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Leeds University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Leeds. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Biomedical Science/Neuroscience Personal Statement Example The limitless potential of the life sciences and the opportunity for world-changing breakthroughs are both exciting and compelling to me. Upon hearing about a disease for the first time, I am eager to find out more about the precise ways in which it affects the body, which has led me to spend much time researching the details of various diseases...

Geology Personal Statement Example 1 My interest in the natural world started early in my life. At the age of 4 and at my first school years, my favorite trip was at the Greek Natural History museum where I admired the shinny purple stones, the giraffe, the lions, and most of all, the huge Triceratops skeleton...

International Relations Personal Statement Example Being of Pakistani heritage means I am at the heart of multiculturalism that many would say defines Britain today. Growing up as a British Asian in the last decade has allowed me to experience life embedded in a world of politics, not only from a Western perspective but also that of other cultures...

History Personal Statement Example 5 As the descendant of an Auschwitz survivor, my family history allows me to understand the influences that the Second World War has had on people's families and the victims of the Nazi regime in occupied Poland...

Physics Personal Statement Example 4 The elegance of the scientific subjects, in particular physics is what has established my eagerness for a deeper insight into the subject. What sets physics apart from the other sciences, in my opinion, is that it can be practically applied to all instances of life...

Languages Personal Statement Example 10 At the age of eight, a friend introduced me to Guy Hamilton's 1969 film 'Battle of Britain'. This instilled in me two things: my doomed childhood ambition to be a Spitfire pilot, long since grudgingly abandoned, but also, perhaps ironically, a love for the sound and feel of the German language that has stayed with me all through the intervening decade...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 1 When I saw Gatz, John Collin's eight hour interpretation of The Great Gatsby, I noticed that Fitzgerald changes the colour of Daisy's hair every time he describes it. It is "like a dash of blue paint", "yellowy" like her daughters and then "dark, shining"...

French and Italian Personal Statement Example 1 I see speaking a foreign language as a key to a door opening up a new world of possibilities and opportunities. As a child my mother insisted I learned another language, she told me to grab any possible open window for a life beyond my own imagination...

Physics & Astrophysics Personal Statement Example I have always considered Physics to be a captivating area of study, whether it is a question of how aspects of it work, or indeed why they work. As such, I have found deep fascination in studying Physics, as it is able to provide answers (as well as evidence) to such queries...

Physics Personal Statement Example (International Student) 1 Some people believe there is no universal key to the mysteries of the world, but I am convinced otherwise. Since early childhood when my parents, both physicists by training, patiently answered all my why-questions and encouraged me in my fascination with astronomy, I have been thinking of Physics as the perfect science that can unveil all the secrets that fascinate humanity...

Maths and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 By skimming through a daily broadsheet or examining journals such as ‘The Economist’ it is clear to see that economic issues affect everyone both locally as well as on a global scale. However, I have been interested by Mathematics for many years and have found my enjoyment for it has increased as the depth of my understanding has grown...

English Personal Statement Example 22 What I enjoy above all else in a piece of literature is the feeling that it has brought about change, either in me or in some wider context. Literature which offers the opportunity for an adapted way of living or thinking, however slight, is I think a thing to be kept and treasured in our intellects...

Physiology and Medical Sciences Personal Statement Example The human body is arguably the most complex life form that has ever existed. Studying how the body works helps us to comprehend the many processes that maintain health and find better treatment for diseases...

English Personal Statement Example 23 My love of literature is rooted in the connection it gives us to centuries of ideas, giving us the ability to converse with ghosts, linking us with the greatest and most eloquent minds in history; as Bovee puts it, “books are embalmed minds”...

Biomedical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 Thanks to my mother's profession, I have had a front row seat in observing the radical changes made in the medical field with the introduction of new devices. I have also seen the beneficial effects these developments have had on the lives of people living in the less affluent countries in the Middle East; these observations coupled with my interest in mechanics have inspired me to pursue a career in biomedical engineering...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 45 Advances in computer and information technology over the past few decades have brought about revolution in science, medicine, education, business, and entertainment. I wish to be part of the future revolution and that is why I want to study computer science...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 43 The ever-evolving nature of medical science and the certainty that we will know more about the many different healthcare practices has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. My dedication to studying medicine has been confirmed by the experience I have gained in different hospitals and practices and I look forward to the academic discipline and challenges that will arise...

