That’s insane! The lack of communication is definitely concerning. It’s also probably a blessing in disguise and it sort of shows the attitude of the school?!!
Your voice combined with the background music is so calming that I’m almost slightly less anxious about starting to prepare for a portfolio 🤧 love your last two pieces in particular, chaotic but peaceful at the same time
I also applied for the RCA for the architecture MA programme, in the third round and I got a place for the 2021 academic year. I think one of the things the school looks for isn't just a portfolio, but why you deserve a place at the school. From my experience at least, I put the effort to show the variety of work that I was able to produce. For me, I think they didn't want to see just purely architectural work, but the types of work that you can produce, as skills can always be further developed. I put a lot of effort into formatting my portfolio, in order the protect, and used the video essay as an opportunity to introduce myself and my dissertation, link the dissertation topic to my reasoning to my background, and use my background to As for the lack of information, I attended all the open days via zoom, where I was able to directly talk to my course heads and I got clear information on how to apply, and what I wanted to apply. Best of luck if you do decide to apply again!
Hi Yes what you say is very helpful for anyone applying. The online Open Days are worth book your place in advance. They do give some insight & most of the Universities give you the opportunity to ask questions. As you say the portfolio takes some time to prepare. MA level is research level so how you have investigated your ideas and read about them is essential, you need to acquire a discourse about your work all of which is highly useful for the video as said here. Then the video needs careful thought and planning too, that is basically a test. Some students need considerable help with this part of the application process, particularly if English is not your first language. London Art Portfolio can most certainly give a range of support and advice to help you on this journey. This applicants article is very helpful too.
I think back to my city was bombed by the Germans and the allies during the Second World War, and the fact that I am bisexual, perhaps better to move to Switzerland or Sweden, or directly to Africa, being not so far from where I live.
Your art is beautiful 😍 I 100% agree about the importance of artistic identity, art is like split into 2 things: visual representation, style, form and then the semantics and conceptuality. Having a good relationship with these really elevates art, good luck I'm sure you'll find your rhythm! (brought to you by a current interview stage applicant for ma curating at UAL and art philosophy graduate, so apparently I know a thing or two about art😂) - also I've worked in admissions before, so from an admissions point of view it's probably 1 admin officer to 500+ students applying (depending on the uni), so, unfortunately, they don't have time to answer all general enquiries. At the end of the day, universities are businesses and it's not really in their interest to hire more staff, which is a shame because it makes places even more competitive and also more down to pure luck in being able to access the right information at the right time...
Thank you 😄 all the best for securing your places 👀 I think regarding feedback, I'd predict that a lot of the applications are all rejected for many of the same reasons, was thinking they could just write up 10 categories or something and copy and paste whatever category fits the rejection the most (if that makes sense). All they'd have to do is mark it as rejected reason 3 or whatever. Then admin could just send the generic reason 3 (like work on your critical analysis or something). Make sense? 😆
@@TomasFolanHasici Thank you! 🙊 and yeah definitely, like this is a good idea! probably the time issue again though? The thing with higher education, being independent learning and all, is that universities don't want to give a lot of detailed feedback to applicants (i know lol), seems to me this is to encourage and prompt the individual to think independently, so as much as its shite now, in a weird way it will probably help in the future 💛
Hi @Heatherly976! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your application for an MA in Curating? I am also actively looking at schools offering the course and I was hoping I could seek advice from you, I am assuming you already got into the program. :) Thanks!
Tomas, I must say that it's rather brave and generous of you to share your reject here. To be honest with you, I think you still miss the focus in your application here. I knew at least two of my friends graduated from the School of Painting of RCA, and I myself had gone through the application (and education) journey in the 80s (guess you haven't born yet) for my MDesRCA (there was normally 15 students in a School and I was the only non-British in my year) and later in the mid to late 90s for my Practice-led PhD(RCA) (the first of its kind in that discipline in the world and in the long history of the College). An art and design programme at postgraduate level and at this College is more about "what you want to say with/thro/by your work", less so about the techniques. When I was admitted to the MDes programme (as the first design student ever admitted directly to the College from where I was and with but a Higher Diploma (I didn't have a undergraduate degree)), I composed a poem (in English of course) on my application form to tell the School what I wanted to "say" during my two-year MDes programme, not a single word about the technical skill I wanted to pursue. Skill is important but it's almost like sine quo non to being a student at the Royal. It goes unmentioned as it is always expected. But more importantly, what you wanted to SAY to others through your work, i.e., your ideology, philosophy and vision. Let me share one of my mottos with you "The essence of design is not to speak a visual language well (i.e., the skill and the visible), but to speak well with a visual language (for modern designers now, I would revise it to "visual languages" (plural form)". Think and apply again Tomas. All the best to your future applications. (PS: Fauziah Nik is not my real name)
Amazing comment thank you! I've realised aspects of this now as I've spoken to RCA students and processed a bit more what they expect 😆 really appreciate the guidance, all the best for your own goals!
