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• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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How to write a personal statement for university

Writing an eye-catching personal statement could be the thing that earns you a place at your favourite university to study your dream degree.

But with so much out there on how to write a personal statement, how can you tell what the best advice is? Follow our step-by-step guide to crafting a captivating personal statement!

What is a personal statement?

Planning your personal statement, structuring your personal statement, editing and proofreading, personal statement dos and don’ts, tips for international students, personal statement deadlines.

Your personal statement is used when you apply to university through UCAS. It’s a piece of writing that’s personal to you, and a chance to communicate your passion for your chosen degree and impress university admissions staff. This is your first opportunity to showcase your ambitions, skills, and experience in your own words.

The planning stage can be as rough as you need it to be. Try to get as many points down as possible, including:

• why you want to go to university
• why you want to study the degree you’re applying for
• how your studies relate to your chosen degree or, if they don't, why you’re applying for something you haven’t studied before
• how you exhibit the qualities and skills your chosen universities are looking for
• how your application is supported through work experience, placements or volunteering
• your hobbies and achievements, and how they showcase your strengths and suitability for your chosen degree
• your future plans - what you want to do after university and how your degree could help you achieve this

Breaking down your statement into smaller, more manageable chunks can make writing it easier. Here’s how:

The beginning

Make your introduction memorable, and get to the point quickly to show the university admissions staff you are focused and knowledgeable about the subject you're applying for.

Communicate your excitement, enthusiasm, and motivation to succeed. Draw the reader in, but don’t be tempted to rely on gimmicks or puns. Don’t just say you find the course interesting – explain why you find it interesting.

Write what comes naturally, and use personal examples to demonstrate your commitment to study. If your personal tone of voice starts to filter through, that’s a good thing (as long as you don’t stray from the point you’re making!)

This is where you flesh out your suitability and experience. Make sure you’ve included a good balance of academic and interpersonal skills, including the transferable skills an admissions tutor might be looking for.

Always back up each skill with a practical example of how you’ve applied it in the real world.

Linking your hobbies and interests to your chosen degree will also demonstrate your strengths and abilities, as well as show you’re a well-rounded person who isn’t afraid to get involved.

Revisit the key points you want the admissions tutor to remember the most. Summarise your passion, suitability, and motivations and how all this experience makes you a great candidate for the course.

Include a few words about how the university experience will help you develop as a person, such as building your confidence when meeting new people, or living and learning independently from home.

Finally, make your ending forward-looking, dynamic, and optimistic. You don’t need to plan out the next 20 years of your life but try to show how your chosen course ties into your future career plans.

Once you’ve edited it to the correct length, you need to proofread your personal statement. Try these techniques:

• read what you’ve written out loud, slowly
• print out a copy – sometimes it’s easier to edit on a paper copy than via a screen
• our brain automatically ‘corrects’ wrong words inside sentences – try reading your personal statement backwards to notice each word individually
• change the font or size of your text to see your personal statement in a new light
• make one read-through just for punctuation, particularly missing full stops, upper and lower-case text, and apostrophes
• ask a parent, sibling, or friend to read your personal statement to check for spelling mistakes or typos

Let’s take a look at some of the basic personal statement dos and don’ts.

• write in clear paragraphs, avoiding flowery language
• be truthful
• relate your strengths, experience and achievements to the course you’re interested in
• follow our steps to plan, structure, and check your statement
• exceed 4,000 characters (including spaces)
• leave writing your statement until the last minute
• repeat information that’s included elsewhere in your application
• share your statement or copy someone else’s – UCAS uses software to check for similarities with previous statements; any similarity greater than 30% is flagged and the university you have applied to will be alerted
• use AI to generate all or part of your personal statement - for more detailed information, check out our blog on whether using AI is cheating .

If you're looking to write a personal statement as an international student, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• explain why you want to study in the UK, and show you have thought about your decision to study abroad and that you are ready to take this step.
• explain why a UK university is the right choice for you and fits your career dreams.
• show you have a certain level of English Language proficiency by including any tests or qualifications you hold.

The deadlines for submitting your completed personal statement to UCAS are:

• Monday 16 October 2023 (6pm) - if you’re applying for a medicine, veterinary medicine/science or dentistry degree
• Wednesday 31 January 2024 (6pm) - for the majority of other degree programmes

Make sure you factor in plenty of time to make any last-minute changes; you don’t want to panic and rush the final stage of your application.

And there you have it - how to write a personal statement for university, in one easy-to-follow blog post. If you want a deeper dive into the best personal statement advice we have to offer, click the button below to download our comprehensive personal statement guide!

Published By Jenny Shippen on 31/10/2023 | Last Updated 06/02/2024

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How to write a postgraduate personal statement

29 th September 2021

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Applying for postgraduate study? This guide supports you in writing a great postgraduate personal statement that’s tailored to your course.

• What do admissions tutors look for

How to write a personal statement

• What to write

Check and check again

What do admissions tutors look for in a postgraduate personal statement.

A personal statement is part of your university application. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for a course. Admissions tutors want to know why you want to study the course and how your experiences make you the ideal candidate.

The difference between a postgraduate application from an undergraduate one is that it is fully tailored to a particular university’s course. As an undergraduate, your statement is more generic as it can be sent to five universities. Whereas your postgraduate personal statement is for one course only – it should be a lot more specific to what and where you’re applying for.

Postgraduate study is also a significant level up from undergraduate, so avoid using the statement you wrote for your bachelor’s course as a template. The admissions team is interested in how you’ve grown since your previous studies.

