Portfolio guidelines

Please choose one of the following options:

• Provide a link to samples of your film practice uploaded onto a video platform such as Vimeo or YouTube*
• Submit a single PDF document with still images, such as photographs, drawings, or documentation of other creative projects (we recommend no more than 15 pages).

What are we looking for? 

We'd like to see evidence of practical film experience in a creative context, but if you haven’t got film experience, your portfolio should show how your related work (such as animation, photography, fine art, or media) can be developed in the field of filmmaking at postgraduate degree level.

Regardless of the type of film; be it fiction, documentary, experimental and/or cross-disciplinary, we’re looking for evidence of inventive approaches and a personal vision.

If you don’t come from a film background, we want to see your commitment to a critical practice, engagement with research, and visual thinking. Be sure to let us know in your personal statement how film practice is important to the progression of your career or artistic pursuits.

*If you’re submitting a video, make sure it is no longer than 10 minutes. We recommend that you choose several complete scenes or continuous excerpts from films, rather than submitting a showreel of lots of different material. Where films have been created collaboratively, please clearly state your own, individual contribution.

Please upload a designed, interactive pdf (we recommend no more than 15 pages) and a single link to your website or other online gallery, such as Flickr, Tumblr, or Instagram.

What are we looking for?

We want to see your creative ability, so your portfolio should ideally show us a variety of projects related to your areas of interest. Make sure you include evidence of your ideas process, research and making skills – it’s all valuable.

What should you include?

Start with your name and contact details, then if you can, show us a variety of projects. Incorporate examples of your working process and sketchbook photos with explanations. If you’re including 3D work, it should be professionally documented, and digital and film work can be embedded if necessary.

Use your portfolio to illustrate different aspects of your project work and showcase your ability. It should be presented as a professional, considered, designed portfolio, clearly demonstrating who you are and what you do. 

Please upload a designed, interactive pdf (we recommend no more than 15 pages) and a single link to your website or other online gallery, such as Flickr, Tumblr, or Instagram.

What are we looking for? 

We want to see your creative ability, your self motivation and your commitment, so ideally your portfolio should showcase a variety of projects related to your areas of interest. Make sure you include evidence of your ideas process, research and making skills – it’s all valuable.

Ultimately, we want to see who you are and what you do. Present yourself and your work in the best light with a professional, carefully considered and designed portfolio.

What should you include?

Start with your name and contact details, then show us a variety of projects. Incorporate examples of your working process and sketchbook photos with explanations.

We’re looking for portfolios that demonstrate a range of creative and representational media – drawing, collage, photography, digital media, sculpture, and three-dimensional making. 3D work should be professionally documented, and digital or film work can be embedded if necessary.

We like to see expressive, creative making. Extracts from your sketchbook and observational drawings illustrate your thought process and your curiosity, and whist CAD or technical drawing isn’t a requirement, if you’ve got some, include it in your portfolio.

Portfolios are usually only requested as supporting evidence on non-standard route applications. This is if you do not have the standard academic qualifications for entry onto the course, but can fulfil the objectives of the course of study and achieve the standard of the final award.

If we require a link to your online portfolio we'll contact you by email and through the AUB applicant portal to request the URL. So you only need to provide us with your portfolio when we request it.

To submit your portfolio, you have the option of using platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Behance, Wix, Flickr, Drop Box, Google Drive, or any other suitable platform for showcasing your work. It's crucial to collate everything in one place and provide a single link that you can share with us. Please ensure that the link doesn't require a password or login to access.

To properly record your portfolio on your application, you need to submit your portfolio link via the AUB applicant portal. Follow the instructions below to do this:

1. Log in to the AUB applicant portal. If you're having trouble logging in, click the “Problems logging in?” link.
2. You'll see two messages: one providing details about the portfolio you need to submit, and another where you can submit the portfolio link.
3. Click on the “Applicant Portfolio Request” message on the right-hand side. Here, you'll be prompted to provide your portfolio URL.
4. Paste the URL in the box provided, select "no" on the drop-down menu, and click “Save”.
5. Once you've completed these steps, the link will be automatically added to your application, and we'll receive a notification to send your full application to the course team for further review.

After submitting your portfolio link, the admissions team will test it to ensure that it's working correctly and accessible without requiring a login. If everything checks out, we'll forward your application and portfolio to the course team for review. However, if any issues arise, we will notify you via email and through the applicant portal to explain the problem and offer the option to submit a new link on the portal.