Following your selection of the ideal Masters program, the following step is to begin the application process for the program of your choice. When applying to postgraduate programs, you’ll typically be required to write a postgraduate personal statement that highlights your strengths, skills, and experience, providing you with the ideal opportunity to sell yourself and demonstrate to the admissions tutor that you’ll thrive at their institution.
This page has some practical advice on how to write a successful personal statement for a Masters application, including information on the standard structure as well as common pitfalls to avoid – as well as some samples of what to do and what not to do in your personal statement! A number of Masters personal statement samples in topics such as Business, Psychology, and International Relations have also been given as links.
What is a Masters personal statement and how do I write one?
If you’re applying for a Masters degree, it’s probable that you’ve already written a personal statement for a Bachelor’s degree and have a decent understanding of how one is structured and what to include. Normally, your Masters personal statement will not be drastically different from the one you prepared for your undergraduate degree.
The reasons for choosing this particular course and institution, as well as what makes it such a desirable place to study, should be stated in your essay. Perhaps there’s a particular member of staff with whom you’re really thrilled about collaborating, or a particular aspect of the curriculum that stands out to you.
Demonstrate how and why you are passionate about your topic matter. It is critical to include information on your academic and work experience, as well as an explanation of how this has influenced your decision to pursue a postgraduate degree.
When writing a personal statement for a Masters program, what should I include?
Examples of abilities and experience you’ve gained at university or at work, as well as how they’ll assist you succeed in your Masters program, should be included in your application. These could include the following:
- Research
- Controlling one’s time
- Communication
- Fieldwork Internships are available.
- Participation in the public sphere Attendance at conferences
- Extracurricular activities that are relevant
Your personal statement provides you with the opportunity to discuss your future career goals and how you believe this Masters program will assist you in achieving them. Also, you might talk about any preliminary ideas you might have for your Masters dissertation, which will provide the admissions tutor an indication of your level of expertise in your field.
It is necessary to explain any substantial gaps in your school or career history, as well as any extenuating circumstances that contributed to such gaps (for example, illness or a gap year). However, avoid dwelling on any unfavorable situations; instead, have a bright and hopeful attitude.
In most (but not all) circumstances, you will apply for a Masters degree directly to the university, rather than through a centralized application system such as UCAS. As a result, you can customize each personal statement to the specific institution and program in which it is being submitted (rather than submitting a single personal statement for five courses, like at undergraduate level in the UK).
The personal statement for each Masters programme you apply to does not necessarily have to be completely different (there will usually be some overlap between them), but it is worthwhile putting in the extra effort to ensure that your application does not appear to be a generic copy-and-paste job to the admissions tutor who is reading it. This can be accomplished by mentioning the university and department by name, as well as by offering specific examples of their syllabus that you find engaging in your writing. Consider what distinguishes this particular Masters from others and include a reference to this in your comment.
What should the length of a Masters personal statement be?
It is recommended that you strive for a word limit of 500 or less when writing your postgraduate personal statement (one A4 side of text). While some institutions will have more particular requirements, others will have more general ones. For example, some universities may demand you to submit your personal statement using a form on their website with a character limit.
A Masters personal statement is rather brief, so you should concentrate on being as succinct and direct as possible, while eliminating extraneous material.
Answers to frequently asked questions concerning Master’s degree applications
For any additional queries or concerns you may have about applying for a Masters degree, please visit our FAQ page, which contains a wealth of information on the application process and beyond. More information can be found here.
What format should I use when writing a personal statement?
When writing your personal statement, the format is equally as crucial as the substance; a concise, well-organized statement demonstrates your ability to communicate clearly.A successful postgraduate personal statement should include the following characteristics, which are among the most important:
- Language that is upbeat and enthusiastic
- The use of a professional tone of voice
- You must provide compelling proof to support your arguments.
- Sentences that are concise and understandable
For the time being, here is a list of the habits you should avoid when writing your personal statement:
Clichés – come up with a unique method of putting it that the admissions instructor hasn’t heard a thousand times before!
Make no attempt to waffle by using meandering, unclear language
Poor spelling and punctuation — double-check, triple-check, and triple-check again, passing it by someone who can be trusted to read it.
Don’t: Because of my childhood fascination with the Artemis Fowl series, I have been driven to further my education in literature, and your Masters program appears to be the ideal place for me to continue my journey, given its world-leading status and your outstanding academic staff, whose expertise is aligned with my own personal interest in novels and poetry. Thank you for your consideration.
Keep in mind that your undergraduate personal statement should not be used to create a template for your Masters application. A Masters degree is a significant step up from your undergraduate degree, and the admissions tutor will be searching for evidence that you have grown as an academic performer in the intervening time. See if you can learn more about the distinctions between undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in this article.
Always allow yourself plenty of time to prepare your personal statement (and the rest of the application procedure) long before the deadline – don’t wait until the last minute to get things done! It’s critical to have another set of eyes go over your statement, so ask a friend or relative to proofread it for you. In addition, it’s worth investigating whether or not you have access to a career counsellor through your current (or prior) university, who may be able to assist you with the application process.
What is the best way to organize a personal statement?
Your personal statement will be easier to read and understand if you properly plan its structure. This will provide the admissions coach with a logical and easy-to-follow writing that demonstrates why you are an excellent candidate for a Masters program. In order to prevent hopping from one issue to another, make sure that there is a clear thread of argument connecting each paragraph.
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Make a concise plan before you begin working on the statement (don’t just make it up as you go along!) and stick to it. For the most part, you should plan on writing five or six paragraphs that cover three main categories:
- attention-grabbing introduction
Introduce yourself in an attention-grabbing manner, summarizing your academic and professional background. Try not to resort to using a gimmicky inspirational quote or an overly corny introduction; you will stand out for all the wrong reasons!
- engaging middle section
Your middle section should be interesting, and it should elaborate on your hobbies while providing tangible evidence of your talents and skills.
- concise conclusion
A succinct conclusion that brings together the most significant aspects of your application and leaves a lasting, good impression of your motivation for studying on this particular Masters program will be most effective.
It’s important to remember that admissions tutors will examine dozens (if not hundreds) of personal statements before making their decision. An organized, logical text that highlights all of the most important aspects of your experience and abilities will be highly received.
If you’re putting together a personal statement for your Masters application, our examples should serve as a source of inspiration – but keep in mind that they are by no means a substitute for your own unique experiences and history!