Interviews, auditions and portfolios

Audition requirements

You will be invited to perform the following at an in-person audition on campus. This will include a group workshop and individual audition time where we will work with you on the pieces you bring in.

• Contemporary monologue (two minutes max) from a text published after 1995.
• Lyrical piece (two minutes max) of spoken poetry or song lyrics, or a monologue from a play in verse / lyrical form). This should be spoken aloud as a character. It does not need to be Shakespearean or classical, but can be if preferred.
• No song will be required.

International students and those unable to travel to the UWL campus are invited to submit a digital audition. Please host your work on Vimeo or YouTube and provide a link in your application portal.

What to bring with you:

• a recent passport photograph
• loose comfortable clothing suitable for an audition
• appropriate footwear
• copies of your monologues, poetry, song lyrics, etc

Further information:

If you require further information regarding the audition, please email the admissions tutor Alex Loveless at alex.loveless@uwl.ac.uk

Portfolio requirements

Please provide a portfolio which best represents your audio work and experience to date.

The portfolio should comprise of two parts:

1. An audio (and A/V if appropriate) show reel via cloud file sharing service.
2. An accompanying text that details your roles and involvement in the show reel, highlighting those aspects of your contribution to the show reel of which you are particularly proud.

Purely as an example, if you recorded a band and developed an innovative microphone technique, you should send a recording of the final mix with details of your approach to the recording, an explanation of your particular microphone technique, and how your role interacted with the producer's. If you also were involved in mixing the track, then that might be discussed separately.

Your suitability for the course will be gauged on the experience and understanding demonstrated in this portfolio and its documentation, and so every effort should be made to convey the full range of your skills at their peak.

Portfolio requirements

We are looking for evidence of significance, commitment and rigour in our applicants. Hence, we require additional information in order to better understand your motivations and interests. Please download this form (.docx 23.5KB), complete it and then upload it in your application portal.

Portfolio requirements

We are looking for evidence of significance, commitment and rigour in our applicants. Hence, we require additional information in order to better understand your motivations and interests. Please download this form (.docx 23.5KB) complete it, and then upload it in your application portal.

Audition requirements

The audition will happen in two parts. You will be required to attend for either a whole morning or afternoon.

If you are unable to travel (for international students and those with access considerations), you may opt for an online audition.

• Part 1 - You will be required to participate in a workshop which will be approximately 1 hour long.

You will be guided through some create activities and asked to perform as part of a group.

• Part 2 - You will participate in a 20 minute interview. This will be conducted in small groups. You will be asked questions about your experience and ambition and will have the opportunity to respond individually.

Please note:

• All audition workshops must be performed in English.

• Interviews will also be held in English.

• No written feedback will be given to the candidates on the audition. Clear verbal responses to work shared will be provided, if appropriate, by the panel.

• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for a workshop.

Any questions?

If you require further information regarding the audition, please email the admissions tutor at catherine.sloan@uwl.ac.uk.

Portfolio requirements

We expect to see drawing in response to surface, form, tone and mood using a range of media. The term drawing is widely interpreted and may involve the use of non-conventional materials. This may include computer-aided design (CAD), which is welcome, but this should not be to the detriment of all other forms of drawing and visual communication.

We like to see a range of drawings that show:

• the ability to observe objects with accuracy, including life drawing if you have had the opportunity to observe the human figure
• drawing showing abstraction and experimentation, including using fabric and textiles if this is important to you
• a developing Illustrative ability.

We also consider the use of colour of paramount importance throughout your portfolio. We want to see a developing sensitivity to the use of colour.

We like to see your ability to develop ideas from initial drawings (or other forms of inspiration) through sketchbooks and worksheets to finished compositions/artefacts. Development work should show an experimental approach to colour, texture, surface, pattern and potential for work to develop into innovative fashion and/or fashion textiles.

