Biology degree personal statement example (1t) Oxford application

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The housefly: for most an inconspicuous, unremarkable and often unappreciated organism. Yet upon reading Tim Birkhead’s book ‘Promiscuity’, it became clear there is far more to the housefly than initially meets the eye. Male houseflies provide a fascinating insight into post copulative sexual selection at work. Their semen contains anti-aphrodisiac compounds causing females to resist copulation with other males, ensuring the male’s sole paternity. Man’s ability to discover complexity and beauty in even the most unlikely of organisms is one reason for my love of biology.

Attending my school’s Biology Critical Review Club has ignited my interest in kin selection theory and altruism. I am fascinated by kin selection’s ability to explain observations seemingly inconsistent with Darwinian natural selection, such as a sterile ant’s willingness to rear offspring of its queen (Hamilton, 1972) and the formation of fruiting bodies in slime mould (West & Gardner, 2010). Reading around my subject has expanded my knowledge beyond the A level syllabus leaving me eager to gain greater understanding.

I believe my desire to understand new principles, to balance the theoretical with practical and to apply biological concepts to real world issues make me particularly suited to study biology. I now feel ready to take on the academic and wider challenges of university life.

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

My desire to study biology was confirmed during a work experience at the Sutton Institute of Cancer Research. Working alongside experts on cell cycle control and drug discovery was particularly inspiring. Following a selection process I was invited to a week at Clare Hall Laboratories where I had the unique opportunity to witness the use of immunodeficient mice to model the pathology of malignant tumours. I enjoyed performing a range of practical techniques such as gel electrophoresis of DNA and western blotting of proteins. I also encountered genetically modified mice at the Neurogenetics Laboratory of Guy’s Hospital where I learned how the number of CAG codon repeats in the HTT gene affects the prognosis of sufferers of Huntington’s disease, a topic I researched further for a recent symposium. More broadly, these practical experiences inspired me to read Nesse and Williams’ book ‘Why We Get Sick’ which gave me greater insight into our susceptibility to disease, from the perspective of natural selection.

In the field of marine biology, I have analysed scientific papers in order to write an EPQ dissertation on the ecological impacts of salmon aquaculture. This helped me develop valuable independent research and critical thinking skills. My focus on issues such as the transmission of salmon lice and its role as a vector for the infectious salmon anaemia virus has furthered my long-held interest in the balance between conservation and exploitation of ecosystems. I was delighted to further develop my ecological sampling ability during a cetacean conservation course with The Sea Watch Foundation.

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

The value of public debate as part of the scientific process came home to me during a series of lectures at the Natural History Museum alongside the ‘One Million Years’ exhibition. I was surprised to learn how genome sequencing had shown Neanderthals interbred with ancient man as recently as 40,000 years ago. I was fascinated by the controversy that ensued amongst the researchers when I questioned the extent to which the two entities can continue to be regarded as separate species.

Teamwork has been a key focus of my outside pursuits. In 2012 I was accepted onto the National Performance Programme for Modern Pentathlon and have since represented Great Britain on three occasions. I was honoured to receive a Sports Aid Award following nomination by Pentathlon GB. Training intensively for five sports alongside my academic endeavours has taught me to manage time effectively. My role as House Captain and Cross Country team Captain has developed my leadership and communication skills.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford
• Durham
• York
• Exeter
• Birmingham

Grades achieved:

• Maths (AS) - Grade A
• Biology (A2) - Grade (A at AS, A* at A level)
• Chemistry (AS/A2) - Grade (A at AS, A* at A level)
• Physics (AS/A2) - Grade (A at AS, A* at A level)

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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