What Is Portfolio Entry and Can It Get Me Into Uni Without an ATAR?

Let's break it down. 

If it's your goal to attend university after Year 12, it is likely that you’ve been putting a whole lot of pressure on yourself to get excellent results in your final year of school.

Of course, you should aspire to study hard and achieve the highest ATAR you can. However there are a number of different factors that can impact exam performance, and it’s important (and comforting) to know that there are other ways to get into uni if you don’t get the marks you need.

One of those ways is through portfolio entry.

What is portfolio entry?

Portfolio entry is an alternative entry pathway to university. Instead of using your ATAR, you can create a portfolio of work that demonstrates your abilities and showcases your skills. It’s a great way to boost your chance of admission if your ATAR wasn’t quite high enough to receive an offer for your dream course.

The work in your portfolio should reflect your commitment to your chosen field of study. For example, if you want to study design, you should include examples of your best creative work.

Courses including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Commerce often allow admission via portfolio entry. However, portfolio entry is not an option for all university courses, and the requirements are different for each uni, so it’s essential you check the admission criteria for your chosen course.

Who can use portfolio entry?

Again, this will depend on what uni you want to go to. But generally, it’s open to school leavers who are not eligible for an ATAR or school leavers who did not receive an offer based on their ATAR.

Additionally, if you’re a non-school leaver and you didn’t qualify for university through another pathway, you can also elect to secure a spot via portfolio entry.

Either way, you’ll need to prove you’ve completed Year 12, meet the English competency requirements for your uni and satisfy any prerequisites for the course you want to apply for.

We know it’s a lot to wrap your head around, so if you’re feeling a tad overwhelmed, don’t fret! All of this information can be found on your university’s website.

What should I Include in my portfolio?

Putting your portfolio together might seem like a daunting task, but universities generally specify exactly what you should include.

For most applications, you’ll need to have an introductory letter explaining your career goals and why you’ve chosen a specific course. To blow them away, be sure to highlight your commitment to succeeding.

It’s likely you’ll also need to include your resume outlining your work experience, academic records and evidence of extra-curricular achievements. If you’ve got any leadership experience, it’s time to show it off here. You’ll also require a couple of written references from a teacher or employer.

Some applicants might have to undergo an interview component as well, but this depends on which course you’re applying for.

How do I submit my portfolio?

Good question. While each university has their own guidelines, you’ll usually have to submit your portfolio online through an application portal or directly to the university by email.

This means you’ll need to decide what documents and creative work you want to show off, scan them to your computer and upload them.

Make sure you check for size, colour and certification requirements, so you can avoid the headache of scrambling to send your work through again if you did it incorrectly the first time. Additionally, you’ll want to find out if there are any restrictions on page numbers, so you’re not attaching too many documents.

From there, your application will be evaluated, and you’ll be notified of the outcome.

It’s time to start putting your best work together!

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