
'Tie in your undergraduate studies – for example, if you did your dissertation on something and you’d like to expand on it in your master’s. Trying to link the two together is something that’s distinct from the undergraduate personal statement.'
Stand out from the crowd by showcasing your expertise and passion for your subject.
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.
'Tie in your undergraduate studies – for example, if you did your dissertation on something and you’d like to expand on it in your master’s. Trying to link the two together is something that’s distinct from the undergraduate personal statement.'
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:
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.
Students and admissions tutors offer advice for postgraduate students about how to write personal statements.
Remember that a postgraduate personal statement needs you to talk specifically about the university you’ve chosen.
Universities will be looking for postgraduate students who are able to demonstrate expertise in a particular subject – so include that.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
'I think it is important to write about personal experiences and what motivated us to pursue that degree. Talk about your culture, heritage, hobbies, and ideas. Integrate it all in such a way that your experiences showcase your inherent talents and how you developed and interest in your area of study.'
Now you’ve written your postgraduate personal statement, you’ll need to do a couple of final things before you submit it.
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.