southampton personal statement word limit

Advice for applying to study STEM subjects

Your personal statement is an important part of your application. For many, it can seem like a daunting exercise, but in fact it’s your opportunity to show universities who you are and why you are an excellent choice for their course. To help you write a personal statement that will secure your place at your university of choice, our STEM admissions tutors have put together some top tips below.

Your personal statement

Many people do not know what they want to do in the future – and that’s OK! Many just know they like a particular subject area and want to pursue it further. Some have wanted to pursue it since an early age or have developed an interest in it recently.

Whichever best describes you, tell us, in your own words:

• The topics that fascinate you
• What you hope to achieve through studying your subject and give an idea of where this might fit in with your longer-term aims
• What sparked your initial interest in the subject
• Why you chose this particular course
• How you think the subject relates to the real world and society – think about its applications, the research that’s happening in the area and its global impact

Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong, Director of Admissions (Engineering)

“I enjoy reading about what you think are the next big challenges that we face as a society. Understanding the role you think engineering will play in solving global problems, even before you get to the course, is extremely valuable.”

The three most important things to demonstrate: passion, motivation and enthusiasm

Back up your passion and motivation with evidence. Explain why the subject fascinates you and what engages you.

 You could discuss:

• Videos, podcasts and lectures
• Work experience
• Topics you’ve studied

Professor David Smith, Admissions Tutor (Physics)

“Try to evidence your claims about yourself. i.e. rather than ‘I love physics’ write ‘My interest in physics led me to read this book or attend this lecture or take an optional physics club’. Remember you might be asked about your claims in an interview.”

Professor Russell Minns, Admissions Tutor (Chemistry)

"Don’t worry if you’ve not managed to get work experience, it’s not necessary for most subjects. Instead have a think about other things you’ve done outside of school or college that demonstrate your transferable skills."

We understand that it can be difficult to get relevant work experience and it’s not usually necessary for studying most subjects at university. But you can demonstrate valuable transferable skills and experience in many environments, such as:

• Part time work
• Sports activities
• Organising social activities or charity events
• Personal achievements from your hobbies

“Above all, tell us what you’ve done. This is much better than only talking about what interests you. This might be personal projects, or experiments with technology at home, but say something about your real experiences and how you learned from them.” 

Dr Dave Millard, Director of Admissions (ECS)

Personal statement top tips

• Tell us about your hobbies, interests and other activities, including employment or voluntary work, which show who you are as a person and demonstrate relevant skills
• Try not to use clichéd phrases, saturate your personal statement with superlatives, or try too hard to impress 
• Be honest and true to yourself and your interests, then read it through and see if it is a true representation of you, and demonstrates your passion
• Tailor the statement to your chosen course. Generic and formulaic statements do not demonstrate you as an individual and your genuine interest. We want to see your voice coming through in the statement
• Discuss your other subjects and how they link with each other
• Example personal statements online may be useful for inspiration but avoid plagiarising text from these. This is easy to check by UCAS and admissions tutors
• Take care with grammar, spelling and punctuation, and avoid writing in note form; try to get someone else to proofread, or read it over backwards – it helps you to spot mistakes in your own writing
• Remember, that all information in the personal statement may be drawn upon at interview, so be truthful about your knowledge, experience and motivations 

Application tips

• Make sure your subject choices meet the course requirements
• Don’t be afraid to aim high and choose one university course with entry requirements above your predicted grades
• You can include other qualifications not directly relevant to the application (e.g. music qualifications)
• Double check that all information is accurate such as qualifications, education and contact details

Good luck with your application! If you’d like to discuss any aspect of your application with us, please email us at [email protected]

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"Writing a personal statement might seem like a daunting task but it really should not be difficult. Think of your personal statement as a way for you to give us a few more details about you – about your story, your interests and your motivations. I enjoy reading through personal statements of applicants and see the diversity of stories and interests that motivate students to apply to study chemical engineering with us."

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PERSONAL STATEMENTS

The Personal Statement is an essay that you submit along with your UCAS Application; it will be sent to all the universities you apply to. This is your chance to tell the admissions tutors about your interest in Medicine, along with your achievements and suitability for the course. 

Related pages:

Out of all the different parts of your UCAS application, the personal statement gives the university the clearest idea of who you are as a person. For many universities, your personal statement will be one of the most important factors in determining whether you get invited for an interview or not. As a medical applicant, you need to make full use of this opportunity - make it your goal to write a personal statement that will convince the admissions tutor that you are a suitable candidate for medicine.

