Personal Statement:Surveying 2 - The Student Room

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I want to study Property and Land Management at degree level because what started as a somewhat laid-back exercise in earning some extra money has now turned into an enduring interest in the built environment at large.

My first experience of the property industry was in 2001. I had inherited my father's old house, and rather than dispose of the property, I had decided to become a part-time landlord. Back then, the thought of taking this any further had not occurred to me. I have to admit that I thought it was an easy way to make money. However as I became more familiar with the realities of property management I discovered that, through the normal problems faced by any new landlord, this was certainly not the case. However the experience thus far has been equally educational and rewarding.

As time went on the subject of property interested me more and I started to read further on the subject. One book that caught my eye was Cities For A Small Country by Richard Rogers and Anne Power. The central thesis running through the book, that the British built environment, at the living and planning level is in need of fresh, and even radical ideas, and that empirical examples at macro and micro levels are available in the UK, Europe and even worldwide, is one that I agree with.

The idea of actually gaining a degree in the subject had initially not occurred to me as I had already attended university. But it was when I found out about the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and their accredited degree programs, that I decided to return to education.

I had come to the realisation that by earning a degree relating to the property industry, and one that is accredited by the RICS so I could become a Chartered Surveyor, I will be able to advance from being a part-time landlord, and after graduation become a fully qualified property developer, and in the future be involved in the design of housing that my peers would be pleased to live in.

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

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

Outside from my work, I have gained a full motorcycle licence, and I am intending on becoming a part-time instructor after the third year of holding my full licence. Riding has given me more confidence on and off the road, as well as improving my road awareness and those are traits that I would be proud to provide to others. I also cycle as a way of keeping fit, and one of my ambitions is to complete the London to Brighton bike ride.

Universities applied to:

• Kingston
• Westminster
• UWE
• Salford
• Reading

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.

Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.