Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1g)

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

When I compare my largely First World upbringing to the life of my grandmother who lives in a rural Malawian village with no electricity or running water, questions of renewable energy seem irrelevant; yet, growing up in a country which is largely fuelled by charcoal and diesel causing immense ecological damage, such an issue is essential to everyone. Clearly oil will run out, yet what we will do at that point is far from clear. Further research into renewable energy and the refinement of current industries may provide the solution, but that chance to be a part of this process as a chemical engineer really excites me intellectually, as well as providing a true cause to channel my energies.

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

I like to challenge myself, hence why I have undertaken Further Maths and I will broaden my mathematical knowledge yet further through an AEA next June. Beyond such a mere desire to test my intellectual reserves, I recognise that Maths is the keystone to success in engineering, so whatever I can do to develop my understanding can only widen my career avenues in this critical field. The study of Mechanics was decisive in my degree choice as it has deepened my appreciation for the way in which Mathematics can be applied to real world situations such as calculating the outcomes of collisions through using the principle of conservation of momentum; the sheer purity of a theory that always works dazzles, yet also provides a sense of satisfaction that only seems to come through mathematical studies. However, I realise that we cannot live in a mathematical vacuum and that we cannot model our entire world with a range of formulas; such a realisation drives me to grasp how things work. Therefore, the study of Physics inspires a keen interest in me. Experiments such as finding the speed of sound and the acceleration due to gravity were particularly enriching.

To become a truly well-rounded science student, Chemistry has been the other area that I thrive in, even if I annoyed my GCSE teacher by always reading a couple of chapters ahead of the rest of my class, such was my desire to leap into the unknown. However, it did result in my being awarded the school's Year 11 Chemistry prize. I've since learnt the downside to such hubris and the need for intellectual rigour as well as speed! Within the A-Level syllabus, I have relished the study of the energetics of chemical reactions. David MacKay's thesis in 'Sustainable Energy' that we are actually in the middle of an entropy crisis, not an energy crisis, encouraged me to read further into thermodynamics. With further reading, I was fascinated to discover the way Newton's Laws of Motion have been applied in conjunction with the laws of thermodynamics in the field of Fluid Mechanics to shape several of our modern manufacturing processes. It is this confluence of scientific and mathematic theorems with real life solutions that drives me to study Chemical Engineering as I believe it will satisfy my research desires (which I am sure will be fostered further through study in the UK), alongside my wish to forge a career that has a genuinely functional basis.

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

Over the last year my volunteer work helping to fight HIV/AIDS in my grandmother's village led to me being selected by the British Council for the Global Changemakers Forum in the UK. Meeting people from over 40 different countries vastly improved my communication and interpersonal skills; the real bonus to this lay in my peers voting me onto a panel to speak at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, making me the youngest person to ever attend the WEF, a genuine thrill which opened up a huge range of career and life possibilities. This, together with the maturity and leadership skills I have gained as a School Prefect and in touring with my school's rugby team to South Africa, have hopefully given me the requisite experiences and skills needed to succeed as an undergraduate in Chemical Engineering.

Universities applied to:

• St Catherine's College, University of Oxford (Engineering Science)
• Imperial College, London (Chemical Engineering)
• University of Manchester (Chemical Engineering)
• University College, London (Chemical Engineering)
• University of Nottingham (Chemical Engineering)

Grades achieved:

• A*AA
• AAB
• AAB
• ABB

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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