Architecture Portfolio Guidance
When applying to many of our Architecture courses, you will be asked to provide a digital portfolio. This is an opportunity to show us who you are, your artistic ability and your potential.
This page provides a detailed insight into how to prepare the best possible portfolio for your course.
Portfolio submission deadlines
You will be asked to submit a digital portfolio to us within 28 days of receiving your invitation to submit a portfolio review. We know that you may be applying to us relatively early in the academic year, while you are still building an updated portfolio, so please note that we are happy for you to submit the following: GCSE work (for undergraduate programmes); work from the previous year; work in progress, such as sketches of ideas; and photos of your work.
Which courses require a portfolio?
You will be asked to submit a digital portfolio if you are applying to the following courses:
- BA Architecture
- BA Landscape Architecture
- BA Interior Architecture and Design
- MArch Architecture
Please note: If you are applying for a postgraduate course and you have an undergraduate degree from Birmingham City University in a closely related discipline, you may be exempt from providing a portfolio.
For detailed guidance, select your course from the dropdown below.
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BA Architecture
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Architecture and Design can be explored in different ways and offer a diverse range of experiences. During your studies you will be able to develop your graphical and verbal communication skills, your technical skills, how to operate in a professional context and knowledge on the discipline. Most importantly you will be encouraged to experiment and cultivate an individual approach, which will help you on your career path as an aspiring designer/architect.
Your portfolio is the starting point for you to demonstrate your interest on the discipline and for you to showcase your technical skills, creativity and your passions that are relevant to architecture and design.
What we want to see
- Your creative and innovative thinking.
- Your appreciation of space and form.
- Your existing communication skills (technical drawing, graphical skills, analogue and digital skills and use of software).
- Your passions, talents and interests on the discipline.
You can demonstrate the above utilising a variety of means; sketches, photographs, visuals, physical and digital modelling, 3d work, collages, painting etc.
Below we have included a guide that can help you develop your portfolio.
Size
Up to 10 slides.
The overall file should be submitted as one combined PDF not more than 10MB, and not as individual files.
Layout
A clear layout; show us your ability to present and visualise your skills. Include short descriptions.
Subjects
- Design and architecture: any design related work you have undertaken.
- Art: any examples of art you have created.
- Photography: any examples of interesting photography; preferably related to design, architecture and culture.
- Technology: any examples of use of technology relevant to design and architecture, materials, processes.
Media
Use a variety of media illustrating a range of your skills and talents.
Once we receive your portfolio, our tutors will review your work and we will provide feedback at the earliest opportunity.
BA Landscape Architecture
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
The following guidelines will help you to create your portfolio, but it is important to note that you aren’t restricted to these. Whatever you choose to include, the most important thing to show is that you’re interested and passionate about landscape architecture.
Content
- Use a front cover, 1st page, with name and course applied for
- You can use a website, video, or a PDF format. For PDF, please ensure your portfolio is between A3-A2 page size, try to keep below a 20mb file. For video, please either host your work on a platform such as Youtube, or upload the original file (up to 50mbs).
- Tailor your portfolio towards your audience (the reviewer) by starting with your best piece of work.
- Provide brief notes (annotations), which explain your work. Try to summarise why, where, and how you did it: we are interested in the details!
- Show us a diverse range of work, perhaps including: technical drawings, observational sketches, drawings, paintings, three-dimensional work, CAD work, graphic designs, or photos of construction or horticultural work
- We suggest between 10-20 pages of work
- If you don’t have much work of your own, research landscape architecture projects and explain why you like them, or how they’ve inspired you.
- If you're coming from a traditional route such as A Level or BTEC training try to include evidence of drawing, collage, photography and artist process pictures of landscape.
- If you come from a more specific landscape architecture background it would be useful to include: technical drawings (use of CAD), construction knowledge and planting knowledge/ experience e.g. projects built.
- To represent large 3D pieces, take a few of photographs from a variety of angles, play with perspective, perhaps so that they look like the view a person would have when looking at the structure or from a particular view you may see.
- It is important to show final pieces, but it is perhaps even more important to show the development of them. We want to see the thinking behind your work and how your ideas develop. This can be demonstrated through sketchbooks and journals with notes.
Skills we would like to see
- Hand drawing.
- Creative thinking.
- Evidence that you’re enthusiastic about the subject.
Once we receive your portfolio, our tutors will review your work and we will provide feedback at the earliest opportunity.
BA Interior Architecture and Design
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Interior Architecture and Design can be explored in different ways and offer a diverse range of experiences. During your studies you will be able to develop your graphical and verbal communication skills, your technical skills, how to operate in a professional context and knowledge on the discipline. Most importantly you will be encouraged to experiment and cultivate an individual approach, which will help you on your career path as an aspiring designer/architect.
Your portfolio is the starting point for you to demonstrate your interest on the discipline and for you to showcase your technical skills, creativity and your passions that are relevant to architecture and design.
What we want to see
- Your creative and innovative thinking.
- Your appreciation of space and form.
- Your existing communication skills (technical drawing, graphical skills, analogue and digital skills and use of software).
- Your passions, talents and interests on the discipline.
You can demonstrate the above utilising a variety of means; sketches, photographs, visuals, physical and digital modelling, 3d work, collages, painting etc.
Below we have included a guide that can help you develop your portfolio.
Size
Between 10 - 20 slides.
Once we receive your portfolio, our tutors will review your work and we will provide feedback at the earliest opportunity.
MArch Architecture
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Content
- Final project from your BA course.
- Other projects from final year or second year.
- A copy of your written dissertation or final year essay.
- Excerpts from sketchbooks and workbooks.
- A range of work from your practical training year or architectural employment (this includes technical work as well as design and presentation work).
- Evidence of your RIBA Part 1 exemption (e.g BA certificate).
- Compilation of design experiments, theoretical concepts and detailed precedents or case studies. You should include at least one project from start to finish – showing your source of inspiration, all iterations for the concept, technical ability, design resolution and research processes.
- Illustrate creative experiences, events or happenings that have been significant for you as a designer including any live projects, competitions or industry projects, as this can highlight your potential.
- If you are including work that was created as part of a collaborative team project, it is important that you state what your role was in the project and evidence the specific design elements that you contributed towards the project.
Skills
- Curiosity - how you have conducted the ‘research process
- Judgement - how you have used ‘critical analysis’ to demonstrate new understandings
- Clear and appropriate visual communication showing a range of graphical composition
- Evidence of critical thinking in a creative context
- A structured design process for idea development, linked to contemporary or historical references
- Evidence of experimentation and craft using a range of artistic/digital media, materials and technologies including sculptural or three dimensional work
- Problem-solving abilities in the technical resolution of a project
- Evidence of your 3D digital software ability
- Evidence of creative skills beyond the architecture discipline
Format
- Submit your digital portfolio as one combined PDF no larger than 30mb. Compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- A clear structure and page layout with a content page and divided sections. Use a landscape orientation.
- You can add any external website links to your video and animation work in your PDF portfolio. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and they can be viewed without a password.
Once we receive your portfolio, our tutors will review your work and we will provide feedback at the earliest opportunity.