Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1d) UCL offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Like every other child growing up in Nigeria I got malaria from time to time, and to treat it, I had to take chloroquine which, most would agree, did not taste nice at all. Then, most likely after being tricked into taking it, I wondered how anyone could make anything so 'vile'. I am no longer that ungrateful child and I now know it was the biochemical and chemical engineers who were responsible for making those medicines and other numerous products which some people may take for granted.

The many careers available and the diverse and transferrable knowledge and skills gained are the reasons for my desire to study chemical/biochemical engineering. I believe my A-level studies in maths and science have given me a foundation to learn to understand intricate chemical and biochemical processes and predict their behaviour.

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

I gained an introduction to, and developed an initial interest in, engineering at my uncle's electrical and mechanical consulting firm, Molecular Consultants & Associates Nigeria. The design aspect of the engineers' job thrilled me the most because we were designing equipment that would become real objects and systems installed into the buildings. My time working at FSS Gases Limited reaffirmed my choice of chemical engineering as a career. The company designs and supplies fire safety, security, suppression & alarm systems; the successful design of the fire suppression system depends on aspects of fluid flow of the suppression chemicals such as HFC 227ea gas. I asked the engineers how the programme simulated the design, and being told it was fluid dynamics I now look forward to learning about this at university. At both these placements I learnt the importance of design in engineering, and how engineers have to work and strike a balance within the many constraints they encounter.

In Year 12, I took part in the Engineering Education Scheme. Three of my classmates and I worked together with Severn Trent Water to design a system to measure and monitor the levels of sodium chloride in their salt saturators, in spite of the tank manufacturers declaring it impossible. The experience was very beneficial to me because it helped to improve my teamwork abilities, communication and leadership skills; and, was a good exercise in organisation, the setting of goals and deadlines and subsequently meeting them. It was also an opportunity to practise oral presentation and public speaking. For my efforts and contributions to the group during the project, I received a Gold Design & Technology Award from National Stem Awards.

Last summer I attended a Headstart taster course in Biochemical Engineering at UCL, where we were given an introduction to the discipline by the tutors and to the various career paths by alumni. Over the week, we worked in different groups investigating bioreactors, especially the effects on variables including bioreactor design and agitator speed on power input. In addition, we were challenged to learn about how key operations work, process purities, yields, and flow sheets by being tasked to evolve processes for manufacturing various therapeutics.

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

Achieving the best GCSE result in my high school in Design & Technology and a Bronze Award in Senior UK Mathematics Challenge, both in 2008, has given me confidence that I can rise to the challenge of working at the standard required to succeed at a higher level. Alongside my academic subjects, I enjoy reading, especially P.G Wodehouse and Tom Clancy, and play the guitar. I have been a keen swimmer from my childhood, winning 7 gold medals and a cup in an international competition in Germany the first year I participated. Studying biochemical/chemical engineering will stand me in good stead for chartered engineer status which will allow me to further apply the invaluable skills, knowledge and creativity I will acquire, in the spirit of my old school in Nigeria, Loyola Jesuit College, 'For The Service of God and Others'.

Universities applied to:

• UCL
• Imperial
• Bath
• Cambridge
• Manchester

Grades achieved:

• Maths - A*
• Further Maths - A*
• Chemistry - A*
• Physics - A

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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