successful oxbridge personal statements

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• Oxbridge Personal Statement Examples

Check out our successful Oxbridge personal statement examples below.

You will find a collection of standout personal statements that have helped students gain admission to the prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge .

These Oxbridge personal statement examples can serve as inspiration and guidance as you begin to write your own.

Whether you are applying to study law , natural science , economics , or any other course , these examples can help you showcase your unique strengths and experiences compellingly.

Recommended reading:

• How to Apply to Cambridge University
• How to Apply to Oxford University
• The Best Cambridge Colleges
• The Best Oxford Colleges

Successful Oxbridge Personal Statement Examples

Oxbridge personal statement example for economics course.

I volunteer at a local soup kitchen in Singapore, where I help distribute food and check on the well-being of lower-income families living in public housing.

One day, we encountered a family of five who were all seriously or terminally ill but were not receiving any government social support and had been relying mostly on NGOs for assistance.

This experience highlighted a social issue that concerns me – the lack of adequate social security support in Singapore despite its economic strength.

I believe more attention should be paid to addressing poverty and inequality.

I volunteered at the soup kitchen not only to help those in need but also to understand their struggles, as their interests are often overlooked.

As an economics student, I have learned how well-informed economic policy can improve lives by guiding social analysis.

This subject excites me and has motivated me to learn more through books, volunteering, and participating in economics-related competitions.

For example, I received a distinction award in the National Economics and Financial Management Quiz, which tests quick thinking, logical, and mathematical skills.

I also submitted an essay for the GlaxoSmithKline-Economic Development Board Book Prize on how Singapore can capitalize on Asian talent as a source of growth.

In addition, I participated in the local Math Olympiad received a bronze award, and completed a month-long internship at Centennial Asia Advisors, where my work contributed to the analysis of the Great Recession and the process of purchasing bonds to address the crisis.

This experience gave me a greater understanding of the importance of economic policy and its application.

I am also actively working to make a difference. Along with a group of friends and an NGO, I am committed to helping the village of Tom in Cambodia escape poverty by building schools and providing water filtration devices for villagers.

We also plan to support children with scholarships through fund-raisers. Personally helping Tom overcome poverty is one of my goals, and I believe that a strong understanding of economics will be essential in achieving this.

In addition to my academic and volunteer pursuits, I have also participated in various activities that have helped me grow as a person.

For example, I participated in The Odyssey of The Mind, a competition that challenges teams to think creatively through dramatic performances.

Our team won the World Championship after competing against teams from 60 other countries.

I am also an avid sailor, having represented my school as captain and Singapore in international competitions.

What I value most from these experiences are the relationships I formed with my teammates and the importance of dedication and perseverance in achieving success.

At school, I helped start the Young Diplomats’ Society, an interest group focused on Model United Nations Conferences (MUNC).

At Princeton University MUNC, I received an honourable mention, and at the Nanyang Technological University MUNC, I received the Dorothy Cheung Award for Best Delegate.

I also organized the annual iMUN@AC, serving as Chief of Staff in one year and Secretary General in another.

These MUNCs sparked my interest in global politics and led me to research the causes of the Rwandan Genocide for my IB Extended Essay, a 4000-word research paper that I thoroughly enjoyed and received an “A” grade for.

As John Maynard Keynes said, an economist is part philosopher, part statesman, and part mathematician.

I hope to study economics so that I can learn how to make changes on local, regional, and global levels.

Oxbridge Personal Statement Example For Law Course

I have always been drawn to the fields of law and justice. Even as a child, I was fascinated by the concepts of right and wrong and how they were applied in society.

My interest in history has also allowed me to learn about the evolution of the legal system over time.

During my school years, I took on leadership roles, including being a Senior Prefect and a member of the Student Council.

These experiences gave me a unique perspective on how a school operates and the importance of rules for both students and staff.

In my GCSE years, I had the opportunity to study Critical Thinking, which allowed me to hone my analytical and debate skills.

As part of this course, we visited Winchester Crown Court, giving us the chance to observe a court case in person and see the legal system in action.

This experience had a profound impact on me and further solidified my desire to pursue a career in law.

I also gained valuable insights into the legal profession through a two-week work placement at a local solicitor’s firm during the summer between school and college.

During this time, I was able to observe court proceedings and learn about the daily operations of a solicitor’s office.

In my free time, I enjoy reading classic fiction such as “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens and “North and South” by Elizabeth Gaskell.

I also enjoy cooking, travelling, and leading a healthy and active lifestyle.

I am confident that my personal skills, knowledge, attributes, and work ethic make me an excellent candidate for a law degree at your university.

I hope to use my time at university to develop the skills and qualifications necessary to have a successful career in law and to gain further experience in the courtroom.

Oxbridge Personal Statement Example For Natural Sciences Course

I was always fascinated by the natural world and spent hours exploring the forests and streams near my home.

This curiosity eventually led me to pursue a degree in biology at Oxford University, where I excelled academically and gained valuable experiences that have prepared me to take the next step in my education.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have taken a range of ecology courses and consistently earned high marks. In addition to my coursework, I have also been actively involved in several extracurricular activities that have allowed me to further explore my interests in biology and ecology.

For example, I have participated in research projects on the Forest Eco Programme and have worked as an intern at EcoBio Ltd where I gained valuable hands-on experience.

One of the things that set me apart from other applicants is my passion for biology and my dedication to making a positive impact in the world.

This drive was sparked by my achievements in school, which taught me the importance of the environment and motivated me to pursue a career in which I can make a difference.

I am excited to apply to the biology course at Oxford University because of its reputation for excellence and its commitment to providing students with a world-class education.

I believe that the University of Oxford will provide me with the knowledge and skills I need to achieve my goals and make a meaningful contribution to my field.

I am confident that my strong academic and extracurricular background, along with my passion and dedication, make me a strong fit for the course.

I am eager to join the vibrant intellectual community at Oxford and to continue pursuing my goals in biology.

Oxbridge Personal Statement Tips 

Focus on the following suggestions to write a successful personal statement for Oxbridge :

• Start by thinking about your goals and why you want to pursue them at Oxbridge. What sparked your interest in your field of study, and how have your experiences prepared you to pursue it at a top university?
• Reflect on your achievements and experiences. What have you accomplished that demonstrates your potential to succeed at Oxbridge? This could include academic achievements, extracurricular activities, internships, or other experiences.
• Consider what makes you unique. What sets you apart from other applicants and makes you a strong fit for the program you’re applying to?
• Write in a clear and concise manner, using concrete examples to illustrate your points. Avoid using overly complex language or jargon, and be sure to proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
• Edit and proofread your personal statement carefully. It’s important to take the time to polish your statement and make sure it’s the best it can be.

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Our 10 Top Tips for Writing a Standout Oxbridge Personal Statement to Get You an Oxbridge Interview

Oxbridge personal statement 101: top tips for writing by oxbridge graduates.

You've sat your exams, chosen your top 5 Universities to apply to, you've registered with UCAS. Now what? Oh yes, you've got to write a personal statement - 4000 characters to encapsulate why YOU are suitable for your course. 

You know the standard pitfalls, you know you won't be in the 1779 candidates each year on UCAS who begin their statement with 'From a young age I have always been...', you know not to begin with a motivational quote or to include too many 'I love''s or 'passions'. You also know that the personal statement is not the be all or end all of your application - yes, admissions will look at it, and certainly it matters for some subjects and Universities more than others, but at the end of the day your exam results and interview, if you have one, will speak louder than 4000 characters can.

Still, you might as well get it right - done well, your personal statement can demonstrate what motivates your study of your given subject now and give an insight into your academic ability , which can only boost your application. U2 has curated 10 top tips, based on the advice of Oxbridge alumni in over 20 subjects, to help you overcome this often daunting task. Do also check out the abundance of articles we have published on subject-specific personal statement content creation and writing - we have written articles for an array of subjects including Dentistry , Politics , Biological Natural Sciences , English , History , Veterinary Science and more via our Free Resource Library ! These include reading and wider subject exploration recommendations, as well as information on preparing for interviews for your course of application.

1) Less is More When it Comes to Your Personal Statement

Try to be specific and DON'T waffle. Tutors hate it when you try to sound over the top of use overly-complicated words. One of the most frequent pitfalls admissions tutors see when assessing Personal Statements are students trying to fit as much as possible into their statement. LESS IS MORE. Don't write about every book you've ever read, but choose one or two to illustrate your enthusiasm for the subject. Make sure to go in-depth in your analysis of the book/ article/ experience you mention - showcase your opinion and link back to how this demonstrates your motivation for wanting to study your course of application. This also means that when it comes to interview, you have loads more to draw on than the content of your personal statement as you won’t have mentioned every single activity you have undertaken on the A4 page.

Key Stylistic Points:

Write in simple, straightforward, everyday English.

Express yourself as succinctly as possible using short sentences.

Do not get weighed down in jargon or complicated terminology – and if you do use some, make sure that you use it properly. 

2) Don’t Try to Tell a Grand Narrative

In the subject paragraphs of your personal statement, do not try to tell any form of grand narrative about either you or the subject e.g. “the first moment I realised I wanted to study Philosophy was” or even “Philosophy is the most important subject because”; these come across as pompous and insincere. Likewise, admissions tutors don’t wish to know that from the time you were a young boy, you loved playing with lego, which led to a love of engineering, they want to know what motivates you in your course of interest NOW. It is much better to simply write about the ideas, concepts and theories that have captured your attention through your work at school and how you’ve explored them in your own reading or other activities.

