A5.4 Personal Statement¶
A Personal Statement, commonly abbreviated as PS, is akin to a self-recommendation. It is a requisite for most applications to universities abroad and constitutes a critically important component. This is because the admissions criteria for UK universities are not based solely on academic grades. The primary purpose of the PS is to showcase your comprehensive abilities and highlight your unique strengths. If your grades are not exceptionally high, that is acceptable; they merely represent your past academic results and are just one part of your overall profile. Therefore, a strong PS can make admission to a prestigious university entirely feasible.
Language of the PS: The PS must be written in English. Pay close attention to grammar and spelling. It is typically written in the first person.
Length of the PS: It is generally several hundred words long, approximately 800 words, which equates to about 1-2 pages in a word processor, and should not exceed 2 pages.
When is a PS required? A PS is usually required when applying for Foundation courses, undergraduate (Bachelor's), postgraduate (Master's), and PhD programmes.
Format of the PS: The PS should be presented as plain text only; the inclusion of images, charts, or tables is not permitted.
Language Consistency: Throughout the entire PS, you must choose and consistently use one variant of English spelling and vocabulary—do not mix them. For instance, 'colour' is British English, while 'color' is American English. The meaning is identical, but the spelling differs.
Many students inquire about templates for Personal Statements. However, it is strongly advisable not to use a generic template that is similar for everyone, as this undermines the individuality of your essay. The primary goal of the PS is to demonstrate your academic capabilities and other skills to the admissions tutor. If all statements are uniform, it becomes very difficult to stand out amongst the multitude of applicants each year. A PS generally includes three parts:
Introduction to your background
The chosen course and university
Future plans
1. Introduction to your background
Who you are
Where you are from
Where you graduated from
Your character/personality
Your hobbies and interests
Your family background
What your past academic background is like
Whether your family background has influenced you in any way
Whether a particular person or event has influenced you
Any unique aspects of your life experiences
Any past achievements, such as honours or awards (a bonus)
Whether you have undertaken any practical social experiences like internships or volunteering (a bonus, especially volunteer work)
Any talents beyond academic ability, e.g., leadership, organisational skills, management ability, research capability, communication skills, etc.
2. The chosen course and university
Which specific course and university you have chosen
Why you are applying for a Foundation, undergraduate, or Master's course
Why you have chosen to study this particular subject
How you became aware of this field of study
Your understanding and perception of the subject area
What you hope to learn from studying this course at this specific university
If you studied X subject for your undergraduate degree and are applying for Y subject for your Master's, explain your reasons for changing your field of study.
Why you have chosen this particular university
Why you have chosen the UK as your study destination
Your objectives in choosing this specific course and university
3. Future plans
If you are offered a place, how do you plan to approach your studies?
How does the course you wish to study connect with your future plans or goals?
What are your aspirations, or what are your long-term and short-term plans?
After graduation, what are your intentions? For example, do you plan to return to your home country or remain in the UK?
Why should you be given the opportunity to study here?