Sociology personal statement (EU student)

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

My interest in sociology comes from the fact that we are surrounded by society every day – it’s unavoidable. Contemporary society and media influence our decisions in our day-to-day life, which encourages me to scratch beneath the surface. In a recently-published pamphlet by musician Jarvis Cocker, he emphasised the fact that we should build bridges rather than walls. This inspired me, as it closely relates to topics in sociology such as Brexit and social inequality, which are more relevant than ever.

My interest originates from my love for music, particularly genres such as post-punk. I have incorporated this in my final research project, in which I show the development of Manchester through a journey of political, sociological and musical change. I elaborated on interesting topics such as the impact of Thatcher on the North-South division of music in the UK. During the process, I discovered my interest in writing. Furthermore, I have read a fantastic book by Owen Jones on the demonization of the working class, which has shown me the impact political change and society’s standards can have on individuals, and has nourished my interest in social class.

As a Dutch student, I view English society from an outside perspective. To me, English society is far more intriguing, as the class division and national identity appear to be much stronger. I speak English fluently on a daily basis, as my boyfriend of 2 years is a native speaker. I also write most of my school work in English, including my research project.

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

In addition to this, I am also an English tutor. Through this I have developed an interest in teaching. What I particularly enjoy about tutoring, is that I can teach, whilst I am learning from the experience myself at the same time. It teaches me to view things from more perspectives than just my own, and I have also improved my communication skills. My experience as a class representative and member of my school’s sounding board have taught me qualities such as leadership, but also teamwork and problem-solving. Being a voice for my fellow students and solving issues to improve the school’s environment gives me a great feeling of satisfaction. A communication course I have followed, which I absolutely loved, has given me a lot of confidence in interviews and presentations.

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

Besides that, I have engaged in other extracurricular activities, such as voluntary work at my local church’s day care. Through this, I have developed an interest in working with children. I have also volunteered twice as a crew member at an annual horse riding event. I loved working in a team and really enjoyed helping visitors. My part-time job at my local supermarket has shown me the impact the relationship between staff and customers has on an individual’s shopping experience. As my village is relatively small, the supermarket functions as a meeting place with a great community-feeling. Close contact with customers improves their experience, but also makes it a fulfilling job on my part.

In my free time I enjoy drawing and painting. I am fascinated by art movements such as Neoplasticism, as the simplicity and abstraction had a major impact on society and broke with desired standards in art at the time. Revolutionary work by artists such as Mondrian and Rietveld make me proud of my Dutch identity. I also enjoy analogue photography, as it requires hard work to get the perfect composition. The experience of only having one chance to capture a moment and not knowing how the picture has turned out, is very exciting to me. Besides that, I adore singing and playing piano. I have performed at many school productions, which has given me the confidence to perform in front of large audiences.

I am hoping university will help me understand the dynamic society we live in, and develop my ideas of a future career in the field of sociology. I would love to pursue a career in social care or research, or to continue studying at university by taking a master’s degree.

Universities applied to:

• University of Portsmouth
• University of Winchester
• Solent University
• University of Southampton

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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