Help with Interviews

Interviews are a great time to shine – particularly for creative arts and design students- so it is best to be prepared.

Initially, you should make sure your house is in order:

• Make sure you know exactly what is needed for the interview by researching the institution and the course
• Be sure to know when and where you will be going
• Make sure you know exactly how long it will take you to get there and check if you need accommodation
• Plan travel buffer time and to arrive at least 15 minutes early
• Organise some practice interviews with your teachers/advisers

After you have a firm grasp of the logistics of your interview, it’s best to start thinking about the content of the interview. You should be sure to read over your personal statement. If you are presenting a portfolio, be sure to know your pieces back-to-front and to be prepared to talk about them in detail. Think about your pieces in terms of what, why and how (and who if you were inspired by a particular person). Try to anticipate any questions that might arise from these and prepare answers, as well as preparing a response to the classics: Why this institution and/or course?

Below we have collected some general and more institutionally specific interview advice. Have a good look at these links to prepare yourself.