how to start a personal statement for psychology

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Psychology Personal Statement Guide

Writing a personal statement is not simple, as it demands a lot from you. It requires you to be introspective and analytical about your opinions, interests, and motivations. It wants you to show yourself to your best advantage without coming across as arrogant and boastful . It asks you to convince people you’ve never met to offer a place on their course to someone they have little knowledge of. All of this in 4000 characters or fewer? Not so easy.

This guide is designed to help you navigate this challenging, but hopefully ultimately rewarding, task by taking you through what makes a good and a not-so-good psychology personal statement. It will give you a very good idea of what a personal statement is and isn’t, as well as what admissions tutors are looking for, and how to present yourself in the best light. The guide will lead you through the following points:

• Why are Personal Statements Important?
• What Should I Include in a Psychology Personal Statement?  
• What Should I Avoid in a Psychology Personal Statement?  

Advice on How to Start a Psychology Personal Statement  

Advice on how to finish a psychology personal statement  .

What Should I Avoid in a Psychology Personal Statement ?  

While personal statements should be personal to you, yours should not be about your own psychological or mental health history . Even if some or all of your motivation for studying the subject stems from this, it would be inappropriate to state as much since you should retain a scientifically objective interest in the formal academic subject beyond how it might be relevant to you personally.

You should also avoid talking about how the degree might help you to understand your own mentality or psychological health as this isn’t a guaranteed outcome of the course, and could suggest you’ve misunderstood what it involves.

Remember to maintain a formal, professional, and academic detachment and tone throughout.

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The start of your personal statement should set out why you’re interested in the subject and why you’d like to study it at university.

You should always avoid using quotations or clichés as these come across as hackneyed; instead, use simple and straightforward language that is appealing and memorable . You want to create a good impression through your own words, not someone else’s.

If you’re struggling with the first line, it might help to draft some reasons for your interest and motivation separately and incorporate these later. Once you have begun, make sure your statement follows a sensible order and that its structure is clear from reading it.

Like with the initial impression from the statement’s introduction, the final impression made on the reader should be a positive one that excites them and leaves them with a genuine sense of who you are and why you’re applying.

Without repeating what you’ve already said, you should try to emphasise the extent of your interest and why you’d like to study psychology. Plans for how you'd like to expand your academic performance at university can come into this section, as can any ambitions the degree could assist you with further down the line.

The important point to remember is that you want to leave the reader thinking it would be the best course of action to invite you to an interview or make you an offer

• What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Psychology Personal Statement?
• How Long Should my Psychology Personal Statement Be?
• What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Psychology Personal Statement?
• How Can I Tailor my Psychology Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

Refine your interests by looking into the broad areas of psychology that most universities will offer, e.g. developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, etc. Do some research into what appeals most to you through books and articles, and take notes so you can highlight your own personal informed interests where appropriate throughout the statement. This will give a much better impression than repeating what you know from your school syllabus.

Try to mention in the statement the academic skills you already possess and how these might equip you for success during the degree, e.g. your mathematical competency for dealing with statistics, or your experimental experience in the sciences. If you’ve won any academic prizes or awards, then by all means mention them but only if they’re made relevant to your ultimate study of psychology.

Your statement will be restricted to 4000 characters (including spaces) or to 47 lines of the UCAS form, whichever you reach first. Needless to say, such a limit makes every word count even more than usual, so it’s best to try to use all 4000 characters to express everything you need to. Create a list of points you want to include and tick them off to ensure you don’t omit anything.

So many activities you do outside the classroom will be underpinned by psychology, e.g. playing or coaching sports, gaming, and interacting with animals to name a few. Anything you do mention should go towards establishing your profile as a capable and skilled potential student of psychology, but these activities don’t necessarily need to relate directly – they could teach you different skills that would come in useful during the degree, such as research skills or empathy. Any mention of non-academic pursuits should be kept to a minimum and always related back to the subject you intend to study.

Whilst you cannot make your statement too specific to any one university, there are certain things you can do to ensure Oxbridge tutors know you are thinking of them.

Oxford and Cambridge value intellectual curiosity, an appreciation of interdisciplinary interest, and flexible thinking that allows you to test ideas. It’s therefore advisable to consider what evidence you have of these attributes which you can incorporate into your statement. Good examples of this would be challenging current ways of thinking, going beyond the confines of your school syllabus, or conducting an experiment with surprising results. In addition, given the system of small group teaching at the two universities and the onus they place on independent study, showing some evidence of academic autonomy would help to prove your suitability for their courses.

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Psychology Personal Statement Examples

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Our psychology UCAS personal statement examples below will inspire you to write your own unique statement, and help you understand how students have successfully applied for a psychology degree in the past.

What is a psychology personal statement?

A psychology personal statement is a creative piece of writing that demonstrates your skills, experience and hobbies/extracurricular activities and how they relate to a degree in psychology.

Psychology has always been a popular and therefore competitive subject, so you need to make sure your statement stands out from the crowd and is as polished as you can make it.

How do I write a psychology personal statement?

At Studential, we always recommend students start by making a series of notes about themselves, which they can then use to put together a coherent personal statement. These should include:

• Specific aspects of the course that interest you
• Examples of coursework or projects you have completed
• Books, articles, etc. you have read related to the subject area
• Work experience or voluntary work in this area
• Conferences you have attended
• Personal experiences that sparked your interest in this subject
• What you hope to do once you have completed your degree in terms of your career
• Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person, e.g. part-time job, small business enterprise, community and/or charity work, sixth form committee, helping out at school events, etc.

You also need to think about your interests and skills, such as hobbies, other languages you speak, etc. as well as your plans for a gap year (if you're planning on taking one).

Once you have written all these down, you think about your opening paragraph, and begin to get something down. It's a good idea to allocate at least one paragraph to each bullet point to make sure you've covered everything.

When you have your first draft in place, you can revise it and ask your family, friends and tutors for help. Incorporate any feedback, comments and suggestions they offer, and see if they improve your statement.

Keep redrafting until you feel it's as polished as possible - remember, you'll be facing some stiff competition!

What should I include in my psychology personal statement?

• The main aim of your personal statement is to show the admissions tutors why they should pick you to attend their course and university.
• Look at the course content and link it to your personal qualities, future goals and achievements. For example, you might have done some work shadowing at a counselling clinic or peer mentoring at your school or college.
• If you're applying for a joint honours, make sure you cover both subjects in the course.
• For those applying for a postgraduate course, draw attention to any clinical work experience you've completed to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in the subject.
• Read our psychology personal statement examples above for inspiration on how to make yours a success (please don't plagiarise them!).
• Remember to avoid using cliches, over-used words or phrases, humour, jokes, or taking any political or religious viewpoints.
• Structure it with a clear introduction, middle and end. You only have 4,000 characters to sell yourself, so try to make every word count!

