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Successful Personal Statement For Physics At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Physics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Physics Course at Oxford is concerned with the study of the universe from the smallest to the largest scale.

Read on to see how this strong Personal Statement covers such a broad range of intricate topics. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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Physics Personal Statement

An incessant curiosity about the laws of the cosmos has always attracted me to the study of physics. I am especially intrigued by theoretical physics and how its concepts are the foundations of all visible reactions one witnesses daily. My fascination with physics has led me to pursue my subject beyond the school curriculum and I have had a range of experiences which have confirmed my desire to study physics at university.

This summer I was selected for the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University which enabled me to experience the level and pace of undergraduate classical mechanics, quantum mechanics and lab-work. In preparation for the course, I studied a quantum mechanics primer and familiarised myself with previously untaught mathematics. During the week, we tackled the Schrodinger equation, square well potential problems, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and learnt new aspects of mathematics such as eigenstates and SHM. The course was demanding thus highly engaging, and this encounter with higher-level physics has made me eager to extend my knowledge of quantum mechanics.

Selected to visit CERN with school on the basis of an essay competition on dark matter and dark energy, I attended lectures on particle physics and saw the LHCb experiment. The highlight of the trip being the coding activity organised by Liverpool University where, using real LHC data of a decaying kaon, we chose cuts to make in the data to improve the efficiency and purity of the signal. Gaining an insight into aspects of the research work undertaken by particle physicists was inspiring. Likewise, at a “Particle Physics Day” at Birmingham University, I had the opportunity to use computer software to identify different particles and collisions in detectors. Last summer, I attended the “Physics Experience Week” organised by Birmingham University that combined lectures, lab-work and a rocket-building session. I was fascinated by an experiment where, collaborating in a team with pupils from different schools, we counted cosmic ray muons using a scintillation detector and took down readings together.

Having chosen to study GCSE Astronomy independently, I learnt to use the Faulkes Telescopes to take photographs of Messier objects in order to determine the ages of 3 planetary nebulae. My interest in space has been enhanced by a 2-week trip to NASA with ‘Space Education Adventures’, visiting the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centres. I was astounded by the immensity of the space projects and their contribution to science and history. A work experience placement in a hospital Medical Physics department demonstrated to me the application of physics in medical diagnostic imaging and the importance of physics research for advances in medicine. The Engineering Education Scheme (year 12) enabled me to work with 3 other girls to design a hypothetical football training academy with engineer mentors from ARUP. We researched and presented a business case and technical plan to a panel of engineers from other companies, gaining the Gold Crest Award in Engineering as well as valuable presentation skills.

In complete contrast, this summer I attended the Joint Association of Classical Teachers’ Greek Summer School. In addition to intensive lessons, we performed Aeschylus’ Agamemnon in the original text; I was cast as Cassandra. This term I am giving a talk on Ancient Greek mathematics at my school’s Classical Society, having researched the topic over the summer. I enjoy performing arts: I belong to the Birmingham Young REP Theatre and I have performed in the Symphony Orchestra, a chamber music group and the Choral Society at school. Balancing academic work with other activities requires organisation and discipline. Physics is a demanding and highly rewarding field. The prospect of an unsolved problem which may not have an immediate answer is captivating. My wish to understand nature and the academic challenge this poses is the reason I aspire to study physics.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very well written, structured and excellent statement. The student has a clear motivation for physics and has achieved many things through extra hard work. The statement is easy to read, and the student describes their achievements yet does not brag. All points and experiences are expanded on and clearly explained. The final paragraph adds individuality to the statement, and all non-physics related interests are kept within this paragraph which is very good.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student uses the word ‘I’ a lot. Whilst it is important to emphasise personal achievements, using the same words over and over again makes the statement sound repetitive. The student mentions learning mathematics beyond the A-level syllabus prior to the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University, however, does not expand on what this involved. The student has missed an opportunity to describe how they gained mathematical skills independently. The student does this again by failing to describe what they learned through writing their essay on dark matter. A sentence on each of these points would have added yet more value to this excellent statement.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

This is an excellent statement. It is easy to read, well-structured and the student comes across as a very likeable individual.

This Personal Statement for Physics is a great example of a well written and effectively-structured Statement. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

There are plenty more successful personal statements and expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Physics application.

With our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , score highly on the PAT and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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Interview Preparation Tips & Questions: Oxford Physics

In this article we will guide you on how to best prepare for your Oxford Physics interview , with guides on past Oxford Physics questions, interview tips, mock examples and real experiences from students who have sat the Oxford Physics panel interview.

This article is from a collection of accounts from Oxbridge applicants.

