MArch Architecture digital portfolio advice
Your digital portfolio is a key part of your application for MArch Architecture and a fantastic opportunity to show your creative skills. See our advice on how to prepare your work and what we'll be looking for when we evaluate your submission.
Preparing your portfolio
We understand your work is unique to you as a creative individual but we've pulled together some useful advice to give you a better understanding of what you should consider and what we're looking for in your submission.
For the academic team to consider your application, you're required to submit between 10-12 examples of your practical work.
Your work can be in the form of images, photographs, drawings or other media.
You should include:
- Primarily examples of design project work – from research and conceptual stages, 3D development (including models) to technical and environmental strategies and detailing
- These sheets need to include succinct captions outlining the main project details, e.g. location, programme (function), the brief, narrative, etc.
- Example(s) of written and history / theories studies and outline explanation of the study aim and scope
- Example(s) of technical and professional studies and outline explanation of the study aim and scope.
The details of your application form and portfolio will be carefully considered when assessing your suitability for the course.
Our academic team will be looking for evidence of your creativity, innovation, intellectual engagement, technical skills and professionalism.
Submitting your portfolio
Making sure your work is in the correct format and adheres to our guidelines is important.
Your portfolio should:
- Be submitted as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and/or Apple QuickTime presentation.
- Be no more than 20 slides – this will allow you to include more than one image of each piece of work, if required, plus short descriptions
- Be submitted as a single unzipped file not exceeding 10 megabytes (mb).
Further guidance on how to submit your digital portfolio will be sent via email during your application process.
Where images are inserted into your presentation, they should be:
- In JPEG format
- A maximum of 72 dots per inch (dpi).
Alternatively, you can submit your work as a series of images which should be:
- In JPEG format
- A maximum of 72 dpi
- A maximum of 20 images in total (this may include more than one image of each piece of work)
- Zipped into a folder not exceeding 10mb.
What happens after submitting your portfolio
When we receive your submission of work it will be reviewed by the course Admissions Tutor. Once a decision has been made on your application you will receive a notification through UCAS Hub. If you are an international student applying through the NTU Applicant Portal we will email you when a decision is made.
It is essential that you submit your work by the given deadline, as unfortunately after this date we will be unable to consider your application and an unsuccessful decision will be communicated to UCAS. or on the NTU Applicant Portal.
If however, you are unable to meet the deadline date but are still interested in submitting work for consideration, then please contact the Admissions Office on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
We'll aim to inform you of a decision within 20 working days of receiving your completed application.
If your portfolio is accepted, you'll be asked to hold an interview with the academic team. Your interview will be held via telephone or Microsoft Teams.
Your interview will help us to decide whether we feel you are suitable for the course, and will help you to decide if this is the right course for you.
An electronic copy of all submitted work will be retained by NTU for the duration of the annual application cycle but will not be held on file for longer than this. Please ensure that all files sent to us are copies. NTU will not use submitted work for any purpose other than the student application process.
Have any questions?
Contact Ask NTU if you have any questions or if there's anything you'd like to discuss.
Alternatively, you can contact our Admissions team on +44 (0)115 848 4200.