For more help and advice on what to write in your psychology personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

How do I write a psychology personal statement introduction?

We recommend starting your psychology personal statement with either a story about how you came to be interested in the subject, or picking one or two aspects that you particularly enjoy and why you find them interesting. For example, the following applicant has chosen to talk about their childhood, and the consequences of their behaviour:

"Psychology encapsulates every aspect of our lives. From childhood, the reasons behind why we do what we do has fascinated me; and when I was disciplined for the type of mischief that one commits at a young age, my reasoning for my actions were always “To see what would happen.”

My parents mistook this as an act of mindless disobedience whereas it was in fact my first attempt at social psychology. Then, as I further discovered the leading figures in psychology, my knowledge and love of the intricacies of the human and animal mind grew."

These introductory paragraphs explain why the candidate is keen to pursue a course in psychology at university, while at the same time relating an engaging anecdote from their past, which helps to draw the reader in and make them want to read on further.

Another applicant who has submitted their statement to Studential has decided to talk about their Uncle, who has Asperger's Syndrome, and how they wondered why he was so different from everyone else:

"It was the odd behavioural traits displayed by my uncle, who has Asperger’s syndrome that first generated from a young age my questioning about why he acted so ‘differently’ to the rest of us.

This was part of what led to my interest of studying psychology, as it made me question how and why humans are so disparate from one another, and what part the brain plays in running our everyday lives."

Again, this provides an interesting hook for the reader, while demonstrating why they want to study psychology at a higher level.

These two examples should give you a good idea of how you might go about writing your own unique introduction to your psychology statement, but if you feel you need further inspiration, take a look at our list of over 100 psychology personal statement examples for more ideas.

How do I write the conclusion for my psychology personal statement?

To round off your personal statement, we suggest a paragraph or two about your extracurricular activies and hobbies, and how they have helped you to develop skills that will aid you with your psychology course at university. You may also wish to include a short sentence or two about your future ambitions or career plans, and how a degree in psychology will help you achieve these.

For example, this applicant has chosen to conclude their statement by talking about their current work experience and how it has improved their communication skills, along with their desire to complete a PhD once they've finished their undergraduate degree:

"I currently help people who struggle with language barriers by being a Spanish interpreter in different fields. Observing people from different age and cultural groups gave me first-hand experience considering the effects of stress due to the inability to communicate. This has, in addition to improving my communication skills, taught me how to deal with people from different social groups. I believe these interpersonal skills are valuable in the world of psychological research, in order to build rapport with participants in certain contexts. It has also taught me tolerance for others and the ability to remain poised during stressful situations. To culminate, in regards to my future career plans I would like to remain in further education and do a Phd in psychology- a step forward in my desired career as a researcher."

As another example, you can see how a candidate below chooses to talk to about their work experience with elderly people that have dementia, and how they want to improve their knowledge of the brain and their problem-solving skills:

"Subsequently, I did work experience at St Peter's residential care home. During my placement, I worked with nurses and kitchen staff to provide quality service to the elderly. I assisted in serving tea and lunch and also interacted with the elderly during social activities. This helped me to know how to interact with elderly people with dementia and gain a different perspective on elderly people.

I want to study psychology to further develop my knowledge in the scope of the brain, its anatomy and how it works. I want to learn how to work through problems carefully and logically applying scientific principles. Furthermore, I want to expand my awareness in all the different fields involved in the course, so that I can master any situation that I am presented with in my chosen field."

However you decide to conclude your statement, always try to relate it to the course you are applying for, i.e. psychology, and end on a positive, enthusiastic note that will make the admissions tutor want to make you an offer.

For more inspiration on how to write a conclusion, please take a look at our psychology personal statement examples .

What can I do with a psychology degree?

For those with a psychology degree, there are many career options available, including:

•     Clinical psychologist
•     Counselling psychologist
•     Educational psychologist
•     Forensic psychologist
•     Further education teacher
•     Health psychologist
•     High intensity therapist
•     Occupational psychologist
•     Psychological wellbeing practitioner
•     Sport and exercise psychologist

Other career paths where a psychology degree could be useful include:

•     Advice worker
•     Border Force officer
•     UCAS Careers advice
•     Chaplain
•     Counsellor
•     Detective
•     Education consultant
•     Human resources officer
•     Life coach
•     Market researcher
•     Mediator
•     Neuroscientist
•     Play therapist
•     Policy officer
•     Psychotherapist
•     Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)

For more help and advice on psychology careers, please see Prospects and the British Psychological Society .

What are the best universities for psychology?

Currently the best UK universities for studying psychology at are:

For more information about UK university rankings for psychology, please see The Guardian and The Complete University Guide .

Related resources

How to apply for a psychology degree.

Find out more

UCAS Pyschology Guide

Psychologist Careers

Types Of Psychology Degree

Psychology Personal Statement Writing

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Successful Personal Statement For Psychology At Oxford

Last Updated: 29th February 2024

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Psychology applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Psychology Course at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection.

Read on to see how this candidate demonstrates their academic interests and initiative.   

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Psychology comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Psychology Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

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Psychology Personal Statement

How does the mind work? The mind is a mystery housed within the most complex mechanism known to man: the human brain. My innate curiosity compels me to find out more about such a mystery through the study of Psychology.

I have long been interested in how our minds differ: for example, why have I always been a strong mathematician while my brother finds it challenging? Being a musician, I found Kathryn Vaughn’s research supporting a correlation between musical and mathematical abilities particularly thought provoking, while I have also wondered whether my childhood obsession with jigsaws helped me develop problem-solving skills, which are particularly relevant in Geometry: the area with the biggest rift in our abilities. Ann Dowker’s argument, in ‘Individual Differences’, that educational methods influence such differences was also particularly compelling. Therefore, in my gap year, whilst helping struggling learners in KS3 Mathematics at a local school, and, when I help educate children in Tanzania as an International Citizen Service volunteer with the VSO charity, I will evaluate the success of different educational methods. This will give me experience of carrying out my own research, and, will develop skills such as empathy, which is important in the more sensitive areas of Psychology. Furthermore, I recently assisted a University of Oxford researcher conducting follow-up assessments with children in local primary schools. These measured reading-age, language comprehension and numeracy level, and are used to gauge and refine the Catch-Up charity’s numeracy intervention programme. As some of the children being assessed were from a control group, my involvement also enlightened me to ethical aspects of research.

