Classics degree personal statement example (1a) Royal Holloway offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Studying Latin has strengthened my interest in Classics, not only because it has roots in English and the Romance languages but also it has direct relevance to Ancient Rome and Greece. I want to study it at university because it combines the chance to master Latin with my wider interest in ancient civilization.

The ancient world has subversively influenced western society in various forms from our philosophy to linguistics. I want to value its significance by studying it at degree level, especially through the study of the original languages so that classical texts retain the style which makes them worth reading and discussing in the first place.

I was intrigued by the Macedonian king's personality and his conquest across Greece and Asia Minor, and his life and conquests are a particular topic I want to study within a Classics degree.

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

As I did not have the opportunity to take Classical Civilization for A Level I have spent time reading classical works in translation to compensate. This includes some parts of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'; after studying Book 8 for AS Level Latin, I was impressed by how the stories linked together without being necessarily told in order or great length. An example is the story of Hercules' birth told after his death in Book 9. Furthermore, I have been reading historical fiction based on the ancient world as a way of seeing different views on ancient characters or periods. For instance, Valerio Massimo Manfredi's trilogy on Alexander the Great was the first set of books I read that made me want to learn more about the ancient world.

I recently attended a five-day Classical Civilization and Ancient History Summer School in Repton. This showed me how broad the subject is and which parts of it suit me; for example, we discussed the works of different playwrights in my Greek Tragedy class. Having only read a few dramas by Sophocles beforehand, it was interesting to compare his style with that of other Greek dramatists. I thoroughly enjoyed the summer school and concluded that Classics is the subject I wanted to take to a higher level.

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

I believe Latin is a fascinating subject to study at any level and so I volunteer regularly at a Saturday Class run at my school. I help to teach Latin to young children, which has developed my teamwork skills and self-confidence. Moreover, this November I shall be participating on the Villiers Park course 'Classical Studies: New Approaches to Old Ideas' where I hope to learn more about the ancient world.

My school responsibilities include helping out as a School Librarian once a week, a job which has improved my problem solving and communication skills through dealing with people who want to take out or search for books. I am also a member of our school's Learning Support Team, which is set up to help students in younger year groups with their schoolwork, again involving teamwork with other members to organise the group.

Outside school my main interest is creative writing, and some of my work has been placed online for other people to look at. Having my work read and judged by people has given me more confidence in putting more thought and clarity into my writing both for pleasure and academically. Moreover my time practising Karate encouraged me to increase my attention to detail and self-esteem.

Universities applied to:

• Royal Holloway
• Exeter
• Lampeter
• Warwick

Grades achieved:

• English Literature (A2) - A
• Latin (A2) - A
• Religious Studies (A2) - B
• General Studies (A2) - C

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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