Portfolio & Admissions Mentorship
Expert Royal College of Art Portfolio & Application Support
One-to-one Royal College of Art portfolio and application support with practising artists: the 15-page PDF, the 300-word statement and the two-minute video, built around a practice rather than a collection of outcomes. For Painting, Sculpture, Print, Photography and Contemporary Art Practice, with Round 1 closing on 8 January 2027.
From a career in finance to MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins
Chen’s is the outcome most postgraduate applicants are aiming for. So here is what it took.
Chen transitioned from a career in finance to secure a place on his first-choice MA Fine Art programme at Central Saint Martins – without a Fine Art degree or foundation.
How Cadmium approaches a Royal College of Art portfolio
An RCA application needs to demonstrate a practice, not a collection of competent outputs. The College says candidates are selected entirely on merit. It adds that selection considers creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio. Interviews happen only in a small number of instances, so the documents decide.
The model has also changed. For 2027 entry the fine art MAs are one-year, 45-week programmes with three application rounds, and Round 1 closes at noon on 8 January 2027. Every applicant now submits a two-minute video. You can apply to a maximum of two programmes, each with its own portfolio.
So we start with the practice, then the containers: the 15-page PDF, the 300-word statement, the video and, for Painting, the 200-word portfolio statement. Every applicant begins with a consultation. From there, we build the support around what will make the biggest difference before your round closes.
Diagnose
First, we assess your work against what the RCA says it selects on.
- Does the work read as one practice with a question driving it, or as a set of resolved but unrelated pieces?
- Which programme fits the practice? For example, Painting, Sculpture, Print, Photography or Contemporary Art Practice, and whether a second programme is worth one of your two applications.
- Which round? Many RCA scholarships are awarded in the earlier rounds, so timing is part of the strategy.
The aim is to find the practice already in your work and make it legible to a panel that will not meet you. After all, the RCA rarely interviews.
1 hour · online · £150
Develop & Edit
Then we develop the work and edit the portfolio to the programme’s specification.
- First, we push the strongest strand of the practice further, because a one-year MA expects you to arrive with a direction, not to find one.
- Then we edit the PDF: for Painting, 10 to 15 images over a maximum of 15 pages, each with title, date, dimensions and materials, up to two one-minute clips, and a few process images where they explain the work.
- After that, we adapt the same portfolio to a second programme if you apply to two, because the RCA asks for a separate portfolio for each.
Articulate
Finally, we work on the words and the video that carry the practice.
- We coach the 300-word personal statement and, for Painting, the 200-word portfolio statement on conception, contemporary positioning and key themes, in your own words.
- In addition, we rehearse the two-minute video to camera against the programme’s set prompts, unscripted and unedited, so it sounds like you.
In short, the PDF, the statement and the video should describe the same practice, from three angles.
What the Royal College of Art is actually looking for
Most advice online still describes two-year RCA MAs with a late-January deadline. In our experience, four things now separate a Royal College of Art portfolio that gets an offer from one that does not.
A practice, not a collection
The College selects on creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in the portfolio. In other words, fifteen pages of competent, unrelated outcomes show skill but not a practice. The strongest PDFs show a question being worked on, with a few process images that explain how.
Programme-specific, not generic
Each programme sets its own brief. For example, Painting asks for 10 to 15 images over 15 pages with a 200-word portfolio statement. Print asks for five slots of up to four images, which may show how a work evolved. Contemporary Art Practice asks how the work sits within contemporary art. So one PDF does not fit all.
The video is the interview
The RCA interviews only in a small number of instances, and says a request for interview makes you no more or less likely to receive an offer. As a result, the two-minute video is the only time the panel hears you. Painting sets four prompts, from how you define your practice to why the RCA.
Timing is strategy
Round 1 closes at noon on 8 January 2027, Round 2 on 23 March and Round 3 on 2 June. Moreover, many scholarships are awarded in the earlier rounds, and an offer must be accepted with a deposit within three weeks. Above all, an application in Round 1 needs a finished portfolio by December.
Royal College of Art portfolio requirements by programme
The RCA’s fine art programmes share one application process but set different portfolio briefs. Below is a concise overview of the published 2027 requirements, as well as how Cadmium helps.
MA Painting
What the application involves
A one-year, 45-week full-time MA over three terms. Selection considers creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio.
