Portfolio guidelines

If you're applying for Year 1 (the first year of a degree) you are not necessarily expected to submit an architectural portfolio. We like to see evidence of current interests and activities in the form of freehand sketches, drawings, collages, photographs, films and other media.

A Year 1 (Level 4) portfolio should demonstrate the following:

• work with concepts and ideas
• range of materiality/process/techniques
• exploration of concepts

If you're applying for direct entry to Year 2 or 3 (Levels 5 or 6) of our Architecture BA, your portfolio should include:

• clear ideas and development
• an architectural approach
• conceptual thinking
• design abilities

If you have previous architectural or design experience in higher education or employment, you may apply for direct entry into Year 2 or 3 (Levels 5 or 6). You will be expected to submit a portfolio of their work to date, but also unfinished work, drawings, sketches, photographs and independent interests. Evidence of full-time architectural study is essential. If you're entering Year 3 (Level 6) you must complete a total of 120 credits on either the full-time or part-time mode to be eligible for RIBA/ARB part 1.

It is worthwhile including examples of work carried out in an architectural practice as the interviewer may wish to look at them. Transcripts must be provided with your portfolio or at your interview.

Portfolios for applications for Level 4 (BA Fashion) 

At an interview or viewed online all applicants must provide a portfolio of examples of their own recent creative work. The portfolio is essentially an organized and carefully composed collection of visual imagery. It should show a range of drawing and making or visual and practical skills.

The content of the portfolio should evidence a focus on the subject area of fashion. However we are not necessarily looking for fully designed and made garments. We are looking for creative ability and imagination! We want to see what inspires you & your ideas. Sketchbooks especially are helpful to give this insight. (We will teach you the technical skills to design & make.)

We would expect the portfolio to have a minimum of 2 - 3 projects - not simply a collection of single pieces of work. A project can be, most simply, an idea that has been taken through a series of stages of development towards an outcome that can be measured against the initial idea.

As a very brief example a project ought to evidence:

1) the research of ideas around your source point or subject, we want to see your reaction to this through drawing, painting, collage, mixed media etc reference any relevant artist / designers / creators who you have discovered along the way. Sketchbooks are a helpful way to explore these ideas.

2) followed by a development of a concept into design, this could be through colour, textures, shape. We are looking to see how you interpret your research into a ‘product’ or design based outcome. This does not necessarily need to be garments for the body it could for example be styling, textile even photographic based a medium that you have learnt or discovered. However a fashion direction would be expected.

3) evidence how your work relates & is fashion design focused. Who & What are the design references you are drawn to - what fashion magazines, platforms, brands, genres etc are you drawn to. What area of the industry are you interested in designing for? 

We are looking for work that demonstrates your passion for visual storytelling, but it doesn't need to be a finished film. Please provide moving image files or still photographs from at least two media-related projects with a short description of the projects, as well as support material such as story boards, draft scripts, sketchbooks, idea books and a 300 to 500 word review or analysis of a film or TV programme of your choice.

Formats for online portfolio

• Moving images: 5-minute maximum showreel – YouTube, Vimeo, or hosted on your own website. Create a Microsoft Word document with the links included in the text – underneath each link provide a short explanation of what each link is. Save the file and upload it to the University's Applicant Portal. 

• Still images: Provide still image portfolio as a single Adobe PDF file, with one to three images per page with clear annotations and notes. Include a clear contents page at the start of the PDF. 

• Written work: To be provided as Word document or PDF. 

Above all, we would like to see evidence of your creativity; if you do not have much film-specific work, then any creative work (photography, sketches, designs etc) would be useful, as would any writing you have done (criticism, commentary, analysis) of film, TV, or other creative work. 

The artworks in your portfolio should demonstrate creative thinking, investigation and the ability to develop a project. Please include examples of artworks (both finished and work-in-progress) that showcase your particular interests and skills. Your portfolio may by all means include coursework (for example, from A level or foundation), but we always recommend including independent (ie self-initiated) work too.

Feel free to include drawings, photographs, paintings on paper or board (not stretched canvases), sketchbooks and notebooks. You don't need to leave out large or 3D pieces – simply reproduce and include photographs of them, preferably enlarged.

