things to put in a personal statement for engineering

Writing a Winning UCAS Engineering Personal Statement: Ultimate Guide w/Analysed Examples

Engineering Personal Statement: Why It’s Important

With careers in engineering providing  over 20% of the UK’s total economic productivity and with over one-fourth of its workforce working in engineering fields , it’s no surprise that some of  the best and highest-ranked  engineering schools in the world are located in the United Kingdom. So how do you get a spot in one of the best engineering programmes in the world? You need impressive marks, a good resume, and a stellar engineering personal statement.

Before we get to that, though, let’s back up a little and examine everything it takes to get into a good engineering programme.

Engineering Programme Prerequisites

Before you get ready to apply for an engineering programme at any university, there are  several prerequisites  you need to have met first. While these prerequisites may differ slightly from university to university, the majority of them should remain the same.

Completed Coursework

You must have, at a minimum, at least two A-Levels if you expect to get into an engineering programme. In the most popular programmes, you’ll need at least three, with grades of A’s and B’s in each. The exact entry requirements may vary, but they tend to range from CCC to AAA. Most universities prefer you to have ABB.

Additionally, one of your A-Levels needs to be in maths. A second A Level in physics is also encouraged for students hoping to study engineering at Uni. There are other courses that may be accepted in place of physics, such as other science courses, additional maths courses, or design and/or computing courses, but your safest bet will always be maths and physics as two of your A-Levels. If you don’t have an A-Level in maths, you may be required to take a maths and/or mechanics aptitude test before being considered for admission.

Vocational Courses

If you don’t have the required A Levels, another option you can use at some schools is to substitute vocational courses for them. For example, if you have Level 3 or Level 6 qualifications, you might be able to use these as replacements for the A-Level courses. These qualifications include the following:

• SVQ Scientific, Technical & Formulation Processing (SCQF Level 6)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering or Construction and Built Environment

It’s important to note that not all universities will accept these as substitutes for A-Levels, so check with each school individually.

Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering

If you’re interested in a biotechnology or chemical engineering programme, the required A Levels are a little different. Universities usually require two A-Levels in science or a Scottish Highers with either biology or chemistry as one of the subjects. Additionally, you’ll also be required to have five GCSEs that include English, maths, and a science.

Scottish Highers

The most common range for entry into Highers is between ABBB and AAAAB. The majority of universities require AABBB. If a university requests an Advanced Highers to supplement Highers, they most often ask for an AA.

Additional Qualifications for Admission

The only true prerequisites for admission into an engineering programme are those listed above, but there are some additional things you may want to have on your application to make it more memorable. These include relevant work or apprenticeship experience, volunteer experience, and personal references.

Applying for Admission

To apply for any undergraduate programme at a university in the UK, particularly an engineering programme, you have to fill out an application through the  UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) . If you’ve ever applied to a college or university in the United States using the Common App, the UCAS is very similar.

It’s a centralised location for applying to a multitude of different schools/courses, and you’ll use it whether you live in the UK or are an international student. The actual name of the application is the UCAS Apply. Once you’ve completed it, you can apply to up to five separate universities (or five separate degree programmes if you aren’t set in your engineering course) simultaneously.

Filling out the UCAS Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: register for the ucas site.

This is a simple setup process. You’ll sign up by setting up a username and password. You’ll create some security questions in case you lose your password, and then you’ll be asked some basic information such as your name, birth date, and other personally-identifying information.

Step 2: Verify Your Account, Sign In & Enter the Rest of Your Information

After verifying that you really did create an account, you’ll be asked to sign in using the username and password you just created. Then you’ll fill in the rest of your personal information, including your residency status. You’ll also be asked about how you plan to pay for university and whether or not you’ll be requesting scholarships.

Additionally, you’ll be asked about any special needs you have or the accommodations you’ll need. If you have any type of criminal record, you’ll indicate that in this section. You can also give permission for an adult in your life – parent, adviser, mentor, guardian, etc. – to have access to your UCAS profile. This gives them permission to talk to university staff about you, your university goals, and anything else of note.

Steps 3 & 4: For UK Residents Only

If you’re an international student, you won’t be required to fill out steps three and four. (Note: Residents of the EU might possibly be asked to fill out step 4.) Section three asks about your national identity, ethnic origin, and occupational background. There are some additional questions in this section that are optional. These ask about your religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

You’ll also be provided with space to discuss your own, personal circumstances, especially as they relate to your ability to pay for and succeed at Uni. This could include information about your parents’ education or background, activities in which you’ve been involved, whether or not you’ve been in care, etc.

Section four isn’t always asked and only appears if questions in the personal details section have been answered a certain way. If they do appear, they’ll be asking about your finances.

Step 5: Choose Your Courses/Universities

In this section, you’ll be able to apply for up to five different courses and/or universities. This is where you choose what programmes you hope to be accepted into. You can only choose five though, so choose wisely.

Step 6: Provide Your Educational History

Here you’ll enter your entire educational history beginning at secondary education. You’ll enter your A-Levels as well as any vocational courses you’ve taken. It’s important that you list all of these exactly right, including the marks you received in each.

Step 7: Employment History

This is where you’ll attach your work resume. This is for paid work only. If you have any volunteer experience or other unpaid work, it’ll be listed in your personal statement instead. You can only list five places of employment, so if you’ve had more than five jobs, choose the five most relevant to the programme you’re pursuing (in this case, engineering).

Step 8: Your Personal Statement

We’ll discuss this in-depth a little later on.

Step 9: Review the Details

Once you’ve completed all the above-listed steps, you’ll have a chance to review everything. Review it thoroughly and make any changes necessary. You won’t be allowed to edit it once it’s been submitted.

Step 10: Personal Reference, Application Fee & Submit

Finally, you’ll need at least one personal reference. This should be from someone who knows you in a professional capacity, either from working with you or having had you in class. You’ll also be required to pay an application fee of £20 if you’re applying to only one course and £25 if you’re applying for multiple courses. Then you’ll submit the application.

Once you’ve submitted your UCAS Apply application, you’re all set. You can track it using the UCAS Tracker to see if your desired universities have received it. Then you wait for the university to reach out to you for more information, an interview, or acceptance.

Writing Your Personal Statement

If you’re applying to an engineering programme, you’ll be required to write a  personal statement  as part of step 8 on the UCAS Apply application. We can’t overemphasise how important step 8 truly is. There are very few universities that require you to write an additional essay or personal statement for entrance into their engineering programmes, so this is your one chance to get it right.

So what exactly should you write about?

There isn’t exactly a prompt for writing your UCAS personal statement. Under this same question – “What should I write about?” – on the  UCAS website , the answer given is simply, “You.” In other words, write about yourself.

The admissions team wants to know why they should give you a coveted spot in the engineering programme over every other applicant. You need to tell them why you want a spot at the university, but you also need to tell them why you  deserve  a spot  and  what it is about you that should make them want to  give  you a spot. This means showcasing your strengths, achievements, and drive to succeed.