Personal Statement Introduction Example Structure:

‘My interest/curiosity in materials science first emerged following XYZ. This led me to pursue further research, reading, etc., including taking a biomedical engineering course at […]. These experiences have only increased my enthusiasm for the subject, and I am now keen to engage with it more deeply by studying for a MEng (or whatever the course might be…) in Materials Science at the University of XYZ’

3) Think Outside the School Curriculum

To impress Oxbridge admissions tutors, it's essential to demonstrate a genuine passion for your chosen subject beyond the school curriculum. Utilise your personal statement as an opportunity to showcase evidence of your interest, such as additional reading or relevant work experience. The best candidates often exhibit a wealth of knowledge they've gathered in their own time, reflecting their proactive approach to learning. Show resourcefulness by seeking information from various sources, including podcasts, lectures, books, critical articles, and even visits to museums. Mentioning these diverse avenues of learning highlights your intellectual curiosity and willingness to explore beyond the confines of the classroom. Additionally, participating in essay competitions can be a valuable way to showcase your dedication and self-motivation. Select a couple of reputable essay prizes, like the Keble College Essay Prize, and challenge yourself to produce well-researched and thoughtful essays within the specified word limit. Discussing your experiences with these prize essays in your personal statement reveals your commitment to academic excellence and willingness to engage deeply with your subject.

Participating in essay competitions not only demonstrates your commitment and self-motivation but also showcases your ability to engage in independent research and critical thinking. These competitions often require you to delve into specific topics, conducting your own reading and analysis. By discussing your involvement in prize essays in your personal statement, you present evidence of your intellectual curiosity and willingness to take on academic challenges. Admissions tutors will be impressed by your proactive approach to learning and your ability to synthesise complex ideas into well-structured essays. It shows that you are willing to go above and beyond what is expected and that you are well-prepared to embrace the rigorous and intellectually stimulating environment that Oxbridge has to offer.

We regularly update our co-curricular division website, Minds Underground, with top choice essay competitions to enter. We also run our own yearly Minds Underground Essay Competition (e.g. in Medicine, Politics, Law etc.) if you want to have a go!

4) Think About Your Personal Statement Structure

When crafting your university personal statement, it's essential to treat each point as a mini argument, providing evidence and meaningful connections to strengthen your case. Mere assertions like "I'm interested in X" lack substance without delving into the why and how of your interest. Instead, showcase your inquisitiveness by relating X to Y, highlighting the knowledge or experiences gained from this connection . By doing so, you demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to draw meaningful connections between subjects. For instance, if you express an interest in history, explain how exploring historical events shed light on current societal issues or how studying past political decisions can inform future policy-making. By presenting such thoughtful interconnections, you not only emphasise your passion for the subject but also showcase your intellectual curiosity and capacity for interdisciplinary learning.

A coherent structure is vital for your personal statement to have a strong impact on admissions tutors. Consider organising your statement into 3-4 main paragraphs, each focusing on a key topic area of interest . Start by introducing your primary interests and motivations, providing a clear roadmap for your readers. Subsequently, delve into the first topic area, weaving in relevant experiences and academic accomplishments that demonstrate your commitment to this subject. Then, smoothly transition to the next topic, establishing a logical flow that links the areas together. For instance, if you're passionate about environmental science, you could connect it to public policy by discussing your participation in sustainability initiatives and how this drove your interest in influencing policy decisions for a greener future.

Finally, ensure that your closing paragraph succinctly summarises your key points and highlights your enthusiasm for pursuing these areas at the university. Additionally, include a very short paragraph on extracurricular activities, demonstrating your well-roundedness and ability to balance academic pursuits with other interests, further reinforcing your suitability as a prospective student. This clear and cohesive structure will make your personal statement memorable and impactful, leaving a positive impression on the admissions committee.

5) Check and Double Check Claims of Knowledge

Crafting a compelling university personal statement is a critical step in the admissions process, allowing students to showcase their academic achievements, aspirations, and potential contributions to the academic community. However, exercise caution and diligence when including claims of knowledge in your statement . Making inaccurate or unsupported assertions can be an immediate red flag for admissions tutors, as it raises doubts about the applicant's credibility and attention to detail. Admissions professors and interviewers are well-versed in their respective fields, and they may thoroughly scrutinise a personal statement during interviews. Thus, if an applicant includes a questionable or unsupported claim, they should be prepared to provide a comprehensive explanation and back it up with evidence or examples. This scrutiny ensures that the university maintains its standards of academic integrity and selects students who possess genuine knowledge and intellectual curiosity. Therefore, double-check and verify the accuracy of any claims made in your personal statement, ensuring you present a truthful and compelling narrative that reflects your genuine capabilities and potential for academic success.

Suggested Exercise: When preparing for interview, take each sentence of your personal statement and imagine your interviewer asks you to explain what you meant by it. Brainstorm an answer, thinking about evidence you can bring in to back up any claims e.g. your analysis, further reading, statistics etc.

6) Work/ 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 at Goldman. 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 - Back in the day, U2 Tuition’s Co-Founder, Camille (Oxford English graduate), worked as a research assistant on an Oxford professor’s project on the Oxford English Dictionary. She was asked about the experience at interview and was able to lead a fascinating discussion on the origins of language, the effect of Shakespeare in coining new terms etc.

If you would like help seeking research experience to include in your personal statement, visit our Minds Underground division’s Research & Work Experience page!

7) Subject-Specific Research/ Exploration

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.

8) Stay Relevant

No one wants to know about your passion for your subject from before you could walk. Anything you include should be directly linked to your interest and suitability for the course, or at least connected somehow. They want to know what's motivating your study of it NOW.  

Crafting an outstanding Top UK University or Oxbridge personal statement requires staying informed and engaging with current developments in your chosen subject. Subscribing to reputable academic journals is an excellent way to keep abreast of the latest research and advancements in your field. Journals often publish cutting-edge studies and critical discussions that can inspire your own academic interests and inform your future studies. Additionally, reading articles from platforms like The Conversation , which covers diverse topics from Health & Medicine to Politics & Society, provides valuable insights into real-world applications of academic knowledge. By referencing relevant articles in your personal statement, you showcase your engagement with contemporary issues and demonstrate how your academic pursuits align with broader societal concerns. For instance, if you aspire to study environmental science, discussing the implications of recent environmental policies or breakthroughs in sustainable technologies reveals your passion for making a positive impact through your studies.

For applicants interested in Law, incorporating current legal issues and developments into your personal statement can be highly impactful. Mentioning landmark court cases, legislative changes, or emerging legal challenges demonstrates your awareness of the dynamic nature of the legal field and your ability to analyse complex issues critically. Articulating your thoughts on these matters and explaining how they have influenced your desire to study law can impress admissions tutors. On the other hand, if you're applying for a STEM subject, delving into scientific breakthroughs of the past 20, 50, or 100 years offers a glimpse into the rich history of scientific discovery. Highlight the breakthroughs that resonate with you the most and explain how they sparked your curiosity and passion for your chosen field of study. Demonstrating this connection between historical achievements and your personal motivations provides the admissions committee with valuable insights into your scientific interests and intellectual drive. By showcasing your enthusiasm for current topics or historical milestones, you present yourself as an informed and passionate applicant eager to contribute to the academic community.

9) Ensure You Can Expand…

When it comes to discussing your university personal statement during an Oxbridge interview, the approach can vary depending on the interviewer. Some tutors might use it as a starting point to delve deeper into your interests and experiences, using it as a reference to stimulate further discussion. As an applicant, it's crucial to be well-prepared and confident in the books and topics you've referenced in your statement. Have a clear understanding of these references and be ready to elaborate on them or demonstrate how they relate to other subjects. Moreover, don't shy away from expressing your own opinions on the material you've read. Whether you agree or disagree with a critic or author, be willing to voice your thoughts thoughtfully and respectfully . However, keep in mind that the tutor conducting the interview may hold a different perspective, having dedicated their career to studying the same critic or author. So, if you disagree, be prepared to justify your viewpoint with rational arguments and be open to defending your stance further during the interview.

The Oxbridge interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills. Therefore, besides discussing your referenced materials, be prepared to offer your unique insights and interpretations. Demonstrate your ability to engage with academic content beyond merely summarising it. Reflect on the implications of the ideas you've encountered and consider how they might intersect with other areas of study. Your capacity to express original thoughts and connect different concepts will impress the interviewers and show them your potential as a future scholar. Just remember to back up your viewpoints with well-reasoned arguments, as interviews often involve rigorous intellectual discussions. Embrace the chance to engage in academic debates, but do so respectfully and with an open mind, as these exchanges can further reveal your suitability for the university's academic environment.

10) Extra-Curriculars

You'll be hard-pressed to find an Oxbridge tutor who cares a lot about your budding sports career. Keep extra-curriculars to 1-2 lines at the end of your statement unless they are extremely subject-relevant. The function of the extracurricular paragraph is to show that you are a real person with interests outside academia. It is not a factor in their assessment of you as a prospective applicant. Use it as an opportunity to add colour to you as an individual, rather than to brag about getting sports colours or being a prefect; make it quirky, interesting and unique. For other UK universities, more of a focus can be placed on extra-curricular where relevant.

N.B. Oxbridge interviews are very subject-specific, but that is not to mean you won’t have ample opportunity to engage in a wide array of extra-curricular opportunities once you are at Oxford or Cambridge. There is loads on offer for you to get involved in!

Looking for Support Brainstorming and Drafting your Oxbridge Personal Statement With An Oxbridge Tutor From Your Specific Course?

U2 Tuition’s team of Top Russell Group University and Oxbridge graduates offer personal statement writing support sessions and a proofreading service as part of our application support offering . Personal statement writing is an iterative process, especially if you want to create an outstanding impression! Our personal statement tutors support students all the way through from personal statement planning, to polishing the final product.

Students will be paired with a primary Oxbridge tutor in their chosen subject. An example session structure could be as follows:

Personal Statement 101-Session (1hr 30 mins): for preliminary planning and content brainstorming, and understanding how admissions tutors use the personal statement to screen candidates

1-1 Tutorial Session (1hr): strengthening evidence of further subject exploration. U2’s mentors may suggest reading/ research lists, or a Minds Underground masterclass / research project

1-1 Tutorial Session (1hr): Improving on the structure of the personal statement and creating a stand-out opening paragraph

1-1 Tutorial Session (1hr): Demonstrating motivation, ability, communication skills etc.

