Undergraduate Interview Brochure

Portfolio and Interviews:

Completing your Undergraduate Application for the Creative Industries

www.southwales.ac.uk

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Introduction

If you are reading this brochure, you have probably already chosen a creative course that you would like to study at the University of South Wales.

Applicants to all courses are also required to take part in an interview, and this brochure is designed to help you with this stage of your application.

The interview process is different depending on which course you have chosen to apply for. Some courses require you to take part in auditions, prepare a portfolio or complete a short test.

What will the tutor be expecting at interview?

Our tutors use the interview process to decide if you are suitable to take part in your chosen course.

Our tutors look for genuine interest and enthusiasm in their subject at interview, but their exact requirements can be very different depending on which subject you have chosen to study.

This is why this brochure is divided into different subject areas that explain exactly what tutors from each course will expect from you at interview.

While it may seem a daunting process, the interview is a good opportunity for you to present yourself in the best possible way.

It is not always possible to say everything you want to in a paper application, particularly for practical creative courses. Taking part in an interview and preparing a portfolio can provide you with an opportunity to shine.

The interview also gives you a chance to ask extra questions and to make sure that the course you have applied for is right for you – it is a two-way process.

Completing Your Undergraduate Application www.southwales.ac.uk

l BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama l BA (Hons) Performance and Media l BA (Hons) Performing Arts

You will be asked to take part in an interview before we can fully consider your application or make you an offer. The interview will last around 60 minutes (20 to 30 minutes for Performing Arts), and will take the form of a guided discussion, rather than a formal interview.

You should prepare some thoughts about what interests you about your chosen course and the subject in general. You should also be prepared to discuss a performance that you have seen recently which particularly fascinated or captivated you.

For the BA (Hons) Performance & Media this might be a film, play or web based production, whilst applicants for the BA (Hons) Theatre & Drama course should be able to discuss a recent theatre performance that you have seen.

Applicants for the BA (Hons) Performing Arts are required to prepare a drama piece no longer than one minute in length. It can be from any contemporary text they want (and they need to memorise it for recital, it cannot be read from a script during the workshop/audition)

Drama Courses

l BA (Hons) Scriptwriting

You will be asked to take part in an interview before we can fully consider your application or make you an offer. The interview will last for approximately 30 minutes.

Applicants should provide an example of their own creative writing (which can be in any form, scriptwriting, prose, poetry, etc.) for discussion during the interview.

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l BA (Hons) Popular Musicl BA (Hons) Creative Sound & Musicl BMus (Hons) Contemporary Music Performance

The nature of these courses means you will be expected to demonstrate your musical ability through a combined interview and audition.

During the audition / recording of your performance, you will be required to demonstrate an effective level of musical ability. You should do this by playing a prepared piece of music of your choice, that reflects your performance skills and musical tastes, either vocally or with a musical instrument.

You will also be asked to sit an aural test as part of this audition. Applicants for the Contemporary Music Performance course will also be required to undertake an additional Harmony and Theory test.

These short tests require you to demonstrate your understanding of basic musical features and musical theory concepts, as these will be essential in order for you to be able to successfully pass the course.

The combined interview and audition usually last approximately 30 minutes for Popular Music and Creative Sound and Music, with Contemporary Music Performance lasting 2 hours 30 minutes.

l BA (Hons) Music Business l BSc (Hons) Music Technology l BSc (Hons) Sound Technology

You do not have to take part in an audition for these courses.

However, you will be asked to take part in an interview before we can fully consider your application or make you an offer.

For Music/Sound Technology you will also be required to take a short written test prior to your interview taking place. It is therefore recommended that you arrive at no later than 9.45am on your allocated interview day to ensure that the test commences on time.

The purpose of the interview is for the tutor to assess your passion, enthusiasm and suitability for the course. It is also a chance for you to ask questions, and to ensure that you are applying for the best course to meet your own career ambitions and interests.

The interview will last for approximately 20 minutes.

Music Courses


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Media Courses

l BSc (Hons) Media Technology

You will be asked to take part in an interview before we can fully consider your application or make you an offer.

The purpose of the interview is to demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm and knowledge of the industries related to your chosen course.

You may be asked to submit examples of your past work in advance of the interview.