Universities That Place A Higher Weightage on Personal Statements 

University of Bristol (70% weightage)

University College London 

University of Oxford

University of Birmingham 

University of Norwich

Plymouth University 

Queen’s University Belfast 

Keele University 

University of Edinburgh (15% weightage)

University of Leeds 

University of Cambridge

Lancaster University (scored)

University of Nottingham (scored)

King’s College London

University of St Andrews

Hull York University

University of Liverpool 

University of Cardiff 

Imperial College London*

University of Sheffield*

University of Southampton*

*referred to during interview

PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDELINES

1. You can only write one personal statement per UCAS application (even if you’re applying for multiple courses at multiple universities). 

So, don’t mention any university by name and try your best to keep your personal statement tailored to all four medical schools you apply to.  If you are using your fifth university choice to apply to a different (non-medical) course, don’t worry about writing another personal statement – the one you wrote for medicine will be used by the university to consider your application.

2.  Your word limit is determined by the number of characters or lines you use. 

Personal statements can contain only up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines – whichever comes first. Since you can save your UCAS form and come back to it anytime, we recommend typing your personal statement onto a separate document first. Microsoft Word has a character count on the bottom of each page and most people use this to keep track of the length of their drafts. Try not to worry too much about your character count in your first draft, because it is most important to make sure you include all your important points in your personal statement – paraphrasing/cutting down on your characters can come later. 

3.  All formatting is removed when you copy & paste your personal statement into the form provided.

So, try not to waste too much time on things like  italics ,  bold text , or even paragraphing! Paragraphing is very useful to help you develop a clear structure to your personal statement; but use it for your own benefit when drafting your personal statement, not just for the sake of using it.

4.  Plagiarism is a huge no. 

UCAS has an automatic system which checks for plagiarism and it will highlight text that matches other personal statements (even from previous years) or other forms of writing online. They will then send this information to the universities you apply to – it will be up to the university to decide what to do. Needless to say, such applications usually result in rejections. 

Here are some resources you may find useful: -

1. Personal Statement Bank from Previous Applicants

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/personal-statements/medicine/medicine-personal-statements

2. Personal statement Worksheet Guide by UCAS 

https://www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/ucas-personal-statement-worksheet.pdf

3. Comments on an Example Personal Statement by the University of Oxford

https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/medicine/pre-clinical/applying/anatomy-of-ps

4. BeMo Academic Consulting: Example personal statement examples

https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/personal-statement-medical-school-example?sl=guestpost

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Southampton University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Southampton. 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...

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...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 Fire, the wheel, boats, book printing, electricity, engines, automobiles, planes, spaceships, wireless information transfer: engineering is determining this progress. Leading engineers are the creators of our future...

Maths and Spanish Personal Statement Example For as long as I have recognised words and numbers, I have seen a connection between the two. As I progressed in the AS Mathematics course I realised how drawn I was to the subject, motivating me to spend 2 weeks at school over the summer holidays learning 2 entire AS Further Maths modules, in order to take the full A-level course in one year...

Maths and Actuarial Science Personal Statement Example Maths is a subject like no other; its complexity makes it a challenging and often frustrating area of study, however the logic behind every problem leaves a feeling of certainty about it. My devotion to the subject has grown exponentially, especially in recent years...

Biomedical Sciences Personal Statement Example 32 Since humans have existed we have been susceptible to disease and illness. With the progress in the search of treatments for long-standing diseases accelerating faster than ever before, I believe that now is the perfect opportunity to utilise my interests in cell biology, biochemistry and neuroscience by studying a biomedicine degree...

Physics Personal Statement Example 5 With philosophy at its foundation, and mathematics as its language, physics is full of profound insights into the workings of the universe, from the tiniest quantum interactions to the forming of the most distant galaxies...

Geography Personal Statement Example 1 At first glance, my A Level choices appear scientifically biased, but they underpin key topics studied in Geography. I enjoy investigating the theories of global economies, population and poverty. The mathematics I have studied enables me to manipulate raw data meaningfully...

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...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The ability to apply what I have learnt in the classroom to the outside world is an aspect of physics and maths that I particularly enjoy. An example of this was being able to calculate the coefficient of friction between a book and a table, by knowing the weight and measuring the angle at which it started to move...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 8 If I were to describe myself in one word, it would definitely be inquisitive. Since young, I have always been eager to know how things work and what the principles that lie within them are. Hence I have always enjoyed science-related subjects particularly Mathematics and Physics...

