Portfoli-OH! What to do when you need to create a last-minute showcase

1: Show us how you think

Aim to show us how you think, and how you take an idea and bring it to life.

Your portfolio is an important part of your application because it introduces us to you and your world in the widest sense: your ambitions, skills, enthusiasms, interests. So think about your passions, and how you can relate those to your new course.

2: Work in progress, drafts and previous iterations are totally acceptable

Don’t worry if your work isn’t ‘finished’ the way you’d like.

All we need to see is how you approach your work, and where you’re headed with it. As much as finished articles, we’re interested in preparatory work — sketches, mood boards, storyboards, concept art — so put those in.

3: Not all portfolio work is college artwork

Consider other ways of presenting your talents.

We are a creative arts university after all, so feel free to think outside the box and give us something unexpected. Think about your work in the widest terms.

• Have you reviewed an exhibition or a concert? Or have you interviewed a band or somebody that has gone on to influence your work?
• Do you volunteer locally or excel at any non-visual activities?
• Have you got pieces done in your spare time? 
• Or perhaps you've documented an inspiring visits or activities you’ve been on

All these things could count towards your portfolio.

4. Don’t forget your notes

We’d like to see your motivations and methodologies around each piece and we’ll want to talk to you about them.

Tell us in as much detail as you can what inspires you, what aspects of your approach you’d change or do again, and what you enjoyed most about the process.

5. Formatting and organisation is important 

The requirements of your portfolio will depend on the course you want to study and the university you're applying to.

Take time to read any instructions provided to you and follow them carefully.

Also make sure that you:

• Name digital files clearly
• Organise files into a logical order or folder structure
• Test that all the files open and that any links work
• Check the spelling throughout your portfolio

6. Take us on a journey.

Think carefully about the order in which you want to showcase your work. Yo

u might want to arrange it chronologically or organise it by theme, but the important thing here is not to save your showstopper for the last page of your portfolio — hit us with it first!

We want to be wowed by you, so get your favourite pieces in early.

More portfolio advice

At UCA, we provide in-depth advice and guidance for creating your university portfolio.

Check our portfolio advice section for requirements per course, examples of work to include per subject and video guides from UCA academics about what they expect to see from your portfolio.