Personal Statement - History and Politics 4

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

In order to comprehend and remedy the issues of the present, we must understand the past; thus my reason for aspiring to study History and Politics at degree level. I read 'Mein Kampf' to attempt to understand Adolf Hitler as a person in preparation for my next history module on Nazi Germany and questioned why Hitler was still voted in as a chancellor despite presenting his extreme and dangerous ideas to the German public. This, amongst many others, is a question I want to find an answer to, which concurrently would lead me to ask more.

After visiting the Gold Beach in Northern France when I was seventeen, I was immersed in the films shown in the Gold Beach museum and daunted when I walked along the beach, knowing that approximately sixty-three years beforehand, thousands of men had landed here, potentially sacrificing their lives as part of the Allied Forces. Several days later I visited a field, its only distinction being hundreds of white crosses, most without names scattered in perfect symmetry and using this excursion as a basis for a piece of creative writing, I found myself compelled to dedicate more of my time to historical study. I have continued to travel every summer since, venturing further into Europe and visiting places of historical interest, whilst avidly following the Tour De France.

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

To complement my growing knowledge of modern history I developed an interest in researching my local history. I discovered that the large amount of unemployment and poverty which is present today wasn't as prominent several decades earlier, which led me question whether something could be done to return the town to its thriving past. During this time I became interested in the ideals of several political parties in particular the Socialist Workers Party, I found reading the 'Socialist Worker' newspaper an invaluable benefit to my knowledge of current politics and the history behind their clear left wing ideals, in particular their collaborations with trade unions. Reading 'The Trade Union Question in British Politics' by Robert Taylor opened my mind to how the working world has progressed since 1945, and re-instated my beliefs that politics do really make the world go round, and we need prior knowledge to progress.

My law module has developed my analytical skills, and hones my curiosity. My history module has provided me with an invaluable insight into life in the 19th century, being a large fan of Charles Dickens' novels, in particular 'Oliver Twist', I found the study of the Poor Law Amendment Act and the Workhouses harrowing, but captivating. Reading further into the subject, I found the 1833 Factory Act shocking; it stated children as young as nine could still work in factories for nine hours a day.

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

During my break in education, I gained confidence through working in customer-service roles. I learnt to work effectively with others and gained excellent time keeping skills and discipline. However, reading A-Level History textbooks under a till during a quiet period at work wasn't enough to sustain me intellectually, so I made the decision to come back to College full time, an opportunity I know I will always be thankful for.

Apart from thoroughly enjoying my college course, Music is an important part of my life; I enjoy listening to records, watching live music and reading about iconic musicians. 'Shout', a biography about the Beatles is my current favourite. Traveling around Europe in a camper van equipped with a stack of Victorian literature and immersing myself in a different culture is my true form of solace, having learnt French to conversational standard I enjoy any opportunity to speak the language, a hobby I would like to continue at University.

I am a motivated enthusiastic individual and I endeavour to discover the political dilemmas and successes which shape our history, I feel this opportunity would provide me with a strong foundation to attempt to understand the many complexities within our world.

Universities applied to:

• University of Liverpool (Combined honors (History, Politics & Law))
• University of East Anglia (History and politics)
• Sheffield Hallam University
• Aberystwyth University (Modern history and politics)
• Brighton University (Humanities (changed to Social policy and politics))

Grades achieved:

• 30 credits @ distinction
• 15 credits @ merit
• 45 credits @ distinction
• 30 credits @ merit
• offer (pass)
• offer (pass)

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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