Biomedical sciences degree personal statement example (1m) work experience, York offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

What draws me to science is how it is incredibly complex, yet so essentially logical. In biology, an entire disease can be explained by a single missing amino acid. In chemistry, the ability of atoms to attract electron density towards themselves results in hydrogen bonding; a phenomenon without which life on earth would not exist. The interaction of biology and chemistry in a medical context is why I want to study Biomedical Science; I find it exciting that through the knowledge we gain from research we can build a greater understanding of how the human body functions, and develop treatments and initiatives that will improve the health of people all over the world. The variety and breadth of the topics covered within Biomedical Science hugely appeals to me. The ability to build a broad base of knowledge and then specialise in depth is really exciting. I love the idea of a career spent researching something that I'm passionate about, something that continually fascinates me. I read New Scientist every week and being able to see teams of scientists produce new evidence and develop ideas is really inspiring. For example, I read an article about a pair of identical twins where one was born with a split spinal cord, and the other with a normal spinal cord; creating the question – how could identical genes produce such different phenotypes? I found how scientists tackled this really interesting, looking at different ideas: mutations, epigenetic marks, physical variations in the womb. I loved the way different ideas were linked together and how one question led to another.

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

This summer I spent a week doing work experience at a large teaching hospital. I worked mainly within the Clinical Research Facility, shadowing PhD students and research nurses. As part of their research into diabetes, I observed modern technology being used to look at different aspects of the disease. In a study looking at the relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it was fascinating for me to see an MRI scan being used to look at fat build up around the heart. I also had the opportunity to use a laser Doppler probe to measure blood flow in the capillaries of the microcirculation. I was impressed by the patients and healthy volunteers that I met; they were a reminder to me of the purpose of biomedical research and have further inspired me to work in this field. At the end of my time there, I set up a database to match sample codes with patient ID codes; this gave me an insight into the logistics of the research and how important planning is to research trials.

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

I believe creativity and communication are also key to a scientific career. Studying Photography at AS Level has enhanced my ability to look at things from a different angle and pay attention to detail - to gain an alternative perspective and become more of a perfectionist. I have a strong passion for books, reading, and writing and I believe I can express myself eloquently and convey ideas clearly and concisely. For the last two years I have worked in a restaurant where I have enjoyed being part of a team and working fast under pressure; I have been commended for my time management and organisation. I appreciate that diligence and drive are essential when undertaking research. Helping younger students in Maths and Science Clubs has cemented my understanding of the subjects and my ability to explain things clearly. I recently participated in the European Union Science Olympiad where I led the Chemistry component for my team and we received some of the best marks nationally. I am currently really enjoying taking part in the Bar National Mock Trial competition; being a part of this means I have developed skills in looking at evidence critically and appreciating details as part of a wider picture. Science to me is a wonderful mix of order and creativity and I would love to be able to study it further, and most of all to be able to apply it to real people in a future career.

Universities applied to:

• University of Sussex (Biomedical Science)
• University of York (Biomedical Science)
• University of Bath (Biomedical Sciences)
• University of Durham (Biomedical Science; MBiol)
• University of Sheffield (Biomedical Science; MBiomedSci)

Grades achieved:

• Biology (A2) - A
• Chemistry (A2) - A
• Maths (A2) - A
• Photography (AS) - B

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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