personal statement russell group

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Applying to Russell Group Universities in 2024

When applying to UK universities at Russel Group , applicants aim high. Numerous Russell Group universities are located in the UK, many of which are highly prestigious and deeply historical. Providing careful steps are taken, applying to Russell Group universities need not create any more stress or anxiety than other applications.

Find out how to prepare a winning Russell Group application in our essential guide for applying to Russell Group universities .

What is the Russell Group?

In the UK, the consortium comprises twenty-four leading educational institutions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all renowned for pioneering research and academic excellence.

Higher than average entrance standards await applicants, particularly those applying to Oxford or Cambridge — both founder members of the Group. 

Founded in 1994, the educational institution established and maintains the highest standard for higher education across the UK, operating independently, and without unnecessary outside influence regarding budgeting and operations.

Students from abroad or within the UK who want to study in the UK may find Russell Group Universities a very attractive option.

Traditionally seen as holding spots at the top of UK university league tables for student satisfaction and academic prowess, as well as some of the best graduate employability rates in the country, they are the best of the best. 

Choosing a Russell Group at which to complete your degree could be the beginning of the rest of your life.

Learn more in the complete guide What are the Russell Group Universities?

List of Russell Group Universities

A full list of the universities contained within the esteemed Russell Group can be found here:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• Durham University
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE)
• University of Oxford
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Southampton
• University College London (UCL)
• Warwick University

Applying to Russell Group Universities

While applying through UCAS is no different in theory from applying to any other university , the heightened academic expectations, and competitive nature of courses mean you have to work extra hard to be accepted.

Applicants are not restricted by the institutions themselves, but the standards are higher than average, particularly when it comes to Oxbridge , Medicine , and postgraduate study.

Average acceptance rate at Russell Group universities is around 15% .

Entry Requirements 2024 for Russell Group Universities

Individuals might choose to seek assistance from a professional statement-writing service rather than writing their personal statement for a variety of reasons. Additionally, overseas applicants may feel less confident writing a statement when English is not their first language. 

To apply to a Russell Group university , students in Year 11 must achieve at least 5 Grade 4 or 5 GCSEs, including English and Mathematics. Based on your course choice, each Russell Group university will have its minimum entry requirements.

Russell Group Universities Application Process

• Choosing Your Course – You can apply to five courses via UCAS , whether they are all Russell Group members or not. If you are applying to Oxford or want to apply to Cambridge , you need to choose only one Oxbridge university. Check out student satisfaction , entry requirements and location information before you submit your application to UCAS .
• Russell Group Personal Statement – It is worth keeping in mind that Russell Group’s personal statements are almost always the most popular, even if they are no different in theory from those at universities outside the Group. To stand out from the crowd, writing a personal statement will be of high importance. The submission deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is earlier than the UK average, so be sure you get it written before the deadline.
• Interviews & Tests – When your application is shortlisted , some universities may invite you to interview. You can find this information online through the website of your chosen course, so make sure to read it before applying. There may be an additional test required during the application process for some courses, such as clinical fields of study. Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to your application; practice and preparation are key.

How to Get Into Russell Group Universities

Russell Group universities are known for their high entry requirements , but these requirements will vary depending on the specific course you are applying for. 

Make sure you check the Russell Group entry requirements for the course you are interested in and make sure you are taking the necessary subjects for your chosen course. Both A-levels and BTECs are accepted by most Russell Group universities. 

In 2021, the Russell Group reassured applicants that they will be willing to accept more applications than in previous years.

• How to Get into Oxford University
• How to Get into Cambridge University

Russell Group Admission Deadlines

You should also be aware of admission deadlines for applying to Russell Group universities , with most courses having a deadline of January 31 2024 and some, such as courses in Oxford and Cambridge and most medicine , veterinary, and dentistry courses, having a deadline of October 16th 2023 .

Read more in our guide for UCAS Deadlines .

Personal Statement for Russell Group

A UCAS personal statement for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applications has to come in below 4,000 characters , including spaces. 

Students often describe the task of conveying all they know about themselves in such a small area as extremely stressful. 

A personal statement, however, cannot be overstated; it is the way universities learn more about you besides your exam results and can determine whether you will make a good student.