In case you need a little more guidance, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you get started:

• Why are you interested in attending university, and what aspects of university life are you most looking forward to experiencing?
• What are your career goals?
• What first interested you in engineering, and what about it continues to interest you?
• What experiences have you had, either in school or in the work environment, that would prepare you for studying at university?
• Was there anything about your earlier education studies you found to be particularly helpful or interesting?
• What do you most hope to gain from your time at the university, and what strengths and positive characteristics will you bring with you?
• What makes you a good candidate for a position at Uni?
• What elements of your future studies are you looking forward to most?
• Have you taken any higher education courses already, received any awards or accolades, or been recognised for outstanding academic or professional ability?
• What can you write about to prove that you’ve researched engineering beyond what you learned in your early education?

If you consider these questions and keep them in mind while writing, you’ll likely cover everything you need to cover to make a good impression on the admissions team. UCAS also provides you with this  personal statement worksheet  to help organise your thoughts and guide your writing.

Standard Engineering Personal Statement Length & Format

One thing to keep in mind while writing your personal statement is that it has to stay within a  certain character limit . No matter how much you have to say, you have to keep it under 4000 characters or 47 lines of text.

While this isn’t an exact word count, that averages out to approximately 500 words, which isn’t a ton of words. It’s about one single-spaced page worth of text. This means that you must be concise. You want to get in all the important information that’ll help your application stand out from all the other applications universities receive, but you have to do it without being too wordy.

Format Requirements

Worrying about the formatting requirements (double-spaced, single-spaced, font size, etc.) is unnecessary for your engineering personal statement because you’ll be typing or pasting it into a text box on the website. As long as your paragraphs are clearly defined and your font is easy to read, you should be fine on formatting guidelines.

However, because you only get 47 lines of text, it’s important that you  structure your paper correctly . This means breaking your personal statement into roughly three sections, with each section answering a specific question. For the sake of clarity, we’ll call these sections the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Now let’s break it down a little further.

A Brief Introduction

The introduction should take up about 15-20% of your personal statement. That’s approximately seven to ten of the 47 provided lines. In your introduction, try to answer the question, “Why do you want to study engineering?” You can talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that continue to interest you. You might even touch on why you feel it’s important that people study engineering at all.

Full, Rich Body Paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should make up about 55-65% of your engineering personal statement, or 26 to 30 lines. In these paragraphs, you’ll address the questions, “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” and “Why do you deserve a spot in the programme?” This is when you go in-depth into your experiences, educational history,  relevant  employment, etc.

Other questions you may want to address in your body paragraphs are:

• How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?
• What did you learn while preparing for this course?
• Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?
• Did you win any awards or receive any other accolades?
• What about your life experiences that has fully prepared you not just to enrol in the course but to excel in it?

A Brief Conclusion

Your conclusion should make up between 20-25% of your engineering personal statement, which is roughly ten to 12 lines. Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. This is where you’ll add in any other extracurricular activities that might not be relevant to engineering but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them. You can also touch briefly on your future career goals in this section.

Other Things to Remember

One statement – five applications.

One of the most important things to remember about your engineering personal statement for your UCAS Apply application is that you can only write one statement, even though you could be applying to five different courses/universities. This means you don’t want to mention any specific university by name. If you do, the four other universities to which you’ve applied may think you aren’t seriously interested in them and disregard your application altogether.

Additionally, if you’ve applied to study different subjects rather than simply applying to five different engineering programmes, you won’t be able to focus your personal statement quite so much on the field of engineering. Instead, you’ll have to take a much more general approach to writing your personal statement, discussing your strengths in general terms as opposed to how they would apply specifically to the field of engineering.

Proofread and Edit

Do  not  submit your application and your included engineering personal statement without first proofreading and editing your statement. It’s even better if you can ask a  mentor, professor, or trusted friend  to look over it for you before you submit it. Having a fresh set of eyes looking over your paper is a great way to find errors you might have otherwise missed. Proper grammar and writing style are important, so don’t rush ahead without a proper amount of time spent editing and cleaning up.

The Website Will Time Out

Another important thing to remember is that the UCAS website will time out after 35 minutes of inactivity. For this reason, it’s better if you write your personal statement ahead of time in a separate document and then simply copy and paste it into the text box once it’s been fully edited and is ready to go.

Engineering Personal Statement Examples

Example personal statement 1.

“I hope a degree from your University will allow me to transfer key abilities from a place of study into, eventually, a place in industry. After much extended research, my admiration for the engineering innovator, Karl Benz, has been truly established. Commonly regarded as the originator of the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine, his contributions to the vast domain that is engineering are simply colossal. One creation of his that captivated my mind tremendously was the ‘Blitzen Benz’; a vehicle fabricated solely for the purpose of speed. […]

Understandably, I am mindful that the finest engineers must possess a resilient skill-set, which should include the ability to thrive in both collaborative and solo tasks, flourish under pressure and blossom in positions requiring a leadership mentality. Hopefully, a place on this course will allow me to reinforce and augment my previously developed skills whilst allowing me to simultaneously acquire many more essential abilities that will prove beneficial in later life.”

– Read the rest  here

Although this excerpt is a little longer than we usually like to include, we had to include it. It’s just too impressive to ignore. First of all, you’ll notice the author refers to “your University.” This is how you should always speak of the prospective university in your engineering personal statement because it sounds personal, but it doesn’t call any specific school by name, which would alienate the other four universities to which you applied.

Secondly, the author speaks of his admiration for the engineer and inventor Karl Benz. This shows that he’s researched his field of study outside of what he learned in school. It shows he has a genuine interest and passion for engineering, which means he should do well at Uni. The section that’s been removed goes into more detail about the ‘Blitzen Benz,’ using language that shows he has a solid knowledge of the technical terms associated with engineering.

Finally, he smoothly transitions into highlighting his strengths. He mentions many of the qualities that make for a good engineer and then mentions he has those qualities. In the next section, which has also been removed for the sake of brevity, he talks a bit about how he cultivated those qualities. He also says he hopes his time at Uni will help further these necessary qualities in him, and then transitions into talking about his future goals.

It is a powerfully written personal statement that shows the writer to be an excellent candidate for the engineering programme.

Our Verdict:

Example Personal Statement 2

“Engineers build societies. More specifically, mechanical engineers apply fundamental maths and physics laws to construct mechanical devices that we use every day, despite sometimes going unnoticed. For this reason, I would like to pursue a career in engineering, as it is such a key component in societies. It combines my fascination of how things work and the mechanics behind devices, with the ability to apply maths and physics concepts to real-life situations.

Studying Maths Mechanics at A-level has given me experience with calculus and more advanced mathematics, including differential equations, creating a firm grounding for the mathematics I should encounter at degree level. Physics has given me an understanding of fundamental notions and reinforced the mechanical aspects of maths […]”

his is another example of a well-written engineering personal statement. The introductory paragraph, in particular, is superb and covers everything that should be covered. The writer starts by highlighting why engineering is important to society as a whole. In doing so, she also demonstrates a solid knowledge of what engineering is all about.

She transitions smoothly into why she wants to become an engineer and mentions that she has a fascination with both  “how things work”  and  “the mechanics behind devices,”  which are two key elements for a successful engineer. In her next paragraph, she begins talking about her educational history, showing she has the experience and education necessary for a foundation in engineering.

Altogether, she presents herself as someone with passion, clearly defined goals, and a solid foundation that should allow her to hit the ground running when she begins at the university.

