Write about why you want to pursue paramedic science, the personal traits that make you suited to this career, and any experience you’ve had in a medical environment or with the emergency services.
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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 what’s sparked your desire to study paramedic science. Have you always wanted to save lives? Can you remember where that desire came from – a first aid course at school, doing your Rookie Lifeguard Award, or something else?
- Reference books or articles and further reading you’ve done that shows you understand what a career like this entails. Elaborate on one or two things, whether that’s an interest you have in paediatric or mental health or the desire to make a difference in the community.
- You could also give reasons why you feel you’re particularly suited to paramedic science. Perhaps you know you’ll enjoy the fast-paced, changeable nature of the job. You may know you’ll get high job satisfaction from making an impact on people’s lives. Consider also showing you know it can be a tough role, which requires resilience and adaptability.
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:
- Most courses require biology A level, or equivalent, so mention something specific you’ve learned in anatomy or physiology, for example, and why it will be relevant during your degree.
- Explain what other skills you’ve developed during your studies that you can use on this course, such as practical skills, writing skills, working to deadlines, planning, evaluation, and good teamwork.
- 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 football 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.
- 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?
Write about your outside interests, whether you enjoy rock climbing, hiking, playing The Sims, or watching Marvel movies. Explain what you hope to get out of wider university life, but also how some of the skills you’ve picked up from your hobbies may help you during the course.
You may be brave, quick-thinking, adaptable, and able to react well under pressure. Perhaps you can also show how you deal with frustration, and how you cope when things don’t go as planned. Give specific examples, such as having travel or holiday plans disrupted, having to resit an exam, or not getting on to the team in a sport you love.
What have you learnt about being a paramedic?
Mention if you’ve ever work-shadowed a paramedic or primary care health professional, or when you’ve had the chance to ask them about their jobs.
If you’ve attended any open days or careers events, tell admissions tutors what you learned about the course and the role of a paramedic.
Give further insight into your personal qualities too, such as kindness, patience, and perseverance. Perhaps you’ve taught yourself a skill – whether woodwork, learning a musical instrument, or fixing a bike – and you’re able to tolerate frustration. Maybe you care for an elderly or sick relative, or you volunteer at a charity or local community group, demonstrating your caring nature and compassion for others.
Don’t forget to relate what you write in your statement answers back to something relevant, like something you’ve read in Fighting For Your Life: A Paramedic’s Story, or seen on 999: On The Front Line, heard on The Resus Room, or watched on the news recently.
Some more tips to consider
- Research the course: Why do you want to study paramedic 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? Remember, you may get invited to a selection event and/or interview after you apply, so make sure you know your stuff before you go.
- Examples of relevant skills: Use part-time jobs or studying for exams as examples of how you’ve effectively managed your own time, and built your communication, analytical, or critical thinking skills.
- Volunteer: Voluntary or paid work in a local care home, hospital, or other clinical setting can provide a great opportunity to observe how effective care is delivered. You could also try to interview or shadow a St John Ambulance volunteer.
- 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 cricket team; explain how that has given you leadership, teamworking, and communication skills, and helped with your organising skills and motivation.