Offline or online help (~1hr) with polishing, reviewing and proof-reading the final product

Note: Mentors will provide students with tasks to complete between each session e.g. building on their draft personal statement, filling gaps e.g. in wider reading.

For content ideas, why not take a research project, co-curricular masterclass or subject-specific Summer School (e.g. Medicine, Law, Economics, Geography, Engineering & more!) with our Oxbridge-educated subject specialists on our co-curricular division, Minds Underground ?

And lastly, check out our Oxbridge Admissions Ultimate Guide for any extra tips and tricks!

Sessions from £70/h + VAT.

An infographic to summarise:

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Applying to Oxbridge: writing a personal statement

Writing an Oxbridge-quality personal statement can be challenging. Our comprehensive guide will help your students write a statement that stands out

UniAdmissions

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In the UK, personal statements are a vital part of the university-application process, which is handled by Ucas .

However, writing an Oxbridge-quality personal statement is far more challenging for students than putting together a standard application. Why is this? And how can you support your Oxbridge applicants in writing a competitive and high-quality statement?

What is an Oxbridge personal statement?

A Ucas personal statement is a written statement (up to 4,000 characters) in which an applicant showcases their accomplishments, abilities, interests and goals to strengthen their application for higher education. 

Every university in the UK requires a personal statement, including the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Although Oxbridge statements are functionally the same as any other, the quality of writing expected from applicants is much higher. This reflects how competitive and prestigious these two universities are, with more than 40,000 applications between them each year. 

The quality of the personal statement becomes even more important for applicants outside the UK, because international students typically receive only 25 per cent of offers made by Oxford and Cambridge.

Personal statements must be written in English and are expected to reach a high standard of content quality and grammatical correctness. So the prospect of each student’s Oxbridge application will be dependent to some extent on how well they can plan, draft and edit their personal statement.

The deadline for the personal statement – along with the rest of the Ucas application – is usually 16 October for Oxbridge applicants, which is more than three months earlier than the applications for the rest of the universities in the UK.

How is an Oxbridge personal statement used? 

Unlike most universities in the UK, which rely on the Ucas application form and supporting materials to decide whether or not to offer a place, Oxford and Cambridge require applicants to complete extra steps before offers are made.

After the standard Ucas application, most applicants will need to complete a subject-specific admissions test, which is followed by an interview, should they be invited.

The personal statement is initially used during this shortlisting process, alongside the applicant’s predicted grades, admissions-test score and other supporting materials. It will also be considered in the final decision-making process, although the applicant’s interview performance will provide a greater insight into their personality and motivation for study. 

What are Oxford and Cambridge looking for? 

Oxbridge admissions tutors are interested in students’ grades, experiences and attitude. It's important to study the universities' specific guidelines rather than making assumptions about what an ideal candidate would look like.

Some of the key qualities that the universities look for include: 

1. Academic ability and potential 

Oxbridge seeks academically thriving applicants, judged first and foremost by their grades and school performance. Oxbridge applicants should already achieve or be expected to achieve the necessary grade criteria for their courses. 

2. Critical and independent thought 

Oxbridge seeks exceptionally intelligent applicants who possess critical-thinking skills. The ability to think logically in academic and everyday situations is important, because initiative and independent work are essential for the teaching style and work ethic promoted at Oxford and Cambridge.

3. Suitability and enthusiasm for the course 

Each applicant must have a genuine passion for their subject, showcasing expanded interest and a desire to learn. Essential traits include motivation, self-discipline, commitment and a drive for personal growth. 

Drafting a personal statement for Oxbridge

After writing the foundation of their personal statement, encompassing their personal story, academic achievements, subject-related experience, extracurricular activities and additional details, an applicant needs to assess whether their statement is likely to capture the interest of Oxford and Cambridge admissions tutors. 

In all likelihood, the initial draft will fall short – only a small number of applicants manage to get their statement right on the first attempt. So how can they improve it? 

1. Relevance 

An Oxbridge hopeful needs to connect everything they discuss to their application. Relevance to the chosen course is essential. A detailed explanation of one highly relevant example holds more value than a list of several irrelevant activities. An applicant should reflect on their experience, highlighting their personal growth and explain why it makes them a stronger Oxbridge applicant. 

2. Efficiency  

Oxbridge admissions are fiercely competitive, so a sentence should be as efficient as possible in highlighting the applicant’s strongest attributes.

3. Wider reading  

Oxford and Cambridge value applicants who take charge of their research and education. Your students should discuss any relevant wider reading and enrichment activities they have taken part in, including research projects, extensive reading, academic competitions and more.

4. Adding value 

Oxbridge admissions tutors want a mutually enriching relationship with their students. Applicants should therefore highlight their value to the university, including volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and desirable skills or traits. While not core elements to a statement, these additions will have a significant impact. 

Each personal statement will be different. You and the students’ teachers should provide advice based on what you know about them. Help them play to their strengths and highlight what makes them unique. 

Common personal statement mistakes 

A perfect personal statement is impossible to achieve, but sometimes your students will make simple mistakes that can have consequences for their applications. These are usually easy to avoid, so here are some of the most common mistakes you can watch out for: 

1. Pandering to tutors 

Applicants often misunderstand what admissions tutors want to see, and might attempt to impress them in misguided ways. Some will overload their personal statements with numerous achievements, assuming that tutors expect a long list. Others will embellish details to sound impressive. However, admissions tutors easily recognise these tactics, having reviewed countless personal statements during their careers. 

We already know that tutors are actually looking for academic ability, independent thinking, genuine interest and good character, so these are the traits that you should encourage your students to showcase in their writing.

2. Lying and exaggerating

Students will often think that one small lie will go unnoticed or that they won’t be questioned on the specific details of what they have mentioned. However, as soon as a student is caught out for including false information in their statement, their whole application will be in danger.

When reviewing statements, it’s important for counsellors to question students if something seems untrue – but without making accusations. Mock interviews are also a great opportunity to identify any potential misrepresentation in the work. 

3. Bad spelling or grammar

It is important to be vigilant when reviewing students’ statements, especially as English might not be your students’ first language. Encourage them to find mistakes themselves before pointing them out.

Additional tips

1. offer detailed feedback  .

It is hugely beneficial to the student to receive detailed feedback with actionable advice. Going line by line through their personal statement, you can point out specific areas, both large and small, that could be improved to enhance its overall quality. 

2. Provide exemplars  

It is strongly recommended that you build a collection of successful Oxbridge personal statements for your students to use as inspiration (but not to copy). These can come from previous applicants or from other sources, such as the successful personal statement collection  curated by UniAdmissions. 

3. Use spell and grammar checks 

Various pieces of advanced spellchecking and grammar-checking software are available, which will help your students review their work easily and accurately. You should encourage your class to make use of these, but to be careful that they only provide guidance rather then writing the whole statement. 

4. Look out for AI-written statements  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly useful writing tool. However, it is not a suitable option for writing a personal statement because it cannot offer the personal insights and reflections that are required in a good statement.

5. Use available resources 

Various resources are available to support students through their applications. For example, UniAdmissions offers students a comprehensive collection of resources and support methods that can triple an average student’s chance of receiving an offer. Look into the options available to your students.

Upcoming changes to Ucas personal statements 

Because of concerns that the existing personal-statement format unfairly advantages certain students, Ucas will be changing its requirements in 2024 (for 2025 university entry in the UK).

The current format sees each student writing a single, free-form document for submission. The new system will instead be based on a series of six questions, which will cover all the general topics that would be discussed in a standard personal statement. This change will affect all applicants to UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

The quality of content required for Oxbridge personal statements will not be changing, but applicants will need to adapt to a new, more limited way of writing. Full details about these changes, including the new questions and the reasoning behind the changes, can be found on the Ucas website . 

How to Write an Oxbridge Personal Statement (With Examples)

If you want to study at Oxbridge , you will need to apply for your chosen course . As part of the process, you will need to include an Oxbridge personal statement . Whatever the course might be, obtaining a place at Oxbridge can prove extremely competitive, highlighting the importance of your personal statement.

So, your personal statement is going to need to capture the attention of the reader and keep them engaged. In order to achieve this, you will need to make sure that you include the right information and follow the instructions correctly.

Read on to discover all you need to know about Oxbridge Personal Statements and what is required to develop one that makes an impact.

What is an Oxbridge Personal Statement?

When you apply for a university course at Oxford University or Cambridge University, you will be expected to provide a personal statement. This is required as a way of supporting your application, giving the reader the opportunity to discover more about you as a person. It will contain certain information such as the grades you have achieved, your qualifications, experience and personal information.

Within the Oxbridge personal statements, you can explore the reasons why you have a passion for your chosen course and share important and relevant information with the reader. This will help to increase your chances of being accepted for your chosen course.

What to Include in an Oxbridge Personal Statement?

Oxbridge personal statements have to contain the right information. It has to be relevant and engaging, giving the reader a reason to read further into it in order to learn more about you. What this means is that your personal statement has to include the correct details that indicate your reasons for studying and what makes you a suitable candidate for the course.

So, your personal statement should include the following information:

Reasons For Choosing the Course - To begin with, you will need to clearly state why you want to study your chosen course. You will need to be specific with the reasons such as having a passion for it or wanting to explore a certain career after completing your studies. Discuss why the subject appeals to you and what drives you to choose it. You can also explore how your interest developed but the main thing to show the reader is that you have genuine reasons for choosing the course as this will translate into you being considered a student that the tutor would want to teach.

