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University of Derby Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Derby. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Motorsport Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 For many years growing up I was unsure as to what I wanted a career in, but at the start of secondary school I was asked, “What have you always loved?”, and my response was “cars”. At first it was all about the statistics and how fast they were, but growing up I became more interested in how things worked under the bonnet, this lead to me researching mechanics and formula 1 precision engines...

Computer Games Programming Personal Statement Example 7 As a keen gamer, it has always been a dream to follow games programming as a career and work for a game developing company or, preferably, to run my own business. This is why I have decided to study a course in this field...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 10 I have, for a long time, been interested in the inner workings of society: how and why subcultures develop. Also, how political policies shape the direction of society for years and I wonder why people act in the way they do (here, I have sympathy with Robert Owens' view that we are mostly the mere products of our environment), not only how we shape society, but how it shapes and changes us...

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In this academic writing guide we focus on different methods and techniques that you can use to improve your writing to achieve better marks within your assignments.  

Use the links in the side-navigation bar to access further information about each topic. these pages contain written guidance, downloadable resources and access to videos and relevant podcasts.  .

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How to write a personal statement

By Tamzin Burch - 21 October 2021

Not to panic you or anything, but a personal statement is quite a big part of your application for university, and it often gets overlooked by students as something not that important. Spoiler alert: it is so important!

It shows the university you’re applying to who you are as an individual. It outlines what you’re about, your personality, interests, hopes, and dreams… it shows who you are when you look past the predicted grades or previous qualifications. It’s the heart and soul of your application. This is why it’s so integral to the application process, even if it seems lengthy, annoying or like you’re just bigging yourself up. (You are bigging yourself up. It’s an invitation to flex.)  

I still remember the opening line of my personal statement and I haven’t read it back in years. The reason why I still remember it is because I spent so much time mulling over it. It started with, “What makes a good personal statement?” because that’s exactly what I was trying to do, believe it or not. I was trying to make it good, and I wanted it to “stand out”. I followed up with, “It’s like asking a marketer, what makes a good piece of copy?” or something along those lines. I wanted to exemplify that I was creative, as that is crucial for my course, and that I had a great understanding of the topic at hand which was marketing.

I am a keen writer, so I wanted to show my skills there, and use rhetoric to hopefully persuade whichever admissions officer it was that was reading my statement, that I was a good fit for Derby. Luckily, they must have thought so, seeing as I am here now, and writing this.  

Advice #1 – personal  

My main piece of advice when it comes to writing a personal statement is to make it personal. The clue is in the name. No, you don’t need to tell your whole life story, but it’s nice to have your personality shine through, your uniqueness. It sets you apart from the rest, you’ll be remembered for all the right reasons and the admissions officer won’t be bored reading it.

Think of how many personal statements they must-read. Don’t add to any boredom they may face. Make it factual, but entertaining, gripping and interesting. Why not discuss what you get up to in your spare time, detail a cool hobby that you find yourself doing on the weekends? Side note: Keep it appropriate, I am not sure the antics of your Friday night down town is classed as a “cool hobby”. Maybe you go rock climbing with your friends or run a book club?

Advice #2 – proof  

My second piece of advice would be to get someone to proofread it. I asked my best friend who also happens to have a PhD in Rhetoric and English to read mine and she came back with some great advice and pointers, which I applied without losing my tone of voice or character. I also got a couple of other opinions on it, from my mum and work colleague, to make sure it really represented me in the best light possible.   

Advice #3 – specific  

My third piece of advice would be to make it specific to the course you’re applying for. If you’re applying for Zoology, talk about your passion for animals and the kinds of modules you most look forward to! If you’re applying for Marketing, talk about your love for marketing and all the work experience you hope to secure. This shows that you are a great fit for the course and that you’ve done your research into what the degree and university will entail, showing both your commitment and interest.  

All in all, your personal statement is a reflection of you. It’s your chance to explain or elaborate on any areas in your application and can make or break a university’s offer to you. Celebrate your previous wins and explain how you plan to learn from any other experiences you may have faced. Believe in yourself and believe that you will be an asset to any institution, and you will flourish. I just know that whichever university you apply for, they will be lucky to have you. And if it’s Derby, I hope to see you soon.  

About the author

Tamzin Burch Marketing, PR and Advertising student

I am a current student, studying Marketing, PR and Advertising, whilst also working part-time in marketing. I am passionate about writing, marketing, travelling, feminism, higher education, student employability, mental health, plant-based food, animals, and 70's music!