English Personal Statement Example 26 Growing up reading Roald Dahl, I saw elements of myself in Matilda, as ever since I can remember, I have loved reading. My passion for English could be seen by those around me, as a child, having taught myself to read and write by the time I was 4 years old, and there was never any doubt that I would go on to pursue a career in English...

Chemical Engineering Personal Statement Example 8 From the very first day of college I’ve been gradually developing a great interest in all aspects of Chemistry and Maths. Having recently read, “Beyond the Molecular Frontier: Challenges for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering” I have discovered what an imperative role chemists and chemical engineers play in industry and how, by working together, they contribute to an improved future...

Geography Personal Statement Example 14 If I said ‘I’ve loved geography since an early age’, I’d be lying. Although I loved our family holidays, which have always been seen as expeditions, I didn’t think it was ‘geography’ until I started using places I’d been to as examples in geography lessons...

Geography Personal Statement Example (Human/Environmental) The possibility of the human race’s days being numbered by our destructive lifestyles, as planted in my mind by Al Gore’s sensationalised and controversial ‘The Inconvenient Truth’, has fuelled my interest in the global warming phenomenon, forcing me to question society’s reluctance to tackle it and realise the worldwide impact of each of our daily lives...

Aeronautical Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 The rapid progress and achievements in aircraft technologies has motivated me to follow a career in aeronautical engineering as it plays a very significant role in today's modern world. It is fascinating to see how engineers apply scientific and mathematical principles to everyday situations like the design, manufacture and operation of efficient structures, machines, processes and systems...

Natural Science/Geology Personal Statement Example The sheer intricacy of our planet is something that has always left me in utter amazement. From the creation of mountains to the way we as humans evolved. Science is a deep rooted love that has grown since I was a young child...

English Literature and Sociology Personal Statement Example Since I have begun to study A Level English Literature, it is the way in which writers use expression within their writing to influence and manipulate the reader's emotions which has most intrigued me...

Physics Personal Statement Example 13 Attending university has been a lifelong dream of mine; ever since my childhood, I have been told that I should, and I have always agreed with the sentiment. If I were asked to pin down an exact reason, however, I would be forced to confess that I do not know - I just enjoy learning new things and exercising my mind...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 16 Being born as a son to two former engineers, I was raised in an environment where curiosity is treasured and nurtured. It wasn't surprising that as I became older, my fascination towards science and technology also grew along with me...

History & Politics Personal Statement Example For years I have listened to my family discussing the latest political and historical issues on the news and I have been fascinated and awed by the fact that there was never a wrong or right answer, decision or explanation to a given problem...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 16 Civil engineering is a profession that is growing and evolving at a fast pace. Civil engineers play a major role in the world meeting the high demand for new buildings and improved infrastructure. I am keen to become a Civil Engineer and I believe I have the talents to be successful in this profession...

Dentistry Personal Statement Example 10 My interest in Dentistry initially arose from my own experiences with Dentists. When I was younger, I suffered from cyclic neutropenia which led to many dental problems, and was always grateful to my dentist and dental hygienist for all their help...

English Literature & History Personal Statement Example 1 Throughout my education, I have constantly been captivated and inspired by my History and English studies. I have recognised how the two disciplines entwine and coexist to create an invaluable tool with which to explore the past and future...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 67 Studying the history of medicine made me realise what a huge impact doctors have on people’s lives. I’ve always wanted a career involving people as I’m fascinated by our unique nature and the human body itself...

Natural Sciences Personal Statement Example 4 Why and How? I believe these are the two most important question words as they express mankind’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and they have lain the foundation of sciences and have helped us find answers and solutions to problems throughout history from the domestication of fire to Darwin’s theory of evolution, to landing on the moon and so on...

Mathematics Personal Statement Example 16 I have always had a passion and a thorough understanding of the subject of Mathematics. This helped me to progress academically because, unlike a lot of people, I have not had to worry about passing my GCSE Maths exams...

Spanish and Chinese Personal Statement Example My passion for Modern Foreign Languages is what drives me to pursue a degree in Chinese and Spanish; my fascination and curiosity to explore the cultures of not only China and East Asia, but also of the Hispanic world, motivate me to learn and discover the languages of these regions...

