Flexible Entry - additional selection criteria

Bachelor of Design in Architecture | Bachelor of Design Computing | Submission details |

Please note: Flexible entry is only available to Australian citizens and permanent residents applying for the Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Bachelor of Design Computing. It is not available for International applicants or applicants for the combined Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Design in Architecture degree.

The flexible entry and additional submission portfolio is a way for students who are close to the required ATAR (or equivalent) to gain entry into the course. This system is very important to us as it gives us a chance to assess students on more than just a single number and allow excellent students into the program who are just short of the entry score.

In conjunction with the HSC and other formal assessment systems, it assists The University of Sydney in identifying those students with the potential to excel in higher education in the fields of architecture and design.

There is a small distinction between flexible entry and additional submissions. Flexible entry is for school leaving students and additional submissions are for non-school leavers. Regardless of what system you submit your application under, they will be assessed the same way.

Students expecting to receive an ATAR of up to 5 points lower than or roughly around the published cut-off are encouraged to apply through flexible entry or additional submissions.

Flexible entry gives you the opportunity to tell us something about yourself: your skills, your passion for design, your interest in architecture or design computing, your talents.

All applications must include a cover sheet.

Click here to see a Video about
Flexible Entry portfolio submission

The flexible entry involves three key elements: a letter of interest, references and a portfolio.

The letter includes information about yourself, any experience or knowledge you have about the area that you are applying to study, anything that demonstrates an ongoing interest and/or capacity for the study of architecture or designing with computers.

The references are letters from someone who knows you to tell us something about you as a person and your potential to succeed. Generally, these come from your teachers, but they may also come from your principal or clubs director or sporting coaches. Applicants for the Bachelor of Design in Architecture are requested to submit one reference only.

The portfolio is the main element of your Flexible entry application.

The portfolio is a small sample of the creative work you have done. This might include artwork, music, architectural work, web sites and 2D or 3D modelling, written work, any work showing skills in design and creativity.

There are two characteristics we are looking for in your portfolio:

The first characteristic we are looking for is 'breadth'. The range and the type of work offered is your decision, and you should use the portfolio to let us see what skills and design flair you have. Your portfolio should present a broad mixture of your creative work, especially sketches and freehand drawings for architecture and digital media for design computing, although it can include anything you think is relevant including design and technology work; digital media or on-line work; graphic work; photography; life drawing; models you have made; collages or found objects; your imagination is the only limit to the items that can be included.

The second characteristic that we are looking for in your portfolio is 'passion'. By passion we mean that we are looking for work, creative work, you have done that you've worked hard on, that you are proud of. An important aspect to consider is the number of pieces you need to put into your portfolio. There should be a sufficient number of items to tell your story but many repeats of identical items should be avoided (and no portfolio should be over a dozen pages, or, for those with a digital portfolio, a dozen animations or rendered images); and remember to mount and label your work and present it as professionally as possible. Tell us what the piece of work is, how you produced it, when you produced it.

We are not at this stage looking in your portfolio for highly skilled architectural or computer-designed work, but for evidence that you have the potential skills to benefit from an architectural or design computing education.

For the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, the portfolio should be submitted in A3 or A4 printed format. For the Bachelor of Design Computing, the portfolio may be a mixture of printed A3 or A4 material and a CD or DVD containing digital files of your work. All applications must include a cover sheet.

We look forward to receiving your flexible entry application.

Bachelor of Design in Architecture

Year 12 Domestic Appplicants
You can choose to submit Flexible Entry application if your ATAR falls up to 5 points below the published ATAR cut-off for 2011.

Non Year 12 Domestic Students
Applicants should all make an additional submission.
All additional submissions will be assessed on portfolio.

Both Year 12 and Non Year 12 portfolios should include, along with the cover sheet:

1. A letter of interest which includes information about any experience you have with architecture or related fields, that demonstrate an interest and/or capacity for the study of architecture.
2. Examples of work - art work, exhibited work, architectural work, written work, work showing skills in design or creativity.
3. One reference.

Hints for Bachelor of Design in Architecture applicants

1. This is your opportunity to show evidence of creativity so your portfolio should showcase your best work. As the assessors may be looking at a large number of portfolios, it is recommended that applicants present the portfolio in such a way that is easy for the assessor to look through such as in a bound book format.

2. Assessors will be looking at critical engagement with creativity. For example, if you have created an art work as part of an assessment task, include a description of the task so they can see how your work corresponds to the assignment.

3. Assessors do not expect nor seek technical drawing or drafting unless it is of an exceptional quality; they are more interested in students who show flair, engagement and initiative in design and creativity.

4. If you do not have a background where you have produced creative works, this is your opportunity to think laterally to create a portfolio. Examples could be photography, sketching or creative writing might be options you can explore.

Bachelor of Design Computing

Year 12 Domestic Applicants
You can choose to submit Flexible Entry application if your ATAR falls up to 5 points below the cut-off for 2009.

Non Year 12 Domestic Applicants
Applicants should all make an additional submission.

All additional submissions will be assessed on portfolio. Your portfolio should preferably be submitted on CD-ROM and include, along with the cover sheet:

1. A letter of interest which includes your understanding of the course and how it will meet your goals.
2. Examples of work that shows your creativity, design ability, technical and computing skills, logical and analytical skills.
3. References, relevant experience and/or coursework/training.

Hints for the Bachelor of Design Computing applicants

1. Bachelor of Design Computing applicants often put more focus on their creative work but the letter of interest is very important for us to get a sense of who you are and what your skills are. The letter of interest is a way for you to describe not only your experience with design and technology but also your ambitions. If you haven't had any opportunity to design for/with technology yet, tell us about your ideas and visions to use technology in design or to design future technologies (for example: do you have a great idea for a new iPhone application?).

2. The portfolio allows you to showcase your best work and as such, should be produced with an audience in mind. As the assessors may be looking at a large number of portfolios, it is recommended that applicants present the portfolio in such a way that is easy for the assessor to look through, such as in movie DVD or a bound book format.

3. Assessors do not expect nor seek technical drawings or code examples unless they demonstrate a specific creative capability. They are interested in students who can combine design and technical skills and show passion and/or an original approach.

4. If you do not have a background where you have produced creative work, this is your opportunity to think laterally to prepare creative content for your portfolio (e.g.: photographs, design mock-ups, animations, or creative writing).

Submission details

Application deadline is Friday, January 6, 2012.

Please send your submission to:
Flexible Admission, Student Administration Centre
Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning, Wilkinson Building G04
University of Sydney NSW 2006

or deliver it in person to:

Student Administration Centre,
Level 2, Wilkinson Building
148 City Road
Darlington NSW 2006

Please note: The University of Sydney is closed from Friday December 16, 2011 and re-opens on Tuesday January 3, 2012. Portfolios sent by mail during this time will be stored at the University mail house until the University re-opens. However, if you wish to hand deliver your portfolio, you will have to do so once the University re-opens on the 3rd of January, 2012.

Flexible Entry Video

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