Personal Statement - International Relations and Politics 1

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Coming from Uzbekistan, a country where political debate is suppressed and media is under tight control, has encouraged me to become more interested in politics and to seek to understand the reality of the events that took place during my childhood, such as the 1999 Tashkent bombings. Exploring the reasons behind this and other incidents opened my eyes to the vulnerability of the world to terrorism and to the impact that interactions between countries, on political, economic and social levels, can have on the lives of ordinary citizens. Furthermore, I have experienced these effects first hand.

Relevant literature, including the controversial 'Murder in Samarkand' by Craig Murray, gave me an insight into the real motives and actions of the Uzbek government and encouraged me to learn more about some of the truths behind the 'struggle for power' and the 'war on terror'. At the same time I became conscious of the radically different perceptions co-existing in today's world: one person's terrorism is another's fight for freedom.

Being an Armenian (we were an ethnic and religious minority in Uzbekistan) forced me to be cautious about the words I used. This taught me the art of diplomacy which, according to Schelling, is the strategy leading to success in any negotiation, and, therefore, a useful skill. My own nation's history has encouraged me to look deeper into the causes of events, such as the 1915 genocide and the break-up of the Soviet Union, that have shaped my world today. As I became engrossed by the subject I started putting these issues in a wider context of internationalism.

Since I moved to Britain, I have experienced democracy in a truer sense. The reality of the freedom of speech inspired me to support campaigns on issues such as tax-dodging and climate change, with a hope to make a real difference. My involvement in campaigning on global issues with Ctrl.Alt.Shift prompted more research on the effects of globalisation and the transition into the new era where individual states are becoming increasingly dependent on the international political and economic systems.

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

On the other hand, reading 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett has shown me how inequality is at root of so many of society's problems, and thus constrains true democracy. In Uzbekistan I learnt how to work independently and complete my own research as support for study was limited. In Britain my History A-level has significantly improved my analytical and essay-skills. I speak Russian, Armenian and English fluently, and am currently studying Spanish. I am also a qualified Russian-English interpreter. My linguistic skills will be extremely useful for a career in international relations, helping me to communicate with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and nationalities.

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

During my time out of formal education since leaving school, I have been a full-time volunteer on several projects, and have received various awards, including a Platinum Youth Achievement Award from ASDAN. I am regularly invited to speak at public events, and act as a consultant for various organisations concerned with the integration of young people from new communities. As a young advocate on the Changemakers 'Future Leaders' programme, I have worked with Newcastle City Council's Children's Services, focusing on the experiences of these young people. I analysed and collated information to produce a report which has become an essential tool in developing the new strategy for children and young people. In my spare time, I read widely and engage in cultural activities. I love singing and drama, so I perform in and co-lead a musical theatre at the Sage Gateshead.

I believe that the skills, knowledge and awareness I have gained from my studies, volunteering work and wider interests - including leadership and organisation, dealing with large workloads to deadlines, analysing and prioritising information - prepare me very well to undertake this course.

Universities applied to:

• Newcastle
• Edinburgh
• St Andrews
• LSE
• Manchester

Grades achieved:

• Biology (A2) - B
• Chemistry (A2) - A
• History (A2) - B
• Russian (A2) - A

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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