What is the Oxford Physics interview structure?

The university will assign you a first college – this will most likely be your first choice college (if you specified a college choice in your application). The first college will interview you twice. You will also be assigned to a second college, which will provide you with a third interview. 

Each interview will be marked out of 10. So, your first college will give you two interview marks out of 10. In rare cases, you will have a single longer interview (or three brief interviews) instead of two average length interviews. However, you will still be given two interview marks. Your second college will give you one interview mark. The multiple interviews give you a chance to fully showcase your abilities, even if you are nervous and don’t perform as well as you could in one interview.

After the interview process, your three interview marks will be combined with your PAT score to give a numerical score to you. This score is used to aid the interviewers in their decision making process.

If you have applied for a joint honours course (such as Physics and Philosophy), you will still have three physics interviews, in addition to a couple of interviews in the other subject.

What are the Oxford Physics interview dates?

For 2025 entry, the Oxford Physics interviews will take place in the first and second week of December. Your first college interviews will take place in the first week. The second college interview will then take place in the second week.

Oxbridge Interview Tips Questions Tutoring

Example Past Questions from Oxford Physics Interview

  • What drew you to Oxford?
  • Why do you want to study Physics at university? 
  • Have you researched the Physics course at Oxford? Are there any parts of it that particularly interest you?
  • They may ask you a question or two about relevant details in your personal statement – such as asking about a book on Physics that you mentioned.
  • Can you derive the diffraction equation?
  • Cricket : This cricket jumps off this plank. Can you calculate the trajectory of the cricket as a function of the initial speed and angle? Can you differentiate this to find the maximum range of the cricket?
  • Here is the equation for the Leonard Jones potential. Can you sketch it for us? Given an atom, could you tell me where it would rest in the potential?
  • Tides : What can you tell me about the tides and how they vary with the position of the moon?
  • Ball : A ball is initially at rest. It is then pushed upwards by a constant force for a given amount of time. Can you sketch the velocity of the ball as a function of time (from the start to when it hits the ground)?

Further interview questions

  • Hiking : I’ve eaten one cereal bar, and I am going on a hike. How high up the mountain could I go?
  • Cooling the atmosphere : Describe what would happen if the atmosphere was cooled to 20 Kelvin?
  • Folding paper to the moon : Say there is no limit to how many times you can fold a piece of paper. How many times would you need to fold a piece of paper to reach the moon?
  • Glow sticks : Can you explain how glow sticks work?
  • Can you use this order of magnitude estimation to calculate how long a kettle would take to heat up?
  • Questions about sound waves and whether you can represent the pressure mathematically as a function of time and space.
  • Questions asking you to sketch a graph of a function, differentiate it (and perhaps sketch the graph of the differentiation).
  • Questions regarding drawing displacement-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs.

Jesus College, Oxford has a useful YouTube video where students talk through examples of real Physics interview questions:

Insider Guides: Oxford Physics Interview

What happens on the day of your oxford physics interview .

My interviews were in person – your experience will be a little different because your’s will be online. I arrived on a Monday afternoon to the college, and we were given a talk that evening from one of the Physics professors about the interview process. This may still occur in an online format for you, depending on your college.

I had three interviews: two on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. There was a noticeboard which had the interview times and rooms written on it. For online interviews, you will be sent a timetable ahead of time. When it was time for my interviews I went to the room and was let in on time. The interviews lasted around half an hour.

On Tuesday, my first interview was more maths based, while the second was more physics based. My third interview was a mix of the two.

What do you have to bring to your Oxford Physics interview?

I brought pens and a calculator. In the first two interviews, I did all of my working on a whiteboard so that the interviewers could see it clearly. You might be asked to write on an online whiteboard in your interviews – but if this is the case, the college will let you know ahead of time so that you can familiarise yourself with the software.

There is no dress code. Some people recommend wearing a suit or something smart (I wore a suit for one interview and a shirt and jeans for the other two). However, the most important thing is to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. People wear all sorts and the colleges say that they don’t let clothing affect judgement.

What is the interview setting and how long is it?

I had three interviews. The first two were held in the rooms I would go on to have my tutorials in, where the tutor normally works. The mood was quite formal. I tried to match the energy of the interviewers, so after they had made a couple of jokes I felt more comfortable and made some myself, but it was mostly serious as we were solving physics problems.

The interviews were 30 minutes each, and I had 3 in total.

What are the Oxford Physics interviewers like? 

