Architecture and planning 2026 personal statement guide

Not all universities require you to have had any work experience or shadowed an architect, it’s more about being individual and creative in your statement. So, have something really interesting, engaging, and relevant to say about what enthuses you and what has motivated you to apply for architecture and planning. 

General advice about writing your personal statement

Working out what to include in your personal statement can feel daunting, but we’ve got some tips to help get you started. 

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.

Examples:

• Demonstrate what's sparked your interest in finance and accounting, and show it. If you were given a copy of The Accounting Game or The Joy of Accounting and something clicked, try and get that across. Or even if you’ve always had a head for numbers and want to apply these skills to a business setting.
• Back up your interest in studying with evidence of your relevant skills, knowledge or experiences and show you understand something about what’s involved, whether that’s the financial markets, taxation, or business ethics.
• The University of Bristol is looking for 'intellectual curiosity – reading or research beyond the A level (or equivalent) syllabus’. Mention any books, channels or podcasts you follow such as Bloomberg Surveillance or Money Box, and why.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• Bristol is also looking for 'interest and commitment to the subject. Can you mention relevant topics you’ve touched on during your A level, BTEC or Higher course, such as business policies or corporate finance?’.
• University of Bath admissions tutors are expecting students to have an interest and aptitude for 'quantitative analysis of business issues'. Demonstrate this with evidence showing your abilities for applying mathematical skills to the analysis of business problems.
• Have you had to give a presentation or lead a group project, which can illustrate your presentation and communication skills? 
• Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest? 

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• Do you have a part-time job, or have you done work experience? It doesn’t matter whether it’s a couple of weeks spent shadowing an accountant, a few hours talking to one, a part-time job in a financial, retail or business environment, or a scheme like Young Enterprise. What does matter is that you write about something relevant and what you've learned from it. But, as Sheffield Hallam and LSE say on their websites, experience is not essential, so don’t panic if you don’t have any.
• What hobbies do you have that admissions tutors might want to hear about? Maybe you enjoy crochet or crafts, which demonstrate an attention to detail, or you play FM25 or AirwaySim, which can add to your accounting skills. 
• Talk about other relevant skills you’ve gained from jobs or volunteering, such as looking after money whilst fundraising for a charity, time management through balancing your studies and extracurricular activities, or teamwork from a sport or other activity. 

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.

Examples:

• Try to answer the following questions: What prompted your interest in architecture? Are there any buildings and/or places you particularly like? Explain why – don't just list where you've been. 
• What architects do you admire and why? If you like Santiago Calatrava, for example, explain what stands out to you about his work.
• What do you see yourself doing with an architecture or planning degree? Would you like to shape the cities of the future, focus on regeneration or sustainability? 
• Ensure you fit what you say in your statement with the course you’re applying to. Admissions tutors at University of Sheffield also emphasise 'the most important thing is to be yourself' and that you shouldn’t 'put stuff in because you think it sounds good’, but also add ‘a few days’ work experience in a local practice would be beneficial, but not essential’.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• What do you like doing and/or what have you done well in academically that you think is relevant to studying architecture or planning? Are you a good designer or good at model-making? Do you have a mathematical mind or enjoy logic problems?
• If you studied art or design technology, how do you think some of the drawing, technical, and creative skills you learned may help you on an architecture or planning course?
• Professor Goodfellow from the University of Sheffield wants you to show you've done your research. He's looking for students who are 'willing to go the extra mile in terms of exploring both the ethical and practical challenges of planning in the twenty-first century’. Can you mention a time you’ve successfully overcome a challenge in a piece of work or researched planning laws in parts of the UK for a project?
• Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest? 

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• How can you demonstrate your innovation and creativity? Maybe you’ve experimented with sustainable materials in your model-making, designed a home in The Sims or in Minecraft, or carried out your own photography project.
• Have you done any shadowing or work experience that shows you know a little about the industry? Outline what you learned and why it has sparked your interest in this subject.
• Tell tutors about hobbies you do outside school that show you’re motivated to learn and complete a task, whether that’s Lego, judo or sketching – that will definitely come in handy for architecture courses.
• Think of a time when you’ve successfully managed a project, shown leadership skills, and/or done a presentation, whether in a work or school environment.
• What other qualities do you have that would make you suitable for this course? Maybe you’ve lived in a dense urban environment or in social housing which has given you ideas of how best to design and build affordable housing.

The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the ‘personal’ bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you?

Whether you’ve taught yourself to juggle, competed in a sport, or completed a half marathon, think about how that makes you unique. Then relate that into the skills and attributes you think, for example, an architect or planner needs.

You could also link your interests to extra information you’ve consumed about the industry you want to work in, whether that’s through things like The Open City podcast or visiting architectural sites you love. If you enjoy coding or playing computer games, think about how those tech skills may help you with certain aspects of the course. Think about attention to detail too – maybe it’s something you’ve picked up already in your academic studies or hobbies outside school.

1. Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills like planning, drawing, designing, teamwork, and problem-solving? Think part-time jobs or college work. Use those work experiences to demonstrate you have good communication skills, you can work to deadlines, and you’re self-motivated.
2. Research the course: Why do you want to study architecture and planning, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply?  
3. Make your previous subjects count. If you're going to mention your previous subjects, make sure they're relevant or you include a meaningful reflection. For example, in geography you may have learned about land surveying or natural resources, which you can use in your planning degree. Don't forget that admissions staff can see what you're studying elsewhere in your application, so don't waste characters.
4. Transferable skills: Whether through extracurricular or supercurricular activities, work experience or a part-time job, you’ll have lots of skills that will be relevant to your course. Try to think outside the box – ok, so you’re part of a football team; can you explain how that has given you teamworking and communication skills, helped with your self-motivation and time management?