During Clearing admission to our creative media, arts and architecture courses involves assessment of online portfolios.
You must create an online portfolio for our course tutors to assess. The work you present in your portfolio plays a key role in helping us assess your suitability for your chosen course. Make sure your portfolio meets the requirements we have outlined below.
If you have any questions about how to create your online portfolio for Clearing do get in touch.
When you are putting your portfolio together remember we don’t just want to see finished pieces, your successes or work that shows your command of a technique. We want to see examples that demonstrate your creative process, your development and how you:
Calling with a finished portfolio? Where possible, our tutors will look it over straight away so we can move your application forward quickly.
Call us now on 01273 644000
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If you have your results, you can apply online for a place through Clearing.
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Need portfolio pointers? We’ve created online portfolio advice tailored to every clearing course. 
Simply click on your course in the list below to see exactly what we're looking for.
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Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, make, and explore ideas in three dimensions. We want to see your curiosity, creativity, and ability to use materials in imaginative ways – not just finished work.
What to include
Provide 15–20 images (still or short moving images) that demonstrate your creative approach, from concept to outcome.
Your portfolio should show us:
Include work that highlights:
Tips
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, create and tell stories through movement and image. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and how you explore ideas using different techniques – not just finished work.
You should provide 15–20 examples of your work which demonstrate your creative approach, from concept to outcome.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you explore and communicate ideas through creative work. We are interested in how you observe, record and test ideas – not just finished pieces. We welcome work made as part of school or college projects, as well as personal explorations.
Aim for around 15–20 images (jpg or pdf) that show the range of your creative interests. These might include:
Your audio works helps us understand how you think, create and explore ideas in sound and music. We want to hear your creativity, and how you experiment with music and audio techniques — not just finished compositions.
You should provide a selection of audio or audio-visual works with a total length of no more than 10 minutes.
Your submission should show us:
Please include a short description of the production of compositional technique of each track.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas and communicate visually. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and how you experiment with fashion and design – not just finished work.
You should provide 15–20 examples of your work that demonstrate your creative thinking and visual communication skills.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas, and develop creative solutions in fashion design. We want to see your curiosity, creativity, and how you experiment with materials, media and design – not just finished garments.
You should provide 15–20 images of your work that demonstrate your creative ability. Sketchbook work and idea development should make up roughly three-quarters of your portfolio.
Please note that pattern cutting and garment-making skills are not required for entry, but examples may be included to demonstrate creative idea development.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas, and approach your practice in fine art. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and your ability to investigate ideas independently – not just finished work.
You should provide 15–20 pieces of work that demonstrate your artistic interests and approach.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas, and develop your painting practice. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and experimentation – not just finished work.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas and develop your painting practice. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and experimentation – not just your finished work.
Please provide 10–15 examples of your creative work.
Include work that highlights your interest in at least one of the following approaches:
Submit 10–15 examples of your creative work.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, create, and communicate visually. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and experimentation – not just finished work.
Submit 15–20 images (still or short moving images) of your creative work.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, create, and explore ideas as an illustrator. We want to see your curiosity, creativity and experimentation – not just finished work.
Submit 15–20 images of your work.
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.
Aim for around 15 to 20 images (jpg or pdf) that show a range of your creative work.
These could include:
You can include school or college work, or your own personal projects.
Aim for around 15–20 images (jpg or pdf) that show the range of your creative interests.
These might include:
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, explore ideas, and develop your photographic practice. We want to see your curiosity, creativity, and experimentation - not just technical skill.
Submit 15–20 images demonstrating the current stage of your creative photographic work.
Please note: We are primarily interested in project work that explores your ideas rather than solely demonstrating technical skill. The portfolio should not be a self-reflective statement on your own work.
Your portfolio helps us understand how you think, create, and explore ideas as a product designer. We want to see your curiosity, creativity, and experimentation — not just finished work.
Submit 15–20 images of your work that show the range of your creative interests. Your portfolio should demonstrate your skills, creativity, motivations, and interests as a designer. Include work produced during:
You could include:
Include process work such as sketching, model making and prototypes. Add annotations to explain your ideas and show how you think as a designer. Focus on your best work, but avoid spending too much time on minor details that could delay submission.
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