Biophysics degree personal statement example (1a) gap year applicant

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

My interest in science is rooted in the desire to understand how the world – especially living organisms – really works and how it has developed. Although I definitely have a stronger interest in biological rather than physical sciences, I do not want to choose a course limited to a single aspect of biological science at this stage of my education. The aspects fascinating me most so far are Pathology and Evolution, this especially fostered by Evolution of Infectious Disease by Paul W. Ewald. I keep finding it amazing how tiny microorganisms can dramatically influence our bodies, and I would like to gain a deeper understanding of this at university.

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

In 1999/2000 I spent a year at a sixth form college in Oxford where I studied Chemistry, Maths, Biology, and Physics. My motivation to spend a year abroad was to focus on the subjects that interested me most because I was not satisfied with the academic standards of my school in Germany. Other reasons were the opportunity to improve my language skills substantially and to experience another European country first-hand.

While doing the Abitur in Germany, I continued to follow my interests in my free time by reading science magazines and books. An internship at the Molecular Genetics Section of the University of Hanover enabled me to gain some insight into daily life as a scientist in my year 12 Easter holidays. I assisted a postgraduate who was implanting an anti-fungal gene into chrysanthemum plants and I worked with PCRs and genetic engineering techniques. In the following holidays, I participated in the Deutsche Schuelerakademie which organises intensive summer courses for gifted students, and I took part in a quantum physics course which I enjoyed very much because of the challenging work that went greatly beyond the limitations of my school syllabus. During the second semester of year 13 I attended a short course for school students about the basics of the theory of special relativity and a one-week Easter chemistry course at the University of Goettingen that consisted of some first-year lectures, experiments, and visits to research groups of the university. I found the experiences at the universities very valuable as well as stimulating to see the breadth of topics that lie even within a single science.

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

In my time at the Ricarda Huch Schule I studied Chinese for three years and I rowed from year 9 as regular extra-curricular activities, both offered by different schools in Hanover. I will definitely continue to row at university and am planning to put my Chinese skills to the test by travelling to China for a month next summer. Apart from science, my main interests are politics and German 20th century literature. I spend a lot of time discussing topical issues with friends and have regularly attended anti-Nazi demonstrations throughout Germany as well as the demonstrations surrounding the Castor nuclear transports.

The decision to take a gap year and apply post-exam was mainly due to the fact that Abitur results are difficult to predict and to prepare for an IELTS test in Britain. At the start of my gap year I had another internship at the Hanover Medical School when I helped a postgraduate investigating apoptosis of stomach lining cells induced by helicobacter pylori using cell culture techniques and assays. The topic of this internship was more appealing to me than the previous one. I enjoyed it more because of the excitement of discovering something no one has known before rather than just applying an approved technique to a different plant species. This is the aspect most motivating me to pursue a career in research; I cannot imagine having a career that does not allow me to constantly push the borders of my knowledge. Working as a sixth form college lab technician from September 2002 to March 2003 enables me to stay in touch with scientific topics. After returning to Germany next spring, I will have at least two longer internships at research institutions in and around Hanover to see more science in progress.

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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