Helping your students apply

Our foundation degree programme in Art, Design and Media gives students the chance to explore different creative areas before choosing a specific subject to study as an undergraduate.

It's the perfect way to find students to find their creative voice and to boost their existing skills and portfolio if they’re not quite ready for progression to an undergraduate degree.

This course is geared towards the preparation of a portfolio of work to support students’ application to a Higher Education course. Throughout the course, the practical work in the studio is supported by a programme of contextual studies in art and design.

At AUB we believe that all those with the potential to benefit from higher education, no matter their background, deserve the opportunity to do so. The work of our Admissions team is an important part of making that happen.

You may have queries about the suitability of qualifications for particular courses, or perhaps you’re re-entering education after a break and wondering whether you could be offered a place based on your existing qualifications. If so, our Admissions team are here to help.

If you have an admissions related question you can email our Admissions team.

Writing an effective personal statement is an instrumental part of the university application process. For some universities it could be the deciding element in whether a student is offered a place on a course. At Arts University Bournemouth it forms the basis of whether we would see a student’s portfolio, or perhaps offer them an interview.

As a specialist arts institution, our personal statement support is tailored specifically toward applications to creative subjects. Drawing on decades of experience in helping students make successful applications to arts-based degree programmes, we offer specialist advice and guidance in this area.

Students having a portfolio which demonstrates their skill, technique and creative process forms a fundamental part of a successful application to AUB.

For many of our courses, we invite students to attend an interview and ask for them to bring their portfolio as part of the application process.

Portfolios should show examples of students work – both finished and work in progress – that demonstrate their artistic interests and skill.

However, sometimes knowing where to start when it comes to putting together a great portfolio can be a little daunting. At AUB we’ve created specific guidelines for each of our courses which ask for a portfolio as part of the application process, so you know exactly what we’re looking for.