Thanks for posting this! I also applied (for the Ceramics & Glass program) and had no idea that the application portal was new. Makes sense why it was so confusing...
you mean 20th century because world war 2 is between 1939-1945, 1900-1999 is 20th century and 19th century is 1800-1899, while year 2000-2099 is 21st century
Wow..Your have great struggles🙂👍.i'm indonesian👋, one of my dreams is studying in RCA too,and from your video i realize that my dream will not as easy as i think...😊 And i say thanks you veary much..
Also! Would you mind sharing the difference between BA and MA? You may have covered it in video but do specific colleges look specifically for students that work in a similar way (with how you’ve commented on students work?)
Generally speaking I don't think colleges look for a specific type of work because contemporary art has no "theme", but I don't know what goes on behind the scenes in deciding what gets in. Maybe one day I can do a video talking to a university on how they decide 😁
Oh! You are in China! I just came back to China and I’m thinking about apply for RCA. I didn’t learn anything about contemporary art before my MFA course in UAL. So after two years studying in UAL, I think I just opened my mind and just started my art. And UAL changed the way I look at Art. I don’t think Phd course is suitable for me, so I’m thinking maybe I should do another postgraduate course in RCA. Thank you so much for making this video! It’s very helpful and useful! Your work is absolutely amazing! Good luck!
Thank you for the kind words! I've realised the learning approach is very different in China compared to the west, I think both systems have advantages and disadvantages but it's great that you've benefited from your MFA.
I was accepted to Painting MA and I can confirm that the communication was the worst. I've probably sent over 20 emails in the whole process of application and got reply to only a few of them. Luckily it all turned out well but still.
Congratulations! 😃 do you have an insta/other social media, I'd love to take a look at your work. Really hope they sort out whatever seems to be going on.
I applied in 2016 and it definitely wasn’t a case of emailing images to an email address, it was a portal lmao. The portal is not your problem in this case, trust me. But I think you should carry on sending your dad to bother the security guards.
Hi, Thomas. First of all congratz on being a great artist. I went to RCA application process as well this year. Applied on November deadline. For IED programme, thank god, there was not such a mess in the application form. Clear video at the beginning of what they expect, and then you upload your 5 projects, artists statement video. I do agree about "please, RCA get your shit together" ... Sad but the truth, they do have some institutional issues. Which still makes me doubt to move to London, even after accepting the offer and paying a deposit.
Congratulations on your place! I hope that they do up their game, I've heard they've accepted less students this year so hopefully that means more resources and better organisation 👍🏼 Have you got any socials I could follow? Love to keep an eye on RCA students 👀
i got into camberwell college of arts , i do feel like i am not the best student but thanks to my bestfriend i am now in camberwell first year student as of 2024
You know, your work is not very "RCA" , at least not at the moment. RCA tends to be more conceptual and abstract, while yours is more representational, and seem to evoke more of a feeling than stir up a conversation about so-and-so current humanities issue.
I've seen they also do have traditional painters though, there's a guy who does modern realistic botanical garden type paintings within classifical landscapes. Maybe I'm too in the middle lol.
@@TomasFolanHasici True, but his work looks a lot like turner's though, so it's not hard to see why the RCA might pick him for their course as it's easier to place someone like that within the context of British art history.
Thank you so much for all the information!! I’m applying to RCA this year and their website does confuses me a lot. I emailed the admission office but basically they just copied and pasted what’s on their site and sent it back to me 😅😅😅 .. anyway, Good luck this year!!!!
I managed to get it, but after a very luck chance. I got rejected in March but they liked my work enough to put me on a waiting list of people dropped out (I though it would be a fat chance getting in so I successfully applied other places) I got an email about a month ago late at 9pm saying they have a space and I replied accepting with an email 30mins later! Very lucky and it shows its always worth having a shot applying! All the best everyone.
Hey do you know Ms.Barbarosa? Her head is filled with luft but she wears very nice panz, I'm just trying to goebel down all this info? I'm kinda stuka at this question.
Hey! First of all, your work is amazing and I hope you’re doing well. Just had a minor quandary. Does the portfolio for MA Painting require all the submissions to be Drawing and Painting related or it could be inclusive of other mediums and techniques also. Wanted to ask, because where I live the process is a bit different and not too sure about what it’s like for RCA’s application.
Thank you! Unfortunately because of the unclear guidelines and questionable communication I have no idea 😆 I'd assume that it's ok to put in other mediums but make the bulk of your portfolio tailored towards whatever specific MA you're applying for.
Cruel and unfair days we live in. You could’ve walked into any of the worlds most prestigious Art Schools with that portfolio. That is you’d been your age in the early 1960s ! Ian Dury, got in at age 16 and studied under Peter Blake ! He only had 3 ‘ O’ levels and not very good ones at that ! Alexi Sayle, went to Chelsea I think, and couldn’t even draw ! You can paint alright , no two ways about it !
I'll be honest, I don't think the RCA as a brand is as relevant as it used to be so I'm not dwelling over it haha 😆 I'm still young, got a lot to learn and only just starting to even understand how the art world even works.
No they say their volume of applications are too high to give feedback. I feel like they could at least separate people into different categories though and give them a general reason why they were rejected.
