Preparing for your Interview at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Introduction This brochure is designed to help you prepare for your interview at the Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries. The entry criteria for all of our courses requires that an applicant undertakes an interview, so if you have applied for a place on one or more of these courses, you will be invited to attend an interview day at our ATRiuM Campus in Cardiff city centre. During the day you will be interviewed either individually or as part of a group by one of our experienced course leaders. You may also be required to undertake a test or audition depending on which course you have applied to study.
What will the tutor be expecting at interview? Each of our courses will have their own requirements in terms of what they are looking for during the interview process and this is explored in more detail within the course-specific information of this guide. In general, course tutors will use the interview to assess an applicant’s suitability for the course, both academically and practically, while trying to make sure that the subject selected is the best choice to meet the applicant’s aspirations.
Yn siarad Cymraeg fel iaith gyntaf neu ail iaith? Mae gan bob un o’r llwybrau dwyieithog hyn godau UCAS arbennig. Gallwch hefyd ofyn i gael cyfweliad dwyieithog. I drefnu cyfweliad dwyieithog neu i wybod mwy, e-bostiwch cymraeg@glam.ac.uk. Cofiwch hefyd i ofyn am fwy o wybodaeth yn ystod eich ymweliad.
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Denotes courses that have bilingual opportunities / Y mae’r symbol hwn yn dynodi’r cyrsiau sydd ar gael yn Gymraeg neu ag elfennau 3 dwyieithog.
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Drama Courses n BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama n BA (Hons) Performance and Media As part of the selection process for these courses you will be required to attend a small group interview, which will last between 40 and 50 minutes. The interview will be informal and will consist of guided group discussion. You should prepare some thoughts about what interests you about this particular course and the subject in general and also to discuss a performance that you have seen recently and felt strongly about. For Performance and Media this might be a film, play or web based production, whilst applicants for Theatre and Drama should be able to discuss a recent theatre performance which they have seen. n BA (Hons) Scriptwriting All applicants for this course are required to attend an interview,. Applicants should bring an example of their own creative writing (which can be in any form, scriptwriting, prose, poetry, etc.) for discussion during the interview. Interviews for this course will typically last between 20 and 30 minutes.
Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Music Courses n BA (Hons) Popular Music n BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance Applicants to these courses are required to undertake a combined audition and interview. During the audition, you will be required to demonstrate an effective level of musical competence by playing a prepared piece of your own choosing that reflects your performance skills and musical tastes, either vocally or with a musical instrument. You will also be asked to recognise and describe basic musical features and theoretical concepts as played to you in the audition in an aural test. You may be requited to extemporise a simple musical part if you play a rhythm section instrument. The Faculty can provide the majority of larger instruments (e.g. pianos and drums) for the audition process. However, applicants are encouraged that where transportable, they should bring their own for ease of use and familiarity, except in the case of drums, where applicants are asked to bring only their own drumsticks and cymbals. The combined audition/interview will typically last no more than 30 minutes. n BSc (Hons) Music Technology n BSc (Hons) Sound Technology While these courses do not require an audition, you will still undertake an interview which will typically last around 20 minutes. During the interview, the course tutor will assess your suitability for the course, both academically and practically, while also trying to ensure that the course you have selected is the best choice to meet your own aspirations. You will also be required to take a short written test between 10am and 11am prior to your interview taking place. It is therefore recommended that you arrive at no later than 9.45am on your allocated interview day to ensure that the test commences on time.
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
BA (Hons) Popular Music students performing 5
Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Media Courses n BA (Hons) Film and Video n BSc (Hons) Media Technology All applicants for both of these courses are required to attend an interview which will last no more than 30 minutes. You should bring examples of your work which will form part of the discussion process. Film and Video applicants should also, where possible, bring a DVD showreel or short samples of their film work. n BA (Hons) Journalism We are looking for candidates with the right combination of drive, ability and curiosity about the world around them. As part of the selection process, you will be required to complete a written test which will last no longer than 30 minutes and take place immediately before your interview. This will test your general current affairs and news knowledge, spelling and grammar. You will then have an interview with one of our course leaders that will last approximately 20 minutes. While it isn’t essential that you bring a portfolio with you, you may find it useful to bring examples of relevant work for discussion. n BA (Hons) Radio n BA (Hons) Media Production n BA (Hons) Media, Culture and Journalism All applicants for each of these courses are required to attend an interview and while it is not essential that you bring a portfolio of work, you may find it useful to bring examples of relevant work for discussion during the interview. Interviews for these courses will typically last approximately 20 minutes. For example, Media Production applicants might wish to bring samples of work including any relevant showreels. n BA (Hons) Photography n BA (Hons) Photojournalism All applicants for this course are required to attend an interview which will last no more than 30 minutes. You should bring a portfolio of work and some evidence, where possible, of supporting visual research material in the form of a journal or workbook. A recent example of formal writing used as part of your studies would also be useful for discussion during the interview.
