Personal Statement - History and Politics 7

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Volunteering in Tanzania this year has reinforced my desire to read history and politics at university. I have realised that whilst you can change one person, one hospital or even one region for a short time; once you have left problems may soon return. It is through studying human actions in the past that we can learn how to change the future into a more hopeful and beneficial one. For history is not just the past: it shapes our present and it holds the key to the future.

Despite always enjoying history, it was after starting secondary school that I developed a major interest in the subject. In particular my A Level history studies were fascinating, especially the totalitarian ideologies in Europe during the 20th century. I have been captivated by the means by which these powers came to prominence and also by their destructive nature. I have also been fascinated by international relations in the 20th century, predominantly by the role of Angola and its Portuguese occupation during the Cold War; something which I have not previously been aware of.

My introduction to politics came at a young age. Since I could walk, I have been leafleting, canvassing and helping out at ward fundraising events. In addition, I have attended events with prominent politicians as speakers. With parents who are local councillors and an uncle as a Member of Parliament, I have been interested in a career within politics for many years now. Since studying politics formally this year, I have been amazed by the variety of political philosophies and with how much of the subject relates not only to the current day government but also to my history studies.

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

To broaden my knowledge, I recently read Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. I was astonished by how Georgiana could appear to be an early feminist with her influence over politics, particularly many prominent Whigs. Gareth Porter’s Perils of Dominance gave me a new perspective on the origins of the Vietnam War, which has encouraged me to challenge preconceived notions of historical events. Through reading Blair’s Wars by John Kampfner, I was surprised to learn of Blair’s inability to act independently as well as his constant need for approval from the USA. The first line was particularly compelling, noting the feat of "going to war five times in six years"—something which I had not previously considered.

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

I helped to set up and run this year's Model United Nations day for the borough which has been a rewarding experience. This position has allowed me to develop my leadership skills by coordinating multiple schools into one event. The role has developed my recognition of political ideologies around the world. Over the last year, through part time work and volunteering, I have built and developed my teamwork and communication skills. In studying history and government and politics as a private candidate I have also acquired excellent time management skills.

After university, it is my goal to undertake a Master's degree in Health Policy, following which I would like to work for the United Nations as an international health advisor. I believe that it is in studying history and politics that we can understand what makes culture and opinion change. Through this, we can apply these theories to bring about change in other countries. History and politics are fundamentally linked and I hope to be able have a career that will allow me to use both to make a difference to people all over the world.

Universities applied to:

• University of Nottingham (History and Politics)
• University of Kent (History and Politics)
• University of Southampton (Modern History and Politics)
• Royal Holloway, University of London (Modern History and Politics)
• University of Sussex (History and Politics)

Grades achieved:

• History (AS) - A
• Politics (AS) - A
• Biology (AS) - C
• Chemistry (AS) - D
• Access to HE: Humanities and Social Sciences - 57 @ Distinction, 3 @ L2
• History (A2) - B
• Government and Politics (AS) - A
• Government and Politics (A2) - B

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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