Sketchbooks or their equivalent are very important to see. A collection of tear sheets from magazines is not considered appropriate. Neither do we want to see scrapbooks, unless they are carefully selected and presented to show your ideas and preferences as the basis for ideas.

We want to see people who are open-minded, inquisitive and curious about the world around them. A spark, individuality, something different, creative thinking with a questioning approach to fashion, design, the body and 3D thinking and realisation. It is desirable to include any work you feel confident about in three dimensions, as well as evidence of pattern cutting; this does not have to be accomplished but may help to support your application.

Of paramount importance are fashion awareness and an opinion in relation to contemporary fashion and a developing knowledge of contemporary design and designers (not exclusively fashion).

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should include:

• Evidence of creativity, with fashion photography (or photography in general) being an advantage.
• Creative work relating to styling, visual merchandising or trend forecasting.
• You may also evidence knowledge of Fashion Marketing through shop reports and retail analysis - or general creativity and digital skills.

Portfolio requirements

We are looking for evidence of a range of abilities including conceptual thinking, problem-solving, artistic flair, and experimentation with a range of media. These qualities can be demonstrated in numerous ways and will vary greatly between individual applicants, depending upon such things as educational experiences and available resources. For this reason, we don't like to be to specific as to the content of a portfolio, but as a guide, it could include: finished projects, sketchbooks, notebooks,

digital work, paintings, photography, drawings (particularly drawings from observation), three-dimensional work, storyboards, short films, and animations.

It is vital that the work in your portfolio is all your own work. Any work that is not entirely yours, such as collaborative pieces, should be made clear to the interviewer.

Your portfolio should be carefully and cleanly presented in order to enhance the appearance of the work. Work does not have to be mounted. If you have large 2/3D work it is easier to bring photographs. Please ensure that your portfolio is clearly marked with your name.

In addition to discussing your portfolio, tutors will ask you about your personal statement, favourite artists, designers and exhibitions you have visited, your motivation and career aspirations. During this time you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the course in detail.

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should include some student (and professional work if relevant) and examples of any creative activities undertaken that could be also relevant (eg design presentations, crafts, theatre, furniture ideas, art installations, ceramics, painting or sculptures). Some evidence of basic drawing skills is essential like examples of 2D, 3D, freehand drawing or sketching. You could also include collages, photography, graphics, text, colour work, illustrations, etc.

A small statement would also be useful showing your interest in interior design and why you would like to study Interior Architecture at UWL (no more than 200-300 words).

Portfolio requirements

You must evidence problem solving, creative thinking, learning journeys and the development and completion of independent projects through your portfolio.

Portfolio requirements

Please submit your portfolio, comprising three to five of your design projects. Each should be illustrated with a selection of images demonstrating your process: from initial investigations and research to conceptual propositions, through the testing of ideas and design development, to final proposal. The portfolio needs to contain a variety of digital and analogue representations, two and three dimensional, to reflect different modes of thinking, working, designing through making. It should include: examples of physical model making, photography, mixed media work, diverse types of images and drawings. You may add work from practice, if relevant and your contribution is clearly outlined. 

Incorporate succinct explanatory text to describe the visual content and consider carefully the curation of the graphical and written information contained in your portfolio. The order in which the content is displayed in your submission is important – start with the project you regard as being the most significant and accomplished. 

Aim to showcase your creative interests and approach to design, as well as skills and ability. We welcome applications from allied disciplines graduates, from subjects such as architecture, furniture design, product design and graphic design.

Portfolio requirements

For both BMus and MMus applications, your portfolio must include two notated compositions, ideally of a contrasting nature. These two works have to be notated either with a music notation software (as for example Sibelius) or as manuscripts. In either case they have to be submitted in PDF format (please do not send Sibelius or Finale files).

Together with the above, BMus candidates can submit two audio recordings in MP3 format, ideally of the same two notated compositions. These can be midi exports of Sibelius of Finale. MMus Composition and Composition for Film and TV candidates must include two audio recordings. This can be in MP3 format, or other audio/video media.

