Demonstrate an informed understanding of sociology, and reflect on why you want to study it, alongside evidence of a mature outlook and a wider awareness of social issues.
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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:
- London School of Economics want to see an original statement that gives a sense of your enthusiasm and motivation for studying sociology, and to see something of your interest in 'relationships between peoples and society'. Maybe you can reference something you’ve seen in the news recently, such as how people have reacted to a recent war or refugee crisis, or a community that’s banded together over a particular issue.
- Tutors like the majority of your statement to be based around your subject interest and for you to reflect on why you wish to study sociology, any aspects that are of special interest to you, and how it relates to your current academic programme and your additional reading or other experiences. Perhaps you’ve witnessed or taken part in a social movement – explain what you learned from that and how it has informed your understanding of an aspect of sociology.
- Can you write reflectively about a piece of research you’ve read by a think tank you follow, such as DEMOS or the Centre for Social Justice, and how that has inspired you to take your sociology studies further?
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:
- Make it clear you’re academically interested in sociology, add any relevant supercurricular experiences, and show you’ve done your homework. If you’ve done sociology or psychology at A level (or equivalent) can you mention a project you took part in, such as culture and identity, racism or educational policies, and what you took from it?
- Amongst other attributes, Bournemouth University likes to see that you can work independently as well as in groups, so mention times when you’ve worked well with classmates on a project.
- Think of subjects you’ve done, or hobbies you have, that show you’ve got skills in things like data interpretation, problem-solving, writing, and presentations.
- 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:
- University of Birmingham tutors would like to get a glimpse of the relevant knowledge, skills, and experiences you’ve gained, an appreciation of what a degree in sociology involves, and the interests and enthusiasm you would bring to it.
- Think of ways you can show your interest in people and human behaviour outside of school, whether that’s through a community group you’re part of, content you watch and analyse, or family relationships you’ve dissected. Always reflect on what you’ve learned.
- Write about any work experience or part-time jobs you’ve had, and what you got from them. If you worked in a call centre, or bar, you’ll have gained active listening skills and potentially interviewing techniques. You may have shadowed at a think tank, newspaper, radio station, or academic organisation – if so, expand on what you got out of it and why it’s relevant to the sociology course you want to do.
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?
Perhaps you can illustrate your curiosity through factual or fiction books you read, whether it’s The List, Rebel Ideas, or The Madness of Crowds. Reflect on what interests you about these books and the ideas they communicate.
Tell admissions tutors something about you as a person
Are you from a large family, a minority group in the UK, living with a disability, or are you an only child? Can you reflect on your lived experience, and how you think our backgrounds shape us and our behaviours?
It’s even better if you can link it back to something you’ve seen on the news or something current you’ve read in a newspaper or science journal.
Write about what you enjoy doing in your spare time, whether that’s going for long walks, swimming, gaming, or watching sci-fi films with your friends. You can reference how you hope to continue those hobbies at university, or whatever groups you’re interested in joining. Tutors are interested in students being rounded people, who can get the most out of university life. And what better way to observe human behaviours than in the university students’ union!
Some more tips to consider
- Research the course: Why do you want to study sociology, 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?
- Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills like good communication or teamwork, interviewing techniques, critical thinking, or problem-solving?
- Making your work experience count: Have you had any experience in a caring role, community setting, or volunteering for a charity, for example? Make sure you spell out why it’s relevant and what you personally gained from it.
- 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. Think laterally – ok, so you’re part of a community youth club project; can you explain how that has given you teamworking and communication skills, helped with your cultural awareness, self-motivation, and time management?