Mathematics degree personal statement example (1t) Oxford offer

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I have always known what I would study at university. From playing 'beat the calculator' at the age of 6 to exchanging jokes about calculus with my friends, Maths has always been my favourite subject. Having lived in Central Europe, Asia and the UK, as well as spending a month on an exchange programme in the US, one thing that has constantly appealed to me is the universality of the subject.

The ideas of higher order dimensions and infinity are fascinating to me, and the book 'Flatland' by Edwin Abbott, as well as the film based on the book, helped explain to me one of the things I have always found most confusing about the idea: just because we cannot see more dimensions, this does not mean they do not exist. I have also watched the BBC's 'The Story of Maths', and it was amazing to see how the subject has developed over the years. I particularly enjoyed the third episode, 'The Frontiers of Space', which described the works of some of the most famous mathematicians in history, including Newton, Euler, Gauss and Riemann.

I have a genuine interest in Maths and am extremely excited at the prospect of studying the subject in depth at degree level and possibly beyond.

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

I have consistently achieved highly in my academic studies. While living in maths-oriented Hong Kong, I was invited to join the 'Advanced Maths' lessons and, upon moving to England in 2004, I was awarded an academic scholarship at my school. I achieved the highest marks in my year for both my Maths and Additional Maths GCSEs. Furthermore, in my AS level exams I attained an average of over 90% in Maths, Further Maths and Physics, including very high scores in Core 1 (100), Further Pure 1 (99) and Statistics 1 (97). These marks reflect my interests within Maths, as I have always found algebra and probability to be my favourite areas.

I have often found opportunities to study and practice Maths beyond the curriculum. I have taken part in the UKMT Maths Challenge every year since Year 7, receiving Gold certificates in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11, and Silver certificates in Years 9 and 12. In Year 9, I participated in a series of Maths masterclasses on Saturdays at the local college. Furthermore, this year, I have attended two residential Maths courses. The first was a five-day Young Gifted and Talented course at Villiers Park, and the second was a three-day course at the University of Manchester. Both these courses ventured into areas of Maths that I would not have studied otherwise, including relativity, the patterns of juggling and encryption. While at Villiers Park, we had several lectures about the Enigma machines used by the Germans in World War II, after which we visited Bletchley Park, the site at which the Enigma codes were broken.

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

Outside of Maths, I have taken part in a number of other activities. In Year 10, I was one of three students from my school to attend Salter's 'Chemistry Camps'. I attended a three-day pharmaceutical course at the University of Bath, which included making paracetamol and luminescent compounds. Having achieved high marks in my Physics AS level, this year I will be entered as a candidate in the Physics Olympiad, competing for a place in the British team. I was also part of the 'Academic Academy' at my college, in which I attended lectures once a week on various topics such as graph theory, creative writing and feminism.

I have completed both my Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and have almost finished my Gold. Taking part in the Award scheme has really pushed me to do my best, and given me confidence to overcome tough challenges. I have always enjoyed sport, having represented my school at athletics, played for the local girls' football team and attended gymnastics classes. I am also a keen snowboarder and a qualified pool lifeguard. I have helped run a Young Enterprise business, worked part-time as coffee shop waitress since the age of 15 and helped as a young leader at Brownies for two years.

Universities applied to:

• University of Bath (G104)
• Durham University (G100)
• Imperial College London (G100)
• University of Oxford (G100)
• Warwick University (G100)

Grades achieved:

• 9A* 2A GCSEs
• Maths (A2) - A
• Further Maths (A2) - A
• Physics (A2) - A
• Chemistry (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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