We are happy to consider audio recordings only, without notated compositions. However, please note that an inability to demonstrate knowledge of music notation might imply that we will consider your application for the BMus (Hons) Composition with Foundation course.

If you are successful at this stage, you will then be invited for an interview in person. International candidates may request to arrange a Skype interview, which we will try to accommodate on an individual basis.

Interview

The interview will cover a wide range of topics including a discussion of:

• your own compositions, the concepts they involve, and the techniques you employed;
• compositional styles, composers and techniques that have influenced your works or that interest you;
• your past and current musical activities, including your studies and extracurricular interests;
• your career ideas.
• MMus candidates should expect to discuss academic research interests and previous experience.

As part of the interview process, BMus candidates will be asked to undertake a brief written test, including recognition of musical excerpts, music theory questions, and general knowledge of composition.

Note: Please make sure that you bring at the interview two copies of the two compositions you submitted as part of your portfolio in hard copy.

Further notes

All BMus (Hons) Composition (Film/Theatre) candidates will also be considered for the 4 year BMus (Hons) Composition with Foundation Year.

Portfolio requirements

You must provide two pieces of work which can be your own recordings, mixes, or original compositions and can be recorded live, in a studio or produced using a computer Digital Audio Workstation.

If you are applying for Sound and Music for Gaming, your pieces can be game soundtracks or sound design pieces for which you should also submit any accompanying video files.

Your two pieces should be contrasting in nature to demonstrate your range of skills and creativity in music production.

Each piece must be accompanied by a written description of between 400-500 words. In your written work you must try to include the following information:

1. The production processes and equipment used.
2. A description of the ways in which the pieces contrast, your creative intentions for each piece and reasons for choosing them.

Please try to use the correct technical terminology where possible when describing the production process, however you may use more descriptive writing when discussing the creative elements of your work.

How to send work to us?

Provide a download link to the work using a service such as Dropbox or Google Drive and upload the link in your application portal.

Audition requirements

The audition will consist of you showcasing your skills to the staff. You should prepare the following:

Dance:

Applicants will participate in a group dance workshop. Following a short physical warm up they will learn and perform a section of choreography. All movement will be explained and demonstrated on the day.

Songs:

Two contrasting songs. At least one song must be from a musical and one from either a musical or a genre of your own choice. These must demonstrate two contrasting vocal styles: lyrical/legit (pre 1965 if from a musical) and a contemporary one. Songs must not exceed three minutes in length.

Acting:

Applicants will participate in an acting workshop. Please also prepare one monologue of any genre. To be performed in your own accent. No longer than two minutes in length. 

The monologue must be selected from a published play. Choices do not have to be restricted by gender – choose something you relate to and which you find exciting. 

Please note:

• All auditions must be performed in English
• All pieces must be learnt from memory
• Applicants should not accompany themselves – sheet music in the correct key must be provided
• No written feedback will be given to candidates following the audition – clear verbal responses to work observed within the audition will be provided, where appropriate, by the panel throughout the audition process

What to bring with you:

• Loose comfortable clothing suitable for an audition
• Appropriate footwear
• Sheet music, taped or in a display folder

Online applications:

Please submit a self-tape which includes the following:

1. A short introduction telling us a bit about yourself
2. Two contrasting songs, one of which must be from a musical
3. A monologue from a published play, performed in own accent, no longer than two minutes in length 
4. A section of dance. A video of the dance breakdown is provided via YouTube. Accompanying music is also provided via YouTube.

Please note:

• Tapes should be filmed in landscape – the audition should show the candidate’s ability to move; it should not show a seated or static performance but the whole of the body
• Each item should be performed in a ‘single take’ and not edited subsequently.
• Please submit the self-tape as a video link (preferably a YouTube link – ensure the settings allow us to view it)

Further information:

If you require further information regarding the audition, please email the admissions tutor Alex Loveless at alex.loveless@uwl.ac.uk

Your interview will take place online using the meetings function in Microsoft Teams. Please download the Microsoft Teams app in advance. An invitation that includes the MS Teams link will be sent to you in advance of your interview.

