Languages 2026 personal statement guide

The advice from Professor Helen Swift at University of Oxford is to think carefully about what kind of language courses you’re applying for, and focus your personal statement accordingly. Research the course so you know whether its focus is on linguistics, literature, applied languages or a broader approach to cultural study. You can then tailor your evidence and experience towards that course. 

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:

• Explain where your passion for languages comes from, and what you hope to do with it. Whether you’re a big Pedro Almodóvar fan and you want to become fluent in Spanish, or you’ve been following the political situation in Brazil and want to work as a translator there, give a sense of why you want to study languages at degree level. 
• If you’re applying for languages courses that involve studying cultural as well as linguistic elements, Dr Lucy Bell from University of Surrey says: ‘We like to see evidence of your enthusiasm for, and immersion in, the language(s) outside of your A level studies. This might include time spent in the country, exchange activities, reading the press or books in the target language, watching films, etc’.
• Professor Swift at Oxford explains how your ‘cultural engagement’ can be demonstrated in various ways. 'Doing simple things that are readily available to you via the internet, like reading short stories, following a blog, watching a documentary, or listening to French radio can be extremely valuable if you show what you got out of them. Take advantage of any opportunities available to you. But what's crucial is what you got out of the experience’.
• Language courses often feature a wide variety of modules, covering many historical and political periods, literature and drama, sociological topics, and more. If you know what you’re most interested in learning about further, mention it. It’s not all grammar lessons and learning how to direct people to la bibliothèque. 

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 have you done at school that’s relevant to studying languages at degree level? That can include having done foreign exchanges or lived abroad for a period, excelled in your oral or listening exams, or building your presentation or communication skills via other subjects.
• If you’re at a school or college that’s diverse and mixed culturally, how has that helped you understand or be interested in different cultures? Show you’re curious about the world and other people, whether through where you study, or what else you study, such as history, geography or sociology. Even reading books set in other cultures and countries can help grow your empathy and understanding in that language.
• 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 you’re more into the linguistics side of things, think how studying languages, or even elements of maths or programming, have helped your critical thinking and attention to detail.

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:

• Mention films you watch, whether it’s Society of the Snow or Das Lehrerzimmer, TED Talks you’re into, or podcasts you listen to that reflect your interest in the language you’re applying for, and its culture. Professor Swift advises to 'always be honest in your response to whatever you've read, watched, or listened to. If you didn't particularly enjoy Camus’ L’Étranger, for instance, don't say that you did'.
• Think of relevant work experience you’ve had. Perhaps you’ve worked in tourism before, whether in a hotel, campsite, or working abroad, or maybe you’ve picked up good interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills in a customer services role. Admissions tutors want you to explain how this has expanded your personal experience. What matters isn't so much what or how much you've done, but what you learned from it and how you present this evidence in your statement.
• Include mentions of voluntary work, how you help younger pupils, or what you're learning from the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) if you’re doing one.

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?

What can you tell admissions tutors about you to help them understand you’ll be a good languages student? If you enjoy dancing, pickleball, or learning the guitar, what does this say about your ability to commit to something and continue to improve? If you’re involved in a team or solo sport, think about how this shows either your teamworking skills, or your self-motivation.

What about your personal or family life? Maybe you were brought up in a home with parents from two different cultures or countries. How has that shaped you or sharpened your interest in languages? Maybe you run a book club or you just love reading – write about what you're looking forward to learning about the literature of the language you’re planning to study.

How else can you show you’re a good communicator and interested in other people? Maybe you loved working behind a bar or as a barista, or as a charity salesperson, chatting to lots of different people. It's even better if you can also reference something you've learned in your languages, history or politics studies, things you’ve read in Der Spiegel or Cambio16, or listened to on Geopolitique.

Some more tips to consider

1. Mention specific interests: If you have a special interest in linguistic or cultural research and you can give examples and why they’re relevant, mention them to show your intellectual curiosity.
2. Fluency and organisation: To study languages, you need to demonstrate you’re a good communicator and able to express yourself well. Your personal statement needs to be well articulated, organised, and free of spelling or grammatical errors. 
3. Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills like good communication or teamwork, adaptability, curiosity, initiative, or cultural sensitivity?
4. Research the course: Why do you want to study languages, 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? 
5. 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 if you take part in a pantomime every year; can you explain how that has given you teamworking and communication skills, helped with your self-motivation and time management?