Portfolio and preliminary interview for art studies in the UK
As a budding artist, designer, creator, or architect applying for university, you face a quadruple challenge. Most applicants submitting their applications to British universities must write the best possible personal statement and pass their A-levels at the minimum level set by the universities. However, if you have decided to study in an artistic field or one related to it, prepare yourself for additional requirements associated with it – a portfolio and often a preliminary interview.
Portfolio
Many young individuals wonder what to include and present in what is probably their first portfolio in life. Practically every university provides advice and guidelines on this topic, usually requiring around 15 works. These must show the university your way of thinking, your ability to develop, your searches and attempts. Remember, you must prove to the university that you are truly passionate about what you do. You can include practically anything – from very important sketches to photos of models, murals, or sculptures. In your case – as a student from outside the UK – schools ask for the portfolio to be sent online or by mail. Theoretically, you do not need to present and describe each work, but if they ask for a collection of works, a thoughtful presentation of them will be crucial. Sometimes it can even help those assessing your portfolio to understand more deeply your way of thinking. However, remember that content will always be more important than presentation. After all, it is the content that is to determine whether you will move on to the next stage of recruitment – the preliminary interview.
How to present a university's portfolio?
Usually (as mentioned above) you will be asked to submit your online portfolio. This situation occurs for practically all applicants. Then, your portfolio is evaluated by professors. Afterwards, you receive information whether you can proceed to the next stage of recruitment (which means the preliminary interview).
There is also a second scenario regarding the portfolio. If you are able to get to the location, you may be asked to personally present with the said portfolio. At this stage, however, you do not have direct influence on its course - the leading professor (tutor) reviews your portfolio in paper form once again, while you tour the department with other applicants who are also waiting for an important decision.
The third scenario, which also requires the possibility of personal appearance, foresees inviting a high school graduate with their own portfolio to discuss it in front of the faculty members of the given department.
Therefore, a portfolio allows a potential student to describe their ideas and acts as a kind of reminder, thanks to which one can talk about current and previous projects. The university can better discover the personality of the candidate, which is one of the components when applying for a place. However, in many aspects, such a system can be brutal. If the professors do not like what they see, you will not be invited for an interview, which means you will not be able to defend your point of view. Therefore, as mentioned above, descriptions of your way of thinking can increase the chance of getting into the dream university. However, if the professors are satisfied with the results presented in the portfolio, you are already two steps into the second stage of recruitment.
Advice on the portfolio
If you take the following advice to heart, nothing should surprise you and creating a portfolio for British universities will be pure pleasure!
Search and make your own reconnaissance.
You have to find the answer yourself to what is required for the course and level (bachelor's/master's) that you want to apply for. Even courses at the same university may have different understandings of what they want from their prospective students.
Listen to the university's advice and stick to the deadlines.
Follow the instructions and guidelines regarding the work you should submit and do it on time. Do not exceed the work limit, do not also forcibly add things the university advises against (for example, in the case of architecture, this is often photography). Be sure to check what final deadline they use - UCAS applications for art and design courses must be submitted no later than March 24, however, some universities want you to submit applications by the standard deadline of January 15.
Draw inspiration.
Most universities have galleries and advice on works that will give you inspiration. Collect as many of these guides as you can. Watch, save, create a Pinterest, and collect works found on the internet. I guarantee they will be very helpful when you start creating your own portfolio. However, remember not to copy works! Professors who will be evaluating your portfolio have already seen a lot in their lives, and plagiarism is unacceptable.
Show your creativity and thought processes.
Every university requires something different, however, it's a constant that the school wants to see your creative process and the lack of randomness in your actions. Therefore, attach sketches to the model or another spatial form, include a short note about your work.
Diversify your work.
Avoid presenting just one technique. Show the university that you are open to every new opportunity for development. If you are given a limit of 10 pieces of work, try to ensure that each of these 10 works is presented using a different method and covers a different topic.
Prepare substantively.
To prepare a portfolio, in theory, your own imagination is all you need. However, it will be an additional asset if you show the university that you're interested in everything the field can offer. Show that you read about it, that you search, that you observe everything up to date. You can prepare a model of a building by your favorite architect and show what emotions it evokes in you, you can present a well-known architectural theory according to your own concept. Simply read books, magazines, blogs - learn more and more so that your work is done consciously.
Avoid, however, telling the university that you already know everything.
The university wants to see that you are interested in what you are applying for. However, it does not wish you to present to it what they already precisely know. Tutors have read those books, they have seen those movies, they know these painters, architects, photographers, designers. You must show that you are interested in the given field, but really, you know nothing about it yet. The university does not need your extensive knowledge but the potential that you will be using over the next few years to learn and discover what the university will be able to offer you.
Get to know the stories of others.
Monika, one of our applicants and now a student, thanks to her portfolio, was invited for an interview at universities such as Newcastle University (top 1 in the UK in terms of Art&Design), University of Leeds, and Norwich University of the Arts. Discover her story described in this article!
Basic ideas on what techniques you can include:
- sketches (practically mandatory for most fields)
- paintings
- drawings
- models or mock-ups
- sculptures
- installations
– animations
- 3D projects on the computer
– photography
- mural
It's just a drop in the ocean of what you can show the university. Everything depends on your imagination.
Preliminary conversation
Just as in the case of the portfolio, three scenarios of your conversation can be anticipated. Everything will depend on your ability to appear in person at the department.
- Face-to-face conversation - the most widespread (among applicants from the United Kingdom) is the initial face-to-face conversation. It is usually based on a discussion about your portfolio and course. You are also asked about your interests, personal statement, and role models.
- Internet conversation – if you are unable to appear in person or the person who will be conducting the interview with you is too busy, you still won't escape this stage of recruitment. You may be asked for a telephone conversation, Skype, or as a last resort, email.
- Group conversation - usually includes group discussion, debate, and practical tasks, likely related to the field you are applying for.
Preliminary talks are usually necessary. Just as in most cases an employee will not be hired without an initial job interview, the same applies to students who want to study a specific field. The university simply wants to make sure that this is the right direction for the candidate before they commit to three years on the chosen course.
Advice on the preliminary conversation
How to properly prepare for an interview for art studies in the United Kingdom?
Review the course syllabus again.
Recall the content of the course before you go for the interview and prepare a few specific questions - even courses with the same name can drastically differ from each other.
Have ideas, express opinions, show your stance.
In this case, silence is not golden. As the name itself says, it will be a conversation. Usually, the person conducting the interview asks questions to which you should respond extensively and accurately. Avoid short and vague sentences.
Practice a conversation about your portfolio.
Not only what is in it, but why. This is an issue that applicants dedicate too little time to.
Read your personal statement again.
After the conversation about the portfolio, exactly what you wrote in your cover letter, can outline the course of the conversation.
Know how to support your opinion.
If you indicate a certain figure as an “influence” on the shape of your work, you must prove it.
Stand out.
If you're a future designer, jeweler - wear your creations. Artists and illustrators, boast and talk about your exhibitions or exhibitions that you loved. Show yourselves from every angle to stand out against others.
Read the advice of other students
For example: Monika, one of our applicants, and now a student, thanks to her portfolio and subsequent interview, got into the best British universities offering Art&Design courses and landed at the best of them – Newcastle University. Want to be like her? Read her article about how she managed to get through all the interviews.