English and Philosophy Personal Statement Example English has always been at the forefront of my mind, whether it be writing storybooks as a child, play-writing as a teen, or analysing literature at A Level. I enjoy the thrill of writing creatively but equally enjoy composing non-literary pieces where I can put across my views, inform or debate...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example (IB background) Few aspects of life fall outside the scope of chemistry and this is what fascinates me about this dynamic and fundamental science subject. From a young age I have enjoyed and excelled in mathematics which reflects my logical and enquiring mind...

Postgraduate Linguistics Personal Statement Example My interest in linguistics was gradually shaped throughout my life by all the different ways in which I have experienced languages: as a learner, translator, and as a teacher. However, it was the times spent living in Russia and later in the UK that made me fully understand that language can be a means of conveying much more than just our thoughts...

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...

Medicine Foundation Year Personal Statement Example 1 Medicine is a combination of care, treatment and research which I am actively interested in. It is a general acknowledgement that good doctors are some of the hardest working and committed people you will meet...

Early Childhood Studies Personal Statement Example 5 Ever since I could remember I have always wanted to play a big part in children’s education. As I was growing up I could see children of my age in Africa struggling to go to school because of their circumstances...

Environmental Engineering Personal Statement Example Nowadays, Environmental Engineering plays a vital role in the world as the environment is being put under constantly increasing pressure. As I am fascinated by Science and Mathematics and feel that the environment is incredibly important, I decided to study this course...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 53 Studying psychology will be the beginning of my journey to a challenging, fascinating and gratifying career. Since I was quite young I have aspired to work in a caring role, and more recently in the area of mental health...

English Literature & Spanish Personal Statement Example For me, the most captivating part of English literature is the way great writers are able to influence the reader's imagination through the manipulation of language. The A-level topic of World War One literature was especially affecting because it showed me the importance of world events and their effect on contemporary literature that still inspires us today...

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...

Law Personal Statement Example 70 Law is ever changing, whether parliament is passing new legislation, existing legislation is being rewritten or the courts are interpreting laws in different ways. In the case of Anthony Bland the distinguishing of earlier precedents was vital...

Economics Personal Statement Example 27 When asked 'Why do you want to study economics?' I have always struggled to find a concise answer. There are so many reasons why I would want to study the subject, and this made explaining such an answer quite difficult...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 While other children fell asleep to the sound of their parents reading them bedtime fairytales, I was busy re-reading Ladybirds Explorer’s, “Flight” for probably the fourth time that day. I’ve been enthralled by the concept of flight and aerodynamics ever since I was young...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 66 White coats, stethoscopes hung around necks and the sense of playing hero were popular amongst childhood dreams. However, unlike others around me, this dream was not lost when I realised reality paved a much tougher road- instead, it grew to become a fierce ambition...

Archaeology Personal Statement Example 6 I have always enjoyed learning about different cultures and civilisations, reflected in my enduring love of history, and more recently, archaeology. Compared to modern history, archaeology carries a sense of enigma which makes it much more stimulating for an imaginative and inquisitive mind...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 19 These days, we are surrounded by engineering marvels. From radios to space shuttles, everything involves a vital feat of engineering. That is what I find most attractive about this field as its application is everywhere...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 20 Having spent most of my early childhood abroad and the rest in an international school, English has become my primary language. Despite being fluent in my native language, Vietnamese, I prefer using English most of the time, especially when it comes to studying...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 23 As I triggered the release mechanism and watched two pounds of rock hurtle skywards I thought to myself, "trebuchets are awesome!". Years passed before I realised that this was my first engineering project...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 24 When I was a child, most of the sentences I spoke out finished with a question mark, asking how everyday things work. Receiving answers to these questions and learning more about Mathematics and Physics has enlarged my desire to make human life easier and become an Engineer...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 56 Computer Science - the most exciting insight into humanity's mission to conquer the future. It has been my favourite and most fascinating preoccupation since childhood, though back then I did not even know it...

Philosophy Personal Statement Example (Mature Student) Since leaving education in 2006 I have always wanted to return; a great love of learning, desire for knowledge and natural curiosity throughout my life resulted in an ambition to teach. It was with this ambition in my heart that I took the plunge and returned to education, beginning my Access course last year with the intention of applying to study for a primary education degree...

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...

Philosophy Personal Statement Example 15 The way philosophy can challenge our assumptions will never cease to astound me. I particularly remember my first lesson on Descartes, where I was asked to prove that I knew the room around me was real...

