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Tips for writing your personal statement

How to write a personal statement it's difficult to know where to begin. get hints and tips on structure, content and what not to write from a university expert..

• An insider's view
• What admissions tutors look for

Structuring and preparing your personal statement

What to write in a personal statement, examples to avoid, an insider’s view .

Personal statements may seem formulaic, but they can be critical to the decision-making process, and admissions tutors do read them.

If you’re applying for a high-demand course, your personal statement could be the deciding factor on whether or not you get an interview.

The Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment at the University of Gloucestershire , James Seymour, shares some top tips on how to write a personal statement.

What makes a good personal statement?

This is your chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment and show us what value you can add to a university. In the vast majority of cases, universities are finding ways to make you an offer, not reject you – the personal statement is your chance to make this decision easier for them!

First, you need to explain why you want a place on a course. Take a look at James’ tips on what you should include:

• Explain the reason for your choice and how it fits in with your aspirations for the future
• Give examples of any related academic or work experience
• Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you’re interested in
• Demonstrate who you are by listing any positions you’ve held, memberships of teams or societies, and interests and hobbies
• Show consistency in your five UCAS choices. It may be difficult for an admissions tutor to take you seriously if your other choices, and references to them, are totally different. If your choices are different, you should explain this in your statement. The UCAS form is blind. Admissions tutors don’t know the other universities you’ve applied to, or your priorities, but you should still be consistent
• Keep it clear and concise – UCAS admissions are increasingly paperless – so most admissions tutors/officers will read your statement onscreen

Explain what you can bring to a course and try not to just list experiences, but describe how they have given you skills that will help you at university.

Don’t just say: I am a member of the college chess club. I also play the clarinet in the orchestra.

When you could say: I have developed my problem-solving skills through playing chess for the college; this requires concentration and analytical thought. I am used to working as part of a team as I play clarinet in the college orchestra and cooperate with others to achieve a finished production.

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• Applying and studying in the UK
• University interviews

What will admissions tutors look for in your personal statement?

To decide if you’re the right fit, universities and colleges are interested in how you express your academic record and potential. This should be backed up by your reference.

Those working in admissions look for evidence of:

• Motivation and commitment
• Leadership, teamwork and communication
• Research into your chosen subject
• Any relevant key skills

Admissions tutors aren't seeking Nobel laureates. They’re looking for enthusiasm for the course being applied for, and self-reflection into why you’d be suitable to study it. What value could you add to the course? Where would you like to go once you graduate?

Ben, the Admissions Manager for Law at the University of Birmingham , shared with us what he expects applicants to tell him in their personal statement:

The personal statement is not only an excellent opportunity to showcase applicants individual skills, knowledge, and achievements, but it also provides us with an insight into the type of student they aspire to be and how they could fit into the academic community. Ben Atkins, Law Admissions Manager at University of Birmingham

Real-life example: the good

Real-life example: the not-so-good

• How to make your personal statement stand out

You could have excellent experiences, but if they’re arranged in a poorly-written statement then the impact will be reduced. So, it’s important to plan your statement well.

A well-written personal statement with a clearly planned and refined structure will not only make the information stand out, but it’ll demonstrate you have an aptitude for structuring written pieces of work – a crucial skill needed for many university courses.

You can use it for other things too, such as gap year applications, jobs, internships, apprenticeships and keep it on file for future applications.

There's no one ‘correct’ way to structure your personal statement. But it’s a good idea to include the following:

• A clear introduction, explaining why you want to study the course
• Around 75% can focus on your academic achievements, to prove how you’re qualified to study it
• Around 25% can be about any extracurricular activity, to show what else makes you suitable
• A clear conclusion
• How to start a personal statement

Your personal statement is your chance to really show why you deserve a place on your chosen course. 

