Your NSCAD portfolio should be a collection of recent works presented in the form of digital documentation or links to audio or video pieces – all uploaded to your application. It should contain:

• You’re encouraged to use personal experience and cultural heritage as possible avenues of exploration for the required projects and other work submitted for review. Tell us your story!
• You should include work that gives evidence of your ability and willingness to look closely and carefully at a subject.
• Clear process, procedures, or paths of exploration and experimentation may tell the Admissions Committee as much about you as does the finished work, so use the sketchbook/journal to your advantage (if applicable).
• The Admissions Committee is particularly interested in seeing work that is carried out independently of classroom assignments and that makes the most of the opportunities available to you as an artist. We want to see what can you create that hasn’t been instructed by a teacher.
• The work you submit should display a wide range of explorations, and use a variety of materials. This shows that you’re open to working with different media in response to observation of a particular situation or subject.
• Take good pictures of your work. Be sure that your images are in focus, well-lit and on plain backgrounds and surfaces. It is a good idea to crop images of two-dimensional work right to the edge of paper or canvas.
• If you plan to include audio or video work, upload your files to a hosting site (e.g. YouTube) with links included in your application.
• Curate your collection! If you have multiple versions of similar themes or mediums, show us one or two of the best examples.
• Document your work as you go and include these images as part of your process work, giving insight into the creative journey of your finished works.
• Include your most recent work completed in the past two years. If you want to include older work, tell us why.
• Have someone you trust look at your portfolio, such as an art teacher. You can also reach out to us in the Office of Admissions, and we are happy to provide feedback and advice before you apply.

We are also interested in:

• Projects integrating creative practice with other disciplines: engineering, architecture, chemistry, physics, mathematics etc. If you created something that crosses boundaries, it may be considered as a piece in your portfolio.
• Excerpts of time-based work (performance, film, sound or video) may be uploaded to Vimeo, YouTube or personal/professional website, with links to specific works in your portfolio. Total running time of time-based excerpts should not exceed 15 minutes.