Example Personal Statement 3

“My desire to study Engineering stems from the practical application of Maths and Physics to real world situations to enhance and improve them is a field that I find fascinating and perplexing. After partaking in different engineering-based experiences, I learnt how varied and inclusive this subject is, and that is the reason I want to study Engineering at University.”

In contrast to the first two examples, this is an example of a weak engineering personal statement that wasn’t done well. This is the author’s introductory paragraph, and right from the beginning, it fails to paint the writer in a good light. The first sentence is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense as written. The paragraph is also much too short and vague.

Referring back to the common structure of a personal statement, you’ll remember the introductory paragraph should be about seven to ten lines long. This one is about four. It doesn’t have enough information on it, and the information that’s there is too general. It sounds like a child’s version of what an engineer does and why it’d be fun to be an engineer.

The student mentions  “partaking in different engineering-based experiences”  but doesn’t give any examples to back up that claim. Even his reason for wanting to be an engineer isn’t clearly defined. This is a weak, unmemorable statement that isn’t going to impress anyone on an admissions team.

Example Personal Statement 4

“My extra-curricular activities in and out of school have enhanced my ability to lead a group. I joined stem club at the beginning of year 12 and this has contributed to the improvement of my problem-solving skills which has helped me significantly in my maths modules and physics. […] I play the piano […] piano allows me to improve my thinking skills on the spot. My schedule is very busy and challenges me to manage my time carefully […] I am always challenging my own understanding and I believe that I have the right attitude, skills and personality for this degree. I feel that a career in engineering will make good use of my strengths.”

– Read the rest  here

Let’s look again at the typical structure of a personal statement listed above. You’ll see that the conclusion paragraph should be about ten lines long. It’s also a good place to list all the extracurricular activities that aren’t strictly associated with engineering but that you want the admissions team to know about you.

This author wrote a great conclusion paragraph. Although sections have been removed, you can see it’s close to the right length. Additionally, she uses the conclusion paragraph exactly as it should be used, listing all of her extra achievements she wants the admissions team to know. Beyond that, though, she uses these extracurricular activities as another way to show her strengths – strengths that would make her a good fit for any engineering programme.

She mentions having good leadership skills. She also talks about being part of a STEM (science, technology,  engineering,  and mathematics) club. She talks about playing the piano but then adds that her ability to play has improved her on-the-fly problem-solving skills. She talks about work and her busy schedule, but then stresses that this has helped her learn good time management skills.

Instead of just using her conclusion to provide a list of her extracurricular activities, she uses it as another opportunity to casually and naturally highlight her skills. She ends by saying these skills she learned in all these activities will serve her well in her future career as an engineer, which is a great way to end the personal statement on a relevant note.

Example Personal Statement 5

“During my school life, I have enjoyed taking part in sporting events organised by the French charity “Justice au Coeur” […] My extracurricular activities include athletics […] I also attended a scouts’ club in my neighbourhood, and have passed Grade 7 in drama. […]

I am a native speaker of English and French […] I have also studied Latin at my school for six years, and am going to take it as a subject at the French Baccalauréat.

One of my main hobbies is model rocketry. […]

I completed two weeks of unpaid work experience in a WHSmith bookshop in Wimbledon in June 2012. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

By contrast, this is an example of a writer who didn’t do a good job of adding in her extracurricular activities. First of all, even though it’s not evident here, this information is listed in this author’s body paragraphs, not her conclusion. These sentences, along with several similar ones that have been removed, make up  four paragraphs  of the body of her engineering personal statement.

She used  four paragraphs  talking about things that have absolutely nothing to do with engineering. She wasted those four paragraphs. All this information is nice information to provide, but it should have all been condensed into one small paragraph at the end of the personal statement.

Instead, she took the paragraphs that should have been devoted to what she’s done to prepare her for engineering and why she deserves a spot in the programme and wasted them on extracurricular activities that aren’t really relevant.

Remember: You only have 4000 characters to write your personal statement, and use those characters wisely.

To Sum It All Up…

The main things to remember when writing your engineering personal statement are to be truthful, be concise, and be authentic. It’s also important that you write a 100% unique, “personal-to-you” personal statement. It’s okay to look at other people’s statements for inspiration or to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t, but there are severe consequences for plagiarism ( here’s a plagiarism-checker you can use ) and cheating, including having your entire application trashed at all the universities to which you applied.

Finally, make sure you dedicate enough time to the process. You want to plan your statement out ahead of time and have enough time to write it thoroughly and completely. It’s also important to save time for the  editing and proofreading stages  after you’ve finished your first draft.

Be specific when talking about your interests, goals, and strengths. Remember, this is one of the few times in life when it is okay to sell yourself. You want to make a good impression, and you want to be memorable. The more easily the admissions team can recall you and your engineering personal statement, the more likely you’ll get a spot in a good engineering programme.

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Engineering: Exemplar Undergraduate Personal Statements to help you focus

Posted: 26.10.2023

• Engineering
• Personal Statement
• University Application

If you are on the journey of applying to universities, crafting a compelling personal statement can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. But fear not; we are here to help you navigate this path more easily. We have curated three exemplary personal statements that serve as shining examples of what universities look for in applicants.  

These personal statements focus on Accounting , Biomedical and Engineering applications and embody quality, clarity, and individuality, compellingly showcasing how to present your academic interests, extracurricular activities, and personal experiences.  

However, it is crucial to remember that these are examples to guide and inspire you, not templates to be copied. Plagiarism is not just unethical, but it also robs you of the opportunity to express your unique story and aspirations authentically. Use these examples as a springboard to dive into your unique narrative. Happy writing!

Engineering Student  

Born and raised amidst the diverse landscapes of Peru, my curiosity about how things work has been a driving force in my life. This curiosity was fostered through my Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics for Science studies as part of the NCUK International Foundation Year qualification. Alongside these subjects, I am also studying English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to prepare myself for an international academic environment.  

My interest in these fields is not accidental. My father, a successful civil engineer who works on international projects, has been my most significant source of inspiration. Observing his work on various structural projects worldwide, I deeply admired Civil Engineering and the long-term impacts it can have on people in society.  

With this admiration, I aspire to study Civil Engineering in the United Kingdom, a country acclaimed for its top-tier engineering programs and advanced research facilities. The UK’s practical approach to learning, the heritage of some of the pioneers of engineering, and opportunities to work on real-world projects make it an ideal destination for my studies.  

My ultimate career goal is to become a Structural or Civil Engineer, working on significant infrastructural projects in the UK or the US. These roles’ creative and problem-solving aspects align perfectly with my strengths and interests. I have always been fascinated by the power of steel and how it has driven forward the advent of skyscrapers and the strength required to cantilever or go higher than ever before.  

Having travelled extensively as a child, I have developed a global perspective and a keen interest in understanding different cultures. Studying in the UK will give me a top-notch education and expose me to diverse cultural experiences. I am excited to continue my journey as a global citizen and look forward to learning from various cultures and perspectives.  

To bolster my foundational knowledge in Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics, I have engaged in relevant work experience. I have shadowed at my father’s friend’s architectural firm, which handles government contracts. This experience gave me first-hand insight into the practical aspects of civil engineering and project management.  

Furthermore, I have participated in community outreach projects, supporting younger children at local schools in developing their Physics education. These experiences have honed my leadership and communication skills, preparing me for the teamwork and collaboration integral to engineering projects.  