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• Personal Statement

What is a Personal Statement?

Your Personal Statement is a public declaration of what you want to achieve during your term of office (aka your time in the role). It will be available on the online voting module for students to look at during the voting period and it will help inform on their decision of who to vote for, so try to make it engaging and relevant to your chosen role!

If you're elected, students will use your Personal Statement to measure your achievements throughout your term of office and will hold you to account. It is therefore very important that your aims and promises made on this document are both realistic and measurable. Your Personal Statement aims should be related to the position you are applying for and be of benefit to the students.

Some quick tips regarding your Personal Statement:

• Include your name and the position you are running for.
• Research your role and know your Personal Statement – know your Personal Statement from back to front – voters will want to know that they're voting for the right person for the role. When campaigning, any student may ask for clarification and word-of-mouth spreads quickly. Remember, you may be asked questions on issues related to your position that are not on your manifesto so a clear grasp of the job and current student issues will hold you in good stead.
• Ensure that your Personal Statement is legible and proof-read! – The Personal Statement that you submit online cannot be changed and will be used by the Union in multiple publications. This is not the time to have spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. We strongly recommend that you can get someone (or a few people) to proof-read your Personal Statement. Spelling errors can really put people off!
• Keep it Simple – Don't feel you have to cram as much in as possible. Make it short, punchy and articulate. Between three and five manifesto points are advised, but no more than seven are allowed.
• Don't forget – Your Personal Statement is a tool to get students to want to vote for you, so make sure you include a statement asking them to vote and, of course, vote for you .

We often run training sessions on how to write a good Personal Statement during the elections period, check the published schedule for the election or contact the Union for more information on how to attend.

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• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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How to write a personal statement

How to approach writing your personal statement for graduate applications.

If you’re applying for a grad course that requires a personal statement (sometimes also called a ‘statement of purpose’), it can be difficult to know where to start and what to include. Read on for tips from some of our masters’ students about their process and what they found helpful.

1. Before you start

The academic work is the most important reason why we’re here, but that also translates into work experiences, internships, volunteering. I think a big part of the personal statement is crafting that narrative of academic self that fits alongside your professional experiences, to give that greater picture of who you are as an academic. Lauren (MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies)

Start by thinking about the skills, knowledge and interests you’ve acquired over time and how the course at Oxford will take them forward.

Your statement is the story you want to tell about yourself and your academic work to the department you are applying to.

Most of your application and its supporting documents communicate plain facts about your academic career so far. Your personal statement is your best opportunity to put these facts into context and show assessors how you’ve progressed and excelled.

Make sure you highlight evidence of your achievements (a high grade in a relevant area, an award or scholarship, a research internship).

Presenting yourself

When I was writing my personal statement, I went onto my course website. I looked at what they emphasised and what kind of students they were looking for, and I wrote about my experiences based on that. Kayla (MSc in Clinical Embryology)

Make it easy for an assessor to see how you meet the entry requirements for the course (you can find these on each course page ).

Don’t make any assumptions about what Oxford is looking for!

Get to know your department

You want to study this particular subject and you want to study at Oxford (you’re applying here, so we know that!) but why is Oxford the right place for you to study this subject? What interests or qualities of the academic department and its staff make it attractive to you?

Use your academic department’s website for an overview of their research, academic staff and course information (you'll find a link to the department's own website on each course page ).

I said, ‘why do I actually want to be here? What is it about being at Oxford that’s going to get me to what I want to do? Sarah (Bachelor of Civil Law)

Talk it out

Talking to others about your statement can be a great way to gather your ideas and decide how you’d like to approach it. Sarah even managed to get benefit out of this approach by herself:

“I spent a lot of time talking out loud. My written process was actually very vocal, so I did a lot of talking about myself in my room.”

2. The writing process

Know your format.

Make sure you’ve read all the guidance on the How to Apply section of your course page , so you know what’s needed in terms of the word count of the final statement, what it should cover and what it will be assessed for. This should help you to visualise roughly what you want to end up with at the end of the process.

Make a start

When it comes to writing your personal statement, just getting started can be the hardest part.

One good way to get around writer’s block is to just put it all down on the page, like Mayur.

First - write down anything and everything. In the first round, I was just dumping everything - whatever I’ve done, anything close to computer science, that was on my personal statement. Mayur (MSc Computer Science)

You’ll be editing later anyway so don’t let the blank page intimidate you - try writing a little under each of the following headings to get started:

• areas of the course at Oxford that are the most interesting to you
• which areas you’ve already studied or had some experience in
• what you hope to use your Oxford course experience for afterwards.

