As a potential student, you will be asked to write a personal statement – also known as a statement of purpose – detailing your skills, experience, and suitability for the course as part of your application to study at a UK university.
Whether you’re just starting your personal statement or looking for tips to fine-tune your writing, this blog will tell you all you need to know about personal statement structure as an international student.
A personal statement – or statement of purpose – is an essay included as part of your application to study at a university in the UK. It is your first opportunity to showcase your skills, ambition, and experience in your own words, and let the admissions staff know how suited you are to the course you’re applying to.
Writing your personal statement is an integral part of your application to university through UCAS. A well-written personal statement could be the deciding factor in whether or not you are offered a place at university in the UK.
As with most great stories, your personal statement has to consist of a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, with a limit of 4,000 characters, you can’t get too descriptive or veer away from the point. Make sure your writing is succinct, informative, and stays on track, and your personal statement will shine.
For a brief rundown, try to include these elements in your personal statement structure:
For a more detailed account, read our blog post on how to write a personal statement for university.
It’s important to know what UK university admissions staff look for in a personal statement before you start writing. As well as the usual advice that applies to both UK and non-UK applicants, here are some things that are essential for international students to include.
A highly-prized degree from a UK university can open up many career opportunities after graduation. It can prove to any potential employer that you have the capacity to earn a high-value degree and are willing to take risks and experience new things by moving abroad for your higher education. This can give your resumé a boost in a highly competitive job market.
Newcastle University is one of the founding institutions of the Russell Group: a group of 24 prestigious universities known for their exceptional research, teaching expertise, and strong links with the business and public sectors. Russell Group universities rank highly in both UK and international league tables, and are incredibly popular with international students: in fact, nearly a third of the Russell Group university's students are from a non-UK nationality.
Feeling confident enough to write your own statement of purpose? Here are some final personal statement tips and advice to help your application shine:
The deadline for medicine, veterinary medicine/science or dentistry was Monday 16 October 2023 (6pm GMT) and at the time this blog was published, it has passed.
The deadline for the majority of other degree programmes is Wednesday 31 January 2024 (6pm GMT).
We hope you have found our blog on personal statement structure for international students useful! If you’re looking to find out more, check out our main page about international study at Newcastle University.