Graduate Admissions Events
Hosted each fall by the Admissions team, our in-person and online events give you an excellent intro to RISD graduate programs, life in Providence, how to apply and more.
Upcoming events
MAY 19
Intro to Grad Study (online)
12–1 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
MAY 20
RISD Grad Campus Tour + Thesis Exhibition Opening (in person)
12–1 pm EDT
Join Graduate Admissions for an in-person tour of RISD's campus. Experience important resources for research including The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab and the Fleet Library. We'll finish out the tour with a visit to the Graduate Thesis Exhibition, where you'll see work from our graduating students.
MAY 26
Intro to Grad Study (online)
6–7 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
JUN 9
Intro to Grad Study (online)
3–4 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
JUN 11
Graduate Campus Tour
3–4:30 pm EDT
Discover RISD's campus from a graduate student's perspective. Our Admissions-led tour will introduce you to vital resources like the RISD Museum and Nature Lab, along with the dedicated spaces that support advanced research and studio practice for our graduate community.
JUN 25
Graduate Campus Tour
3–4:30 pm EDT
Discover RISD's campus from a graduate student's perspective. Our Admissions-led tour will introduce you to vital resources like the RISD Museum and Nature Lab, along with the dedicated spaces that support advanced research and studio practice for our graduate community.
JUL 7
Intro to Grad Study (online)
3–4 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
JUL 23
Graduate Campus Tour
3–4:30 pm EDT
Discover RISD's campus from a graduate student's perspective. Our Admissions-led tour will introduce you to vital resources like the RISD Museum and Nature Lab, along with the dedicated spaces that support advanced research and studio practice for our graduate community.
AUG 4
Intro to Grad Study (online)
3–4 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
AUG 27
Graduate Portfolio Prep (online)
6–7 pm EDT
Get to know RISD’s graduate experience in this engaging online session with our Admissions team. We’ll introduce you to our range of graduate programs, highlight the creative resources and facilities available to students, and share what makes the RISD community and campus environment unique.
You’ll also receive a clear overview of the application process, including key steps, timelines, and guidance on applying for financial aid, so you can move forward with confidence. A live Q&A will follow to address your individual questions.
Webinar archive
Intro to grad study
Join our Admissions team for an intro to RISD’s graduate programs, learning resources, community and campus. During this online session we will also describe the steps for applying for admission and financial aid.
Graduate Portfolio Prep
Join members of the RISD Admissions team for an introduction to our graduate programs, learning resources, community and campus. We'll also describe the steps to apply for admission and financial aid. This session will provide tips specifically for the portfolio.
Graduate Student Experience
Join us for a peek into the student experience from the perspective of current students directly. This webinar allows you to ask your questions directly to current students providing a deeper dive into the RISD graduate community.
Graduate Faculty Panel & Portfolio Tips (Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture)
This session focuses on the graduate application’s portfolio requirement. Join the Admissions team and RISD faculty members members, who will offer tips and guidance for submitting your portfolio.
Graduate Faculty Panel & Portfolio Tips (Architecture and Interior Architecture)
This session focuses on the graduate application’s portfolio requirement for Architecture programs. Join the Admissions team and RISD faculty members, who will offer tips and guidance for submitting your portfolio.
Graduate Faculty Panel & Portfolio Tips (Ceramics, Glass & Painting)
This session focuses on the graduate application’s portfolio requirement. Join the Admissions team and RISD faculty members members from Ceramics, Glass and Painting, who will offer tips and guidance for submitting your portfolio.
Graduate Faculty Panel & Portfolio Tips (Furniture Design and Photography)
This session focuses on the graduate application’s portfolio requirement. Join the Admissions team and RISD faculty members members from Furniture Design and Photography, who will offer tips and guidance for submitting your portfolio.
Graduate Faculty Panel & Portfolio Tips (Graphic Design)
This session focuses on the graduate application’s portfolio requirement. Join the Admissions team and RISD Graphic Design faculty members, who will offer tips and guidance for submitting your portfolio.
Graduate Faculty Panel (Liberal Arts—Global Arts and Cultures and Teaching + Learning in Art + Design)
Join us for a peek into the graduate student experience from the perspective of faculty in RISD’s Global Arts and Cultures and Teaching + Learning in Art + Design programs.
RISD Graduate Portfolio Days
RISD-hosted online portfolio day events are an opportunity for prospective graduate students to show your portfolio to a RISD representative and get a review from us before applying.
We look forward to connecting with you to critique your work and provide information about the school. Please note, we do not make admissions decisions or accept portfolios during RISD Graduate Portfolio Day events, nor do we require you to participate in one of these events or connect with anyone from the Admissions Office as part of the application process. Participation does not eliminate the need to submit your portfolio as part of our application requirements.
To register for one of our online events, click the link below and choose from the listed dates. Register early in the application process so that you have time to apply the feedback to your portfolio for application submission. We connect with as many attendees as the schedule of each event permits, but slots fill up quickly.
Fall 2025 portfolio days
We've wrapped up the 2025–2026 cycle. Please check back summer 2026 for fall dates.
National Portfolio Days
RISD participates in Portfolio Day events sponsored by the National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA). These events let prospective students present their portfolios to representatives from art and design colleges and university art departments. Artists and designers can gather a wide range of opinions and advice about their portfolios, which may help you strengthen your work and prepare their college applications.
We look forward to connecting with you to critique your work and provide information about RISD. Please note, however, that we do not make admissions decisions or accept portfolios during National Portfolio Day events, nor do we require you to participate in one of these events or connect with anyone from the Admissions Office as part of the application process. Participation does not eliminate the need to submit your portfolio as part of our application requirements.
Portfolio Day events, even online, can get very busy. We encourage you to prioritize RISD early on in your itinerary to increase the likelihood that we will be able to speak with you before the end of the event. We connect with as many visitors as the schedule of each event permits.
Fall 2025 RISD Graduate National Portfolio Day events
We've wrapped up the 2025–2026 cycle. Please check back summer 2026 for fall dates.
Get to know RISD
Find answers to common questions about graduate degree programs and admission, including about eligibility, tuition and fees, international student-specific questions and more.
If you’re a prospective student interested in visiting RISD, we have options available for you to come to campus to learn more about our programs, studios and student life.
Graduate study at RISD brings together artists, designers and thinkers from around the world to research, experiment, create and push the possibilities of practice.