Admissions tutors want to know about you, and what you find interesting, so be as specific as possible about your interests and enthusiasms. Show you know something about the construction industry too.
You don’t need to have direct work experience, but any relevant experience you can mention – and crucially what you learned from it – will help you stand out.
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Think about why you want to study the subject
- Have you been inspired by someone, a news story, a documentary, or a podcast?
- Do you have career aspirations in this area of study?
- What interests you about the subject – be specific; rather than saying you enjoy it or are good at it, try to explain the ‘why’ behind your reasoning.
- What do you already know about the subject and what are you looking forward to learning more about?
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What makes you suitable to study the subject?
- Have you done projects or essays in this subject at school or college?
- Think about who you are as a person; your personality, your strengths, your experiences in life – how do these make you suited to study the subject?
- How have you shown an interest in the subject outside of school or college – have you done extra reading, online courses, been part of clubs or competitions?
- Your current subjects and grades will be included elsewhere in your application, so try to think about specific things you’ve learned during your studies that relate to the subject, rather than listing your grades and subjects.
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Look at the bigger picture
- Have you done any work experience, an internship or had a part-time job in this subject area or related? Most job or work experience will give you transferable skills, even if it’s in a different industry.
- Do you have any hobbies you can mention that might relate to your chosen subject? Many hobbies show that you can be motivated outside of school to achieve and succeed in something you’re interested in.
- Think about how your life and personal experiences have helped make you the person you are today, and how these challenges and experiences can support your application by evidencing essential qualities for certain subjects.
- If you’ve got ambitions and goals for your life and career, can you express how this subject will help you reach these goals?
Guidance and examples you can use
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:
- Tell admissions tutors what interests you about working with the built and natural environment. Would you like to shape the cities of the future, focus on regeneration, or sustainability?
- If you know, explain where you see yourself working once you’ve completed your degree. Do you want to be a quantity surveyor or construction project manager? How will this degree help you get there?
- Talk about something you’ve read on construction news or current affairs sites. If you’re fascinated by how drones are being used in surveying, for example, reflect on why.
- Ensure you fit what you say in your statement with the course you’re applying to. A quantity surveying admissions tutor doesn’t need to hear you want to be the next Zaha Hadid!
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 building and construction? Are you a good designer or good at model-making? If you studied maths, demonstrate how calculations and budgeting will be useful in your chosen subject.
- What about leadership skills or working well as part of a team? You may have taken the lead in a group project in geography, sciences or maths. Think about the relevant skills you can bring to this course.
- 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 planning and problem-solving skills?
- Maybe you were designated map reader on a Duke of Edinburgh or Scouts expedition. Were you the resident expert in building tents and shelter? How can you relate this to understanding the skills you’d need for the course, and, ultimately, a career in this field?
- Have you done any shadowing or work experience that shows you know a little about the industry? You don’t need to have worked on a construction site, but maybe you’ve had work experience at a council and seen the town planning department or you’ve done the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) virtual work experience programme. Reflect on what you learned.
- 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.
- Do relate any examples back to the subject you’re applying to – make it relevant
- Do make it personal – admissions staff want to get to know who you are
- Do use a spell-checker and grammar-checker to ensure there are no errors
- Do ask people for feedback, whether that’s family members or teachers
- Do your research to find out what universities are looking for, and make sure you include evidence to show how you are suitable for the course
- Don’t just list out examples, subjects you study, or experiences you’ve had without any evidence
- Don’t copy something you’ve seen online or use AI to write something for you
- Don’t make things up just because you think they’ll make you look good on paper
- Don’t leave it until the last minute – you need time for several drafts
- Don’t worry about making each section the same length; as long as you hit the minimum character count, you can use the 4,000 characters across each answer in the way that suits you best
How to set yourself apart
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 code, competed in a sport, or walked the Pennine Way, think about how that makes you unique. Then relate that into the skills and attributes you think, for example, a project manager or surveyor needs.
If you took part in a long hike, maybe you planned your route on a map, learned how to use a compass and GPS, and were able to adjust to bad weather or changes in routes. Being able to plan, use technology, and be adaptable are all useful skills in construction.
Tell tutors about hobbies you do outside school that show you’re motivated to learn and complete a task too, whether that’s learning a musical instrument, playing competitive football or chess, or completing a complex computer game.
Link your interests
Some more tips to consider
- Research the course: Why do you want to study building and construction, 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?
- 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.
- Make experience relevant: Whether you’ve worked in a restaurant, leisure centre, or hospice, part-time jobs can help you demonstrate you have good communication and people skills, leadership, or time management.
- Make your previous subjects count: If you're going to mention having studied geography or history, for example, include a meaningful reflection. You may have learned about sustainability or picked up analytical skills, which you can use during your degree. Don’t forget that admissions staff can see what you're studying elsewhere in the application, so don't waste characters.