You can do this by e-mailing us a link to a sample of your film work on a video sharing website such as YouTube or Vimeo, or a link to your website if you have one. It might be helpful to keep these examples of your work nearby during your interview, so that you can discuss them with the course tutor.


l BA (Hons) Journalism

As a journalist, the ability to communicate effectively with other people is very important.

Because of this, you will be required to undertake an interview before we can fully consider your application or make you an offer. The interview will take no longer than 20 mintutes.

As part of the selection process, you will also be required to complete a written test which will last no longer than 30 minutes and take place immediately before your interview. This will test your general current affairs and news knowledge, spelling and grammar.

Our journalism tutors are looking for students with the right combination of determination, enthusiasm, ability and a natural curiosity about the world around them.

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l BA (Hons) Radio l BA (Hons) Film Studies l BA (Hons) Media Production l BA (Hons) Media, Culture and Journalism


The purpose of the interview is for the tutor to assess your passion, enthusiasm and suitability for the course.

You will not need to submit any extra work or a portfolio to apply for these courses. However, if you do have any previous work that you think might help your application, it might be helpful to keep these examples nearby during your interview, and inform the tutor, so that you can discuss them.


l BA (Hons) Film

Applicants are required to bring a portfolio, which should include a showreel/examples of film work and examples of written work, both essays and/or samples of scripts. The portfolio can also include photographs, artwork, design projects, paintings, storyboards etc.

You will also be required to complete a task for the interview:

On one side of A4 paper, write a synopsis of your best idea (fiction) for the 5-minute film that you would like to make most. You may add sample storyboard / drawings for illustration, photographs, soundscapes, or even moving images, which may indicate your stylistic approach to the task.

Your synopsis should introduce:

l your subject (what you’re really writing about)l your main charactersl your setting

Your synopsis should also clearly indicate how the story ends, how the subject or characters are left resolved or clearly unresolved.

Be clear, concise and keep your sentences short.

We are looking for evidence of:

l strong, imaginative ideasl very clear description and communication through writing skills and drawing / illustrationl an ability to explore, express and develop your ideas in the interviewl an understanding of some key aspects of cinema – storytelling, visualisation and sound


l BA (Hons) Photography l BA (Hons) Photojournalism

You will be asked to submit a portfolio and take part in an interview as part of your application to these courses. This is to provide some evidence of your ability and interest in the field of photography.

You may also be asked to provide examples of ‘behind the scenes’ work, such as research material or a workbook, to show how your creative ideas were researched and developed.

These items can either be uploaded electronically to a photo sharing website such as Flickr or a file sharing website such as Dropbox which supports large images. Alternatively, you can provide us with a link to your own website if you have one. If you choose to upload your work to a secure website, please remember to provide us with any passwords we may need to access your work.

After the Tutor has examined your portfolio, we will contact you to arrange a short interview. During the interview you will be asked to discuss the images in your portfolio, and to talk about your interest in the subject.

If you have any examples of formal writing from your previous studies, it might be helpful to keep these examples nearby during your interview, and inform the tutor, so that you can discuss them.


l BA (Hons) Documentary Photography

You will recieve a welcome talk and a brief course overview which will then be followed by a 20 minute interview. You will be required to submit a portfolio as part of your interview.

Your portfolio should include photographs that are applicable to your desire to study Documentary Photography. You are also required to complete the following task and bring it with you to the interview:

Write (one side of A4) about an area of Documentary Photography or a photographer that interests you.

l BA (Hons) Photographic Art

You will recieve a welcome talk and a brief course overview which will then be followed by a 20 minute interview. You are also required to complete the following task and bring it with you to the interview:

To help you demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in the subject area, we would like you to write a short 200-300 word appreciation of a photography/art exhibition or book that you’ve found inspiring. This should include:

l A brief description of the workl An analysis of the artists strategyl The works relevance to contemporary photography/artl And your personal views about the work

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l BA (Hons) Photography for Fashion & Advertising

You will recieve a welcome talk and a brief course overview which will then be followed by a 20 minute interview. You will be asked to submit a portfolio as part of your interview.

Your portfolio should contain a maximum of 20 photographic prints. This should comprise work chosen by yourself (with guidance from your college tutors or school staff, if appropriate). Do choose images that you are enthusiastic about and would like to show and explain to us.

