More Information

How to Apply – UK How to Apply – International Good Portfolio Guide Interview Tips

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How to Apply – UK/EU Undergraduate Applications for any of our undergraduate courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Applications are made through the secure, web-based application system UCAS. Apply at www.ucas.com. You may apply for up to five courses and your choices should be listed in alphabetical order. All applications are treated equally, and admissions selectors will not be able to see which other institutions you have applied to, so you should not express any order of preference when you apply. For entry in September 2011, you can apply from 1 September 2010, and applications should be made by 15 January 2011. The University is committed to considering all applications received at UCAS by 15 January equally, applications received after this date will only be considered if there are still vacancies on a course.

Entry Requirements If you’re looking for the academic entry requirements for a particular course, you’ll find these online at www.northumbria.ac.uk/coursesearch. Entry requirements are usually expressed as UCAS tariff points and the University accepts a wide variety of academic and vocational qualifications. If the entry requirement for the qualification you are studying is not listed, then please contact our Admissions Office for advice on 0191 227 4444 or email [email protected].

Selection Interviews are held as part of the selection process for all courses in the School of Design, but not all applicants will be invited to interview. Applicants may be required to submit electronically a portfolio of work or response to a set brief, which will form part of the selection for interview process. If you are successful in 146 www.northumbria.ac.uk/design

How to Apply – International being invited to interview, you will then need to bring a portfolio with you to the event. For full details on the application and selection procedures for each of our courses please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/designhowtoapply.

Postgraduate Applications for postgraduate courses should be made direct to the University on our online application form and using our course search facility.

Our Entry Requirements Full details about the academic entry requirements for each course can be found by using the course database on the University’s website. To use this database and to find out how these requirements translate to qualifications in your own country please go to www.northumbria.ac.uk/howtoapply

English language entry requirements To make the most of your time at Northumbria School of Design it is important that you have a good grasp of the English language – both written and spoken. For this reason we ask our students to meet set English language entry requirements which are listed below.

IELTS

TOEFL PaperBased

TOEFL Computer Based

TOEFL Internet Based

For more information visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/designhowtoapply

Enquiries

Undergraduate

Admissions enquiries: Admissions Trinity Building Northumberland Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST

Year 1, 2 or 3 entry

6.0

550

213

79

Final year entry

6.5

575

232

89

Postgraduate

6.5

575

232

89

Research

6.5

575

232

89

Telephone: 0191 227 4444 Email: [email protected] General Enquiries Newcastle City Campus School of Design City Campus East Northumbria University Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST Telephone: 0191 227 4913 [email protected] London Campus Northumbria University School of Design, London 1-15 Bradley Close White Lion Street London N1 9PN

If you have not previously attended an English-medium School/College/University, we require an IELTS or TOEFL test result or proof of equivalent competence in another test. Certain types of School/College/University test may also be recognised, but please check with the International Office for details.

Applying Direct

Direct to Us

If you are confident that you have all the information you need and want to apply direct then there are two possible routes.

For most postgraduate and undergraduate courses, applications can be made direct using the University’s Application Form for International Students. This form can be obtained from the International Office or downloaded from our website, www.northumbria.ac.uk /designhowtoapply/international

UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) www.ucas.com/apply If you’re interested in studying one of our undergraduate courses you can apply online via UCAS, who will then forward your application on to us.

Once completed you should return your application direct to the International Office or to the Northumbria regional office responsible for your country (see page 148).

Telephone: 020 7713 1991 Email: [email protected] www.northumbria.ac.uk/design 147

Research applications

Who to Contact

For Research applications you can download a form from www.northumbria. ac.uk/designhowtoapply. Once completed this form should be returned to [email protected].

Help and Advice for International Students If you would like someone to guide you through the process or want more advice or help in making your application then our International Office will be happy to help or, alternatively you can contact one of our Regional Offices in Thailand, India, P.R. China or Malaysia.

What to include with your application To help us evaluate your application please ensure that you complete all sections of your form. If making a direct application, please remember to enclose; A photocopy of any English Language qualifications A photocopy of your academic certificates and details of results in each subject (if these certificates are not in English please enclose a certified translation)

A portfolio of at least 15 pieces of work, preferably in CD or hardcopy format WO references A personal statement. This is your chance to tell us about any extracurricular activities that demonstrate your passion for your subject and your reasons for choosing this course.

Padmini Parameswaran – Operations Manager Tel: (+91) 987 300 5531 Email: padmini.parameswaran @northumbria.ac.uk

P.R. China Contacts:

Key Contacts International Office Northumbria University 21/22 Ellison Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST United Kingdom Tel: (+44) (0) 191 227 4274 Fax: (+44) (0) 191 261 1264 Email: [email protected]

A photocopy of your passport A summary/resume of any work experience and any other relevant activities

India Contact:

Thailand (also responsible for Hong Kong, Myanmar, Taiwan and Vietnam) Contacts:

Jennifer Gao – China Development Manager Northumbria University Room 702, Block B, Winterless Centre Jia 1, Xi Da Wang Road Chaoyang District Beijing P.R. China 100026

