Document guide
Portfolio
A curated selection of your previous work, required mainly by creative and practice-based programmes.
What it is
A selection of your work: films, animations, design, artwork, built projects, or in some cases a structured record of your professional and educational history.
Why programmes ask for it
Creative programmes judge ability from work, not grades. RE:ANIMA asks for a portfolio of previous work. In a different sense, HYGIEIA asks scholarship applicants for a "portfolio" covering education, five years of work history, language and digital skills, and activities. Read what each programme means by the word.
Who issues it
You.
What it usually contains
- A short selection of your strongest, most relevant pieces.
- For each piece: title, year, your role (especially in group work), tools, duration or size.
- Links to online work, with access that does not expire before the selection ends.
How to prepare it
- Read the specification: number of pieces, maximum length, format, upload or link.
- Choose quality over quantity; open with your strongest piece.
- State your role clearly for collaborative work.
- Test every link from a logged-out browser. Avoid links that require a login or expire.
- Keep file sizes within the portal's limits.
Common mistakes
- Too many pieces, or weak early work included for volume.
- Broken or private links.
- Not saying what you did in a group project.
Quality-control checklist
- Meets the programme's format and length rules.
- Strongest work first.
- Your role stated for each piece.
- Every link tested logged out.
Lead time (planning estimate)
Four to twelve weeks to select, edit and present well; more if you need to create new work.
Commonly useful or programme-dependent?
Programme-dependent: mainly creative, media and practice-based programmes.