Thinking of applying to university and perplexed by personal statements? Don’t worry – you’re not alone!

I asked Leeds Beckett’s admissions team (the people who will be checking your applications) to tell me what they look for in a great personal statement, and here’s what they said:

  • Motivation
    We want to see your motivation for why you want to do the course. Tell us what inspired you to pursue it, and where you want it to lead to in the future.
  • Passion
    To succeed in your studies and get the most out of the course, you need to be really interested in what you are studying. Tell us why you’d love to study on the course, and if possible, use the name of the course in your personal statement.
  • Work experience
    Make sure you speak about any relevant work experience you have, and mention any transferable skills you gained in the process. We really want to see what you do outside of your studies, and what you’ve gained from it. You can also mention any non-paid work, any schemes or leadership roles you’ve had. Examples include class representative, prefect, sports captaincy, Duke of Edinburgh scheme and more.
  • Community
    At Leeds Beckett University, we are very interested in students’ educational and employment-based achievements, but we also really want to know the ways that you have given something back to others. Have you been involved in community groups, charity work or something else? If so, we would like you to tell us about it in your application.
  • What makes you unique
    Your personal statement is your chance to stand out from the crowd. How are you different from your peers that are doing similar qualifications to yourself? What do you do that demonstrates your qualities and potential above and beyond your academic qualifications?

I hope this was helpful. Good luck with writing your personal statements, you'll do great.

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