English Literature degree personal statement example: Oxford offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The ever-expanding world of English Literature has instilled within me a fascination for its discussions of the human experience.

I am humbled by its inexhaustible breadth, yet driven by the pursuit of a story which may realign my worldview, hardly evoke a reaction, or anything in between.

Reading Zadie Smith's White Teeth urged me to reflect on my experiences as a Bengali in multicultural London; I then explored critiques of cosmopolitanism in Katina Rogers's article Affirming Complexity: White Teeth and Cosmopolitanism.

Considering how cosmopolitanism leads to cultural hegemony and marginalisation allowed me to view it from a Marxist angle, drawing upon my knowledge from A-level Politics and prompting me to delve into Marxist literary theory.

Additionally, Adichie's epistolary feminist manifesto Dear Ijeawele, drove me to consider form in writing. I experimented with this in my sequence poem Planetary Periods commended for the Tower Poetry Prize 2023.

In bridging my literary enthusiasm with my diasporic identity, I often turn to diaspora literature. Reading Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake led me to consider the ambivalence of diasporic Indians with their homeland.

I countered this in my poem Homecoming and was chosen as a Foyle Young Poet 2020, selected to attend the Arvon Poetry Residential. I am critical of some diaspora poetry for its lack of nuance in historical context and its simplification of cultural narratives.

Overusing reductive stereotypes confining the diaspora experience to a universal nostalgia often exploits trauma. However, I find comfort in a style which recognises that art does not always need nuance to be meaningful.

I also enjoy translating Bengali poetry into English, relishing the challenge of transposing cultural ideas across contexts, a skill I look forward to using when studying Medieval literature. I was chosen as a winner of the Stephen Spender Prize 2021 for my translation of Nirendranath Chakravarty's Kolkatar Jishu, and feel that my knowledge of Bengali informs my understanding of how ideas are constructed in English.

With skills supplemented through reading, volunteering, and research, pursuing an English degree would equip me with the opportunity to engage with literature globally and comprehensively. In studying a subject which tethers us to the world and immortalises the experiences of those we have never heard, I aim to emphasise its value to the masses.

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

Considering how cosmopolitanism leads to cultural hegemony and marginalisation allowed me to view it from a Marxist angle, drawing upon my knowledge from A-level Politics and prompting me to delve into Marxist literary theory.

I was chosen as a winner of the Stephen Spender Prize 2021 for my translation of Nirendranath Chakravarty's Kolkatar Jishu, and feel that my knowledge of Bengali informs my understanding of how ideas are constructed in English.

My study of Indian Confessional poetry in Immerse Education's English Literature Programme 2022 reframed my understanding of the poetic style, highlighting diverse sociocultural perspectives.

By interviewing professional translators for the Stephen Spender Trust, I used my writing skills as member and former editor of the Junior Mensa magazine.

I was the KS5 winner in Pearson's My Twist on a Tale Competition 2022, for my autobiographical story Belonging, recounting a personal anecdote of studying a text in school I connected with.

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

As Birmingham Young Poet Laureate 2022–24 and Literacy Champion for the National Literacy Trust, I seek to dispel the myth of poetry being elitist, a notion I observe amongst young people in workshops I conduct.

By performing at literary events, such as Pearson's Lit in Colour Student Conference, BBC's CSL Festival and on Brum Radio, I aim to make poetry accessible.

As Deputy Head Prefect and member of the Equality and Diversity School Council, I am proactive in my concerns over the GCSE English Literature syllabus, imparting my wish for a more inclusive curriculum in my own writing.

In my work experience with the Birmingham Libraries I understood applications of English in the working world, communicating and empathising with those from vastly different backgrounds.

Discovering Kamala Das, who discusses cultural taboos in her poetry, exposed me to a non-Eurocentric literary canon. I identified closely with her anecdotal approach, though, as with Plath and Sexton, I was critical of her romanticisation of suffering.

I often translate Bengali poetry into English, relishing the challenge of transposing cultural ideas across contexts, a skill I look forward to using when studying Medieval literature.

My critical perspective on diaspora poetry, alongside my efforts through volunteering and literary engagement, has refined my views on cultural representation and expression.

These experiences have strengthened my communication and analytical skills, preparing me well for university study and beyond.

Universities applied to:

• University of Oxford
• UCL
• Durham
• Warwick
• Leeds

Grades achieved:

• AAA
• AAA*

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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