What Makes You Suitable - Having a desire to study the course is one thing but you also need to fit the criteria. At this point, it is crucial that you cover the skills and experience that you have and how they fit in with the course and your goals. Research is also key because you need to show that you fully understand what the course entails and how that ties in with your potential career choice.

The Relevance of Your Currency Study - You might be studying subjects that naturally lead into the university course that you want to study. In contrast, you might have studied subjects that are not aligned with your chosen course but there is still a lot you can take from this. This is a crucial part of your Oxbridge personal statement but if there is no link between previous studies and the course, you should look to explore the skills you have and how they relate to the course.

Hobbies and Interests - The reader is not only interested in how you have performed academically because they consider who you are as a person. By discussing your hobbies and interests, it will show that you are someone who is well-rounded. Whether you’re a member of societies and clubs or enjoy playing sport, it all helps to build a bigger picture. It can help to show that you are versatile, adaptable and committed, proving that you could be adequate for the course.

Skills and Achievements - Your skills and achievements can have a significant influence on the success of your personal statement. They will show how you can transfer them into your chosen course but it can help to explain how you achieved them. This involves exploring examples that help the reader to understand how you got them. From working in groups where you improved your communication skills to creating solutions to problems, they will show you admissions tutors exactly what you are capable of.

Work Experience - Work experience enables you to learn a wide range of skills and these can be extremely useful when it comes to being accepted. It might be full-time or part-time work experience as well as placements, internships and volunteering, all of which will give you many practical skills. Consider the roles and discuss those that are relevant to the course you have chosen.

How to Write an Oxbridge Personal Statement?

Create it in line with the requirements - It’s vital that you follow the requirements included in the application as this will show that you can follow instructions. It’s likely that it will contain some guidance when it comes to what you should include while it might also explain the areas that they want you to include in it.

Enhance your knowledge of the course - Your personal statement will need to align with the course you are applying for. Through researching the course, you will improve your knowledge and have the ability to link elements of your personal statement to it. This will enable you to create a tailored personal statement that will show the reader that you have carried out the research.

Consider the reasons - Think about the reasons why you want to study this particular course and what motivates you to succeed. Put a list together of the reasons and then look at how they can be worked into your personal statement.

It’s about you - Your personal statement is about you, so it is your opportunity to give it a personal touch. Include any personal links or reasons that have made you want to study the course. Perhaps you are a member of a club or society that has enabled you to enjoy the area you wish to study or perhaps a parent works in a role that you want to pursue which is the reason for choosing this course. This personal element will make your personal statement more memorable to the reader.

Finish by proofreading - Once you are satisfied with the content, you should aim to proofread your personal statement several times. It has to be perfect in terms of grammar and how it reads. You want to make sure it makes an impact for all the right reasons. You should also consider asking friends or family to read it as their feedback could help to finalise your personal statement.

How Long Should My Oxbridge Personal Statement Be?

You will only be given a certain amount of words in which to write your Oxbridge personal statement. You should aim to capture all of the information in around 1,000 words, although your application form will state how many words it should be.

Your statement should be simple to read and to the point while you should avoid going over the word count as this might not work in your favour. So, make any necessary changes to make sure that it fits the guidelines provided.

The Best Opening Sentences For Oxbridge Personal Statement?

Your statement has to connect with the reader which means they have the desire to continue reading. Therefore, you should avoid certain opening sentences such as:

I am applying for this course because… Ever since a young age… I have had a lifelong passion…

You should make your personal statement stand out from the beginning and the above examples are likely to be used frequently by other applicants. Starting your personal statement can prove challenging but it can help to complete your personal statement before going back to write the opening sentence. This can help you to link the opening sentence up with the rest of the content. 

Best Practice Template

Your personal statement should have a certain structure to it. This will make it easier to read, so you should avoid creating one single block of text. So, the template below will enable you to create the perfect personal template:

Paragraph 1 - Discuss why you want to study the course by including a story or reasons why.

Paragraph 2 - Talk about your work experience and qualifications as well as any certifications you might have that relate to the course.

Paragraph 3 - Discuss particular skills that you have that you can transfer into your studies and the course and provide evidence where possible.

Paragraph 4 - Cover why you are suitable for the course and what makes you the ideal student.

Conclusion - End your statement so that it links back to your first paragraph and discuss why you believe the course is right for you.

Personal Statement for Oxbridge Example

You can use the example as a guide for your Oxbridge personal statement. This will provide you with guidance, enabling you to structure and write your statement correctly.

Personal Statements for University

Personal statement writing in 2022 & how to write a brilliant statement for ucas.

How to write a great Oxbridge Personal Statement

Tips for acing the oxbridge personal statement.

Writing a great Personal Statement is a prime opportunity to showcase yourself and stand out from the crowd. What Oxbridge looks for is a little different from other universities, so here are some tips to help you write a standout Oxbridge Personal Statement.

1. Start Drafting Early  

The extra level of preparation that an Oxbridge application requires, combined with the mid-October deadline, means that you should try to start planning your Personal Statement towards the end of Year 12. 

It usually takes a few drafts before you have a perfectly polished Personal Statement staring back at you, so ideally your first draft should be done by the end of the summer holiday before Year 13. This means that you should try to have completed any extra reading or work experience that you want to write about in your Statement by then as well. 

Tip: If you haven’t decided which course you want to study yet, start planning a more general Personal Statement, or even two separate ones for two different subjects. Writing about your enthusiasm and experiences will probably help your decision-making process!  

2. Focus on your academic interests and achievements  

Admissions decisions at Oxford and Cambridge are solely based on academic ability and potential, so you should focus on showcasing your understanding and passion for your chosen subject. We’ve written a guide about navigating Oxbridge’s attitude towards extracurriculars which explains more about this. 

You can show your interest and ability in your subject with examples of books you’ve read, an EPQ you’ve written, a prize you’ve won, lectures you’ve attended, documentaries you’ve watched, podcasts you’ve listened to, or really anything you can think of! 

Tip:  

• Instead of: “I am interested in molecular biology”
• Try: “My interest in molecular biology led me to read X”

3. Set yourself up for an interview  

All successful Oxbridge candidates are interviewed as part of the admissions process, and interviewers often draw on things mentioned in the Personal Statement. 

To help put you in control of the interview as much as possible, you can leave ‘hooks’ for the interviewer which direct them towards topics you’ll be able to talk about confidently. For example, if you write: “I was fascinated by the similarities between Ovid’s Amores and contemporary love poetry” , you should expect to be asked what in particular you found fascinating. 

This is one reason why it's really important to be honest in your Personal Statement. You should never claim to have read a book that you haven’t (even if you plan to read it after submitting your UCAS form, because who knows what will happen!) You also shouldn’t pretend to have an interest in a something just because you think it will sound impressive. Interviewers are likely to ask you about it and it will be pretty clear if you aren’t genuinely interested. 

4. Show that you are intellectually curious and thoughtful  

Oxbridge admissions tutors are looking for thoughtful and perceptive students who are curious about their chosen subject. How much material you have consumed on your subject is not as important as how deeply you have thought about each one. For example, there’s no point listing thirteen books that you’ve read with no comments or thoughts about any of them.  

To demonstrate a thoughtful approach to your studies, you can do things like: 

• Give an example of something you found particularly interesting in what you learned, and explain why you found it interesting.
• For example: “Learning about A at school led me to read X. I was particularly interested by the chapter on B, because …. This led me to further research B by watching Y.”
• For example: Did two different theorists interpret a concept differently? Is there a theme that runs through a set of books you’ve read? Did you disagree with an opinion presented at a lecture?

5. Try to be original…  

In 2019, Oxford University received more than 23,000 undergraduate applications for roughly 3,300 places. The vast majority of these applicants have really good grades, which can make it difficult to stand out from the crowd. This is where your ability to be perceptive and original comes in. Think about how the subject that you are applying for relates to your other studies, the world around you, and even your personal experiences. 

For example, almost every Classics student out there will know the plot of Medea , but how many of them will be able to demonstrate that it’s since been stolen by the screenwriters of Eastenders? Did campaigning for the most recent election remind you of a piece of propaganda from the First World War? 

Remember that the people who will read your application, and interview you, have made a career out of their chosen subject, and it really is their passion. They will genuinely be interested to have a conversation with you if you can bring an interesting or original thought to your Personal Statement and interview. 

6. …but don’t overdo it  

Don’t try to be original for the sake of it. And don’t go overboard with the thesaurus - concentrate on being clear rather than trying to be a lexical aficionado (annoying, right?) 

7. Proof-read, then proof-read again  

One thing which can negatively affect the opinion of Admissions Tutors is a typo. Even if it’s something really minor, some tutors are very strict on accuracy, and it could be the difference between receiving an offer or not.  

Proof-read your Personal Statement several times yourself, and then ask your parents, friends, or teachers to read it over, looking specifically for typos or grammatical errors. A lot of the time, it's easier for someone with fresh eyes to spot a typo than for the person writing.  

8. Don’t name drop Oxbridge  

Remember that you need your Personal Statement to be relevant to all five of the universities you are applying to. This means that you shouldn’t mention Oxford, Cambridge, or any other university by name.  

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How To Write An Oxbridge Personal Statement: 7 Steps To Success

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge , collectively known as Oxbridge , are world-leading higher education institutions.

With an international focus on research and academic excellence, entry is exceptionally competitive .

That means your personal statement needs to be exceptional too.

So, how do you write an Oxbridge personal statement?

A well-written Oxbridge personal statement should clearly define your high academic suitability and potential and evidence wider reading and research of an impressive standard. Evidence of transferable skills, academic enquiry, innovation and intellectual flexibility should also be included.

This post breaks the Oxbridge personal statement down into 7 steps, and at the end, I’ll give you my top tips for Oxbridge success…

An Overview of the Oxbridge Application Process

There are lots of reasons why applicants are attracted to Oxbridge institutions. From academic opportunities to reputational benefits , gaining a place can often be of real value.