The EAP course I am currently enrolled in equips me with the necessary language skills and cultural understanding to succeed in an international academic setting. With this preparation, I am confident that I am well-equipped for the rigours of a Civil Engineering program.  

In conclusion, I am eager to embark on this exciting academic journey in the UK. With my passion for Civil Engineering, foundational knowledge in relevant subjects, and readiness to embrace new cultural experiences, I can contribute positively to your esteemed university.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about how to write a personal statement, contact our teams today!

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• FindAMasters
• Engineering Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Jennifer Bevan

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Engineering. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

With an ever-increasing population, the upscaling of processes to efficiently mass produce food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals is essential to society. From COVID-19 vaccines to vegan products, over recent years there have been many examples of manufacturing processes that have inspired me to specialise in the field of chemical engineering. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the ability of engineers worldwide to suddenly and rapidly mass produce the coronavirus vaccines in order to save countless lives. In contrast to the abrupt demand seen in the vaccine industry, challenges also arise in keeping up with the constant growing demand for products such as vegan food. As I aspire to become a specialist in chemical engineering, I am applying for this Masters as the first step on my career journey.

During my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, for which I achieved a 2:1, I was able to select modules to cater to my interests, therefore studied materials and manufacturing and industrial management. These modules expanded upon the more basic principles introduced in the initial two years which allowed for a significant improvement to not only my technical skill but also the confidence in my ability to analyse and rectify mechanical failure. Through several of my core modules I developed my skills at utilising computer aided design (CAD) software packages such as SolidWorks for the design and analysis of products. For my final year project, I worked as project lead in a group to determine the advantages and disadvantages of additive manufacturing through the design and printing of a part. This allowed me to gain invaluable first-hand experience with fused deposition modelling machines and further refine my CAD skills, whilst developing excellent team management skills.

By the end of the second year of my degree, I knew my interests lay more towards chemical engineering and decided to undertake a placement year in industry. During this year I worked at a pharmaceutical company, adopting minor design roles within pre-existing projects and learning the importance of effective teamwork in producing a successful project. I attended several career fairs across universities and talked to students about the company, how best to apply and my experience working with them. This significantly improved my public speaking ability and communication skills, which are key for teamwork. I also gained some managerial experience during my free time as the president of the university running club. This involved planning and organising events, attending meetings with the student union and looking out for the welfare of members of the club.

I have applied to your university because of your excellent reputation in chemical engineering and am eager to study the specialist modules you have on offer, most notably pharmaceutical process development and advanced bioprocess engineering. On completion of my Masters I hope to pursue a career in industry and become a chartered engineer. This course would be an excellent opportunity to be at the forefront of chemical engineering technique development and to achieve a Masters accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

What are my options for studying Engineering?

Advanced structural engineering msc (campus), aberdeen university school of engineering, advanced mechanical engineering msc, advanced chemical engineering msc, civil engineering - msc, university of glasgow college of science and engineering, master of engineering in geotechnical engineering with structural engineering, atlantic technological university online, flexible and professional development, find a masters in engineering.

If you're interested in a studying Engineering, then why don't you check out our regularly updated catalogue of available Engineering Masters courses .

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How to write a personal statement (for an engineering job)

A personal statement is not a cover letter. It’s an important summary section of your CV. Figuring out how to write a personal statement is a key part of any engineering job application.

It’s not always easy. You need to concisely sum up the rest of your CV – your skills, your personality, even the job you’re looking for – in just a few short paragraphs.

Here’s everything to know about how to structure a personal statement for a job in engineering:

What is a personal statement?

Sometimes called a personal profile, a personal statement is part of your CV that summarises the rest.

A good personal statement will, essentially, sell you. It’s not a supporting statement. It’s not a cover letter. It needs to convince anyone who might hire you that you’re a good fit for the engineering job they have available.

Not all employers ask for one. But if they do, writing a good personal statement gives you an extra opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

For some employers and engineering recruitment agencies, the personal statement is where they’ll start to assess each candidate. This means yours might be make or break time.

Finally, like your CV as a whole, your personal statement should always be carefully tailored to each individual job if you want it to be effective.

How to start a personal statement

One of the worst things you can do in a personal statement is use generic language or the same trite phrases as everyone else. Yet, the start of a personal statement does have a certain expected format to it. The opening sentence should quickly summarise your:

• Years of experience
• Key qualifications, achievements, or expertise

An example of something you might write could be:

Confident project engineer (BSc in Engineering, advanced AutoCAD and MS Office skills) with 6 years experience delivering complex projects for industry-leading companies in the UK and Europe.

How to write a personal statement

Now that the difficult opening is out of the way, it’s time to consider the overriding goal when writing your personal statement.

This is to highlight the place where your skills, experience, and qualities meet the requirements your prospective employer has stated in their job description. The easiest way to do this is to make lists or “mind maps” of both and then compare them.

Because it’s easy to get into the mindset that because it’s your personal statement, it should be all about you. But really, it’s all about what your potential employer wants and how you are going to be able to deliver it.

That’s why it’s so important to carefully tailor each personal statement to each job you’re applying for. Don’t make your statement so generic you can use it to apply for jobs that aren’t very, very similar to each other.

How long should a personal statement be?

Short. A good personal statement will probably only be two or three sentences long. Perhaps a few lines. 200 words at the outside.

In that time, you’ve got to establish your own unique tone of voice and be concise in showing you have what your employer is looking for.

Remember that companies with engineering jobs available may have to go through hundreds or even thousands of CVs. Your personal statement could be your one chance to set yourself apart from all the others.

How to finish a personal statement

If the opening of your personal statement tells the story of where you are and where you’ve been, the best way to finish imagines where you see yourself going.

If you are towards the beginning of your career, you might want to state your career goals. Otherwise, you might want to talk about the kind of company that you want to join. Doing a bit of research on the company you’re applying for and hinting at their descriptions of their corporate culture (where this overlaps with your idea of your dream employer) probably wouldn’t hurt here.

With that, you’ll have covered the past, present, and future in just a couple of lines. You’ll have tailored it to the job and employer you’re applying for. And you’ll have summarised everything that makes you an ideal fit using your own unique tone.

That’s just what you need to write a personal statement that puts your best foot forward.

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10 Do's and Don'ts of Personal Statements

Personal Statements are, by definition, personal. There is no one 'perfect' personal statement, and for a subject like Design Engineering, which covers a wide range of topics and skills, we are looking for a wide range of experiences and interests in our applicants. However, there are some common ​pitfalls, and ​we have created these tips  ​ to help you avoid them and use your personal statement to show off your best self.

Please note, these tips are specifically for applicants applying to study Design Engineering at Imperial College London. Some of them might be useful for other personal statements but some of them are very specific to our course.

5 Things to do:

1. start with your proudest achievement.

Many people view personal statements as the story of their lives and tell that story in chronological order. This means their first paragraph is about a Year 6 project using lollipop sticks and they wait until the last paragraph to mention the two-headed animatronic dragon that they're building in their spare time. We assess more than 600 personal statements each year - putting your most impressive achievements in the first paragraph means that your application stands out straight away.  If you're not sure how to start your Personal Statement, just complete this sentence - 'The thing I am most proud to have created is...' 

