Your portfolio helps us understand how you explore ideas and use creative work to think about space, people and place. You don’t need to have studied architecture before. We’re interested in how you observe the world and imagine how spaces might be adapted, reused, or transformed through making and drawing.
Include work that shows your curiosity – we want to see how you experiment and develop ideas, not just finished pieces.
- What to include
Aim for around 15 to 20 images (JPEGs or PDFs) that show a range of your creative work.
These could include:
> sketches, drawings, and/or photographs that explore shapes, materials, light, or atmosphere.
> models or constructions made from any materials – card, paper, clay, recycled objects, found things
> pages from a sketchbook showing how your ideas change and grow
> any finished artwork or design that reflects your interests or creative approach
You can include school or college work, or your own personal projects.
Your portfolio should show us:
> how you explore and develop ideas through creative process
> how you notice and respond to the character of spaces or objects around you
> a sense of curiosity and enjoyment in making, testing, and discovering — whether through hand-made or digital work
> preparatory drawings and studies, as well as any finished pieces from previous projects or personal work
> a good proportion of analogue (non-computer) generated work
> a variety of work in different media
Tips:
> Arrange your work in a clear order so we can follow how your ideas develop.
> Label each image (title, date, material or process).
> One sketchbook page counts as one image
> Quality of thinking is more important than perfection – unfinished work is always welcome!
- How to present your work
Include a title page or slide in your portfolio with:
> Your full name
> Title(s) of course (s) applied for
Combine images and any short notes in a single PDF (recommended) and share this on a platform such as Google Drive, Adobe Portfolio, or your own website if you have one.
- How to share your work
> First activate your University of Brighton username and password. After you apply, we will tell you how to activate your University of Brighton username and password. You need to do this to access Student View, this is where we will ask you to share a link to your portfolio.
> Log on to Student View. Read our advice on what to include in your portfolio and when you need to share it with us.
> Share a link to your portfolio. When your portfolio is ready log on to Student View and share a link to it with us.
> Ensure your portfolio link is accessible without a password/username.
- Accessibility and support
Please contact our Admissions Team as early as possible if you need advice on this process or need an extension to the deadline.