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Additional Entry Requirements for ‘Creative’ courses

An RMIT Perspective

As part of the selection criteria into some ‘creative’ courses, applicants are sometimes required to attend an audition, interview, complete a selection task and/or present a folio of work. Creative courses can be in fields such as Architecture, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Music, Performing Arts, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Landscape Design.

During my attendance at RMIT’s Career Practitioners Day on 23rd March, Vicki Lam, Associate Lecturer, Architecture and Urban Design & Selection/Bachelor Design Coordinator, spoke about about the selection task required for entry into their Bachelor of Architectural Design course.

A ‘selection task’ is something that students are required to do as part of their application for some RMIT courses. Doing the selection task helps RMIT consider a student’s capacity to succeed in programs such as Art, Design or other disciplines where an ATAR may not tell the whole story about a student’s creativity, skills and passion.

The Bachelor of Architectural Design at RMIT requires students to successfully complete Year 12 studies, including meeting the English prerequisite, but it places a lot of weight on the ‘selection tasks’ submitted to determine course offers.

Ms. Lam advised that ‘selection tasks’ are reviewed by two academic staff members. There are no right or wrong answers, and it is not a drawing exercise. The assessors are interested in learning about a student’s curiosity, creativity, broadminded thinking & practice and the ability to communicate in both visual and written form. If students are successful during this stage they are then invited for an interview and from this, selectors determine who is accepted into the course.

The key to submitting a good ‘selection task’ is to not leave it to the last minute and to really think about what you want to present. RMIT advised that there is no right or wrong idea, it’s about students being ambitious and brave with whatever they are submitting. Selection tasks have due dates and these dates can be found on the VTAC website when they are updated around mid-year. The due date for last year’s selection task was around the first week in October, however this can change so students are strongly encouraged to check for current due dates and plan ahead so that they don’t miss out on their submission. Students are also encouraged to work with their design teacher(s) at school as they can provide invaluable support with helping to develop a terrific submission. Be mindful though, that the selection task MUST be a student’s work as if you’re successful to be offered an interview the assessors will expect an explanation of your thinking process behind your ideas.

Here is a list of some key points on the selection task for Bachelor of Architectural Design @ RMIT:

Identify a major issue, or major site and respond to it by presenting BOLD ideas and a vision for its future
It can be a building or a street or a public space that you wish to consider through design
AMBITIOUS and BRAVE
Think broadly, imaginatively and be creative
Does not have to be practical or even possible eg Urban Design under water!
No Architectural skills expected. It’s not a drafting exercise
Concise 100-word description and analysis of the design problem, site or issue
Concise 100-word description of the proposal and ideas
Expect to spend about 8 hours on this exercise
Different Visual media permitted – photography, drawing, collage, painting, models, 3D rendering – anything that best expresses the ideas
Take care with the quality and clarity of the images and text
Draw on your own experiences, research and skills to put forward your own ideas
Clearly presented ideas that are ambitious and creative
There is not one type of project they look for as they look for a diversity of ideas and perspectives

If students have any questions feel free to contact me or RMIT direct on 1300 145 032.

Regards,

Voula Jakubicki

Careers Coordinator