Personal Statement:International Politics 1

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I have chosen to study International Politics at degree level due to my enjoyment of Politics classes at A-Level. In particular I have enjoyed studying domestic British Politics and British Foreign Policies in the period 1865-1965, but I would really like to broaden my knowledge by studying global political developments. My interest in the subject has increased with the unravelling of recent political crises and other international developments. My own experience of living in the former Soviet Union, witnessing the turmoil during the break up of the Union and then moving to England has been very important in developing my interest in International Politics. I still follow the developments in Russian and East European domestic and foreign policies by reading a weekly Russian newspaper, Sputnik Novosti. Moreover my work experience in a government employment agency, JobCentre, and the description of the course in prospectuses confirmed my interest in International Politics and in the long term I aim to use my degree to pursue a career in the Civil Service.

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

In the Sixth Form I am a member of The Chess Association and regularly play chess with fellow members. As part of my geography course I have attended a field trip to Devon, where fieldwork on human geography was completed.

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

I have had experience in a variety of work areas. For my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh I completed two weeks voluntary work in Northolt Care Home for elderly people, where my duties included cleaning the rooms and general care for the residents. Having completed my Bronze Award I am now working towards Silver having completed everything except the expedition. I also have had two weeks voluntary training with the London Fire Brigade also for my Award. My work experience at the JobCentre included filing and retrieving customer files, redirecting telephone calls, and general advice. Finally, I have had a work placement in a retail store where I held the position of General Assistant and I was responsible for cash and also had to keep record of the stock and order new stock when needed.

Outside school I have a number of interests. Sport is very important and I am a member of a local racing cycling club, which I attend regularly every Saturday, also I attend karate sessions every Sunday.

When I am not working out, my spare time is used to keep up to date with the current affairs through broadsheet newspapers, websites or watching news. I enjoy watching documentaries such as the documentary weighing up the arguments for and against an attack on Iraq. Of course I also enjoy listening to a wide variety of music and reading non-fiction, especially on historical and political topics like The European Dictatorships 1918-1945 and I also read weekly periodicals such as Private Eye and Economist. Finally I have my own personal computer which I use for research and presentation purposes.

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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