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How to present your portfolio: 

As applicants are from different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio. However, the examples of your work should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards architecture at an advanced level and high levels of professionalism.

Examples can include:

• 2D and 3D drawings
• image and text
• sketches and hand-drawing
• videos and animations
• photos of models
• photography

Please supply a brief statement of each body of work/project – but you don’t have to describe each image. In addition, make sure that you include evidence of the initial stages of exploration of your projects, not only the final images.

Within your selected projects, have some examples of academic work and, if appropriate, projects from your experience in practice.

What to include: 

• examples of two or more resolved projects you have made, instead of a demonstration of all the genres and techniques you have tried
• a good degree of technical competence
• the ability to select and sequence visual material
• a sense of enquiry
• an appreciation of context
• an understanding and control of visual literacy evident in the work you show
• an individual set of interests or concerns and an ability to respond to these visually in an interesting and creative way

Your portfolio should show:

• your ability to explore and present an architectural project
• your ability to produce visual outcomes in relation to an idea or concept
• a distinct and individual practice
• a research interest that has potential for further development at masters level

Choose your preferred pathway to see your specific portfolio requirements:

Landscape and Urban Design | Building and Heritage Conservation | Spatial Design Practices

Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design

What to include in your Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design portfolio

If you have a relevant undergraduate degree

We would like to see a range of media and outcomes; however, you should include work that shows your engagement with cities, landscape, and places. You should aim to include no more than 20 images.  Please include a short description of each piece of work. If they were produced in response to a brief, please show what the brief asked you to do.

You should show examples of design work from all years of undergraduate study, focusing on your final year. However, don’t limit the portfolio to ‘presentation drawings’ – evidence of design process, as well as product, will be valued. We want to see images from your sketchbooks and developmental work.

Try also to provide examples of work that supported your design activity, like theory, technical, and professional practice outputs. Your portfolio should show the breadth and depth of your engagement with design, the range of your representational skills, as well as intellectual and professional progression.

We anticipate applicants will have a variety of experience and expertise, but some examples of completed work could include:

• sketches
• design layouts
• typography
• photography
• illustration, including collage and/or paintings
• web design
• video
• animation and/or motion graphics
• interactive and/or 3D work

If you have professional experience

Examples of work drawn from professional experience are also helpful, again representing both process and product. Please highlight any relevant interactions with specialist consultants and advisers. You may also include examples of ‘non-academic’ activity – such as painting or photography – that represent a breadth of artistic or intellectual engagement.

Please evidence:

• projects completed in professional practice
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard
• ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent

If you’re coming from a non-academic background

You’ll need to present an example of your written work. Please submit a written statement (up to 1,000 words) outlining your interest in Landscape and Urban Design as a wider subject and the Master’s programme specifically. You can include sketches or drawings to support your statement if you wish.

Please provide:

• your CV evidencing your career development
• your ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent
• evidence of your understanding of urban and landscape design, which could be through photography or a collection of projects

What we’re looking for

We want your portfolio to demonstrate:

• interest in city and landscape design 
• ability to express your creative process, decision making and design resolution 
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work 
• interest in researching historical and contemporary aspects of urbanism and landscape design

Architecture: Building and Heritage Conservation

This course attracts applicants from different relevant academic backgrounds, so submitting a design work portfolio is optional.

To receive Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) accreditation, you'll need to take two specialist units for Building and Heritage Conservation.

What to include in your Architecture: Building and Heritage Conservation portfolio

If you have a relevant degree

Candidates with a relevant undergraduate degree have the option to submit examples of their undergraduate study or professional work, whether it is design work or any other relevant pieces of work (written or practical). If you choose to include a portfolio in your application, please submit a maximum of 20 images, and please include a short description with each piece of work.

Your portfolio should provide evidence of the range of your skills, the breadth and depth of your engagement with your subject area, as well as your intellectual and professional progression.

If you have worked on projects related to historic buildings, please ensure that these are represented. You should not limit the portfolio to ‘presentation drawings’ — evidence of design process, written pieces and/or final outputs will be valued. You should also attempt to provide examples of work that supported your activities, such as theory, technical, and professional practice outputs.

If you have professional experience

Please include evidence of work if you have:

• experience of professional practice in a related field (for example, a specialist architectural practice, surveying practice)
• professional or practical experience of working on historic buildings or sites 

This may include evidence of fieldwork, photographs, sketches, or examples of professional reports that you have written. Please highlight any interactions you have had with specialist consultants and advisers or with public or private heritage bodies.