2. Provide specific examples with details

It is always better to provide specific examples and go into enough detail to demonstrate that you understand what you are talking about. For instance, just saying 'I'm interested in coding' doesn't tell us anything other than that you know coding will be on the course. Citing the specific coding languages you have been learning and  how   you have used them will tell us that you're interested in coding and that you've applied that interest to learn and build with your new skills.

3. Sometimes, less is more

Don't worry about listing everything you've ever created. You have limited space and sometimes it's better to show depth and understanding of one project than list everything you've ever tinkered with. If you've been working on lots of things, pick the one​ that's most interesting to you, or that you're proudest of, and dedicate a few paragraphs to exploring that project. You can always add a short sentence explaining that this is one of many projects you've worked on.

You will have probably noticed in the first three tips that we talk a lot about building, creating and projects. That's because we are a very hands-on course. From the very first term, you will be designing, drawing, and building. Every year you will work in teams or on your own to develop multiple projects from brief to prototype. Creating things now helps prepare you for this course. Writing about the things you have created in your personal statement shows us that you have done this preparation work.

5. Include your hobbies

Design Engineering looks for people with technical knowledge and creativity. Quite often creative activities are less formally regulated than the technical side of things.  Tell us about your web comics, your indie bands, and your handbag designs. Creativity comes in many forms and just because you haven't been tested on something in a school environment, that doesn't mean you don't learn a lot from it.

5 Things to avoid:

1. don't worry about formal work experience.

Both Design and Engineering are areas where it can be very hard to get work experience when you are under 18. Often you need to know someone who already works in the field or at the very least, you need to live near one of the companies that offer placements. Obviously if you get the chance to get some work experience, grab it with both hands, but if you don’t get that chance, don’t worry! We do not expect our applicants to have had design or engineering work experience. Making something in your own bedroom out of whatever you have available is just as useful, if not more so.

2. Leave out your family history     tell us about  yourself , not the people around you

If your parents or wider family work in engineering or design, it can be tempting to tell us about it in your Personal Statement. Afterall, they are probably strong influences on your choice of course so it’s easy to think that this might be relevant. However, every word you spend writing about your family’s history and experiences is a word that you’re not using to tell us about your own achievements​, plans and passions. We want to know what makes you a suitable candidate for the programme, so use this opportunity to tell us as much as you can about yourself.

3. Look beyond the classroom - we know what’s on ​your school curriculum

If you are taking an ‘obviously relevant’ school subject (see our FAQs  here for a list), we have already taken into account your chosen subjects and predicted grades. What we are looking for in your Personal Statement is interest and application of technical and creative skills  beyond  your school syllabus. Don’t waste too much of the precious word count telling us how good the chair you’re building in A Level Design Technology is - that’s what your A Level assessments are for. Instead, use this space to tell us about your designs, builds and experiments outside of school hours.

Of course, ​if you have created something particularly outstanding in school that demonstrates skills and techniques that you have learned in your own time, we want to hear about it. Likewise, if you are studying ‘non-obvious’ subjects but still using creative or technical skills in those subjects, please tell us everything. Perhaps for your History coursework, you data modelled birth and death rates in England after the Black Death, or maybe you designed and 3D printed props for your Media Studies A Level - if so, your Personal Statement is absolutely the place to tell us about it.

4. Keep it relevant 

Your Personal Statement ​should focus specifically on two key points:

1. Why you want to do the course you’ve applied to

2. Why you will succeed on the course you’ve applied to

We are assessing you not on your whole life experience, but specifically on your interest and readiness to study Design Engineering at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 

5. Don’t fear failure

If you have a project or experiment that you ran and it all went wrong (the wheels literally fell off or the resulting data was both unexpected and unexplainable), that is totally ok!  You can still write about the project in your Personal Statement because failure is a very valuable data point. You learn by failing. When discussing a project, you don’t need to focus only on what went well; embrace what went wrong and demonstrate what you  learned  from the experience. Failure is a very normal part of any process - do not fear it.

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Engineering personal statements

On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study engineering and related courses at university.

These personal statements are written by real students - don't expect them all to be perfect! But by reading through a few of these samples, you'll be able to get some ideas and inspiration for your own personal statement. 

Engineering personal statement examples

More help with your personal statement.

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

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Successful Personal Statement For Engineering At Oxford

Last Updated: 3rd August 2020

Author: Adi Sen

• Engineering

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through an Engineering applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of Engineering. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Engineering comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Engineering Programme today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

Engineering Personal Statement

I have always considered myself creative; much of my youth was spent designing and building with my Dad in his workshop. I would read encyclopaedias on cars and watch design-related TV programmes such as BBC’s Robot Wars, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of each robot and thinking about how they could be improved. This background, combined with a genuine enjoyment of mathematics and physics, has given me a desire to read engineering at university.

Reading Marcus du Sautoy’s “The Music of the Primes” and Simon Singh’s “Fermat’s Last Theorem” has shown how individuals have dedicated their lives to solving seemingly simple problems. The main attraction of these books and mathematics more widely, is problem solving, which is also what draws me to engineering. Solving a wide variety of problems is something I really enjoy; in the most recent UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, I was awarded a gold certificate, also the best score in my year at school.

Studying physics at A-Level has helped me to understand the world, and answered questions I had as a child; why does a satellite stay in orbit? How does gravity work? Why does a clock pendulum keep in time? My favourite aspect of physics is mechanics, complemented by my maths mechanics modules. The application of physics and mechanics to engineering was obvious from the outset; it is a fundamental skill set which bridges the gap between science and invention. I also enjoy studying Further Pure Mathematics, in particular calculus, and am interested in how the solutions of second order differential equations apply to problems in mechanics.

Projects including designing and making a desk lamp, a torch and bench vice grips in GCSE Engineering gave me an initial insight into the discipline. The course gave me hands on experience with equipment typical of an engineering department. Considering the benefits of materials was important too; from an economic, aesthetic, and practical perspective. I also secured work experience at a BMW Mini Plant in the ‘Whole Vehicle Analysis’, section. One project involved heating up a Mini’s bonnet to address complaints from customers in hot countries that the bonnet scoop sagged. I used CNC measuring equipment and helped to write up one of a series of reports, resulting in an alloy being added to the scoop so it retained its structure. The week introduced me to engineering in the real world, the importance of quality control and precision and the cost of a company’s mistakes.

Aside from my studies, I have always had a musical interest and am working towards grade 7 piano. I completed work experience at the local ‘Yamaha Homeworld’ music shop specialising in top range digital pianos. I am constantly impressed at how a digital piano can look, feel, and respond exactly like a real piano. I like being part of a team and am a keen rugby and cricket player. Being elected as prefect and head boy has further helped me to work well, and get on with others, as well as improving my public speaking. This has been complemented by taking Grade 8 ‘Speaking in Public’ last year, in which I achieved a distinction. I now feel confident talking in front of large groups and being able to communicate my ideas easily. Reading Steven Johnson’s “Where Good Ideas Come From” discussed the theory that “ideas are generated by crowds where connection is more important than protection” and for me this epitomises the importance of team work and communication within engineering.

Ultimately, I would like to play a role in the future of our rapidly developing world; studying engineering at university will not only give me the skills to do this, but will also stimulate my passion for mathematics and science.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is an excellent statement.

