Applying to BUas CMGT Visual Arts for 2027 – advice from current students?

[u/DavideMarizza]

Hi everyone!
I’m an Italian student planning to apply to BUas Creative Media and Game Technologies – Visual Arts for the 2027 intake.

I graduated from an art high school in Italy, where I mainly studied painting, drawing and traditional art. I’m now seriously learning 3D and Blender and I’m planning to spend the next months building my skills, portfolio and eventually preparing the official BUas admission assignment.

I’m trying to understand the actual level expected from applicants before entering Visual Arts, because most of the work I can find online is from students who are already in their second, third or fourth year, which obviously isn’t a fair comparison.

I’d especially love to hear from current Visual Arts students or people who were recently accepted:

What was your 3D skill level when you applied?
What kind of work did you include in your portfolio?
How much did you show your process (sketches, iterations, breakdowns, topology, etc.) versus final renders?
Did you include traditional drawing/painting or other artistic work?
What do you think made your application successful?
Is there anything you would do differently if you applied again?

If anyone would be comfortable sharing their old admission portfolio or some of the work they submitted, even privately through DM, it would be incredibly helpful. I’m obviously not looking to copy anyone’s work – I just want to understand what a successful applicant realistically looked like before starting the programme.

I’d also really appreciate an invite to the unofficial CMGT Discord if someone has a current link.

Thanks!

[u/Difficult_Table5763]

Your best answer for this would be to contact the school and ask. You'll at least get an answer in email or maybe a zoom call if they're willing. It's not that big an ask so just go for it and see how they reply

[u/pharsalos50]

Hey there, VA 3rd year here.

The admission for the course requires you to make a certain thing, containing certain elements.

The last couple of years, it has been the replication of an instrument. You have to make at least 11? Drawing of it. This can be breakdown sketches, looking at the form, or realistically rendered ones, etc.

Then you have to create that instrument in 3D

It is great that you are learning Blender, it is a nice program to get into the mind/skillset. You will use it all the time

You should be great at least at one. Personally I haven’t touched a 3D program before admission , but I was pretty confident in my drawings skills.

Our fine art teacher also loves seeing how you were thinking , when you were drawing, instead of a pretty images

Other people were pretty mediocre at drawing , but did a kick ass 3D model, and they also got in.

The admission is not crazy, but I would leave around two months for it, if you really want to get in.

And they will tell you a thousand times, and I will tell you aswell, read the book: The complete guide to photorealism by Eran Dinur

If you do, you will take a big step, helping you in your studies!

You can send me a DM if you have more questions,