Portfolio Stars
6-Month Online Coaching Program in Portfolio and English Prep for International UK Art School Applicants
As thorough as UK art school prep courses, but without the relocation cost. Choose bespoke portfolio coaching combining creative challenges with English-for-art-purposes training, to help you apply with confidence.
Join the Waiting List today
Why Portfolio Stars?
Preparing a strong portfolio is hard enough — doing it in a second language and across cultures is even tougher.
Our once-a-year Portfolio Stars course helps international applicants tackle this with targeted support and confidence.
Advantages at a glance:
- As thorough as UK school prep courses — accessible and affordable online
- Intensive English coaching before arrival in the UK.
- Daily check-ins so you never get stuck
- Authentic insight from UK artists
- A space to build both your portfolio and your voice
Why Not Just Take a Prep Year at Art School?
Many UK art schools offer international students a “foundation” or “prep” year before a degree. But here’s the truth:
-
These programs are low priority, often taught to large groups with set exercises, mixed levels, and not tailored to your individual needs.
-
They teach English like a school course in large groups: you waste a lot of time listening to other learners speaking.
-
And yes — they’re expensive, because international fees are a major source of income for art schools.
In other words, you risk becoming an art school’s cash cow — paying a premium for generic training that doesn’t prepare you for success.
Portfolio Stars is different. It gives you:
-
Personalised challenges designed around your strengths
-
Daily and weekly coaching to keep you on track
-
Intensive, high-quality English-for-artists support before you even arrive in the UK
-
A supportive, small-group environment with real attention from your coaches
Prep Year vs Portfolio Stars
UK Art School Prep/Foundation Year
the popular path- Accreditation: Accredited by universities — sometimes guarantees entry to specific courses
- Large group classes, set curriculum, generic tasks
- Language support is teaching, not coaching, not personalised
- Qualified, experienced teachers & coaches
- Limited contact time, you must ask for help
- Cost: £25,000–£40,000 including tuition + living
- Outcome: Certificate, plus a year living in the UK
Portfolio Stars (True Voice English)
the exceptional path- No Accreditation: Independent coaching program (not accredited) — builds portfolio and interview readiness
- Personalised 1:1 coaching, tailored creative challenges, and individual feedback
- Daily WhatsApp support, proactive check-ins, constant feedback
- Qualified, experienced teachers & coaches
- Weekly English-for-artists coaching + daily language practice in context
- Cost: £4,800: A fraction of the cost, with optional 2-week residency
- Outcome: A portfolio that stands out, interview preparation, and the English to thrive in art school
Prep/Foundation Year (UK art schools)
-
Tuition: £15,000–£28,000
-
Accommodation + living: £10,000–£12,000
-
Total: £25,000–£40,000+
Portfolio Stars is NOT an accredited foundation year. Instead, it’s an independent coaching program designed to get you portfolio-ready and confident in English before you even arrive in the UK. Universities recognise strong portfolios and confident applicants — not just certificates. Our role is to help you reach that level so you can apply successfully to the art school of your choice.
Improve Your Odds
Between 10 + 30% of UK art school degree course applications are successful.
How It Works
Portfolio Stars runs for six months, from mid-January 2026, preparing you for your portfolio submission and acceptance interview for a place at a UK art school, Academic Year. 2026/27
This course combines structure and flexibility so you can build a strong, authentic portfolio without any confusion about the process.
What’s included:
-
Weekly creative challenges tailored to you with deep feedback.
-
Daily WhatsApp support for questions and encouragement
-
Weekly “English for Artists” coaching calls
-
Monthly Guest Expert workshops
-
Collaboration opportunities with peers
-
Real-world conversations with UK artists
-
Insider guidance on how to impress admissions panels
Optional Easter Residential: a 2-week stay in Scotland with drawing sessions, gallery visits, and 1:1 interview coaching
Portfolio Stars could save you YEARS.
If you are unsuccessful with your college application, you will need to take at least 1 foundation course to build your portfolio to art school entrance standard.
You do still need a plan B (there’s no guarantee).
But isn’t it a good idea to improve your odds?
What We Do (and Don’t) Provide
Portfolio Stars is not an application or visa service.
We don’t fill out forms, contact art schools on your behalf, arrange visas, or handle school admissions admin.
We don’t answer questions about specific school requirements; we help you build an impressive, creative portfolio that you can adapt to fit your chosen school’s unique application process.
