Graduate diploma in Art at RCA or Goldsmiths - is it worth it?
Hello, I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about the Graduate Diploma in Art program at RCA or Goldsmiths. I recently applied for the MFA program at both and was rejected. However, both reached out to me saying that I might be better fit for their 1-year Graduate Diploma program.
The way I understood it is, it's essentially a pre-Masters diploma which guarantees you a spot in the MFA program of your choice upon graduating (only at RCA and Goldsmiths, ofc). Question: is it program worth it? It's expensive (£20k at RCA and £30k at Goldsmiths), and I feel like doing the diploma + MFA would be too much to take on financially.
I can try applying for MFA again next year, of course, but the problem is, I do feel underqualified (I have no bachelors, only a diploma in animation), and no previous exhibition experience. I have worked in animation for 6 years, but only recently decided to transition into visual arts and focus on my own artistic practice. I feel like my lack of bachelors and achievements in the 'art world', things like exhibitions, residencies, and so on, automatically puts me at the bottom of the list. So, even if I apply for MFA next year, I still will not have had enough experience to be considered.
I would appreciate any advice on this!
The way I understood it is, it's essentially a pre-Masters diploma which guarantees you a spot in the MFA program of your choice upon graduating (only at RCA and Goldsmiths, ofc). Question: is it program worth it? It's expensive (£20k at RCA and £30k at Goldsmiths), and I feel like doing the diploma + MFA would be too much to take on financially.
I can try applying for MFA again next year, of course, but the problem is, I do feel underqualified (I have no bachelors, only a diploma in animation), and no previous exhibition experience. I have worked in animation for 6 years, but only recently decided to transition into visual arts and focus on my own artistic practice. I feel like my lack of bachelors and achievements in the 'art world', things like exhibitions, residencies, and so on, automatically puts me at the bottom of the list. So, even if I apply for MFA next year, I still will not have had enough experience to be considered.
I would appreciate any advice on this!
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by YanaZu
Hello, I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about the Graduate Diploma in Art program at RCA or Goldsmiths. I recently applied for the MFA program at both and was rejected. However, both reached out to me saying that I might be better fit for their 1-year Graduate Diploma program.
The way I understood it is, it's essentially a pre-Masters diploma which guarantees you a spot in the MFA program of your choice upon graduating (only at RCA and Goldsmiths, ofc). Question: is it program worth it? It's expensive (£20k at RCA and £30k at Goldsmiths), and I feel like doing the diploma + MFA would be too much to take on financially.
I can try applying for MFA again next year, of course, but the problem is, I do feel underqualified (I have no bachelors, only a diploma in animation), and no previous exhibition experience. I have worked in animation for 6 years, but only recently decided to transition into visual arts and focus on my own artistic practice. I feel like my lack of bachelors and achievements in the 'art world', things like exhibitions, residencies, and so on, automatically puts me at the bottom of the list. So, even if I apply for MFA next year, I still will not have had enough experience to be considered.
I would appreciate any advice on this!
The way I understood it is, it's essentially a pre-Masters diploma which guarantees you a spot in the MFA program of your choice upon graduating (only at RCA and Goldsmiths, ofc). Question: is it program worth it? It's expensive (£20k at RCA and £30k at Goldsmiths), and I feel like doing the diploma + MFA would be too much to take on financially.
I can try applying for MFA again next year, of course, but the problem is, I do feel underqualified (I have no bachelors, only a diploma in animation), and no previous exhibition experience. I have worked in animation for 6 years, but only recently decided to transition into visual arts and focus on my own artistic practice. I feel like my lack of bachelors and achievements in the 'art world', things like exhibitions, residencies, and so on, automatically puts me at the bottom of the list. So, even if I apply for MFA next year, I still will not have had enough experience to be considered.
I would appreciate any advice on this!
Hey! I am in a similar position, studied communications and just recently became an artist. No exhibitions, no related bachelor. I would say under qualified should not be the way you think of it but more off a selling point of how much you can be molded and contribute to a program. I got into the mfa and ma painting that way.
I was scared of not getting into Goldsmiths or RCA exactly for the same reasons you are saying so I started looking into foundation programs. I’ve heard they are not really worth it for the price. All working artists recommended me to instead take the year to work on my studio practice and create a better portafolio for next year. Hope it helps!
Hey! I graduated from Goldsmiths (BA Arts Management programme). I have to say that the teachers are amazing. The university is small and intimate. My class had only 12 people, so not only did I feel a sense of prestige, but the teachers also had time for everyone. However, I’ve heard that in Acting or Fine Arts, classes can have as many as 40-60 students.
Goldsmiths gave me incredible internships and work placements - much better than my friends from UAL or UCL. I think that if the teachers like you, they can really get you some amazing internships that aren’t easily accessible to others. Plus, Goldsmiths ranks highly in arts and media.
I’ve never been to RCA. I wanted to apply but assumed I wouldn’t get in, so I didn’t even try - but I don’t regret it. I know two girls from RCA who did their MA there, and one of them continued to a PhD. From what they told me, the teachers tend to favour certain students, and sometimes there’s even a bit of bullying (because of that favouritism - one student gets much more than another). I don’t know how true that is, but apparently, even the grading system is somewhat tailored to individual students, so it really depends on your luck.
I was quite surprised to hear that because I assumed prestige = quality, but when two unrelated people told me the same thing, there must be some truth to it. Also, I’ve heard that RCA is currently struggling financially and has fired many staff who worked in galleries and similar roles. That’s not great, but maybe some programmes there are much better than at Goldsmiths.
At Goldsmiths, I’d say the worst part is the bureaucracy - you have to wait 6-12 months to receive your diploma…a month or two to receive a proper email from someone higher than your professor etc
Goldsmiths gave me incredible internships and work placements - much better than my friends from UAL or UCL. I think that if the teachers like you, they can really get you some amazing internships that aren’t easily accessible to others. Plus, Goldsmiths ranks highly in arts and media.
I’ve never been to RCA. I wanted to apply but assumed I wouldn’t get in, so I didn’t even try - but I don’t regret it. I know two girls from RCA who did their MA there, and one of them continued to a PhD. From what they told me, the teachers tend to favour certain students, and sometimes there’s even a bit of bullying (because of that favouritism - one student gets much more than another). I don’t know how true that is, but apparently, even the grading system is somewhat tailored to individual students, so it really depends on your luck.
I was quite surprised to hear that because I assumed prestige = quality, but when two unrelated people told me the same thing, there must be some truth to it. Also, I’ve heard that RCA is currently struggling financially and has fired many staff who worked in galleries and similar roles. That’s not great, but maybe some programmes there are much better than at Goldsmiths.
At Goldsmiths, I’d say the worst part is the bureaucracy - you have to wait 6-12 months to receive your diploma…a month or two to receive a proper email from someone higher than your professor etc
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