If you're coming from a non-academic background

• CV evidencing your career development
• Ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent
• Evidence of your understanding of building heritage and conservation, which could be through photography or a collection of projects

What we're looking for

We want your portfolio to show your:

• interest in historic buildings and sites
• ability to come up with creative and interesting conservation design responses to historic buildings and sites 
• use of research to inform your understanding and engagement with historic buildings and sites
• technical ability in your area
• ability to present your work, whether visual or written, professionally
• computer skills 
• drawing by hand and/ or measured drawing skills 

Depending on your experience and qualifications, you may not provide evidence of these attributes. However, aim to provide both visual and written evidence of any previous engagement with the historic built environment in academic studies and/or professional work.

Architecture: Spatial Design Practices

What to include in your Architecture: Spatial Design Practices portfolio

Your portfolio should be clearly organised, and show the breadth and depth of your engagement with spatial design broadly, the range of your representational skills, and intellectual and professional progression. Try to include no more than 20 images per page in total (for written work submissions, this can be more) and supply a brief description with each piece of work.

If you have a spatial design-related undergraduate degree

If you have a spatial design or related undergraduate degree, include examples of your work focusing on your final year, with some work from an earlier stage in your course. Don’t limit the portfolio to ‘presentation drawings’: evidence of design processes, as well as product, will be valued. We want to see images from sketchbooks (or similar) and other developmental work.

You should also have examples of work that supported your design development, such as theory, technical, and professional practice outputs.

Your portfolio should evidence:

• exploration, research and spatial observations
• original idea generation
• concept development
• evidence of drawing skills, both using computer software and by hand
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard

If you have a performance/arts-based undergraduate degree

If you have a degree in either a performance/arts-based, or a humanities-based discipline, include any work which is relevant, which may be images but can also be pieces of writing.

Your portfolio should evidence:

• exploration and research
• original idea generation and concept development
• evidence of performance/art-making skills
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard

If you have professional experience

If you have experience of professional practice, please include a record of work you’ve produced in such a context, e.g. photographs, sketches or written work

• evidence of projects completed in professional practice
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard
• ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent

If you're coming from a non-academic background

• CV evidencing your career development
• ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent
• evidence of your understanding of 'space', which could be through photography or a collection of projects

What we’re looking for

• understanding of design and its application in a wider social and global context

• ability to express your creative process, decision making and design/artefact resolution
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
• evidence of an engagement with the critical debate surrounding spatial practices broadly
• ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent.

How to present your portfolio: 

A research proposal should be included as part of your online application. Your research proposal must include:

Suggested project title 

Titles are an important way of encapsulating a research project. They should convey as much information as possible in as few words as possible.

Research aims 

The research aims are the specific accomplishments the researcher hopes to achieve by conducting the study (usually expressed in one or two sentences).

Key literature 

Briefly discuss the body of academic literature that applies to the research, referring to your underpinning research question.

Anticipated research methods 

Please supply brief details of your intended research design, methods, and whether you expect you will create an artefact (a practical submission, such as a portfolio, photography, or model) as part of your research.

What to include: 

Research questions/objectives/hypotheses 

Research questions employing the most basic â€˜what’, ‘why’, ‘how’ approach could frame any problem or challenge and lend itself to three thematic chapters: 

• What is the problem? 
• Why does it happen? 
• How should it be addressed?

Alternatively, if your focus is to assess how well a strategy or tactic is seen to be working, the following research questions may be appropriate: 

• What is the strategy? 
• What are its strengths and weaknesses? 
• How can it be improved?

Alternatively, if expressed as objectives, these could be adapted to the following:

• To examine the nature and key features of X. 
• To assess its causes 
• To establish how it can be addressed more effectively

If reframed as objectives they might alternatively appear as follows: 

• To examine the main components of X 
• To assess its strengths and weaknesses 
• To establish how it can be delivered more effectively

How to present your portfolio: 

As there are multiple pathways for this course, we don't prescribe an ideal portfolio, as applicants are from many different backgrounds and will wish to pursue different specific project topics while studying here. Your portfolio should provide evidence of breadth and depth of engagement with your chosen subject area.  Some examples of completed work could be:

• motion graphics
• storyboards
• 2D and 3D animation
• game prototypes
• short films
• audio projects and musical compositions

You may also include written research papers.

What to include: 

Please make sure you have:

A short description with each piece of work

If they were produced in response to a brief, please indicate what the brief asked you to do. You should also specifically discuss how the skills demonstrated support the pathway and project idea that you wish to work on during the course. 

