personal statement for physio masters

Student Good Guide

The best UK online resource for students

• Physiotherapy Personal Statement Examples

Your personal statement is an essential part of the UCAS application process , as it allows you to showcase your passion for physiotherapy and demonstrate why you are the ideal applicant for the course. To help you write a winning university application , we are showing you free physiotherapy personal statement examples that you can use for inspiration.

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example

As someone who has always had a passion for physical activity and fitness, I believe that studying for a degree in physiotherapy is the ideal next step for me. Having already achieved a first degree in physical education, I am now eager to build on my knowledge and experience and to develop the skills that will enable me to help people recover from injuries, prevent future injuries, and live healthy, active lives.

One of the reasons why I am so passionate about physiotherapy is that I believe in the importance of physical fitness and well-being for the health of the whole person, both physically and mentally. Through my work as an instructor, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that regular exercise can have on people’s lives, and I am eager to help others experience those same benefits.

In addition to my work as an instructor, I have also gained valuable experience through my involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Over the past four years, I have completed my Bronze and Silver awards, and more recently, I achieved my Gold Award. As part of this award, I spent a week at a camp for disabled teenagers, where I was a buddy to an 18-year-old girl with profound Cerebral Palsy. This experience gave me a real insight into the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and the important role that physiotherapy can play in helping them to lead active and fulfilling lives.

More recently, I have had the opportunity to gain further experience through my work at Nottingham Nuffield Hospital. Here, I observed clinical assessments in the outpatient department and saw firsthand the crucial role that physiotherapists play in helping patients to recover from a wide range of injuries and conditions. I also had the opportunity to work alongside physiotherapists on the ward, where I was able to see how they use their skills to help patients who are recovering from surgery or illness to regain their strength and mobility.

I am convinced that studying for a degree in physiotherapy is the ideal next step for me. With my passion for physical activity and fitness, combined with my existing knowledge and experience, I believe that I have the qualities and skills needed to make a real difference in the field of physiotherapy. I am excited about the prospect of learning more about the science of human movement, rehabilitation, and injury prevention, and I am eager to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field. Ultimately, my goal is to become a skilled and compassionate physiotherapist, helping people of all ages and abilities to lead healthy, active lives.

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example For UCAS

I have been drawn to the field of physiotherapy. From the early stages of my academic journey, I have been interested in the human body and how it functions, particularly with movement and sports. Pursuing this passion, I have taken on various experiences that have allowed me to gain an understanding of the essential role that physiotherapy plays in helping people achieve their physical goals.

My work experience placements at Watford General Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital have been instrumental in shaping my decision to pursue a career in physiotherapy. During my time there, I was able to observe and learn from skilled professionals, as well as get an insight into the various techniques and treatments used in the field. I was particularly fascinated by the paediatric centre in mid-Wales where I had the privilege of accompanying a physiotherapist on house visits. Witnessing the impact that physiotherapy had on children’s lives was truly inspiring, and I felt a sense of fulfilment in being able to contribute to their wellbeing.

In addition to my work experience, my recreational and competitive background in sports has helped me to develop an understanding of how physiotherapy can help to prevent and treat injuries. As a Senior Sport Organiser, I have gained experience in working with young athletes and have learned how to create a safe and healthy environment for them to thrive. My part-time job as a pool lifeguard has also allowed me to hone my communication and interpersonal skills, which I believe will be vital in my future career as a physiotherapist.

Throughout my experiences, I have come to appreciate the wide range of skills and knowledge required of a physiotherapist. It is not only about diagnosing and treating physical conditions, but also about building relationships with patients and their families, educating them on how to take care of their bodies, and helping them to set achievable goals. I am excited by the prospect of developing these skills further and making a difference in people’s lives.

I am eager to pursue a career in physiotherapy and believe that my academic achievements, work experience, and personal qualities make me an ideal candidate for the program. I am committed to continuous learning and growth, and I am confident that I will excel in the program and make valuable contributions to the field of physiotherapy.