Writing a personal statement for university is different to writing one for a job application. It should show your academic interests and explain why the university will help develop your learning and research. You’re not trying to charm the reader. Instead, you're providing insight into who you are, your achievements and your enthusiasm for the course.

Before putting pen to paper, read through all information about the course and what you need to do to apply.

If you can, arrange to speak with one of the course tutors or a current student to discuss what admissions tutors are looking for. Are you able to see examples of successful personal statements from previous applicants?

• Your relevant academic and practical experiences
• The bits about the course that particularly interest you
• Anything else the university has asked you to include

You can then use this to structure your plan.

Carefully plan what you’re going to write in each paragraph to ensure you include all the important information and present it coherently. Your course will demand effective communication from you, and admissions tutors will look for evidence of this in your writing.

• An interesting introduction that outlines your academic background and relevant experiences
• Engaging middle paragraphs that detail, with examples, how your interests, achievements and experiences make you right for the course
• A strong conclusion that pulls together the main points and summarises why you want to study it

Each paragraph and sentence should flow logically into the next. If you want, you can split up sections with headings (like ‘Academic achievements’ or ‘Career goals’) to make the statement easy to navigate.

For the word count, check with the university you’re applying to, as each may ask for different things.

What to write in a personal statement 

You want to show how your interests and experiences make you the right person.

• How will the course help with your future goals?
• What experiences do you have that provide evidence of your interest in the course?
• What modules or projects in your undergraduate degree really challenged your thinking?
• How has any employment shaped your ambitions?
• Have any personal or public events inspired you?
• Which books have you read, or activities have you been involved in, that have influenced you?

Rather than just listing experiences, explain how they shaped you and how they will help you succeed. There’s no need to write down your qualifications as the admissions tutor will have these details with the rest of your application.

• What are your hobbies?
• Are you part of any sports teams or societies?
• Do you volunteer?

This builds a picture of who you are and what you’ll be like as a student. If you want to and if relevant, refer to challenges you encountered during the pandemic – but in a positive way.

You don’t need to include everything in your statement. It should highlight the key information and leave the reader wanting to interview you to find out more.

The admissions team will be looking through many personal statements – they want to see a variety of experiences and stories. You can reflect this in your writing style; avoid repetition and use a variety of words to paint a unique picture.

Try not to use obvious phrases such as ‘I have always been interested in...’ or a gimmicky opening line like a famous quote. Instead, get to the point quickly and say in your voice why you’re excited about the course.

Be concise and make every word count. What you write should be relevant and honest, demonstrating your potential. Everything should be balanced; you can be confident in your abilities but try not to come across as arrogant. Show why you should be given the place, but don’t beg.

• First-person narrative
• Correct use of spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Varied and interesting vocabulary
• A positive and friendly, yet professional tone
• Paragraphs that flow logically into the next
• Clear and concise points backed up with evidence
• Clichéd language
• Waffle or too much irrelevant information
• Vague or confusing sentences
• Excuses for gaps in your experience

Proofread your statement to check that your points are clear and there are no spelling or grammatical errors. You can use spellchecking tools and free writing assistants like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to perfect your work. Reading your statement aloud can be helpful to see if it makes sense and flows well.

Ask at least one other person to read through and check it. This could be a friend, family member, careers adviser or a tutor if you’re still at university. A second pair of eyes may spot anything that doesn’t make sense or errors that you’ve missed.

Personal statement tips

• Give yourself plenty of time to write, edit and check
• Take lots of breaks and return to your work with fresh eyes
• Make sure your statement is unique and written by you
• If you’re an international student, say why you want to study in the UK
• Be prepared to talk about what you’ve written in an interview
• And if you’re applying for more than one course, make sure to write a different, tailored statement for each application!

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Postgraduate personal statement.

A postgraduate personal statement is one of the most important steps to consider when applying for a masters course  or applying for a PhD . 

Writing a postgraduate personal statement is a standard part of the admissions and entry requirements process. Your personal statement and your references are the two main sources of information in your postgraduate application, and the personal statement is the one you have control over. 

So, how do you write a postgraduate personal statement that stands out?

How to write a postgraduate personal statement

Follow this process to write the perfect personal statement. 

Check the course criteria

Firstly, you’ll need to check the course criteria. It is important that you become familiar with what the program involves, as well as its entry requirements, and the kind of skills that will be required from you in order to gain a place on the course.

This will provide you with key information to cover in your postgraduate personal statement, and give you an idea of the kind of student that the university accepts on that particular course.

Key information that will help you write your postgraduate personal statement includes:

Course modules - Are there any specific course modules that will play to your strengths? Mention how you can bring knowledge, passion and discussion to these particular areas of the course in your masters personal statement, and relate this to your previous experience at undergraduate level. 

Teaching and assessment style - Does the course specify particular teaching or assessment styles? Show the university that you are well suited to those styles. For example, if the course uses group presentation assessments, mention your previous experience with this during undergraduate study.

Key skills - Do the course details specify any desired skills or requirements from students? Tailor your personal statement to demonstrate your ability in these skills. 

Entry requirements - Most masters and postgraduate courses will specify entry requirements. This usually relates to the grade, or predicted grade, you have at undergraduate level. It is a good idea to mention this in your postgraduate personal statement when applying for a course. 

Outline your skills and experience

The next step is to outline your skills, knowledge and experience. You can do this by drafting out a rough mind map of the skills that you think would be relevant to your chosen postgraduate course. 

This will also help demonstrate your passion for the subject, and give the university a strong impression of why you want to study that particular course.

When including these skills in your statement, mention your intention to develop your skills at postgraduate level . This will help reflect your intentions to engage with the course content and thrive in an academic setting. 

