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Chemistry degree personal statement example (1x) with review and advice, UCL offer
This is a real Chemistry personal statement written by a student for their university application to Bristol, Durham, Imperial, Sheffield and UCL. It has been carefully edited into the new three-question format, with all of the original wording kept. It may have strengths and weaknesses, but it can be used as inspiration for writing your own UCAS personal statement. Ensure your personal statement is entirely your own work, copying from this example or other sources is considered plagiarism and can affect your application. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements.
This statement has been reviewed by one of The Student Room's personal statement reviewers, and their feedback is included below.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Every time I learn something new in chemistry I become motivated to discover more, continually finding new aspects interesting. Advancing always, chemistry is ever changing the way we live in our society and in our environment, influencing what toothpaste we use to how water is filtered. In one hour I have studied something as small as an electron to the large scale manufacturing of titanium. This diversity is one of the many reasons why I like chemistry and wish to study it at university.
Most aspects of chemistry appeal to me, and I have found organic chemistry particularly interesting. Studying mechanisms of reactions and discovering more in depth about how electrons and intermolecular forces play a part has intensified my desire to learn more about reactions in general. Currently, my favourite topic is optical isomerism and its uses in the pharmaceutical industries, as it has shown me how theory can be applied. I enjoyed the topic so much that I researched beyond the syllabus into drugs, such as Thalidomide and Dopamine, eventually presenting my findings to the class. Other forms of isomerism are also of interest to me; it has been intriguing to see how different structures can lead to different reactions, especially in the study of the oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes or ketones.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
Distinguishing between aldehydes and ketones has so far been my favourite practical session, as the silver mirror produced is difficult to obtain and so it was rewarding when mine turned out successfully. Other practical work has also been satisfying, as it has made me realise how careful planning and accurate measuring is of vital importance. I am looking forward to improving my practical skills at university, expanding on my ability to analyse data and evaluate experiments.
I have enjoyed studying mathematics this year, both within chemistry and outside of it, and so have opted to pursue Further Mathematics to AS Level whilst studying for my A2s. My additional mathematical skills and understanding will benefit my studies enormously, as chemistry involves many quantitative principles. My other A Level is History which allows me to express myself more creatively and forces me to form concise arguments, developing my writing skills.
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
My interest in debating led me to participate in a Mock UN Debate, allowing me to incorporate my interest in science as we talked about issues such as global warming and nuclear weapons. Once again this made me realise the role chemistry has in our society, consolidating my belief that chemistry is the subject for me.
I was elected to represent both my form in our school's council and my school at Liverpool Schools' Parliament. With the Parliament I visited the European Union in Strasbourg and participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations with students of over twenty different nationalities. The activities that I took part in at the European Union allowed me to gain confidence in speaking in front of large groups and also benefited my team-working skills.
I enjoy mountain walking and skiing, and have found that the outdoor skills gained during xxxxxxx have furthered this particular hobby.
My enthusiasm and work ethic will allow me to gain a lot from university, both from my degree and from university life itself. Keeping an open mind about career options, I am in no doubt that the skills that I will acquire through studying for a chemistry degree will allow me to make the most of future opportunities.
Universities applied to:
- Bristol
- Durham
- Imperial
- Sheffield
- UCL
Grades achieved:
- Chemistry - A
- History -A
- Mathematics - A
- General Studies - A
- Biology - a
- Further Mathematics - a
Expert feedback from The Student Room personal statement reviewer
{'general_comments': "This is a strong personal statement which shows a very good understanding of what the subject entails. They have gone into a lot of subject specific detail on the topics such as isomerism and the silver mirror test which really helps to convey an interest and an enthusiasm for the subject. Throughout the statement they have used their experiences well and related their experiences back to how it relates to chemistry and how it has furthered their interest in the subject. The structure of the statement is good and there is a good balance between academic discussion and hobbies outside of the subject.\n\nSmall improvements could be made to improve some of the wording and to remove content which is not adding value to the statement, creating more space for an expanded discussion and specific examples to further enhance this statement. It would be good to see a little more detail on the application of maths to chemistry rather than describing what subjects the applicant is taking, which is already covered on the UCAS form.\n\nOverall this is a strong statement which would be a positive addition to the student's application.", 'comments_on_the_statement': "Every time I learn something new in chemistry, I become motivated to discover more, continually finding new aspects interesting. This is a good start to the statement, but a specific example of what they have found interesting may improve it further. Chemistry is developing new toothpastes for us to choose from, rather than simply influencing which toothpaste we use. It is better to refer to the first person explicitly in a personal statement since this is about the applicant. The phrase 'we range from talking about something as small as an electron to the large scale manufacturing of titanium' is unclear — it should reflect the applicant's own experience or viewpoint. The introduction is strong, with a clear link to personal motivation.\n\nThe sentence about organic chemistry would flow better if merged with the following discussion on reaction mechanisms. The applicant should clarify the context of electrons and intermolecular forces' role. Discussing optical isomerism and its pharmaceutical applications is a strong, specific example, though dopamine is not a drug and should be rephrased. More detail on their research beyond the syllabus would strengthen this section.\n\nThe practical chemistry paragraph is effective in showing hands-on experience and interest. Including more on the underlying theory could enhance this further.\n\nThe section on mathematics would benefit from an example of how maths is applied in chemistry rather than just stating subjects taken. The history A Level paragraph could be reduced or removed since it is peripheral and grades are listed elsewhere.\n\nThe debating experience is well linked to chemistry and social issues, consolidating motivation. Leadership roles in the school council and school parliament effectively demonstrate transferable skills like confidence and teamwork. The final sentence about hobbies could be more specific about skills gained or omitted.\n\nThe conclusion could be improved by specifying which skills the applicant hopes to gain and a stronger personal emphasis on enthusiasm for chemistry."}
AI generated feedback
This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:
This personal statement clearly demonstrates a genuine passion for chemistry, supported by detailed examples from both academic studies and extracurricular activities. The applicant confidently discusses specific topics like organic chemistry and practical experiments, conveying strong subject knowledge and enthusiasm. Incorporating more explicit examples, especially linking mathematics applications directly to chemistry, would enhance clarity and relevance. Streamlining some sections to focus on impactful experiences over listing qualifications would allow more room for personal insight. The inclusion of leadership roles and debating adds valuable evidence of communication and teamwork skills, which complement the academic content well. Strengthening the conclusion with a personal reflection on skills to be gained and future aspirations could leave a memorable final impression. Overall, this is a strong, well-rounded personal statement that meets the expectations of the new UCAS personal statement format for 2026 and beyond.
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.
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