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Getting your application in: personal statements

If you're working through your university application, whether for this year or next, read our top tips on getting your personal statement just right.

Personal statements: the basics.

• What is a personal statement?

It's your opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the course(s) that you hope to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm, passion (without using the word!) and commitment for the subject and above all else, to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.

•   4,000 characters or 47 lines (roughly equates to 500 words)

We suggest that you write your statement in a word processor so that you can monitor the word limit. However be careful, as some word processors get different values if they don’t count tabs and paragraph spacing as individual characters. If you're over the word limit then look at how you can change the structure of your sentences so that you're using as few words as possible.

•   Check your spelling and grammar! 

UCAS doesn't check for spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes. Make sure you proofread aloud, and get your teachers and advisors to check your statement before you submit it.

• Don't overcomplicate it- keep it clear and concise

Write in an enthusiastic, concise and natural tone. 

•   What Admissions Tutors look for in the personal statement

University Admissions Tutors will have different criteria for their courses. However these are some of the most important factors that they want to see in your statement:

• Research:  demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the course.
• Key transferable skills that are useful for the course and university study, for example: organisational skills; working independently; communication skills (written and oral).
• Motivation and commitment: activities such as paid or voluntary work experience; attending masterclasses/public lectures; further reading or research around the subject, will all help to demonstrate your motivation and commitment in wanting to study the course.
• Self awareness:  evidence your strengths and showcase your skills.
• Good essay writing skills:  it's important to have a clear structure to your statement in order to maximise its impact.

How to structure a personal statement

There isn't a perfect formula for structuring a personal statement. However, we suggest you divide your statement into four sections.

1: Introduction (1 paragraph)

• Why do you want to study your chosen course?
• Why does this subject interest you?
• How did your enthusiasm and interest for this course develop?

2: About your suitability for the course (2-3 paragraphs)  

• Why do you think you're suitable for the course(s)?
• If your current studies relate to your chosen course, focus on elements of your studies that you find interesting and the reasons why. This will not only highlight your subject knowledge but also your passion for the course. 
• Think about the key skills and qualities required for your chosen course and showcase your skills through your studies and work experience.

Important: Make sure all the information in this section is relevant to your chosen course.

3: Outside of your studies (1 paragraph)  

In this section, include extra-curricular and enrichment activities you're involved in outside of school/college, including:

• Hobbies and interests
• Paid employment
• Voluntary activities

If you're planning to defer entry and take a gap year then you will need to address it in this section- outline what you plan to do during your gap year and what you hope to gain from it.

4. Conclusion (1 paragraph) 

• There is no need to summarise your statement in the conclusion. Your conclusion should be concise and include the main benefits you hope to gain from studying the course and career goals/further study (if known).

Still need some help with your application? Contact  the Gateway as your first port of call! 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team .

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Written By Billy Sexton, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

UCAS Personal Statement Word Limit

Applying to universities to study law is difficult enough without taking into account the UCAS personal statement word limit.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! There is a word limit for the UCAS personal statement?”

Technically it’s a character limit, but yes, in short there is a limit to the length your UCAS personal statement can be. But it’s nothing to worry about. In fact wouldn’t you rather have a limit than be constantly worried that you’ve rambled far too much and focussed on non-important matters?

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Access now and make a flying start on your law personal statement.

Dealing with the personal statement character limit

Regardless, the ‘word’ limit is 47 lines of text, or 4000 characters. This equates to (roughly) 500 words. UCAS recommend that you write out your personal statement in a word processor before copying and pasting it into the online application. This is because some word processors get different values if they don’t include spaces in their character count.

So, 4000 characters to sell yourself and earn your place on a competitive law course . Easy, right?

What to include in a law personal statement

In short, you should address two broad points in your personal statement – why you are applying for law and what makes you suitable.

When writing your personal statement remember that you need to address up to five universities. Generally, prospective university students tend to apply for the same course, or similar courses, so checking prospectuses and course profiles for the qualities universities look for in candidates.

For example, to study law at the University of Nottingham, students must “wish to study law as an academic discipline”. Therefore, you must outline in your personal statement what interests and motivates you to study law at university. The university also outline how you can “specialise in areas of law according to your own interests and future career plans”, prompting you to explain what areas of law you find most interesting, and where you see your career heading after you’ve finished your degree (*cough* vacation scheme and training contract *cough*). This covers the ‘why you are applying’ point.