The content of a document does not need to be definite as long as it fluently summarizes the following:

• Academic history
• Work experience relevant to your course of choice
• Your motivation for applying for your course
• Any extracurricular activities or hobbies that demonstrate qualities you feel your university should know about

Check out our personal statement tips or our guide on how to write a personal statement .

How to Write a Personal Statement for Russell Group Universities

The hardest part of the application process for many students is planning and writing their personal statements. Generally, few people have attempted such a specific piece of writing before applying to university in the UK , and rarely with such high stakes. 

When writing your personal statement for UCAS , it always does well to consider the following:

• Coherence – It is not easy to condense a lifetime of experience into just 4,000 characters . Regardless, you should make sure that your document is clear, maintains the highest level of grammar and spelling, and can serve as a comprehensive overview of who you are as a prospective student.
• Originality – Admissions teams, particularly those attached to prestigious educational institutions. read hundreds of personal statements every year, and yours must stand out if you wish to make a successful application. A good personal statement should not contain anything that could be construed as plagiarised and must be as unique as the student to whom it applies.
• Balance – Rather than simply describing your exam grades, a personal statement tells your prospective university about you. Make sure you give equal weight in your statement to academia, extracurricular interests, relevant work experience, and your future goals, to create a fully balanced view of yourself on the page.
• Confidence – If you are not able to back yourself in what you write in your document, how can you expect an admissions team to do it? If invited to interview, your statement will likely form the basis of the questions you are asked. Make sure, therefore, that everything you write down is truthful, and that you are ready and willing to expand upon it when asked.

Entry Requirements for Russell Group Universities

To apply to a Russell Group university , students in Year 11 must achieve at least 5 Grade 4 or 5 GCSEs, including English and Mathematics. Based on your course choice, each university will have its minimum entry requirements.

Considering how many applications it receives every year, the Russell Group acceptance rate is around 15-16% . Applicants to these two universities are also less likely to receive conditional offers after applying because their offer rates are between 20-30%.

The most accessible Russell Group universities to get into are The University of Liverpool, Cardiff University, Queen’s University Belfast, and Queen Mary (University of London).

Related guides:

• The Best Non-Russell Group Universities

Sutton Trust report on personal statements

06 December 2012

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said:

“As our universities make very clear on their websites and elsewhere, personal statements are primarily an opportunity for applicants to show their academic interests and reasons for wanting to study a particular subject. Work experience and extra-curricular activities should be a relatively small component of this and are rarely a major factor in admissions decisions.

“We agree with the Sutton Trust that it’s really important that students receive high-quality information, advice and guidance, including on writing personal statements. 

“For that reason Russell Group universities provide outreach activities and give lots of help and advice to teachers, especially those working in deprived areas, and have also organised free conferences for teachers.

“Our admissions tutors are expert professionals who take into account a wide range of factors to give applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and interests in the subject.

“Some departments also interview candidates or ask them to sit additional tests, particularly for the most competitive courses. Others take into account any particular barriers an individual may have faced during their education such as spending time in care.

“The candidate's academic success is therefore considered in a broader context, and our universities are skilled at assessing applicants individually and holistically to identify real talent and potential.

“We want every students with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed at a Russell Group university to have the opportunity to do so whatever their background. The root causes of the under-representation of students from poorer backgrounds are underachievement at school, poor advice on the best choices of A-level subjects and university degree course and lower aspirations.”

Notes to editors

• For examples of university guidance on personal statements see the University of Leeds and Cardiff University websites.

Policy area

• Access and inclusion

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Meet the Russell Group Undergraduate Virtual Event - Personal Statements and Applying to a Russell Group University

Virtual event , United Kingdom

Find out more about witing your personal statement and applying to LSE and other Russell Group Universities at this virtual event.

More ‘Meet the Russell Group’ events will take place between 30 April – 2 May 2024, covering topics such as an introduction to the Russell Group, researching university options, being an International Student and student life.

Register here to attend .

Please note all event times are local time.

Read our Code of Behaviour before attending our events.

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LAW PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITY

Subject: Whole school

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Other

Last updated

22 November 2020

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This is particularly aimed for people wanting to study law at university and this PS gives a structure and outline of potential aspects to include when writing your personal statement.

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