Writing & Research Mentorship
Art & Art History Dissertation Support with a Specialist Tutor
One-to-one feedback from an art history dissertation tutor on your own draft: argument, structure, evidence and clarity for BA and MA dissertations in art history and fine art. Above all, we do not write, rewrite or edit assessed work.
From unclear MA applications to first-class essays at Sotheby’s Institute
Angelina’s is the outcome most writing students are aiming for. So here is what it took.
Angelina’s MA Art Business applications led to offers from The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She is now studying at Sotheby’s and receiving first-class essay marks.
How Cadmium works as an art history dissertation tutor
Art and art history dissertations are marked on argument, originality and critical analysis, not just polish. In fact, the law and every university policy draw the same line: a tutor can comment, question and teach; nobody else may write or edit the assessed text.
We start with the question, then the draft. After that, support ranges from a single tutorial on a chapter to ongoing one-to-one mentorship from planning in the autumn to the final read-through.
Every student begins with a diagnosis. From there, we build the support around what will make the biggest difference before the deadline.
Diagnose
First, we work out where the dissertation is actually stuck.
- Is the question answerable in the words available, or has it drifted across the chapters?
- Is the problem the argument, the structure, the evidence or the sentences?
- What are you marked against? For example, UAL uses five criteria: Enquiry, Knowledge, Process, Communication and Realisation.
The aim is not to tell you what to argue. Instead, it is to find the argument already in your research and make it hold across 8,000 or 10,000 words.
1 hour · online · £150
Develop & Structure
Then we give feedback on what each chapter has to do, and in what order.
- First, we read the draft and give written and spoken feedback on argument, structure, evidence and clarity. We ask questions; we do not make changes.
- Then we work on the art-specific parts: visual analysis, image referencing, exhibition and archive sources, and the difference between an art history argument and a fine art research paper.
- After that, we plan the cuts. For instance, the Courtauld penalises work that is 5 per cent or more over the word count, so length is part of the argument.
Articulate
Finally, we help you say it clearly, in your own words.
- We give feedback on clarity, academic style and referencing, so you can bring the writing to the level it is marked at.
- In addition, we keep you inside your institution’s rules: you remain responsible for its academic-integrity policy, including any requirement to acknowledge outside help.
In short, question, chapters and conclusion should feel like one argument, not a sequence of descriptions.
What examiners want from an art history dissertation
Half the results page for dissertation help is essay mills, which have been illegal to provide in England since June 2022. A tutor is different, because the work stays yours. In our experience, four things separate a distinction-level dissertation from a competent one.
It argues rather than describes
For example, a 10,000-word dissertation that describes five artworks in turn reads as a catalogue. In fact, the Courtauld benchmarks its MA dissertations against publishable quality, and Sotheby’s Institute names originality, argument structure and critical analysis in its criteria. So every chapter has to move the question forward, not just cover another example.
Structure is decided early
Chelsea’s BA Fine Art asks for a draft dissertation before the final. Similarly, the Courtauld plans the BA dissertation from the first semester of the final year. In other words, draft-then-final is the professional rhythm, and a first full draft written in the last month cannot be restructured in time.
The sources are art sources
First, images need citing like texts. Exhibitions and archives count as evidence, and theory has to strengthen your own reading rather than replace it. As a result, a thin bibliography or an uncited image costs marks under the knowledge and communication criteria.
The help is allowed, and acknowledged
However, universities set different lines. The Courtauld allows proofreading only for spelling and basic grammar, Goldsmiths says professional editorial services should not be used, UCL allows review of structure and fluency without substantive content changes, and Oxford requires you to acknowledge guidance that changes your content or approach. Above all, feedback and questions on your own draft are the one model that fits all of them.
Dissertation requirements by level
Undergraduate, master’s and practice-based dissertations differ in length, timing and what is assessed. Below is a concise overview of the published requirements at the institutions our students most often come from, as well as how Cadmium helps.
Undergraduate dissertations (BA)
What the application involves
BA History of Art: a 7,000 to 8,000-word dissertation, planned from the first semester of Year 3 and due at the start of summer; 5 per cent over the word count is penalised.
BA History of Art: a 10,000-word dissertation due at the beginning of Term 3, which starts on 26 April 2027.
Cambridge: a 5,000-word Part I dissertation and a 9,000-word Part IIB dissertation. Oxford: a Year 3 thesis supervised one-to-one; the length is not published.
The Courtauld allows proofreading for spelling and basic grammar only; UCL allows language and writing review with no substantive content changes; Oxford requires you to acknowledge guidance that changes content or approach.
How Cadmium helps
Fix the question before the chapters
First, we test whether the question can be answered in the words available, and whether each planned chapter moves it forward. Then we agree a structure you can defend to your supervisor.
Give feedback on a draft, early
Then we read chapters as they arrive and return written and spoken feedback on argument, evidence and clarity, so the last month is for refining, not rescuing.
Stay inside the rules
We comment and question; we never edit the text. In addition, we remind you to acknowledge tutoring where your institution requires it.
Writing a BA dissertation? Start with a consultation.
We assess where the project is, where it is stuck, and then give you a tailored plan for the draft.
1 hour · online · £150
Master’s dissertations (MA)
What the application involves
MA History of Art: a 10,000-word dissertation submitted in May, worth 60 of 180 credits; 70 and above is a Distinction.
MA History of Art: a compulsory dissertation, described by the department as a 13,000-word research essay, plus a viva.
