How to write a personal statement for a Master’s course at university

What is a personal statement?

If you’re applying to study a postgraduate taught course, you’ll be asked to submit a personal statement with your application. This is used by universities to assess your suitability for a course. It’s your chance to introduce yourself and demonstrate what qualities, knowledge and experience you can bring. It’s read by the course admissions tutor to help them decide whether to offer you a place. At the University of Huddersfield, when you start an application via the online application portal, you’ll be asked to upload your personal statement along with other documentation such as your certificates, transcripts, and CV. It's important that you carefully plan and consider your personal statement, as a good one can be the difference between being offered a place or not at university – use the opportunity as your time to shine. Writing a personal statement can be a little tricky, so we’ve outlined some top tips and things to consider getting you started.

1) Planning

It’s helpful to plan your personal statement as it offers a chance to get your ideas in order. A plan can help make sure you capture all your ideas and have an effective, well-ordered structure. Be sure to carry out research into the course, department, and university – this will help you to think about why you’re suitable. Also, you should research the course’s entry requirements, so you can outline how you meet them.

Top tip #1 – Give yourself enough time to plan, draft and edit your personal statement. Avoid leaving it too close to the application deadline. 

 

2) Content 

The content in each personal statement will vary from person to person as the purpose is to be personal, however, there are key topics you may want to consider such as:

  • Motivations - Why do you want to do the course? What interests you about the course? Why do you want to study at the University of Huddersfield? What sparked your interest in this study area? What have you done so far to develop your interest?
  • Experience - How do you meet entry requirements? What are your academic achievements? What relevant work experience do you have? What key skills do you have? What can you contribute to the course and subject area? 
  • Aspirations - What are your career goals and how will the course help you achieve them? How can your work contribute to the subject area, University, local communities, and wider society?

If you are applying for multiple courses, make sure you write a personal statement for each course rather than producing one generic one. At the University of Huddersfield, we would like you to demonstrate that you are: 

  • Self-motivated
  • Enthusiastic
  • Able to initiate
  • Well organised
  • Responsible

Using evidence and examples, try to show some of these qualities! 

We recommend that you avoid using AI as personal statements are meant to show your unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and aspirations. AI-generated content may lack the genuine voice and personal touch that admissions tutors are looking for. Furthermore, personal statements need to be tailored specifically to the course you are applying for. 

Top tip #2 - Remember to be specific by drawing on examples rather than being vague and generic. 

Example: The Management MSc will provide me with thorough knowledge and understanding of project management theory and practice to help me secure a promotion and realise my ambitions as a Project Manager Team Leader in my company where I can make a positive impact. It will also equip me with fundamental leadership knowledge to successfully lead a team where I can support and develop colleagues to further contribute to the success of the organisation.

 

3) Structure

Your personal statement structure should be coherent and logical. It should consist of an introduction, a middle section, and a conclusion. We recommend using a tight structure and ensuring your paragraphs flow. It should be around 500 words, which is 1 page, single-spaced or 2 pages, double-spaced using a standard 12-point font. Try to avoid using long, run-on sentences as it can be hard for the admissions tutor to read – short sentences are better. You may decide to use headings to enhance readability too. 

Top tip #3 - Your sentences should make a point and then use evidence to back up your point to strengthen your statement. 

Example: I feel I could advance my knowledge and make a positive impact in the field of Investigative Psychology, and the wider community, through research excellence as I am passionate about research methodologies and understanding human behaviour. This is demonstrated through achieving first-class honours in my Psychology BSc and winning the departmental prize for the best dissertation in brain behaviour and cognition.

 

4) Tone and language

The tone of your personal statement should be enthusiastic and professional. Be positive and focus on what you have learnt and taken away from your experiences. We would recommend avoiding colloquialisms and contractions such as “I’d” and “you’d” etc. Writing in full form is better. You should use a range of language that is engaging and captures attention while using short, clear sentences. It can be written in either the first or third person, but you'll need to keep this voice throughout - don't switch between the two as it makes it hard to read. Avoid using passive voice too – an active voice is clearer. Admissions tutors are busy people so your personal statement should make things as easy as possible! 

Top tip #4 – Proofread your work carefully

Proofread your work carefully as a personal statement with errors looks clumsy and unprofessional. You can use tools like Grammarly too to help pick up errors, or you can ask a trusted family member or friend to proofread your work.

We hope you have found this informative and helpful. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Student Recruitment Team at study@hud.ac.uk. 

We wish you all the best with your application. Good luck!

To browse our postgraduate courses, please visit CourseFinder. 

Are you ready to apply? Visit our how to apply page. 

Postgraduate research applications have different requirements. Please visit the application information page for guidance.