A portfolio is a curated collection of your creative works and accomplishments. It serves as a powerful tool to showcase your growth, creativity, personality, skills, and unwavering dedication. Portfolios provide admissions committees with insights into your level of creativity and commitment.

Skill Covered

Curated portfolio content

Creativity and artistic expression

Alignment with university expectations

Enhance application competitiveness

English content

Example Outline of the Course (Architecture)

Session 1

Portfolio Selection / Portfolio Creation

The student and tutor will review the student’s available works and make a decision about what should be included in the portfolio according to specific university's guidance that it should demonstrate a range of skills and media, and should prove an understanding of composition and/or design and the ability to work in three dimensions.

Session 2-4

Portfolio Editing

During these sessions, the student and tutor embark on the creation or enhancement of artworks that may be missing from the portfolio. This includes the creation of pieces in major mediums that require representation, the production of high- quality photographs for works that can't be physically transported, and the provision of ample evidence of life drawing skills. Additionally, they engage in workshops to refine the student's presentation of their portfolio, ensuring it effectively conveys their artistic prowess.

Session 5-10

Portfolio Refinement

The subsequent sessions focus on meticulous portfolio refinement, ensuring that it is in impeccable condition for presentation to the admissions tutors. The student and tutor collaborate to perfect any descriptions accompanying the artworks and practice the presentation, ultimately preparing the student to confidently and effectively present their portfolio during the admissions process.

FAQ of Portfolio Guidance

The link to join the live online course will be sent to the registered email address with a reminder one day before the scheduled session. Please ensure that the email address provided during registration is accurate and regularly checked for updates.

Other Related Courses

Interview Training

Minimum Hours: 6
An Interview Training is essential for a concise and effective interview. During interviews, it's essential to convey not only what you've accomplished but also the reasons behind your creative choices and the methods you've employed. This is where an Interview Prep Course plays a pivotal role, guiding you in articulating your creative journey comprehensively. Moreover, interviewers look for genuine passion and curiosity for your chosen subject area. Such courses assist in expressing your enthusiasm, setting you apart as a dedicated and motivated candidate. Additionally, they help you unveil your creative potential by facilitating the discussion of your aspirations and how the course aligns with your future goals. In instances where portfolios are part of the interview process, these courses ensure you're well-prepared to engage in a meaningful dialogue about your artistic work.

Knowledge Building

Minimum Hours: 10
Our Knowledge Building courses enable students to delve deeper into their chosen subject, supported by a team of exceptional tutors selected from the top 12% of applicants, who have graduated from renowned universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and other UK's foremost art schools.

Personal Statement Enhancement

Minimum Hours: 6
Creating a compelling Personal Statement for an Art and Design degree is essential to present a student as an outstanding candidate, emphasising their diverse skill set, experiences, and strengths. In the realm of Art and Design, it's crucial for aspiring artists and designers to exhibit a keen eye for detail and the ability to effectively express their creative vision.

Individual lessons or Forming a group

Contact us to book a lesson! Students of similar ability are welcome to join us as a group and enjoy a moderate price!

Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!

Find out what our customers say ...
Jessie C.
Desire Subject Physiotherapy
Programme Medicine and Allied Health Professions Admissions Preparation Course
Hours Attended 20

From a young age, Jessie was passionate about sports, especially football and competitive jump roping. An injury during a jump roping competition that required physical therapy piqued her interest in the profession. Jessie chose Biology and Chemistry as her subjects, and her predicted DSE scores met the entry requirements. However, she had doubts about her suitability due to her petite stature and introverted nature, fearing these could be obstacles to becoming a physical therapist. Despite Jessie's excellent grades, her father was also concerned about her career choice, worrying that Jessie was blindly following a trend without truly considering her interests and abilities, as choosing this field would mean committing to a career as a physical therapist.

Our education consultant recommended the shadowing program by Ascent Prep, the only official preparation program recognized by AEAS, offering students clinical internship experiences and professional mentorship. Seeing it as an opportunity to resolve her doubts and increase her chances of being admitted to higher-ranking universities, her father enrolled her in the program.

During the shadowing process, she gained in-depth knowledge of a physical therapist's daily duties, including assessing patients, developing treatment plans, and guiding patients through rehabilitation exercises. Though challenging, she found the work meaningful. Throughout this period, Jessie had the opportunity to ask many questions, particularly about her concerns. After completing the shadowing program, her determination to become a physical therapist was strengthened.