Remember to keep these in mind:

• Be clear and concise – the more concentrated the points and facts, the more powerful
• Use positive words such as achieved, developed, learned, discovered, enthusiasm, commitment, energy, fascination…
• Avoid contrived or grandiose language. Instead use short, simple sentences in plain English
• Insert a personal touch if possible, but be careful with humour and chatty approaches
• Use evidence of your learning and growth (wherever possible) to support claims and statements
• Plan the statement as you would an essay or letter of application for a job/scholarship
• Consider dividing the statement into five or six paragraphs, with headings if appropriate
• Spelling and grammar DO matter – draft and redraft as many times as you must and ask others to proofread and provide feedback
• For 2022 – 23 applications, refer to the challenges you've faced during the pandemic in a positive way

Don’t 

• Over-exaggerate
• Come across as pretentious
• Try to include your life history
• Start with: "I’ve always wanted to be a..."
• Use gimmicks or quotations, unless they're very relevant and you deal with them in a way that shows your qualities
• Be tempted to buy or copy a personal statement – plagiarism software is now very sophisticated and if you're caught out you won’t get a place
• Make excuses about not being able to undertake activities/gain experience – focus on what you were able to do positively, e.g. as a result of coronavirus

For further details, read our detailed guide on  what to include in a personal statement  and the best things to avoid.

Note that if you decide to reapply for university the following year, it's a good idea to consider making some changes to your personal statement. Mention why you took a year off and talk about what skills you've learnt. If you're applying for a completely different subject, you'll need to make more changes.

James gives us real-life examples of things to avoid:

I enjoy the theatre and used to go a couple of times a year. (Drama)

I am a keen reader and am committed to the study of human behaviour through TV soaps!

I have led a full life over the last 18 years and it is a tradition I intend to continue.

I describe myself in the following two words: 'TO ODIN!' the ancient Viking war cry. (Law)

My favourite hobby is bee-keeping and I want to be an engineer.

My interest in Medicine stems from my enjoyment of Casualty and other related TV series.

I have always had a passion to study Medicine, failing that, Pharmacy. (A student putting Pharmacy as her fifth choice after four medical school choices – Pharmacy can be just as popular and high status as Medicine.)

Some final advice

Above all, remember that a personal statement is your opportunity to convince a university why it should offer you a place. So, make it compelling and there’s a much higher chance they will.

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How to write a great personal statement

Student Admissions & Access

Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us more about yourself and why you are interested in studying your chosen subject. In this article, we offer you some tips and advice on how to start building your personal statement and make the best impression with your application.

Where to start

Don’t let the blank page put you off. Just start writing and try not to overthink it - you can always change and refine your statement later.

You might want to begin by thinking about the following questions to help you make a list of what to include:

• What do I know about the course and its modules?
• Why do I want to study the subject?
• What do I like about the subject?
• What do I already know?
• What have I read, watched or attended that is relevant to the subject?
• What excites me about the subject?
• What are my academic strengths?
• What makes me a good fit for studying this course?

Start turning your list into sentences. Think about how each thing in your list relates to your subject, and start to form concise sentences. Aim to organise the sentences into paragraphs and form a logical structure to make a case for your suitability for the course.

Aim for one idea per sentence, and one major theme per paragraph. If you can, try to tie it all together with common themes and ideas. For example, you may have learned a topic during your A Levels, then read a book about it and independently researched more about the theory, which sparked some ideas and questions of your own. You may have read a number of books on a similar theme - think about any parallels or contrasts between them.

Image captions

Draft, draft, draft

Get everything down on paper first. Then go back to draft and start to rework it. Don’t let your personal statement become a long list of ideas – that was your starting point. Think about the most important points you’ve made, and work on developing those. Remember that sometimes, less is more. At this point, you may have to delete whole sections, so don’t become too attached to what you have written.

When working on your draft, try to be clear and concise – remember, you only have limited space.

The beginning at the end

Often it’s easier to write the main body of your statement first, and come back to the opening later. The first sentence should really show your enthusiasm for the course, so talk about something that excites you.

In conclusion…

Don’t forget your conclusion. Try to tie everything together at the end, and finish on a positive note that leaves the admissions tutor with a positive impression. If you approach your personal statement as a short academic essay about yourself and your motivations, we should be left with a clear sense of where your passion lies and your suitability for the course.

Check before you submit

Before you submit your application, it’s a good idea to carefully proof your personal statement and to share it with someone else – that could be a family member, friend or teacher. You don’t always have to follow their advice, it’s personal after all, but you may find that they have some good ideas and they might spot mistakes you’ve missed.