Answer key admission questions

The easiest way to start writing a postgraduate personal statement is to make a plan. Work out what sort of things the university wants to know about you, and then answer those questions. Good questions to look at include:

Why do you want to study this particular course?

Why do you want to study at this particular university?

What part of the course in particular appeals to you? e.g. certain modules or work opportunities.

What previous experience do you have in the area you are applying to study?

What skills do you have that’ll lend themselves to postgraduate study? e.g. if you apply for a research masters , what did you learn from doing a dissertation?

What career path or further study route would you like to take after your postgraduate study?

Write with a positive tone

As well as thinking about what to write in your postgraduate personal statement, it’s just as important to consider how to write it.

Your postgraduate or masters personal statement should be received with a positive tone, demonstrating your passion and drive to the reader. Create a positive sentiment using confident language. 

Here’s an overview of action verbs to include in your personal statement:

Established

Write in an active voice to demonstrate your active participation in projects.

What do you mean by active voice?

Take a look at the two examples below:

Active voice: I developed key interpersonal skills through group work. 

Passive voice: Key interpersonal skills were developed through group work.

Add personality

This doesn’t mean you need to write something that no-one has ever read before, but that you need to make sure some of your personality comes across in your statement. 

Did you get into philosophy thanks to a certain work of fiction? Mention it (briefly). Did a particular incident doing undergrad biology make you want to study medicine ? Write it down! Remember, whilst there’s a set amount of things you need to include (like answering the questions above); don’t restrict your personal template to a template you find online if you see opportunities to make your writing stand out.

Tailor to individual universities

Remember that a postgraduate personal statement is different to an undergraduate statement as you can tailor it to each individual university. You shouldn’t send out the same masters personal statement to each university. 

There are two good ways to do this – either write one for each university, or write a basic template, and adjust it to focus on each university you apply for.

Create your first draft

Once you have all of your thoughts and key points together, it’s time to write the first draft of your masters personal statement. Don’t worry about perfecting it at this point. The aim of a first draft is to revisit it later on and identify any areas that need improvement.

How long should a postgraduate personal statement be?

A postgraduate personal statement should have a word count of around 500 words, or one side of A4 . Some universities will specify personal statement word count requirements in the application details, and some will use online submission forms with set character limits. 

It is important that you adhere to this and make sure that your postgraduate personal statement is the ideal length. This will show that you can interpret and deliver a brief. Some universities require much more than the standard personal statement length, such as the University of Oxford , so make sure you check!

How do you start a postgraduate personal statement?

Starting your personal statement can be the hardest part of writing your first draft. It is best to keep your opening statement simple . University admissions will have to read through a lot of applications, so it’s helpful to get to the point and demonstrate your interest in the course from the beginning.

Here are some top tips for writing your personal statement intro:

Avoid clichés. Admission staff will have read these a thousand times. Cliche openings can include sentences like “For as long as I remember…”, or “I have always wanted to be a…”

Show your passion for the topic and explain the reasons you want to study that course

Why are you excited about studying that course? Be specific.

Don't always start at the beginning. Try writing your introduction as the last step in the writing process.

Proofread and edit your statement

Finally (and the most important part of all!), proofread your personal statement. Take a few days away from it, and then go back and read it again. 

After you’ve edited it, find someone else to take a look too. Ideally, if you can find a tutor willing to help, they’re your best bet. If not, a friend already on a postgraduate course should have an idea of how to write a postgraduate personal statement successfully.

Once you’ve done all of this, your statement should be ready. Take a deep breath, upload the file (or put it along with your printed copy), and finish the rest of your application. 

Make sure you keep a copy on file, just in case you need to refer to it later!

Postgraduate personal statement tips

Another important thing to remember when writing your postgraduate personal statement is to be 100% honest and true - don’t just make things up ! 

In the same way that you should NEVER lie on your postgraduate CV , you shouldn’t do this on your postgraduate personal statement either. It’s not just important to make sure you don’t make things up about yourself – make sure anything you say about the university and the postgraduate course you’re applying to has been thoroughly researched. 

After all, the university is definitely the expert on what it offers, and the admissions office will certainly know if you’re making it up.

Make sure you’re memorable

Of course, there are also ways to help your postgraduate personal statement get noticed beyond what you actually write, and that’s to make yourself memorable in other ways . 

Name-dropping is probably not the solution here, but dropping in references to subjects you know their department specialises in is definitely worthwhile. Just make sure you know what you’re talking about and haven’t just picked something at random!

Fill in the gaps

But what if you’ve got some weak spot that comes up? Perhaps you did worse than expected on a certain module, or you have an unexplained gap in between leaving university and applying for further study? You simply need to own it. 

The university might want to know about these things, and the best thing you can do is explain it, and put a positive spin on it. Did you get worse results than expected because you were ill? Say as much – and then mention how much extra reading you’ve done since, and how much you’re looking forward to improving in that area!

The university will understand this and appreciate your additional efforts in other areas.

Keep it concise

A personal statement shouldn't be too long, there'll be many other personal statements that need to be read and considered, so you should ensure you make your points in a concise and engaging fashion.

Start early

This advice may be common sense but it is crucial. By starting early you will reduce the stress of writing a personal statement by a long way. This will give you plenty of time to get a head start and reduce your stress when applying for a masters or other course.

Use consistent structure

Keep your masters personal statement structure clear and consistent. If the overall structure and layout of your personal statement is poor, you will drastically decrease your chances of getting an offer. 

You can easily solve the problem of poor layout by following this simple check-list:

Ensure all margins are the same

Ensure the font is the same throughout

Ensure the size of the font is the same throughout (except subheadings)

Ensure spacing is the same throughout

You will need to plan the structure of your statement and make sure that it flows – with the best way of checking this being to read your personal statement out loud a number of times. This will enable you to weed out any sentences or words that just don't quite fit.