Being accepted into the Royal college of art is just a label to stick on your resume, its not going to change ones lack of artistic capabilities. Are you actually allowed to enter digitally generated works of art ?
I think now this is more true than in the past (seems like lot of their tutors have left the school now). Also possible to learn from classmates, but obviously this isn't ideal. Yeah you can submit digital works.
@@TomasFolanHasici my battle in the early 90s was getting my local authority to pay my fees for Salford or Manchester, they decided they weren't paying towards anything to do with arts, i even got a conditional placement at goldsmiths but with no cash it was completely pointless.
I have got accepted into the RCA graduate diploma program and yes, my works are very much about personal identity. Do you plan on applying for the Slade?
Hey Tomas，that's RCA recaption is...no longer expect them to replay，once you want to reach them just wait for them at their front door. Looking forward to see you next year!
Yeah this vid defo made me feel a little better cause I genuinely thought I was a great artist. But thinking about it further, I don’t think it’s for me. Even though it might be late, I might try politics
hey bro, your paintings are amazing👌👌. I am also thinking of applying for designing field in RCA. Please can you tell me from where I can collect all such information like what type of portfolio I should submit and other details because there is not much given on their official website or any other site
Start sending lots of emails to them again and again to the department you want information from. Seems like the only way to get real info. I'll be emailing them soon about the painting MA.
I got rejected by ual 😂😂😂 I got to uca Canterbury but that was for architecture which I understand, if it was fine art I think I’d get in, but I changed from architecture to fine art anyway and much happier. Even though ual is closer to me but I find uca nicer
So sorry this happened to you, that's incredibly unfair. I'm applying to RCA Visual Communication and I'm so confused. It's as if they updated their portfolio system and kept their old instructions on the "Your Work" page. They tell us to upload 5 projects, each as a landscape PDF, yet each project section allows us to upload several files in different formats. I don't know which set of instructions to follow. I literally feel the same as you right now... Am I being stupid or are their instructions so confusing? I've tried contacting the admissions department for clarification and they haven't gotten back to me yet. I don't want some silly mistake costing me my chance...
Exactly the same problem I had, seems like whoever is running their administration or info is an absolute joke at their job. The only thing we can run with is the generic information they give us in the pebble pad system. I'm just going to go for high quality jpegs in a nice portfolio format this year. I've already sent several emails with 0 responses, it's ridiculous.
@@TomasFolanHasici Yeah, solid plan. I'm doing that too and hoping for the best. It really is ridiculous - I hope it's like what you're saying, that it's an isolated problem, and that it doesn't reflect the guidance/management throughout the uni. Good luck this time round!
@@DizneyLyrix There were a lot of politics this year with tutors vs whoever is running things/making decisions so I'm sure there's good staff around. All the best to you too!
Art is expression. Expression of self, not technical information. A self portrait is an opportunity of revealing your feeling, philosophy, historical experience, attitudes, etc. It is not an opportunity to reveal the structure, shape or color of your head, or how a scar on the cheek lines up with you nose, but perhaps that the scar reflects a horrifying event in your life. Technical drawing is beautiful in an engineers office! I think they want to see the you in each work.
Hey Man...thnks for your real storytelling.. I am willing to pursue car design course which is transportation design. .but when i am applying for the same to RCA. ..there is no as such option available. They are fine arts. .. ..please help me for choosing right one for master in car design?
Sorry bro I have absolutely no idea about car design or what you'd need to do, only know a bit about painting or fine art courses and they definitely won't teach you car design lol.
Dear Aamir, I believe there is still car design at RCA and it’s famous. I knew at least two friends graduated from there. One being the very designer of the Porche’s Boxser. When I was an MDes student at RCA, it was a known fact that all the 15 students studying car design were booked and employed before they even graduated. I think you need to revisit the RCA’s website or better still, give a call to the College to find out before you give up. While Britain has a car industry and has created cars like RR, Bentley, Aston Martin , Jaguars etc, it is out of the question that RCA does not offer car design. FN PhD(RCA), MDesRCA
@@boschevartist I'll be honest due to current RCA politics I'm no longer interested, but thank you for the encouragement 😄💪 just finished another post-grad course so ready for the world now lol
@@boschevartist Had friends attend both Painting and Illustration pathways, there's been a load of staff strikes (I've heard bad contracts, removal of certain benefits and securities etc plus loads being laid off), tiny studio spaces and in some cases none due to overcrowded courses (majority are now international too 💵). Also sat in on a few classes myself when hanging out with my friends due to the remote teaching and the lectures were to be quite blunt utter conceptual nonsense that has nothing to do with their actual pathways, zero practicality to it 😅 I could go on but I don't want to come across as an educational channel that just hates on institutions lol 😂
Lolwut which ones look like watercolor? 😆 I haven't even used oil paint very thinly/loose on these pieces and many artists do use oil paint in that way. The downfall of this portfolio was basically a lack of maturity when it came to my context/ideas - not so much painting technique or imagery 👍🏼
@@TomasFolanHasici omg which? I’m in the midst of finding lecturers for my MA Architecture and on the website they don’t even say how many referees we need to have 🙄🙄🙄
