Preparing a Portfolio for Art School

This course will help you to start, develop, or strengthen an art and design portfolio for applications. Ideal for those interested in pursuing creative study, including degree-level routes.

You will complete structured, studio projects to build visual research skills, material confidence, and contextual understanding, with strong emphasis on sketchbook use to record, develop, and evidence ideas.

You will be taught in specialist art and design studios and through practical demonstrations, one-to-one tuition, group discussions and critiques.  

Learners are responsible for purchasing their own materials. You may be required to bring some materials to your first, and subsequent classes. Learn more about the materials required for this course here.

Please do not purchase any materials until the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a device with an internet connection. 

Learning in this course is hands-on, and your skills will develop through practice, discovery, and engagement with materials and techniques.  

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to: 

• Develop a body of research that supports your portfolio, using sketchbooks, visual studies, and site visits to explore personal ideas and themes
• Experiment with a range of materials, techniques, and approaches, building confidence in your creative process as you develop portfolio pieces
• Demonstrate practical skills in material experimentation and critical thinking to build a personal portfolio of artwork

This course will help you to start, develop, or strengthen an art and design portfolio for further study applications. It is ideal for those interested in pursuing creative study, including degree-level routes.

Learners with an enthusiasm for creative exploration or have a natural appreciation for colour, texture and form may find this course particularly rewarding. A willingness to experiment and express ideas visually is encouraged.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.  

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

This course is for those interested in pursuing creative study, including degree-level routes.

This course welcomes those with a vivid imagination and enthusiasm for creative exploration. This hands-on course requires no formal background in art or design.    

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course is due to start, unless the course is full or cancelled.