Use this material to examine your own work. Confirm current requirements, forms and dates with IStructE before applying.
Prepare your portfolio before applying. It must be one PDF of up to 300 pages, divided by Core Objective and sent directly to your two reviewers.
Communication through the portfolio
The portfolio and report forms contribute to assessment of Core Objective 2. Clear organisation and navigation help demonstrate communication. Reviewers question primarily on the portfolio's contents, so include only material you can explain.
Planning the page allowance
The 300-page maximum is shared across ten objectives, an index, a checklist and drawings. Allowing around 25 pages per objective gives a useful starting point; a full project report can consume a quarter of that allocation. Avoid repetitive designs, drawings and full reports, as the guidance advises.
Quarterly report forms and the progress summary on the individually managed route are outside the count. Signed training records on the accredited training scheme route are also outside it. These supporting documents go directly to reviewers.
Making A3 drawings readable
A3 pages must be clear on a computer screen and contain no information too small to view. The interview is normally remote. Test your PDF at 100% on a 13-inch screen. Crop and enlarge relevant areas where necessary so annotations and details are easy to read.
When the portfolio has to exist
- Throughout IPD
Collect and annotate as you go
Keeping a portfolio of your work and responsibilities during IPD is also evidence of your commitment to CPD.
- Before you apply
Complete and ready for submission
The guidance is explicit that it must be ready at the time of the interview application, not assembled afterwards.
- At application
Submit the experience report and the ten IPD final report forms
These go to the Institution as a single document. The portfolio does not go with them.
- About six weeks after the application deadline
Your regional group puts you in touch with two reviewers
You confirm the date, then email them the portfolio and any supporting documents.
- Before the interview
Reviewers read it
Late delivery risks refusal of the interview; over-length risks a decision not to interview at all.
Official sources
Selected publisher pages were rechecked in September 2026. Other source records were last checked in July 2026. Open the latest official document before relying on a requirement.