Before your interview

Good preparation is key to a successful interview. Watch short UWL presentations, plus other videos and useful information on the NHS website, to help you decide if this is the right career, course and University for you (links below). You will learn more about the clinical partners we work with for the practice element of the course and the wider support services available to you at UWL. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during your interview.

• Midwifery courses at UWL
• NHS Health Careers
• NHS Nursing Careers
• NHS Midwifery Careers
• Step into the NHS

You may wish to refer back to the course pages on our website for full information about the course you are applying for.

At the start of your interview, you will be asked to show a form of photographic ID (preferably a passport). Prepare to have this to hand.

Download the Microsoft Teams app onto the device you will use for the online interview, as some browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari do not support Teams calls and meetings.

Consider your location for the online interview. A quiet environment where you will not be disturbed is advised.

Consider using headphones for improved audio quality.

During your interview

Ensure that you join the interview a few minutes before your 20-minute time slot. Wait online to be “admitted” by the panel. Camera/video and audio must be turned on, please do check settings and permissions prior to the start time. We recommend that you use a PC/laptop or a similar device (where available) for the interview, as this permits a more stable connection.

• Welcome and introduction by the panel (the panel will usually consist of two lecturers or one / two lecturers with a healthcare care professional or service user from the subject you have chosen).
• Present photographic ID
• Opportunity to ask any questions which may have arisen from the presentation
• Panel lead interview questions, to explore;
  • Your motivation for choosing this course and your insight into the role
  • Your understanding of the demands of the course and how this will fit in with your home/family commitments
  • Your communication skills and ability to learn from previous experiences i.e. work/voluntary experience o Your beliefs and values in line with the NHS Constitution

After your interview

We aim to make decisions within 10 working days of interviews being held. In some circumstances, this may take longer. Please do not worry if you have not received a decision at this time. It means your application is still being considered.

If your application has been unsuccessful, you may be considered for an alternative course at UWL.

Disability support and reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring people with a disability are provided with equal access to their chosen course of study and facilities at the University of West London. Attempts are made to remove barriers faced in education because of disability. This is called “making reasonable adjustments”.

We strongly encourage applicants to disclose their disability and discuss support requirements at the earliest opportunity by contacting our Wellbeing Team:

• Online via the Student Hub
• Email - wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk, or;
• Telephone - 020 8231 2739.

Early disclosure enables the University to consider appropriate support requirements and to identify whether reasonable adjustments can be made to help you with your interview, and/or studies prior to the start of the course. Some reasonable adjustments may not be possible in a placement setting so it is imperative these are considered prior to starting the course.

It is important to understand that successful progression on this course is dependent on professional standards being met. By disclosing to the University, where reasonable adjustments can be made, the University will provide you with the support you need to meet these standards. Follow a link below to explore the standards appropriate to your chosen course.

• Standards of proficiency for registered nurses
• Standards of proficiency for midwives
• Standards of proficiency for allied health professionals

We require you to have a minimum standard of musical ability - currently Grade 8 standard or equivalent (on your stated first instrument, or voice).

Audition requirements

What will happen on the day?

1. Performance

You will be invited to perform around 10 minutes of music consisting of two or three contrasting pieces broadly taken from within classical and/or jazz styles (depending on your interests), on your principal instrument or voice. You will be given around 20 minutes to warm-up (or rehearse with the accompanist) prior to the audition. The audition and interview itself will last around 30 minutes.

Please confirm whether or not you will need an accompanist - you are welcome to bring your own accompanist if you prefer. For jazz performers, we can provide playback facilities.

You are not required to perform from memory. Please bring all your sheet music with you.