Differences that occur in the criminal mind are also of great interest to me. As an elected Student Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau earlier this year, where I learnt about Rudolf Hoess. Hoess exterminated thousands of families, yet lived with his own family just outside the camp. This ignited an interest in complex behaviour; therefore I read Stanley Milgram’s research into whether ‘the Germans are different’, and learnt about his Theory of Obedience. This developed an interest in Forensic Psychology, and I subsequently attended a Forensics course at Nottingham University, where I learnt about a Forensic Psychologist’s role, during Mental Health tribunals, for example.

Deterioration of the mind, and methods to counteract this, also interest me. Reading the Psychologist has given me an insight into how the effectiveness of such methods could be analysed using a high-resolution 3D brain atlas; while a presentation from Claire Rytina enlightened me to useful cognitive treatment designed to rebuild and retrieve memory following her Viral Encephalitis. I have also voluntarily worked at a Nursing Home with some Dementia sufferers, and noticed that many sufferers enjoyed me playing music from their past, and sometimes, this triggered some of their memories. This made me wonder whether the music stimulated neurones which had lain dormant for years, similarly to when neurones are used for the first time, as Hubel and Weisel’s nature/nurture research has shown. Studying this in A level Biology gave me an interest in neuroscience, while Biology also stressed the importance of controls and fair tests, which are invaluable during Psychology experiments too. My mathematical skills in statistics will also be beneficial when analysing empirical evidence; and, the deep level of analysis and evaluation used for varying sources in A level History will be useful when studying case studies, while my essay techniques will help me when writing reports, and when considering issues from different perspectives.

Overall, I feel that my broad interests and skills will enable me to thrive as a Psychology student at a demanding University, where I would also make a positive contribution to University life.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Medicine At Oxford University

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This statement is powered by a broad range of academic interests — all of which the candidate has explored to a deep and commendable level. They are able to articulate how these interests came about, why they are important and how they intersect. In so doing, the candidate clearly demonstrates their ability to think independently, undertake independent projects and foster a wide-ranging curiosity. Furthermore, they clearly illustrate how their academic interests have had a bearing on their actions outside of the classroom; activities that require a substantial amount of initiative and endeavour.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

While the consideration of a range of different areas of psychology is illustrative of a consistently curious individual, this statement would have benefited from greater cohesion as an overall piece. The candidate could have also found a less rhetorical way of opening their statement; their tone at this point is not a mode of speech that they return to elsewhere, and as such, it seems somewhat like a non-sequitur. Their prose thereafter is much more engaging, and it seems unfulfilling and irrelevant to include such mystifying text at the start.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This candidate maturely presents their academic interests and particular areas of personal pursuit. As a result of this, they are able to demonstrate moments at which they have taken impressive amounts of initiative, and have really gone out of their way in order to experience their academic interests outside of the classroom. They are thereby able to fashion themselves as a curious, energetic, academic individual, who is able to think independently and develop their own work. There are potential areas for stylistic improvement within the statement, but they do not hinder the overall impression given of a capable and committed candidate.

This Personal Statement for Psychology is a great example of demonstrating academic interest and initiative. The candidate’s interest and passion are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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How to Create your Personal Statement for Psychology

Sponsored school(s).

Odds are, if you are at the stage of writing a personal statement, then you are more than likely preparing applications for graduate schools in psychology. Below find out what it is, why you need one, and get some pointers on crafting a personal statement that will put your best foot forward with the admissions committees.

What is a Personal Statement?

Commonly referred to as a “statement of purpose”, and by some as an “application essay”, a personal statement is your opportunity to introduce and  sell yourself to a desired graduate program or college . In most cases, the personal statement can serve as the defining factor that allows students to stand out in a pool of applicants with equally high GPAs and test scores. Plus, a stellar statement of purpose could also help the applications of students who have unfavorable scores and grades.

Before You Begin…

Consider the type of personal statement required of you:.

Personal statements can range from  a few paragraphs to several one-page essays  that address different topics. They will vary widely between programs and schools, which means that you might craft quite a few of these application essays if you seek admission into various programs.

The objective of these statements all share a common thread: for the graduate committee to get a clear understanding of your career and academic aspirations as well as a sample of your writing abilities (a skill of utmost importance for comprehensive graduate study).

If Topics Are Chosen By You

The specific expectations of a statement of purpose might vary. Some schools might leave the direction and objective of the essay up to the applicant. In cases, you have the freedom to choose what you write about although, as a rule of thumb,  essays should take on a professional/ academic focus  rather than be personal or autobiographical. Don’t confuse personal statement with a long essay about your life growing up.

Instead, demonstrate your best attributes by outlining your fit, interests, previous experiences, servant leadership, research and courses you have taken that affirmed your dedication to the field of study. If you were not given specific questions, then be sure to touch bases with all of these that are relevant to your background in a logical and consistent manner.

If Topics Are Chosen By the Program

Other schools may provide you with a list of specific questions to answer pertaining to your career objectives and how obtaining an education with the particular program may advance you towards your goals.

Examples of specific topics outlined by graduate schools in psychology include:

Explain any previous work experience or teaching experiences you have in the field of psychology and why those experiences make you a strong candidate for our program.

Explain your long-term career goals.

Why do you think this program is a good fit for you?

How do you think this program can help you further your career objectives?

How has your previous education prepared you to take on study at the graduate or professional level?

What experience do you have conducting research? Rate your interest in conducting research.

What practitioners, researchers, or authors in the field of psychology have influenced your interest in this area of study?

Reflect on these questions or topic areas for a while before starting the writing process. Review your resume for direction about skills, experiences, or even lack of experience that you’ll want to identify and elaborate on in your paper. Write a list of attributes that you think describe you and consider how they are relevant to your interest in pursuing higher education.

During and After Writing…

Express your motivation.

When developing a statement of purpose for graduate schools in psychology, you will want to write at length about your particular interests, motivation, and passion for the field of study. Consider what experiences or traits you have that make you a better candidate than the hundreds of other applicants vying to gain admission.

Back up your expression of motivation with hard facts. The admissions committee wants a well-rounded candidate with a number of professional experiences that have helped clarify their ability to handle graduate study. Simply going on and on about how bad you want to be in the program with no relevant experiences that support that claim may not win you any favor.