The student begins with personal reasons as to why they are interested in engineering, and by the end of the introduction, the reader is left in no doubt that the student is absolutely sure they want to pursue engineering at a higher level. The student successfully describes a range of experiences and interests covering several engineering disciplines and keeps the application general enough to be relevant to a general engineering degree. The statement is well-structured with a clear introduction, main body, and end.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

Although the student mentions several experiences/interests covering several engineering disciplines, they fall short of naming a specific engineering discipline that captures their interest.

Whilst this is not a requirement, naming a particular field of engineering as capturing one’s interest above other fields would demonstrate a level of decisiveness to the reader. Many universities do not offer general engineering degrees, and it is possible a student who is applying for engineering at Oxford or Cambridge will also make several applications to universities for specific engineering disciplines.

It is important to keep the statement general enough for applications to general engineering courses but also specific enough for applications to individual engineering disciplines. This would have been possible by stating an interest in a particular engineering discipline.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an excellent statement, one that is well-written and well-structured. The student’s motivation to study engineering is clear, although the student falls short of naming a specific field of engineering which capture’s their interest above all others.

Because of this one negative, we’re awarding this statement 4/5 stars. However, it’s important to note this rating is based on the overall strength of the statement. Although it had potential to be a little stronger, this had no impact on the number of offers the candidate received.

And there we have it – an Oxford Engineering Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Engineering application.

With our  Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme we help you craft the perfect  Personal   Statement , achieve a highly competitive PAT score and teach you how to  Interview effectively.

Discover our Engineering Programme by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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University of Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement Writing Tips

Engineering Oxbridge Personal Statement

Last updated: 13 October 2023

Your University of Cambridge engineering personal statement is your chance to shine, to show your passion for engineering, and to demonstrate why you're the ideal candidate. In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive guide, offering more in-depth insights into creating a standout Cambridge Engineering personal statement.

Before you apply

To get into Cambridge's engineering MEng programme, you should be a candidate with a solid foundation in engineering principles who can showcase their abilities both academically and passionately. Research Cambridge's achievements in engineering and mention them to show your interest. Learn more about key dos and don't and contact SI-UK today to begin your application.

Contact SI-UK about your application

Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

Five recommendations, 1. reflect on experiences.

Listing your experiences is just the beginning; you must also reflect on them. Explain how each experience nurtured your interest in engineering or equipped you with valuable skills.

Let's say you were part of a high school engineering club where you built a working model of a renewable energy system. Don't stop at merely stating the achievement. Reflect on how this experience deepened your passion for engineering, what challenges you encountered during the project, and how you overcame them.

2. Emphasise your passion

Your personal statement should exude your passion for engineering. It's not enough to say you're interested; you must explain why. Start by reflecting on what specifically draws you to engineering. Is it the prospect of designing innovative solutions to real-world problems? Is it the fascination with how technology shapes our lives? Is there a particular aspect of engineering, such as civil, electrical, or mechanical, that enthrals you?

Share personal experiences or moments that ignited your interest. Maybe you participated in a robotics competition that opened your eyes to the endless possibilities of automation. A visit to an engineering firm inspired you with its cutting-edge projects.

3. Showcase relevant qualities

Cambridge seeks students who are a perfect fit for their engineering course. To stand out, you must demonstrate that you possess qualities, skills, or traits that align with this ideal.

For instance, engineering demands strong analytical skills. To prove you possess these skills, mention creative problem-solving competitions you've participated in and won. Share anecdotes of how your analytical thinking helped you tackle complex challenges.

Another valuable trait in engineering is perseverance. Research projects often involve facing setbacks and challenges. If you've been part of such a project, talk about how you persevered and remained committed despite difficulties. Provide concrete examples of how this experience enhanced your resilience.

4. Demonstrate depth of knowledge

Engineering is a field that demands a strong intellectual foundation. While you don't need to be an expert, your personal statement should convey that you're well-read and intellectually curious about engineering. This demonstrates your readiness for the academic challenges ahead.

One way to do this is by exploring Cambridge Engineering reading lists. These lists are curated by experts and provide valuable insights into the recommended literature for aspiring engineers. They are a goldmine of information and can help you discover key texts that can enhance your understanding of the subject.

Moreover, don't limit yourself to books. Engage with various media formats, such as magazine columns, news articles, podcasts, and documentaries related to engineering. This broadens your knowledge and shows you are comfortable absorbing information from diverse sources.

5. Start early and proofread

A rushed personal statement is unlikely to do justice to your qualifications and aspirations. Begin the process early, allowing ample time for revisions and improvements.

As you revise your statement, consider seeking feedback from seniors, teachers, or friends. They can provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement. Their fresh perspectives can highlight aspects of your personal statement that need clarification or expansion. When enlisting others to review your statement, exercise caution to avoid potential plagiarism issues. It's advisable not to share your statement to prevent any complications widely.

Five things to avoid

1. lack of structure.

Your personal statement should have a clear and organised structure. Begin with an engaging introduction that briefly conveys your interest in engineering. This introduction should serve as a hook to capture the reader's attention.

Follow up with well-structured body paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your interest in engineering or a particular quality or skill you possess. Keep each paragraph focused on one major theme to maintain clarity and coherence. Conclude your personal statement by summarising the key takeaways you want the admissions tutors to remember. This final section should leave a lasting impression and reinforce your passion and qualifications.

2. Misguided understanding

Conduct thorough research into Cambridge's engineering course; delve into the curriculum, faculty expertise, and unique aspects of the programme. Mention specific aspects of the course that intrigue you. This demonstrates that you've invested time and effort into understanding what Cambridge offers and why it's your top choice for engineering.

3. Complex language

While a rich vocabulary can enhance your writing, avoid excessive use of complex language. Prioritise clarity and readability above all else. If you encounter an unfamiliar word, opt for a simpler, more accessible explanation. The main goal of your personal statement is to convey your thoughts and ideas to the admissions tutors effectively.

Cambridge itself emphasises the use of clear, plain English in personal statements. This means that clarity and coherence are highly valued.

4. Sweeping statements

Steer clear of vague, sweeping statements that lack substance. For example, stating that you're a great analytical thinker sounds promising but adds zero value if you don't provide evidence or context. Instead of making broad claims, focus on specific instances where you've demonstrated these qualities. Share concrete examples, such as your participation in analytical competitions or real-world scenarios where your analytical thinking made a difference.

5. Unrealistic reflections

Reflection is key to a great personal statement, but it should be authentic and realistic. Avoid attempting to convey too many ideas from a single experience. Each experience should emphasise one key quality or lesson learned.

For instance, if you discuss your participation in a national debate competition, focus on how it improved your public speaking and critical thinking skills. Attributing multiple qualities to a single experience can dilute your message and make your personal statement less effective.

Crafting Your Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

Crafting a compelling Cambridge engineering personal statement is no small feat, but it's vital in securing a place at one of the world's most renowned engineering programmes. Keep these tips in mind as you write and revise your statement, and remember that your personal story and passion for engineering are what will set you apart from the rest of the applicants.

Cambridge Engineering FAQ

Can i send the same personal statement to multiple universities.

Yes, you can use the same personal statement for different universities when applying through UCAS, but it's a good idea to tailor parts of it to each university's course or requirements to make it more relevant.

What A-level is best for engineering at Cambridge?

