Your personal statement is essentially you introducing yourself to the Oxbridge admissions teams and explaining why you should be given an offer on their courses. It’s a piece of writing that will have a lasting impact throughout the application process, so you need to make the best first impression.

As you only have a limited space to express yourself – just 4,000 characters or 47 lines in the UCAS box (whichever limit you reach first) which is equivalent to just over a full typed page of A4 – you need to make every included sentence count. It’s important to remember you only get to write one personal statement that will be sent to all your over university choices. Your statement needs to be tailored as much as you can to each of the courses you are applying to as you don’t want tutors to doubt your commitment to their university and course. 

The admissions teams aren’t just interested in the achievements that you have made or the grades you have earned; they are looking for applicants with the right attitude for the course. They need applicants who can go the extra mile, have a true understanding of the subject and have the qualities needed to become successful in their chosen field. All of these things can be expressed in a well-written personal statement.

What should you include?

It’s called a personal statement but that doesn’t mean Admissions Tutors want a complete timeline of your life from childhood. They want to see the best side of your academic self, your passion for the course and subject you are applying to and an overview of your academic achievements that are relevant to your subject. In your personal statement, it’s beneficial to include;

• Any subject-related work experience you have completed or intend to carry out
• Any courses or lectures you have attended that advanced your knowledge
• Demonstrations of your interest extending beyond the classroom environment
• A relevant list of book, articles and essays you have read

Try to avoid simply listing the things you have done and instead, try to show how your reading and experiences have expanded your knowledge and developed your interests and understanding of your chosen subject. Relevant extra-curricular activities and achievements should also get a mention however, how much space you dedicate to this section is dependent on the university you are applying to. For students applying to Oxford, Cambridge or Imperial universities, extra-curricular activities should be kept to a footnote mention with a greater focus on your academic achievements. Students that are applying to universities such as Loughborough will need to include their extra-curricular achievements in more detail. These universities look at what you can bring to the faculty as a whole and supporting extra-curricular activities can show you will be a good fit. 

Before you start

Starting your personal statement can be done in a million ways and is often the part that many students get stuck on. There is no correct way to start your statement off, some applicants choose to begin with a quote that is relevant to their interests while others open with an anecdote that provides insight into where their curiosity for the subject has come from. 

How you open will set the tone for the rest of your personal statement, including establishing your enthusiasm and interest in your subjects and providing the school with an introduction to your personality. 

Start by thinking about the skills, knowledge and interests you’ve acquired over time and how the course at university will take them forward.

Most of your application and its supporting documents communicate plain facts about your academic career so far. Your personal statement is your best opportunity to put these facts into context and show assessors how you’ve progressed and excelled.

Make sure you highlight evidence of your achievements (a high grade in a relevant area, an award or scholarship, a research internship).

The academic work is the most important reason why we’re here, but that also translates into work experiences, internships, volunteering. A big part of the personal statement is crafting that narrative of academic self that fits alongside your professional experiences, to give that greater picture of who you are as an academic.

Research more about your course from each university’s website. What interests or qualities of the academic department and its staff make it attractive to you?

Use the academic department’s website for an overview of their research, academic staff and course information

Work or Research Experience

• Know when your work experience is relevant. An English tutor will be interested in your work as research assistant for a professor. They’ll be less interested by your summer internship. For some subjects, work experience is more crucial than others, namely the sciences and of course, Medicine. Don’t just state it, explain what you learnt and how it’s helped you.
• Students with an interest in research fare well in Oxbridge applications as courses are research-heavy – you will be writing 1-2 essay each week for Humanities subjects, and science subjects require extensive independent research prior to tutorials. Therefore, demonstrating research experience is extremely beneficial to application 

Writing the essay

When composing your university personal statement, the importance of showcasing your knowledge of research in your subject cannot be overstated. While the relevance may vary across disciplines, being well-informed about past and current research papers can significantly strengthen your statement’s credibility and demonstrate your commitment to academic excellence. Utilising resources like Google Scholar or JSTOR enables you to stay up-to-date with the latest theories, critical discussions, and key movements in your field. By engaging with scholarly articles, you gain valuable insights into the ongoing discourse within your chosen subject, allowing you to develop a more nuanced understanding of its complexities and challenges. When applicable, referencing these research papers in your personal statement can illustrate your engagement with the academic community and your ability to contextualise your interests within the broader scholarly landscape. This not only highlights your dedication to the subject but also reflects your potential as a future contributor to the field’s advancement.

As you prepare for your university application, it is vital to cultivate breadth, depth, and independence in your reading habits. Reading widely exposes you to diverse perspectives and helps you appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of many subjects. It allows you to identify connections between seemingly unrelated topics, fostering a holistic and well-rounded approach to your studies. Simultaneously, reading closely and delving deeply into specific areas of interest allows you to develop specialised expertise and become well-versed in the nuances of your chosen field. This depth of knowledge showcases your dedication and passion for the subject, making you a more attractive candidate to university admissions. Additionally, pursuing your own interests within the subject demonstrates initiative and intellectual curiosity, indicating that you are capable of self-directed learning and are genuinely invested in your academic pursuits. By striking a balance between broad exploration and focused inquiry, you not only enrich your personal growth but also equip yourself with the necessary skills and insights to thrive in your university studies and beyond.

How do you finish?

Finishing your personal statement can be as hard as finding the right words for your introduction. The final paragraph doesn’t have to be long or expansive, but simply enough to round off your statement and summarise your interest and dedication to your chosen subject. This part may need some reworking after 4,000 characters of blowing your own trumpet so get plenty of feedback to avoid getting carried away and coming across too arrogant or self-assured in your outro!