Film studies 2026 personal statement guide

Write the script for your admission onto a film studies course by demonstrating what you know about film and the broader industry, your creativity and critical thinking, and where you hope your degree 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:

• Whether your interest was sparked by Marvel movies, filming on your iPad at home, or your first trip to the IMAX, get across how your enthusiasm for film studies has translated into wanting to pursue it at degree level. Even better if you know where you want it to take you: producer, director, critic, scriptwriter, cameraperson, editor?
• Pick one or two films, or elements of film, and critique them. If you love musical films, can you compare how Wonka was made, compared to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie? Or if you love action adventure films, can you comment on how some of the toughest action scenes are scripted and shot?
• Mention books, forums or blogs you read, or people you follow that have taught you more about the industry. Maybe you’re a fan of director Greta Gerwig or Alex Garland and you follow them on social media, or maybe you’ve read something about black and white films in Sight and Sound, or about women in independent film in Filmmaker Magazine. Make sure you relate it to the course you’re applying for.

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:

• Elaborate on specific skills you’ve picked up, such as video and image editing, scriptwriting, and project management in your art, English, or photography A level or equivalent. Think about other skills too, like creativity, innovation, thinking outside the box, and teamwork. 
• Some courses require essay-based subjects at A level or equivalent, so make sure you check the course entry requirements, then give an example of when you’ve argued a point or critiqued something in writing.
• Think about what else you’ve learned during your studies too. You may have discovered a great mind-mapping technique for revision that you can also use for coming up with creative ideas. Or you may have learned script-writing skills from being in a drama group, or content writing skills from contributing to a section of the school website or magazine. 
• 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:

• Mention any volunteering, work-shadowing, or part-time jobs you’ve done. It’s great if you’ve got experience at a cinema, film production company, theatre, or at the Young Film Academy, but if not, you could have picked up useful knowledge working in a restaurant, shop, or supermarket – like good communication and teamwork, as well as the opportunity to observe people.
• You’ll need to be analytical and good at structure and planning when doing film studies, so give examples if you play things like chess, sudoku or challenge games in your spare time, or give examples of when you’ve carefully crafted and planned something.
• Show you’ve got broader cultural knowledge which you can apply to your film studies, whether through listening to and reading current affairs, travelling, or enjoying literature and theatre. Maybe you’ve also started a blog, vlog, or podcast in relation to your interest.

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 else do you enjoy doing in your spare time? If you love hiking, or going camping for the weekend, you’ll have picked up independence and problem-solving skills. Maybe you’re part of a drama group, and you’ve observed how the director and producer work with the actors, or you’ve dabbled in scriptwriting for a production. It’s fine to have hobbies that are unrelated to film – just try and draw out some of the relevant attributes like managing your own time, working well as a team, and commitment to a sport or playing an instrument, for example.

It’s even better if you can relate what you’re saying in your statement answers back to something you’ve read in Empire, Total Film, or on the Culture section of the BBC News website.

Some more tips to consider

1. Research the course: Why do you want to study film studies, 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. Creativity and innovation: Try and give examples of when you’ve scripted, filmed, or edited a short film and give insights into how you craft your ideas. Mention any content you already host on YouTube or TikTok.
3. Make your work experience count: If you’ve work-shadowed a production company, a casting agency, a camera person, an academic, or anyone related to film studies, that’s great, but make sure you also spell out what you gained from it.
4. Transferable skills: Brainstorm what skills you’ve picked up through extracurricular or supercurricular activities, work experience or a part-time job that are relevant to your course. Think laterally – if you play basketball, can you explain how that has given you self-motivation, good time management, and perseverance?