Visual Art course leader Susan Connolly explains why the four-year honours degree at WIT doesn’t ask for a portfolio as part of the CAO process
There is good news for anybody whose heart is set on studying the four years BA (Hons) Visual Art degree in Waterford, or who decided to add the course to their CAO list at a later date: there is no portfolio required to apply.
Applications open up to CAO deadline
The honours degree is also not ‘restricted entry’ meaning CAO applicants have right up to 1 July to put their course choices in order of genuine preference.
Course leader Susan Connolly says many applicants can be surprised that the Waterford course doesn’t ask for a portfolio as part of its CAO application process.
“As students applying to a number of art courses and art colleges will have found, there are different requirements around portfolios. Also some courses fall into the CAO ‘restricted’ category meaning students have to have that course included on their CAO listing by 1 February each year. Many applicants will assume that a portfolio is part of the entry requirements for a place on every art-related course, however Waterford Institute of Technology is one of the colleges that doesn’t.”
Minimum entry requirements must be met
However, as with all CAO courses, there are minimum entry requirements students have to meet aside from points, and this differ from course to course.
One of the minimum entry requirements for traditional applicants applying to WIT’s BA (Hons) Visual Art through the CAO is O3/H5 in Art or Design and Communication Graphics.
First years are well prepared
Applicants are also curious as to why there is no portfolio requirement. “We have structured first year so that students can get up to speed and to the level they need to be at, rather than assessing the level they are at through a portfolio. They are then well prepared for what is a very independent second year.”
A portfolio-free process also opens up opportunities to both traditional and mature applicants who decide to avail of the CAO’s late application facility (5 March-1 May). Traditional CAO applicants (but not mature applicants) also have the opportunity to add Visual Arts in Waterford to their CAO list when the CAO change of mind facility is open between 5 May and 1 July each year.
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