Portfolio entry
Portfolio entry is only available to domestic students. If you’re an international student, please view pathways available to you.
For some Curtin courses, you can apply based on a portfolio that showcases your academic achievements, qualifications, and suitability for tertiary study.
Portfolio entry is ideal if you:
- Don’t have an ATAR, or aren’t studying for your ATAR
- You have an ATAR but haven’t received an offer based on your ATAR
- You have other relevant qualifications that don’t otherwise meet Curtin’s standard entry.
School leavers
It is expected that you have:
- Completed, or will complete, high school with a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or equivalent
- Achievement in year 12 equivalent to a C average
- Completed at least one ATAR course and three general courses in year 12; OR a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification relevant to the course you are applying for.
Non-School Leavers
It is expected that you have:
- Completed high school with a WACE or equivalent
- Studied or developed knowledge and work skills in the course you’re applying for.
Course-specific admission criteria
- Health Sciences, Health, Safety and Environment, Psychology and Health Promotion:
At least one ATAR subject or achieved a grade A in at least one general subject - Agribusiness, Applied Geology, Information Technology and Environmental Science:
Mathematics: Applications ATAR or equivalent.
Portfolio English Proficiency
To be eligible for entry via portfolio, you’ll need to demonstrate English proficiency. You can meet this through one of the qualifications listed on our English language requirements webpage or through:
- Curtin competence in English conceded on your Universities Admissions Advice Letter from TISC. This is assessed automatically when your WACE results are released. We can concede English based on a combined course score, moderated numeric school assessment or numeric examination assessment of at least 55 in Year 12 English ATAR, Literature ATAR or 60 in Year 12 English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) ATAR.
- A letter grade of A, B or C in Year 12 English ATAR, Literature ATAR or English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) ATAR course
- A grade A in a Year 12 General English, Literature or Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) course or equivalent
- For the Associate Degree in Agribusiness, we can also accept a grade of A,B or C in a Year 12 General English, Literature or Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) course or equivalent.
There are 3 key steps you need to take when applying via portfolio.
- Apply for the course online
- Compile your Portfolio
- Submit your Portfolio to Curtin
Below there are more in-depth instructions for each step to help you along the application process for Portfolio.
Step 1. Apply for the course online
For Semester 1, 2023 (February):
Submit a course application and portfolio direct to Curtin by clicking ‘Apply now’ on the Curtin course page of interest, for your desired portfolio entry course.
Step 2. Compile your portfolio
Your portfolio should demonstrate your suitability for tertiary study in your chosen course. Provide evidence of your academic achievements, qualifications and ability.
Include the following in your portfolio:
1. A Curtin University Portfolio Supplement
- Download and complete our Portfolio Supplement Form (PDF 138kB)
- If you are applying for multiple courses, please include a portfolio supplement for each portfolio application you submit.
2. An introductory letter
- In your introductory letter, address why you want to attend Curtin University, the reasons and motivation behind choosing your course, and your future career goals. The letter should reflect your commitment, preparation to study and motivation to be successful.
3. An updated resume
- Outline your education and work experience to date. Your resume should include details of paid work and any voluntary positions held.
4. Letters of support
- Your letter(s) of support can be from your school, work, or a professional representative. The letter should comment on your academic performance, aptitude and likelihood to succeed in your chosen university course.
5. Evidence of your academic achievement in your field
- This can include secondary schooling, TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO) qualifications, industry training or accreditation, and workplace training.
- If you are currently completing year 12, provide your most recent school reports, including your predicted ATAR (if applicable). When available, provide your Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA), Western Australian Certificate of Achievement (WACE) and ATAR course reports.
6. Course-specific requirements
Some courses require specific additional requirements in your portfolio such as artworks or media.
Fine Art
- If you are applying for Fine Art, 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, and examples of your visual research such as a critical review of precedents/case studies, or excerpts from your visual diary.
Design courses
- If you are applying for a Design course, 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 work in progress or finished work that demonstrates aptitude, knowledge and understanding of design principles and processes. Formats can include digital presentation, display boards or prototypes
- Bachelor of Design
-
- Animation and Game Design
- Advertising and Design
- Innovation and Fabrication
- Digital Experience and Interaction Design
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Photography
-
Interior Architecture
- If you are applying for Interior Architecture, provide a visual portfolio of 5-10 images each with a brief explanation (50 words or less) that demonstrates 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.
Screen Arts
- If you are applying for Screen Arts, provide 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, which you have made or been involved with as a key creative (cinematographer, editor, sound). Alternatively you may include: a short draft screenplay, a short documentary script, a portfolio of photographs, short stories, poems, graphic novels, drawings, or visualizations 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.
Primary Education
- If you are applying for Primary Education complete the Qualtrics questionnaire to meet the Non-Academic entry requirement for Initial Teacher Education Courses.
7. Other records
- If you have undertaken extracurricular activities relevant to your chosen area of study, you are encouraged to provide related documents. For example, leadership programs, artwork, competitions or sports coaching.
Step 3. Submit your portfolio
To meet Curtin’s documentation requirements, scan your original documents in colour. PDF or JPEG files are preferred.
Email your complete portfolio to portfolioentry@curtin.edu.au.
You can choose from a broad spectrum of humanities, science, business and health science courses.
Business and Law
Health
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Science (Health Promotion)
- Bachelor of Science (Health, Safety and Environment)
- Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences)
Our Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences) can be used as a pathway to other Health courses at Curtin.
Humanities
- Advertising and Design (from Sem 1, 2023)
- Animation and Game Design
- Digital Experience and Interaction Design
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Innovation and Fabrication (from Sem 1, 2023)
- Photography
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Chinese
- Creative Writing
- Digital and Social Media
- Geography
- History
- International Relations
- Japanese
- Journalism
- Korean
- English and Cultural Studies
- Professional Writing and Publishing
- Fine Art
- Screen Arts
- Theatre Arts
Science and Engineering
- Associate Degree in Agribusiness
- Bachelor of Agribusiness
- Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Science
- Bachelor of Applied Geology
- Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)
- Bachelor of Information Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences can be used to meet the entry requirements for other Science and Engineering courses, before then applying to course-switch.
The Bachelor of Information Technology is the preferred pathway to our Bachelor of Computing as both courses contain the same first year units.
Semester 1, 2023
Submit your application and portfolio by 5pm Wednesday 1st February.
Need help?
Contact us at portfolioentry@curtin.edu.au or on 1300 222 888.