What we do offer is specialist coaching to help:
-
Prepare a portfolio that showcases your skills in the best way
- Feel interview-ready
-
Build confidence in presenting your creative ideas in English
-
Develop the language skills you’ll need.
Our focus is on making sure your portfolio and your voice are strong, authentic, and ready to impress.
Your True Voice.
Hi, I’m Ruth
I’m lead coach on the Portfolio Stars Course for Art School Candidates.
As an Artist and English language coach, I’ve helped hundreds of artists and designers in their careers.
I have taught on several Art School Foundations, Degree & Master’s Programmes, and sat on panels for exhibitions, MFA applications & undergraduate applications.
Hi, I’m Jennie
I’m a trained neurolanguage coach. I’m a linguist who knows how to coach people to get the results they desire. I run a weekly accountability workshop on the Portfolio Stars Course in which you set goals and share them.
“If art school is within your reach, I will help you reach out and grab it.”
Ruth Pringle, 2023
Meet Your Creative Coaches
Fiona (Fee) is a CELTA-qualified arts graduate with a studio in Perth, Scotland.
Jacqui is a trained ESL teacher and a musician. She plays 7+ instruments, plays and sings in a band, and runs a songwriting workshop on our portfolio course that brings its participants clear expression of concepts.
Scottish Artists : We have a core team of Scottish artists who work with True Voice English on our practice-led Sketchbook English course for professional artists.
Practical Details
-
Start date: Mid-January 2026
-
Duration: 6 months
- Cost: £4,800
-
Delivery: A blended online through video calls and WhatsApp (with optional Easter residential in Scotland)
-
Limited: 8 places available — to keep support personalised
How to Join
Portfolio Stars runs just once a year. Places are limited. Join the waiting list today to secure early access when enrolment opens.
Who It’s For
-
International students applying to UK art schools
-
Art college applicants needing creative and English as a second language support
- ‘Mature student’ art school applicants who feel outside portfolio support systems.
About Our Language Coaching
The English taught in schools is rarely enough to prepare students for the demands of art education. Writing essays and passing exams is very different from explaining creative ideas, describing visual choices, or collaborating with peers in a studio.
For many international students, the leap into a UK art school can feel overwhelming: they’re expected to debate concepts, present their work confidently, and engage in critiques, all in a second language.
Without specific training in expressing creative ideas and using the language of collaboration, even talented young artists struggle to keep up.
How We Help
At True Voice English, English for creative careers is our speciality.
We work with individual artists through our signature practice-led course, and consult with art schools to develop fit-for-purpose English language training for their students.
Our coaching goes beyond traditional lessons about grammar and vocabulary — it’s about helping young artists find the words to explain their ideas, give and receive feedback, and present their work with confidence.
This kind of English builds collaboration, fuels creative exchange, and enables an art school candidate to bring their portfolio to life in front of an admissions panel.
It’s the difference between struggling to find words and speaking with your true voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
→ Is this course only for international students?
Yes — Portfolio Stars is designed specifically for international applicants to UK art schools. If you’re a UK applicant, you can still book a 1-hour portfolio mentoring session for fast feedback.
→ How much English do I need before joining?
You will need an advanced level of English to study at a UK art school or university. Our course helps strong intermediate – advanced users get stronger, more confident and more accurate.
→ Do you teach academic English for University entry?
No, that is a specific test-taking skill we do not target on our course.
→ What if I can’t join the Easter residential?
The residential is optional. The full online program gives you everything you need to prepare a strong portfolio and interview performance. The Easter option is simply an extra chance to meet us in person and immerse yourself in UK art and culture.
→ What price is the Ester Residential?
It costs £1.600 per week plus £25 per night for Homestay Host accommodation.
→ Where is the Easter Residential? You will be based at Blue Noun Language Hub, Scotland, and visit artist studios and gallery exhibitions across Scotland.
Further Information
Emergency Portfolio Help
Have you got stuck or confused building your portfolio for application to art school?
Would you like clear answers to your questions?
How good would it feel to get back to making work – INSPIRED – and KNOWING that you are producing the right sort of examples for the selection committee?
Further Support for Art School Candidates
We have good, free resources about preparing your portfolio for a UK Art School in our ‘Further Reading’ section.
Don’t miss the blog series about Life Drawing, and our 7 Tips for International Art School Applicants.