Biology and psychology degree personal statement example (1b) work experience

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I would like to study Psychology and Biology at University because I have always been intrigued by science, by how the body works and by how human beings interact with one another. I wish to gain a deeper understanding of what makes us who we are and I believe that studying biology with psychology will help me to achieve this. In biology I am particularly looking forward to studying genetics and finding out what makes us unique and how this is linked to psychology. I want to come to University, not just to expand my knowledge base but to experience the joys of being a student.

After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I would either like to go on and study medicine or else I would like to complete a postgraduate degree in psychology. However, I feel that such a huge decision cannot be made until I have more life experience, which I am certain I will gain at University.

At University, I would, without a doubt, love to continue learning foreign languages. I have been studying French since I was eleven and Italian since I was fourteen because I believe that it is important to be able to communicate with people from foreign countries and one of the things that I am looking forward to the most when I do start university is meeting new people of different origins and having the chance to get to know them.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths with Italian and French has helped me to reach the decision of studying Biology and Psychology. Although I enjoy speaking languages I feel that studying them alone is not enough of a challenge, whereas, with Biology and Psychology there is still so much I have yet to learn and so many mysteries left to be discovered and it is this fascination with the unknown that has made me want to study Biology and Psychology.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

During the month of January 2008, I spent a week working in Kessington Medical Centre which is a Doctors Surgery just outside of Glasgow. As well as giving me confidence, my week of work experience taught me many valuable lessons, the most worthwhile one being, learning what it actually means to be in the medical profession. I realised, at the end of the week, that medicine is not just about understanding science. I realised that understanding medicine, although it will make you good at your job, does not make you a good person. Understanding people and wanting to help them is what makes you become an even better human being and that is why I feel that studying psychology and biology will help me, not just in my academic life but in all other parts too.

I am very passionate about music and I have been playing the violin since I was eight years old. As well as playing my violin as part of a church band, I have taken part in a number of courses. Two of these courses included spending a week away from home and performing in a concert as part of an orchestra, which I believe demonstrates teamwork.

My two main pastimes, not including playing and listening to music are reading and running. My favourite books are ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ by Harper Lee and Robert Jordan’s series, ‘The Wheel of Time’. My favourite genres are Fantasy and Science Fiction, although I am happy to read most books and try different genres. I enjoy running as a way of keeping fit and while I do not run as part of a club, I have taken in part in two of Cancer Research’s ‘Race for Life’ 5 kilometre runs, for which I have raised quite a lot of money.

I know that only being in my fifth year of secondary school, might make it seem as though I am too young for University but I feel that school has nothing left to offer me and that I am mature enough to leave and take my education into my own hands. I am organised, punctual, responsible and extremely hardworking and I think that given the chance I would fit in very well at University. I believe that University will present new challenges, which I am willing to take and I believe that at University I can find out who I am and the person that I want to become.

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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