• Show your passion, don’t just tell us.
• Be yourself and sound like yourself – you don’t have to use the thesaurus for every word!
• Make sure you can talk about everything in your personal statement in detail, as you’ll be asked about it at your interview.
• Link any extra-curricular activities to your study – maybe your part time job taught you time management or communication skills.
• Make sure it relates to the course you have applied for.
• Check your spelling and grammar, and use clear, plain English.
• Avoid sweeping, general statements, make every word count.

Watch this video from UCAS for some more great tips to get you started:

If you choose to apply to cambridge, we can’t wait to find out all about you.

The information in this article is correct at the time of publishing. Last reviewed July 2023. For more information about applying to the University of Cambridge, visit our website .

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Successful Personal Statement For Oxford English Language And Literature

Last Updated: 5th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

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 English Language and Literature applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure them a place at Oxford. The English Language and Literature course at Oxford is one of the broadest degrees in the country, so let’s see how the applicant navigated around this to write a strong Personal Statement. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

English Personal Statement

George Eliot’s metaphor for imagination- ‘inward light which is the last refinement of Energy … bathing even the ethereal atoms in its ideally illuminated space’- is beautiful. The powerful image supported by the underlying liquid consonants skilfully leads to the action it describes, but it is also the suggestion of particle physics and mass-energy equivalence that interests me about this quotation. In this way, I have gained more from reading ‘Middlemarch’ as I appreciate Eliot’s constant links between science and fiction, and I believe scientific study has generally sharpened my abilities of analysis and concise expression.

I have loved working as a steward at the Globe Theatre; I had the opportunity to see many plays, including a production of Marlowe’s ‘Dr Faustus’. I read Dante’s ‘Inferno’ and several books of Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’ for a different portrayal of hell and sin to that depicted in ‘Dr Faustus’. I found the torment and suffering described by Dante graphic, whilst the first person narrative drew me closer to the pathos fear and disgust expressed. Milton’s depiction of a mental state is much more powerful in my opinion, and has interesting parallels to Faustus’ state of damnation. I also saw Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’, ‘All’s Well that Ends Well’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ whilst stewarding. ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ reminded me of the surprising similarity between Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. Claudio and Hero’s troubled love and Don John’s self-proclaimed villainy seem to mirror the actions of Othello, Desdemona and Iago. Viewing comedy as a structure, ‘Much Ado’ contains the potential tragedy of ‘Othello’, but an added last act resolves all tensions and ends so happily and neatly that it seems to me rather unrealistic.

I enjoyed Dickens’ ‘Our Mutual Friend’ for its satirical portrayal of superficial London society. His depiction of characters and scenes make the novel humorous and therefore very different to ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. Here, the powerful characterisation emphasises the terrible human suffering and moral corruption, for example his effective personification of ‘La Vengeance’, who encourages the cries of bloodlust from Parisians. I found it easier to empathise with Jude in Hardy’s ‘Jude the Obscure’ than with Dickens’ creations however, since his actions appear futile against the fate which continually works against him. There seems to be no hope in the novel, unlike the eventual triumph of love over death in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. Just as in ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ and ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’, love and happiness seem only like a prelude to grief and sorrow linked with the relentless passing of time. I find Donne’s approaches to this theme interesting too: in both his love poems and the Holy Sonnets, Donne uses form to counter and control the passing of time and the prospect of change.

I have participated in many music groups and ensembles at school, having achieved Grade 8 with distinction in both Flute and French Horn. I have worked for two years in my local Cancer Research shop as part of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, and also spent a residential week with a charity called Activenture, looking after children of different ages and abilities, for which I received the Young Carer of the Year award. During my gap year, I plan to join my local orchestra and travel for three months around South America, but ultimately I am most excited about the time I will have to read and further explore English literature.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Successful personal statement for economics at cambridge, successful personal statement for land economy at cambridge, successful personal statement for chemistry at oxford, successful personal statement for geography at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at oxford, successful personal statement for law at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at cambridge, successful personal statement for engineering at cambridge, successful personal statement for philosophy at cambridge, successful personal statement for veterinary medicine at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychological and behavioural sciences at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychology at oxford, successful personal statement for history at oxford, successful personal statement for physics at oxford, successful personal statement for cambridge mathematics and physics, successful personal statement example for computer science at oxford, successful personal statement for english at cambridge, successful personal statement for medicine at oxford university, successful personal statement for modern languages at oxford, successful personal statement for engineering at oxford, successful personal statement for natural sciences (biological) at cambridge, successful personal statement for economics & management at oxford, successful personal statement for ppe at oxford, successful personal statement for law at cambridge, successful personal statement for dentistry at king’s college london, successful personal statement for medicine at cambridge.

Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

The candidate’s wide range of personal interests are clearly demonstrated, and — for the most part — are well-linked to their subject application, giving it further strength. They are able to use independent thought to illustrate how various bits of reading they have done are linked. The list of works they discuss ranges from poetry to plays to Victorian novels; a strong variety of works. They evaluate these across genres and are able to apply critical thought and analysis to them. Throughout their discussions of various texts, the applicant clearly illustrates their enthusiasm for the subject; their writing is energised by positivity and personal engagement with the material.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The candidate could have worked even harder to connect their extra-curricular activities to their application (though their relevance was clear in most instances). The effect of the applicant’s use of independent thought and personal experience was often slightly dulled by their use of highly personal and personalising terms such as ‘beautiful’, or simply ‘I enjoyed’. Though there is perhaps nothing wrong with these evaluations as an initial starting point, the candidate could have pushed further with their readings to interrogate these works further. Though the applicant demonstrates a wide literary foundation, their commentary did at times lapse into plot summary, which is less interesting than their own thought.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This candidate’s application reads as both impressive in its depth of knowledge and personal in its illustration of thought and enthusiasm. As such, it reads as a statement that is well-balanced and well-judged; the reader is able to get a good sense of this applicant’s interests on both a personal and academic level. The statement could have made greater use of critical language and could have included fewer instances of value judgments; small alterations which would have given the candidate’s discussions greater academic depth.

This Personal Statement for English is a great example of a statement done right. The candidate’s interest is clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

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

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford English application.

With our  Oxbridge English Premium Programme we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , produce and submit the best Written Work  and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

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How to write a PERSONAL STATEMENT for university or college

Test your understanding of this English lesson

70 comments.

Great explanation about personal statement!

I got learn to write in a nice way.

Hi Adam, This lesson will play vital role in learner statement. Another matter that i wanna to watch your embedded clause but unfortunately I don’t found it.

Gracias Adam! Si es personal Statement, es para postular a una universidad, ¿y la “Bio”, es algo más informal?

Hi Marialeonor,

Not really sure what that means,but this is a very formal letter when applying to a university or college. In some cases, it can be written in an informal style, but then you have to be a very good writer with a very clear message. It’s very risky.

I did a small mistake in a hurry so I tried another time and I got full 100

Thank you very much. TA Adam. Nothing can be written, if it is not known,what is required. You shed light on what school wants from us. I fully understand now. Thank you a gain for your endless help.

This was useful to avoid mistakes in the first university impression.Thanks

Who knows, knows. This is a serious lesson with lots of important advice. I hope that one day I can enroll in a good university, one that I feel good about saying I’m happy to be here. Thanks.

Adam, would you care to make a lesson “When things go wrong”? One about words (and common collocations) such as blunder, bonker, mishap, gaffe, screw up, fcuk up, etc.

Good idea Nutondev. I’ll see what I can do.

Thank you for your teaching about writing personal statement. It really helps me. I will keep that in mind your advice. Thanks again.

Thank you very much, Adam.

Congratulations Adam. Great job.

A question for Adam. I a sentence, They adopted this system as MEANING stop and go. Is ‘meaning’ a gerund? Why? Why no? What is its function here. Are there any -ing clauses in this sentence? Could you give a similar example with ‘as meaning’? Thank you so much!

Hi Polluxtroi,

I would need some more context, but it seems it might mean that they adopted this system as a form of stop and go. Anyway, in this case it is a gerund (object to preposition ‘as’).

They adopted this system, meaning stop and go. — …, which means stop and go. In this case, meaning is a participle.

Can you give me the sentence before and after this one?

