic registry

Process management

Student records systems knowledge

Compliance with UK HE policies

People management skills

Education

Relevant leadership experience in higher education

Job description

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is the world’s oldest art and design university in continuous operation and today hosts the largest postgraduate community of art and design students globally. The RCA has been ranked the world’s number one art and design university for eleven consecutive years by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, reflecting the College’s unrivalled reputation for excellence and influence.

The College has grown from around a thousand students a decade ago to approximately 3,000 students today, studying at Graduate Diploma, MA, MRes, MPhil and PhD level, with new awards in development including MFA, MDes, and Professional Doctorate. As a highly selective postgraduate-only institution, the College attracts over 15,000 applications for 1,250 new places (2022/23) from around 80 countries, across more than 30 programmes of study.

In this context of growth and change, both for the RCA and the sector, the Academic Registry and Student Success functions together play a central role in the student’s relationship with the College from initial enquiry through to life as an alum. This shared responsibility encompasses the full student lifecycle: initial application and admission, enrolment and registration, progression and assessment, participation in Convocation, and continued engagement as graduates and lifelong ambassadors for the RCA. It also includes the proactive support, advice, and interventions that foster belonging, wellbeing, and personal and academic success, helping every student to make the most of their time at the College.

Reporting to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Success, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the entire student lifecycle, from application to graduation, ensuring seamless integration of Academic Registry and Student Success & Experience functions and an efficient, agile and responsive service.

You must be able to demonstrate experience in a leadership role in an HE academic registry environment, evidence of process management and development, and significant experience and understanding of student records systems and data management. With a strong working knowledge of compliance requirements and UK HE policies, practices and academic regulations in relation to student administration, you will be able to translate strategy and policy into actions and operation and demonstrate commitment to service excellence. Highly effective people management, setting standards for performance and culture, and interpersonal skills are pre-requisite.

To find out more and have an informal conversation please contact Mike Dixon at [e-mail] or on 0787 6751896.

• a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the person specification
• a comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV)
• details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
• a completed Personal Details Form (available above)

The closing date for applications is Sunday 15th February 2026.

Final stage selection will be held on campus week commencing 9th March 2026.

In making an application for this role we ask you also to view our Privacy Notice which outlines our compliance to General Data Protection Regulations and the use and storage of your data. Personal Data is held and processed on the lawful basis that such action is in the Legitimate Interest of the company in pursuing the purposes described and has been considered through the use of a Legitimate Interest Assessment utilising the Balance Test to not be outweighed by risks to the rights, freedoms and interests of the Subject.