Thank you for your interest in our educational institution.
Application requirements, and how to apply, are outlined on the page below. If you still have any enquiries please contact admin@sea.ac.za
Applicants must complete the application steps (online and email).
Admission to the BAS requires a portfolio submission, evaluated by the Selection Committee. A Bachelor’s Pass or equivalent is necessary, with a math pass advantageous but not compulsory. Alternatively, a minimum 50% in Mathematical Literacy and satisfactory English, along with a Bachelor’s Pass, suffice for admission.
The school will evaluate an applicant’s creativity in problem-solving and communication skills based on their portfolio and the creative application exercise. Those who perform well will receive an invitation for an admission interview.
All applicants must meet the specified minimum academic requirements outlined in the prospectus to be considered for placement in the BAS programme.
All applicants must download and read the institutes prospectus/handbook which outlines fees, schedule, teachers, courses, rules etc: https://sea.ac.za/web/prospectus/
Requirements
All applicants are required to complete the following steps:
Complete the online application form, submit a portfolio/creative task, provide transcripts and certificates and sign a declaration form.
All applicants are required to pay a small application processing fee of R50 (South African ZAR) via SnapScan. Details regarding the online payment process can be found below.
Please note: Applications will only be considered after payment is received.
All applicants must complete an online application form. Details regarding completion of the online application form can be found below.
Submit any or all of the portfolios that you have already made as part of your application to any school of architecture. Portfolios may include, art, photography, code, digital media etc.
If you do not have a portfolio, you must complete and submit the Creative Task portion of this application. Those who already have a portfolio are strongly encouraged to submit the creative task in addition to their portfolios.
Admission to the School of Explorative Architecture (RF) NPC requires all applicants to obtain a National Senior Certificate endorsed for degree studies, and satisfy the specified subject requirements as outlined in the School’s prospectus. If you do not have a National Senior Certificate and are currently busy graduating, you may send preliminary matric results. In addition, you may also submit National Benchmark Test results.
Please refer to the prospectus for more information about subject requirements: https://sea.ac.za/web/prospectus/
Once you have submitted your application and uploaded your Portfolio/Creative-Task you will need to sign and email the Declaration Form. This form confirms that all information submitted to SEA on your behalf is accurate, that you understand the application process, and consent to SEA retaining your information for application purposes.
Step 1 – Application Fee
All applicants are required to pay a small application processing fee of R50 (South African ZAR). All payments are received via the online payment portal (SnapScan).
To make payment please click on the link, or scan the QR code.
Click Here to Pay
Please note: Applications will only be considered after payment is received.
Step 2 – Application Form
All applicants should begin with the online application form. Please note that our institution uses Google Workspace for Education and so the form is delivered through Google.
Fill out the form below. The form will guide you through each step. Once you have completed and submitted the online form you may proceed to the Portfolio and Creative tasks.
Start Application Form
Step 3 – Portfolio + Creative Works
As part of our assessment of your probable success in our BAS degree we need to consider your creative and 3D thinking potential. When you sign your admissions application you are also stating that you are the author or originator of the work you submit for this part of your application (you have not gotten someone else to do it for you).
Architectural studies cover many disciplines such as history, geography, mathematics. Art, and design in particular, is a skill set that you will develop further during your studies at SEA.
Portfolios help the academic staff to learn more about your approach to design. We understand that not everyone has the same level of artistic experience. This is not a test, this is an exercise in thinking visually. There is no right or wrong way to approach this task. Relax, take your time, and most importantly explore.
Please choose from one of the options below (you may also choose to submit both options).
Option 1 – Portfolio
Submit any or all of the portfolios that you have already made as part of your application to any school of architecture. Portfolios may include, art, photography, code, digital media etc.
Upload your portfolio to our applicant file system called ‘Cargo’ at https://sea.ac.za/cargo. You will need to create an account to upload files. Please use the same email address used in your online application form.
File format:
- File names should start with ‘Portfolio_’ followed by your surname followed by your first name (and then numbers 001 upwards, for example: Portfolio_Last_First_001.PDF).
- All portfolios must be in PDF format
- Each file must be less than 200Mb
Upload to Cargo
Option 2 – Creative Task
The creative tasks demonstrate your ability to think, narrate, and explore spatially and visually. This is not a test, think of this as a conversation with us.
NOTE: The creative task is mandatory for those who DO NOT have a portfolio. However, those who do submit portfolios are encouraged to complete this task as well.
The Task List
1. From My Doorstep
Make a 1-minute video showing the journey from your front door to your favourite place. This place can be around the corner or across town—it’s up to you. In the video, try to show or tell us why this place matters to you. You can speak, write subtitles, or simply film the journey.
2. The View From Here
Make a drawing (or painting, using any medium etc.) of what you see from your window. Look closely at how the light falls on surfaces, how things change with time of day, or what textures you notice. Don’t draw this from a photo, draw it from real life
3. Beneath the Floor
Imagine there’s a world underneath your room or house. What’s going on down there? Use model-making to show what’s happening just below where you live—real or imagined. You can combine drawing, painting, and collage in your model. It could be wild, funny, mysterious or serious. Show your creativity.
4. Patchwork Place
Make a collage using drawings, photos , or materials around you to describe the neighbourhood you live in. Show the atmosphere of the place.
Try to show not just what it looks like, but how it feels to live there. Use colour, texture, shapes, and layers.
5. What’s in Your Pocket?
Collect and draw the two most important things you carry with you.
Uploading
Upload both the video and the drawings/models to our applicant file system called ‘Cargo’ at https://sea.ac.za/cargo/. You will need to create an account to upload files. Please use the same email address used in your online application form.
- These file names should begin with ‘Creative_’ followed by your surname, followed by your first name (and then numbers 001 upwards, for example: Creative_Last_First_001.MP4).
- Images must be formatted in one of the following .JPG .PDF .PNG .GIF
- Videos must be formatted in one of the following .MP4 .MPG .MOV
- Each file must be less than 200Mb
Upload to Cargo
Step 4 – Transcripts
Send copies of transcripts/results to admin@sea.ac.za
Email Subject line should be “Transcripts“
- If you have not yet graduated from high-school, send your preliminary matric results.
- If you have completed the National Benchmark Test, include your NBT Registration Number in the email.
- If you have graduated from high-school, send a copy of your National Senior Certificate.
(File name should start with ‘MatricResults_’ followed by your surname, followed by your first name eg. MatricResults_Last_First.pdf and SeniorCertificate_Last_First.pdf)
Step 5 – Declaration
Declaration
Sign, Scan (photograph), and Send a copy to admin@sea.ac.za
(File name should start with ‘Declaration_’ followed by your surname, followed by your first name eg. Declaration_Last_First.jpg)
You are done!
If you successfully finished all 5 steps then your application to the School of Explorative Architecture is complete.
Thank you for your interest in our school…We look forward to exploring the future with you!
Please, don’t forget to send copies of the following to admin@sea.ac.za
- Copy of South African ID or foreign passport
- Copy of any resumes/cv to date
- Copies of certificates and transcripts
- A signed copy of the declaration (step 4).