Law Personal Statement Example 84 The reason I want to study law, is that it has always intrigued me; there’s never been any other option for me it has always been law. I am captivated in the development of the law as it interests me the way the law is changing around the needs of civilisation...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 13 Being able to engage and immerse myself in a thought-provoking subject such as Sociology has allowed me to develop a desire to delve even deeper into it at an advanced level. As unpredictable liberated beings, having a means of examining the connections between humans and social organization through Sociology has enabled me to comprehend human behaviour and social stratification; to question rather than accept; allowing me to appreciate the inquisitiveness nature, which I believe is the essence of this subject...

Geography Personal Statement Example 19 I could say that my love of Geography started in school, but in fact holidays to foreign lands have had a more significant impact on me. From the volcanic badlands of Lanzarote's Timanfaya, to the unique beauty of Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania, Geography and its impact on nature and human development have awed me...

Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example 3 When I was in primary school I would take pens apart to put them back together, so that I could see how every small piece fits together to create a whole working object, and as I furthered my education my focus shifted to the w orld around me...

Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE) Personal Statement Example 3 In this day and age virtually every aspect of our lives may be considered political. My passion to study Politics stems from this tenet and a belief that a comprehension of Politics is integral to understanding the current state of humanity...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 18 Chemistry explores the properties of all matter and energy in our universe, which eventually leads to breakthroughs that benefit mankind, ranging from how to prevent food from decomposing to understanding what chemicals can help or harm you...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 My decision to study engineering stems from a desire to contribute to the evolution of society through a process that does not just define our environment but our era. My personal inspiration is the Segovia aqueduct, an 800m long, 30 metre high Roman marvel which still stands today...

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Example 3 Curiosity has always been my nature since I was young and I was never afraid to know more as I really like challenges. This is why I have a keen interest in science ever since I started formal education, it explains the hows and whys in almost anything and everything...

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Top tips for writing your personal statement

Hi, I’m Hollie, a Sports and Exercise Therapy student at Leeds Beckett. In this blog I’m going to provide you with some useful tips for writing your personal statement.

The personal statement section of the UCAS application is an important part of the process. This is an opportunity for you to tell the universities all about yourself. Some of you may be sat staring at the screen thinking ‘How on earth do I write about myself?’ Don’t worry, I’ve been there. Highlighting all of your best points, skills and aspirations can be a tricky thing to do, but it’s not impossible and I am here to help you.

Before you write

Before you start tapping away at your computer or staring at a blank screen, here are a few things which could help you prepare and get you started:

• Research the course. Before I started writing, I made sure I understood what the course involved and made a note of any modules that I was interested in
• Know the commitment and skills needed for the course and maybe start thinking about the career you are hoping to go into afterwards
• Note down your previous employment, work experience and education
• Make a note of any skills you’ve gained or improved on during your past experiences
• I found it useful to write out a draft and plan of what you want to put into each section before making a start on the actual piece. You can find an outline of the different sections of the personal statement on the university website .

Catch the reader's attention

You want your personal statement to stand out from the crowd. In my opinion, the introduction should start with something that will show them you are a little bit different and that will also show them your personality. The purpose of the introduction is to let the university know why you are excited about the course and to make them want to read more about you.

Why you want to study that course

In this section, it’s your opportunity to tell the university why you are applying for the course. When writing my application, I asked myself ‘What has made you want to apply for the course?’ I found that going straight in the with the ‘why’ at the beginning of the paragraph instantly made it clear to the university exactly what it was I wanted out of the course and my motivations for applying. Keeping your points concise and using simple short sentences throughout your personal statement is a good way to keep the reader engaged and ensure that your point doesn’t get lost.

Within this section I recommend explaining how the course fits in with your future aspirations and how the degree will allow you to pursue these dreams. I used the research I gathered about the course and modules to help explain why I was looking forward to certain aspects. This showed the university that I was already proactive, organised and passionate about the subject, which is a key part of being at university.