Be Honest and Clear

When preparing a document that is virtually serving as a personal advertisement, you will write at length about the skills you possess that strengthen your application: academic curiosity, flexibility, maturity, persistence, and professionalism among others. When elaborating on your strengths, be sure to do so with respect to their relevance and importance. Do not go on about a characteristic that could be considered minor or irrelevant.

Also, be mindful of stating your goals and interests clearly and honestly. If you are not interested in a particular area, then leave out that information. Do not express an interest or ability that you do not have. It’s significant to discuss your weaknesses as well. If you have low test scores or a less-than-spectacular GPA, point that out in advance. Explain, if appropriate, why these aspects of your application are weak and follow up with a plan to rectify those aspects if you are accepted into graduate school.

Summary Points to Remember

• At this point, you can’t change your college or graduate school entrance test scores or your grade point average. You can, however, make a significant impact during the applications process by developing a well-written statement of purpose.
• Avoid writing at length about your personal history. Stick to the qualities and experiences that are relevant to your growth and abilities in the field of psychology.
• Answer all questions from the application and be sure to meet the page or word count requirements.
• Be sure to clearly and honestly relate your experiences and interests, also taking time to point out both strengths and weaknesses. Share how you plan to overcome those weaknesses or use them to your advantage.
• Ask someone else to look over your statement of purpose–an advisor or professor in your department–who can give you straightforward feedback on its content.
• Customize each personal statement to the program or school you are applying. Elaborate on how that particular program can assist you in reaching your goals.
• During revisions, pay attention to the strength and dynamism of your opening paragraph. Your goal is to hook the readers and give them the desire to keep reading.

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Trainee Psych Scribbles

Doodles, thoughts and reflections from a Trainee Clinical Psychologist

DClinPsy Application Guide: the personal statement

This is part of a short series of blogs about applying for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy). For context, I’m currently a Trainee Clinical Psychologist who began training in 2019. Through this series of blogs I’m hoping to share the insights I’ve gained that might be helpful for prospective applicants.

This is a guide to the personal statement section of the DClinPsy application.

I remember finding it the hardest and most stressful part of the application. Summarising your reflections on such a broad question in 3000 characters (which works out to roughly 3-4 short paragraphs) is not an easy task. While it might seem daunting, it doesn’t need to be perfect and if you write a relevant, reflective piece, you’ll be increasing your chances of getting selected.

A quick disclaimer that these are my own opinions about what might be helpful from my experience.

I’ve attempted to summarise some helpful advice under the headings below.

What resources are helpful?

Below are some resources that I used to help me write the personal statement. An important caveat is that you will not be able to cover everything in these resources. You don’t have to read them all and be selective when thinking about what to include:

• The Leeds Clearing House website (which is a bible of useful information)
• The Core Competencies of a Clinical Psychologist (within the linked document <-)
• Some courses, but not many, publish their selection criteria. The ones I could find were Sheffield , Plymouth (2015) and Exeter (2018).
• The BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct

Where do I start?

I remember having total writer’s block before starting my personal statement! It can be so daunting and difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things I did to get the ball rolling:

• I thought about why I wanted to do this role and what was it about my work experiences that I really enjoyed.
• I thought about how I had begun to develop some of core competencies through my experiences. I drew out a mind map of how I had started to develop them and what I had learned in the process.
• I made a list of my values and personal qualities, where these had developed from and times they had come up in my practice (these could be related to the NHS constitution e.g. equality, or more personal e.g. creativity).
• I thought about times when I have applied ethical principles or where my experiences had taught me about how important they were.
• I listed what I knew about a Clinical Psychologist’s role, what is unique about it and how it fits in with changes and challenges in the NHS.

As you can probably guess, doing these preparation tasks could lead to loads of possible content! Please read on to see my advice on how to be selective.

What do I include?

If you look at the way the question is worded, it is wanting you to reflect on key aspects of your experiences, and how they prepare you for the role. So, in theory, any reflections in relation to this would be relevant. You could use some of the exercises and resources above to help guide you and inspire you about what to include.

How do I make it “reflective”?

No matter what you include, my experience has taught me that it’s important to be reflective . In my second, successful application, I had virtually no descripitve language (in X role I did Y), and instead took every sentence as an opportunity to show what I had learned. Here are a few generic examples:

“When supporting people who experienced X, I found that considering factors such as X & Y (within a X formulation model/theory), facilitated my ability to respond in an empathetic, person-centred way when met with ambivalence to change”.

“I found that my values of compassion and respect helped me build rapport, when faced with challenges such as X… I believe these values developed through my experiences of… ”

“Conducting X research project, I learned X about the research process… Through disseminating the findings to X and listening to feedback, I learned the importance of adapting my communication style flexibly to meet individual need…”

Feeling a bit stuck on reflection? Sometimes it can be helpful to think through an experience using a model like Gibbs’ (1998) Reflective Cycle. Then summarise the key message from this reflection in your personal statement.

How do I structure it?

There doesn’t appear to be any “set” way to structure the personal statement. However, it seems courses might want you to consider both clinical and research experiences. In my second application, I ensured that these experiences were more evenly balanced (roughly a 60:40 split). I reflected on what I learned from these experiences throughout. You could also include personal and accademic experiences.

How do I fit it all in?

You can’t and (please) don’t try to. I made the mistake of tying to include too much. I remember going through draft after draft, stressing about what to cut and keep. Although I was successful, looking back now, I think my application read as a bit disjointed as a result. From my experience, I’d advise by going through your reflections and thinking about:

• How unique or relevant is this skill to the (trainee) Clinical Psychogist’s role in the NHS today? (e.g. Clinical Psychologists tend to do less 1:1 therapy work with low intensity cases, and work more with complex cases, taking on roles in consultation/supervision and leadership)
• Does this show my values/qualities or motives for applying?
• Would this make me stand out (in a good way)?

Once you’ve written your statement, make sure your writing is clear and concise. Then check if you could comfortably fit in any additional reflections, or whether you might need to cut some out.

Well… that was much longer than I anticipated this blog being. I’m not sure if I’ve done a very good job at modelling being concise! However, I hope that there will be something of use to you in here. Keep an eye out for the next one!

– Trainee Psych Scribbles

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Crafting a Unique Psychology Personal Statement (2024)

Excelling in your application for psychology at university:.

If you’re looking to study Psychology at University, this blog is a great guide to subject-exploration and structuring and writing a Psychology personal statement . With guidance from U2's Oxford and Cambridge-educated Psychology graduates, we also offer expert tips on creating a standout Oxbridge Psychology personal statement and include an example Psychology personal statement from a successful Cambridge Psychology applicant.

