Interview for art studies in the United Kingdom - A student's story.

How I prepared

First, I found sample questions online that could be asked and I organized in my head what I could answer to them. Of course, I didn't memorize the answers, simply thanks to that I knew what I wanted to talk about during the conversation. Secondly, I reviewed the descriptions of the field and universities again, and read my cover letter and went through my portfolio (on the day of the conversation I had it open on my computer). Thirdly, with UniEdu, I found people who had already gone through similar interviews at the same universities and in similar fields, and I asked them about their impressions.

Every conversation was different.

All my interview conversations lasted about 15 minutes and were conducted by one person teaching in my field of study. After the greeting and a brief introduction on how the conversation plan would look, the lecturers proceeded to ask me from several to a dozen questions. Perhaps the only question that repeated in all conversations was the standard: "Why this field of study and this university?". It turned out that although I applied for the same field of study, each interviewer dedicated the most attention to a different issue.

Norwich University of the Arts

To schedule an interview, other universities contacted me via email. Here, I had to log into the internal application system on the university's website and even send scans of an identity verification document. The lecturer focused significantly on my work, and that portfolio was the main topic of the conversation. I was asked, among other things, to talk more about two selected paintings and to explain what I wanted to show through such a sequence of photos. The lecturer not only asked questions but also commented on my work, adding his thoughts. At one point, the interview even turned into a kind of discussion about art.

University of Leeds

I already knew that at the University of Leeds, there is more emphasis on theory than on practice. Despite that, I was surprised that not a single question related to the portfolio was asked during the interview. Instead, I was bombarded with questions that tested my thinking such as "Where do you see yourself and your work in 10 years?" or "Tell us about a piece of art/exhibition that you did not like." In addition, it was a bit distracting that the interviewer was taking notes throughout the entire conversation.

Newcastle University

The first two interviews took place in February, and the last one (and additionally the most anticipated) only at the beginning of April. There were only 4 general questions, for example, “What do you expect this course will teach you”, and most of the time the lecturer devoted to answering questions asked from my side. I received the decision about the offers from other universities a few days later. Here, I found out that I received a conditional offer immediately at the end of the conversation, which pleasantly surprised me. I got the impression that in this case, the interview was merely a formality.

Time for my questions

I knew it was important to show my interest and that the questions I asked at the end of the interview are as important as the earlier statements. In addition, of course, there probably isn't a better opportunity to ask about something related to studying than directly during an interview. That's why I prepared a few issues in advance that I wanted to ask about, for example, the opportunities offered by the placement year or what the laboratory looks like. I received comprehensive answers to all of them.

English language

I was aware that a job interview is not a language exam and nobody would be assessing my language level but rather what I say using that language. When during one of the conversations I didn't understand a question because I didn't know a word, I simply asked for an explanation and the person conducting the interview explained it to me in other words without any problem. Very importantly, the interviews gave me confidence that since I was able to talk about art in English with lecturers, I would also manage during my studies.

Summing up - what did the interviews give me?

With each subsequent job interview, I felt less stressed and more confident. I must admit that I even regretted not being invited for an interview at the other two universities. For me, interviews were not only part of the application process but also a useful experience. Above all, it made it easier for me to make decisions about choosing company offers and insurance. Moreover, I got answers to the questions that were on my mind and heard opinions about my portfolio from the mouths of university lecturers in the United Kingdom.