Portrait of a Graduate
Every student's e-portfolio: a living record of academic achievements, personal projects, community involvement and co-curricular life, from the first years to graduation.
What the Portrait of a Graduate is
The Portrait of a Graduate is a dynamic e-portfolio that showcases each student's unique journey at the International School of Switzerland. Acting as a digital résumé, it highlights academic achievements, personal projects, community involvement and co-curricular experiences, offering a holistic view of their growth and potential.
The portfolio follows the student through the school, from the primary years to the diploma years, and grows with each stage.
What it includes
The Portrait of a Graduate e-portfolio captures four things.
Academic records
Achievements, milestones and early university subjects.
Personal projects
Creativity and innovation, showcased through capstone and independent work.
Community engagement
Leadership roles and contributions to local and global communities.
Co-curricular activities
Participation in arts, sports, STEAM and more.
Why it matters
This personalised digital profile is a tool for students, parents and university admissions.
For students
It encourages ownership of their learning journey and celebrates achievements.
For parents
It provides insight into their child's progress and growth.
For universities
It offers a standout portfolio that enhances applications.
Key features
Interactive growth tracker
Students can document and reflect on their progress over time.
Collaborative access
Parents, coaches and mentors can view and support the student's journey.
Future-ready design
It integrates into university and career applications.
From portfolio to application
The portfolio is the raw material for what comes after school. Our careers guidance offers comprehensive support for university applications, including help with selecting courses, writing personal statements and preparing for interviews. In the final years, students pursue advanced study through A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which the school is authorized to offer as an IB World School.
The journey the portfolio records
Each stage adds to the portfolio.
See how a portfolio grows
Come and visit, or read how we support students on the way to university.
Details and questions
The portfolio at a glance
| What it is | A digital portfolio, kept by the student, that documents their journey through the school. |
| When it starts | In the primary years. It follows the student through the Middle School and the diploma years and grows with each stage. |
| What goes in | Academic records, personal projects, community engagement and co-curricular activities in arts, sports and STEAM. |
| Who can see it | The student, parents, and the coaches and mentors who support the student. |
| What it is for | Reflection during school, and university and career applications after it. |
Access details are given to families at enrolment.
How the portfolio grows, stage by stage
In the Primary School, each of the six units of inquiry a year ends in a project shared with the school community. Those projects are the first entries. In the Middle School, STEAM projects, Discovery Programme afternoons, leadership and service work and immersion days add to it. In the Senior School, the portfolio holds the A-Level or IB Diploma work, the Masterclasses and the projects.
The point is not the collection but the reflection. A student who has written down, every year, what they made, what went wrong and what they learned arrives at Grade 12 knowing what to say about themselves.
Why universities look beyond grades
How much a portfolio matters depends on where a student applies. Swiss universities admit on the school-leaving qualification, on conditions published by swissuniversities; there the grades decide. British universities apply through UCAS and ask applicants to write about themselves and their interest in the course. American universities look at activities, essays and recommendations alongside grades. Art, design and architecture courses almost everywhere ask for a portfolio of work.
In every case except the first, a student who can show four years of projects, service and reflection has an easier task than one who has to remember them in the autumn of Grade 12.
Sources
- swissuniversities, admission to Swiss universities with international qualifications
- UCAS, the admissions service for universities in the United Kingdom
Checked on 6 September 2026. Admission rules change; the linked pages are authoritative.
Questions families ask about the portfolio
Who can see my child's portfolio?
The student, parents, and the coaches and mentors who support the student's journey. Students document and reflect on their own progress in it.
Is it used for university applications?
Yes. The portfolio is designed to integrate into university and career applications, and it gives universities a view of the student beyond grades. How much weight it carries depends on the country and the course; the section above explains the differences.
Does it only cover grades?
No. Alongside academic records it holds personal projects, community engagement and co-curricular activities in arts, sports and STEAM.
When does my child start the portfolio?
In the primary years. The first entries are the unit projects that primary students share with the school community; the portfolio then follows the student through every stage.
Is it the same as a school report?
No. Reports and grades remain separate. The portfolio adds the projects, service and reflections behind them, in the student's own words.
Does a Swiss university look at it?
Swiss universities admit on the school-leaving qualification, on conditions that swissuniversities publishes, so there the grades decide. The portfolio matters more for British, American and other applications that ask about the person, and for creative courses that ask for work.
How do we access it?
Access details are given to families at enrolment. If you are considering the school and want to see how a portfolio looks, ask admissions during your visit.
What happens to the portfolio after Grade 12?
It is built to carry into applications and a first CV. How a student keeps their material after leaving is explained by the school in the final year.
Who helps my child turn the portfolio into an application?
The school's careers guidance supports university applications, including course selection, personal statements and interview preparation, in the final years.