We would also like to see supporting material in the form of photographic journals, diaries and workbooks: this gives us some insight into the context of your work and the means by which you arrived at the final outcomes.

You are also required to complete the following task and bring it with you to the interview:

Select one of the photographs in your portfolio and critically analyse it in the form of a short text (no more than 200 words).

Please choose a second picture taken by another photographer and do the same: that is, provide a short critical evaluation of the image in no more than 200 words. Illustrations of both images must be included in your text, which you should print and bring with you to your interview.


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l BA (Hons) Advertising Designl BA (Hons) Animation l BA (Hons) Computer Animation l BA (Hons) Computer Games Enterprisel BA (Hons) Computer Games Designl BA (Hons) Game Artl BA (Hons) Graphic Communication l BA (Hons) Interior Design l BA (Hons) Illustration l BA (Hons) TV and Film Set Design l BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Motion Graphics

You will be required to submit a portfolio to support your application for all of the above courses. This is because each of these courses requires students to have strong artistic and design abilities.

The portfolio should be tailored towards the course you have chosen to apply for. Your portfolio should be a carefully constructed selection of your work, preferably produced during your most recent course of study.

Depending on the particular course for which you have applied, you should include examples of:

l observational drawing l evidence of design and thought processes l technical drawings (if appropriate) l photographs of any 3D work that you have produced l Applicants for the Computer Animation and Game Art programmes may also wish to include examples of 2D or 3D CG work.

Your portfolio can also include any personal work or projects that you feel are relevant to the course for which you are applying, regardless of whether or not they are related to your current studies.

All work should be well organised and presented.

After you have submitted your portfolio, we will contact you to arrange an interview to discuss the content of the portfolio, and explore your interests further. You should be prepared to discuss your work and the designers, animators and/or artists who have influenced you during the interview.


Design Courses

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l BA (Hons) Animation Direction & Production

You will be required to bring a portfolio of artwork to interview which could include all or some of the following:

l examples of fine art, (painting, mixed media, textiles, sculpture, installation, puppetry, model-making) l life-drawingl observational drawing from lifel graphicsl photography

We also welcome examples of live-action or documentary film-making, and of course any previous animation work you may have done either traditionally or digitally.

Any work you wish to show us digitally should be on memory sticks or disc, but to make absolutely cer-tain we can view your work in the format intended, it is best if at all possible to bring your own laptop/ notebook/ tablet to show it on.

You may also bring sketchbooks/visual journals and/or evidence of blogs/ websites. You are also required to complete the following task and bring it with you to the interview:

Using no more than 12 'shots' / storyboard panels, tell a visual story of an everyday, ordinary event in an extraordinary way.

You can use whatever media you choose, your story can be funny, sad, horrific, romantic – whatever you want, in whatever genre you like, just make it communicate atmosphere and emotion in a dynamic way.

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l BA (Hons) Computer Games Enterprise


If you have applied for this course, you may have already worked on some related projects during your current studies, during your personal time, or undertaken some activities related to the computer games industry.

If so, you may wish to provide some examples of this work, via e-mail to the tutor, to boost your application. This may include examples of:

l Game making in any format; l Proposals for games level/world designs (including high concept); l Mod making; l Research /design/development in the areas of game mechanics/ features; l Written samples of personal game character development and game play worlds and mechanisms; l A short written outline of your personal interests, game play interests and motivation for pursuing a career in the games industry as a games designer.

Even if you only have experience of any of the above as part of a group project, then please let us know, and give details of your personal contribution to the project.

As part of your application process, you are required to take part in an interview before we can make you an offer. Applicants should bring a porfolio of relevant work and a research book for discussion during the interview.

Details of the individual requirements for each course are below:

l BA (Hons) Fashion Design

Your portfolio is your chance to demonstrate your skill and artistic flair in the area of design.

In submitting your portfolio for this course, you should aim to demonstrate the following to the tutor:

l The ability to gather quality research with breadth and depth, and the development of this research through a variety of media (2D, 3D)

l An understanding of the importance of fabric and materials in the design process

l The ability to communicate your ideas visually, in whatever sense is true to you as an individual, and with a high level of aesthetic consideration

l Evidence of practical work either photographed ‘in-situ’ or being worn by a model, to provide context

l Your creative and cultural tastes and inspirations. This should include work you have produced in your own time (outside of your current/previous course)

l Evidence of the ability to write critically through a short essay

The purpose of the interview is to demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm and knowledge of the industries related to your chosen course.

