Admissions tutors at University of Portsmouth and University of Warwick both agreed that clichés like ‘I want to do computing because it’s the future’ or lines like ‘I got my first computer when I was three’ are a big turn-off.
Whether you follow BBC News Tech or ComputerWorld, they like to see evidence of your most recent engagement with the subject, or something current that’s inspired you. Be specific and enthusiastic about why you want to study this subject at degree level.
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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:
- Explain where your enthusiasm for computer science comes from, and why – but avoid the temptation to include a potted history describing when you got your first computer!
- Talk about what’s inspiring you or motivating you to study it, whether it’s a relevant book or news articles you’ve read, or maybe a bit of programming you've done.
- Show you understand what computer science as a discipline is all about, it could be through examples of programming you admire, or algorithms you’ve worked on in school.
- If you know, explain what your personal goals are and what you hope to achieve by studying this subject. You could reference modules on the course you’re applying to, if relevant.
- Professor Lowe from the University of Oxford says that lots of the personal statements he sees 'are similar, bland, impersonal and don’t stand out – so make it personal, specific, and concrete'.
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:
- Explain how studying maths, for example, has helped you to think logically and problem solve.
- Talk about a program you wrote in information technology (IT) or a side project you've been working on and how it’s helped you prepare for studying computer science at degree level.
- Reflect on how your studies or wider reading have boosted your understanding or sparked your curiosity. Maybe you’ve been listening to Unconfuse Me with Bill Gates, and you want to learn from tutors on this course in a similar way.
- 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?
- If there’s an area or module you're particularly looking forward to studying, say so.
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:
- Show you're a team player: according to the engineering and computer science department at Durham University: 'Try to write about how you work with others. Have you been part of a team or led a team? Have you had to organise something complex such as an event, a play or a football league?’.
- If you’ve done an internship or work experience, what did you learn from it and how will it help you on this course?
- Mention transferable skills you’ve picked up from extracurricular activities, such as perseverance and trust if you’re a rock climber, or attention to detail and working to deadlines if you’ve created your own YouTube channel.
- 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? Admissions tutors advise you to avoid phrases such as 'computers are important in the modern world' or just saying 'I’m fascinated by artificial intelligence (AI)’ without explaining why.
Think about personal experiences which are unique to you. If AI has been used as part of the recruitment process when you applied for a job, maybe that got you thinking about unconscious bias in computer programming and you’ve been experimenting with potential solutions. Perhaps you had a great-grandparent who was involved in code-breaking during World War Two, or maybe you did a fascinating school project on Alan Turing – just make sure you explain why these things have had an impact on you and your passion for a career in computer science.
Some more tips to consider
- Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated skills like good communication, teamwork, problem-solving, thinking outside the box, or achieving goals?
- Research the course: Why do you want to study computer science, 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?
- Creative flair: Can you show you’re a 'self-starter' who enjoys trying to solve complex problems, or come up with creative solutions?
- Make your work experience count: It’s not just what you've done but how you've reflected on it. If you work-shadowed at an IT company, or any business, it won’t have an impact unless you spell out what you personally gained from it.
- Transferable skills: Brainstorm what skills you’ve picked up through extracurricular or supercurricular activities, work experience or a part-time job, that are relevant to your course. Try to think outside the box –if you’re part of a cricket team; can you explain how that has given you teamworking skills, self-motivation and time management?
