Creative courses: portfolio help
As part of your application for one of our creative courses, you will be asked to submit a portfolio of your work that demonstrates your skills, whilst giving you the opportunity to showcase your passion and creativity.
When we use the term 'portfolio', we aren't just looking for finished pieces of work, we are happy to see examples of all of your work, as this can give us an understanding of your thought processes and ideas development.
To help you understand more about what we're looking for from your portfolio, we have put together some course specific guidance, along with some FAQs.
Top tips
Ensure you read through all the information provided for your course carefully and contact us if you are unclear about anything.
Give yourself lots of time to prepare your portfolio as we want it to be a true reflection of your talent.
We are looking for applicants to be passionate and knowledgeable about their subject area so make sure this is demonstrated in your work.
MA Animation
What should I prepare?
Prepare a digital portfolio and showreel of your work which demonstrates a strong understanding of the visual, technical, and sequential skills needed to develop content for animation production.
The showreel should focus on your final piece and the accompanying portfolio should demonstrate the process of how you have developed your final piece.
You could present a range of work in your portfolio including:
- Sketches
- Design development work
- Photos of inspiration references
- Concept ideas
- Behind the scenes images of your process
- Any other creative work that demonstrates your skills in art, design and digital media
MA Fashion Design
What should I prepare?
Prepare a digital portfolio of design work, up to approx 30 pages and no less than 28 pages.
You can present a range of work including:
- Sketches
- Design development work
- Moodboards
- Concept ideas
- Illustrations
- Technical drawings
- Photos of finished garments
- Any other creative work that demonstrates your skills in art, design and digital media
Ensure one project is complete demonstrating your whole design process from initial concept to photographs of the garments made.
Our advice
Present your work in project order, ideally with the most recent first.
Be selective with your portfolio so you showcase your very best work.
Submitting your portfolio
Submit your portfolio as a pdf attachment, which is no more than 25mb (make sure the resolution of all pages is at least 72dpi)
Ensure that your portfolio is well scanned and presented.
Examples
MA Visual Communications
What should I prepare?
Prepare a digital portfolio of design work, up to approx 30 pages and no less than 28 pages.
You can present a range of work including:
- Sketches
- Mind maps
- Case studies
- Visual research
- Design development work
- Finished designs
- Motion graphics
- Videos
- Physical work
- Overall evaluations
Your portfolio should BE the work, we're looking for a portfolio which is clearly laid out using visual communications design. It should demonstrate a range of approaches to evidence the student's interests and insight into the world.
Our advice
DO design your document - include headers, titles and dividers to separate sections of your practical submission
DO walk us through your approach to visual communications and how you might approach this course
DO edit your portfolio to include your best pieces of work
DO explain your work and approach, don't assume that everyone knows your work
Submitting your portfolio
Submit your portfolio as a pdf attachment. Your file should be no larger than 10Mb. Images should be 72dpi.
MA Wildlife Documentary Production
What should I prepare?
We'd like to see your passion and experience with animals/conservation and film production/photography.
You can present a range of work including:
- Examples of your work - this could include films, video, photography, writing
- Critiques of films you have watched
- Ideas for films
Submitting your portfolio
Submit your portfolio as a pdf which is no larger than 10Mb.