Our fashion tutors will be looking for students who can actively contribute to the course. They expect applicants to have an original approach to their work and a natural enthusiasm for fashion.

Above all your portfolio and interview should communicate your personality, ideas and thoughts about fashion both visually and verbally.

Fashion Courses

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l BA Fashion Promotion

In submitting your portfolio for this course, you should aim to demonstrate the following to the tutor:

l An understanding of and interest in the fashion industry and fashion brands (both internationally and in the UK, where possible).

l Your ability to visually communicate with audiences / potential consumers.

l The level of your digital visualisation skills.

l Use of quality research with breadth and depth.

l Your personal tastes and interests across the industry.

l The ability to communicate in writing. If you do not already have a suitable piece of writing that relates to fashion, you could consider writing a 250-word article on a fashion topic of your choice. It is important that the written work is well laid out with appropriate images to illustrate the topic being discussed.

If you do have garments, we would prefer that you undertake a project that shows how you would promote the product to a buyer. This could include one of the following:

l a fashion shoot

l an advertisement

l a film

l packaging designs

l or brand and logo development.

The most important point to remember is that tutors want to see that you can communicate your ideas and thoughts about fashion in 3 ways – visually, verbally and in writing.

They are looking for students that will actively contribute to the course and have an original approach to their work, so try to communicate that through your portfolio.

After submitting your portfolio, you will then have the chance to expand on this, and further demonstrate your skills through an interview.

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l BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Retail Design

If you have or are undertaking either a Design-related A-level or qualification please follow the portfolio preparation guidelines provided above for Fashion Promotion.

If you do not have a portfolio, consider one of the following suggestions as an alternative:

A) Brand Analysis: Research a fashion retailer of your choice and communicate your findings visually, verbally and in writing.

l Examples of visual communication: photographs from store visits, screen shots of online stores, examples of advertising and other marketing material, clear images of typical products.

l Written communication: Annotation of images, bullet points highlighting key findings, blog entry discussing the brand’s collections/stock, SWOT analysis.

l Verbal communication: be prepared to discuss your findings in your interview.

B) Conducting a SWOT analysis:

l Strengths – what do you think the brand is best at, what are they known for and what do they do well?

l Weaknesses – What don’t they do well, what could they do better?

Strengths and weaknesses can be controlled by the company.

l Opportunities – within the fashion market where can you see opportunities for the brand? This could relate to physical stores, online retailing, product ranges, collaborations etc.

l Threats – identify main competitors and consider external factors that could cause problems in the future.

Opportunities and threats cannot be controlled by the company, but they must react to them in an appropriate way.

C) Retail Design Research: Investigate the latest trends in retail design using websites such as thecoolhunter.net, coolhunting.com, and wallpaper.com. Bring your research to discuss at the interview.


We hope that you found the information in this brochure useful, however, if you have any more queries about your portfolio or interview, then please contact us by email at [email protected] (from within the UK) or [email protected] (if you are outside the UK).

For all other enquiries relating to your studies at the University of South Wales, you can also contact our Enquiries and Admissions Unit on 08455 76 77 78 (from within the UK) or +44 (0)1443 654 450 (if you are outside the UK).

Any Questions?

We wish you the best of luck with your application and your interview preparations, and hope to welcome you to the University of South Wales soon.

Remember, the more planning you do in advance, the more time spent on your portfolio, and the more skill and passion you demonstrate for the course, the more likely you are to receive an offer to study with us.

Good Luck!

UK tel: 08455 76 77 78 Overseas tel: +44 (0)1443 654 450University of South Wales, ATRiuM, Cardiff Campus

Adam Street, Cardiff, CF24 2FN, UK

For further information through the medium of Welsh, please visit www.southwales.ac.uk/cymraeg.Am wybodaeth bellach drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ymwela â www.southwales.ac.uk/cymraeg.

The information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of print. The University of South Wales is a registered charity. Registration No. 1140312

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Undergraduate Interview Brochure