Things to avoid in your postgrad personal statement

So far in this article we’ve looked at how to write your postgraduate personal statement, but what about the things that you should avoid? Here’s our rundown of the top eight postgraduate personal statement no-nos!

• Misinformation & exaggeration  – stick to the facts and don't lie, sounds fairly straightforward, right? But it's all too easy to write what you would like to have done rather than what you actually have done. Even easier than a little misinformation, is a little exaggeration. Stretching work experience to cover a gap or inflating your responsibility can get you caught out. Ultimately exaggerating or making up information in your personal statement can end up in you losing your place on the course or your funding – so stick to the truth.
• Typos – obviously, you need to proofread your personal statement and not just for the information you've contained in it. Don't rely on spell checkers to get it right, read through it a few times just for errors and get someone you trust to do the same as sometimes you can read and re-read something and not spot a small error. Small typos could have a big impact on the admissions panel.
• Passionless personal statement – try to convey your passion for your postgraduate subject through your personal statement, however be careful as you don't want to overdo it and come across as being insincere. It's a difficult balance, but an important one. Again, get someone you trust or who has experience of the course you're applying for to give your personal statement a read through and give you their honest opinion.
• Slang words – keep your language formal and avoid slang words as well as impenetrable technical language. You've already successfully applied for an undergraduate degree and you've probably also successfully applied for a job, so you should understand what clear language to use. Some courses, like law or medicine, might require more formal language than some of the arts, but check with trusted colleagues or those who've already completed the course. Which leads us onto…
• Ignoring feedback – if you ask someone to read through your personal statement, then you should probably take the time to listen to what they really think about it. If you disagree with them remember it is your personal statement and it is you who will be doing the course you're applying for, but, do listen to the advice in the first instance.
• Repetition – you'll want to include a short introduction and a short conclusion, but avoid repeating yourself in the main body of your personal statement. You will only need to explain a point once – again it is always useful to get someone else to read through to check you're not repeating yourself at any point.
• Plagiarism – unless you completed your undergraduate degree a long time ago, then you should know that almost everything you submit will be run through plagiarism software. Many universities and the system used in the UK for undergraduate applications use plagiarism software on personal statements already. Stay away from copying and pasting anything, even if you plan to rewrite it, as it is easy to forget or not notice the plagiarised sections once you've finished.
• Bitterness & negativity – avoid complaining about any past experiences you’ve had, especially educational ones, you will never know where the person reviewing your application has worked or studied before. Negativity reflects badly on you, and you should try instead to demonstrate any positive outcomes that you have had from a bad experience.

Masters personal statement examples

Personal statement example: psychology masters .

"I have always been fascinated by the human mind and its intricate workings, which is why I am excited to pursue a Masters in Psychology. My previous studies in psychology at undergraduate level have inspired my interests in this field, and I am now eager to take my understanding of the subject to the next level.

Areas that particularly interested me at undergraduate level include cognitive psychology and neuroscience. I am fascinated by the ways in which the brain processes information, and the impact this has on human behaviour. By studying a masters degree in psychology, I hope to further explore these areas and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

Alongside my academic studies, I have volunteered for a local mental health support charity, where I gained experience in a practice-based setting. This experience helped me develop valuable insight into real-life applications of psychology, and has inspired me to pursue a career in this field. 

I am excited about the opportunity to study psychology in more depth, and am confident that I have the skills and motivation to succeed at masters level. I am committed to making a positive impact with my skills and knowledge, and believe that this course will provide me with the necessary tools to achieve this.”

Personal statement example: engineering masters

“As an ambitious and driven individual with a strong passion for engineering, I am excited to apply for the Master of Engineering program at XYZ University. My undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering provided me with a solid foundation in the field, and I am now eager to take my knowledge and skills to the next level.

Throughout my studies, I have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through various internships and research projects. These experiences have not only confirmed my passion for engineering but also allowed me to develop important skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.

I am particularly interested in the area of sustainable energy and am eager to explore this field further through the Master of Engineering program. I am confident that the program's emphasis on research and hands-on learning will provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact in this field.

Furthermore, I believe that the diverse student body and faculty at XYZ University will provide a valuable learning environment and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am excited to be a part of this community and contribute to the university's mission of advancing the field of engineering.

I am confident that the Master of Engineering program at XYZ University is the perfect next step in my academic and professional journey – and I am eager to begin this new chapter of my life.”

Personal statement example: linguistics masters

“Having always been fascinated by language, I am thrilled to apply for the Linguistics masters course at XYZ University. My undergraduate studies in English Language and Linguistics have given me a solid foundation of knowledge in this field, and I am now ready to delve deeper and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of human language.

Throughout my undergraduate degree, I have been particularly interested in phonology and syntax, and have had the opportunity to conduct independent research in these fields of study. This experience further inspired my passion for linguistics and helped me develop important skills – such as analytical thinking and data analysis.

I am excited for the opportunity to continue developing my knowledge in these areas, as well as expand my understanding in other areas of linguistics. I am drawn to the program’s focus on computational linguistics, as this is not something that I have had the opportunity to explore at undergraduate level, despite being an area I find fascinating.

The diverse student body and renowned linguistics faculty at XYZ University will provide a valuable learning environment and promising opportunities for personal and professional development. I hope to be a part of this community and contribute to the faculty’s aims to advance the field of linguistics. 

I am confident that the program offers the perfect next step in my academic journey, and I am excited to begin this new chapter of my life.”