As for what makes you suitable, as well as talking about your academic record and work ethic, you should also spend a bit of time speaking about your extracurricular activities. Universities want to take on students who have a personality, not just A* machines. Link your activities with valuable legal skills such as leadership, timekeeping (for all those 9am lectures) and the ability to work as part of a team.

Using your words wisely

“But how can I communicate all of my achievements and ambitions in just 500 words?” Being succinct is a skill. You will have word limits throughout your university studies, so see this limit as your first test. It also tests you to cut out information that isn’t wholly relevant.

UCAS personal statements are a toughie, but drafting and redrafting is part of the process, and you won’t get it absolutely spot on first time. Remember to stick to the limits and don’t forget to proofread! 

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Application Advice: Personal Statements for Postgraduate Study

Posted in: Advice , Applications , Tips & Hints

Your personal statement needs to prove whether you’ve got the determination, drive and relevant skills + experience to thrive at the university you’re applying to. To do that:

• Create a clear and concise structure – beginning, middle and end
• 1 A4 page (500 words, unless a word count is specified) and short, easy to read paragraphs (think about your white paper:text ratio)
• Emotive language – ‘passionate’ ‘eager’ ‘excited’ – professional, yet personable

Research – So important!

• Know the course structure – What modules are included? What are the methods of teaching? Who are the academics?
• The university – Where are they ranked? How successful are their graduates? How soon do graduates find jobs? Are they a specialist in the field of study?
• Recent news / campaigns

What to include

• An attention grabbing introduction, an engaging middle section and a concise conclusion.
• Why are you interested in this field of study – Personal background? Career goal? Specific strengths you have?
• Why are you interested in this specific course ? – An academic you want to study with? A unique element to the course?
• Why are you interested in this specific university ? – Draw on your research.
• What are your career goals ? How will the Masters help you achieve them?
• Potentially discuss the initial ideas for your Masters dissertation - help give an idea of the specialist knowledge you have in your field.
• Demonstrate how and why you’re invested in this field of study with examples. Remember to relate back to the Masters.
• Draw from academic and employment experience to explain why you are choosing to study this postgraduate course.

Your examples should demonstrate skills that you’ve developed at university, work or in extra-curricular activities, and how they will help you succeed in your Masters degree. These will include:

• Time management / working under pressure
• Communication (verbal and written)
• Team work / leadership
• More course specific experiences (projects / events attended / literature read / techniques)
• Having a clear and structured personal statement will be an example of your ability to communicate effectively
• Use positive, enthusiastic language, with a professional tone of voice
• Provide evidence to prove your claims
• Aim for a word count of around 500 words (one A4 side of text)
• Plan beforehand!
• Waffle! Get straight to the point with what you say
• Using a generic template for each application – your personal statement should be specific to each course and institution you apply to
• Being vague - be specific with facts and figures where possible. Say exactly what you did, but remember to keep it relevant
• Typos and bad grammar! Spell check English (UK)

You can book a 15 minute appointment with an Applications Adviser to read through your statement and make sure you're on the right track:

myfuture.bath.ac.uk/students/appointments

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Hello, can i book a session with an applications adviser if I am not currently a student, thus I don't have any login details? I am applying to a Masters Course.

Hi Georgia, I am afraid that if you are not a University of Bath student or graduate, you aren't able to book an Application Advice appointment with us. If you are a graduate, then please see this link on how to access our service: https://www.bath.ac.uk/services/myfuture/ In the meantime, you are of course welcome to see our blogs. For future reference, please be aware that we don't monitor this blog daily.

Hi Clement, I am afraid that if you are not a University of Bath student or graduate, you aren't able to book an Application Advice appointment with us. However I hope that you will access our services when you are a student at Bath and I wish you all the best with your application!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, common app personal statement word limit.

I'm starting to work on my Common App essay, and I was curious about how strictly applicants are held to the word limit? Is it a hard limit or is there some wiggle room?

The Common App personal statement has a word limit of 650 words. It's important to adhere to this limit, as the Common App system will not allow you to submit an essay that exceeds it. When you paste your essay into the text box, the system will automatically truncate any text beyond the 650-word mark, which could lead to an unfinished or confusing essay.

It's best to aim for around 600-650 words to ensure you're using the available space effectively while also following the guidelines. The purpose of the word limit is to help colleges evaluate your ability to express yourself succinctly and convey meaningful information within the allotted space. Staying within the word limit demonstrates your ability to follow instructions and present your thoughts coherently.