Personal Statement Examples

• Animal Science Personal Statement Examples
• Anthropology personal statement examples
• Statistics Personal Statements
• PPE Oxford Personal Statement Example
• Classics Personal Statement Examples
• Theology Personal Statement Examples
• Physics Personal Statement Examples
• Chemical Engineering personal statement examples
• Oncology Personal Statement Examples
• Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples
• Earth Sciences Personal Statement Example
• History Personal Statement Examples
• Veterinary Personal Statement Examples For University
• Civil Engineering Personal Statement Examples
• User Experience Design Personal Statement Example
• Finance Personal Statement Examples
• Neuroscience Personal Statement Examples
• Graphic Design Personal Statement Examples
• Film Production Personal Statement Examples
• Events Management Personal Statement Examples
• Counselling Personal Statement Examples
• Forensic Science Personal Statement Examples
• Children’s Nursing Personal Statement Examples
• Chemistry Personal Statement Examples
• Sports Science Personal Statement Examples
• Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Examples
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Examples
• Quantity Surveying Personal Statement Examples
• Social Work Personal Statement Examples
• Journalism Personal Statement Examples
• English Literature Personal Statement Examples
• Marketing Personal Statement Examples
• Computer Science Personal Statement Examples
• Fashion Marketing Personal Statement Examples
• Dietetic Personal Statement Examples
• Product Design Personal Statement Examples
• Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Examples
• Geography Personal Statement Examples
• Business Management Personal Statement Examples
• Politics Personal Statement Examples
• Psychology Personal Statement Examples
• Oxbridge Personal Statement Examples
• Zoology Personal Statement Example
• Sociology Personal Statement Example
• Fashion Personal Statement Example
• Mathematics Personal Statement Examples
• Software Engineering Personal Statement Examples
• Philosophy Personal Statement
• International Relations Personal Statement Example
• Biochemistry Personal Statement Example
• Dentistry Personal Statement Examples
• Midwifery Personal Statement
• Law Personal Statement Example
• Medicine Personal Statement for Cambridge
• ICT Personal Statement
• Primary Teacher PGCE Personal Statement
• PGCE Personal Statement Example
• Games Design Personal Statement
• Paramedic Science Personal Statement Examples

Doctor of Physiotherapy

For the physiotherapist by the physiotherapist

How to Write a Personal Statement for Physiotherapy?

When it comes to pursuing a career in physiotherapy, crafting a compelling personal statement is a crucial step in the application process. Writing a personal statement for physiotherapy allows you to showcase your passion, qualifications, and suitability for this rewarding profession. In this article, we’ll explore how to write a personal statement for physiotherapy that effectively communicates your dedication and readiness to excel in this field.

To write a personal statement for physiotherapy, start by highlighting your genuine interest in the field and your motivation to pursue a career as a physiotherapist. Share relevant experiences, such as volunteer work or internships, that have influenced your decision and provided insight into the impact of physiotherapy on individuals’ lives. 

Additionally, emphasize your academic background, relevant skills, and personal qualities that align with the values and requirements of the profession. Lastly, convey your understanding of the role of a physiotherapist and your commitment to contributing to the health and well-being of patients through compassionate care and evidence-based practice.

Table of Contents

Personal Statement of Purpose for Physiotherapy

Crafting a statement of purpose for physiotherapy is a crucial step for individuals to express their passion and readiness for this rewarding career. It offers a platform to showcase qualifications and convey dedication to patient care, highlighting their suitability for the field.

Expressing Passion and Dedication

Crafting a statement of purpose for physiotherapy allows individuals to express their genuine passion for the field and their dedication to making a positive impact on patients’ lives. It provides an opportunity to communicate their enthusiasm and commitment to pursuing a career in physiotherapy.

Showcasing Qualifications and Readiness

Writing a statement of purpose for physiotherapy enables individuals to showcase their qualifications , relevant experiences, and personal qualities that make them well-suited for the profession. It serves as a platform to highlight their readiness and enthusiasm for embarking on a career in physiotherapy.

Conveying Understanding of the Profession

A statement of purpose for physiotherapy allows individuals to convey their understanding of the role of a physiotherapist and their commitment to upholding the values and responsibilities of the profession. It provides a means to articulate their understanding of patient care and evidence-based practice in the field of physiotherapy.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a personal statement for physiotherapy:

Express Your Passion

Start by expressing your genuine passion for physiotherapy. Share what sparked your interest in the field and any experiences that influenced your decision, such as volunteer work or internships.

Highlight Your Skills and Qualities

Highlight the skills and personal qualities that make you a great fit for physiotherapy. This could include strong communication skills, empathy, and a solid understanding of healthcare practices.