Malaysia (also responsible for Brunei, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Singapore) Contacts: Nina Jalaluddin – Head of Development Zarak Rafiq – Regional Manager Siewmang Yee – Regional Marketing Manager Northumbria University A-8-3, 8th Floor, Northpoint Midvalley City, 1, Medan Syed Putra Utara 59200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: (+603) 228 78080 Fax: (+603) 228 78282 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Tel: (+86) 10 6538 8135/7/9 Fax: (+86) 10 6538 8136 Email: [email protected]

David Caine – Head of International Developments, SE Asia Joy (Arthittaya Inmankhong) – Regional Office Assistant Northumbria University c/o York Institute 283/39 Home Place Bldg 9Fl. Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor 13) Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel: (+66) 2 712 7328 Fax (+66) 2 712 7339 Email: [email protected]

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Good Portfolio Guide When it comes to portfolios we cannot give you a set of prescriptive rules to follow or a neatly presented recipe for success. With applicant portfolios each portfolio is as varied as the individual who creates it. We can however, share with you some of the key ingredients we always look for and explain why. To find out more go to www.northumbria.ac.uk/designhowtoapply.

DOs

DON’Ts

Show us you can draw

Just fill your portfolio with endless ‘still lifes’. Certainly show off your drawing skills but also include abstract images, graphics and photography. Try to relate your drawings to ready made imagery

Feature a variety of media and subject matter

Be a ‘one trick pony’ – show us the breadth of your experience and expertise

Express yourself – this is your chance to sell yourself and your design perspective

Show us what you think we want to see

Continuously record your ideas, observations, research, preliminary sketches and written notes

Leave your sketch book at home

Celebrate your creativity – show us how you’ve explored and experimented with colour, texture and form

Be too literal or restrained

Show us how a person, place or object can inspire you to create something new

Just provide unexplained images or photographs of people, places or objects

Tell us a story. Show us how your ideas evolved; include your initial sketches and concept development work

Just show us the outcome or end product

Demonstrate your interest in Design. Include images of historical or contemporary designers you admire or exhibitions you have visited and how that has impacted your work

Hide your enthusiasm and the motivation behind your work

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Good Portfolio Guide DOs

DON’Ts

Be selective. Think about what you include in your portfolio and be ready to explain why it’s there.

Fill your portfolio to overflowing with unedited work

Indicate the running time of any time-based media that you’ve included

Include any films that run more than a few minutes

Include work that reflects the course you’re applying for

Include all the projects you’ve worked on

Be practical – where appropriate, photograph your finished 3D or large scale work

Try to transport over-sized 3D models or bring suitcases full of work with you

Remember presentation is important, so consider how you put your portfolio together. Think about using plastic sheets, creating a ‘book’ but keep it simple –you don’t want to distract from your work

Pull it together at the last minute and leave loose pieces of work inserted in the pages

Talk through your portfolio with your teacher or tutor

Be afraid to ask for some advice

Plan your portfolio presentation; start with something that will make us go ‘Wow!’ Then finish with something that will help us to remember you

Bury the good stuff

Bring examples of your current course-work and or design-related projects done out of the classroom

Don’t come empty handed – if coursework is being sent away for assessment, make copies of it so that we can see it

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Interview Tips Going for an interview, whatever the reason, can be daunting. So to help you prepare we’ve put together a few tips and hints that might help you on the day.

Try before you apply Choosing a University is a big decision so it makes sense to visit a range of different institutions before you make your final choices. Open Days are an ideal way to get a real feel for a place. We run Open Days in October and June, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to check us out.

Make sure you know how to get here This is not the time to get lost on route so for interviews in Newcastle go to www.northumbria.ac.uk/designhowtofindus for directions. For International Students contact one of our Regional Offices – see page 148–149 for details.

Give yourself plenty of time The last thing you want on the day of your interview is to arrive hot and bothered. Also, if you are travelling with friends or family, make some time for yourself before your interview. It will help you stay focused and may give you a chance to chat to other candidates.

Try to relax The interview is not meant to be an ordeal – just a chance for us to learn a bit more about you and for you to find out more about us.

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Think ahead Be ready to tell us; why you’ve applied to Northumbria School of Design in particular what it is about our course that appeals to you above all others who and what inspires you what your aspirations are – where you want to be in 10 years time what you have done that demonstrates your commitment

Be prepared to talk through your portfolio Don’t get hung up about whether each piece is good enough, we’re much more interested in what inspired you, the research you undertook and your creative thought process than whether you’ve got perfect technique.

Tell us about yourself Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success – it takes motivation, initiative, drive and sheer hard work. Show us you’ve got what it takes. Give us some evidence of work or projects you’ve been involved in that demonstrate these qualities. These examples don’t all have to be design related – they could be things you’ve done in your community or as part of a team.

Above all come prepared Think carefully about what you want to ask us. Feel free to come equipped with a list of questions! Why not do a dry run interview with your tutor, a friend or your parents? There’s nothing worse than sitting in an interview at a loss for words or tongue tied, so it pays to invest a bit of time practising. www.northumbria.ac.uk/design 155

Notes

The information given in this brochure is for guidance only. In compiling it, the School of Design has taken every care to be as accurate as possible, but the brochure must be read as subject to change at any time without giving notice. It is not to be taken as imposing upon the institution any obligation to provide or to continue to provide, any course or amenity described herein. 156 www.northumbria.ac.uk/design