Past experiences and education

Next, it’s time to dive into your past education and work experience. This section is all about showcasing how they relate to the course and have inspired you to pursue your specific career path. This is a great way to show off what you have already done and skills you have already gained. Add in any past courses you have done, A levels or BTECS that may be related to the course, or extra courses you have completed outside of college. In my application I made reference to my BTEC and talked about what I had learnt and how this knowledge will be beneficial to certain modules on the course. I was also able to talk about why I enjoyed specific elements of my BTEC and how I was looking forward to learning more about the subject at university level.

After your education I recommend talking about any jobs or work experience you have already had. Now is a really good time to pick up on your skills and show them off. Think about things you may have worked on improving or new skills you have learnt? For example, has your time management improved? Do you have brilliant customer service? Are you good at working in a team? Are you easily able to adapt in situations and think fast? You could also talk about how these fit into the skills needed for the course you are applying for and how you feel they will help you succeed.

Hobbies and interests

It’s also a great idea to talk a bit about the things you enjoy and take interest in, outside of studying. This is where your personality really gets to shine. Do you play a sport? Do you like to write blog posts? Do you play a musical instrument? The list could go on and there are so many interesting things you can mention in this point. As well as showing the university what I’m about, I also used this section to show how my hobbies related to the course. I did this by talking about how I had written and worked with many health and fitness brands and so had experience in the industry. It’s important to show how proud you are of your own achievements.

What you want to achieve

I used the conclusion to show the university what I wanted to gain from the course. I asked myself, ‘Why is it worth your time?’ ‘What would you hopefully like to do after the course?’ By talking about the future, it shows that you’re already thinking ahead and know why it is you want to complete the degree.

Ask friends and family to read it

When you have finished writing it’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to read through it for you. I found that a fresh pair of eyes can do wonders when you are sat there wondering if you have done enough or wondering what needs to be changed. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family members to read it, read it and read it again until you are happy with the result. A second opinion and a few re writes can honestly help more than you realise!

", "label": ""}' href="https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/blogs/student-blog-squad/authors/hollie/"> Hollie

Hi I’m Hollie, a fitness instructor, blogger and Sport Therapy student. I have a passion for all things fitness, wellbeing and mental health. I am a massive advocate of self love and spreading kindness in everything you do! I believe together we can make ourselves and the world a better place.

More from the blog

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Personal statements

The purpose.

The purpose of a personal statement is for recruiters to understand you and your suitability for the job or course that they are offering and not because they want to make things difficult for you.  It is an opportunity for you to present your goals, experiences and qualifications in the best possible light as well as demonstrating your written communication and other skills. From your point of view the main purpose of a personal statement is to make your application stand out against all the others.

You may be asked for a personal statement as part of an application for a postgraduate course, or as part of a job application form .

Preparation

• Research the company or organisation using resources such as: the company/organisation website, news articles or social media. For more information about how to best research and improve your commercial awareness .
• Thoroughly read through and research the role or course you are applying for.
• Identify aspects of the role or course that are most important to you.
• Check the word or character limit (if applicable) as this will indicate how much the employer is expecting to read. Do not go over – most online forms will automatically cut your answer off.
• Read through any guidance provided by the employer or institution and ensure you follow the instructions.

Based on the information you have gathered, when planning consider the following:

• How does the job or course link with your career ambitions?
• What differentiates this job and company to you from its competitors?
• What interests you about the field of work/study?
• What relevant skills/experiences do you have that will help you be successful in this line of work?
• What difficulties have you overcome and what skills did you use in order to do so?
• Why should you be chosen above the other applicants?

Writing your first draft

Make sure that your statement has a clear structure, so that recruiters can easily recognise what parts of the job application you are addressing. We suggest using a structure similar to the one below.

Start with a strong introductory paragraph about why you want the position that will grab the reader's attention. This can be what makes your application unique.

Middle section

Provide details of your interests, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the job and your application to show you can do the job or course. Try to provide recent and relevant examples and ensure you use these examples to evidence the competencies that required for the opportunity. Try to use no more than two or three paragraphs. 

End section

Summarise your suitability and motivation for the job or course and demonstrate what particularly attracts you to this employer or course provider. Do not include any new information in this section.

• Try to make your statement unique. Be clear and concise and try to avoid using long sentences
• Carefully tailor your personal statement to the job or course you are applying for. Copying & pasting from another application will tend not be very successful. As with cover letters , if you could substitute the name of the employer, organisation or course provider for another, then you have not tailored your statement sufficiently.