Your foundation year portfolio for interview should demonstrate your creative thinking, technical ability and potential. It should include an edited selection of highlights from your work – whether completed on previous courses or self initiated – and illustrate a range of different skills and creative experiences.

The process and the way you work is just as important as the final image, so demonstrate the progress and method behind them for example sketches, worksheets, storyboards, scripts, development drawings/models or contact sheets.

Your portfolio should include a good selection of work that reveals your individual interests and skills. Essays, photographs, creative writing, film, animation, music, photos of 3D objects or self-generated projects can all be included. These may be focused on a specific creative practice such as fashion, fine art, photography, furniture or cross over a range of interests.

Offers of admission are based on evidence of self-motivation as well as intellectual and practical creative ability.

There are no hard-and-fast rules about the format of a foundation-year portfolio for interview but an A3 to A0 portfolio is the usual format for hard copy work, while films and music can be provided on DVD/USB as Quicktime/WAV/MOV files.

Your portfolio should consist of recent art, design and visual work, and be presented in order to best demonstrate your abilities and experience. It should include a variety of media including drawings, computer-based work, photography, mixed media or moving image.

We like to see how you tackle a brief so include sketchbooks, workbooks and other developmental work as well as your finished projects. Be reasonably selective in what you include – remember that we will be basing our decision significantly on the contents and presentation of your portfolio. A recent sample of written work should also be included.

We are looking for a range of 2D and 3D work and would specifically like to see a portfolio working with models, furniture ideas, sculptures or installations together with portfolio pages that show ideas of drawing development and communication. It would be useful to see a range of skills such as sketching, colour work through various mediums, collage and photography and print. Importantly your portfolio needs to show your enthusiasm, good research and reflection.

The aim of your portfolio is to demonstrate your enthusiasm and talents in music and audio production, therefore we are not expecting polished productions, instead a demonstration of your musicality, critical listening, and use of music technology.  

Portfolio contents for Year 1 (Level 4) applicants: 

• At least three original compositions/music productions, or for audio-postproduction a 5-minute showreel.  
• A critical discussion of your submitted work, identifying technical and composition approaches, the software used and an analysis of the outcomes. 
• A circa 300 to 500-word analysis of a song by an artist or composer of your choice. Discussing what you understand and admire about the composition approaches, production, and performance in the song.  

Portfolio contents for Foundation Year (Level 3) applicants:  

• At least one original composition/music production or 1-minute audio-postproduction showreel. 
• A critical discussion of your submitted work, identifying technical and composition approaches, the software used and an analysis of the outcomes. 
• A circa 300 to 500-word analysis of a song by an artist or composer of your choice. Discussing what you understand and admire about the composition approaches, production, and performance in the song.  

The original compositions/music productions can be in any style/genre but should demonstrate your skills in composition and song writing, therefore you should avoid submitting work built with loops or long samples. If you are submitting an audio-postproduction showreel, it should demonstrate your skills in track-laying, synchronisation, and sound design for film, games or visual media. 

Portfolio format:
Please supply your Portfolio in one PDF, containing the written work, with links to your music or showreels uploaded to Soundcloud, YouTube or Vimeo. In addition, please include any links to websites, your music on streaming platforms or professional artist/producer pages on social media.  

If you are unable to submit complete music productions, please include a write up discussing your musical background and experience, as well as a discussion on your knowledge and understanding of music technology and production, including any information that may help us ascertain your suitability to the course

As well as photography, your portfolio may include written work, drawings and other two-dimensional works, including sketchbooks. Large pieces of work and three-dimensional work should be presented using photographs or shown on a laptop or tablet. You're advised to be selective when preparing your portfolio and to present those pieces that you feel best represent your creative ability.

Product and Furniture Design

Your portfolio should represent your ability and potential as a designer, and should include four or five recent projects that show evidence of your design work and creativity, together with other drawings, illustrations and photographs of any 3D models and prototypes. You should also include extracts from sketchbooks and workbooks and an example of any relevant written reports.