One PDF: 10 to 15 images, maximum 15 pages, each work with title, date, dimensions and materials; up to two one-minute clips; process images allowed.
A 300-word personal statement (introduction and motivation, background, aspirations) and a 200-word portfolio statement on conception and making, contemporary positioning and key themes.
A two-minute video recorded on a phone or laptop, speaking directly to camera, answering four set prompts on your practice, what feeds it, your research and why RCA Painting.
How Cadmium helps
Edit fifteen pages to one practice
First, we choose the 10 to 15 images that show a question being worked on, sequence them, and caption every work to the specification.
Write the two statements to their jobs
Then we coach the 300 words on motivation and the 200 words on the work as two different documents, so neither repeats the other.
Rehearse the four prompts
Finally, we rehearse the video against Painting’s four prompts until it is unscripted, specific and two minutes long.
Applying to RCA Painting? Start with a consultation.
We assess your practice, your PDF and your round, then give you a tailored plan for the portfolio, the statements and the video.
1 hour · online · £150
MA Sculpture, Print and Photography
What the application involves
One PDF, maximum 15 pages, 10 to 15 images, with a limited number of process images allowed. The programme asks for a good first degree in sculpture or a relevant subject and the ability to critically reflect on your work.
Five slots of up to four images; moving image up to two minutes; slots may show how a work evolved. Prior printmaking experience is not required, only an interest in the multiplied image.
A one-year, 45-week MA with a portfolio of up to five artworks.
A 300-word statement, a two-minute video to camera, three to five portfolio files, referee details, and IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each component) for non-native speakers.
How Cadmium helps
Choose the programme by the practice
First, we help you decide which programme your work belongs to, and whether a second application is worth the separate portfolio it requires.
Use the slots to show development
Then we plan the pages or slots so the panel sees development, not just outcomes, within each programme’s limits.
Keep one account across the documents
Finally, we make sure the statement, the video and the PDF tell the same story about the practice, in three different forms.
Applying to Sculpture, Print or Photography? Start with a consultation.
We assess the work, the programme fit and the round, then recommend the right level of support.
1 hour · online · £150
Contemporary Art Practice MA and MFA, and the application process
What the application involves
MA of one year (first intake September 2027, subject to validation) or MFA of two years. Portfolio: a curated selection of recent practice, extracts of up to five minutes each, and a written description of how the work sits within contemporary art.
Round 1 closes 8 January 2027, 12 noon (outcome by 19 February). Round 2 closes 23 March 2027; Round 3 closes 2 June 2027 (outcome by 14 July).
Interviews only in a small number of instances. Outcomes can include an offer for the Graduate Diploma; an offer must be accepted, with a deposit, within three weeks.
A maximum of two programmes, each with its own portfolio. Many scholarships are awarded in the earlier rounds.
How Cadmium helps
Position the practice in writing
For Contemporary Art Practice, the written description does the work a proposal does elsewhere. So we coach it to name the influences and the social or political engagement in the practice.
Plan backwards from your round
Then we build a dated plan from your round: portfolio photographed, statement drafted and video recorded with time to redo it. For the wider postgraduate picture, see our MA and MFA application support.
Decide the second programme
Finally, we look at whether a second programme strengthens your chances or splits your work, since each needs its own portfolio.
Applying to the RCA in Round 1? Start with a consultation.
We assess your practice, your programme choice and your timeline, then recommend the right route: from a single session on the video to longer-term mentorship.
1 hour · online · £150
The RCA’s key dates page is still being corrected in places, and requirements change by programme 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 statements, script videos or make work on your behalf.
From a strong practice to a postgraduate offer.
Central Saint Martins
“My understanding of how to apply for a Fine Art master’s changed completely. I learned how to turn my ideas into strong visual compositions and secured my place at Central Saint Martins. This support marked my very first step toward becoming an artist.”
宫宸 (Chen)
★★★★★
Sotheby’s Institute of Art · The Courtauld
“My tutor provided invaluable support during my Master’s application process, particularly with my personal statements for The Courtauld, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and programmes in Art and Business. Her guidance helped me refine my ideas
Read the full review →
and present my experiences in a clear, confident, and effective way, while still keeping my writing authentic. She offered thoughtful, detailed feedback that strengthened my statements without losing my voice. I really appreciated her professional, insightful, and encouraging approach throughout the process. Thanks to her support through the application process, I was fortunate to be accepted into both The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. I would highly recommend my tutor to anyone seeking structured, expert support with personal statements, academic writing, or competitive university applications. Since working with my tutor, I was accepted into Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and I am now receiving first-class marks on all of my essays. Her guidance has continued to have a lasting impact on my academic work and confidence in writing.”