Adam is one of the best English teachers particularly in the area of writing. I get a lot of help in learning English from engVid. By watching videos everyday, I think I practise at least listening. But I also think I can get benefit in reading, writing and speaking from engVid. I believe learning English from engVid helps improve my English potentials. it’s a great luck to find engVid which is not yet very well known in my home country. I’ll keep digging engVid. Thanks!

Thank you Insoo. I hope I can reach more Koreans :)

(by the way, I live in Busan ;) )

Wow. Busan is one of the great travel places in ROK. It’s nice to hear that you live there. I’m digging your lessons and learning a lot. Always thank you!

Hello adam thanks for your lessons.I have a request, can you cover find errors questions?(I’m preparing for MEXT scholarship’s exam)

I looked at a sample test. The key is to understand the different parts of a sentence , i.e. clauses, phrases, modifiers, etc.

Anyway, I’ll see what I can do about these question types.

it was bad. In next time I will do the best.

Keep trying Mbuta51 :)

Thanks everyone :)

Adam, what would be a slang (or at least informal) verb for the verb ‘to cover sb’ – as in a situation where you have promised something to person A, based on a promise from person B, but person B failed to deliver, and now you have to somehow explain yourself in front of person A, and perhaps pretend everything is ok.

Something like ‘to cover’ but maybe more emotional :) In Polish we have a phrase that would literally mean “to shine/flash one’s eyes in front of sb”

An example: “Hey, you failed again and you made me flash my eyes in front of John for the second time. I’ve had enough of that!”

I hope this gives you some idea of what I am after. :)

Could we say that the person B stood you up, or is it used only for dating no-shows?

Also, how about a series called “At the office” – where you could give us some vocabulary (both formal and informal) about the most common office situations.

In case you were to answer this, Adam, I have made some research, and I am close to believe there is no direct equivalent to what I am looking for. The close matches though would contain: to cover for, to answer for, to do song and dance, to be in a bad spot.

Hi Nutondev,

To be honest, I’m not exactly clear on the situation. If I can’t keep my promise to person A, I would just have to make an excuse or bite the bullet and admit i made a mistake. OR I could kiss up to person A and make a new person and hope he forgives me and gives me another chance.

Anyway, there are a lot of slang expressions for all kinds of situations. I can probably think of more for this one :)

I’ve learning a lot with your lessons! Thank you so much!

How about a vocab and idiom video about skill assessments? such as: to be a greenhorn about/in something, to excel at something, to be a newbie, to master, to suck at sth (actually, how much vulgar is this one?).

to be one’s strong suit

I’ll see what I can do ;)

I really like the way you explain. I am going to start soon. is there any chance you can check and correct me if I am wrong or seems not to the point please. thanks again

I’ll do my best Zaheer :)

Hi my lovely teacher Adam. I want to improve my writing skill

Adam, thank you for your lesson. I am applying for a master degree studying. Your informative lesson about PS is useful for me.

Adam. What if it is a new field I’m intending of entering?

What if it is a new field I’m entering

Hey Adam, thanks for the detailed video.

I’ve got a problem with the “hook” for personal statement. Frankly, I’ve never had a “wow” moment in my life that affected me. I gradually got interested in the field I study and I’ve had no surprising or catchy moments in my life. I’ve been thinking for weeks. I studied abroad, did some uncommon martial arts etc. but all of them were thought-out decisions. Because of that, I have no idea how to catch the attention of the committee in the very first sentence. Without a hook sentence, I can’t come up with a proper theme.

I know it’s long but I’d really appreciate if you could give me advice on that. Thanks.

hey Adam, Can I send my PS to review it and tell me points to do them?

Hi Adam, Would you be willing to read my personal statement? If so, how can I directly get in touch with you. Thank you.

Thanks you so much for this.

Most of the comments above have some grammatical errors despite the ideas are clear and specific. Making such mistakes can make Adam ashamed of us. Therefore guys, make some edits before you submit the comments as he said.

I got a 100%. Adam, can you go through my personal statement after my edit?

7/9! This lesson also is a good tip for daily working.

Hi Adam! Do you help foreign students write their personal statement? And if yes, would you please let me know the fee. I would really appreciate it. Thanks

Hi Adam, please can I show you my letter of intent. I would like to get feedback on it. Thank you.

