After Applying

What to expect at interview or audition - Postgraduate courses 

Below is a list of our courses, in alphabetical order by school, that require interview for entry, and the qualities that will be evaluated. This information is correct at the time of publication.

School of Art and Design

Courses that currently require interview are:

MA Design: Fashion and Textiles

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an informal interview. For overseas applicants we require clear and detailed images of work, a minimum of ten, usually on CD with an introductory page regarding information about the yarns, fabric qualities and briefly how and why the work was produced.The following qualities will be evaluated at interview:

  • Commitment, enthusiasm and personality
  • Portfolio/examples of textiles, fashion, or relevant work of a very high standard which exhibit a high skill set of textile application
  • Professional presentation of work and ideas
  • Sound knowledge and grasp of the subject and awareness of textile and fashion techniques and skills
  • Excellent drawing and/or painting skills with good use of sketchbook and resource material
  • Excellent awareness and use of colour and texture
  • Good taste level and strong direction in the work
  • Overall creativity and uniqueness of approach in their work
  • Ambitious with goals for the future
  • Confidence and ability to express their views and opinions
  • Knowledge of computer design packages such as Photoshop and Illustrator
  • An ability to clearly express who and what they are inspired by
  • The personal statement is very important and should clearly identify what they hope to achieve from studying at Masters Level
  • Written skills

Other courses within the School of Art and Design that currently require interview are:

  • MA Curatorial Practice
  • Master of Fine Art

School of Education

Courses within the School of Education that currently require interview are:

  • PGCE (please see the PGCE section below for more information)

School of Humanities and Cultural Industries

Courses that currently require interview are:

MA Creative Writing

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an informal thirty minute interview with the tutor who specialises in the area of work you have submitted (eg. a poetry tutor if you have submitted poetry etc.). Telephone interviews are possible for overseas applicants. The following qualities will be evaluated at interview but please be aware that the sample of writing you submit is the most important element of the selection process.

  • Willingness to listen to criticism of your work
  • Willingness to offer precise, detailed criticism of other students' work
  • Understanding of workshop etiquette
  • Articulacy
  • Understanding of the structure, aims and methods of the course
  • Understanding of what the course can offer them and what they want from it
  • Willingness to make the necessary time commitment

MA Scriptwriting

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an informal thirty minute interview. Telephone interviews are possible for overseas applicants.The following qualities will be evaluated at interview but please be aware that the sample of writing you submit is the most important element of the selection process:

  • The ability to work well and supportively with other people
  • An enthusiasm for writing
  • A wide knowledge of at least two of film, theatre and television, and definite opinions
  • The ability to accept criticism, and to rewrite
  • A willingness to learn and to change
  • An interesting mind
  • Passion
  • A sense of humour

MA Writing for Young People

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an informal thirty minute interview with two tutors from the MA Writing for Young People. Telephone interviews are possible for overseas applicants. The following qualities will be evaluated at interview but please be aware that the sample of writing you submit is the most important element of the selection process.

  • Willingness to listen to criticism of your work
  • Willingness to offer precise, detailed criticism of other students' work
  • Understanding of workshop etiquette
  • Articulacy
  • Understanding of the structure, aims and methods of the course
  • Understanding of what the course can offer them and what they want from it
  • Willingness to make the necessary time commitment
  • Knowledge of contemporary fiction for young people, and an understanding of 'audience'

School of Music and Performing Arts

Courses that currently require interview are:

MMus courses

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an informal thirty minute interview. Telephone interviews are possible for overseas applicants.The following qualities will be evaluated at interview:

  • Familiarity with the structure of the course as outlined on the website and other publications
  • The ability to discuss the course critically in an equiponderate and engaged manner
  • The ability to relate in detail appropriate aims and objectives in relation to the practice of songwriting
  • Persuasive qualitative evidence of the potential ability to manage the performance and recording of original works
  • A sense of enthusiasm for the course of study
  • Punctuality