When preparing her personal statement, Jessie tried writing it herself but felt it lacked persuasiveness. With her tutor's guidance, she realized many areas needed improvement. The tutor helped her reorganize her experiences volunteering in physical therapy, highlighting her passion and dedication to the field. During interview training, she learned how to showcase her strengths and effectively answer the interviewer's questions. For example, Ascent Prep tutors taught students how to answer common situational questions, such as:

  • What do you think are the basic professional ethics for a physical therapist?
  • How do you view the relationship between physical therapists and their patients?
  • How would you handle conflicts of interest with patients?

Ascent Prep tutors prepared students for these ethical questions and situational challenges to test their problem-solving abilities, such as:

  • How would you deal with a patient unwilling to cooperate with treatment?
  • How would you respond to an emergency during treatment?
  • How do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals?

Ultimately, with Ascent Prep's assistance, Jessie was accepted into the Physical Therapy program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and also received offers from the University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, Brunel University, and the University of Salford in the UK. Among these options, she chose the University of Birmingham and was awarded a scholarship for her outstanding performance.

This journey highlights the value of Ascent Prep, offering practical clinical experiences and professional guidance, enabling students to not only improve academically but also to find their direction in their future career paths.

Read MoreRead Less
Sophie F.
Desire Subject Architecture
Programme Portfolio Guidance
Hours Attended 10

Sophie is a high school student from Hong Kong who has been passionate about architecture since she was young. She excelled academically and actively participated in various architecture-related activities, such as architectural model competitions and visits. However, as the time for further education approached, Sophie began to feel somewhat lost, due to her very high standards for herself. She knew that to gain admission into architecture programs at prestigious universities like Cambridge or UCL, she needed not only excellent academic grades but also well-rounded abilities and creativity.

By chance, Sophie attended a lecture by Ascent Prep, where the instructors shared their experiences in helping students gain admission to top universities. Ascent Prep introduced her to a mentor who was studying architecture at Cambridge. The mentorship and classes were designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and encouraged Sophie to think critically about the core of architectural studies, enriching her personal statement with diverse elements. In these classes, Sophie learned about architectural history, theory, and design. Her tutor explained complex concepts in an engaging way, making it easy for Sophie to understand.

For instance, during a mock interview, Sophie encountered a challenging question: "What do you think are the professional ethics of an architect?" She had never considered this question before, but with her tutor's guidance, she was able to articulate a well-thought-out answer, boosting her confidence for the actual interview.

The art portfolio is a critical component of university applications, and Sophie's tutor helped her create a portfolio that was both deep and creative. The tutor meticulously guided her through the selection and arrangement of her works, covering her academic research, practical experience, and personal interests. Under the tutor's guidance, Sophie revised her portfolio multiple times, resulting in an impressive collection of work.

Sophie's efforts were rewarded when she was accepted into the Architecture program at the University of Cambridge. Her portfolio showcased her unique understanding of architecture, including a sustainable design proposal that received high praise from her tutor. Moreover, Sophie performed excellently in her university interviews, demonstrating her academic abilities and personal charm.

Sophie's success story is a testament to the effectiveness of the Ascent Prep program, which is dedicated to helping students realize their potential and achieve success in their educational pursuits.

Read MoreRead Less
Andy M.
Desire Subject AEAS
Programme Official AEAS Test Preparation Course
Hours Attended 30

Andy attended a local Hong Kong secondary school. Despite having average grades at school, he has always been afraid of English, to the point of hesitating to speak it. Andy is a typical slow starter; when under pressure, he easily feels overwhelmed. This became even more evident after he took the AEAS test unprepared, resulting in scores far below expectations. The AEAS report recommended Andy to undertake an English course for 20-30 weeks, and the substantial cost of attending a 30-week language course in Australia, including tuition, accommodation, and student insurance, caused considerable concern for his parents. Not only were they considering the dual factors of time and finances, but they also hoped that Andy could have more opportunities to apply to his desired schools. That's when they found us, the only official preparatory course institution recognized by AEAS. In the 1-on-1 courses at Ascent Prep, students receive meticulous instruction from teachers and consultants, improving their English skills and gradually overcoming their fear of English. To the parents' surprise, the child performed excellently in the AEAS test. By achieving good results in Hong Kong, the AEAS report reduced the required language class from 30 weeks to just 4 weeks before entering mainstream schools in Australia. This not only saved money but also allowed the child to integrate into the Australian mainstream education system sooner.

Read MoreRead Less
Member of Beacon Group
Top crossarrow-right