Business and marketing degree personal statement example (1a)

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

When I reminisce about my school days, I look back with pleasure at the Business Studies classes I took at GCSE and A-level. I always found the classes extremely interesting. My attention was hooked and my understanding of business grew as we progressed our way through the course. My enjoyment of Business Studies can be seen from my exam grades of which I am extremely proud.

After university, I hope to work in Marketing and Advertising. I am an outgoing, articulate and keen person and feel these qualities would shine. Every time I watch an advert on television or see one in a newspaper I immediately know this is what I want to do in life. The idea of having a product to launch and a target audience to appeal to excites me. I always think of creative ways a product can be marketed. I am an enthusiastic learner, I know what I want and I am prepared to work hard to achieve my ambition. I had a job where the wage was commission based; this made me a self-motivated person with the determination to reach the goals I placed in front of me.

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

My enjoyment of Business Studies and the knowledge I gained is supported by my exam grades, which I am extremely proud of. I am currently completing an Access to Business Studies course, which is helping me to consolidate and build on my prior qualifications. Additionally, I am studying A Level French as I recognize the benefits of being multilingual in the business world, and as long as time permits, I will endeavour to learn as many languages as possible.

I also have a variety of educational experiences that have broadened my understanding of different cultures and perspectives. For example, I lived in America in 2003 as part of a student exchange programme, and I have experienced life in Ghana, which gave me insights into different ways of life.

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

At 18 years old, I was keen to go out into the world of work and learn more about different working environments. I had jobs ranging from working in nightclubs and promotions to face-to-face event-based sales. These experiences gave me a chance to see firsthand how the theories I had learned in Business Studies applied in practice.

After falling ill in December 2005, which left me unable to complete my A Level study, I took advantage of my time by working in marketing where I promoted products from businesses to consumers and learned how to build and manage my own team from scratch. Though initially daunted by the responsibility of managing people, I embraced the challenge and gained invaluable experience.

I also worked in retail for a brief period, which presented different challenges and work environments. When my health improved in September 2006, I returned to education.

Outside of work and study, I have a passion for music, which I believe adds balance to my life. I enjoy listening to, playing, and watching live music, regularly attending performances. My love of music began at age eight when I first picked up the recorder and clarinet. I have since learned to play the guitar and piano and am eager to learn the drums.

Socialising and volunteering are important parts of my life. I like to get involved with campaigns and groups as I feel it is a great opportunity to interact with different people from all walks of life. I regularly volunteer for Amnesty International and Love Music Hate Racism.

Having studied drama, I have an interest in acting, often going to the theatre and hoping to pursue this interest at university in my free time. With my varied interests, I look forward to both the social and academic opportunities at university.

I feel that I will settle well at university because I am friendly and confident. My ability to work in a team will enable me to interact well with others.

Universities applied to:

• Portsmouth
• Brighton
• Bournemouth
• University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)
• University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE)
• Kingston

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.

Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.