Yes, there are some significant challenges to gaining a place and completing the course, but applicants, schools and employers highly prize the value of studying at Oxbridge.

Before we get into the details of how to write an impressive Oxbridge personal statement, let’s clarify a few things about the process…

What’s It Like To Study At Oxbridge?

Studying at Oxbridge stretches your academic abilities, organisational capacity, and emotional stamina. It also introduces you to a wealth of educational and interpersonal opportunities, helping you deepen your knowledge and understanding.

Oxford is pretty renowned for the academic intensity of its schedule. Aside from multiple lectures, humanities students will have at least one, if not two, 2,000-word essays to hand in per week, each of which will be discussed in a one-on-one manner with their tutor. At the start of every term, students face Collections, a set of informal assessments testing prior material. Andrea Carlo

The teaching in the Oxbridge collegiate system is known for its exceptional quality, depth and originality . You’ll engage with tutors via lectures and through supervisions or tutorials, 1-1 or in small groups.

Teachers and lecturers are often national or global leaders in their subject, so you can expect the quality (as well as the challenge) to be high.

The facilities you’ll encounter will combine classical architecture and contemporary resources. Check out the University of Oxford’s facilities here , and research the University of Cambridge’s resources here .

There’s no doubt that you’ll be immersed in an academically intensive experience with short semesters.

What’s The Oxbridge Application Process?

The application process for Oxbridge undergraduate courses runs through UCAS. When planning your personal statement, you should bear in mind the early deadline (usually 15 October) and the need to write an application suitable for Oxford or Cambridge, as well as up to three other choices.

You shouldn’t mention Oxbridge colleges directly in your personal statement , as it won’t be relevant to the other universities you’ve applied to.

Typically, candidates applying to Oxbridge will also apply to universities like Durham , LSE and Imperial College London .

These institutions will assume you are also applying to Oxford or Cambridge, given your timing and academic profile. However, they won’t be able to see your choices .

So, don’t write in your personal statement about how excited you are to study at Hertford College Oxford and use the Bodleian Libraries . That’s not going to help you get an offer from St Andrews .

What Happens When I Send My Oxbridge Application?

Once you’ve submitted your UCAS application, the individual college(s) you’ve applied to will gain access to your details. Members of relevant departments will review all elements of your application, including your personal statement, reference and test scores, if relevant.

Colleges will then make an interview shortlist , inviting successful applicants to interview in person.

Subsequently, colleges will moderate the interview results and make offers accordingly, usually in early-mid December.

Then you just need to get the results to meet the offer!

How Does Oxbridge Assess An Application?

UCAS has published an informative overview of the application process called ‘ Making an Application to Oxford and Cambridge ’.

This resource was created by Claire Canning, Deputy Student Recruitment Manager at Cambridge , and Catriona Woolhouse, Head of Outreach Delivery at Oxford . It clearly explains the process of applying and the kinds of qualities that both institutions look for in a candidate.

Here’s their infographic summing up the application process…

If you’ve been inspired to begin writing, check out my helpful post here on getting started with your personal statement .

If you’d like a concise, detailed template for exactly how to create the perfect Oxbridge personal statement , along with exclusive supporting materials, then check out my Personal Statement Templates eBook here .

1 Outline The Inspiration Behind Your Application

You’ll find lots of contrary advice online when it comes to writing the opening paragraph of your personal statement.

Some people will suggest that you start your personal statement with a quote , whilst others advocate a chronological approach.

However, Oxbridge applications need to begin very specifically.

You need to remember that your opening paragraph (and perhaps even your opening sentence) should be engineered to have a specific impact on the reader. It should:

• Establish your personality, originality and motivation
• Offer the reader immediate evidence of your suitability
• Impress in academic terms
• Lay the foundation for the rest of the personal statement

Create A Personal Connection To The Subject

Your opening paragraph should contextualise your application with a personal connection to the subject you plan to study.

Some of the best ways to make this connection include:

• Mentioning an experience that has had a relevant and profound impact
• Outlining the benefit or value to you of a particular subject
• Mentioning the impact on your life of an individual or idea related to that subject
• Outlining at the start a personal or professional ambition related to the subject

Be concise with this aspect of your Oxbridge personal statement, and make sure that you talk about how you have responded to this inspirational moment or concept.

Don’t just describe an event that happened to you in the past.

An admissions reader will want to understand the inspiration for your application, but they will immediately want to see how that inspiration has empowered you to take action.

Explain Your Motivation For Study

Another way to think of this opening paragraph is to imagine that you are explaining why you want to study a particular subject.

What’s your motivation?

As long as you are well-informed and realistic, write about what you hope to achieve during and after studying. Don’t make unrealistic or ill-informed claims .

Readers will want to understand how you’ve prepared this application and what you’ve accomplished academically and practically.

How have expert academic achievements in this field inspired you, and what do you hope to achieve by comparison?

If you can write in a way that shows you are informed, engaged, connected and ambitious, you’ll create a strong opening paragraph.

2 Establish Your Academic Suitability & Potential

More than any other factor, an Oxbridge personal statement stands or falls based on the applicant’s academic quality .

Whilst co-curricular achievements and personal qualities will play a part, the foundation of an Oxbridge education is academic depth. Your personal statement must establish that you have studied to a high standard and that you’ll be able to study to an even higher standard in the future.

So, how do you achieve this without writing a list of your achievements?

The answer is to remember to consider the concepts of application and value .

Show How You’ve Applied Your Knowledge & Talent

Rather than simply listing qualifications or experiences, try to write about how you have applied your knowledge and skills.

An admissions team will be far more interested in an applicant who has actively used and explored their knowledge than an applicant who has read a book. 

The application of knowledge and innovation are core aspects of an Oxbridge ethos. Your personal statement is a time to show how you have already engaged in this approach rather than describe what you’ve done in the past.

If you look at the graphic below, you’ll see that, above all else, Oxbridge colleges are looking for students with academic ability and potential .

Subject knowledge, interest and research all centre around this core aspect, so devote as much time as possible to establishing your credentials.

Ways To Show You’ve Applied Your Knowledge

• Rather than listing a qualification, explain how you’ve used what you learned whilst studying and applied it to a different discipline or problem
• Rather than describing what you did on a residential course, outline the specific knowledge you gained and how you went on to use it to achieve something meaningful
• Rather than outlining a particular viewpoint or theory, explain how you employed this knowledge practically or in discussion

Here’s an example of how not to write about academic suitability and potential:

Instead, show how you’ve applied your knowledge:

You should also use subject-specific terminology to evidence your detailed and relevant subject knowledge.

Don’t fill your personal statement with so much specialist vocabulary that it doesn’t reflect your personality, but do show that you can use relevant terminology accurately.

Outline The Value Of Each Academic Strength

Whilst you should write about relevant academic achievements within the taught curriculum, you should also consider their value .

In other words, identify the value to you of that piece of knowledge. What does it enable you to achieve? How does it link with other concepts or disciplines? How does it allow you to move forwards?

Another way to establish the value of your existing subject skills and experience is to remember the ABC method. For each point you want to make in this section, try to follow this pattern:

The last way to communicate to a reader that you’ve gained value from a piece of knowledge or experience is to be able to offer an informed opinion .

Use your personal statement to briefly outline two contrasting pieces of relevant knowledge and then form a judgment or opinion about them. Make sure that it is accurate and that your conclusion is appropriate to the kind of content you expect to encounter on the course.

If a reader can see that you are already capable of synthesising information to develop informed concepts, they’ll know you have a sound academic foundation from which to build.

For more detailed guidance on how to write about yourself in a personal statement, check out my post here .

3 Evidence Your Wider Reading & Research

It’s essential to use part of your Oxbridge personal statement to illustrate your commitment to more extensive reading and research . These are sometimes referred to as super-curricular activities because they are linked but in addition to your taught timetable.

Typically, it is up to you to seek out and engage in super-curricular activities. Ideally, your school or college will provide you with a broad programme that gives you these opportunities.

Here’s a great example of a super-curricular scheme that gives students the chance to engage in teacher-led and independent activities . The activities develop their knowledge and potential and provide opportunities to flourish in an Oxbridge environment.

If these opportunities aren’t immediately available to you, you’ll need to seek them out for yourself .

An Oxbridge admissions tutor will expect you to have the drive and ambition to do precisely that.

What Does Oxbridge Consider Super-Curricular?

Both Oxford and Cambridge share the same view when it comes to super-curricular activities:

• They should be activities that go above and beyond the school curriculum
• They should require independent, academic engagement
• They provide discussion points during the interview
• They are freely available in the community or online and are not prohibitive in cost
• They help students clarify their subject choices
• They demonstrate subject engagement and research skills
• They broaden a student’s subject knowledge

How To Undertake Wider Reading and Research

When it comes to an Oxbridge personal statement, what do wider reading and research look like?

Any relevant super-curricular activity can be classed as research if it teaches you something that you didn’t learn in school.

Here are the six elements that sum up my approach to this aspect of your Oxbridge personal statement:

Your personal statement must ensure that you demonstrate a reasonable understanding of your subject and field and show that you can offer original arguments and opinions reinforced by outstanding study methodology.

Here’s a generalised idea of how that might look…

4 Evidence Additional Experiences & Qualifications

One of the core elements that sets an Oxbridge application apart from others is the depth and range of your additional experiences and qualifications .

Remember, admissions teams at Oxford and Cambridge are looking for exceptional students with significant academic potential.

The only way for them to know if that potential exists is to see examples of how some applicants have achieved more than others.

That means you must include evidence of academic activities that set you apart from your peers.

This could take the form of additional courses outside of the school curriculum, masterclasses and workshops or lectures you have attended. It could be trips to venues or museums, residential opportunities, EPQs , debating and competition entry or relevant work experiences…

Or anything else that shows that you can manage a higher, more demanding academic workload than most students.

