Course name

Find a course

Search, shortlist and compare thousands of courses to find that perfect one.

Search for a course

Personalise your search by expected grades and more.

A-level explorer

See where your A-level subjects will lead you.

Popular subjects

Medicine

Law

Biology

Teacher training

Nursing

Midwifery

Where to study

See what makes a university special and discover where you belong.

Find a university

Search by name or city.

Recommended universities

Bangor University

Birmingham City University

Sheffield Hallam University

University of Aberdeen

University of East Anglia

University of Hull

University of Kent

University of Reading

Get Advice

Get tips, tricks and wise words from students and experts at each stage.

Browse advice

Personal statement examples

A-level choices

Law degree

Revision help

Oxbridge applications

Ucas application

Student life

Student finance

Popular right now

Clearing 2026: four things you might not know about Clearing and results day

Clearing and results day 2026: prepare your back-up plan

Finding a university place in Ucas Clearing: 10 top tips to help you get ready

Clearing 2026: how to call universities

A guide to Ucas Clearing 2026: how to find your university place

How Ucas Hub works on results day 2025

A-level results day 2026: what to expect

Btec results day 2026: what to expect

Personal Statement:Philosophy 2

This is a real Philosophy personal statement written by a student for their university application. It has been carefully edited into the new three-question format, with all of the original wording kept. It may have strengths and weaknesses, but it can be used as inspiration for writing your own UCAS personal statement. Ensure your personal statement is entirely your own work, copying from this example or other sources is considered plagiarism and can affect your application. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements.

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Philosophy was once considered to be the domain of the upper class, bearded male, discussing the woes of the world in a room thick with cigar smoke. Through acknowledging the reality that I do not fit into one such domain, leads me to conclude that it can no longer hampered by such constrictive categories. My love of philosophy is deeply rooted within my ever-present need to pose questions regarding such presumptions. I find a strong allure in probing logic and searching for meaning -if indeed such a thing can exist.

I find the study of aesthetics particularly enthralling, particularly the way that it may be used to justify purpose through regularity and beauty within nature and the universe. Despite having a compelling argument, the ultimate flaw in the appreciation of beauty is to pose the question of where this perception primarily emerged. How can it be an innate or 'a priori' experience when appreciation is so often based on cultural background? This suggestion of purpose implies that human freedom may not be quite what it seems. The concept of free will is something that I am passionate about. A force higher than my understanding may be governing my actions, suggesting the words that pave their way onto the paper; perhaps it is merely a collection of uncaused moments which have brought me here. I question whether humanity can ever reason beyond its ability to rationalise.

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

Spending much of my childhood abroad and early schooling in a Muslim school in Turkey has raised my awareness of the incredible diversity of societies first hand. I am fascinated by the comparisons and contradictions between cultures which appear to be based on mere geography. This calls into question the entire concept of humanity; independent development of the individual mind is so often juxtaposed by a sub-conscious need to conform. One is often left to ponder whether in fact there remains such a thing as the individual. I have found authors such as Jeanette Winterson particularly inspirational within this subject matter. She questions norms of society, focusing particularly on gender. She corrupts traditional cultural forms like fairy stories and cultural myths to demonstrate their invention as mere tools of socialisation.

For me, sociology often probes with such depth than philosophy, as it asks what makes one primarily pose such questions. Do they derive straight from the mind? If so, what has created such a mind? What moment in time has made one stop and ask the most seemingly simplistic question, to which an answer cannot exist; why?

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

I have a wide range of interests and activities at school; I am always busy and very sociable! These include school debating and the school magazine committee, which have certainly given me the confidence to voice my own opinions in a more constructive and structured manner. I recently went to Lourdes on an HCPT project, involving voluntary work with handicapped and terminally ill children who came on this pilgrimage for respite. Despite not being Catholic, I attended the masses and was intrigued by thoughts of what perhaps I would believe, had I been brought up within such a household. I found it fascinating to observe how powerful faith can be.

Whilst it would be naïve of me to assume the ability to discover answers, I can still gain further insights into the world around me by examining further cultures and beliefs. For me, it is philosophy which is the key to the locked door; yet the social sciences which must first guide this seemingly blind woman to the keyhole.

AI generated feedback

This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:

This personal statement effectively conveys a genuine passion for philosophy and poses insightful questions about aesthetics, free will, and cultural influence. The applicant's international experience and interdisciplinary interest in sociology add valuable depth. However, to strengthen the statement for 2026 and beyond, it could benefit from clearer signposting of objectives within each section and enhanced coherence between philosophical interests and practical examples. Expanding slightly on how specific qualifications have prepared the applicant for university-level study would also improve alignment with the second UCAS prompt. Finally, minimizing minor grammar inconsistencies and informal phrasing in places will elevate the professional tone without losing the authentic voice.

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.

Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.

Take a look at some more articles on this topic.