The interviewers are experts in their field and they are there to assess you. They also meet with many people during the interview period, so they can initially seem quite cold. However, they are also teachers for a large part of their job. They aren’t there to make you feel uncomfortable or judged and they will be taking into account that you are nervous, so you can relax in front of them. If you are successful in your interview they will later be your tutors and you will be spending time with them every week, so it is good to try and make a good impression and form a personal connection.

Question Types

They asked me lots of follow up questions, as the point of the interview is to see how far you can apply the knowledge you already have, or information you have just learnt, to solve new problems. They try to ask every candidate the same questions, so there is a predetermined list of possible questions. However, which of these questions they ultimately ask depends on what you say and how far you get in solving the problem. It is very unlikely that you will say anything that directs the question in a way they don’t predict, as they are world leading experts in physics and they run the interviews every year.

What are the best tips for planning my trip for my Oxford Physics Interview?

You will have a lot of downtime over the few days that your interviews occur, so try to have something to do to wind down in between interviews. Also try to have everything you need prepared, to avoid unnecessary stress during the process. 

Are there any academic or challenging Physics questions at the Oxford Interview?

Almost all the questions were challenging and academic. They were designed to take me to my limit in order to find out how skilled I am in solving problems and using information I had just learnt. You will be guided through it by the tutors, and the point is to learn something and solve a problem that you wouldn’t have been able to before.

Are there any personality, work experience or extracurricular based Physics questions at the Oxford Interview? 

I wasn’t asked any questions about my personality, work experience, or extracurriculars. I was asked very few questions on my personal statement, but they weren’t important to the interview. If you put something really unique or surprising in your personal statement, you may be briefly asked more about it.

Top Tips for the Oxford Physics Interview

  • Try to stay relaxed and be yourself . The examiners are not trying to trick you or make you feel bad, and they will be your tutors if you are successful. 
  • Don’t worry about what you wear . The colleges have said many times that they don’t judge your clothing. 
  • Use all the resources that are available online . Many Oxford students upload videos about their experience and give their advice. Many Oxford colleges also produce mock interview videos, and StudyMind has some great resources.
  • Practice ! Ask your school teachers or even family and friends to ‘interview’ you, to let you practise talking about physics and solve problems while explaining your thought process out loud. This will improve your ability to showcase your knowledge and skills verbally. 
  • Enjoy the experience ! You are getting the opportunity to have a conversation with, and be briefly taught by, some of the greatest academics in physics. Even if you don’t get in, this experience is invaluable in your academic development.

Top Tips for the “Why Oxford” interview question

  • Think about what unique things about Oxford lead you to want to study here. Oxford is famously one of the best universities in the world. Having been there, I can say that the standard of teaching is extremely high, and it is a great place to study. 
  • You should also research the Physics course , and find particular topics that interest you and make you want to study Physics at Oxford.
  • The city and the buildings are also beautiful and the university has such an amazing history , so these may be additional things drawing you to study here.

My Favourite Things about Studying Physics at Oxford University

I love that the level is extremely high. It is probably among the most intense courses in the country. This is not for everyone but if it is what you want then Oxford is the place for you. 

As well as this, the people are all so interesting and we all have one thing in common: a thirst for knowledge. 

I don’t want to make it sound too serious. There’s tons of socialising and blowing off steam, tons of sports and societies and fun things to do, and at the end of the day students are going to be students. Oxbridge students are similar to those all over the country, and of course just like students all over the country Oxbridge students are very diverse. You will find a group of people with whom you fit in no matter what type of person you are.

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How to write a personal statement for physics

Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, say admissions tutors. You’ll soon be found out

"P hysics is a really cool subject because you can learn how to blow cars up." Not the most impressive opening to a personal statement Gary Barker of the University of Warwick has ever come across. More James May than Patrick Moore, he says wryly.

What would he prefer? "I would err on the side of formality rather than flippancy," he says.

Many admissions tutors look for two things in a personal statement: genuine enthusiasm for physics and signs of maturity.

Some statements border almost on the philosophical, which is absolutely fine, says Barker. "I like to think that there's a person out there who lies awake at night worrying about these things."

Demonstrating engagement with the subject is not difficult but do remember that some admissions tutors are looking for a richer knowledge of the subject than you get on prime-time TV.

"By all means mention what hooked you in the beginning, but do also mention what you are doing now to deepen your understanding," says Anton Machacek, a physics teacher who graduated from Trinity College, Oxford.

"Popular science programmes rarely develop your thinking skills in the way universities will want. In this sense, I would say that the influence of Nina and her Nefarious Neurons on you as a toddler might count more in your favour than Prof Brian Cox at age 16."

Think about which skills are relevant to your application: for example, computing experience will help you with a theoretical physics degree.