Demonstrate Your Commitment

Demonstrate your understanding of the role of a physiotherapist and express your commitment to providing compassionate care and making a positive impact on a patient’s health and well-being. Show that you’re ready to contribute to the field with enthusiasm and dedication.

By following these steps, you can craft a personal statement that truly reflects your dedication and readiness to pursue a career in physiotherapy.

How to Write a Personal Statement for a Physiotherapy Job?

Here’s a simple guide to help you write a personal statement for a physiotherapy job:

Show Your Enthusiasm

Express your genuine passion for physiotherapy and why you’re excited about the job. Share experiences that motivated you, like internships or volunteer work.

Highlight Your Skills

Talk about the skills and qualities that make you a great fit for the job. This could include strong communication skills, empathy, and a solid understanding of physiotherapy practices.

Demonstrate Your Dedication

Show that you understand the responsibilities of a physiotherapist and how you plan to contribute to patient care. Express your commitment to making a positive impact on people’s health through your work.

By following these steps, you can create a personal statement that showcases your passion and suitability for a physiotherapy job. 

Final Words

In conclusion, writing a personal statement for physiotherapy is an opportunity to convey your genuine passion for the field, showcase your qualifications, and express your commitment to patient care. It serves as a powerful tool to demonstrate your readiness and enthusiasm for pursuing a career in physiotherapy, ultimately highlighting your suitability for the profession. By crafting a well-thought-out personal statement, you can effectively communicate your dedication and aspirations, setting the stage for a successful journey into the field of physiotherapy.

MAHMUDUL HASAN

"Hasan", I am a physiotherapy Doctor. I have completed my B.S.c course (4 years) under Rajshahi University, Faculty of Medicine, Rajshahi. Currently I am working as a clinical physiotherapist at a renowned physiotherapy center and I am continuing my MPT (Master's of physiotherapy) degree at CRP, Savar.

You might also like

How to Use Ultrasonic Machine For Physiotherapy?

What are the first signs of frozen shoulder?

Where Can You Study Physiotherapy?

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Writing Your Personal Statement

INtroduction

A personal statement is an incredibly unique piece of writing which makes it difficult to provide specific advice for. That said, universities will have certain expectations when you are applying for physiotherapy.

We will help guide you through the steps to ensure that you have provided the information that universities will be looking for.

Get Individual Personal Statement Advice Now!

It's easy to worry about not having the right "structure" but to begin it is important to make sure that you have all of the right detail required.

To produce an impactful personal statement, you must answer the following four questions:

1. Why do you want to be a physiotherapist?

2. What do you know about physiotherapy?

3. What skills does a physiotherapist require?

4. Why do you think you will be a good physiotherapist?

Before beginning your writing process, answer each of these questions in as much detail as possible. Most of the information you write here will be useful throughout your personal statement.

Alongside these answers, make a list of any additional information about yourself that you would like to include: your hobbies and interests, your previous jobs or additional non-physiotherapy related experiences.

The Structure

The structure of a physiotherapy personal statement is not significantly different from any other course. General advice on the structure of a personal statement splits it up into three main parts; beginning, middle and end.

Check out all of the sections individually below!

The Beginning

The beginning is the part where you really need to sell you passion for physiotherapy and explain why you so want to be a physiotherapist!

If you have already answered the questions in the detail section (above) then you already have the answer! You just need to make that language a bit more fancy, enthusiastic and exciting with a sprinkle of some “buzzwords” (see buzzwords section) and you have a quality opening paragraph.

Ensure that right from the beginning you show that you have a wide knowledge of physiotherapy - avoid answers that only suggest your passion for physiotherapy is sport. Many applicants are inspired to become a physiotherapist with the goal of becoming a sports physiotherapist, however, universities are looking for applicants who want to join the profession to provide empathetic and compassionate care for all patients.

This part is going to be the biggest and probably the most important.

This is where you have to demonstrate that you know what a physiotherapist does. The answers from questions two and three from The Detail section will come in useful here!

During this part you need to show off all of your knowledge and show how have gone above and beyond to find out as much as you can about physiotherapy. Meanwhile, you can begin to show them exactly why you will be a good physiotherapist (question 4!). As much of this as possible should be reflections on your own personal experiences and activities. Everyone is able to say that physiotherapists should be “this, this and this,” but for a good quality personal statement, you need to show them that you already have the personal qualities required to be a physiotherapist.

