Computer science and cyber security degree personal statement example (1a) work experience

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

As an entrepreneur with a passion for computers, cyber security, and cybercrime investigations, pursuing further education in the field of software development, cyber security, and forensics constitutes the ideal next step on my journey toward becoming an officer at the major crimes unit at Lancashire Police. Indeed, the skills I have developed as a puzzler have gone hand in hand with my ability and desire to develop products and concepts for clients in a variety of sectors. Since I possess previous practical experience in both application development and cyber security, I am confident that I am well-prepared for the demands of your competitive programme, and would be able to make active contributions to discussions and seminars throughout my studies.

Your programme constitutes an ideal bridge between my previous experiences and future objectives, and I look forward to being an active contributor to all modules. Thank you for your consideration.

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

Perhaps my most notable previous experience with online development, server configuration, and administration came during my personal projects in which I developed and configured numerous back-end servers, developing technical expertise, time management, and an understanding of enduser demands. Keen to apply these skills into a consumer setting, I built a business selling web hosting packages to other individuals and businesses. My experiences founding my own company required me to develop a more critical mindset and to remain responsible and adaptable when something did not work the way I initially intended. Moreover, I have gained extensive experience in meeting deadlines and becoming a team worker who cushions the responsibility for his co-workers. I am confident that this experience – uncommonly achieved among people my age – has empowered me with a skillset which I can productively apply in both my university education and my future career. These skills included SSH tunnelling, configuring virtual private server firewalls, and full backend development, all of which seem well aligned with the curriculum on your programme.

In Year 10 placement, I conducted a work placement – run by Christ the King – at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). In my position as a HMRC Compliance Officer, I was given the flexibility to move between different locations to gain a holistic experience of this government workplace. Moreover, I had the pleasure of working with government developers (both front-end and back-end), assisting them in identifying issues in code and, most rewardingly, creating a government site that is still in operation today. As well as helping to develop my proficiencies in key areas, this internship also exposed me to the enjoyable working environment and work-life balance involved in this sector, reaffirming my desire to pursue further education in software development and cyber security.

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

Supplementing my internship and working experiences, many of my skills have been acquired through years of independent trial and error, instilling in me a consistent work ethic and a motivation to create something greater than I had before. Through working on numerous projects, I have learned the valuable ability to prioritise within my workload, which has resulted in me delivering all work and deliverables on time, meaning that I will be confident in meeting the demanding deadlines of university-level study. Moreover, my constant strive toward self improvement will support me throughout my time on your programme. Looking forward to my future career, I believe that I would work well in any company, as my current skills allow me to work in diverse environments involving different objectives, using my own knowledge and experience. Thus, I am keeping an open mind as to where I pursue my future career, although my local (Lancashire) police department is a current preference.

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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