Portfolio Assembly Guide (Post-Graduate Programs)

A personal statement allows subject matter experts from our Academic Schools and our NBCC Admissions team members to form a picture of who you are. Why are you choosing NBCC? Why you are a suitable candidate? What are your motivations?

The following must be included at the top of your personal statement to ensure we can connect this to your online application:

• Full Name as it appears in your online application
• Date of Birth (YYYY/MM/DD)
• Program Name
• Start Term

Preparing to write your personal statement

Review the program description, as this will help you with what to include and give you a good idea of what our NBCC team is looking for. Include details such as:

• Why have you chosen this program?
• What excites you about the subject?
• Provide details regarding education or prior learning you have completed which is relevant to the program.
• Explain how your work experience is directly applicable to your program of choice.
• Any additional skills, training or experience which make you perfect for the program?

Your resume should contain an inventory of your academic background, paid and unpaid/volunteer work experience, achievements, and co-curricular experiences. It is a statement of your skills, abilities, experiences, and accomplishments. Ensure that your resume highlights the attributes, aptitudes, knowledge, and/or skills you possess that are directly related to your program of choice.

This section verifies and validates your expertise by presenting concrete evidence of your learning, experiences, and skills. Evidence can take on many forms:

• Secondary or post-secondary transcripts which detail your complete education history.
• Reports, presentations, or products that you have personally created and/or presented.
• Links to a personal e-portfolio that highlights skills.
• A course outline and certificate of completion for a course taken through your employer or for Professional Development purposes.
• A verification/reference letter or performance appraisal from a supervisor or employer that outlines your job descriptions and describes your job performance relevant to the program you are applying for. Note: The individual writing the letter must be qualified to assess any skill-based competencies.

There are two types of evidence to include in your portfolio:

• Direct Evidence
• Indirect Evidence

Direct Evidence

Direct evidence refers to documents, work, and/or items that you have crafted or created yourself. Direct evidence is the strongest and most reliable source of evidence as it is reflective of your own work and signifies the knowledge you have gained through it. Direct evidence serves to authenticate and validate your learning journey while offering the Assessor insight into the depth of knowledge you have acquired. 

Examples of direct evidence include:

• Secondary or post-secondary transcript
• Projects, reports, or assignments
• Work samples or presentations.
• Video or audio of presentations, speeches, skill demonstrations, etc.
• Computer programs experience
• Tape measure, blueprints and plans experience

Indirect Evidence

Indirect evidence pertains to evidence specific to you and your achievements, which has been validated by a third party. Sources of indirect evidence are often letters written by individuals with the expertise to verify your learning. Typically, this evidence is provided by employers, supervisors or instructors. A crucial aspect to bear in mind concerning indirect evidence is that it is verification of your skills and expertise and not a recommendation. 

Examples of indirect evidence include:

• Verification letters written by an individual qualified to assess any skill-based competencies (i.e., supervisor, teacher, etc.) verifying your knowledge and skills specific to the course competencies.
• Performance appraisals or job evaluations (that are specific to the course competencies) completed by a supervisor.
• Detailed job description for a job you have performed.
• Membership certificates for professional organizations
• Certificate of completion for professional development, training programs
• Awards, licenses, and memberships specific to the course competencies 

When considering evidence to include in your portfolio, please avoid the following:

• General performance appraisals or job evaluations that state you were a “good” employee and are not specific as to what you did or the specific skills and knowledge you demonstrated.
• Employment certificates, job offers, or employment confirmation letters that do not address your specific job duties and/or verify your knowledge and skills specific to the course competencies.
• Documentation, reports, projects, etc. that cannot be directly attributed to you (i.e. group assignments or reports)

A verification or letter of recommendation is a document recommending a candidate for a job position or, in this case, academic studies. An applicant may request a letter from a past employer or character reference to confirm the skills or experience on their resume. A verification letter can also highlight an applicant's relevant attributes and improve their chances of being admitted.