They will be looking for evidence that you have meaningful insight into physiotherapy and what the career entails - this can be shown through your work experiences and wider reading.

They want to see demonstration of interpersonal skills such as care and empathy alongside teamworking and good communication skills. Try demonstrate these through evidence.

Finally, they may also be looking for signs of self-reflection - the ability to reflect upon what you have seen or done and the way that it changed your attitude or practice.

This is perhaps the most individual and interesting part of your personal statement.

You need to show how you are unique – what makes you different from the rest, why do you stand out from all of the other candidates. Try to show off your extra-curricular activities, exciting courses you have completed and anything else that you think makes you look individual.

This will be the last thing they read so try to make it impactful. If possible, link it back to the beginning and your reasons for wanting to be a physiotherapist.

If possible, it is nice to finish with something topical at the time of writing. For example, has the COVID pandemic increased your desire to improve the quality of peoples lives?

Getting the right balance

To reiterate, everyone’s personal statements will be different and individual to each person. However, it is important that there is a good balance of information in each relevant area. As a very basic guideline, it is suggested that you beginning and end should make up about 25-40% of your total writing.

The middle makes up the rest – this gives you plenty of opportunity to talk about your experiences, show what you have learnt about physiotherapy/physiotherapists and explain why you would be a good physiotherapist.

THE Physio Specifics

Often teachers/lecturers/friends/family (and the rest) will be very helpful in making sure your personal statement reads well and has a good amount of information, however, it is likely that they will not have any specific knowledge on the things that physiotherapy courses look for.

The following suggestions are things that universities are commonly looking for in your personal statement. Try to demonstrate these in the best possible way.

Physiotherapy Knowledge

You must show the reader that you have a broad knowledge of physiotherapy and know that they don’t just massage people!

Demonstrate a good basic knowledge of the main three physiotherapy disciplines and that in addition to these physiotherapists also have many other roles in healthcare.

Don’t mention what exact specific career in physiotherapy you want even if you know you are only interested in sport or MSK, the university will look upon this badly.

Work Experience

Work experience is incredibly useful and almost always essential for universities (they have been more lenient on this during COVID times).

You must tell them what you learnt about physiotherapy but also what skills physiotherapists demonstrate and how you have those skills.

If you haven't been able to gain specific work experience, think about what experiences you have had that would be valuable as a physiotherapist; carers, sports coach, healthcare assistants, etc.

It is not so much about the quantity but the quality of what you learned and how you explain why this gives you a greater understanding of what it takes to be a physiotherapist or how it has developed your skills that will make you a better physiotherapist.

Wider Reading

Universities will love it if you have already begun reading physiotherapy literature!

Pick a random specific topic in physiotherapy that interests you and read some journal abstracts – you can find these on Google Scholar or Microsoft Academic.

You will look even better if you are able to critically analyse what you have read and learnt!

For example, learn as much as you can about one treatment technique and how effective evidence suggests it is.

If not already familiar, make sure you are well aware of the NHS values and the 6 C's.

You should try to incorporate these into your personal statement as skills/traits you have learnt from seeing physiotherapists or examples of where you have demonstrated them.

Ultimately, these values are requirement to become a physiotherapist, therefore, the universities want to see that you understand and demonstrate the personal traits needed.

Hopefully this guide has given you a better idea of what universities are looking for in physiotherapy personal statements. I hope that you have found the advice useful.

Your personal statement is unique to you, therefore, any more prescriptive advice would be a bigger hinderance than a help.

If you are unsure about your personal statement, or would like more in-depth personal advice, remember that we offer a personal statement checking service - HERE

• Work For Us

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Guide

Personal statement guidelines.

When writing your personal statement  please consider the following areas:

• Justification for wanting to enter the profession – what attracts you to this profession?
• Is it the values, characteristics, behaviours &/or variety of roles and responsibilities?
• Why does this profession stand out for you compared to other health and social care professions?
• Investigation of Physiotherapy as a career – to be able to make an informed career choice you must investigate some of the diversity of the profession ideally through direct observation of physiotherapists in diverse areas of practice
• Evidence of additional skills, knowledge, experience – Transferable skills – how do your personal attributes, values, characteristics, behaviours and experiences relate to or prepare you for this challenging academic programme and a future career as a physiotherapist.