Proof-reading and amending

After all the time and effort you have spent developing your personal statement, it would be a shame to submit it before you have proof-read and thoroughly checked it through. To make absolutely sure, get someone else to read it – the best of writers miss mistakes in his/her own work due to familiarity with the text.

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How do I write a good personal statement?

Posted on: 15 July 2021 | Category: Business and Management , Computer Science , Education , Medicine and Health Sciences , Psychology

An important part of the application process for our online master’s programmes is to write a short personal statement about your interest and experience in the subject you are applying for, your reasons for choosing the programme, and how you feel your studies will help you in the future. 

Many applicants find writing a personal statement challenging. Writing about ourselves is not something we do very often. It’s also rare these days to write an essay on any topic, without being a student! 

A postgraduate degree is a big investment in yourself. Your personal statement is your opportunity to reflect on why you want to make the investment and to share this with our admissions team and programme leaders.  

What to think about before starting?  

At the University of Liverpool, we have divided the personal statement in our application form into three sections where we ask you to write between 100 and 200 words per section. We ask you to write in full sentences and in English, which is the language we teach our online programmes in.   

Every student is on a different journey and your personal statement will be unique to your situation and aspirations. Before you begin, you should know which programme you would like to study and have an idea of how you might use your new qualification, knowledge and skills in the future.  

You might find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions when considering what to write for each section of the personal statement. 

Interest and experience in the subject

• What has stimulated my interest in the subject and motivated me to apply? 
• What would I like to learn more about within the subject? 
• What experience of the subject have I obtained so far? 
• Where and how did I gain my experience – personally, professionally or academically?  

Reasons for choosing the course  

• What attracts me to the University of Liverpool?  
• What makes me want to study online and part-time? 
• What are the things I am hoping to get from the course?  
• How do I think the course will help me to develop myself? 

Your future plans and how the course connects  

• What are my plans whilst I’m studying the course? 
• What are my plans when I’ve completed my studies? 
• What goals am I setting myself for the future? 
• How will the course help me to achieve my goals? 

Tips and what to focus on  

Your passion for the subject should shine through in your writing and show that you’ve done your research and that you are aware of the commitment of studying for a postgraduate degree. Highlighting your background, employment, experiences and achievements will help us to understand your fit for the programme.  

Some postgraduate courses, such as our conversion programmes, may not require you to have a first degree in the subject area but we would still like to know what you have done to build up any experience to-date.  

We love to see your personality come through in your personal statement but try to make sure that everything you include is relevant as this is not a biography or CV. Everything should relate to the programme you would like to study and your potential as a student.  

Please don’t copy and paste from a template as your statement will be checked for plagiarism and this could hurt your application. We would recommend using a spelling check to avoid mistakes and it doesn’t hurt to ask a friend or colleague to proofread things too.  

Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and tell us in your own words why you would like a place on the programme. Even if you don’t have a lot of prior experience, really highlight why you would like to learn something new. 

Ready to write your personal statement? You can find our online form  here . Good luck with your application!   

Keywords: Application , Personal Statement

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Writing a personal statement

A personal statement should be a positive summary of you and your motivations for applying for an opportunity. It's an important section in this type of application form and will take the most amount of time to complete. This section normally appears with a large text box after you have filled in your basic information.

It is a good idea to draft your personal statement in a separate Word document. This enables you to keep a copy which will be important to reflect on should you be invited to an interview. It also enables you to proofread your work to check for spelling and grammar. If possible get someone else to proofread your personal statement.

Try to write concisely. Don’t make the statement too long with superfluous detail, but neither should it be too short. There should be enough to ‘sell’ yourself, without boring them. Stick to a word count if there is one.

How to structure your personal statement

When presented with an empty text box, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you are not given specific instructions about content, you should always aim to include the following:

Describe what motivates you and attracts you about the opportunity. Show that you have a realistic understanding of what is involved and can draw parallels with positive experiences you have already had, even if these have been in different settings.

