So you’ve decided to continue your studies beyond your undergraduate degree and are looking into applying for a Masters degree or other postgraduate courses. Just like before, you’re going to have to write a personal statement.  It may seem quite daunting at first, so you’ll need to run through a few things before you start. One of the main things you’ll want to figure out first is which course you want to apply for. Postgraduate education can be expensive and is a big commitment, so make sure you do research into several different options beforehand, enabling you to have a good understanding of what the courses offer and whether or not you feel they would be right for you.

Once you have a selection of courses you want to apply to, a personal statement is needed for each one. Don’t use the same statement for each application as they’ll need to be tailored to the individual courses, each one is different and it will show that you’ve taken the time and effort to properly find out about each course.

Personal statements should be around 1 side of A4 to say why you think you are right for the course. Included in this should be certain things. These include:

• Why you want to pursue postgraduate study
• What your reasons are for wanting to study at that particular university
• Why the course you’re applying for is of interest to you, e.g. certain modules and work placement opportunities
• What academic and practical experience you have that shows your interest and abilities for the course in question
• What skills you have that will make you succeed in postgraduate studies
• What your career aims are
• What personal skills you possess

Make sure you allocate a good amount of time to each statement. It won’t help to rush any of them, as you’ll want to make sure the application is as professional as possible. Make sure the tone of the statement is upbeat and enthusiastic, but try not to overstate your achievements and make them look boastful.  Remember that relevant work experience and volunteering activities that you’ve done can be very helpful evidence to show that you’re right for the course.

Write a first draft of you statement and don’t forget to review it over and over, making sure the most important information is clearly stated and that examples of your work and academic achievements are laid out in a structured and logical way. You’ll want the statement to be easy to read, not bogged down in bloated language and waffling paragraphs.

Finally, remember to make it unique and personal. You want to be able present yourself, and there’s no one else who can do that better than you. Uniqueness is important because you’ll stand out from everyone else, and really get across your own personality.