Design
- Number of students per year: approximately three
- Typical offer: A*AA or equivalent
- Essential subjects: Mathematics
- Useful subjects: Physics, an essay-based subject.
Bringing together architecture, engineering and materials science, the Design course will challenge you to think about global problems such as climate change and give you the skills to help create solutions to them.
As a Design student in Jesus College, you will join an intellectually stimulating community and have access to a range of resources. Small-group supervisions with the College's Director of Studies in Design, site visits and discussions with experts will help you develop your drawing and making skills, as well as your creativity and scientific knowledge.
Alongside finding a welcoming community and relaxing environment, with excellent facilities and student support, there are some aspects that are of particular value to Design students. The College currently offers architectural and academic prizes, additional financial support for architectural expenses, has a studio space with large draughting tables and equipment, runs art classes and has an up-to-date architectural library.
Requirements
Our typical offer is for A* and two A grades at A-Level or an equivalent achievement in other qualifications. You don't need to take a Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP).
Design requires a broad background and students must have an enthusiasm for both the arts and the sciences.
An A-Level in Mathematics is essential, and students may find studying Physics as well as an essay-based subject alongside this to be useful preparation.
Written and drawing tests
As with all Colleges, applicants shortlisted for interview will need to take a 60 minute written and practical assessment. You can find out more on the University undergraduate Design pages.
Interviews
In 2023-24, we’ll be interviewing shortlisted applicants virtually, with interviews taking place in December.
The interview process aims to assess your intellectual ability, potential, and commitment to the subject. Candidates are typically interviewed by at least three subject specialists, including the Director of Studies, and total contact time will be between 35-50 minutes in total. This could be in a single interview, or in two separate interviews. Further details will be made available to candidates closer to the time.
Find out more about the interview process on the University website.
Portfolio
You will be asked to submit a PDF (6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size) of your own artwork prior to interview.
You will be asked to share a portfolio of drawings, paintings, photographs of three dimensional work, etc. in your interview. The work you included in your portfolio should be fairly recent, and not just what you did for your GCSEs.
We like to see one or more working sketch books kept over a period of time in support of the development of your work, together with between 10 and 15 other examples of work. Where possible, please include a variety of media (e.g. work in pencil, ink, and colour, and evidence of three-dimensional work such as sculpture, montages or textiles). Choose work which you can talk about with enthusiasm.
When we're assessing your portfolio, we will take into account the level of teaching input and support that was available to you while you were preparing it.
Deferred and post A-Level entry
We're happy to consider applications for deferred entry in Design. Spending time abroad experiencing different cultures and practices of architecture, design and visiting major buildings can be helpful. Taking an art foundation course and gaining work experience in an architectural or engineering practice are also valued, but neither are necessary before you start your course.
Find out how to apply to study at Jesus.