Please note:

• Your chosen pieces should be Grade 7 or 8 standard (or equivalent if you have not passed these grades). If you have any questions about this, please email the BMus (Hons) Performance Course Leader, Dr Annie Yim: annie.yim@uwl.ac.uk
• When appropriate, you will be provided with clear verbal feedback within the audition by the panel. No written feedback will be given to candidates following the audition.

What to bring with you?

• a copy of the sheet music and a copy for your accompanist if required

2. Musicianship

Classical and jazz performers: you will be asked to do a sight-reading test (appropriate to your grade level); aural tests and theory questions. For jazz performers, there may be some basic improvisation.

3. Interview

Following your performance, there will be an interview. The interview will cover a wide range of topics, but you may wish to bear the following points in mind:

• music and/or performers that have influenced your choice of pieces
• your musical experience to date, including any solo or ensemble performance, musical leadership activities, etc
• details on your current course being studied at school or college
• understanding of LCM’s BMus (Hons) Performance course and your motivation to study on it
• your career ideas

You will also be given the chance to ask us questions about the course during this interview.

4. Online auditions:

For overseas applicants we accept auditions via an online link (preferably an unlisted YouTube link).

• Please introduce yourself and your pieces in the video.
• Please make sure your hands and face are clearly visible in the frame.
• Any videoed items should be performed in a ‘single take’ and not edited subsequently.
• Your choice of pieces should follow the same requirements as stated above and include 10 minutes of music consisting of two or three contrasting pieces on your principal instrument or voice. 

You may subsequently be invited to an online interview on Zoom or Teams at a mutually convenient time.

5. Experience days

We regularly organise experience days where you can participate in a performance workshop, attend some of our concerts and ensemble rehearsals and meet the current students. If you would like to do this, please get in touch with the BMus (Hons) Performance Course Leader and Head of Classical Performance, Dr Annie Yim: annie.yim@uwl.ac.uk

Further information

For further information and to book an audition, please email the admissions tutor at undergraduate.admissions@uwl.ac.uk or call 0208 231 2220.

If you have any informal questions about the BMus (Hons) Performance course to study classical and jazz styles, please email the Course Leader, Dr Annie Yim: annie.yim@uwl.ac.uk

Portfolio requirements

Please submit an unedited recording of two contrasting pieces of music.

Portfolio Submission (Recorded)

• Perform two contrasting pieces on your principal instrument or voice. We are looking for the following technical standards:
  • Three year course: grade 6 standard or equivalent
  • Four year (‘with foundation’) course: grade 5 standard or equivalent

Please do not be put off if you have not taken and passed formalised music examinations. The levels listed above are simply benchmarks of the minimum technical standards we are looking for.

Please upload your performances as an ‘unlisted’ YouTube link and include the link in your application.

Discussion

• Following the submission of your recorded performance portfolio, you may then be invited to an online discussion with a member of the popular music performance course team.
• This is a very friendly discussion, giving us a chance to find out more about you, and for us to help advise on which of our popular music performance courses is the most suitable for you.

Some tips for success:

Recorded Portfolio

• Choose pieces that show you at your best.
• You need to demonstrate an appropriate level of technical skill (please see above), but perform pieces that also show us your enthusiasm and experience.
• If you are performing with a backing track, make sure that this is well-balanced with your performance.
• Choose a camera angle so that we can see – and hear – you properly.

Remember:

We are a performance course, interested in your musicianship, but also how you communicate your musicianship through your whole performance."

— Jez Wiles, Course Leader for Popular Music

Discussion

Come prepared to tell us about yourself! This might include answering questions on some, or all, of the following points:

• What are your goals as a musician and performer?
• What performance experience do you have?
• Do you play any other instruments?
• What are your experiences and interest in recordings you have made, or have performed on?
• What is your interest in the global creative industries?
• Why would you like to study on this course? Why would you like to study at UWL?