5 Ways To Prove You’re Oxbridge Material

• Connect your skills and knowledge to the demands of the course or subject, making a positive link between your experience and the demands of higher education at Oxbridge
• Use examples to explain how your academic career has prepared you for Oxbridge study
• Outline the dynamic and self-motivated ways in which you have sought to deepen your subject knowledge
• Consider the value of the additional knowledge you have gained concerning your suitability for Oxbridge entry
• Clarify the value of awards, prizes and accolades to your application, and outline the relevant academic skills you used to achieve these

5 Show The Relevance Of Your Transferable Skills

Oxford and Cambridge are largely uninterested in learning about the range of your extra-curricular activities.

You may be a great swimmer or passionate about joining the chess club, but those aren’t the aspects of your life that resonate with an admissions team.

That’s why they distinguish between super-curricular activities (academic pursuits beyond the taught curriculum) and extra-curricular activities (cycling or playing in a band).

However, your Oxbridge personal statement will be significantly strengthened if you show the relevance of your transferable skills. You should demonstrate the value of the skills you’ve developed in relation to successfully completing the course.

Here’s an example…

That extract isn’t really about hockey. It evidences the applicant’s relevant transferable skills and reinforces their suitability for the course.

Transferable Skills For Oxbridge Applications

• High-level study skills and research techniques
• Current affairs and informed opinion
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Ambition and motivation
• Timekeeping and responsibility
• Stamina and resilience
• Organisation and meeting deadlines
• Pressure management and wellbeing

Try to demonstrate how you have developed or used a range of these skills whilst outlining your academic strengths.

To find out more, check out my post on how to include skills in your personal statement here .

6 Highlight Your Value to the Institution

As you approach the end of your personal statement, you should outline how you’ll be of value to the institutions you’re applying to.

Remember, you can’t identify a university by name in your personal statement, as up to five different institutions see it. However, you can identify your value and clarify the benefits you’ll bring.

This shouldn’t be a list. It might just be a sentence that outlines a new achievement and suggests ways in which you’ll build on it in the future.

What Kind Of Value Is Oxbridge Looking For?

You might not fit into all these categories, but you should be able to identify one or two that connect with your academic achievements.

Make sure that you use your previous experiences to illustrate the value of your future accomplishments.

Don’t just list the things you’ve already done!

7 Connect the Course with Your Goals & Ambitions

The last critical element of your Oxbridge personal statement is to link your immediate and long-term goals with the opportunities provided by the institutions you’re applying to .

This is so vital because it illustrates to the reader that you understand the content and demands of the course. It also connects your ambitions with what the university offers, demonstrating that you’re an ideal fit.

Outlining your goals also reassures the reader that you understand the field you intend to enter and can see how your skills and potential relate to it. That’s another excellent way of demonstrating your knowledge level.

You’ll need to be ready to defend these ambitions at the interview!

5 Quick Tips for Writing About Your Academic Goals

• Link your goals with the published ethos or mission statement of the college you most want to study at
• Connect your research or publication ambitions with those of faculty staff or alumni
• Link the stated course outcomes or modules with your ambitions upon completion, creating a logical through-line
• Identify the next round(s) of innovation in your field and explain why you want to lead these
• Within reason, make use of the vocabulary and terminology used by the college to reflect the level of your connection

If you’ve left things a little late and are up against a deadline, check out my super-helpful post on writing a last-minute personal statement here .

Top Tips for Oxbridge Success

What makes a successful oxbridge student.

A successful Oxbridge student shows a high level of subject knowledge and interest and can fluently identify and argue core concepts within their specialism. They are enthusiastic about engaging with new ideas and can readily apply existing knowledge to new situations.

A successful applicant can also assimilate and apply new concepts, show flexibility of thought, and respond to new information. They can demonstrate clarity of thought and reasoning and the ability to think analytically and critically.

When Should I Start Writing A Personal Statement?

Oxbridge applications typically need to be submitted by mid-October of the year before entry. However, you should begin planning your personal statement far in advance.

Remember that there are several unique elements that you need to include in an Oxbridge personal statement. In some cases, these require you to act at least two years before your submission.

You’ll need time to set up work placements and undertake additional research, reading and courses.

You can check out my step-by-step guide to when to write a personal statement here .

How Do I Know When My Statement is Finished?

It’s always sensible to get some guidance before submitting your personal statement. That might be from peers, parents, teachers, counsellors or professionals, but having help to get your personal statement right is vital .

Once you’ve edited your Oxbridge personal statement down to under 4000 characters, you should double-check each paragraph to ensure that you have covered each of the headings above.

Make sure that you’ve got the balance between the sections right. My Personal Statement Template eBook has guides for getting each section to precisely the right length.

Make sure you have written your application in an accurate, concise and compelling way.

One of the best tools for this is Grammarly . It’s a powerful browser add-on that checks your spelling, punction, and grammar and offers you options for rephrasing and developing your content. I recommend it to the applicants I work with, and you can check out the free version of Grammarly here or hit the banner below.

One last thing you can do is work through my free guide on how to check a personal statement . It’s packed full of helpful strategies to ensure your application is perfect.

What Should I Expect At An Oxbridge Interview?

An Oxbridge interview is academically and intellectually demanding. It assesses knowledge, understanding and flexibility of thought by posing challenging questions related to current areas of study. The ability to apply knowledge in new contexts and develop existing ideas is also tested.

Interviewers look for depth of knowledge, flexibility of thought and a motivated attitude.

Oxbridge interviews aren’t designed to trip you up or catch you out, but they are designed to stretch your intellectual ability and to better understand your level of self-knowledge. They’ll also test your awareness of current affairs.

You can check out my 15 powerful tips for how to prepare for a university interview here , or click here to read my guide on the 10 questions universities always ask .

Good luck with your Oxbridge personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support.

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Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

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I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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12 Personal Statement FAQs and answers!

There is often a large amount of confusion surrounding how to write personal statements, especially when it comes to oxford and cambridge and other top research universities., every year, we have thousands of students ask us what qualities go into making a successful personal statement., to help, we have broken down this question into 12 of the most frequently asked questions our prospective students ask when they are trying to draft their personal statements., 1. how do i write the introduction.

Introductions are often disappointingly generic. To help you achieve more specificity and concision, the best way to write a good personal statement introduction is to complete the rest of it first. When you are getting started on the first draft, it can be overwhelming to begin at a blank page, but discussing your achievements and interests – relevant to the courses and universities you are applying to – can help you clarify what your motivation to study the subject really is. Then you can come back and explain the reasons behind your passion for Mathematics, Anglo Saxon literature or your subject of choice.

2. How many books should I talk about?

This question can be answered in various ways depending on the subject you intend to study. Clinical scientific subjects will not require many book mentions, however, Arts and Humanities personal statements for Oxbridge see a great benefit from discussing at least two books in detail, with further reading mentioned.

It’s also important to remember that academic sources shouldn’t be only limited to books. A well-rounded personal statement discusses specific theories, touches on lectures you have attended or essays and articles you have read to gain a better understanding of specific academic points rather than a general discussion. One of the biggest pitfalls students fall into when drafting Oxbridge personal statements is getting stuck waffling about general points around a subject of interest. To avoid getting stuck in general chatter, try to use only specific examples in your personal statement.

Centrally, admissions tutors want to see that you know you are getting yourself in for. Only reading a couple of books from their introductory list will therefore not tantalise them; try to follow your interests in a bit more depth and look at readings and ideas which are representative of degree level material.

3. What do I do if I have no work experience?

Referencing work experience in your personal statement is dependent on the subject you intend to study. A rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether you think an academic in the faculty you are applying to will think your work experience was relevant for the course. If you are applying to study History, for example, your two-weeks at an accounting or law firm organising files will be of little interest.

For Medicine, work experience is integral not only to the application process but will help build a strong personal statement. When applying to a vocational subject such as Medicine, where possible you should always ensure you are able to reference at least one work experience placement held. If you don’t have any work experience and your personal statement is due, make sure to arrange some and refer to this in the future tense in your personal statement when talking about your upcoming placement.

Work experience can also be useful for other more vocation-leaning subjects, such as architecture and engineering. More widely, doing work experience is extremely useful to help you begin thinking about what you might want to do with your career, and can build highly useful skills, but, unless it is relevant to the course content, it is unlikely to proffer you any credit for university admission.

4. How long should I talk about extra-curricular activities?

Leading research universities are looking for your potential to succeed on the course you are applying for. Nevertheless, two applicants who seem academically matched might be distinguished from each other by their ability to balance their time with several other things. Do include what you do outside of academia, then, but keep non-relevant activities mentioned to a minimum rather than an exhaustive list. This might mean sacrificing some of the things you do outside of your course and focus on those few things you do most often, or to the highest level. (N.B. Your reference might be able to discuss some of your extra-curricular activities too, and you don’t want to overlap this material).

What you do mention, try to link to your subject. This might be easy, as with an English literature student who has directed lots of theatre, or less easy, such as a maths applicant who plays the violin to a high level. Nevertheless, making these links convincingly can bring originality and creativity to your statement.

5. How can I tailor it for different courses?

Subjects like HSPS at Cambridge or Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford might make it tricky to tailor your statement for different courses. Oxford and Cambridge are very understanding of this, and specific guidance can usually be found on faculty websites about their expectations.

However, as a rule of thumb, focus on the areas of convergence between the courses you are applying for. If these differ in title, then avoid stating the title of the course in your statement and instead refer to the disciplinary area or focus instead. This involves: a) making sure the courses you are applying for are sufficiently similar to give you a chance of doing this, and b) doing your research on the course content and options so that you are covering the appropriate material.

This research stands even if you are applying for the same titled course everywhere. English, for example, is taught very differently at Oxford to Bristol, and focusing on an interest which does not feature in either course will result in your application being put aside.

