Undergraduate and postgraduate standout portfolios for applications in the US and UK.
Applying to architecture schools for undergraduate applications will require a portfolio. As you may have noticed, these can be tough to make.
Figuring out which projects to include, how they relate to the applicant’s creative interests, how to improve them, how to curate them, how to write about them and how to format them can be an exceptional challenge. This can be especially daunting since architecture schools rely so heavily on these documents.
This post aims to answer these questions by running through examples of accepted architecture school portfolios to schools in the US and UK. Schools like Harvard GSD, MIT, Cornell, The Cooper Union, the Bartlett UCL, the AA and Cambridge. It’s worth noting that some of these portfolios are for MArch entry, and others are for BArch or BS/BSc/BA entry.
UK Undergraduate (BA/BSc)
This student came to us around six months before her deadlines. Her top choice school was between the Bartlett and Cambridge, and she was accepted to both for their undergraduate programs (BSc/BA Architecture). This is a short portfolio, only ten pages in length, but it’s a good example of the kind of work that does well with architecture admissions. The work strikes a good balance between 2D and 3D (painting, drawing and sculpture), and also gives us a good idea of her personal background, skills and creative interests.
UK Undergraduate (BA)
This particular student came to us with just a few pieces of work. He was looking to go to Manchester School of Architecture, and over a few months we gave feedback on his portfolio development and UCAS personal statement.
As a student at a languages high school, his interests were firmly within the audible world, especially since he is also a gifted musician. This formed a very interesting brief for the application, and we spent a great deal of time coming up with innovative ways of translating between music, language, drawing and painting. A very personal brief – just as it should be.
US/UK Undergraduate (BArch, BSc)
This student came to us around a year before his application deadlines. We had a good amount of time with him to give feedback on his portfolio skills and personal statements. We also included some interview practice for his UK school options at the end of his enrollment with us. This particular video reviews his Cornell portfolio submission, which is a little longer than the Bartlett submission since the Bartlett requires just 10 pages, and Cornell around 20 pages (for 2025 entry). He was accepted to both programs, and chose Cornell.
US Undergraduate (BArch, BS)
This student’s portfolio was accepted at Pratt, USC, Carnegie Mellon and Northeastern for BArch and BS programs for 2023 entry. She applied as a high school senior from California. We spent a few months with her, giving feedback on her Common App BArch supplemental essays and portfolio.
The overarching theme to this application was based around translations, since much of her background and interests involved languages, cultural identity, and observational drawing.
US Postgraduate (MArch )
We chat with Emily Majors, a Harvard GSD student in her final year of the MArch I program about the portfolio she used to apply to the GSD. Emily applied from Texas A&M with a Bachelors in Environmental Design. She was also accepted to Yale School of Architecture, Columbia GSAPP, UPenn and SCI-Arc.
US Postgraduate (MArch)
We chat with Alek Dojnow, an MIT student in his final year of the MArch I program. Alek runs us through the portfolio he used in his applications. He applied from the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL where he completed his undergraduate degree in 2018.
UK/HK Postgraduate (MPhil, MArch, MA)
Maria, an HKU student in her last year of the MArch program, talks to us about her applications to architecture school. She runs us through the portfolio she used to apply, which was also accepted at the Royal College of Art for their MA, and the University of Cambridge for their MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design. Maria applied from the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL where she completed her undergraduate degree in 2019.
To Conclude
It’s worth noting that each of these portfolios is exceptionally individualised. The challenge is in translating a set of personal interests and motivations into a set of visual work, meaning that each of these applicants’ portfolios is incredibly unique to them. Moreover, each portfolio links carefully to the applicant’s personal statements and other written application materials, forming a cohesive and persuasive set of work. It’s this individuality which lends to their success.