How to apply

How to write your postgraduate research personal statement

Write the next chapter in your research story with a personal statement that helps you stand out from the crowd.

Updated for 2026

Tell us what makes you, you

Your personal statement is more than just a formality – it’s your opportunity to show us what drives you and why you’re ready to take on the challenge of postgraduate research.

Whether you’re applying for a Masters by Research (MRes) or a PhD, this is where you can share your passion for research, the questions that fuel your curiosity, and how your journey so far has shaped you for independent study.

We’re not just looking for grades, we want to know what excites you about this research opportunity and the impact you hope to make.

If you’re writing a personal statement as part of a scholarship application, please refer to the advert to check if you need to provide anything different in your personal statement.

Ready to start? Let’s make sure your personal statement reflects the exciting research journey you’re about to begin.

Own your story

Tips for writing a great personal statement

Here are our tips to help you craft a personal statement as bold and unique as your are.

Cover the basics

Your personal statement should be around 1000-1500 words, or 2 pages of A4. It should highlight:

Your interest in the course and how it fits with your career aspirations.
How your previous study links with this course, or why you now have an interest in studying a new area.
Why you would like to study here specifically.
Any experience that’s relevant to the course (particularly important for courses in a professional training area such as teaching, nursing, or social work).
Any relevant research experience (such as a project completed during a previous degree).
Any academic work you have published, or that's awaiting publication.
Anything else about you that makes you a great candidate.

Make it easy to read

The best personal statements get to the point quickly. Don’t waste your time trying to think of a catchy opening.

Your personal statement is not a test of spelling or grammar – but your ability to get your point across will be the key to success throughout your degree, so the more you can demonstrate that here, the better.

Remember, the tutor or funder reading your application may not necessarily be an expert in your field, so make sure you explain things carefully and write for your audience.

Be real

It may sound obvious, but it’s important to be truthful and honest throughout your personal statement. We need to know about all previous study you have attempted whether successful/completed or not. Tell us about any problems you encountered during your study and clearly demonstrate if your end result was for a different award from that expected (for example, if you gained a diploma when attempting a degree – or perhaps you gained a Postgraduate Diploma rather than the Masters you were aiming for).

Showing that you’ve been able to learn from previous experiences and mistakes is just as important as any successes you’ve had, so don’t try to hide anything.

And, it should go without saying, but make sure your personal statement is entirely your own work – it must not be written by an agent or other advisor or copied from another applicant.

Personal comes from you, not a bot

Nobody understands the power of artificial intelligence better than us. We embed AI throughout many of our courses for a reason. But it’s no substitute for you. When it comes to your personal statement, it’s you we want to hear from. Your thoughts, your feelings, your ambitions.

Consider using tools like ChatGPT to check your work or help organise your ideas, but don’t rely on them to create large amounts of text to use as your own.

Sell yourself

If you’re applying for a specific funded PhD opportunity, then you have an extra aspect to think about – why you’re the best candidate for the position.

You should use your personal statement to explain why you think you’re the best fit for the role, and what knowledge, experience and skills would make you better suited to it than other candidates. In many respects, you should think of it how you would a job application.

And remember...

Postgraduate degrees can be a bit different to other levels of study, in that the requirements for an application can vary between courses. That means that, while this guide should give you all you need to know about the basics, there may be other requirements you need to consider including for your chosen degree.

Make sure you check the information on the page for your chosen course carefully before completing your personal statement.

Guide to writing your research proposal

Now that you’ve nailed your personal statement, it’s time to turn your attention to your research proposal. Every postgraduate research applicant – whether for a PhD or an MRes – needs one.

Read the guideHow to write your research proposal