Machacek says it's a shame that students often forget to talk about their A-level courses in their personal statements. "It's no good saying 'I've studied A-level physics' – they already know that," he says. "But you can say what skills you enjoyed developing and which areas excited you."

And for a budding physicist it is well worth becoming a member of the Institute of Physics – membership is free for 16- to 19-year-olds.

Many physics undergrad hopefuls mention a lot of the same books, or say they read the New Scientist, says Professor Henning Schomerus, physics admissions tutor at Lancaster University. "This wouldn't put me off, but I would probably more or less ignore it," he says. If you want to talk about a journal you read, pick out an article and discuss why it interests you.

Be specific. If The Big Bang Theory sparked your interest in physics, explain why. Schomerus, for instance, likes the episode where Sheldon takes a job as an unpaid waiter to try to discover how electrons move through graphene – it's an area he's done research in.

"Make the statement truly personal," he says, a point reiterated by Machacek, who is also a visiting research scientist at the Central Laser Facility in Rutherford.

"It is extremely important to be yourself," he says. "If you are a quiet, modest type, and you force yourself to write an extrovert's personal statement to make you seem bigger, very odd things can happen if you are interviewed."

Most admissions tutors advise that content should always trump style or creativity, but stress that writing should be coherent because physicists must be able to communicate.

Physics admissions officer Kenny Wood points out that with over a thousand applications for tutors at the University of St Andrews to sift through each year, spelling and grammar can make all the difference.

Wood says competition is fierce, and urges students not to be disappointed if they don't get into their first choice. "Remember, all physics departments are accredited by the Institute of Physics and if you get a good degree from any department in the UK, this will keep the door open for postgraduate studies at other institutions."

Olivia Keenan, a physics masters graduate from the University of Southampton about to embark on a PhD at Cardiff in extra-galactic observations, urges more girls to consider physics.

"As a female, if you are as well qualified as your male counterparts and you can make yourself stand out, then you're often in a good position to get through the 'admissions game'.

"Having narrowly missed the grades to get on to my physics course, I'm sure that having a strong personal statement helped me," she says. "It displayed my passion for the subject, backed up with evidence to prove it – for example, I'd taught GCSE students about astronomy while in sixth form at school."

Extra-curricular activities can reflect passion – working at a science museum, being a member of a local astronomy society or having visited Cern, for example – but tutors realise that not everybody has these opportunities. Simply making the most of your school's library is fine if it gives you a deeper appreciation of physics.

Above all, don't get too worked up about it. At the University of Birmingham, Professor Andy Schofield stresses that the personal statement is unlikely to be the decider in whether or not you get an offer.

It's a chance to explain any unusual aspects of your application though, says Schofield – for example, why your past performance doesn't reflect your potential.

Not everyone knows what they want to study and it's okay to apply to more than one course, say, physics and natural sciences. "I'm quite happy to see a personal statement that talks in two halves," he says.

Whether your interests lie in the cosmos or computing, the most important thing is keep it personal and prove your enthusiasm for physics.

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Oxbridge Personal Statement Examples

oxbridge physics personal statement

IMAGES

  1. Oxford Physics Personal Statement

    oxbridge physics personal statement

  2. Example Oxbridge Personal Statement

    oxbridge physics personal statement

  3. How To Write An Oxbridge Personal Statement: 7 Steps To Success

    oxbridge physics personal statement

  4. How To Write An Oxbridge Personal Statement: 7 Steps To Success

    oxbridge physics personal statement

  5. Our 10 Top Tips for Writing a Standout Oxbridge Personal Statement to

    oxbridge physics personal statement

  6. How To Write An Oxbridge Personal Statement

    oxbridge physics personal statement

VIDEO

  1. POV: Life at Exeter

  2. Guide to Creating a Standout Personal Statement for Oxbridge Applications Open Day

  3. OL

  4. Reading My Personal Statement

  5. 10 Tips for Writing your UCAS Personal Statement

  6. Write an Incredible Personal Statement: 3 Steps with Examples

COMMENTS

  1. Successful Personal Statement For Physics At Oxford

    We have developed an 80-page E-Book filled with expert Personal Statement Advice. Inside, you'll find guides on planning and writing your personal statement, as well as our full collection of 25+ Successful Oxbridge Personal Statements. Get it directly to your inbox by registering your email.

  2. Physics Personal Statement

    Learn how to write a compelling physics personal statement for your Oxbridge application. Doxa provides tips, examples and guidance on how to showcase your passion, skills and achievements in physics.

  3. Successful Physics Oxbridge Model Personal Statement Example

    Learn from a successful Oxbridge applicant how to write a persuasive and concise personal statement for Physics. Find out how to incorporate Physics seamlessly and master effective writing and time management skills.

