PREPARING AND WRITING A
PERSONAL STATEMENT
When Will You Be Asked to Submit a Personal Statement?
You will usually be asked to prepare and submit a Personal Statement as part
of an application for a taught postgraduate course such as a Masters or
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) as well as for a research degree
such as an MRes, MPhil or PhD.
What is a Personal Statement?
It is one of the ways in which those offering the course will begin to judge your
commitment to your chosen area of study. For some courses it will be one of
the main methods used, whilst others may use it as a preliminary assessment
of suitability and will then ask you to attend for an interview or other
assessment activity.
Most application forms will indicate what they would like you to concentrate on,
for example, the University of Nottingham postgraduate application states
“Please use this space to summarise your academic interests and reasons for
choosing your intended course of study.” For Research applicants “Please
provide a brief outline of your proposed research topic or interests. If you have
a detailed research proposal (not more than 2 pages) this may be attached.”
Some courses, particularly the PGCE, will set out specific ways in which they
want you to complete the statement. To being your research and to find out
more about PGCE Personal Statements, use the CCD website:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/students/resources/ideas/education.php
#schools
In the Occupations Section of the CCD Resource Area the Education File also
has information and advice which you will find useful to read before you begin
to write your statement.
Preparing to Write a Personal Statement
Before writing any Personal Statement you must consider and research:
Why you want to undertake postgraduate study?
Your reasons for wanting to study at a particular university?
The courses available to you and decide which you are most interested in
and why?
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