Examples of work supporting your design activity, and demonstrating creative process and working methodologies

For example, this might include idea generation, design planning, visual or audio experiments, sketches, concept art, observations, or research proposals and data analysis. 

Examples of non-academic activity

For example, GameJams, performances, painting and photography, which represent a breadth of artistic or intellectual engagement.

Please note

The application process for this MA/MSc Creative Technologies Master’s includes a Personal Statement, where you briefly describe the project idea you wish to work on and which pathway you wish to complete. 

How to present your portfolio: 

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

• understanding of creative writing as a subject area and its application in a wider social and global context
• ability to express your creative process, decision making and realisation of a complete piece of work
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
• creativity and communication skills

Your portfolio should show:

• enquiry, research and observations of the discipline of creative writing
• original idea generation
• conceptual development
• a very good level of technical ability
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard

What to include: 

We don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio – as applicants are from many different backgrounds – but some examples of completed work could be poetry, short stories, short articles, screenplays or a mixture of mediums.

Aim for no more than 3 pieces of writing (e.g. 3 poems, 2–3 short stories, or a mixture of mediums) demonstrating your best work. This should total 4,000 words max. Poetry submissions have a lower word count, and we recommend about 5 poems.

Include a short description with each piece of work. If produced in response to a brief, include this.

You’ll also need to complete a personal statement. Indicate in your statement what you’ve been writing, and your ambitions in studying with us.

How to present your portfolio: 

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

• use of research in the development of your ideas
• material and/or garment experimentation
• ability to draw and communicate in a variety of styles and media
• design ideas and development demonstrating a synthesis between the fashion and textile elements
• understanding of fashion and textiles as a subject and its wider social and global context
• ability to critically evaluate your work
• interest in critical and historical studies
• enthusiasm and commitment to study fashion and textile design at Master's level

Your portfolio should evidence:

• research enquiry and observations
• original idea generation
• conceptual development
• experimental work
• a good level of technical ability
• an ability to select and present a range of work to a high standard
• an example of your academic writing ability â€“ ie. an academic essay, critical report or project idea (in English)

What to include: 

Your portfolio work should be produced as part of a formal university-level degree, in a relevant professional capacity or anything you have created independently, e.g. in evening classes or short courses.

We expect to see finished fashion and/or textile or related outcomes, professionally presented. We advise you select your most recent work, but not necessarily all from one project. We want to see development of your ideas, which could include images from your sketchbooks, development sheets and/or process journals. Please add a short description with each image. If produced in response to a brief, please indicate what the brief asked you to do.

Please include the following elements.

15 images of sketchbook work

Include examples of contextual research from a variety of sources, material and/or garment experimentation, drawing in a variety of styles and using a range of media types.

Add a short description with each image. You should include notes on books, articles, relevant exhibitions or cultural visits that have influenced your work.

Ten images of design ideas and design development

Include examples of development sheets and/or process journals that relate directly to three finished fashion and/or textile outcomes. This should show your design process and working methodologies, such as:

• research into designers and artists
• idea generation
• design planning
• visual experimentation
• problem solving
• evidence of critical evaluation

What to include: 

We are looking for applicants to demonstrate:

• a strong commitment and motivation towards a career in the fields of fashion business or fashion marketing
• an awareness or relevant experience of fashion

Your personal statement should demonstrate your knowledge and perspective on an aspect of the fashion industry, and should also relate back to the course itself. It could include product development, supply chain management, marketing, forecasting, consumer behaviour or the financial aspects of fashion, as well as many other topics.

There is no requirement to submit a portfolio for this course. However, if you wish to submit samples of work to support your application, this can be submitted digitally by including a link in your personal statement.

What to include: 

As there are many creative avenues you can take on this project-based degree, we don’t prescribe an ‘ideal’ portfolio. We expect applicants to come from many backgrounds. Indeed, we consider that is a strength of the course.

To guide you, your application portfolio should showcase your extensive experiences in film, TV, and new media. Some portfolio work examples could be:

• Documentary film
• Fiction film
• TV production (documentary, magazine programs, multi-camera drama)
• Websites (particularly non-linear (hypertext) stories)
• Audio projects
• Still photography
• Scripts (either fiction or non-fiction)
• Storyboards
• Treatments
• Filmed Adverts
• Supporting production files explaining your creative approach/activity, and your working methods

You may also include written research papers, such as an undergraduate dissertation.

Please note:

The application form for the Master’s includes a Personal Statement, where you should briefly describe the project idea you wish to work on.

This course develops skills in one or across the following narrative media: film, TV, radio/audio, new media/ web, print.

