Biomedical sciences degree personal statement example (1a) UCL offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

East and West best describes me; my father is Eastern European and my mother is Asian. Being born and having grown up in Sweden has only further added to my cultural diversity. Having travelled widely across the globe since childhood has enriched my life as well as exposed me to all sorts of sights, sounds and smells. It was during one of my trips in Asia with my family, that I came face to face with the brutal side of life - children without legs holding a broken paper cup, pleading for money, school-age children begging instead of sitting in classrooms, people calling a metal sheet over their heads a home and more. In Africa, it was a different sort of misery. The complete lack of sufficient aid was present everywhere. All I could do, then, was to embrace and accept the fact that what I saw was the macabre face of inequality and draw the conclusion that money was the root cause. Exposure to these sights has stirred in me a desire to help society and make a difference when I grow up. These sights have also impressed me by illustrating the strong survival instinct residing within the human race.

My mother is my inspiration. I am very proud of her when I see that her work within the medical field has given others a much better quality of life. Knowing that she contributes to society through her work has influenced me to follow in her footsteps, and it begins with getting a good education. My father who is the artistic one in the family has helped to provide me with the aesthetic aspect of life. Combining my interest in biology and medicine with my desire to make the world a better place has led me to choose to read Biomedicine at university.

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

In school, Biology and Chemistry were my favourite and strongest subjects. My interest in these two subjects flourished in high school when I had two enthusiastic teachers. The human body and its complexity has always amazed me, both from the biological and chemical perspective, and my hunger for knowledge has naturally formed my interest within those fields. Laboratory sessions in Biology and Chemistry were fun and these lessons gave me a deeper insight into the biological mechanisms at a microscopic scale and it created a foundation for further knowledge, which I hope will be helpful in my university studies. I have also taken the exam Certificate in Advanced English with the grading C, as well as obtaining a B1 diploma from Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française. Besides studies, I also actively helped out during Open School days with various tasks such as greeting visitors or presenting a project.

My mother graduated from the University of Glasgow and she has always encouraged her children to pursue a degree from the UK as well. I am as comfortable with English as with Swedish, since we speak it at home. I am an avid reader and prefer to read books in their original language be it in English, Swedish, French or Polish. Amongst my favourite authors are Mitch Albom, Paulo Coelho and Richard Harris.

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

My interest in watching and analysing movies with my friends has led to the creation of “Cine”, a Swedish movie reviewing website; that is known nationwide. Working part time as a reviewer and translator for the website, out of my school hours and during weekends, allows me to satisfy my analytical mind and improve my writing in both Swedish and English. My love of music also led to my interest in composition. It all began with an introduction to the piano, at the age of 6. I have obtained up to Grade 5 from The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music. Exercise is a vital part of a healthy life and therefore I try to jog or swim regularly as well.

Universities applied to:

• University College London
• Imperial College
• Warwick University
• Cardiff University
• Surrey University

Grades achieved:

• Certificate in Advanced English - Grade C
• B1 diploma from Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française
• The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music - Grade 5

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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