In conclusion, a personal statement is important to get right because it gives the university admissions panel their very first impression of you. Take your time, be proud of your skills and achievements. Your statement could make the difference between securing a spot and not, so make sure your application stands out from the crowd. 

Related articles

UCAS Postgraduate & Postgraduate Applications

Things To Avoid In Your Postgrad Personal Statement

Preparing For Your Postgraduate Application

How To Apply For A Masters

Entry Requirements For Postgraduate Students

How To Choose A Masters Degree

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• The Honest Postgraduate Personal Statement

Most Masters courses will require a personal statement for the application. This document is designed to highlight your skills, strengths, and experience, outlining why you’re a suitable candidate for the course. But it’s a universal truth that nobody enjoys writing these things. Most people aren’t used to ‘selling themselves’. It feels cringy and might even trigger imposter syndrome.

But we’ve all been there, even those who work in university admissions. So for a bit of fun, we’ve put together a more ‘honest’ version of the postgraduate personal statement. For help with writing an official personal statement, check out our guide .

The attention-grabbing introduction

To make myself sound knowledgeable I’m going to sum up an important area of my subject in one sentence and explain why I find it inspiring. I would like to tell you that I’ve been independently researching this subject since I was born, but this simply is not true. I watched one documentary a few years ago and I wrote one essay on it during my undergraduate course. I have also applied to four other Masters programmes, so while I would like to go to this university, I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket.

Academic skills

I achieved an upper 2.1 in my Bachelors degree and I’m only going to mention the modules that I did particularly well in. I’m not the hardest worker in the world but I’m probably about average for my age. While you’ll catch me doing long stints in the library, this might include a few Netflix breaks to watch hour-long episodes of the newest binge show. But, staying in the library rather than going home demonstrates resilience, which I have plenty of, and ambition.

I also have some work experience. Although, this was only a couple of weeks long and didn’t really teach me anything other than how to look like I know what I’m doing and make a quick coffee. I believe these will be valuable skills for the Masters degree which I am keen to keep working on. I currently work a part-time customer service job which I will continue to do throughout the degree in order to afford to live. Again, this job has taught me resilience and given me the drive needed to one day work in a very different role.

Personal interests

I enjoy playing video games, drinking with my friends and taking naps. While I have some achievements in my personal life, these were a long time ago and not particularly relevant to this application. As an undergraduate student, my main interest is learning how to support myself and figuring out the tastiest, low-effort meal for those days when the stress of deadlines consumes me. I also learnt to knit during lockdown.

Leave a lasting impression

I probably won’t be the best application you read today, but hopefully I’m not worst. While I’m excited to submit this and join the course, I’m also terrified there is a spelling mistake in here that I’ve missed. I’d love to talk to you about how this Masters course will benefit my future career plans, but I don’t know what they are yet. If anything, I think that shows my passion for this subject because I wish to continue studying it even though I’m not sure how to make any money from it.

I’ll be nervously awaiting your verdict.

All jokes aside, writing a personal statement isn’t as daunting as it sounds. University admissions are genuinely interested in learning about you. Plus, you’ve probably achieved more than you think. The vast majority of people have not been studying since they could read. So, before starting, try making a list of achievements (big and small) and subject experience. Before you know it, you’ll have the skeleton in place. You can then head on over to our guide on writing postgraduate personal statements , complete with subject examples, to help you put it all together. Best of luck!

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With Masters application season in full swing, we take a look at how you can make your personal statement the best it can be.

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The English guide to grammar when writing a personal statement, cover letter or CV

6 November 2019

Whether you’re applying for a university course or a job, you need to make sure you’re presenting yourself in a professional way. Not all of your qualifications or employment history will be relevant, but if your personal statement or cover letters and CVs are organised and well written, you’re more likely to get that interview.

Here’s our English guide to grammar and writing so you can impress your potential employers or university admission team.  

If you’re not sure what these terms mean, here’s a quick reminder... 

Personal statement: This is a short essay you write about yourself for the university admissions team. Its purpose is to show you’re the perfect candidate for the course you want to study. If you’re applying through UCAS (undergraduate, teaching, medicine etc) then you’ll be able to focus on why you want to study that course, but not the university.

CV: This is a document that showcases your skills, education and work experience when applying for job roles. Potential employers will look at it, so it has to be professional and easy to read. Some employers will request a personal statement as part of the application and some admission teams will request CVs for postgraduate courses and PhD applications. 

Cover letter: This is written to accompany your CV. You should include your most relevant work experience and skills for the role you’re applying for. Additionally it's just as important you include your motivation for the role and the place of work.

Why do I need to use the correct grammar when writing?

How your personal statement, cover letter or CV is written says a lot about your abilities, personality and professionalism. It’s the first impression a potential employer or admission team has of your qualifications and abilities. 

A document which is well researched, well written and does not include any spelling or grammar errors demonstrates good attention to detail, accuracy and an interest in the employer/role/course/university.

If you're claiming to be perfect at anything, for example, a spelling mistake such as "attention to detial" can put this statement at risk. Are you really perfect if you've not noticed and corrected this error? 

As well as this, spelling and grammatical errors give the person reading the impression that you weren't really interested in the job because you weren’t motivated enough to spend a few seconds proofreading before pressing send.

There are also certain word choices, such as the use of slang (informal language), that can make your writing seem less professional. 

This is just general advice for writing any of these documents. You can read more about the specifics below. 

How do I make sure my personal statement is the best it can be?

When writing a personal statement for undergraduate courses, you should cover the reasons why you’re a suitable choice for studying the course you’ve applied for. Here are some other tips.  

