English and French degree personal statement example (1c)

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent [...] science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill." These words of Barbara Tuchman sum up for me not just my feelings towards books, but literature as a whole. Without literature, the world would be a very dull place; without the extraordinary lands that exist in our imaginations, or the warmth of a happy ending. What would the world be without the fireside novel, or the bedtime story? Literature has, for generations, enraptured young and old alike across the globe, and this is one of the reasons why I wish to study English and French.

During my study of English I have developed a keen interest in the history of literature and how it has changed with the circumstances of different eras. After studying French I have grown to love the language and also enjoy the literature of the country, particularly Emile Zola’s naturalistic and detached "Therese Raquin", Pagnol’s "Le Gloire de Mon Pere" and Guy de Maupassant’s characteristic short story "En Mer". I am particularly interested in the idea of Le Nouveau Roman, and how literature changed after the war. Another interest is how the literary styles of France and the UK compare and contrast, which I have explored further in my preparations for AEA English and French.

I am very much looking forward to my future and everything life has in store, and cannot wait to involve myself into every aspect of university life. I am very excited to be continuing with and combining the two subjects I love most, and learning more about them in much more depth, with the freedom that university study brings. I love a challenge, and know that I will throw myself with vigour into everything the next four years bring.

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

A self-confessed bibliophile, I have always been enthusiastic about reading, and my studies have only fuelled further my love of literature. I have grown to love a variety of genres and authors, and fail to not be moved or gripped by anything I read, be it, the emotion of Ian McEwan’s “On Chesil Beach”, “Enduring Love” and “Atonement”, the realism of Nick Hornby’s “About a Boy”, “A Long Way Down” and “Fever Pitch”, or the magical worlds of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series.

My other studies of Maths and Chemistry have aided in developing the logical thinking needed for analysing texts in detail and interpreting factual information, essential for studying literature at any level.

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

I have visited France on many occasions, on various educational visits to Normandy and Bayeux and also to Cannes and Nice during a holiday. These trips have helped me to understand more about French culture and people, and have also increased my interest in visiting other Francophone countries to further my knowledge. My interest in the country and the language has also increased my enthusiasm for the subject, which has resulted in my obtaining the school GCSE and AS prizes for French. I also enjoy going to the theatre, to see plays from the works of Shakespeare to more modern theatre and musicals. This experience has helped me in my role as an English Prefect, which involves helping to organise trips for the younger students.

I enjoy writing, and am a member of my school newspaper team, regularly writing and editing articles and reviews. This has resulted in my obtaining half-colours for my services to the newspaper, and has helped me develop team-working skills that I have also used in completing my Silver D of E and through my appointment as Deputy Head of my boarding house. I perform regularly in concerts and productions throughout the year, leading to my appointment of Head of Music, and my receiving half colours for both music and drama after my completion of the Silver Arts Award, during which I helped to produce a “mini-musical” for the younger pupils.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford
• Exeter
• Warwick
• Southampton
• Royal Holloway

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.