When editing your essay, focus on trimming any unnecessary information, and adjust your language to convey your ideas more succinctly. Remember that the content of your essay is more important than using the maximum word count. If you can effectively communicate your ideas in fewer words, that's perfectly acceptable too. Good luck with your personal statement!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Southampton - Business and Management

Business and management – 2013 ( lse, warwick, bath, exeter, southampton ).

Born in France, I had the opportunity to move to the United Kingdom at the age of 13. Adapting very quickly to my new environment, I have developed new ...

Business and Management – 2013 ( Bath, Warwick, Exeter, Lancaster, Southampton )

Last year was very important as it confirmed that the area of study I wanted to focus on was Management with a specific focus on Marketing, and that I was ...

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

Postgraduate taught

Personal statements

A personal statement can be included as part of your application. For some courses it forms a part of the assessment process.

Unless stated otherwise, your personal statement should be between 500 and 1,000 words. It must be in English, and be your own work. You should tell us:

• why you're interested in and suitable for the course
• about your relevant background experience
• how this course will benefit your career plans.

Departmental requirements

Details of what to include in your personal statement will be provided during the application process. To help you to prepare before you apply, you can find out about course-specific requirements below. The  course pages  will also give you some ideas about what to include in your statement.

Got a question about applying to York? Email our friendly Admissions Team for advice and support.

If you've already applied to study at York please use You@York to upload any documents. Please do not email documents to us.

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 322142

Related links

• Supporting documents
• Written work

Outline the reasons why you are suited or well-qualified for this course, your motivation for applying and how you will benefit from the course. You should also add any other information that you feel will help us to assess your application.

Supply a personal statement of approximately 1,000 words which explains:

• your interest in the course
• how your previous studies or current interests intersect with the course
• why you are attracted to an interdisciplinary course
• what you expect to gain from the course.
• how your previous studies or current interests relate to the course

Provide brief details of why you are interested in the interdisciplinary study of the Renaissance and Early Modern period, and of your aspirations following the degree.

You may wish to comment on the range of modules you're interested in, and/or on prospective dissertation topics and supervisors, though this is not compulsory. You should also give details of any relevant experience beyond your academic career.

Write one to two pages about your background, why you are interested in the course you are applying to, any relevant experience you have and any other information you feel is relevant to your application.

Write a short statement detailing your motivations for studying the course, your previous experience in this area, and how you meet the entry requirements.

Course-specific requirements

• PG Cert in System Safety Engineering
• PG Dip/MSc in Safety Critical Systems Engineering

These courses are intended for students with considerable practical engineering in an industrial setting. Please highlight these elements of your experience in your personal statement.

MSc in Psychology in Education

Please enclose a personal statement with your application. This should be between 300 and 400 words in length, and cover:

• how the course you have applied for suits your needs and your academic interests
• how it fits into your future plans
• details of relevant work or voluntary experience.

MA in Social Justice and Education

Your personal statement should be between 300 and 400 words in length, and cover:

• relevant details of your academic and education background
• details of relevant activities you have undertaken, like designing teaching materials, or organising short courses
• how the course you have applied for suits your needs and what attracts you to it
• how it fits into your future plans.

All other MA courses

Your statement should be 300 to 400 words and tell us about your academic interests and your reasons for applying to the course.

Please include any additional information about your academic background, work experience and why you are applying to study for this course.

Supply a personal statement of approximately 500 to 1,000 words which explains your interest in the MA, how your previous studies or current interests intersect with the course, and what you expect to gain from the course.

MSc Sustainable Business: Leadership, Innovation and Management

Students who will be most successful on this course are those who are able to demonstrate the following skills and attitudes:

• keen to drive change towards a sustainable future
• highly motivated and independent learner
• willingness to fully engage with a range of different learning activities
• collaborative approach to working within a team
• ability to be creative and help generate solutions to real-world business challenges
• interest in developing a global perspective.

Please provide a short, 500 words, statement providing evidence to demonstrate that you have the skills and attitudes to be successful in this programme.

Provide a brief summary outlining your reasons for choosing your course.

Your personal statement should be 500-1000 words in length. Please tell us why:

• you wish to study the course
• how your previous studies and experience have prepared you for it, and
• what you hope to gain from the course.

Please also include any other information that you feel will help us to assess your application.

We are keen to hear about your academic and other experiences, which may or may not include previous study of the history of art.

You should explain your interest in the subject, which may include approaches as well as periods or artists.

Finally, explain what has attracted you to the course at York and what you would like to do here.

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words.

Your personal statement should be 500 to 1,000 words in length.