• be aware of your character limit - you only have 4,000 characters and 47 lines to use. So, plan which key points you’ll cover to show the university admissions teams that you’re the ideal candidate
• make sure your personal statement has a memorable ending. It’s important the admissions teams remember why they need you at their university, studying one of their courses
• don’t be tempted to copy a personal statement from online or your classmates. Plagiarism is a serious issue. UCAS has software to screen applications and if you're caught plagiarising, your application may be cancelled by UCAS , so don't risk it.

These are just a few tips for your personal statement, you can take a look at this blog for more information on writing it here.

How can I write a CV that impresses potential employers?

CVs are one of the first things potential employers see so you need to make a good impression. The easier your CV is to read, the better. Here are some other tips.

• your CV should never be longer than two A4 pages. However, for any PhD students, CVs for academic posts are regularly and normally expected to be longer than two pages
• focus on your most relevant experience. For example, if you’re writing a CV for a role at a big corporation, highlight all your business experience. For example, if you're applying for a marketing role include any related marketing experience you have, this could be paid or unpaid experience from internships, work shadowing and societies
• include a personal branding statement which showcases your best talents in just a couple of sentences at the top of the page
• regularly update your CV with your most recent achievements 
• try to include evidence for your achievements. For example, if you have experience in leading teams and you took part in a big project where you led a group of people, write about how you demonstrated leadership

Not only is the way you write your CV important, but the way you format it is too . Simple formats work best and are easier to read, so make sure the layout is uncomplicated. 

How can I make my cover letter professional? 

Cover letters work with your CV to give potential employers the best possible impression of you. This is the place to really show your skills and achievements and motivation for the role and work place. They’re just as important as the CV itself.

Here are some other tips.

• never use generic greetings like “to whom it may concern”. If you know who’s going to read your CV then address it to them. It shows you've made the effort to research the company and aren't just sending the same cover letter to several different employers. However, if you can’t find a personal name, you should use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ instead
• use the cover letter to add extra information about yourself. Don’t just repeat your CV. Instead use your cover letter to summarise the key selling points from your CV which demonstrate what you have that the employer is looking for
• provide lots of details on your most relevant roles and less information on roles that won’t assist your application for this job
• don’t make the mistake of only focusing on your educational background - you also need to talk about work experiences, volunteering, extra-curricular activities and internships too. This helps your potential employer know you have working experience
• when you don’t meet all of the job requirements, it’s tempting to use phrases like “while I may not have direct experience working in finance…”. However, instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, talk about the strengths and transferable skills you do have
• cover letters are a great way to show that you understand the culture of the company. Spending some time reading over the company website can give you a good idea of what kind of personalities they're looking for. You can use this knowledge to tailor your cover letter

General tips for writing

You might already have a good understanding of the English language, but everybody can benefit from these simple tips for writing:

• spell-checking tools like Grammarly are great for smaller mistakes but it’s important to get it checked by friends, family, teachers or Careers Service. They might be able to spot errors that you or Grammarly didn't
• these documents are all about you. However we discourage excessive use of first person words like ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘My’ when talking about yourself. Make sure you only do so sparingly, otherwise it can get repetitive
• tailor your copy to the job or course requirements and say what skills you have to succeed in the role or the course
• write your first draft on a word processor, such as Microsoft Word or Google Documents, so you can edit it more easily
• avoid complicated vocabulary or technical terminology if you can think of a simpler alternative. For example, using ‘assiduous’ when ‘hardworking’ works fine. A PhD applicant might use technical terms in an application that’s going to be read by somebody in the field, whereas someone applying for a graduate scheme which is going to a gen

Spelling and grammar are very important when it comes to personal statements, cover letters and CVS. After all, these documents are the first things a university admissions team or potential employer will have of your skills and experience. Errors can put your application at risk, making you seem unprofessional and uninterested in the course or job you’re applying for. 

Now you have all the knowledge and tips to write everything you need to develop your future career, it’s time to get started. 

Get ready with our guide to personal statements, CVs and working life

At Newcastle University, we can support you with everything career-related, but there are certain things like interviews and securing a job in the UK that you need to do yourself. Don’t worry, you can always ask our Careers Team for advice. They can help with everything from CVs to job applications and are a part of the university.

We’ve also created a useful guide that might help. Download it below for tips when it comes to CVs and working life.

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• How To Write Your Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate study

• What are the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement?
• Why study postgraduate?
• Modes of study

What's on this page?

What is a personal statement, preparing to write your personal statement, opening your personal statement, work experience and future plans, ending your personal statement.

Your postgraduate personal statement is your chance to get noticed for your expertise and experience you’ve gathered. It’s an important part of the application process as it allows you to talk about yourself and your passions and prove the value you can bring to your chosen university.

In this article, we’re going to talk you through how to write a postgraduate personal statement that stands out and gives you the best chance of being offered a place on the master’s programme you’re applying for. 

Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

You’ll have already written a personal statement for your undergraduate study, so you’ll know the importance of preparation. There are two things to think about when you’re planning:

• The practical and factual information you need to get across.
• Then, the more emotional, human parts of you that make you different to everyone else. 

Before you start writing, take some time to think about the key things you’d want your chosen university to know about you, and get them down on paper.

Questions to focus your mind

• Why have you chosen this master’s programme?
• Why are you passionate about this subject matter? 
• How has your undergraduate study influenced your decision to apply?
• Have you got any work experience that might help you?
• What life experiences have you had that you could talk about?
• What achievements can you talk about to support your application?
• Why do you want to study at this particular university?
• What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Three top tips

Be specific.

Remember that a postgraduate personal statement needs you to talk specifically about the university you’ve chosen.