Taking A-levels in subjects like mathematics and physics is often recommended for engineering at Cambridge. These subjects provide a strong foundation for engineering studies.

Why do people want to study at Cambridge?

People want to study at Cambridge because it's one of the world's top universities known for its high-quality education, expert professors, and access to cutting-edge research. It offers a prestigious learning environment and great opportunities.

Is Cambridge a good engineering school?

Cambridge is considered one of the best engineering schools globally. It has a strong reputation for its engineering programmes, excellent faculty, and research facilities, making it a top choice for engineering students.

Last Updated: 13 October 2023

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Top Tips for a Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement – Top 10 Tips: Dos and Don’ts

The Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement is a crucial component of your university application. It presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are. It also provides a platform to bounce off questions during your interview. 

They can tailor questions to your personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. To guide you through the arduous university application process, our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement tips. This includes dos and don’ts– for your Oxbridge Engineering Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle. 

Looking at Cambridge Engineering personal statement examples can prove to be a double-edged sword. On one hand it can be useful to gain an idea of how to structure your personal statement. However, a personal statement is personal . It can be very difficult to write personally when you’ve been influenced by someone else’s writing.

General Advice for your Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

The Engineering course at Cambridge first starts off by providing a broad and general engineering knowledge to its students. It then allows students to specialise in later years. During their specialisation, in-depth teaching and training would be given in the chosen discipline. As it is an Engineering course, an ideal candidate would be one who has good analytical skills. It would also be someone who is interested in and/ or have good foundational knowledge in computing and design.

Hence, in your Engineering personal statement, Cambridge admissions tutors are looking for you to clearly demonstrate that you have the aforementioned interest and skills. Furthermore, when planning out your personal statement, make sure you research Cambridge’s achievements in Engineering. You can include them in your writing to illustrate your interest in Engineering. 

Additionally, when you are crafting your Cambridge personal statement, you would most likely also be applying to four other university courses. This may result in your statement being vaguer. The University of Cambridge is aware of such and will require you to fill out an ‘Online Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)’. This is shortly after submitting the UCAS application, so make sure you’ve created another condensed version of your personal statement that you can directly submit to Cambridge.

Top 5 Tips for your Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

Illustrate that you are well-read in engineering.

When writing your Cambridge personal statement, Engineering doesn’t have to be one of your expertise! After all, you are applying to study Engineering, and you haven’t even started the course yet! However, showing that you are well-read in Engineering is a great way to tell Cambridge that you are interested in it. It also shows them that you are comfortable with reading large volumes of text or that you appreciate academic rigour. If you do not know where to start, you can google Cambridge Engineering reading lists, or you can access them here at this link: Cambridge Engineering Reading List . Books are a great way to learn more about the subject. However, there are many other media forms that you can consume as well! Examples of such include magazine columns and news articles which are a great way to be updated on the latest innovations and findings! Or even non-text-based sources such as podcasts, Youtube videos, or documentaries. Some examples of great news sites to visit are Scientific American, Vox, and Nature.

You can try to incorporate such content into your everyday life. This could be reading a few news articles instead of scrolling on Tiktok. Or listening to podcasts instead of your usual playlist on your way back from school. This makes learning a lot more accessible and fun!

Focusing your application on your interest in Engineering

Cambridge is looking out for students who would be a good match for their Engineering course. An ideal student would definitely be one who is interested in Engineering. As mentioned, being someone who is widely read in Engineering is one way of demonstrating such interest. Another way that you could elaborate on this passion is by explaining why you are interested in Engineering. Are there specific aspects of this course that enthrals you? Are there details about this course that sets it apart from other courses? Have you gone through a personal experience to have a unique motivation for the course Furthermore, participating in Engineering related courses or experiences is a great way to show your interest in the course. This is because being more involved in the field can grow and cultivate your interest in it. It also confirms that you are indeed passionate about it as you learn more about it.

Explaining to Cambridge about specific qualities that you have that would make you a great Engineering student

As mentioned before, Cambridge is looking out for students that are a great fit for their Engineering course. Another way of showing Cambridge this is by explaining to them that you have certain qualities, traits, or skill sets that would make you a great Engineering student. For example, a good Engineering student would be one who has great analytical skills. You can show that you display this skill set by mentioning creative problem-solving competitions that you have participated in and won. An example of another type of valuable skill is one who is able to persevere and commit despite difficulties. A good example of an experience that would hone such a skill could include that of being part of a research project. This is because it is common that you would not immediately get a favourable experimental result when pursuing research. 

Reflecting on all the experiences that you have mentioned

Even though you might feel tempted to not elaborate on the experiences that you have mentioned, or that certain achievements are self-explanatory in their title, keep in mind that the reflection on the experience is as valuable as the experience itself, if not more. Your reflection should include talking about how that experience has grown your interest in Economics. Or how it has led you to be equipped with certain skills that are valuable to an Engineering student. Highlighting to your Cambridge admissions tutors how your experiences are linked to these points would make it clearer to them how you are fit for the course. 

Start writing your Cambridge Engineering personal statement early and always proofread it

Do not expect yourself to submit the first draft that you have written as your final Cambridge personal statement. This is because you might have forgotten or missed out on achievements or experiences that you otherwise would have wished to talk about. Not only that, but it is also valuable to get seniors or friends to proofread your Cambridge Engineering personal statement. They would be able to give you objective advice on what aspects of your personal statement are good and what should be further elaborated on or changed.

Even if they are not familiar with the application process, they could provide good feedback on the clarity and readability of the ideas that you are trying to convey. However, do take note to take care when letting other people read your Cambridge Engineering personal statement (try not to share it if possible!). This will avoid any troublesome and complicated plagiarism issues.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement

Not having a good structure when writing your engineering cambridge personal statement.

Your Engineering personal statement should be structured in a way that can communicate your ideas effectively. Having a poor or disorganised structure could make your Cambridge personal statement hard to read. It could also cause you to forget to mention crucial points. A suggested structure could include beginning your essay with a short 3-4 line paragraph introducing your interest and passion for Engineering. A particular detail about the course that enthrals you, or if there was a specific moment that caused you to be curious about it.

Next, your body paragraphs could focus on elaborating on your interest in the course. If there are any specific details of the course that you are passionate about. Or if you have any qualities or skills that are useful as an Engineering student. Each of your body paragraphs should only have one major theme. Lastly, you could choose to conclude by summarising any points in 2-3 lines that you want your Cambridge admissions tutor to take away and remember.

Having an incorrect or misguided understanding about what the Engineering course is about

Most applicants’ understanding comes from what they have seen in films or television shows, or subjects that they have studied in high school. However, this could cause a misguided understanding of what the Engineering course is actually like. Make sure that you thoroughly research the course before applying. This will help you as a future Engineering student as it is good to know what your next four years are like! It will also help you when writing your Cambridge Engineering personal statement. For example, mentioning certain details or aspects of the course that interest you would be good to include in your Cambridge Engineering personal statement.

Not writing simply or clearly, especially when you are trying to excessively use difficult vocabulary

It might be tempting to embellish your essay with unconventional words, or to use a thesaurus to enhance your Cambridge personal statement. However, do take note that it is much better to prioritise clarity and readability. If you are not familiar with a word, choose to explain your thoughts in a simple and coherent manner rather than opt for something that you are unfamiliar with. This is because the main aim of your essay is to effectively convey what you wish to communicate to the Cambridge admissions tutor. Always aim to be clear and concise! Cambridge also did mention on their official website to use clear, plain English, so you can be clear that that is definitely something they value.

