More detailed, subject specific porfolio guides can be found on our course pages for both undergraduate and postgraduate. We hope you find this Guide useful. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at admissions@northernart.ac.uk or on 01642 288888.

It is important to us that you have all the information you need at every stage after the initial application process. 1. Portfolio Review/Audition Stage Attend review/audition and tour facilities either virtually or in-person. 2. Outcome/Offer Stage Receive notification of our decision. 3. Reply to Offer Stage If successful, you have the opportunity to FIRM or INSURE with us. 4. Pre-Enrolment Stage We will keep in touch with you at key points throughout the year and invite you to join our social media groups to start building relationships with staff and other prospective students. 5. Enrolment Stage Find out about Freshers’ events and Welcome Week.

Your potential is our main focus when assessing your suitability for the programme you have applied to. We take into account all aspects of your application and not just your academic profile. If you are a mature applicant (i.e. 21+ years), we will place more emphasis on your portfolio, your skills and experience you can demonstrate at your portfolio review. Your portfolio is an integral part of the assessment. It should demonstrate your current skills, interests and knowledge where appropriate. Further details are given throughout this guide. It is also expected that you will bring evidence of written work and/or have a Level 2 qualification (or equivalent) in literacy and numeracy. Find more information about UCAS tariff score, please visit northernart.ac.uk

Your portfolio should be a visual representation of your creative interests and identity. Therefore, no two portfolios will ever be the same. Essentially, any portfolio should include some evidence of the following: 1. Development of ideas and creative thinking i.e. drawing, note-taking, photography. 2. A range of appropriate skills and techniques you have previously developed. 3. Your approach to the creative process i.e. research, ideas, concept, final outcome. 4. Ability to experiment and take risks. 5. Evidence of written work. Additionally, including work completed outside of your usual studies is a good way to show independence and self-motivation. If your work is too heavy or too awkward to bring to interview, you can always bring photographs instead.

We like to see how you have responded to your project briefs from your initial research and how you have developed your ideas to the conclusion or final outcome. The subject does not matter and it can be either as part of your programme or an independent project as long as it demonstrates creativity, a deep involvement in your work and your conclusion or final idea.

Even though our degrees are mainly practice-based, you will have written tasks to complete over your chosen programme. You will need to make lecture notes and write essays and a dissertation/report in the final year. Written work for interview could be: • An extract taken from an essay previously completed during your studies. • A reflective piece of self-evaluation from one of your projects. • A report, journal, blog or script. • All should be word processed 500-1000 words.

You may decide to use digital work as a way to enhance your physical portfolio or use as an alternative to a physical portfolio. You may wish to bring in a tablet or have work saved on a USB stick. A digital portfolio can be subtmitted via email in advance of the portfolio review too. Digital work can include: • Photographs • Digital Drawings • Evidence of software skills • Scans from your sketchbook • Show Reels • Links to your blog • Research Notes

Portfolios can be presented in a variety of ways. However, you should consider the following: Organise work logically If you organise your work into a logical order that demonstrates your thinking processes, it will allow for a better flow of discussion during your portfolio review. Does it represent you? Let your portfolio reflect your own individual style, include personal projects and give it a sense of originality. Remember! Be practical - it’s likely that you will be attending other interviews and you may have to carry your portfolio for a long distance. Thinking about the weight of your portfolio, this may encourage you to think ‘quality not quantity’. It’s usually better to have a few really interesting things to talk about than lots of the same.

Sketchbooks are a great way to demonstrate your creative process, and we strongly encourage you to bring them along with you.

Your portfolio review with us is intended to be relaxed and informal. It is a time to focus our attention on you and your future! Previous applicants have commented on how valued they feel by the experience gained from this. Portfolio reviews are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your enthusiasm, commitment and self-motivation for the programme. It is also the chance for you to ask us anything you want to know to help make your decision easier. You will also have the chance to view our facilities, either virtually or in-person. If you require any support or special arrangements during your review please let us know beforehand so that we can have everything in place for you before you arrive. If you would like to discuss any support needs, please contact Student Services who will be happy to help.

It is good practice to do a bit of background research on the programme by reading the prospectus or attending an open day so we can make sure you are on the right track. We also like to know what activities you do to feed your cultural appetite. This may include: • Who or what inspires your work? • What TV shows, theatre productions/films are you excited about? • What books, magazines, newspapers do you read? • Have you volunteered for anything? • What gigs/festivals do you attend? • What galleries and museums have you been to? • What artists and designers have you researched? • When have you worked well in a team?