Most courses for Psychology at university, do not require students to have taken Psychology at A-level or IB (in fact, some professors advise that students don't take it, because the A-Level/ IB syllabus is so different from what you learn at University!) So, how can you build your foundational knowledge of the subject to impress admissions tutors reading your Psychology personal statement or leading your interview?  Whether you have studied Psychology at school, or are starting afresh, this blog will teach you how to ensure your Psychology personal statement stands out.

Researching your Psychology Personal Statement

Few students will have written anything like a UCAS personal statement before - an approximate side of A4 on what exactly you have to offer. For some general tips on how to write a high-level and original personal statement, check out our blog on 10 Top Tips for Writing a Standout Oxbridge Personal Statement .

Your personal statement should integrate your personal interests, subject knowledge and extracurricular experience. For Psychology, we suggest focusing on three main areas: (1) highlight your personal interest in psychology, be it clinical psychology or the stigma surrounding mental health, and link this more explicitly to the range of ways you have explored the subject;

(2) emphasise your academic abilities and how these will ensure you suit the course e.g. You may mention your mathematical/ scientific abilities and how this complements/ facilitates your interest in empirically studying human behaviour; (3) discuss extra-curricular activities and how these also relate to your subject interest. E.g. Essay competitions, projects, lectures etc. 

(1) Highlight your personal interest in psychology and link this more explicitly to the range of ways you have explored the subject

If you have an initial interest in Psychology, but have not had a chance to explore it in-depth, or beyond the school syllabus, this should be the first step. Do not regurgitate your school syllabus. You’ll need to read and research the subject, refining your interests and building evidence of your wider exploration e.g. through reading books, articles and scientific research papers.

Ideas to direct your wider subject exploration:

One way of developing an early understanding of key aspects of Psychology is to briefly look at the compulsory modules of the courses that interest you and gain an initial overview of key themes/ topics through reading and research. E.g. The undergraduate psychology course at Oxford University covers: Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Neuroscience, so you could try to gain a quick appreciation of each module through research. Cambridge also provide a useful A-Z of key topics in Psychology.

After an initial introduction into broad areas of psychology and what they involve, focus in. Which areas pique your interest most? Keep a file with notes on each topic, read articles to extend your knowledge, and remember to relate concepts to your personal experience (e.g. examples from everyday life, real-world applications of concepts) so you don’t end up turning your personal statement into an essay. Why does [Insert topic] make you want to study Psychology at degree level? What catalysed your interest in [Insert topic]? Can you think of examples in your everyday life that relate? :

E.g. Following some research, you may find you are interested in Social Psychology, in particular group identity. What interests you about it? You may have read about ‘outgroup homogeneity’: the failure to see differences between members of of an out-group. Can you think of examples in your everyday experience? E.g. Racial prejudice?

Conversely, you may have started with thinking about racial prejudice, if that is something you are particularly passionate about, and that could have led you to research the psychology behind it, which could have brought you to Outgroup homogeneity. Either method is great. When it comes to writing your personal statement, it can be best to start with the personal experience/ interest and mention how this spurred you on to the academic research/ how your interest deepened with wider exploration.

2Emphasise your academic abilities and how these will ensure you suit the Psychology course.

Throughout your personal statement, you should demonstrate how you have built skills in preparation for university and for studying Psychology .

To begin preparation, brainstorm your academic abilities and skills, and how these ensure you will suit the course/s you are applying for. Extensively research your top university choices, and see if they have a page dedicated to what they want from applicants. Fill a table as in the example below to help you relate your skills to the study of Psychology.

Psychology Personal Statement Reading Recommendations

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – Oliver Sacks: This book provides case histories of patients who have suffered a range of neurological disorders. E.g. Patients who have lost their memories, patients with violent tics, those with disabilities, but who are mathematical geniuses.

Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman : Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences laureate, Kahneman, developed ‘Prospect theory’, a theory of the psychology of choice, which has been central to the relatively new field of behavioural economics.

The book provides a good overview of a variety of key topics and is particularly useful for those with a penchant for economics (thinking about interdisciplinarity and how your subjects of interest link is always great for your personal statement), or for those simply interested in real-world applications of theories.

Try to think of examples from your everyday life e.g. How decision making can be influenced by advertising and product placement.

Bad Science - Ben Goldachre: Dr Ben Goldacre is the author of the Bad Science column in the Guardian. This humorous book should encourage you to critically appraise articles that you read and stimulate a broader discussion on subjectivity/objectivity and empiricism in psychological research. Humans introduce bias into all research - e.g. Look into the spurious findings of fMRI research when researchers do not adequately account for ‘noise’ in the data.

The Memory Illusion – Dr Julia Shaw: Forensic psychologist and memory specialist, Dr Julia Shaw, uses the latest research to show the many ways in which our brains can be led astray by memory. Learn about how errors in reconstructing memory reflect inherent biases.

If you would like to learn more about memory, check out our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™’s Mind-Enhancing Articles for Psychology, where our Oxbridge psychologists examine the role of memory and other key psychology topics/ questions.

Try to read some scientific papers and start thinking critically about them, and stay updated on developments in psychology and psychology in the news. E.g. Through reading The New Scientist - Psychology News , Neuroscience News , Naked Scientist Psychology articles & podcasts, or the Royal Society of Psychology research articles, podcasts and blog posts.

U2 Tuition Quick Tip: Remember to leave plenty of time to think about your personal statement! The content building part is by far the most important - without well-thought out content and a wide range of evidence for your independent exploration, you will not be able to write an engaging personal statement. The writing part will be easy if you have lots of exciting content to draw from.

Six Oxbridge Psychology Personal Statement Tips:

Applying to leading courses like Cambridge's Psychological and Behavioural Sciences or Oxford's Experimental Psychology course requires a tailored approach in your personal statement. Here's how you can make your statement stand out for these Oxbridge courses, compared to non-Oxbridge programmes:

Have a research-centric focus:

Highlight your interest in research from the very beginning of your Oxbridge Psychology Personal Statement. Discuss specific research projects you've been involved in or research findings that have fascinated you (see below for how you could get involved in these). Look into the cutting-edge research conducted at Cambridge or Oxford and see if anything aligns with your academic interests.

Make interdisciplinary connections: Emphasise your readiness to explore the interdisciplinary aspects of psychology. These Oxbridge courses often connect psychology with other fields. Mention your interest in related subjects such as neuroscience, biology, or even philosophy, if relevant. Discuss how these interdisciplinary connections will enrich your understanding of psychology and your research capabilities. See the example Psychology personal statement below for an idea of how to do this!

