TMU Portfolio and Audition Programs: What to Submit and How Decisions Get Made

What Grades-Plus Means at TMU

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), formerly Ryerson, uses a model it calls Grades-Plus for a set of its creative, design, and performance programs. TMU's own admissions page describes it directly: admission decisions are based on academic performance plus non-academic criteria such as interviews, auditions, essays, and portfolios.

A strong Grade 12 average opens the door to review, but it does not guarantee a seat. The admissions committee reads your creative or performance submission alongside your transcript, and a weak submission outweighs a strong average in these programs.

Which Kind of Program Asks for What

TMU groups its Grades-Plus programs by discipline, and the type of submission changes with the discipline. Design and visual arts programs, including Fashion, generally ask for a portfolio of creative work.

Performance based programs typically require an audition or a recorded submission. Media and communication programs sometimes ask for a written statement or sample instead of visual work.

The exact list of components, formats, and fees is set at the program level, not university wide, so treat any general description as a starting point and confirm on your specific program's own admissions page before you prepare material.

Fashion (BDes): A Detailed Example

TMU's Fashion program shows how Grades-Plus works in practice. Applicants submit 4 portfolio pieces showing creative work, including clothing or accessory design, graphic design, fine art, textile design, or original fashion business concepts, a 500 word statement of intent, and a $50 CAD assessment fee.

Submissions go through SlideRoom , TMU's digital portfolio platform. Images should stay under 10MB each, videos under 500MB, and PDFs under 20MB, with PNG recommended for image files to avoid quality loss. Do not upload working files like .ai, .psd, or .indd files.

For Fall 2026 entry the deadline is February 1, 2026, or 10 business days from when you submit your application, whichever is later. For Winter 2027 entry the deadline moves to August 1, 2026, under the same 10 business day rule.

Interviews and Auditions

Performance and some media programs at TMU ask for a live or recorded audition instead of a static portfolio. Treat a recorded audition with the same production care as a portfolio image: clear lighting, clean audio, and a steady camera matter as much as the content itself for a first impression.

If a program invites you to an interview, prepare specific examples of past creative or academic work you are ready to talk through in detail. Interviewers are testing whether you understand your own process, not just recite prepared lines.

How to Approach Your Submission

Pick pieces that show range, not repetition. A portfolio of five near identical sketches tells the reviewer less than three different techniques or subjects handled well.

Write your statement of intent around a specific direction, not a general love of the field. Reviewers read hundreds of similar statements each cycle, and a concrete project idea or example of past work stands out more than broad enthusiasm.

What Reviewers Look For Beyond Technical Skill

A Grades-Plus reviewer is not only judging technical execution. Consistency across your pieces, a clear point of view, and evidence you understand your own choices matter as much as raw technical polish.

A portfolio with one standout piece and four weak ones reads worse than five pieces that are all solid and clearly yours.

Reviewers also compare your submission against your written statement. If your statement claims an interest in sustainable design but none of your pieces touch on it, that gap stands out.

If Your First Submission Doesn't Lead to an Offer

Some applicants reapply to a Grades-Plus program in a later cycle with a stronger, more recent portfolio. If you are considering this, build new work rather than resubmitting the same pieces, and read the current cycle's requirements again since formats, fees, and question prompts sometimes change between cycles.

Give Yourself Time

Start your submission early. SlideRoom and similar portfolio platforms slow down near deadlines, and file preparation, especially video editing or high resolution scans, takes longer than most applicants expect.

How This Fits With Your OUAC Application

Your Grades-Plus submission is separate from, and in addition to, your OUAC 101 application.

Applying to TMU through OUAC does not start your portfolio or audition submission automatically. Register separately, usually through TMU's own applicant portal, once your OUAC application is on file, then complete the program-specific submission before its own deadline.

Missing the Grades-Plus deadline generally removes you from consideration for that program even if your OUAC application and transcript arrive on time.

Before You Prepare Anything, Confirm the Program-Specific Requirements

Because Grades-Plus requirements are set program by program, do not assume another creative program at TMU asks for the same pieces, fees, or deadlines as Fashion. Visit your specific program's admissions page directly and read the full requirements list before you start building a portfolio or booking an audition slot.