At Curtin, we recognise that you’re more than your grades. This experience-based entry pathway lets you combine your skills and experience with your academic study to showcase why you’d make a great Curtin student.
Portfolio entry is a great way to get into Curtin’s courses if you’re taking General subjects at high school or studying a combination of ATAR and General subjects and/or VET qualifications. It is also suitable if you finished school without an ATAR and have work experience instead.
If you’ve completed any study at TAFE or university since graduating high school, you could also be eligible to apply via the TAFE/VET pathway or university switcher pathway – even if you haven’t completed your qualification. Don’t meet the criteria? We offer several bridging and enabling pathways to uni as well.
You’re a school leaver if you are a current high school student or if you’ve graduated secondary study in the past two years.
To be eligible for portfolio entry, you’ll need to:
have completed a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or equivalent
achieved a C average or equivalent across your best four subjects in year 12
at least four year 12 WACE subjects, or equivalent. These can be ATAR subjects, General subjects, or a combination of both, OR
three year 12 WACE subjects (can be ATAR and/or General subjects) plus one subject equivalent, such as VET study, industry training or accreditation and workplace training, endorsed programs, university studies, UniReady in schools units, micro-credentials, or Big Picture studies.
Your course may also have inherent requirements or specific admission criteria that you’ll also need to meet. You can find this information under admission criteria and application requirements on the course page.
You’re a non-school leaver if you are didn’t graduate high school or if you completed your secondary study more than two years ago.
To be eligible for portfolio entry, you’ll need to:
have studied or developed knowledge and work skills in the course you’re applying for
Having a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or equivalent is preferred but not essential for this pathway.
Your course may also have inherent requirements or specific admission criteria that you’ll also need to meet. You can find this information under admission criteria and application requirements on the course page.
How does portfolio entry work?
Portfolio entry enables you to apply for your preferred course with a portfolio of documents that showcase your academic achievements, qualifications, work experience, extra-curricular activities and suitability for university study. This allows you to demonstrate your enthusiasm and creativity and show us why you’re the perfect fit for studying at Curtin.
Portfolio entry gives you access to a wide range of degrees in business, humanities, health and science. It could also be your pathway to more competitive degrees in health, law, science and engineering, through a university pathway course.
Portfolio entry toolkit
This step-by-step guide takes you through the process of assembling your portfolio, including the documents you need to demonstrate your unique strengths and qualifications. It also shows examples of documents that can help you showcase any visual portfolio requirements, such as art or design work and videos.
You can apply for any Curtin course that accepts portfolio entry as a pathway. Some courses may require you to have studied at least one ATAR subject, or Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent, while others may ask you to include a visual portfolio or essay with your application. Make sure you check all the application criteria for your course before applying.
**Successfully completing eligible units in our Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Sciences course can help you meet the admission criteria for a wider range of science courses, and engineering courses.
How to make your university portfolio
To apply using our portfolio entry pathway, you need to create a portfolio that shows off your strengths. Include documents about your school results, qualifications, work experience and activities you do outside of school. A strong portfolio will help us see why you’re ready to study at Curtin.
Our future students expert Madi Stirling guides you through the essential steps to prepare a standout portfolio [1:37].
What do I need to include?
Your portfolio will need to include:
introductory letter
résumé
letter(s) of support
academic records
other activities records (optional)
course-specific requirements.
Read our portfolio entry toolkit for detailed instructions and examples.
The courses listed here require additional elements to include in your portfolio, such as a visual component or a questionnaire.
Please note that some courses may also require you to have studied at least one ATAR subject, or Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent. Make sure you check all the application criteria for your course before applying.
Please provide a visual portfolio of 5–10 images, each with a brief explanation (50 words or less) demonstrating your interest or understanding in architecture. This may include – but is not limited to – freehand sketches, photography, design work, or examples of architecture that interest you.
Please provide a visual portfolio of 5–10 images, each with a brief explanation (50 words or less) demonstrating your interest or understanding in interior architecture. This may include – but is not limited to – freehand sketches, photography, design work, or examples of interiors that interest you.
