Personal Statement - International Relations and French 2

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Whilst the media temporarily satisfies my craving for fact, my academic interests are expanding and I find the idea of studying for a degree increasingly appealing every single day. It would not only be incredibly interesting, but a great honour. According to postmodern sociologists, all knowledge and understanding is relative to which paradigm in which we exist. This means that what we know today and how we interpret information is relative to our culture, age and history. I believe that knowledge and understanding of the world on an intellectual, international and ethnographic scale is paramount for securing the world’s future, security and economy.

In a world that is becoming increasingly globalised, events such as 9/11 are changing the international political landscape in a matter of minutes, therefore it is becoming increasingly important to not only understand why events like this occur, but to be able to look beyond the headlines of the news, systematically dissect each event, and observe on an intellectual level and apply reasoning to explain. I have always had a craving for fact and knowledge, always being the annoying pupil in class who relentlessly asked ‘why, how, where and when?’ This desire still burns as bright as it was when I was a young boy, the burning desire to understand and know why, how, when and where. Throughout my education, I have developed my own opinions, thoughts and ideas. These have been challenged, revised and have expanded through debate and discussing ideas with peers, however my intellectual interests have broadly remained in the field of politics and international affairs.

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

I have shown academic maturity by achieving high grade passes at school, and then going on to college, I am studying for A-levels in Politics and Sociology and having completed A-level French attaining grade B. I am also doing the Extended Project Qualification in an area relevant to what I want to study at degree level, which allows me to conduct research and broaden my knowledge. It nurtures my extended essay writing skills and teaches the importance of time management and organisational skills, many of the qualities that are a necessity for undergraduate study. These courses are relevant, and are aiding my academic progress and allowing me to extend my intellectual interests by doing outside reading on relevant subjects.

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

I’ve been proactive in my desire for education and development of informed opinion, becoming a ‘friend’ of the Conservative Party when I was 15 years old. As my political and social reasoning matured and expanded, I found myself in an organisation whereby their values were contradictory to my own, so I resigned and joined the Labour Party as a full member when I was 16. I have joined international organisations such as the ‘Free Palestine’ movement, voicing my concerns and joining the debate.

I have also been in work since my 16th birthday, working in hospitality and catering, dealing with many different customers, of differing values. I currently work at ‘The Pig in the Forest’ hotel and restaurant, where I am a waiter, and have been for over a year now. In addition, I have been a member of the Air Training Corps, attaining the rank of Sergeant, which is only available to those who manifest the perseverance and enthusiasm required. I was also a senior prefect and vice-captain of my house at my school, selected to be on an executive team of 20, out of 100 prefects.

Upon graduation, I’d love to find myself working in a large international organisation such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. I would consider expanding my studies further at postgraduate level.

Universities applied to:

• University of Sussex
• Plymouth University
• University of Exeter
• University of Reading
• Queen Mary (University of London)

Grades achieved:

• Sociology A level= Grade B
• French A level= Grade B
• Government and Politics A level= Grade C
• Critical Thinking AS level= Grade C
• English Language AS level= Grade E

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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