What to include in a personal statement
You should tailor your Masters personal statement to fit the course you’re applying for, so what to include will largely depend on the course requirements. However, in general you should write about:
• Your reasons for applying and why you deserve a place above other candidates – discuss your academic interests, career goals and the university and department’s reputation, and write about which aspects of the course you find most appealing, such as modules or work experience opportunities. Show that you’re ready for the demands of postgraduate life by demonstrating your passion, knowledge and experience.
• Your preparation – address how undergraduate study has prepared you for a postgraduate courses, mentioning your independent work (e.g. dissertation) and topics that most interest you.
• Evidence of your skillset – highlight relevant skills and knowledge that will enable you to make an impact on the department, summarising your abilities in core areas including IT, numeracy, organisation, communication, time management and critical thinking. You can also cover any grades, awards, work placements, extra readings or conferences that you’ve attended and how these have contributed to your readiness for Masters study.
• Your goals – explain your career aspirations and how the course will help you achieve them.