It should include clear information about how much (if any) linguistics you have previously studied.

If you're applying to a specialist course you should explain why you have chosen this course, and why you believe that your background is suitable.

MA in Interpreting, Translation and Applied Technologies

Your application should include a 500-700 words personal statement describing your background, relevant information about your language background, relevant personal, academic and/or professional experience, and why you want to study this programme. At the top of your statement, you should specify the languages in your language combination with which you intend to study.

A personal statement of no more than 500 words should be submitted, explaining why you want to study for this course at York.

Your statement should be no longer than 500 words. It should include:

• an explanation of why you want to study the course
• a discussion of any previous work experience which may be relevant to this course
• what you hope to do with your Masters degree upon completion.
• MSc in Clinical Anatomy
• MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education
• MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development

Your personal statement include information about your academic background, relevant experience and motivation for undertaking the course.

MSc in Physician Associate Studies

Detail your previous grounding in Chemistry, either through your degree or A Levels, and explore your motivation to undertake the role of a professional Physician Associate.

All other courses

A personal statement should demonstrate your motivation for undertaking the course at Hull York Medical School. You should provide information about your academic or clinical background and your current clinical role if applicable.

Your personal statement should be as specific as possible, telling us for example:

• what engages you academically about the middle ages
• what are the main questions or scholars that inspire you

You might also draw our attention to anything else that might demonstrate your commitment to study (work experience, relevant extracurricular activities) and any additional skills or abilities (for example, language skills).

Please tell us in your personal statement about your music studies/experience to date, your plans for the future, and why you think the course is the right choice for you.

Outline the reasons why you are suited or well-qualified for this course, your motivation for applying, how you will benefit from the course and what you hope to bring to the research group. You should also add any other information that you feel will help us to assess your application.

The statement should be 500 to 1000 words in length, in English, and your own words.

Your personal statement must demonstrate your enthusiasm for the course you're applying to. For example, you might explain your intellectual passion for the subject, or show your interest through discussing practical or work experience you may have gained.

MSc courses

Supply a one to two-page statement describing:

• why you would like to take this course
• your relevant background experience and training
• your plans for the future.

Your personal statement must demonstrate your enthusiasm for the course you are applying to. For example, you might explain your intellectual passion for the subject, or show your interest through discussing practical or work experience you may have gained.

MSc Social Media and Management and MSc Social Media and Interactive Technologies

In your personal statement you should use the course information available and tell us what you hope to learn and where the degree will lead to after graduation.

MA in Film and Television Production with Sound

Please provide a personal statement in the form of a recorded video 'self tape' lasting no more than four minutes, with you directly answering these questions:

• What is it about sound for Film and Television that interests you?
• What filmmaking experience do you have working in sound?
• What qualities do you possess that you feel would make you a good sound engineer?
• Why do you want to come to study the MA with Sound at York?

Your self-tape must be presented in one unedited piece to camera, and show your face clearly in a suitable, balanced mid-shot or medium close-up frame. The quality of the sound, camera or lighting is not important, provided we can hear and see you at all times, but you may wish to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and technical skills in sound as part of this submission. Again, the quality of the edit is not important, but your answers to the questions asked are.

Your self-tape can be provided as one of the weblinks alongside your project examples in the written portfolio PDF or Word document (see other application requirements), or you can provide a link to the self-tape in a separate PDF or Word document if preferred.

MA in Film and Television Production with Editing

• What is it about editing for Film and Television that interests you?
• What filmmaking experience do you have working in editing?
• What qualities do you possess that you feel would make you a good editor?
• Why do you want to come to study the MA with Editing at York?

Your self-tape must be presented in one unedited piece to camera, and show your face clearly in a suitable, balanced mid-shot or medium close-up frame. The quality of the sound, camera or lighting is not important, provided we can hear and see you at all times, but you may wish to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and technical skills in editing as part of this submission. Again, the quality of the edit is not important, but your answers to the questions asked are.

MA in Film and Television Production with Cinematography

• What is it about cinematography that interests you?
• What filmmaking experience do you have working in cinematography?
• What qualities do you possess that you feel would make you a good cinematographer?
• Why do you want to come to study the MA with Cinematography at York?

Your self-tape must be presented in one unedited piece to camera and show your face clearly in a suitable, balanced mid-shot or medium close-up frame. The quality of the sound, camera or lighting is not important, provided we can hear and see you at all times, but you may wish to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and technical skills in cinematography as part of this submission. Again, the quality of the edit is not important, but your answers to the questions asked are.