Structured Personal Statement

Tell us the reason you have chosen to study physiotherapy..

Within this answer you can tell us what motivated you to become a physiotherapist, and what you find interesting or inspiring about the profession. We would like you to show that you understand the role of the physiotherapist in different areas of clinical practice and the skills, values and qualities that are needed. Additionally, describe why this health care profession suits you personally. We expect you to give examples that show you have a caring attitude.

Describe the roles and responsibilities of physiotherapists.

In this section you should tell us about your investigation into the physiotherapy profession, particularly discussing experiences you have had of physiotherapy. Although receiving physiotherapy yourself might have been your introduction to the profession we expect applicants to explore further than this. This must include work experience or placements within a physiotherapy setting, the opportunity to talk to physiotherapists about their role and evidence of reading around the subject or accessing information on the internet. Rather than simply providing a list, please expand on what the experience taught you about the profession. Physiotherapy is very varied profession, working with different populations in different settings; you should demonstrate an awareness of this.

Tell us about skills, knowledge and experience you have and explain why this is relevant to a future career in Physiotherapy.

Please use experiences from previous learning, work, volunteering, hobbies, sport, music and any other activities you think relevant. Again, rather than a list of achievements please explain the specific skills or values demonstrated and how this has helped prepare you for study and a future career as a Physiotherapist. It may be useful to look at the NHS Constitution Values as this discusses the values and behaviours important for working in health care in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england 

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Information about all of our tuition fees, funding and scholarships.

Virtual Tour

Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.

Latest News and Features

Procter & Gamble praises innovative students helping to drive the business forward

Pharmaceutical giant, Procter & Gamble, has praised a cohort of third year finance and accounting…

Damning report exposes stark inequalities faced by women living in the North of England

Women in the North of England live shorter lives, work more hours for less pay, are more likely…

Academy of Social Sciences welcomes two Northumbria Professors to its Fellowship

Two leading researchers from Northumbria University have been elected to the Fellowship of…

Data science centre marks second successful industry event

A £1.3 million Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) established to train the UK’s next generation…

EXPERT COMMENT: How AI can dramatically reduce the time it takes to make VAR offside calls in Premier League football matches

In this article originally written for The Conversation, from Northumbria University, Shanfeng…

Major funding awards announced for studies into lead poisoning and sonic innovation

Studies to improve the way we monitor and test for lead poisoning in children and communicate…

Helping to uncover how the solar wind gets its energy

Since the 1960s, astronomers have wondered how the Sun’s supersonic “solar wind,” a stream…

EXPERT COMMENT: Experiential learning is strengthened by moving outside disciplinary silos

In building more active and engaged pedagogies, many disciplines are taking an experiential…

Upcoming events

Empirical Research Methods Conference 2024

4th Floor: Lecture Theatre 403

9.30am - 5pm

Manufacturing in the North East

Northumbria University

5.30pm - 7.45pm

NU Advice: Postgraduate Change Direction

Back to top

MSc Physiotherapy Personal Statement Guidance

To gain a place on the MSc Physiotherapy programme, you’ll have to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements when you apply.

Within your personal statement (up to 500 words), we’ll want to understand: 

• What motivates you and what undergraduate and post-qualification clinical experience you have had?
• What are your clinical interests?
• What continuing professional development (CPD) courses you have attended post-graduation and how these have helped you?
• What are your future career goals?
• Why you have chosen to apply to the University of Salford and the MSc Physiotherapy programme?

You should also provide a CV and two references (at least one should be an academic reference) on letterhead paper, signed, and dated.

English qualifications are an essential entry criteria for the programme, therefore special attention should be paid to your writing style and expression in the statement, avoiding grammatical and spelling errors.

What else should I include?

Why you have chosen to apply to the University of Salford and MSc Physiotherapy?