  4. Download a Physics Personal Statement

    This Oxbridge Physics personal statement demonstrates strengths and weaknesses which are broken down in annotation. She was asked about the statement at interview, as were 64% of applicants last year - see our Personal statement tips in The Independent which talk about how your personal statement must act as a springboard for interview.

  5. PDF PHYSICS PERSONAL STATEMENT

    PHYSICS PERSONAL STATEMENT . Oxbridge Applications | 12-14 Waterloo Place | London | SW1Y 4AR Tel: +44 (0) 207 499 2394 | www.oxbridgeapplications.com | [email protected] ... Commented [OA8]: This is a good last sentence to the personal statement. It is final, personal and makes an impact. Author:

  6. 12 Personal Statement FAQs and answers!

    Oxbridge Applications explore frequently asked questions and provide guidance on how to write a successful Oxbridge personal statement for your application. Map Oxbridge Applications, 14 - 16 Waterloo Place, London ... and the logical skills you gained from physics, can therefore come across as 'fodder' which could have already been ...

  7. Physics Subject Oxbridge Application Resources

    Learn everything you need to know about the Oxbridge Interview for Physics. Our guide is to help you with your application. Map Oxbridge Applications, 14 - 16 Waterloo Place, London, ... the first step we recommend is to go through your personal statement and review any key sources so that you're happy to discuss questions relating to them ...

  8. Oxford Physics Personal Statement

    Our packages. An accomplished Oxbridge tutor will review your personal statement, and all of our packages come with content, structure, and grammar analysis. Your Oxford Physics personal statement will be delivered to you within 48 hours, regardless of the plan you choose, or your money will be refunded.

  9. How to Write the Perfect Oxbridge Personal Statement

    Strategies for Writing a Standout Oxbridge Personal Statement. Start with a Captivating Introduction: Engage the reader from the outset. Whether it's a thought-provoking quote, a personal anecdote, or a bold statement related to your chosen field, make sure your introduction is memorable and reflects your genuine enthusiasm for the subject.

  10. Oxford Physics Interview Tips & Questions

    Questions asking you to sketch a graph of a function, differentiate it (and perhaps sketch the graph of the differentiation). Questions regarding drawing displacement-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs. Jesus College, Oxford has a useful YouTube video where students talk through examples of real Physics interview questions:

  11. Personal Statements

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  12. How To Write An Oxbridge Personal Statement

    The first draft of the personal statement should be completed by the end of summer holiday between Year 12 and 13, which means any extra reading or work experience that a student may wish to include in it must be completed before this time. 2. Focus on your academic strengths. Prove your academic strength in your subject with examples of books ...

  13. Physics & Maths Personal Statement Example 1

    This personal statement was written by dawaj2004 for application in 2011. dawaj2004's university choices. Cambridge University. University College London. Green: offer made. Red: no offer made. Degree. Physical Natural Science at Cambridge University. Statement rating:

  14. How to Write an Oxbridge Personal Statement (With Examples)

    So, the template below will enable you to create the perfect personal template: Paragraph 1 - Discuss why you want to study the course by including a story or reasons why. Paragraph 2 - Talk about your work experience and qualifications as well as any certifications you might have that relate to the course.

  15. How to write a personal statement for physics

    Machacek says it's a shame that students often forget to talk about their A-level courses in their personal statements. "It's no good saying 'I've studied A-level physics' - they already know ...

  16. Physics Personal Statement Examples

    Physics Personal Statement Example 1. One of the most appealing features of Physics is the way that complex physical phenomena can be explained by simple and elegant theories. I enjoy the logical aspect of the subject and I find it very satisfying when all the separate pieces of a problem fall together to create one simple theory...

  17. How to write the PERFECT Oxbridge Personal Statement

    That said, it's important to write a good personal statement for two reasons. A personal statement creates a first impression: a good one won't get you that far, but a bad one will make things more difficult. Secondly, a good personal statement might give you some degree of control over how your admissions process goes. Interesting things ...

  18. Successful Engineering Oxbridge Model Personal Statement Example

    This is an Example personal statement by a successful Oxford Engineering applicant. I have always enjoyed solving problems, understanding the questions raised by them and the physical and mental processes required to find a solution. Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Art at AS have presented me with a variety of challenges, which with my ...

  19. Oxbridge Personal Statement Examples

    Mathematics and Physics Personal Statement Example 1 Mathematics is a fundamental tool for understanding our world: it can be used to define the symmetry of flowers or to manage global companies. What is so appealing about mathematics is the opportunity of applying it in the physical world...