MA in Film and Television Production with Producing

• What is it about producing for Film and Television that interests you?
• What filmmaking experience do you have working in production?
• What qualities do you possess that you feel would make you a good producer?
• Why do you want to come to study the MA with Producing at York?

Your self-tape must be presented in one unedited piece to camera, and show your face clearly in a suitable, balanced mid-shot or medium close-up frame. The quality of the sound, camera or lighting is not important, provided we can hear and see you at all times, but you may wish to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your production skills as part of this submission. Again, the quality of the edit is not important, but your answers to the questions asked are.

MA in Film and Television Production with Directing

• What is it about directing for Film and Television that interests you?
• What filmmaking experience do you have working as a director?
• What qualities do you possess that you feel would make you a good director?
• Why do you want to come to study the MA with Directing at York?

Your self-tape must be presented in one unedited piece to camera, and show your face clearly in a suitable, balanced mid-shot or medium close-up frame. The quality of the sound, camera or lighting is not important, provided we can hear and see you at all times, but you may wish to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and technical skills in directing. Again, the quality of the edit is not important, but your answers to the questions asked are.

MSc in Digital Design

Please tell us why you are interested in design and the MSc in Digital Design and how this degree might support your career aspirations. Please also include and explain an example of something related to design that you’ve either been involved in, or an existing digital design product or service that you feel is particularly interesting or significant.

How to write a personal statement

Finding the right words to include in your personal statement can be tricky, but we're here to guide you through it.

Writing a first-class statement

You know we’re a good match, now all you’ve got to do is tell us why. Your personal statement is an opportunity to tell us everything about you and how special you are but finding the right words can be tricky. If you’re tired of sitting in front of a blank page for hours on end, searching for the best way to describe yourself, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our top tips for writing a personal statement.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement forms part of your application to study at university. It’s your chance to articulate why you’d like to study a particular course or subject, and what skills and experience you possess that demonstrate your passion for your chosen field. Your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter.

What to write about in your personal statement

You! No one knows you better than you know yourself. You need to tell us why you’re the perfect candidate for the course and what makes you stand out from the crowd.

A helpful way of ensuring you strike the right balance is by splitting your statement into sections:

• At least 75% of your personal statement should be related to what you want to study, and why you want to study that subject. Be genuine and refer to topics you've already studied and your wider interests in the area. It's also worth reflecting on any reading that you’ve done on the subject or relevant work experience.
• The remaining 25% of your statement should cover any other achievements. This is where you show us that you’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Are you on a school sports team? Have you conducted any charity work? Do you have a part-time job? Include relevant examples that demonstrate you have the skills needed during your time at university. It’s time to boast about how brilliant you are! 

However, getting these details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. Carrying a notebook with you or setting up a memo on your phone can be useful. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down.

Top Tip: It’s important to remember that you only write one personal statement – it remains the same for each course you apply for. So, avoid mentioning any universities by name. If you’re applying for more than one subject (or it’s a combined course) it’s crucial to include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects.

How to write your personal statement

Just like you, your personal statement should be unique, so there’s no specific format to follow when it comes to putting pen to paper. That said, we have compiled some general guidelines for you to follow:

• Write simply and naturally – don’t use complex language to impress, it often doesn’t read well 
• Be enthusiastic and excited – we want to see your genuine passion (and enjoy reading about it) 
• Structure your personal statement to reflect the skills and qualities universities value most – read the course descriptions for inspiration 
• Read it aloud – this can help you spot any potential mistakes and provides an opportunity to edit the text to make the statement sound more natural 
• Don’t copy – UCAS runs your personal statement through plagiarism software to make sure your statement is original 
• Overwrite then edit – when working on your first draft it’s important to get down as much information as you can, you can refine the copy to suit the character count later 
• Don’t settle on draft one – come back to your statement a few days after completing your first draft, you’ll likely want to redraft certain sections after coming back with ‘fresh eyes’ 
• Ask for advice – get your teachers, advisors and family to take a look and don’t be offended if they offer suggestions or changes, they want to help you succeed 
• Run your statement through a spell-checking programme – then double-check the spelling, punctuation and grammar and correct

We recommend you write your personal statement first, then copy and paste it into your online application once you're happy with it. Make sure you save it regularly, as it times out after 35 minutes of inactivity.

Need more application tips?

Life is full of opportunities and studying at the University of Nottingham could be your biggest yet! If you’re looking for more application guidance, head over to our 'Applying' hub.

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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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