• An understanding of where Salford is geographically located would assist your application reflecting your research on the institution.
• Tailor your personal statement to the institution and programme that you are applying for. You can provide specific examples in order to demonstrate your extensive research into the programme and the institution you have applied to. You can make reference to any of the following, to name but a few: course content, facilities, teaching staff or the scholarships available to international students etc.
• Please write the content in your own words, as this aids the flow of your personal statement.
• Please use clear and concise paragraphs in your personal statement - bullet point answers are not acceptable.
• The personal statement is limited to 500 words! This should focus on what continuing professional development courses you have attended and how these have helped you.
• What are your future career goals? Avoid statements such as “I look forward to working within the NHS” or “I wish to be part of the UK health system” as these may raise concerns during the CAS process

CV: Please include the dates of your roles and list your responsibilities. If this is not done it may slow the assessment process, where clarification is required.

The CV should also include:

• Any courses/conferences/workshops you participated.
• The dates of attendance.

Two references - where possible, these should be:

• In a non-editable format (i.e. pdf)
• On letter-headed paper
• Dated and signed by your referee
• Including your referee’s contact information (i.e. email address, contact number)
• Supportive of your application to study at the University of Salford

More information

Good luck with your application, we hope to see you on campus soon.

You can find some more general information about  how to apply as an international student .

• Personal Statements
• Physiotherapy Personal Statement

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

My interest in physiotherapy comes from my own personal experience of the science and how it changed my life. For as long as I can remember I have been good at sports, and as I reached high school, this crystallised into a love of football. I was well on the way to a career as a professional footballer, with a place in the Arsenal Youth Team, when I was struck down by a serious injury at just 14 years of age. From having a promising future on the pitch, I was suddenly unable to even walk and my dreams were shattered. Were it not for the patience and skill of my physiotherapist, I may still be in the wheelchair that was mine for a full three months.

My physio worked tirelessly with me, day in and day out, getting me back on my feet when many others, myself included, had thought this was never going to happen. She used a range of existing techniques, and adapted others, to overcome my problems, and as a result, I am now able to walk. I will never play football again, but I still consider myself very lucky.

It is this experience that has led me to want to study physiotherapy for myself, so that I can help other people in the same way that I was helped. I understand that there is a shortage of trained physiotherapists, and I would hate for someone in my position to miss out because they could not access the same incredible levels of care that I had.

I believe that my experiences at the highest levels of youth football will give me an excellent background for this role. Having been in their shoes, I can appreciate the demands on young players and their eagerness to get fit and back playing as soon as possible.

My own experience would also make me well placed to help people whose lives and dreams have been shattered by an accident or injury. My teammates, family and friends never let me down, even though I may not always have noticed this, and I would be able to show others that this support system was in place for them too.

I have always been a good all-rounder at school, and I have focused my sixth form studies towards the sciences in order to pursue my new goal of a career in physiotherapy. I have also spent time with my own physiotherapist, watching her treating other patients and asking many questions along the way to give me a realistic view of the job on a day to day level.

Success on the sports field has given me confidence from an early age, and overcoming my injury has cemented my self-belief and personal resilience even more. I believe that I would be able to draw on these strengths to inspire others with injuries to fight back as I did.

This course would provide me with the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful physiotherapist, and I believe that combined with my personal experience, and the continued mentorship of my own physiotherapist, I could be very successful in this career. What’s more, my contacts at Arsenal FC have said that they would be happy for me to spend time at the club during my studies for work experience, and may even have a job for me after I graduate.

University Guides

• Accommodation
• + much more!

Sign up for news & advice about applying to uni

• Universities
• Fees & Finance
• For Parents
• International Students
• Terms and Conditions

Personal Statement Tips for Physiotherapy School Admissions

Written by Anthony Pinto Da Costa

Admissions | applications, 0comment(s), october 1, 2021.

• Pinterest 1

Of all the requirements for PT school in Canada , the personal statement is definitely one that raises the eyebrows of many applicants each and every year. The confusion is largely due to the ambiguity of piecing together a descriptive essay about yourself that conveys to admissions committees that you’re the right fit for their program.

Some of the common inquiries we hear with each passing application cycle include:

• How do I write a good personal statement?
• What do I need to include in my personal statement?
• What do admissions committees want to hear?
• How do I organize all of my thoughts into a brief but strong personal statement?

At PhysioSchool.ca, we hear you loud and clear. We had all of the same questions when we were applying, which is why we’re writing this blog today to answer your questions and provide you with some helpful tips on how to write your personal statement for physio school applications.

Here we go.