Show evidence of Critical Thinking and Independent Study:

Both Cambridge and Oxford value independent learning and critical thinking. Use your Oxbridge Psychology personal statement to share your experiences with independent research, coursework, or self-study that demonstrate your ability to think critically and engage deeply with psychology.

Mention Specific Course Features:

Make sure your Oxbridge Psychology Personal Statement is tailored to the course you want to study! For example, Cambridge's Psychological and Behavioural Sciences course includes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding human behaviour, whereas Oxford's Experimental Psychology course focuses on research design and data analysis. Explain how these aspects align with your academic goals and career aspirations.

Showcase your ability to use Research Methods:

Try to demonstrate your familiarity with research methods and data analysis tools, as these are central to both courses. Highlight any coursework or projects that have developed your skills in these areas.

Look Beyond the Classroom:

Mention your involvement in psychology-related co-curricular activities, such as higher level topic areas, clubs, volunteer work, or internships, to demonstrate your dedication to the field beyond academic requirements. For guidance and advice on how you can get involved in exciting and impressive Psychology co-curriculars to include in your Oxbridge Psychology personal statement, see the section below.

If you’d like help researching, writing or refining your Oxbridge Psychology personal statement, you could seek guidance one of U2’s Oxbridge Psychology tutors, who are familiar with the specific requirements and expectations of Oxbridge courses. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Use Co-curriculars to boost your Psychology Personal Statement

For such an applied subject like Psychology, it’s really key to use your Psychology personal statement as a space to show ways you have engaged with the subject and taken your interest outside the classroom. Here are some great suggestions of co-curriculars to boost your Psychology Personal Statement.

Psychology Essay Competitions

Oxford and Cambridge run a great variety of essay competitions e.g. Newnham College runs a Psychological & Behavioural Sciences competition each year.

Our co-curricular division, Minds Underground, runs a Psychology Essay Competition every year alongside the British Psychology Olympiad . Both these competitions are great opportunities to test your Psychology knowledge and explore the subject in new ways. Often, the competition includes a Psychology Research Proposal Challenge, which is perfect for demonstrating independent research & initiative in your Psychology Personal Statement and will encourage you to learn about experimental design, data collection, handling and analysis.

Independent Research Projects

You could task yourself with curating your own independent research project to mention on your personal statement. Here are some suggested project titles you might find interesting:

Investigating the effects of colour, word type, or other non-semantic factors on memory/reaction time/false memory recall of word lists

Influence of age/gender/multilingualism or any number of other factors on memory, number & word processing, any easily quantifiable metric.

An investigation into behavioural economics in the style of Kahneman & Tversky, looking at Type 1 & 2 decision making and how this can be influenced, for example, by advertising and product placement.

You may prefer to work on an independent research project under the guidance of an Oxbridge Psychology specialist. You could work with a tutor to support your research on a topic of your own interest, or sign up for one of our specialised guided research projects through Minds Underground, E.g. “ A Psychology or Medicine Project with a Research Associate for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Oxford University Hospital Trust (NHS) ” or “ Psychiatrists & Pharmaceuticals: Alzheimer’s Research Project ”. These projects usually last a month, with weekly project tutorial sessions that combine teaching of high-level subject-specific content with exposure to real-world applications of these concepts.

All our projects are great to mention on a Psychology personal statement, and make impressive talking points at a Psychology interview, particularly for top UK universities such as Oxbridge who favour applicants with an interest in scientific research. 

Societies, Lectures and Talks

Are you part of your school’s Psychology Society ? If the school doesn’t have one, could you start one up? Or if they have a STEM society, could you introduce a Psychology element or invite speakers for lectures? Find ways to get more involved with Psychology.

There are a plethora of online lectures and talks for you to access online - E.g. Gresham College Psychology lectures, or Ted Talks on Psychology, and you should check sites like the Royal Institution for regular, engaging Psychology talks in-person and online.

Psychology Summer School

We host a fantastic Psychology Summer School for university applicants, hosted by our team of Psychology Oxbridge graduates. The weekly sessions, running from July to September, will provide a taster of University level Psychology, and provide engaging material students can include in their Psychology personal statement, and discuss during their interviews.

See a list of example Psychology Summer School sessions below:

Next Steps: Structuring Your Psychology Personal Statement

Try to narrow your interests down to 2 or 3 topic areas which you can use as overarching themes for your personal statement, e.g. (1) Theories of Mind, of Consciousness, (2) Psychology & Gender, (3) Social Psychology - Group Identity.

Ensure you can address these themes in depth. Have a range of resources to draw from e.g. a scientific paper, a book, research you undertook as part of an essay competition.

Ensure a strong narrative , including linking of concepts between key sections.

Demonstrate personal critical analysis to show your engagement and interest in the subject.

Example Psychology Personal Statement Structure

Aim for around four main paragraphs:

1st paragraph (introductory): What is your motivation to study Psychology? Be specific: what do you want to explore at university? What is distinctive about studying Psychology that makes it worthwhile? Ensure you talk about what motivates your study of the subject now, not a catalyst from your childhood as the interviewer will find it clichéd and less relevant.

2nd paragraph: Explore your interest in [Insert topic] through [Insert activity: e.g. Summer School]. Which of your abilities did this highlight? Link the topic to an interest in [Insert research form: An experiment, article etc.]. Link this to [Insert another activity e.g. a Cambridge lecture on X].

3rd paragraph: Link to paragraph two. This paragraph can follow the same format, but deal with a different topic/ theme.

4th paragraph: Mention extra-curricular activities that don’t relate to your subject interests really briefly (e.g., music, volunteering, anything else of relevance) and demonstrate how these have built skills in preparation for university and for studying Psychology.

You could mention your other A-Level/ IB subjects, perhaps describing how they have enhanced your study of Psychology. 

You could mention any prizes or roles of responsibility which you have had at school, including any clubs that you might organise, such as the school newspaper or student council.

It can be useful to conclude your personal statement by returning to your aptitude for studying the subject in a final few lines . Which core skills do you possess which will equip you to excel at degree level? It’s important to strike a balance between enthusiasm for the subject and evidence of skills.

Example Psychology Personal Statement

Looking at Psychology personal statement examples can help you to understand how to structure your own statement and what to include. Below, we have included an example of a successful Cambridge Psychology personal statement, written by one of our 1st Class Cambridge PBS tutors.