London MAs: a 60-credit dissertation in the third semester; a practice-based option exists with permission. In addition, proofreading must not add or rewrite phrases, and an AI declaration is required.
MA Contemporary Art Theory: a 60-credit dissertation with independent research from the end of March. Meanwhile, Goldsmiths says professional editorial services should not be used.
How Cadmium helps
Build an original argument
At master’s level the examiner reads for originality and critical analysis. So we push on the question, the position and the evidence until the argument is yours and defensible in a viva.
Handle the art sources
Then we work on visual analysis, image referencing, exhibition and archive material, and how theory serves your reading rather than replacing it.
Plan the calendar
May deadlines, third-semester submissions and research from the end of March cluster together. As a result, we plan backwards from your date so drafts exist in time to be improved.
Writing an MA dissertation? Start with a consultation.
We assess your question, your draft and your deadline, then recommend the right level of support.
1 hour · online · £150
Fine art research papers and practice-based writing
What the application involves
CSM BA Fine Art ends in a final Research Paper. Meanwhile, Chelsea BA Fine Art submits a draft dissertation before the final, alongside the Degree Show.
BA Fine Art: Critical Studies is 25 per cent of the course, with a dissertation in Year 3. Likewise, the MFA sets a Critical Studies essay each year.
A practice-based dissertation (a creative component plus a written commentary) is allowed with the Programme Director’s permission.
UAL marks all work against five criteria: Enquiry, Knowledge, Process, Communication and Realisation. Similarly, Sotheby’s dissertation criteria cover theoretical understanding, originality, argument structure and critical analysis.
How Cadmium helps
Position the practice in writing
A fine art research paper positions a practice; an art history dissertation makes a research argument. First, we work out which one you are writing, because they need different structures.
Write to the criteria
Then we map your draft against the published criteria, for example UAL’s five, so the enquiry, the process and the communication are all visible on the page.
Keep the writing and the work together
Finally, we make sure the paper and the studio work describe the same practice. For the studio side, our artist mentorship works alongside the writing.
Writing a fine art research paper? Start with a consultation.
We assess your practice, your draft and your course requirements, then recommend the right route: from a single tutorial to longer-term mentorship.
1 hour · online · £150
Word counts, dates and integrity rules change by institution and year. So we verify current requirements as part of your planning. All support is feedback and guidance on your own work; we do not write, rewrite, edit or submit work on your behalf, and you remain responsible for your institution’s academic-integrity rules, including any requirement to acknowledge outside help.
Clearer arguments. Stronger dissertations.
A Distinction in Art History
“My tutor helped me completely reshape my dissertation on post-colonial art history by giving feedback on how to structure my arguments properly. She was brilliant at pinpointing where my argument lacked clarity
Read the full review →
and gave really precise, constructive feedback on how to strengthen my analysis. Her suggestions around structure and referencing saved me hours. I also really appreciated how she encouraged me to trust my own voice. I ended up with a distinction and actually enjoyed the writing process by the end. Genuinely couldn’t have done it without her.”
A
Alexis
★★★★★
Direction from Session One
“I highly recommend my tutor as a tutor. She has been tremendously helpful throughout my MA dissertation. Before working with her, I felt incredibly lost but from our very first session, she was able to guide me in the right direction and help me create a clear and effective plan. Her support has made such a difference to my dissertation and I genuinely cannot recommend her enough.”
J
Justine de Laitre
★★★★★
Art History Essays
“Excellent advice and planning for assessments. Provides clear and logical pathways to organise material for art historical essays.”
V
Vic
★★★★★
Dissertation Research
“I had an incredible experience with my tutor while writing my dissertation. She was extremely helpful and patient, always making time for me even when my deadline was fast approaching. Her research skills are exceptional, and she provided me with further readings that enriched my understanding of the topics. I highly recommend her to anyone needing academic assistance.”
D
Dana
★★★★★
Dissertation Support
“My tutor is a great tutor and is very efficient in working through essays to really get to the core of the argument. We would thoroughly recommend”
B
Bhavin
★★★★★
Writing at a Higher Standard
“I highly recommend my tutor as a tutor. She gave excellent feedback and was especially helpful in guiding me on how to restructure my writing and develop my ideas further. As a dyspraxic student, I really appreciated the way she explained how to improve my writing in a clear, supportive way. Her guidance helped me level up my writing and reach a higher standard of excellence.”
S
Shana
★★★★★
of Cadmium admissions students to date have secured an offer from one of their top-choice institutions.
1 hour · online · £150
Know exactly what to prioritise before you submit.
Our Mentors
Our mentors are Internationally exhibited, practising artists with proven experience navigating competitive foundation, BA and MA/MFA Fine Art admissions.
Cyrus
Artist & Filmmaker
- LONDON, UK
- ALSO Speaks: mandarin, CANTONESE
Amélie
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: french
Hazel
Artist
- London and Newcastle, U.K.
Sean
Artist & Draughtsman
- LONDON, UK and Bangkok, Thailand
Enrica
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
Carlotta
Artist
- London, U.K.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
Choose your next step.
Whether you need focused feedback on an existing portfolio or broader guidance on your work, applications and next steps, choose the support that fits where you are now.
1-Hour Consultation
Broader advice on your work, goals and next steps.
Best if you need help deciding what support you need, how to approach your application, or what direction to take next.
1 hour · online · £150
Portfolio Review
Existing portfolio. Focused expert feedback.
Review your current work and get clear direction on what to keep, change and prioritise before you submit.
90 minutes · online · £250
Looking for ongoing support? Explore Portfolio & Admissions Mentorship →