Tip #1 – Start early

We cannot stress this one enough. Start getting yourself “in the know” early, so that you can plan accordingly. Before putting pen to paper, you should first be able to answer the following questions:

• Which PT programs require a personal statement?
• What types of questions do various schools ask on their personal statement?
• How long can my answers be (i.e., word/character count)?

Once you gather all of this information, you can start chipping away on mapping out the content you’d like to include within your personal statement.

Tip #2 – Genuinely ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist? “

It’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be asked, “why do you want to be a physiotherapist?” on a personal statement. Admissions committees are very interested in knowing your intent for choosing physiotherapy as a career. Why? Because they want to ensure that they’re admitting individuals who have made an informed career decision and are genuinely passionate about becoming a physiotherapist.

For that reason, we highly recommend sitting down with yourself to think hard about why you want to be a physiotherapist. And believe us, we understand that it’s not always a simple question to answer, as there may be many reasons why you want to pursue PT. We suggest that you write all of these reasons down in front of you. It will help give you clarity, and most importantly, it will help guide your entire personal statement. When you have a strong “why” from the beginning, writing your statement will come a lot easier. On the contrary, if your foundation isn’t solid, your personal statement may fall flat.

So, please! Ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist?”

Tip #3 – Write out a list of your experiences

Your personal statement is essentially your way of “selling yourself” to the admissions committees. Apart from providing them with a compelling reason as to why you want to be a PT, speaking about your work and volunteer experience can really help you impress those who make admissions decisions.

In order to make writing about your experiences a seamless process, we recommend first writing out a list of your work and volunteer experiences (PT- and non-PT-related experiences). Ensure to include what your role was during each experience, whether it was work or volunteer, the location, how long you were at each location, and the types of people you worked with. This will essentially function as your rough draft.

Once you have all of that information laid out in front of you, turn your rough draft into sentences to be used in your personal statement. Be sure to mention how these experiences will help you in becoming a good physiotherapist one day.

Tip #4 – Do your research on the physiotherapy profession

As mentioned earlier, PT school admissions committees aim to admit those who have made an informed career decision. That being said, it will bode well for you to convey that you are knowledgeable about the physiotherapy profession throughout your personal statement.

Having exposure in physiotherapy settings prior to applications will certainly help you out with that, but it would be in your best interest to also do your research on the profession. The PT profession is incredibly diverse; physiotherapists work in a variety of settings with a wide-range of patient populations. Given that, it’s important to become familiar with the profession at large in order to show the admissions committees that you understand what PT has to offer.

Tip #5 – Rigorously edit and revise your personal statement

This one’s a no-brainer. Once you think you have a finished product, you must rigorously edit and revise your personal statement. Do your very best to catch any spelling or grammatical errors, run-on sentences, redundancies, and any other issues you pick up on that may be problematic for your readers. The good thing about this is that you don’t have to do this alone! Reach out to any friends, family members, and/or mentors that you trust to proofread your essay as well. A second or third set of eyes may pick up on things that you missed, so it’s great to have some people in your corner to help with editing and revising.

We realize that this may be one of those tips that one can simply just gloss over, but in all seriousness, we cannot emphasize the importance of this one enough. Remember that the admissions committees don’t just judge what you say in your personal statement, but also how you say it. The applicants who can do both of those things very well are usually the ones that come out on top.

Writing a great personal statement for your physio school applications can be a challenging task. However, if you follow the tips that you read about in this blog post, you’ll eventually be able to muster up a personal statement that you can be proud of in no time.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Thank you for reading.

If you’re looking for extra help and guidance on writing your personal statement, check out our PT Application Booster course today! We have an entire module dedicated to helping you write a personal statement that will give you the competitive edge for physio school applications. What are you waiting for? Enrol today!

You May Also Like…

Stop Comparing Yourself To Other PT School Applicants

Sep 8, 2022

Trust me, I get it. You’re in the thick of your undergraduate career, working your tail off to obtain that report card...

Getting My Acceptance Letter to Physiotherapy School

Aug 5, 2022

The experience of receiving my acceptance letter could be made into a movie. It would have an extremely niche market...

How to Choose Between Physiotherapy School Offers

May 17, 2022

I woke up to emails from five Universities. Anxiety you ask? Through the roof. What I had been working towards for 4+...

