Health 2026 personal statement guide

Get across how and why you want to study health at university by demonstrating what you already know about health and healthcare systems, what attributes you have that will lend themselves to this subject, and where you hope it will take you. 

General advice about writing your personal statement

What do admissions staff at universities and colleges want to see?

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:

• What’s made you decide health is the right subject for you? Can you reference personal experience you’ve had with the health system in the UK or elsewhere, or something you’ve seen or read that’s intrigued you about healthcare? Maybe you watched TV programmes dedicated to the NHS at 75 and it made you consider what the sustainable future of the UK health system may look like.
• Reference podcasts you listen to or publications you read that have given you an insight into health, and elaborate on one or two issues. For example, you could critique how health is funded in France compared to the UK, or maybe you’re a fan of Michael Mosley – Just One Thing and you’re fascinated by how diet and lifestyle can be used in health promotion.
• Is there a particular aspect of health that interests you, and an area you may want to work in, such as public health, nutrition, medical technology, or epidemiology, to name just a few?

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:

• Some health degrees require sciences, but not all of them, so make sure you check the individual university’s course entry requirements. Either way, you’ll need to be curious about health and healthcare systems, so reference something you enjoyed in biology, psychology, or law, for example. That could be knowledge you’ve picked up about anatomy, mental health, or healthcare litigation.
• Think what other skills you’ve developed during your studies that you can use on this course, such as planning, evaluation, data analysis, teamwork, and project management.
• Have you joined any extracurricular or supercurricular clubs that can demonstrate your commitment and leadership skills, such as joining the school council or being a team captain in chess or basketball?
• 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:

• It’s helpful if you have some understanding of the NHS and how it works. Write about any work-shadowing you’ve done at a hospital, care home, GP’s practice, or any other healthcare environment, and reflect on what you learned from it.
• If you’ve worked or volunteered in a caring or service role, especially with people who are ill, disabled, disadvantaged, or vulnerable, highlight the skills you learned there too, such as empathy, understanding different people’s needs, and the importance of observation.
• Demonstrate your other attributes, such as self-discipline and a commitment to something you enjoy through having learned a musical instrument or competed in a sport or other activity.

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?

Write about if you’ve ever talked to a medical professional about their role too – this could be your dentist, nurse, GP, or physiotherapist. What did you learn about how digital technology and communications are used in health systems, for example?

Don’t forget to give an insight into you as a person, too. Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic led you to want understand more about disease prevention, health protection, or how different health organisations approach epidemics. Or, if you love going to the theatre, caring for animals, or growing your own veg, mention those interests and the relevant skills you gain from them like cultural knowledge, a caring nature, or an awareness of the impact of food and nutrition on our health.

Reference any TED talks or journals you read too, such as BMJ Public Health, or Health Matters.

Some more tips to consider 

1. Research the course: Why do you want to study health, 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? 
2. Volunteer: Voluntary or paid work in a local care home, nursing home, or hospice can provide a great opportunity to observe how effective care is delivered. Here you can see first-hand what the needs of residents are, and how these are met by staff. Try and reflect on what you’ve seen.  
3. Examples of relevant skills: Use part-time jobs or studying for exams as examples of how you’ve effectively managed your own time, built your communication skills, analytical or critical thinking skills.
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. Ok, so you captain the football team – explain how that has given you leadership, teamworking and communication skills, and helped with your organising skills and motivation.