Demonstrate experience

Universities will be looking for postgraduate students who are able to demonstrate expertise in a particular subject – so include that.

Show what you've learnt

Tell the university about your university life as an undergraduate and include any clubs or societies you were involved in.

Admissions tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements so it’s important to grab their attention right from the start. 

You can find a full guide on How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber but here are the main things for you to think about. 

• Don’t overthink the opening . Just start by showing your enthusiasm for the subject, showcasing your knowledge and understanding, and sharing your ambitions of what you want to achieve.
• Avoid cliches . Remember, this opening part is simply about introducing yourself, so let the admissions tutor reading your personal statement get to know you. 
• Keep it relevant and simple . You’re limited on how much you can include so avoid long-winded explanations. Why use 50 words when ten can make your point?

Talking about the course

Now you’re ready to start talking about the course and subject you’re applying for.

There are four main areas you’ll need to cover in this section of your personal statement. 

• Why are you applying for this master’s?  Think about your undergraduate study and how this master’s will develop your expertise further. Do you have career aspirations this course will help you achieve?
• Why does the subject interest you? This is your chance to show your passion and really demonstrate who you are. If you have work or volunteering experiences related to the subject, include them here.
• Why do you think you’ll be an asset to the university?  Your personal and practical skills combined together create a unique picture of who you are and why you’ll be a successful postgraduate student, so include both. 
• How does your previous undergraduate study relate to the course? Showcase your enthusiasm for your current study and take the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge now, and how you want to build on that. 

Next, you’ll need to write about your personal skills and achievements.

Universities like to know the abilities you have that’ll help you on the course, or generally with life at university. Don’t forget to include evidence to back up why you’re so passionate about the programme you’ve chosen.

Your personal skills and achievements

Be bold and talk about the achievements you’re proud of., include positions of responsibility you hold, or have held, both in and out of school., what are the things that make you interesting, special, or unique .

Your work experience and future plans are important to include in your personal statement. You should share details of jobs, placements, work experience, or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your course. 

• Try to link any experience to skills or qualities that’ll make you successful on your course.
• If you know what you’d like to do after as a career, explain how you plan to use the knowledge and experience you’ll gain.

It’s always good to connect the beginning of your statement to the end and a great way to reinforce what you said at the start. You want to see the ending as your chance to end in a way that’ll make the university remember you. 

This final part of your personal statement should emphasise the great points you’ve already made and answer the question of why you should be offered a place on the course. 

Read our full guide on How to finish your statement the right way .

Aakriti Labra – MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology, University of Surrey

Now you’ve written your postgraduate personal statement, you’ll need to do a couple of final things before you submit it. 

• Have you proofread your personal statement? Don’t just rely on spellcheckers. We’d recommend reading it out loud as that’s a great way to spot any errors as well as checking it sounds like you. 
• Have you asked for feedback? Ask friends, family or your undergraduate university tutors to have a read through your personal statement and take their feedback on board.
• Check out our personal statement dos and don'ts Have a look at the common pitfalls against your final draft to make sure you haven't made any obvious errors!

Postgraduate

More advice.

Use the UCAS’ personal statement tool alongside this guide to help you structure your ideas.

Do you want to understand the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement? Take a look at our guide here.

Why study a postgraduate course? Find out here.  

What funding is there for postgraduate courses?  

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Student finance for postgraduate loans, how to find a job, five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter.

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Newcastle University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. 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 .

Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 Writing gives me the freedom to create a world where I set the rules, where the characters act the way I want them to, a world where everything is exactly how I want it to be and I know that I am the one who controls everything...

Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Personal Statement Example I have always been fascinated by the vast jobs robots are able to perform, and by the way all these cars around us were designed. The problem is, my interest was not satisfied by revolving around the outer appearance of these machines or by how well they achieved their functions, but was constantly demanding to learn more about how they managed to do so, and what inner complexities I was not allowed to meet closely made it capable of attracting my attention...

Maths Personal Statement Example 3 I am extremely enthusiastic about my decision to read Mathematics at university as for as long as I can remember Maths has always been my main academic interest. From learning to count at primary school, to studying calculus towards my Mathematics A level, I have found this subject intriguing due to its obvious application to the real world...

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...

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 I have always had a creative ability and a fascination with how things work. The challenge of solving practical problems inherent in the field of engineering appeals directly to these traits. I am particularly interested in electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) because it is such a rapidly evolving discipline...

Architecture Personal Statement Example 1 I believe that having a visual stimulus in your environment is important. For example, if I'm walking down the street I want to see an eclectic mix of buildings that I find exciting to look at, rather than rows of uniform houses...

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"...

English Literature & Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 'I write for the same reason I breathe- because if I didn't, I would die.' I believe that Isaac Asimov sums up writing particularly aptly. Whilst it could be classed as hyperbole, I feel my sentiments are similar...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 3 When I was seven years old, I first read 'Twist of Gold' by Michael Morpurgo. When reading the book I was captivated by the absorbing plot, beguiling characters and incredibly vivid imagery. Since that time, I have been a passionate reader, particularly admiring the fluidity and profound depth of character and emotion that can be found in work by authors such as Sylvia Plath and Doris Lessing...

Law Personal Statement Example 11 My desire to study law at university is firmly rooted in my interest in world events and also with helping others. Law effects our everyday lives almost without us noticing. If we look at the news, there is always an aspect of law up for debate...

Postgraduate Medicine Personal Statement Example Quite simply it is my curious nature which has always underpinned my desire to study medicine; the sheer complexity of both the human body and its healing processes have always fascinated me and, during my time in 6th form and subsequently while studying for my BSc...

