If you want to stand out when applying for a history degree, show how – and why – you're interested in a particular historical topic, trend, or period. So, you’ve read (or watched) The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Tattooist of Auschwitz – what do you want to learn next about the Second World War?
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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?
Why do you love history? Which period or approach particularly appeals to you, and why? What new insights has studying history given you? Why do you want to study it further? Which history books have you most enjoyed reading? Which historical sites have you most enjoyed visiting? What do you hope to do with your history degree in the future?
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:
- Try and bring your love of history to life with evidence. The best statements are those that go straight into engaging with what currently inspires you about the subject, not simply 'as a child when my uncle took me to a castle…'. If you love David Olusoga documentaries or a particular character in Ghosts, use that as a jumping off point for something you love about history.
- Talk about an experience and – crucially – what it was you learned. This could be a museum or gallery visit, volunteering, wider reading you've undertaken – even a powerful documentary or insightful discussion with your grandparents. A tutor told us one of the best statements they've read opened with a short account of a conversation with a grandad about his experiences in the Second World War.
- If it's relevant, explain where you see yourself in future and how a history degree can help you get there. Don't forget to elaborate on why – many history students say they want to be teachers or journalists, for instance, so saying this alone won't help you to stand out. If you mention a blog you write, work experience you’ve had in a secondary school or a magazine you read such as The Week (and why that matters), your statement will look stronger.
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:
- The University of Bristol is 'particularly eager to identify applicants whose interest in the subject extends beyond the A level syllabus and who are keen to engage in independent research’. For example, if you studied the French Revolution, maybe you did your own further reading on Marquis de Lafayette, which led you to become fascinated by the American Revolution, and subsequently a fan of Hamilton!
- Illustrate how studying history or other subjects like English or law have enabled you to think analytically and critically, as well as carry out independent research and writing. Mention specific projects, such as studying the European Union in politics, and how this will relate to your degree.
- 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?
- Dr Pigney from Birkbeck, University of London, told us he's especially impressed with applicants whose statements engage with fundamental historiographical questions, such as the extent to which history is a collection of different stories told from different viewpoints, or whether there is a single true account of the past. Can you critique a documentary such as Hitler’s Circle of Evil, or something you’ve watched at school, in terms of the sources it uses and stories it tells?
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:
- Dr Selina Todd from the University of Oxford told us she's looking for creative evidence of your engagement with history. That could be through work experience or creative writing, an interest in current affairs and how history helps us to understand them, or maybe something about how your hobbies and personal interests fit with history. For example, if you play in a band, are you also interested in music of the past?
- Think how your commitment to a weekend activity like a competitive sport or drama group helps with your time management, and communicate how you’ll use this effectively during your degree.
- If you know you want to work in government, publishing or academia, what do you do outside of school, such as reading historical fiction or vlogging your research on women in Ancient Rome, that you can relate to your future career?
Dos
- 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'ts
- 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?
Think about blogs you write, history clubs you’re part of or historical reenactments you like to go and watch, which tell admissions tutors something unique and interesting about you.
If you can relate your interests back to the subject area of your degree – whether you’re passionate about the Anglo Saxons, the Celts, or the Renaissance era – that’s even better. Think of other personal qualities you have, such as good planning or research skills, and where you got these from. Maybe you learned good planning from a parent who runs a small business from home, or got great transferable skills from work experience or a part-time job.
Research your course
The tutors we spoke to stressed the importance of researching your chosen courses to ensure the content actually matches your interests. Your enthusiasm for Ancient Rome won't stand out in a good way if one of the courses you're applying for only covers historical periods after 1500 – so read the course content thoroughly.
Don’t simply write things such as 'I think history is vital to understanding the world we live in'. Say why you think so, and include one or two examples of historical topics you have found interesting, and again say why – but keep these examples concise.
Some more tips to consider
- Structure and organisation: To study history, you need to demonstrate you can think coherently and structure answers well, so make sure your personal statement reflects this.
- Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated skills like good communication or teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, or achieving goals?
- Research the course: As we’ve said, make sure you tailor your statement to the specific history course you’re applying for. Explain why you want to study history, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how it relates to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply.
- Making your work experience count: It’s not just what you've done but how you've reflected on it. Whether you work-shadowed at a newspaper or journal, or at an accountancy firm, what did you personally gain from it?