How to present your portfolio: 

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

• understanding of graphic design and its application in a wider social and global context
• ability to express your creative process, decision making and finalised ideas
• ability to reflect on what is – and is not – successful about your work
• interest in researching historical and contemporary aspects of creative practice and theory

We want you to demonstrate your creativity, aptitude for design and evidence of visual communication skills. Your portfolio should evidence:

• enquiry, research and observations showing your subject knowledge
• original idea generation
• concept development
• a good level of technical ability (in both traditional and digital skills)
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard

What to include: 

As applicants are from many different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio – but the examples of your work should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards graphic design.

You should select no more than 10-20 images. Examples of work could include:

• sketches
• design layouts
• typography
• photography
• illustration
• web design
• video
• animation
• motion graphics
• interactive or three-dimensional work.

Please supply a brief description of each piece of work.

Include within your selected images some examples of your design process and working methods, such as images of workbook pages showing idea generation, experimentation and development of ideas and concepts.

How to present your portfolio: 

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

• understanding of illustration and its application in a wider social and global context
• projects that are socially aware
• ability to express your creative process, decision making and idea realisation
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
• interest in researching historical and contemporary visual culture

Your portfolio should evidence:

• enquiry, research and observations
• original idea generation
• conceptual development
• experimental work
• a good level of technical ability (both traditional and digital)
• an ability to select and present a range of work to a high professional standard

What to include: 

As applicants are from many different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio. However, your artwork examples should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards illustration.

Artwork examples should include:

• images from your sketchbooks, along with drawings and/or work in progress to show your working methods; we’d like to see experimentation and evidence of your various skills
• finished illustrations with a brief description, which could include single images or image sequences
• a range of media and outcomes – but you should have some examples of completed work resolved to a high level
• self-generated projects that comment on a social issue

Your portfolio must include:

• working methods (sketchbook or other)
• finished illustrations, with short description about the project and materials used

Your portfolio may include:

• painting and drawing
• digital illustration
• printmaking
• children’s book illustration
• zines
• graphic novels
• textiles
• 3D work
• animation
• storyboards
• experimentation – roughs and drafts
• sketchbook work and/or work in progress
• college or self-generated projects

How to present your portfolio: 

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

• understanding of interior architecture and design and its application in a wider social and global context
• ability to express your creative process, decision making and design resolution
• ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
• evidence of an engagement with the critical debate surrounding interior architecture and spatial design
• ability to write, evidenced in written work, in the portfolio or in a dissertation or an equivalent.

Your portfolio should evidence:

• exploration, research and spatial observations
• original idea generation
• concept development
• evidence of drawing skills, both using computer software and by hand
• an ability to select, present and communicate a range of work to a high professional standard

What to include:

If you have a relevant undergraduate degree, you should include examples of design work from your undergraduate studies focusing on your final year, with some work from an earlier stage in your course. Don’t limit the portfolio to ‘presentation drawings’ – evidence of design process, as well as product, will be valued. We want to see images from your sketchbooks (or similar) and other developmental work.

You should also have examples of work that supported your design development, such as theory, technical and professional practice outputs.

Your portfolio should be clearly organised, and show the breadth and depth of your engagement with spatial design, the range of your representational skills, and intellectual and professional progression. Try to include no more than 20 images in total, and supply a short description with each piece of work.

If you have experience of professional practice in a related field, such as a specialist architectural practice or surveying practice, please include a record of work you’ve produced in such context – e.g. photographs, sketches or written work.

If you don’t have an undergraduate degree (or equivalent), you’ll also need an example of your written work. We expect a copy of an essay or a sample of written work to evidence your ability to respond to analytical tasks.

How to present your portfolio: 

We want to see:

• A good degree of technical competence
• The ability to select and sequence visual material
• A sense of enquiry
• An appreciation of context
• An understanding and control of visual literacy evident in the work you show
• An individual set of interests or concerns and an ability to respond to these visually in an interesting and creative way

Your portfolio should evidence:

• your ability to produce visual outcomes in relation to an idea or concept
• a distinct and individual practice
• a research interest that has potential for further development at masters level
• examples of two or more resolved projects you have made, instead of a demonstration of all the genres and techniques you have tried

What to include: 

As applicants are from many different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio. However, the examples of your work should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards photography at an advanced level.

Examples can include:

• photography
• image and text
• photo books
• moving image
• projected work
• installation or 3D work

Please supply a brief statement of each body of work/project – but you don’t have to describe each image.

Within your selected images, have some examples of exhibited work in situ if appropriate.