Doing this research early can also help you to direct your reading and research to build material for your personal statement which speaks to all your choices.

6. How should I talk about my other A-level subjects?

Lots of students are told to discuss the skills they have gathered from their A Level subjects, but we caution around this; your UCAS application includes a full list of A-Level subjects studied, and your school reference will discuss your A-Level abilities. Talking about the time management or analytical skills you gained from studying history, and the logical skills you gained from physics, can therefore come across as ‘fodder’ which could have already been inferred.

You can, however, talk about how other subjects provide further insight into the course or subject you’d like to study. For example, students who have taken Classics that intend to study English Literature at university can talk about translating texts, such as the Aeneid, and how this helped gain a greater understanding of classical influence in modern English Literature. As with the whole statement, the more specific you can make this, the better.

7. How long should it be?

This is an easy one. Your personal statement should be at most, 4,000 characters or 47 lines, whichever you meet first. Although it can be shorter, we strongly recommend taking full advantage of the available space. Ideally, you want your first draft to be much longer so you can cut down and edit your personal statement to be shorter, rather than using general waffle or struggling to fill the space.

Cutting it down is usually relatively easy, but it might take an outside eye to see the ‘wood from the trees’. Any non-relevant, generic material, anything which is likely to be in many other statements, and frilly, decorative language or repetition can all be chopped down.

If you find you are struggling to reach 4,000 characters or 47 lines, you probably need to revisit the body of your personal statement and discuss more subject-specific content. You may, alternatively, need to go back to the research and reading phase of writing.

8. What formatting should I use?

The final version of your personal statement will be submitted in a digital form with no formatting options, so there is no need to worry about formatting. That means you won’t have to decide what font or colour to use and there is no need for styles such as bold or italics. If you do include these, they won’t appear in the submitted version.

Your school should already have discussed best practice for writing your personal statement but as a reminder – do not write your statement draft in the real form! As with any content that is going to be submitted digitally, you should write it in a word document first (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Pages, etc) where you can save a copy locally to your computer (and back-up regularly). This way, you can avoid the devastating loss of your best statement draft due to an accidental refresh or the internet dropping out.

9. How many paragraphs should it be?

There is no set-in-stone rule for the number of paragraphs but generally, a well-structured personal statement will be broken up into five or six paragraphs and be easy to read. Admissions tutors will need to comprehend your statement very quickly, so structure with this in mind.

A frequently-successful structure follows this pattern: an introduction, two to three course/subject-specific main paragraphs, a penultimate paragraph detailing your extracurricular activities, and then a final summary paragraph. The final two paragraphs are sometimes pushed together to form one.

10. Will they find out if I slightly…exaggerate my talents?

Yes! Your personal statement for Oxford and Cambridge should be considered a springboard for your interview and you could and should expect to be questioned about any single detail of it. At Oxbridge Applications, every year, we have students that approach us in January who are upset that their Admissions Tutor spent 20 minutes focused on a certain author when “I only mentioned that book briefly as a side note”.

However, you DON’T need to be an expert, or even particularly knowledgeable, about a particular idea or author to mention it in your statement. If you are questioned about an aspect of an author’s work you have mentioned which you are unsure about, then be intellectually honest and say so, but try your best to have a go given what you already know about them or similar authors/ideas.

This is not only the case for authors/books mentioned, but also if you put forward a highly ambitious or critical view in your statement. If you want to argue that Marx was totally wrong, then you better be ready to defend your view in a nuanced way. The bottom line is: stay intellectually honest and err on the side of modesty; academics tend to become less rather than more sure about the ‘truth’ the further they delve into their subject matter.

11. How many teachers should check my personal statement?

Preferably, you will get your drafted personal statement checked by at last two of your teachers or guidance advisers. One should be subject-specific who can check over the content of your paragraphs and the other can be from a different department to provide feedback on grammatical accuracy and quality of the statement.

Getting guidance from second and third parties can be useful ensure you retain editorial control, and that your voice and taste runs through the statement. If you try to include everyone’s different opinion, you can quickly end up with a jumbled statement that no longer reflects on you and your communication style and strengths.

Make sure you leave plenty of time between completing your first draft and the Oxbridge personal statement deadline ensuring you have time for others to check it over and you can make changes as necessary.

12. Should I start my personal statement with a quote?

‘Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.’ Oscar Wilde.

How much have you learned about me from reading Wilde’s words?

Quotes are used each year by applicants who end up getting offers from top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. It’s not necessarily going to bring your application to an end. Quotes are also awarded marks in certain A Level subjects, if you have taken the time to remember them and give them a bit of context.

However, your personal statement gives admissions tutors the chance to hear your voice, and to get a sense of what you might be like as a student on their course. By definition , using a quote – i.e. someone else’s words – is not personal. It is therefore preferable to avoid using a quote unless it’s absolutely essential. Using a quote doesn’t make YOU sound more interesting.

Before you decide to use a quote, think long and hard. If you would really like to use a quote, try to make it as pithy and concise as possible, and make sure it elevates and builds on what you are saying; that it expresses something you couldn’t have otherwise expressed on your own. (Also, by ‘quote’, we are not talking about specific concepts or theories – these are absolutely fine to include.)

Driven by 20 years of research and first-hand experience in guiding thousands of applicants, our consultations provide an honest and detailed assessment with guidance on individual personal statements.

If you would like to speak to one of our oxbridge-graduate advisors about your own personal statement, contact our oxbridge advising team on  +44 (0)207499 2394 , email at [email protected] , or request a callback  to discuss your situation., explore oxbridge applications, request a callback, application resources, related content, oxford & cambridge acceptance rates, summer opportunities, first steps to preparing for oxbridge interviews.

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A Guide to an Expert Oxbridge Personal Statement Structure

Table of Contents

If you are planning to apply for Oxbridge, it is important to understand how to write a great personal statement. To make sure that your statement stands out from the crowd, certain key elements should be included in your structure.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes up an effective Oxbridge personal statement structure . And how you can create one that will make you stand out from other applicants.

What Is an Oxbridge Personal Statement Structure?

A personal statement structure for an Oxbridge application should be tailored to the program you are applying for. It should include details of why you’re interested in studying at that university , your relevant qualifications.

Add any experiences which have shaped your interest in your chosen course. The structure is important because it allows you to clearly and logically present yourself, making your qualities and achievements easy to identify.

What to Include in Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement for Oxbridge should include information about the following:

• Your academic background and the courses or topics that fascinate you
• Your goals for completing the course or degree
• Any significant extracurricular activities you’ve undertaken
• How prior experiences helped you become ready for this degree
• Your goals for the future and how completing this course or degree will help you reach them.

Tips for Writing a Successful Personal Statement

When writing a personal statement for Oxbridge, several tips can help you ensure it stands out from the crowd:

Be Specific

Show why you are interested in studying at that particular university or program rather than just any university.

Demonstrate Your Knowledge

Be sure to cite appropriate works of literature and other sources. This is to back up your claims and prove that you’ve done your research.

Have Someone Else Look Over It

Ask a teacher, mentor, or parent to read your statement and provide feedback.

Keep It Brief

Maximum of 4000 characters for your personal statement (including spaces).

Steps to Writing an Oxbridge Personal Statement Structure

Step 1 – tailor your statement.

When writing an Oxbridge personal statement, it is essential to tailor it to the university you are applying for. Each university has different criteria and requirements, so take the time to thoroughly research each before beginning your application process. You must show that you clearly understand the university you are applying to. Show you have taken the time to reflect on why you would be an excellent fit for the institution.

Step 2 – Show Your Passion

It is essential to show your passion for studying at Oxbridge in your statement, so make sure it reflects this enthusiasm. Demonstrate your deep understanding and knowledge of your chosen course or subject area and that you can’t wait to study it in more detail. Talk about activities or experiences related to the course, such as volunteering, work experience, or research projects. These will help showcase your commitment and dedication.

Step 3 – Highlight Your Achievements

Don’t be afraid to showcase your achievements and successes in your personal statement. Talk about any awards, qualifications, or extracurricular activities you’ve undertaken which relate to the course. Demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual who is committed and dedicated to your studies.

Example of an Oxbridge Personal Statement Structure

My interest in history began at an early age, and I have always been fascinated by the past and its impact on the present. This passion has shaped my academic pursuits, leading me to gain a profound understanding of the subject. I am excited by the prospect of studying Ancient History at Oxbridge University. It would give me a unique opportunity to explore this topic further.

I have taken several courses related to Ancient History throughout my studies so far. These have provided me with valuable knowledge and skills which will prove invaluable during my studies at Oxbridge University. Furthermore, I was recently awarded first prize in an international essay competition on Ancient Greek Civilization. I showcased my writing abilities and knowledge of this period.

Outside the academic sphere, I am a keen rower and recently represented my school at a national rowing competition. This experience taught me the importance of dedication and commitment to achieve success. These attributes which I can bring with me to my studies at Oxbridge University.

Ultimately, my passion for Ancient History, combined with my knowledge of the subject, will allow me to make a valuable contribution to the university. I look forward to learning more about this fascinating topic as part of one of the world’s leading universities.

Can I Tell When My Statement Is Finished?

You should always seek advice before submitting your personal statement. You may receive suggestions from peers, parents, teachers, counselors, or professionals, but it’s important to get your personal statement right.

What Makes an Oxbridge Student Successful?

The successful Oxbridge student exhibits high level of subject knowledge and interest, while fluently identifying and arguing core concepts within their specialization. They are enthusiastic about new ideas, and are able to apply existing knowledge in new situations.

What Do You Do to Finish?

The process of finishing a personal statement can be daunting, especially if you don’t know what words to use in your introduction. It does not have to be long or expansive. But you should just summarize your interest and dedication to your chosen topic in the final paragraph.