N.B. The statement is by no means perfect, but should provide an exemplar for how to weave your academic interests and co-curricular endeavours into your statement.

Over 100 trillion synapses connect to form neural networks in the brain – an engine so close to home yet more enigmatic than some of the cosmos. How can the very matter we use to think and learn unlock mysteries of the universe, yet not know exactly how it stores memories? It is these existential questions that fuel my fascination for studying the delicate mechanisms of our minds. Year one of my A-levels, what started as curiosity became increasingly interesting to me. Psychology lessons were deeply thought-provoking, particularly when biological and cognitive psychology were the topics of study. The biology behind the metaphysics of consciousness and perception has since captured me, especially when considering neurological disorders. Fascinated by these phenomena, last year I attended a lecture by Baland Jalal; he discussed his own research into a cure for sleep paralysis, as well as demonstrating his enthusiasm for the field which was a perfect cross-section of various disciplines that I love. To further explore this new intricate field of interest, I read “The New Science of Consciousness” by Paul Nunez; this book offered me a profound insight into the philosophy and “hard problems” that this science faces; whilst explanations for Alzheimer’s and Free Will are difficult to retrieve, the questions we need to ask are even harder to formulate. Cures for neurodegenerative diseases are currently beyond our grasp, which I believe will be changed with further years of research that I would be honoured to be a part of. The challenges and speculations associated with understanding the brain and our behaviour draws me into the subject as I enjoy combining abstract and logical thinking to decipher problems. Both studying logical programming in Computer Science and my EPQ (an investigation into creating a handmade Wilson Cloud Chamber) showcase the interface of these types of thinking. Self-teaching has been a critical aspect of advancing my knowledge of Neuropsychology as at A-Level there is no depth into more peculiar cases (many of which I discovered after reading “The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat” by Oliver Sacks) such as Anton-Babinski Syndrome – a rare symptom of brain damage that causes people to be “cortically blind”, yet inexplicably deny their blindness. Using my own learning techniques, in Year 12 I helped tutor students in Year 7 physics classes. The significant change in learning style developed my methods of tutoring, teaching me to work with and teach peers of varying ages and enhance my ability to describe difficult concepts in an appropriate and understandable way. During year 12 I was accepted onto the Sutton Trust US Programme – a competitive Fulbright programme for high-achieving state-school students. I was one of 150 students picked from 1000+ applicants. Learning to deal with additional, international examinations and workload alongside school, being the guitarist in a band, and rock-climbing has been essential for my personal development, allowing me to handle substantial pressure. I was awarded a visit to Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s graduate laboratories where I saw leading research into many disciplines of science. This year however I decided that the more specialised curriculum offered in the UK was better suited for me – nevertheless, I am still an alum and volunteer for the programme and was chosen to be an advisor at USA college day this year. I gave individual advice to hundreds of young people, ensuring they had information and advice they needed to pursue undergraduate studies ideal for them. As a member of my school’s Student Wellbeing team, it is evident to anyone that a distinct and recurring interest of mine is to help people. I believe this perfectly ties into my desire to research the brain, as I am driven to be part of the research that will prevent neurodegeneration, aid mental illness and answer the fundamental questions that make us human. As written by Paul Nunez, “The phenomenon of consciousness is the major unsolved challenge of our age”.

Looking for a Personal Statement Tutor or Support For Your Wider Psychology Application?

Psychology personal statement tutoring.

U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a Psychology personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidate’s own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.

The Process:

1) We suggest an Oxbridge Psychology graduate as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Psychology at the University of Oxford and Cambridge, and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation and the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour diagnostic session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) U2’s approach for regular Psychology application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview - this may sometimes stretch from A-Level standard to First Year Undergraduate.

Mentors ensure each student refines their interests within Psychology, and is exposed to a range of key themes and topics.

Throughout there will be a focus on the experimental side of psychology, by centering the course on real studies, and discussing the techniques and limitations involved in psychological experiments. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during the interview.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects , Psychology summer school and Oxbridge mock interview days .

Honing the skills necessary to succeed for Oxbridge ideally requires long-term preparation and mentoring presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the very best Oxbridge has produced.

Sessions from £75/h + VAT.

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How To Write A Personal Statement For Psychology

Writing a personal statement for a psychology course in the UK can be a daunting task. Your personal statement is an opportunity to highlight your achievements, experiences, and goals, and to showcase your fit for a specific programme or institution.

It is an important part of your application and can be the deciding factor in whether or not you are accepted. 

Many students want to study psychology in the UK since it has one of the best universities in the world. Also, many international students are applying to UK universities every year. In total, around 60000 students study psychology in the UK.

In this blog post, we will provide tips and guidelines on how to write a compelling personal statement for a psychology degree and university. We will also discuss common mistakes to avoid and give some examples to help you get started preparing for your university application.

What is a personal statement for psychology?

A personal statement for psychology is a written document that is typically submitted as part of a UCAS application in the UK.

It is an opportunity for you to show your unique background, experiences, how strong the secondary school education you have, and your interests, and to explain how these have prepared you for a career in psychology.

In your personal statement, you should highlight your passion for psychology and your goals for the future. This part is very important for admission tutors at universities.

You should also write about a relevant research project or work experience, as well as any relevant coursework or extracurricular activities. 

However, the personal statement for psychology needs to be a very well-written and thoughtful reflection of your strengths and goals and should demonstrate your readiness to pursue a degree in psychology.

Recommended guides:

• How To Write A Dentistry Personal Statement
• How to Write a Personal Statement for a Masters Degree
• How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD
• UCAS Personal Statement:
• Tips for Personal Statement for the University
• How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out

What makes a good personal statement for psychology

Writing a good personal statement for psychology can be intimidating, but this is the most important part of your university application process. You will have only one chance to grab the attention of very detailed admission tutors.

When creating your personal statement for psychology, it’s essential to focus on your passion and demonstrate your desire to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology. To make your application stand out, be specific and provide concrete examples of your experiences and accomplishments.

It’s also essential to use a clear and concise writing style, avoiding jargon – this is something that is not appropriate for university admission tutors. And don’t forget to carefully edit and proofread your statement to ensure it’s error-free and presents a polished, professional image.

Finally, make sure to tailor your statement to the specific psychology programme applying for. Since you will study Psychology, you can choose from many programmes. See the list below. 

Consider the values and goals of the programme, and explain how your experiences and interests align with these. Asking a friend or family member to review your statement before submitting it can also be helpful. Also, you can hire a professional writer to proofread your application.