I got 100%. I was paying attention. I want this. Thank you

Thank you so much for this! I have a question: Can we quote a phrase in a different language along with its meaning in English? Or do we quote it in its best translated form?

Thanks a lot for the great lesson!

Thanks for the lesson. It was very helpful. Adam, is there any way to check my personal statement with you?

Hello Adam, can you please leave your email address? As I want to check with you for my personal statement.

Hi Adam can you please leave your email address I already done with the personal Statement and could you please Check my personal Statement

Thank you very much Mr. Adam.

Do you provide a service of professional assistance for personal statement?

8/9 Thank you Adam (Kazakhstan, 04 october2021); very usefull information

hello Adam, please how can i contact you

Hi Adam. I enjoyed your teaching. Can you please shed light on how to write a motivation letter? I anticipate your response, thanks.

Hi! Can I mention something thats very subjective, like quick leaner, that has no certificate or any other proof to prove it? THANKYOU.

Hi sir, i like your way of teaching

Thank you Adam for the video on Personal Statement. This video has been very informative and has opened my eyes to things I need to incorporate in my personal statement which is why I am asking you to please send me the questions I need to answer to establish a “Theme” for my personal statement and also all the questions I need to answer throughout the course of my story, Thank You.

Should we write “Personal Statement” or “Statement of Purpose” in the heading of these documents?

may i right my personal statement for postgrad education in sort of analogy ? like comparing the journey of discovering myself to an escape room persay ? won’t recuiters find it somehow childish ?

I saw your YouTube video which I am in need of guidance. It was very helpful. I would like to forward my personal statement (involves three questions) and help me correct it in order to be accepted in the MSOT program.

I want to apply for an MSc in International Business in the UK. I got an offer letter from the University. now I want to apply for a scholarship from the University. I should write a personal statement. please give me some guidance. thanks in advance.

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English language & literature personal statement example (oxford university).

What is more powerful than ardent love or the overwhelming intensity of human emotion? What is more powerful than a nuclear force, a fatal weapon, an instrument designed to destruct and destroy? Language and literature are the strongest forms of weaponry to exist. The alignment of each letter, the meticulous assortment of the vowels and consonants to produce a word, the hard phonetic quality of the 'ger' sound in the word anger and the soft lulling 'l' in love induce an emotional human response. My daily exposure to words, whether it be in the media or on a page in a novel; each word and the omnipotence it carries, is what informs my everyday decisions, influences the way I feel and affects me as a human.

My enthrallment with a writer’s ability to shape a reader's mind through a thought-provoking work of literature was notable during my studies of the ‘Ariel’ anthology by Sylvia Plath - a collection of poetry with a broad expression of themes such as female liberation and gender. Studying how Plath urged people to consider their own society through the profuse allusion to patriarchalism embedded in her writing style, encouraged me to research other works that challenged people's conceptions of society. I was able to explore this further in my Extended Project Qualification, an opportunity presented to me to plunge into the radical world of Angela Carter by exploring the question: "In what way does Angela Carter’s ‘The Bloody Chamber’ present Victorian societal issues?". This subversive tale proved to be an excellent example of pushing the boundaries of 20th century literature and is recognised for its avant-garde style. My involvement with this project has enabled me to venture beyond the curriculum, continuing the development of my interest for gender inequality in literature and exposing me to an extensive variety of feminist theory.

I further broadened my interest in Victorian gender issues and the Gothic presented in Carter's 'The Bloody Chamber' by reading Bram Stoker's ‘Dracula’, which effectively captures contrasting portrayals of women and supports the New Woman movement in the Victorian Fin de Siècle through its emulation of unconventional female representations as in Carter's ‘The Bloody Chamber.’ I then used my initiative to seek new interpretations of the novel by reading an article from The British Library "Daughters of Decadence" by Greg Buzwell, which interprets the novelist Stoker as having an aversion to the sexualised rebellion embodied in 'The New Woman', represented by his character Lucy Westernra, whom he presents in a sexually decadent light and kills off as punishment for her "sexual licentiousness"; while the adverse characterisation of Mina Murray is depicted as admirable and more traditional. I believe this view aligns well with the double standards of Victorian society which is a civilisation where a woman's sexual freedom is reprimanded while a male’s is overlooked. Critical works have not only stretched me to consider a multitude of new interpretations, but have also provoked me to find my own which is to be developed on degree course.