Your background research will enable you to demonstrate your motivation more effectively. By knowing more about them you will have more to talk about, and will therefore be more effective in specifically evidencing your motivation and your understanding of the opportunity and the company. For example, their projects, values or personal development opportunities may have taken your interest. Whatever captures your attention, try to be as specific and authentic as possible. Generic statements do not tend to work well here.

Many recruiters use the person specification as a selection tool when reviewing your statement. For this reason, it is important that you evidence their criteria as clearly as possible. To achieve this you could:

• Use the key competencies as sub-headings to signpost the recruiter to the relevant information
• Theme different key competencies into separate paragraphs. Ideally, order these paragraphs in the order that they appear in the person specification so that it is easy for the recruiter to follow
• Theme key experiences in separate paragraphs in order of relevance, e.g. a paragraph on your education, then your projects, then your work experience etc. Clearly demonstrate the relevant skills and experiences when describing these experiences.

If there isn’t a formal specification available, then write it against the competencies that they say they are looking for in the advert or from wider research.

You may find the STAR structure useful to refer to when presenting examples to demonstrate a competency:

Situation  – Provide some brief details about the situation so that the reader can understand the context of the example Task  – Explain the objective/purpose, i.e. what you were aiming to do Action  – Describe what you did and summarise your actions Result  – Finish with the outcome. Show that you met your objectives and, if appropriate, comment on what you learnt from the experience

This is the opportunity for you to demonstrate your relevant skills, attributes and specific knowledge, so make sure you sell yourself.

You might also use this section to set out experiences that you feel are of ‘secondary’ importance, i.e. things that are still relevant but which you haven’t written about elsewhere in the form. For example, you might write about interests, leisure pursuits or volunteering that are not directly relevant to the job but where you have developed some pertinent transferable skills.

You could also use this section to explain how you coped with any setbacks and refer to qualities such as determination and persistence. This can be helpful to explain re-sits, changing courses, lack of relevant experience or time gaps. Write positively about the experience, for example, what you learnt from it and what you have done to address the issue since then, if applicable.

Try to end on a high note with a positive concluding statement. You could reiterate your motivation and commitment.

1. Before writing your personal statement, make sure you have done your research into the opportunity and reflected on how you meet the requirements. For further information on how to do this, see Preparing to write an application form

2. Draft your personal statement in a separate document. This enables you to keep a copy of your responses, which will be important to reflect on should you be invited to an interview. It also enables you to proofread your work to check for spelling and grammar. It is also a good idea to get someone else to check your application for you.

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Postgraduate personal statements

Your personal statement is a lengthy and crucial step in your postgraduate application process

Preparation

Applying for postgraduate courses, whether masters, PhD, or professional courses, especially those required for teacher training, journalism, law and psychology conversion, can be competitive.

Your personal statement needs to be well written, relevant and give clear reasons for wanting to apply, in addition to what you can bring to the course and how you plan to use it in the future. Some institutions will tell you exactly what it should cover, others will leave it to you to decide what to include.

Research your course options thoroughly, websites such as findamasters.com , findaphd.com , jobs.ac.uk/phd and ucas.com can help, with sites like lawcareers.net , British Psychological Society ( bps.org.uk ) and National Council for the Training of Journalists ( nctj.com ) providing details of programmes.  Some courses may be available on a part-time or distance learning basis as well as full-time and in person.

Applications are usually made directly to institutions for masters and PhD programmes and many advertised programmes include the contact details of the Programme Leader or Supervisor, so making contact can demonstrate interest and you can refer to any contact you made in your personal statement. Try to visit an open day if possible, to meet staff and students and explore facilities, or at least interact online.

Check the course start date, some programmes may have a January/February start date in addition to the usual autumn one. Carefully check the application closing date. Demonstrate how you meet the entry requirements and link any relevant transferable skills, work experience, research, projects, and modules.