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...

History (Ancient and Modern) Personal Statement Example 1 It is those things we don’t yet know or understand that make history a fascinating, intellectual puzzle. We know a remarkable amount about history and the development of society but new archaeological discoveries, the dedicated efforts of historians, translators and other academics and advancements in areas such as archaeometry mean that the body of historical information is still expanding...

History Personal Statement Example 35 With such a range of different interpretations for any given era, what fascinates me most about History is the opportunity for debate and analysis. Studying the American Civil Rights Movement, it has been interesting to analyse the motives behind the efforts of Franklin Roosevelt and John F Kennedy to improve the lives of African Americans...

Economics Personal Statement Example 28 While working in the stock broker I became 100% sure that I wanted to study Economics at university. I gained employment at a Stock Broker office as a Monitor Operator in Bangladesh and my duty was to monitor the daily price list of trading of shares at the beginning of the day and then preparing trading reports at the end...

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...

PPE/Politics and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 I have a strong interest in the close relationship between political events and economic developments, highlighted by a study of Russia in the lead up to the 1917 revolution. I was grabbed by the film adaptation of Ten Days That Shook the World, with its emphasis on its power of the masses...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 70 The challenge of spending my working life immersed in the fascinating, ever-evolving world of the medical sciences, and the opportunity to use this knowledge to benefit others, has drawn me to seek a career in medicine...

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...

Politics and International Relations Personal Statement Example 11 Throughout my life, I have been fascinated but also deeply fearful of the power that politicians around the world possess. Having grown up in the years following Lithuania's departure from the Soviet Union and joining the European Union, I have observed how imperative it is that political decisions should be made responsibly...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 3 Have you ever heard the Tuvan throat singing technique? Beautiful and intriguing at the same time. The question that's bound to accompany a throat singing performance is how the human voice could possibly produce such a sound...

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• Personal Statement Tips

Student Emma gives her top tips for writing a personal statement.

Hopefully if you clicked on this post that means you are currently applying for university, and therefore have the daunting task of writing your personal statement. 4,000 characters to showcase the very best of yourself.

For me, when I first sat down to write my personal statement I was overwhelmed by stress, pressure and not knowing what to write. My friends had similar experiences, so if you can relate, just know you are not alone.

I’ve collected the best tips for facing the task. After all, a 10/10 personal statement is your golden ticket into your chosen university.

1. Prepare Yourself

First things first, a standard but oh so important step: save yourself some time and stress, and write a plan. Whether it’s drafting a structure, making a mind map, listing key ideas etc etc… whatever suits you best. As a suggestion, you could simply start by writing down your responses to these questions:

What course do you want to study, and why?

What makes you a good candidate for this course? (Thinking about experiences, hobbies and personality traits.)

What are your interests and skills?

What are your aspirations and goals for the future? (For university or even career prospects.)

2. Find the right voice

Your personal statement is the chance for you to make a good first impression to universities, so it’s important to find the right voice. You need to make sure you come across interesting, and you definitely don’t want to bore them. Avoid writing in a way that isn’t you (eg. too professional like a teacher) and 100% stay away from cliche expressions.

However, at the same time this isn’t writing a long text to your BFF. Save your banter for the group chats.

There’s a trick to finding the right balance, but once you’ve got it, your personal statement will practically write itself.

3. Typing it Out

No matter how much research or planning you commit to your personal statement, you might get in front of your computer and still feel completely clueless. (I know I did.) But that’s ok; applying for university and writing your application can be an overwhelming process. To get the ball rolling here’s some tips:

Keep it simple. Short, snappy sentences that get your point across. Fancy adjectives are not needed or welcome, the word count won’t allow it.

Don’t be afraid to show off. In fact showing off how great you are is the aim of a personal statement, no one will think you’re bragging. It’s so important to focus on your greatest skills and achievements. Now is not the time to be modest!

Don’t rush. Take a break and come back with a clear mind to sections you’re not 100% happy with. No matter how much pressure you’re feeling, your statement does not need to be written overnight. (Just don’t forget the deadline date, 15th January, will come around eventually!)

4. Coming to an End

Aim to round off your personal statement in a memorable and bold way, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. Highlight the key points you’ve discussed as to why you’re the perfect candidate over someone else. Relate it back to why you want to go university and study your chosen course.

Finally, check it, check it again, and then find someone else to check it. You do not want to miss out on an offer from your chosen university because you misspelled certain words or forgot to use commas in the right places. Don’t let silly mistakes be a disservice to you.

Long Story Short.

Write a plan

Make it individually unique to you

Be direct and straight to the point

Don’t undermine your achievements

Don’t rush

I hope this post has been helpful to any of you in the process of writing your personal statement. For more help and advice on anything to do with applying and going to university, keep checking back to The Hub for more blogs and hints and tips. For more information on how to write your personal statement , check our guide here.

Wishing you all the best with writing your applications, and will look forward to seeing some new faces around campus next year!

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Personal Statements - Your essential guide

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Get noticed

Applying to university for 2024 entry?

Your personal statement is a core part of your UCAS application, a chance to catch the eye of admissions tutors and a vital step towards a place on your dream degree.

But how do you showcase your ambitions, skills and experience in 4,000 characters?

Discover your skills

Find out how to write a standout statement and discover what admissions tutors are really looking for in our eBook.

It’s free to download – just fill out the form. It has been stamped with our admissions team’s seal of approval.

We’ve included:

• top tips from our academics and admissions staff who assess applications every year
• advice on key content
• a step-by-step approach to structuring your statement
• proof-reading techniques to perfect your statement

Complete our form to download your copy