Making general sweeping statements

Many applicants feel the need to throw in a long list of qualities that they have because they think that it is a desirable trait to have. However, this can quickly turn it into a sweeping statement that adds no value to their Engineering personal statement at all. For example, stating that you are a great analytical thinker sounds like a great addition to your Cambridge Engineering personal statement. However, it adds completely zero value if you do not justify or elaborate on it.

This means that you should talk about why you can say that you are an analytical thinker. Have you participated in analytical competitions that you have won? Was there a particular person or organisation that you helped using your analytical skills? Think about it this way… If someone said that they are friends with Justin Bieber you would not believe them unless they have proof. Similarly, you cannot list traits or qualities about yourself and expect Cambridge to value your statement unless you show them that it is true.

Reflecting on your experience in an unrealistic or unauthentic way

Reflecting on your experience is key to writing a great Cambridge Engineering personal statement. However, try to reflect on them in an authentic and realistic way. This means that you should only talk about one main idea from each of your experiences. For example, it is not ideal to talk about how your experience at the national debate competition has led you to develop leadership skills, critical thinking skills, greater ability in teamwork, as well as patience. This might be true, but it starts to dilute the experience and the idea that you are trying to convey starts getting lost in a sea of good qualities. Your admissions tutor would not know what to focus on. Try and keep each experience limited to only one main important quality. Do not let your Cambridge Engineering personal statement become a long laundry list of ideas. Less is more!

Your personal statement should highlight your passion for engineering, demonstrating your curiosity and engagement with the subject beyond your current studies. Include specific examples of projects, extracurricular activities, or readings that have inspired you. It’s also important to reflect on what these experiences taught you and how they have prepared you for a degree in engineering. Cambridge looks for evidence of your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to overcome challenges, so be sure to include relevant examples.

While practical experience or work placements can be beneficial, they are not a prerequisite for applying to Cambridge. If you have such experiences, they can be great examples to demonstrate your interest and skills in engineering. However, if you don’t, consider discussing personal projects, competitions, or self-led learning that show your enthusiasm and proactive approach towards the subject. The key is to showcase your engagement with engineering in any form.

It’s absolutely fine to mention specific areas of engineering that interest you, especially if you can articulate why and how these areas excite you. However, remember that the Engineering course at Cambridge covers a broad range of topics in the first two years before specialising, so it’s also good to demonstrate a wide-ranging interest in the field. You can strike a balance by mentioning specific interests while also showing enthusiasm for the breadth of engineering topics.

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How to stand out

With admissions tutors reading hundreds of personal statements, how can you make sure you stand out and are remembered? 

Here, we’re going to share with you the five things every personal statement should include. We’ve spoken to advisors from many universities and colleges, so the information is coming directly from those who read them.

Liz Bryan, HE Coordinator and Careers Adviser Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington

Can i include quotes in my personal statement.

Joseph Bolton, Second Year History and Politics, University of Liverpool

Be uniquely you, show not tell, unapologetic passion, humble confidence, should i talk about my qualifications.

Kate McBurnie, First Year student in French, Italian and Theatre

Apprentice_studying.jpg, more advice.

Use the UCAS’ personal statement tool alongside this guide to help you structure your ideas. Read our full guide on How to write an undergraduate personal statement . Read out full guide on How to write a postgraduate personal statement . Check out our full list of Personal Statement Dos and Don’ts . Get advice on How to start a personal statement: the attention grabber . Read our full guide on How to finish your statement the right way.

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Aerospace engineering personal statement example 18.

The aerospace industry is at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries of technological advancement at an exponential rate. The design and manufacture of craft that can defy the limits of our world, or go beyond the decree of nature, is arguably the pinnacle of engineering in the world today.

This fascinates me. I have always sought to further my knowledge and understanding of how and why things work; to challenge the restraints of both modern pioneering and myself. I endeavour to drive myself forward and your university will be the one that challenges me most.

I am determined to sharpen and develop my ability for solving mathematical and physical problems; to solidify a sound understanding of fundamental principles. I am competitive with a real ambition to excel, contributing analytical skills, creativity and logic to problem solving.

My interest in aerospace was heightened when I spent a week with BAE Systems for work experience, an excellent opportunity giving me an insight into the engineering industry and invaluable background knowledge. As team leader on the winning presentation to senior management for our Young Enterprise Scheme, I received recognition for my leadership qualities.

I aim to achieve Chartered Engineer status, a recognised professional level to enhance my vocational prospects and provide me with the basis for both career and ongoing individual development.

Living in two different parts of the world has given me the ability to adapt to any situation, and studying Biology and Psychology has given me a wider understanding of current issues and the natural world. Alongside my schoolwork I am working towards an expedition to Mongolia with World Challenge in 2012; refining essential life skills such as teamwork, commitment and planning.

This requires me to save GBP4000 which I am raising independently through fundraising events and a part time job at a motorway service station; teaching me soft skills such as time management, communicating with a diverse range of people and applying my mathematical and lateral thinking to tasks in a workplace.

My enthusiasm for driving led me to work towards membership of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, exercising my perception and judgement. These extra-curricular commitments, together with the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, Combined Cadet Force and Karate, demonstrate I can co-operate effectively and balance my time between work and leisure.

My time in the Cadets gave me experience in sailing, kayaking and weapons training, all of which have their roots in fluid dynamics which captivates me.

I have innate technical understanding, developed a working website for my Karate club allowing the instructor to save time on administration, taught myself Microsoft Access to enhance a school project, and have had valuable experience with 3D modelling through CAD/CAM/CFD training.

I have dedicated time to improving my engineering knowledge, and taken the initiative in grabbing any opportunity to nurture my skills and ambition. I aspire to follow in the footsteps of Adrian Newey, and am eagerly taking part in the F1 in Schools Competition to progress my understanding of aerodynamics and educate me about the complexities of this field.

I felt motivated to put myself forward after viewing the documentary series Engineering Connections, specifically about Formula One.

The delicacies in balancing drag with downforce to maximise performance around a track invigorated me, and I am intrigued by how engineers use ideas from the past to inspire solutions to modern problems.

These connections were augmented through reading flagship magazines, and topical literature such as 'The Gecko's Foot' which was of particular interest; I found the inspirations from nature itself to be remarkable.

University will provide me with a further sense of independence and discipline, a foundation for further post graduate study and the confidence and knowledge to secure the future I wish to achieve.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Matt0809 for application in 2012.

Matt0809's university choices University of Southampton University of Bath University of Bristol Loughborough University University of Surrey

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Aeronautics and Astronautics at University of Southampton

Related Personal Statements

Very well done and thought.

Wed, 23/01/2013 - 02:57

Very well done and thought out!

If I was the Headteacher of any university I would definitely accept you.

I also like how you have been involved in many other activities like DoE

Very well done to you! I hope you get into the college you want.

I enjoyed reading this, well

Sun, 29/09/2013 - 19:55

I enjoyed reading this, well done! I hope you don't mind me asking what your AS grades were like?

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