If you have any informal questions about the course, please send an email to jeremy.wiles@uwl.ac.uk

Portfolio requirements

Please submit a digital portfolio consisting of around 15 images. This should be in the form of a PDF (max 15mb) or website link. You should choose images that work together in a coherent manner, providing a clear impression of your interests in photography. The work should preferably be taken from photographic projects you have undertaken exploring particular themes and ideas. It will also be helpful to include a few sentences about the ideas you were trying to explore in the work.

Portfolio Submission (Recorded)

• Perform two contrasting pieces on your principal instrument or voice. We are looking for the following technical standards:
  • Three year course: grade 6 standard or equivalent
  • Four year (‘with foundation’) course: grade 5 standard or equivalent

Please do not be put off if you have not taken and passed formalised music examinations. The levels listed above are simply benchmarks of the minimum technical standards we are looking for.

Please upload your performances as an ‘unlisted’ YouTube link and include the link in your application.

Discussion

• Following the submission of your recorded performance portfolio, you may then be invited to an online discussion with a member of the popular music performance course team.
• This is a very friendly discussion, giving us a chance to find out more about you, and for us to help advise on which of our popular music performance courses is the most suitable for you.

Some tips for success:

Recorded Portfolio

• Choose pieces that show you at your best.
• You need to demonstrate an appropriate level of technical skill (please see above), but perform pieces that also show us your enthusiasm and experience. 
• If you are performing with a backing track, make sure that this is well-balanced with your performance.
• Choose a camera angle so that we can see – and hear – you properly.

Remember:

We are a performance course, interested in your musicianship, but also how you communicate your musicianship through your whole performance."

— Jez Wiles, Course Leader for Popular Music

Discussion

Come prepared to tell us about yourself! This might include answering questions on some, or all, of the following points:

• What are your goals as a musician and performer?
• What performance experience do you have?
• Do you play any other instruments?
• What is your interest in the global creative industries? (BMus (Hons) Performance and Music Management only)
• Why would you like to study on this course? Why would you like to study at UWL?

If you have any informal questions about the course, please send an email to jeremy.wiles@uwl.ac.uk

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should include links to between 2 and 4 tracks that you have produced, engineered, or worked on in some technical capacity (eg programming or mix engineering). In addition, you should include a short description of your role in the production process, the software and/or hardware that you used, what your musical and/or technical aims were, how well you think you achieved them, and what you might change or do differently in retrospect. Please keep the descriptions below 500 words per track and provide examples that show the range of your experience and abilities.

Portfolio requirements

Please submit a written 1000-word essay (topic below) along with any video links to your performance/theatre work. 

Essay topic: If you were asked to develop a theatre or performance project which used your practice as research, what would you do? 

In this essay, we would like you to identify your research interests in the field of theatre and performance, and how these would inform your own practice. You can give some examples of research methods to outline a practice-based theatre or performance project that you might undertake focused on your areas of interest.   

You are welcome and encouraged to use academic references, and to present existing examples of your practice. 

If you have any questions about these requirements or the program, feel free to contact Alejandro.Postigo@uwl.ac.uk

Some useful references: 

1. Borgdorff, H. (2006) The Debate on Research in the Arts. Amsterdam: Felix Meritus. 
2. Borgdorff, H., 2010. The Production Of Knowledge In Artistic Research. In H. Karlsson & M. Biggs, eds. The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, pp. 44–63. 
3. Collins, H., 2010. Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries, Bloomsbury Academic. 
4. Smith, H. and Dean, R. T. (2009). Practice-led research, research-led practice in the creative arts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Chicago Press 

Portfolio requirements

We would be very interested to see three pieces of visual work that you are most proud of. You can upload a link (to your Instagram, ArtStation, website) or upload the three pieces of work combined into one document. It can be digital art, but does not have to be: it can be photography, (photos of) drawings or anything you have made that shows creativity.

If you have any questions about these requirements or the program, feel free to contact Angus.Luscombe@uwl.ac.uk