Portfolio requirements

For BA Fashion Atelier, we’re looking for up to 12 to 20 examples of your current work, that showcases your level and range of achievements. 
 
Your portfolio should include: 

  • Examples of sketchbook work containing research, drawing and experimentation
  • Completed design-based projects with emphasis on development of ideas and the presentation of final design ideas
  • Evidence of traditional drawing skills through a selection of life drawing, observational drawing, illustration using mixed media
  • Where appropriate, evidence of your 3D thinking and making skills: this could be a garment; OR some stand work experimentation; OR examples of pattern cutting and construction methods; OR printed, embellished and/or constructed textile work; a sculpted piece or some form of 3D modelling. 

If it's not possible to bring your work in physical form, then the best thing to do is to save it (or photos of it) to a USB stick, as well as on the laptop/tablet you'll be bringing to your applicant day. Please make sure the work on your USB stick is not password protected, as we may ask you to leave it with us so we can review your portfolio without you present. 

You'll be invited to share your work with the course team at an Applicant Day. Our Admissions Team will invite you to book your place at one of our Applicant Days after you have applied. 

Use of AI 

Your portfolio must contain your own work. We understand that some of your portfolio may include work created in part or whole by AI. You must acknowledge this by adding ‘AI generated’ to the relevant section(s), stating how you used AI to create images, and adding a link to the original image with the date it was created (where possible). 


Students sat in the cinema

1:37

Applicant Days at UCA
Rhimon Bose, BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

How to make a perfect fashion portfolio for university

This fashion university portfolio guide focuses on what to include, how to present your work and what admissions tutors are really looking for. 

Read our full guide

Online Portfolios

If you are unable to attend an Applicant Day for this course, you will be asked to supply an online portfolio. 

For this course, we’re looking for up to 12 examples of your current work, in the form of images, links and documents in one PDF file, that showcases your level and range of achievements. 
 
If you have a website or a video to showcase, please include screenshots and URL links. We want to see your skills and your ability to develop an idea or project, and importantly an exploration of your drawing skills using a range of media and techniques as well as colour. The term drawing is widely interpreted and may involve the use of non-conventional materials. We’d like to see a range of drawings that show: 

  • the ability to observe objects, including life drawing if you have had the opportunity to observe the human figure
  • drawing showing abstraction and experimentation
  • a developing illustrative ability
  • a developing sensitivity towards use of colour
  • annotated sketchbooks or their equivalent are very important for showing your research and preferences as the basis for ideas. We’d like to see development of ideas from initial sketches through to finished work. Development work should show an experimental approach to form and detail and potential for work to develop into contemporary fashion. 

To support your work and to help us understand you as a creator, we would also like for you to write a commentary about your portfolio, which talks about your ideas, thoughts, and motivations. This allows us to better review your portfolio without you present. 

The Admissions Team will email you instructions on how to upload an online portfolio. 

Integrated Foundation Year  Applicants

If your course includes an integrated foundation year then you'll be developing your portfolio during your first year of study. Therefore, we're not expecting to see a fully finalised portfolio from you at this stage.  

We would, however, like to see your sketchbooks or projects you've worked on in school or college, to get a sense of your creative interests. 

Further information

If you have any more questions about your portfolio please get in touch with our Admissions team:

If you have additional needs you haven’t yet told us about – whether it’s learning support or physical assistance – we can work with you and support you through the application process. Please contact relevant campus to discuss this with us:

Getting in touch early gives us plenty of time to discuss any reasonable adjustments you might need.