3. Finishing up

Get some feedback.

Once you’ve got a draft of about the right length, ask for feedback on what you’ve written. It might take several drafts to get it right.

This could involve getting in touch with some of your undergraduate professors to ask them to read your draft and find any areas which needed strengthening.

You could also show it to people who know you well, like family or friends.

Because they’re the first people to say, ‘Who is that person?’ You want the people around you to recognise that it really sounds like you. It can be scary telling family and friends you’re applying for Oxford, because it makes it real, but be brave enough to share it and get feedback on it. Sarah (Bachelor of Law)

Be yourself

Finally - be genuine and be yourself. Make sure your personal statement represents you, not your idea about what Oxford might be looking for.

We have thousands of students arriving every year from a huge range of subjects, backgrounds, institutions and countries (you can hear from a few more of them in our My Oxford interviews).

Get moving on your application today

To find out more about supporting documents and everything else you need to apply, read your course page and visit our Application Guide .

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Personal Statement of University of Derby

Education enables the path of gaining knowledge and knowledge gives us the ultimate power to know about the world around us and do something better for it. It develops the perspective of looking at our life and realizes how much we are important for our society and the world. So to make a better world and contribute as a responsible human being education is a must for all.

I am also a responsible human being in the world and very grateful to almighty for giving me this life. I want to do something better for the people around me by making myself a better person and enlighten me with the power of knowledge. So education is very much important for me and going abroad for higher study and pursuing proper learning is a dream comes true.

As a sincere and dedicated student of health and social care , I was always interested to pursue my higher study from a foreign country. People value the foreign degree more and provide some better opportunities to that individual. So I think it will also bring better opportunities for me in the job market. I will become a better and competent candidate and capable of taking more responsibilities. I will also be able to improve my living standard and in the future, I can start my own health care center as a health care assistant.

I have completed my level 3 in health and social care studies. It is my favorite sector to pursue a higher degree. I already know about different sections and a wide range of information about the health care sector and I think if I pursue my higher studies in this course I will become more competent and efficient in this area. Eventually, I will be able to provide better health and social care support to the people and become a better health companion.

Currently, I am working as a volunteer with an NGO. I have learned different ways to help people and deal with many sudden situations as well. It makes me feel happy and satisfied to help people in their need. The overall scenario of my everyday life teaches me to become compassionate towards the people and provide them support as much as I can. Previously, I was working as a sales assistant at Subway, so due to work pressure and my unstable health condition I had to take a break from my studies. It was hard for me to concentrate and cope up with my learning. So I took a break, take control of my health and work and now I am perfectly fit to start my higher study in Health and Social Care.

The University of Derby is my dream university to start my higher study. It is the best place to have the opportunity to pursue my health and social care degree here. The university is very supportive of the students in their personal and professional life. They provide the best experience of learning in the most interesting and effective way.

So I will consider myself lucky if I get the opportunity to study here and serve the people with my knowledge and learning in the near future.

Md. Shadequr Rahaman

Email:  [email protected]

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Leading health and safety scientist to be honoured at graduation ceremony

19 June 2024

A scientist with a distinguished career in health and safety, who led a major study into the transmission of Covid-19, will receive an honorary degree from the University of Derby.

Professor Andrew Curran CBE, Director of Science and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will become an Honorary Doctor of the University at its awards ceremony in Buxton on 28 June. 

The HSE regulates workplace health and safety in Great Britain. 

Professor Curran, who is based at the HSE’s science and research centre in Buxton, has worked for the organisation for 32 years and has led crucial research into protecting people’s health and safety at work, from occupational diseases to reducing carbon emissions and exposure to harmful substances.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, as a Government Chief Scientific Adviser, he headed up the largest study in the world to better understand the transmission of the virus. He was recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2023 with a CBE for Public Service.  

Professor Curran will receive his award alongside hundreds of University of Derby graduates at the ceremony at the Buxton Campus in the Devonshire Dome.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, said:

“Our awards ceremonies are one of the highlights of the University calendar, an opportunity to celebrate our graduates’ successes and share their hopes for the future. I am delighted that this year we will also be recognising Professor Curran’s outstanding achievements in scientific research and his contribution to public service.”

Find out more about the Buxton Awards Ceremonies .

For further information contact the press office at [email protected] .