Angelina Lyapchuk
★★★★★
Goldsmiths · MFA Fine Art
“My tutor was one of the most important people in my application process. I came to her at a point where I had work, but it didn’t feel like it was holding together properly, and I wasn’t confident in how to present it.
Read the full review →
What she helped me do wasn’t just “improve” individual pieces, but actually understand what my work was doing and how to build a portfolio that made sense as a whole. Her feedback is very direct, but in a way that makes things clearer rather than overwhelming. She has a strong sense of what different schools are looking for, but never pushes you into making work that feels generic or forced. Instead, she helps you refine what is already there and develop it properly, which made a huge difference for me.
We also spent a lot of time on how to position the work, how to speak about it, and how to edit the portfolio depending on where I was applying. That level of attention is rare and genuinely changed how I approached the process. I was accepted onto the MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths, and I don’t think I would have got there in the same way without her guidance. I would strongly recommend working with her if you’re serious about your portfolio and want something that is actually coherent and well thought through, rather than just “polished.””
A
Alex (MFA)
★★★★★
Work That Felt Clearer, and Mine
“I worked with my tutor when I was applying for Fine Art after years in marketing, with a portfolio that was honestly a bit of a mess. I hadn’t made proper work since school and didn’t know what
Read the full review →
was useful, what was filler, or how to talk about any of it. She helped me apply to Camberwell, Chelsea, Goldsmiths and Glasgow. She was very good at cutting through the panic. We edited my sketchbooks, reordered the portfolio, rewrote my statement about ten times, and practised interviews without making me sound rehearsed. What I liked was that she didn’t give me fake confidence or try to make my work look like everyone else’s. She was direct when something wasn’t working, but always specific about why. By the end, my work felt much clearer and much more mine. I’d definitely recommend her! Outstanding art tutor for applications and everything else!”
A
Ana
★★★★★
A Completely Different Experience
“I came to my tutor after feeling quite disappointed with portfolio tutoring and studio-based guidance in Asia, where I struggled to find critical depth or clear direction. Working with my tutor has been a completely different experience.
Read the full review →
From the very first trial session, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to read my work and identify its underlying direction. She suggested artists and references that were not generic, but highly specific and deeply relevant to my practice, which immediately helped me see my work more clearly. Throughout our sessions, my tutor guided me through the process of refining my portfolio with the level of rigour.
Coming from a nontraditional art background and without formal art school training, I found her approach both patient and intellectually demanding in the best way. She asks precise questions, challenges assumptions, and helps articulate ideas without imposing her own voice. Beyond portfolio preparation for applications, she has helped me develop a stronger artistic awareness and confidence in how I think, speak, and position my work. I truly feel that working with my tutor has prepared me not only for applications, but for the mindset and critical environment of art school itself.”
H
Han
★★★★★
Residencies & Exhibitions Abroad
“I started working with my mentor shortly after graduating with a BA in Painting, at a point where I felt quite stuck in my practice. Within a few weeks, I think he’d helped me more than the three years I’d spent at university.
Read the full review →
The depth of his knowledge is really impressive and he seriously engaged with my work before making any suggestions. He took me back to basics and I was able to rebuild a much stronger foundation technically annd conceptually. His portfolio feedback has been really helpful to me and I think it’s because he’s been a university tutor, worked with admissions and also been a curator and gallerist. His advice changed the way I approach presenting and editing my work. And he’s so motivating! Through his guidance and encouragement, I’ve applied for and gotten opportunities I would never previously have considered, including international residencies and exhibitions abroad. I HIGHLY recommend my mentor to anyone applying to art school, preparing portfolios, or simply feeling lost within their practice and needing serious, thoughtful guidance from someone who truly cares about helping students and has the experience to back it up. Thank you!!”
E
Emily Hill
★★★★★
of Cadmium admissions students to date have secured an offer from one of their top-choice institutions.
90 minutes · online · £250
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 →