Civil engineering degree personal statement example (1a) international applicant, Cardiff offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Since construction has always fascinated me and I have a keen interest in mathematics and physics, it was not difficult for me to decide to apply for a course in civil engineering. Engineering is vital in the modern world and I hope it will be a way for me to contribute to the society. Studying in the UK will be a fulfilled dream for me and it will provide me with excellent career prospects as well as the chance to become familiar with the way of life in a country which has always interested me.

Although I have various interests, I set my mind on what I wanted to study long ago. I strongly believe that civil engineering is a field where I can apply my skills best and fully realise my potential, while at the same time enjoying the job I do.

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

Although I find many school subjects interesting, my talent undoubtedly lies in mathematics. For the last seven years I have been taking extra math classes and have improved my skills immensely. Also, since second grade I have been taking part in various math competitions annually and have been ranked top three in the majority of them. Being part of a team in many competitions has developed my teamwork skills. In addition, I am captain of the school’s math team which has promoted my leadership qualities, as well.

My efforts provided me with the opportunity to go to an international competition in India, where I won two bronze medals, and to several international summer camps. Being often away from home due to competitions has taught me responsibility. In ninth grade I became extremely interested in physics so I started taking extra physics classes and took part in some competitions as well. The area that I find particularly appealing and easy to understand is mechanics. Throughout my course of education my intense studying of mathematics and physics has greatly improved my vision and critical thinking in this subject area. All this makes me believe I have the technical skills required to become a successful civil engineer.

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

I have done a lot of reading and research on civil engineering on my own, but only recently was I able to actually obtain first-hand experience. Because my uncle’s job involves interacting with civil engineers, in the summer I had the chance to meet some of them and observe their way of working. Such a close look on the challenges and demands of this field has been very useful for me.

Throughout the years I became more and more interested in Russian culture and history. For the last four years I have been studying Russian language and have achieved a very good level in it. In May I plan to take an exam in order to obtain an internationally recognized Russian language certificate.

When I set a goal I show persistence until I reach it. My charity work at the local Red Cross branch (involving primarily raising funds and working with children) has improved my social and organizational skills and has employed my ability to propose innovative solutions and to stay calm in most of the situations. All those activities have taught me how to manage my time so I can enjoy some non-academic pastimes.

Outside school, I practice chess and have awards from regional and national tournaments. Playing the oldest of games has helped me improve my logic and analytical skills. One of my favourite pastimes has always been reading, which has developed quite a creative mind in me. Authors I enjoy include Dickens and Sienkiewicz as well as a large number of Russian authors. History is also of great interest for me – British and East European in particular. In my free time I do jogging and practice archery, too.

Universities applied to:

• Cardiff University
• Nottingham
• Sheffield
• Newcastle
• Queen's University Belfast

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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