Through my appointment as a Head Student, my creative writing and public speaking skills have prospered greatly with the new responsibilities the role entails, which should enhance my ability to deliver presentations and lectures with ease and confidence on a course level. I have shown enthusiasm for writing through my entry to an Oxford University Modern Languages French film writing competition for which I was awarded a special commendation. My passion for the arts and my experience of being a performer, dedicating 7 hours of my week to dance lessons in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre and modern, featuring in two TV commercials and being a young performer in the Reading Christmas pantomime, is certain to enhance my ability to blossom in the study of literature; I believe that writing and the art of performance are a perfect enhancement of each other as they encompass the practices of creative expression and storytelling which mould the foundations to an ardent and successful writer. I have had the experience of being a Drama scholar and an English, Humanities and Languages scholar which in themselves are reflections of my academic excelling and intellectual curiosity in both fields of study.

My ideal career as a journalist encompasses analytical and communication skills which I believe this course will equip me with, but also requires passion and fulsome interest for writing which I have an abundance of and wish to build upon and take to a much higher and advanced level through the completion of an English Language and Literature degree.

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• Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering >
• PhD Program >

PhD Admissions

The doctoral program provides advanced study and training to prepare students to be research scholars with expertise in operations research, human factors/ergonomics or production systems & manufacturing. 

On this page:

Fall Admission

• February 15: Full consideration
• We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Spring Admission

• October 1:  Full consideration

Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in engineering or a related technical field, such as math, physics, behavioral sciences or health sciences. Appropriate academic background varies by graduate specialization.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for all undergraduate work undertaken during the last two years of the applicant's studies. 
• GRE scores are optional for PhD program admissions.
• We will also consider demonstrated practical engineering experience and demonstrated leadership skills
• Earned MS degree or demonstrated research experience is preferred for admission to the PhD Program

In addition to the above requirements, proficiency is required in mathematics through the level of multivariate calculus, probability and statistics considered from a calculus point of view, and computer programming. Students whose backgrounds have not adequately prepared them to enter the graduate curriculum directly may be asked to take appropriate undergraduate courses. Credit for these courses will not be applied toward the minimum number of hours required for the MS/ME degrees. In exceptional cases, the department may admit an applicant who does not meet all these requirements; in such cases, the department will set special performance criteria for continuing in the program.  

Application Materials

Application form.

All domestic and international students must apply online for the PhD program.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $85 must be submitted for each graduate application before it will be reviewed. You can pay the application fee in your Application Status Portal via credit card. The link to pay your application fee will appear shortly after you submit your application. If you have an issue with your application fee, please contact [email protected] .

We do not offer application fee waivers for our programs. Only US Military/Veterans and their spouses and participants in special programs such as Americorps, McNair Scholars, EOP, HEOP, SEEK, or Project 1000 are eligible for an application fee waiver. Program participants must also be a US citizen or permanent resident. There are no exceptions. If you are eligible and requesting a waiver, please contact [email protected] with documentation of your military service or program participation.

Materials Checklist

Personal statement.

Your application package must include a brief statement of purpose describing your background and your academic and career goals. The Personal Statement can be typed into the space provided on the application or uploaded electronically to the application.

Transcripts

Unofficial copies of transcripts are to be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are not required at the time the application is submitted. If an applicant is accepted and decides to attend our program, official transcripts will be requested at that time.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required for PhD program applicants. While we will accept letters from professional sources, we strongly prefer letters from professors who are acquainted with your academic interests, achievements and abilities.

Requests for letters of recommendation will be emailed to your recommenders upon submitting your application form. Recommenders can submit their recommendations online. Once submitted, they are automatically uploaded to your online application.

Did you know? UB's graduate application process is paperless and saves more than 200,000 pages of paper each year!

Please DO NOT send hard copies of materials unless specifically asked.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE scores are optional for the PhD program admissions. Please note: the GRE may be required for some scholarship/fellowships.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. The exam results must be dated within two years from your proposed date of admission and remain valid upon entering the term for which you applied. The University at Buffalo has a minimum TOEFL score requirement of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based). On IELTS, UB requires an overall score of 6.5.

