Portfolio requirements

For BA Fashion Design, we’re looking for up to 15 to 25 examples of your current work, that showcases your level and range of achievements. 

Your portfolio should visually express who you are as a creative individual. You can include the following: 

  • 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 could be included. For example:
    • a garment
    • some stand work experimentation
    • examples of pattern cutting and construction methods
    • printed, embellished and/or constructed textile work
    • a sculpted piece or some form of 3D modelling.

For direct entry into year two or year three you must provide evidence of your pattern, sewing and construction skills that clearly show your garment making processes.

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 (not mobile phone) 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 15-25 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. Your portfolio should show relevant skills and your ability to develop a project or idea. You 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 could be included. For example:
    • a garment
    • some stand work experimentation
    • examples of pattern cutting and construction methods
    • printed, embellished and/or constructed textile work
    • a sculpted piece or some form of 3D modelling.

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.