Check out our UCAS-specific guide: Perfect your application with these useful guides.

• UCAS Reference Letter
• UCAS Tariff Points Table: How does it work [Example table]
• UCAS Application: Process and Deadlines Explained in Details
• UCAS Extra 2023: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
•   UCAS Clearing
• UCAS Application Process for International Students  

How to structure a psychology personal statement

Well-written psychology personal statements increase your chances of getting a place on your desired course and help you stand out from other applicants.

Learning what to include and how to structure your psychology personal statement can improve its quality. As a general framework for your psychology personal statement, we have included some steps below.

Research before starting writing 

Ensure that you are familiar with any specific guidelines or information that needs to be included in your psychology personal statement.

For example, formatting advice, examples of the kind of experience that would be relevant to mention, or what they are looking for in candidates may be included. Your writing can be guided and informed by this information.

Outline ideas on paper 

Prepare a brief outline of what you want to discuss in your psychology personal statement. An introduction to yourself, your experiences (shown in an example), your knowledge, research projects (if you have it), important skills, and why you are interested in this particular course might be included.

The outline can help you plan the structure and content of your personal statement.

Write an amazing personal statement introduction

You will have the first opportunity to demonstrate to admission tutors why you are the best candidate for a psychology course during your introduction.

Stand out while staying on topic by highlighting what makes you unique in terms of your skill sets, experience, and passions.

Engage Tutors with your statement

The opening sentences of your personal statement are crucial in making an impact on admission tutors. To capture their attention and interest, try starting with punchy, short, and relevant sentences that stand out and create a smooth flow for the reader.

Experiences, skills, and interests in psychology

A personal statement is much more than a representation of yourself. It emphasises why the psychology course is appropriate for you.

Highlight to university members why you’re interested in psychology and what abilities you’ll bring to your studies to achieve.

Always back up your views with real-world examples from your own life, whether it’s a personal experience, something you witnessed secondhand, or something you read about that inspired you to pursue this job.

Make a clear conclusion

An excellent conclusion to your psychology personal statement , like the start, may create a lasting influence on the tutors . Try to cover all of the essential arguments you’ve raised in a clear, succinct manner. Show why you want to study a specific course at a university.

Stick to the subject and avoid using fluffy, long boring sentences. Make sure you leave the admission tutor in a good, enthusiastic tone so that they end your statement with a positive view.

Check to spell and proofread errors

Before you submit your UCAS personal statement , be sure to thoroughly proofread it for any grammar or spelling errors. Reading it out loud or having someone else read it for you can help catch mistakes.

Keep in mind that a successful psychology personal statement is clear , informative , and personal , so avoid using overly long sentences and aim for a professional yet energetic tone.

Highly recommended to read:

• Applying To Medicine in the UK
• Writing a Winning Medical Personal Statement

Tips for writing your psychology personal statement

1. start early.

Writing a psychology personal statement is a time-consuming process if the writing is not your “thing”, so it’s essential to start early . This will allow you to brainstorm ideas, gather materials, and revise your statement multiple times before submitting it.

2. Understand the Purpose of the Personal Statement

Before you begin writing your personal statement for the UCAS application , it’s important to understand the purpose of the statement. A personal statement for psychology university should:

• Explain your motivations for pursuing a degree in psychology
• Describe your research interests and career goals
• Highlight your relevant experiences and achievements
• Demonstrate your fit for the subject and school you are applying to

3. Follow the Prompt

Most programmes will provide a prompt or guidelines for creating your psychology personal statement. It’s important to follow these guidelines closely and address all of the points requested in the prompt. If the programme doesn’t provide a prompt, you can use the list above as a general guide.

4. Be Specific and Personal

A personal statement should be specific and personal. Avoid vague or general statements, and focus on specific experiences, A-levels, subjects, achievements, and goals.

Use concrete examples to illustrate your points and help the reader understand your motivations and interests.

5. Use a Clear and Cohesive Structure

Psychology personal statement should be well-organised and easy to follow. Use a clear and cohesive structure to help the reader understand your story and the progression of your experiences and goals.

Don’t use headings or subheadings to divide your statement into sections. Use transitional phrases to help connect your ideas.

6. Edit and Proofread

Once you have completed a personal statement, it’s important to take the time to edit and proofread your work. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes, and make sure your statement is clear and concise.

You can ask a trusted friend, family, alumni student, teacher from the same subject or professional tutor to review your application for feedback and suggestions.

7. Avoid Common Mistakes

There are several common mistakes to avoid when writing a personal statement for a psychology course:

• Failing to follow the prompt or guidelines
• Being too general or vague
• Focusing too much on your weaknesses
• Using overly technical language or jargon
• Submitting a statement that is too long or too short
• Not including experience and example

8. Use Examples to Illustrate Your Points

To make your personal statement more engaging and memorable, use examples to illustrate your points. This can help the reader better understand your motivations, interests, and goals, and it can help bring your statement to life.

9. Show, Don’t Tell

When working on your personal statement, use descriptive language and action verbs to show interest, rather than tell, the reader about your experiences and achievements. This can help paint a vivid picture for the reader and make your statement more engaging and memorable.

Advice From Psychology Students

Here is advice from students who have undergraduate degrees.  

I structured it by introducing myself first and then talking about my passion for psychology. I then talked about my experiences and how they adapted me for my studies, before talking about why I wanted to come to USW and study Psychology. – First-year student Keira

If I was to do it all again, I would talk more about my current interest in Psychology and read around this subject, as I think this would have demonstrated initiative and real passion. – First-year student Keira

Here in our Psychology personal statement examples section, we have amazing samples you can use as guidance for yours. Make sure you check them before you start perfecting your application for UCAS .

Psychology Courses to Apply In The UK

A list of psychology degrees available for undergraduate applicants in the UK are:

• Child psychology
• Clinical 
• Developmental 
• Educational 
• Experimental 
• Forensic  
• Social 
• Sport 
• Criminal 

Final Thoughts

Preparing a personal statement for psychology is a vital part of the university application process. It’s your first contact with admission tutors as a future student.

A compelling personal statement focuses on your passion for psychology and your future goals, provides specific examples of your experiences and achievements, and it’s tailored to the specific course you are applying for. 

With these tips and guidelines in mind, you can start preparing for an application that will increase your chances of getting accepted.

Most universities in the UK recommend that a personal statement for psychology be around 4,000 characters or 47 text lines long.

In your personal statement, you should include your passion for psychology and your future goals, any relevant research, coursework, or extracurricular activities, and how these experiences have prepared you for a career.