Information and arrangements to take the GRE and TOEFL exams can be made by contacting the Educational Testing Service (ETS) . It is strongly recommended to make test arrangements early in the year so sufficient time can be allowed for the results to be reported before our application deadline.

Sending ETS Scores Please send your GRE or TOEFL results to the University at Buffalo electronically from ETS by using institution code 2925 (no department codes necessary)

International Student Financial Form

All international applicants must submit a completed financial form. Answer all questions thoroughly. An I-20 cannot be issued without this form and supporting documentation showing necessary funds for each year of intended study (two years for a master's program; five years for a PhD program). This information can be uploaded to your online application. If you have any questions, please email us at  [email protected] . We will be glad to assist you in any way possible. 

Financial Aid

If you are interested in financial aid in the form of a teaching assistantship or research assistantship, please check the appropriate box on your application form. No applicant will be considered for financial aid until the application is complete and the applicant has been admitted. For more information, visit or contact the Office of Financial Aid .

Application Deadlines

The Graduate Admissions Committee will consider applicants whose application packages are complete by the following deadlines:

For Fall Admission:

• February 15 - Full consideration

For Spring Admission:

• October 1 - Full consideration

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Personal statement example english literature personal statement.

Submitted by Sadiya

English Literature Personal Statement

The study of English Literature is distinctive to every individual. For me, what began initially as a childhood collection of twenty pence books from car boot sales, spiralled into a form of escapism. Literature is an art form and an underrated power; to capture the complexity of our minds in a few hundred words or even a couple of lines is truly special. From the feminist perspectives of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath to the political criticism of George Orwell, authors of all eras have used their writing to establish a sense of freedom at times where change was so near it almost felt impossible. Writers inspire me and it is this inspiration that will strengthen my desire to succeed not only in my studies but also in the world of literature.

Studying A-level English Literature has allowed me to develop my debating and analytical skills around genres and authors I had never critically explored before. From science-fiction novels to modernist poetry, I became drawn to not only the texts themselves but to the social and political reasoning behind texts like ‘Brave New World’ and ‘Fahrenheit 451’. My interest in society and politics has also developed from studying A-level History; writing critical essays about specific time periods and observing how the nature of the world we live in has changed over the years is staggering. I was privileged enough to see how the effects of social and political change resulted in one of the most devastating events of our history, the Holocaust. In April, I was given the exceptional opportunity to visit Auschwitz concentration camp as an ambassador for the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz Project’. Although the experience was harrowing at times, to sit next to the train tracks where victims were brought into the camp listening to Rabbi Garson recite a beautiful Jewish prayer I felt certain that, despite the amount of hatred and disrespect there is in the world, knowledge and expression will always unite to defeat hostility.

As well as being a lover of literature myself, I feel it is equally important to share my ardour for reading and writing with others. Being part of the ‘Reading Matters’ scheme was fulfilling as I worked with a Year 8 student, helping her to overcome her reading difficulties through independently planned sessions, exploring a variety of plays, novels and poetry. I was able to help build a sense of confidence in my partner, encouraging her to continue developing her love for reading. Volunteering at the Bradford Literature Festival was another opportunity I could not miss; my job consisted of collecting tickets, tidying up after events and ensuring the festival ran smoothly. The aim of the festival was for young people in particular to recognise Bradford’s literary past and encourage literary potentials of the future. It felt incredible to be part of such a creative and transformational community, helping to inspire the youth of today with literature of the past.

From the moment I picked up ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte in the library, I left behind my teen-fiction obsession and began to understand the intricacy and sophistication involved in respected works of literature. By studying English Literature at university level, I look forward to discovering a variety of texts from authors of all backgrounds and analysing these critically through independent research. Knowledge is something I do not take for granted so studying English Literature would allow me to develop more expansive ways of perceiving the historical and cultural differences in the world around me. Being part of the Asian community, it is easy to fall under the impression that the Arts and Humanities are unfavourable compared to the Sciences; realising this only further impelled me to pursue my dream of having a platform for creativity and establishing a voice through my writing.

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