Presenting your personal statement

• The personal statement should be around one side of A4 in length, unless otherwise specified – always check if there is a word count limit and if so, stick to it.  For your first draft, don’t worry about the word length, just write it, and then edit it down.
• Write in paragraphs with a minimum font size of 11, breaking it into paragraphs to avoid solid text.
• If you are applying to several postgraduate courses, then you will need to tailor your statement for each one. Each application must be relevant for every individual course and institution,  so if you are using text generative AI to help you draft an initial response make sure that you are changing the information you are uploading so that it’s relevant to each institution/course. And always improve the responses that text generative AI gives, as they won’t be good enough for a successful application .
• What to include (unless otherwise specified)

Your motivations:

This is a paragraph describing the reasons why you want to study further. When explaining your motivations try not to describe your life story (all too often people start by saying “From an early age I’ve always...”). Clearly show why the subject is of interest to you, for example:

• Do you want to study aspects of what you have been learning at undergraduate level in more depth because you enjoy the subject?  Has a life experience sparked the interest in new, or deeper, understanding?
• Do you need to learn a new skill or subject for your career, either because you are pivoting to a new path, or higher education qualifications are a requirement?

Why this subject, course and institution:

Here you need to describe your motivations for wanting to do this specific subject and course. You can talk about the course topics/modules that you are particularly keen to study. Are there any aspects of this course which are unique, and not offered elsewhere?

Acknowledge any specialisms or awards the university or department may have, including naming academics you are eager to learn from, and relevant reading and research you have completed. If you’ve been to visit and you loved the facilities or campus, mention that too.

What you can bring to the course:

What they are checking is that you can cope with the academic rigours of the course and will successfully complete it. Highlight your academic achievements, knowledge, research, and projects.

Go into detail about how you achieved your qualifications and how you meet or exceed the entry requirements. Include the skills you developed, such as being focused, meeting deadlines, critical analysis, and discussions, sharing and receiving feedback, time management, communication, and giving presentations.

What makes you a good student and effective learner? Include the academic skills you have developed though individual projects and group work, where you might have worked in diverse and international teams, conducted research using different sources, referencing skills, creating posters, attending conferences and any software, databases, and IT skills.

Career aspirations:

What career plans do you have and how will this course help you to achieve them? Don’t worry if you change your mind later if you just have one or two that you are considering at the time of application. You may be considering several possibilities and the course will help you to clarify which route is best for you. It’s important to give some indication that you have considered what you will do once you’ve completed the course. Whatever it is, explain this as clearly as possible.

Work experience:

Through full or part-time work experience, or the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, you may have gained some useful experience which is directly related to the course you are applying for, if so, make sure to highlight this. If your experience isn’t relevant, you can still highlight the transferable skills you have developed, which will help in planning and organising your academic work.

Voluntary work/extra-curricular activities/positions of responsibility:

Include any extra-curricular experience, such as being a member of a club or society, having a position of responsibility such as a course representative, ambassador or mentor, any achievements or taking part in voluntary work and how you plan to get involved at your new institution.

A personal statement may be read before the rest of your form, so don't assume the reader has prior knowledge of your qualifications, skills, and experience. Ensure the information you provide compliments what you have written elsewhere on the form.

• Schools & departments

Personal statement

You will need to submit a personal statement of around 500 words, outlining your academic history and relevant experience.

Your personal statement is an important part of your application: it will help selectors to decide whether you are a good match for the programme you have applied for and, just as importantly, whether the programme is right for you.

Areas to cover

Your personal statement gives you the opportunity to outline your academic history and relevant experience in order to demonstrate that you are a suitable candidate for the programme you have applied for. 

You should also use your personal statement to outline your motivation for your chosen area of study. Try to answer questions such as:

• Why are you interested in studying at Edinburgh?
• Why have you chosen this particular programme?
• If you are studying for career development, what are your career plans and how will your studies support these?

If you have any other relevant experience, for example paid or voluntary work experience or additional qualifications not stated elsewhere, then please include this information in your personal statement, or you can add it to the “Relevant knowledge/training skills” field in the application form.

If you are applying for more than one programme you should write a tailored personal statement for each of your applications. This enables you to refer to the specific programme you are applying for and to highlight how your academic background and skills make you suitable for this particular programme.

Remember that your personal statement is an opportunity to tell us about yourself. The information you give us must be true. Copying information from elsewhere or asking someone else to write your statement, including the use of AI apps such as Chat GPT, could be considered fraud.

Length and writing style

Your personal statement should be no more than 3,500 characters (approximately 500 words) in length and should be written in formal English, using appropriate grammar and punctuation.

It is a good idea to ask a friend to proofread your statement for you before you submit your application.