Personal Statement - Mechanical Engineering 6

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

My passion is for finding out how and why things work. For this reason, and through my enjoyment of studying maths and science subjects at school, I have become increasingly aware of the personal fulfilment a career in engineering will give me. Discovering how products are made, balancing technical performance with aesthetic, environmental and economic values is of great interest to me. Mechanical Engineering appeals to me because it will allow me to apply the mathematical techniques and scientific principles I have learnt to solve real-life problems. I have enjoyed researching Mechanical Engineering topics, and reading books such as Flying Buttresses, Entropy and O-Rings by James Adams and Invention By Design by Henry Petroski has increased my desire to enter this field.

In August I arranged work experience for a week at Rolls-Royce plc in Derby where I witnessed the production, assembly and testing of Trent 800 aircraft engines. This placement reinforced my eagerness to study a degree which would enable me to learn about engineering developments and gave me insight into the manufacture of real engineering systems. I found the required accuracy of each component and the scale of testing needed fascinating, and it excited me to see state of the art technology first hand.

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

Studying Maths and Physics has enhanced my analytical approach to problem solving and I especially look forward to furthering my knowledge of mechanics, kinematics and thermodynamics problems. In addition, studying Geography has developed my awareness of the environmental concerns which are now a major factor in all disciplines of engineering. I particularly enjoyed reading about the engineering strategies implemented across the Holderness Coastline and the sustainability of such projects. Subscribing to journals such as New Scientist and The Economist allows me to keep informed of engineering applications and to question how to improve the quality and efficiency of current technology.

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

Complimentary to my academic work, I participate in numerous sporting activities including playing for football and rugby clubs for the last 12 years and representing my school at five different sports. This has helped me to develop confidence, teamwork and motivational skills. My determination to excel is demonstrated by achievements such as being selected to represent Northampton at both Rugby and Cross Country Running for four years. Contributing positively to sporting and academic communities is important to me. As an example, I completed a course to become a Rugby Football Union (RFU) Level 2 qualified referee which allowed me to referee all of the school’s year 7 and 8 fixtures last season. Commitments such as these led to achieving the Sporting Contribution Award for Sixth Form. I am also working towards official football refereeing qualifications and I referee the home games of an under-10s football team and help with their coaching. I am a member of the Young, Gifted and Talented Academy, a prefect and sit on the Sixth Form Council. These responsibilities have developed my communication and debating skills. Working part-time for a laser game company has shown me how products are put into a profitable business model and increased my interpersonal and time management skills. My management and leadership ability were improved by successfully completing a RFU Rugby Leaders course which involved the organisation, coaching and refereeing of a County rugby tournament.

I am an inquisitive, conscientious, self-motivated individual who knows that a Mechanical Engineering career is what I want. I am excited and enthusiastic about studying such an interesting, challenging and rewarding subject. I look forward to gaining Chartered Engineer status in the future, to put into practice what I will learn at degree level and to make a difference in some of the most dynamic industries in the world.

Universities applied to:

• University of Sheffield (Mechanical Engineering)
• University of Liverpool (Mechanical Engineering)
• Cardiff University (Mechanical Engineering)
• Newcastle University (Mechanical Engineering)
• University of Leeds (Mechanical Engineering)

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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