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Third year BA (Hons) Photography project by Katherine Campbell
Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Design Courses n n n n n n n
BA (Hons) Animation BA (Hons) Computer Animation BA (Hons) Game Art BA (Hons) Graphic Communication BA (Hons) Interior Design BA (Hons) TV and Film Set Design BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Motion Graphics
All applicants for the above courses are required to attend an interview which will last between 20 and 30 minutes. You are required to bring a portfolio of your work to the Interview Day, which should be a carefully constructed selection of work produced during your most recent course of study. The portfolio should be geared towards the Course for which you are applying and include examples of observation drawing, evidence of design and thought processes, technical drawings (if appropriate) and any 3D work that is easily transported or photographs of them if not. Your portfolio should also include any personal work or projects that whilst not necessarily relating to a current course of study, are relevant to the subject area for which you are applying. All work should be organised and well presented. During the interview, you should be prepared to discuss your work and the designers, animators and/or artists who have influenced you. Applicants for the Computer Animation and Game Art courses may also wish to provide examples of any 2D or 3D CG work produced. This can either be brought along to the interview day or uploaded to a website in readiness for discussion at the interview itself. n BA (Hons) Computer Games Enterprise Applicants for this course may also wish to provide examples of the following where possible: - Game making in any format - Proposals for games level/world designs (including high concept) - Mod making - Research /design/development in the areas of game mechanics/features. - Written samples of personal game character development and game play worlds and mechanisms. - A short written outline of you personal interests, game play interests and motivation for pursuing a role in the games industry as a games designer. Any work should be detailed to include your personal contribution to the development if produced as part of a team.
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Third Year BA (Hons) Computer Animation / BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Motion Graphics joint project by Joe O’Connor, Aled Matthews and Jonny Williams
Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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Fashion Courses Applicants for all Fashion courses are required to attend an interview which will last between 20 and 30 minutes, and should bring a portfolio of work along for discussion. More information on how to prepare for interview and what should feature in your portfolio for each of our Fashion courses can be found below: n BA (Hons) Fashion Design The following information is to help you prepare for your interview, however we are looking for a variety of work and we are particularly interested in you as an individual, so please interpret these guidelines in any way you feel is relevant to you specifically. We are looking for students that will actively contribute to the course and have an original approach to their work and an intrinsic and natural enthusiasm for fashion. This list is not exhaustive, but as a guide your portfolio should demonstrate the following: - - - - - -
The ability to gather quality research with breadth and depth, and personal development of this research through a variety of media (2D, 3D). An understanding of the importance of fabric and materials in the design process. The ability to communicate your ideas visually, in whatever sense is true to you as an individual, and with a high level of aesthetic consideration. Evidence of practical work (finished toiles and/or finished garments where possible). Your personal tastes and inspirations (creatively and culturally), which should include work you have produced in your own time (outside of your current/previous course). Evidence of the ability to write critically through a short essay.
Above all, at interview you and your portfolio should effectively communicate your personality, ideas and thoughts about fashion both visually and verbally. n BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion Your portfolio for interview should demonstrate the following: - - - - - -
An understanding of and interest in the fashion industry and fashion brands. The ability to communicate visually. The level of your digital visualisation skills. Use of quality research with breadth and depth. Your personal tastes and interests. The ability to communicate in writing. If you do not already have a suitable piece of writing that relates to fashion, you could consider writing a 250-word article on a fashion topic of your choice. Please make sure your written work is well laid out with appropriate images to illustrate the topic being discussed.
We do not need to see garments or textiles. If you do have garments please undertake a project that shows how you would promote the product to a buyer. This could include one of the following - a fashion shoot, an advertisement, a film, packaging designs, or brand and logo development. Above all we want to see that you can communicate your ideas and thoughts about fashion in 3 ways – visually, verbally and in writing. We are looking for students that will actively contribute to the course and have an original approach to their work. 10
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Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Third Year BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion project by Alice Moore
Preparing for your Interview Day at the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
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n BDes (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Retail Design If you have or are undertaking either a Design-related A-level or qualification please follow the portfolio preparation guidelines provided above for Fashion Promotion. If you do not have a portfolio, consider one of the following suggestions as an alternative: A)
Brand Analysis: Research a fashion retailer of your choice and communicate your findings visually, verbally and in writing.
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Conducting a SWOT analysis:
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Examples of visual communication: photographs from store visits, screen shots of online stores, examples of advertising and other marketing material, clear images of typical products. Written communication: Annotation of images, bullet points highlighting key findings, blog entry discussing the brand’s collections/stock, SWOT analysis. Verbal communication: be prepared to discuss your findings in your interview.
Strengths – what do you think the brand is best at, what are they known for and what do they do well? Weaknesses – What don’t they do well, what could they do better?
Strengths and weaknesses can be controlled by the company.
- Opportunities – within the fashion market where can you see opportunities for the brand? This could relate to physical stores, online retailing, product ranges, collaborations etc. - Threats – identify main competitors and consider external factors that could cause problems in the future. Opportunities and threats are cannot be controlled by the company, but they must react to them in an appropriate way. C)
Retail Design Research: Investigate the latest trends in retail design using websites such as thecoolhunter.net, coolhunting.com, and wallpaper.com. Bring your research to discuss at the interview.
Any Questions? If you have any queries about your Interview Day, contact the Enquiries and Admissions Unit for further information on 08455 76 77 78.
UK tel: 08455 76 77 78 Overseas tel: +44 (0)1443 654 450 University of South Wales, Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries Adam Street, Cardiff, CF24 2FN, UK For further information through the medium of Welsh, please visit www.southwales.ac.uk/cymraeg. Am wybodaeth bellach drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ymwela â www.southwales.ac.uk/cymraeg. The information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of print. The University of South Wales is a registered charity. Registration No. 1140312