Fine Arts major
Please provide a visual portfolio of 5-10 images relevant to your major, each with a brief explanation (50 words or less). This may include full-colour examples of your finished artwork, examples of your work in progress, examples of your visual research (a critical review of precedents, case studies), or excerpts from your visual diary.
Screen Arts major
Please provide one of the following:
5-10 pages of relevant work that demonstrates an interest in screen arts and related disciplines. This should include a short video work of no more than 10 minutes that you have either made or been involved with in a key creative role (cinematographer, editor, sound).
a short draft screenplay, a short documentary script, a portfolio of photographs, short stories, poems, graphic novels, drawings, or visualisations of song lyrics.
Your portfolio must also include a brief explanation (50 words or less) that explains the context of the work and the authorship or role you have undertaken.
Theatre Arts major
Please provide one of the following:
a short video (2-3 minutes) of a monologue or scene in which you are featured
5–10 images (photos or sketches) of a theatre design (set, costume or lighting) that you’ve done or would like to do for a play of your choice. Images should be accompanied by a brief explanation (50 words or less) that links to your ideas about the play
an extract from a prompt script (one page) of a play you stage-managed
a synopsis and short extract (2-3 pages) from a play that you have written.
Please include a visual portfolio of 5–10 images relevant to your preferred major, each with a brief explanation (50 words or less). This may include full-colour examples of work in progress and finished work that demonstrates aptitude, knowledge and understanding of design principles and processes. Formats can include a digital presentation, display boards or prototypes.
Please complete an online Qualtrics questionnaire as part of the non-academic entry requirements for education. Once completed, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Please include this within your portfolio of documents.
Please complete an online Qualtrics questionnaire as part of the non-academic entry requirements for education. Once completed, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Please include this within your portfolio of documents.
If you’re applying to Curtin directly and you forget to include something in your portfolio, we will send you a request to upload the required documents.
If you’re applying through TISC, please ensure you follow the portfolio entry toolkit to ensure you have everything you need before submitting.
You’re a school leaver if you are a current high school student or if you’ve graduated high school in the past two years.
General and course-specific admission criteria
Check the admissions criteria of your chosen course to confirm that portfolio entry is an accepted pathway. Your course may also have additional criteria that you’ll need to meet, such as a visual portfolio or completed study in a certain subject. You can find this information by checking the admissions criteria on the course page.
English language requirements
Additionally, you’ll need to meet our English language requirements. There are several ways to demonstrate your English competency, so be sure to check which option is best for you.
Gather your documents and any necessary additional criteria. Remember to read our portfolio entry toolkit to make sure you have everything you need to create your portfolio.
I want to begin studying in semester 1
Apply for portfolio entry through TISC if you want to begin your study in semester 1. Indicate you are interested in ‘experienced-based entry’ when you select your course and you will be prompted to upload your portfolio documents.
I want to begin studying in semester 2
Apply directly to Curtin if you want to begin your study in semester 2. Click on ‘Apply’ to begin your application.
Semester 2 2025 applications for portfolio entry closed at 4:30pm, Wednesday 18 June 2025.
Semester 1 2026 applications for portfolio entry opened Tuesday 3 June 2025 and will close at 4:30pm, Monday 5 January 2026.
You’re a non-school leaver if you didn’t graduate high school or if you completed high school more than two years ago.
General and course-specific admission criteria
Check the admissions criteria of your chosen course to confirm that portfolio entry is an accepted pathway. Your course may also have additional criteria that you’ll need to meet, such as a visual portfolio or completed study in a certain subject. You can find this information by checking the admissions criteria on the course page.
English language requirements
Additionally, you’ll need to meet our English language requirements. There are several ways to demonstrate your English competency, so be sure to check which option is best for you.
Gather your documents and any necessary additional criteria. Remember to read our portfolio entry toolkit to make sure you have everything you need to create your portfolio.
Semester 2 2025 applications for portfolio entry closed at 4:30pm, Wednesday 18 June 2025.
Semester 1 2026 applications for portfolio entry opened Tuesday 3 June 2025 and will close at 4:30pm, Monday 5 January 2026.