Writing an Oxbridge personal statement can seem daunting, but following these critical steps can become much more accessible. Remember to tailor each statement, show your passion for the subject area and highlight any relevant achievements or experiences. This will ensure that yours stands out from other applications . Good luck!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Successful Personal Statement For Engineering At Oxford

Last Updated: 3rd August 2020

Author: Adi Sen

• Engineering

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through an Engineering applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of Engineering. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Engineering comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Engineering Programme today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

Engineering Personal Statement

I have always considered myself creative; much of my youth was spent designing and building with my Dad in his workshop. I would read encyclopaedias on cars and watch design-related TV programmes such as BBC’s Robot Wars, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of each robot and thinking about how they could be improved. This background, combined with a genuine enjoyment of mathematics and physics, has given me a desire to read engineering at university.

Reading Marcus du Sautoy’s “The Music of the Primes” and Simon Singh’s “Fermat’s Last Theorem” has shown how individuals have dedicated their lives to solving seemingly simple problems. The main attraction of these books and mathematics more widely, is problem solving, which is also what draws me to engineering. Solving a wide variety of problems is something I really enjoy; in the most recent UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, I was awarded a gold certificate, also the best score in my year at school.

Studying physics at A-Level has helped me to understand the world, and answered questions I had as a child; why does a satellite stay in orbit? How does gravity work? Why does a clock pendulum keep in time? My favourite aspect of physics is mechanics, complemented by my maths mechanics modules. The application of physics and mechanics to engineering was obvious from the outset; it is a fundamental skill set which bridges the gap between science and invention. I also enjoy studying Further Pure Mathematics, in particular calculus, and am interested in how the solutions of second order differential equations apply to problems in mechanics.

Projects including designing and making a desk lamp, a torch and bench vice grips in GCSE Engineering gave me an initial insight into the discipline. The course gave me hands on experience with equipment typical of an engineering department. Considering the benefits of materials was important too; from an economic, aesthetic, and practical perspective. I also secured work experience at a BMW Mini Plant in the ‘Whole Vehicle Analysis’, section. One project involved heating up a Mini’s bonnet to address complaints from customers in hot countries that the bonnet scoop sagged. I used CNC measuring equipment and helped to write up one of a series of reports, resulting in an alloy being added to the scoop so it retained its structure. The week introduced me to engineering in the real world, the importance of quality control and precision and the cost of a company’s mistakes.

Aside from my studies, I have always had a musical interest and am working towards grade 7 piano. I completed work experience at the local ‘Yamaha Homeworld’ music shop specialising in top range digital pianos. I am constantly impressed at how a digital piano can look, feel, and respond exactly like a real piano. I like being part of a team and am a keen rugby and cricket player. Being elected as prefect and head boy has further helped me to work well, and get on with others, as well as improving my public speaking. This has been complemented by taking Grade 8 ‘Speaking in Public’ last year, in which I achieved a distinction. I now feel confident talking in front of large groups and being able to communicate my ideas easily. Reading Steven Johnson’s “Where Good Ideas Come From” discussed the theory that “ideas are generated by crowds where connection is more important than protection” and for me this epitomises the importance of team work and communication within engineering.

Ultimately, I would like to play a role in the future of our rapidly developing world; studying engineering at university will not only give me the skills to do this, but will also stimulate my passion for mathematics and science.

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is an excellent statement.

The student begins with personal reasons as to why they are interested in engineering, and by the end of the introduction, the reader is left in no doubt that the student is absolutely sure they want to pursue engineering at a higher level. The student successfully describes a range of experiences and interests covering several engineering disciplines and keeps the application general enough to be relevant to a general engineering degree. The statement is well-structured with a clear introduction, main body, and end.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

Although the student mentions several experiences/interests covering several engineering disciplines, they fall short of naming a specific engineering discipline that captures their interest.

Whilst this is not a requirement, naming a particular field of engineering as capturing one’s interest above other fields would demonstrate a level of decisiveness to the reader. Many universities do not offer general engineering degrees, and it is possible a student who is applying for engineering at Oxford or Cambridge will also make several applications to universities for specific engineering disciplines.

It is important to keep the statement general enough for applications to general engineering courses but also specific enough for applications to individual engineering disciplines. This would have been possible by stating an interest in a particular engineering discipline.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an excellent statement, one that is well-written and well-structured. The student’s motivation to study engineering is clear, although the student falls short of naming a specific field of engineering which capture’s their interest above all others.

Because of this one negative, we’re awarding this statement 4/5 stars. However, it’s important to note this rating is based on the overall strength of the statement. Although it had potential to be a little stronger, this had no impact on the number of offers the candidate received.

And there we have it – an Oxford Engineering Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

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Oxford Engineering Model Personal Statement Exemplar from Successful Applicant

This is an example personal statement by a successful oxford engineering applicant.

I have always enjoyed solving problems, understanding the questions raised by them and the physical and mental processes required to find a solution. Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Art at AS have presented me with a variety of challenges, which with my supplementary studies and experiences have led me to Engineering, a subject that combines the theoretical and practical in a way that interests me.

[1] The personal statement begins with the applicant's affinity for problem-solving and their enjoyment of understanding the processes involved in finding solutions.

[2] They mention their study of Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Art, which have presented them with various challenges and led them to pursue Engineering, a subject that combines their logical scientific nature with their creative artistic side.

Engineering appeals to my logical scientific nature and my more creative artistic side, allowing me to combine my skills to create solutions to the problems of daily life. These views have been reinforced by attending lectures in Maths at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Physics at Imperial College London. The former gave an understanding of maths at undergraduate level and in particular studies in 4 dimensions, the latter an understanding of the ways in which routes on the London underground are optimised via the use of a routing algorithm that employs the physics of interacting polymers. Visiting the Large Hadron Collider has shown me direct links between theoretical physics and engineering.

[3] The applicant highlights their exposure to lectures in Maths and Physics, where they gained insights into advanced mathematical concepts and the application of physics in optimizing routes on the London underground.

[4] They also mention visiting the Large Hadron Collider, which solidified their understanding of the connections between theoretical physics and engineering.

I was selected for a week-long summer school in Cambridge as part of the Oxbridge Prospects programme, where I furthered my understanding of maths and physics at university level experiencing the challenging yet rewarding nature of solving a three-day long problem as well as a taste of university life. I have also been lucky enough to take on work experience in the railway yard and workshops of East Coast Trains, experiencing the complex combination of the mechanical, electrical and hydraulics first-hand.

[5] The applicant mentions participating in a week-long summer school in Cambridge as part of the Oxbridge Prospects program, where they experienced the academic rigour of solving complex problems and gained a taste of university life.

[6] They also describe their work experience in the railway yard and workshops of East Coast Trains, which provided them with firsthand exposure to the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic aspects of engineering.

I am inspired by the achievements of the great engineers of history such as Joseph Bazalgette's London sewage system to overcome the Great Stink of London and Nikola Tesla's development of electrical systems. I have also been influenced by reading Richard Feynman and specifically his work at Los Alamos where he aided engineers in devising safety procedures for nuclear material storage.

[7] The applicant expresses their admiration for historical engineers such as Joseph Bazalgette and Nikola Tesla, as well as their influence from reading Richard Feynman's work at Los Alamos. These experiences and influences have reinforced their belief that the application of theoretical and practical knowledge, blending scientific rigor with artistic creativity, is where their interest lies.

All these experiences have led me to conclude that the application in the world of theoretical and practical knowledge, both rigorously scientific and artistically creative, is where my interest lies. My studies in AS Physics has direct links to Engineering through Mechanics, Electricity, Materials, problem solving skills and practical work. Maths and more particularly Further Maths has taught me to apply rigour and a systematic nature in my approach to problem solving. Finally, Art has taught me the importance of drawing/sketching and being able to visualize the problem allowing me to manipulate the physical aspects of the problem in search of the solution.

[8] The applicant reflects on their studies in Physics, Maths, Further Maths, and Art, highlighting how each subject has contributed to their problem-solving skills, systematic approach, and ability to visualize and manipulate physical aspects.

I enjoy working as part of a team; I am a drummer (Grade 7 Distinction, studying Grade 8) and have played in many bands and orchestras performing many times in London. I have also toured the Italian Lakes playing in a jazz band. This has given me an understanding of how a well-integrated group can achieve more than an individual on their own. This knowledge has also been reinforced by my experience of teaching. I have been a dedicated student of karate since the age of 5 and having achieved my 1st Dan Black belt rank at age 15, have taught children weekly since then. This has helped me come to an understanding of the planning (and compromises) required to lead a group and keep it focused and progressing.

[9] They emphasize their enjoyment of working as part of a team, citing their experience as a drummer in bands and orchestras and their teaching of karate to children.

Overall I believe the study of Engineering is the right path for me, combining many aspects of the subjects that I enjoy and wish to learn more about. I would like to think that in the future my studies will have equipped me to apply complex theoretical knowledge to practical problems, working with other like-minded people towards efficient and elegant solutions that hopefully improve everybody's quality of life. I also believe a degree in engineering will provide me with the social, business and intellectual capabilities that will be required when working in the twenty-first century global economy.

[10] The statement concludes with the applicant's conviction that studying Engineering aligns with their interests and desire to apply complex theoretical knowledge to practical problems. They express their aspiration to work with like-minded individuals in pursuit of efficient and elegant solutions that enhance the quality of life. They also recognize the broader skills and capabilities, including social, business, and intellectual, that a degree in engineering can provide for success in the global economy.

Why is this a good Oxford Engineering personal statement?

Overall, this personal statement demonstrates the applicant's passion for problem-solving, their multidisciplinary approach to learning, and their appreciation for the intersection of science, art, and practical applications.

Their exposure to lectures, work experience, and extracurricular activities showcases their engagement with the field of engineering and their ability to work effectively in teams.

The statement also reflects their long-term goals of contributing to society through engineering and their recognition of the skills required for success in the modern world.

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