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Submit Comment

Pin It on Pinterest

• Applying to Uni
• Apprenticeships
• Health & Relationships
• Money & Finance

Personal Statements

• Postgraduate
• U.S Universities

University Interviews

• Vocational Qualifications
• Accommodation
• ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
• ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
• ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
• ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

• ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
• ​​​​​​​Technology
• ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements

International Student Personal Statements

Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

Physiotherapy personal statement example 2.

Pursuing a career in the physiotherapy industry has been my major aspiration since a young age. This degree maintains a combination of sport and science, which makes it suitable for me, as I have a huge passion for both learning areas. Furthermore, being an energetic individual the practical approach to science has been hugely appealing to me.

Another significant reason for me choosing a physiotherapy degree is because I generally like to encourage good health and fitness. In addition to this, my flexibility enables me to adapt to different situations. I believe this is critically important as during the day of a physiotherapist they will need to adapt to the different patients needs. Excellent communication skills is what is required in a degree such as this and I believe I posses this in huge quantities.

Furthermore, I also believe that this flexibility offers me the chance to fully adapt to the frantic university environment. Moreover, my deep love for science has always acted as a foundation for my constant pursue of a physiotherapy degree.

During this year I attended the 2008 British athlete league (BAL), which was held at Windsor. Furthermore this was a hugely prestigious event, which only allowed the elite athletes to participate at the event. The physiotherapists who worked at the event came from different regions of the country in order to assist the athletes.

One of the main pieces of knowledge that I had obtained from this experience was that the elite physiotherapist had to purchase their own equipment in order for them to provide an excellent and efficient service. In addition to this, my experience on this day also taught me how to perform strokes such as; effulge stroke, longitudinal needing, transverse needing and I became familiar with key words used in the physiotherapist industry such as tappomoe, hacking, trigger pointing, muscle energy techniques, PNF, neural tensioning and ACL.

In order to further my experience, I studied through a book called Clinical sports medicine. The book contained a variety of information useful for physiotherapists such as, acute injuries and overuse injuries which where topics that were highlighted mainly in the book.

Additionally, I had further work experience in the radiography departments in both hospitals and clinics. I believe the experience I gained gave me a glimpse of the radiography side in the physiotherapy industry. This benefits me as it opens my options in the physiotherapy industry. During this year I was selected to be on the sports bursary scheme, which then enabled me to have further my work experience.

My high quantity of motivation levels, has allowed me to achieve a variety of qualifications and awards. This year I was awarded the 'Community Sports Leadership Award (CSLA)'. The course required completing a set of hours of voluntary work.

I have successfully completed fifty-one hours of voluntary work, which has awarded me a bronze certificate in volunteering work. The hours included organising and leading community sports events for different local schools. One of the events I organised was at a special needs school. This now enabled me to further develop my communication skills.

In my spare time, I like to be energetic and spontaneous by playing outdoor activities such as football and hockey. In both these sport I have represented them at district level. Furthermore, I am currently playing semi-pro football for Manford Way Football Club.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Genaral for application in 2009.

Genaral's Comments

Tell me your opinions on my P.S

Related Personal Statements

"One of the main Knowledge"

Mon, 27/09/2010 - 09:32

That doesn't make a lot of sense. Knowledge doesn't need a capital either. Try: I obtained a lot of knowledge, including ...

Recommendations

Tue, 04/01/2011 - 20:20

'My high quantity of motivation levels' sounds very wordy, you could instead say 'My high level of motivation' or 'being highly motivated...' There seems to be a lot of summary of events in your statement rather than things about yourself, and you should keep in mind that those you're applying to know a great deal more than the things you've included to impress them with. You could replace some of your 'futhermores' with 'in addition to this' or 'moreover'and in some instances you can cut it out completely. Hope that helps!

Wed, 24/07/2013 - 04:44

I am so grateful for your post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.

Add new comment

• Personal statement advice: physiotherapy

Applying to university

• Getting started
• UCAS Tariff points
• Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
• Amendments to the Tariff consultation
• Offer rate calculator
• How to use the offer rate calculator
• Understanding historical entry grades data
• Admissions tests
• Deferred entry
• Personal statement advice and example: computer science
• Personal statement advice: English
• Personal statement advice: Midwifery
• Personal statement advice: animal science
• Personal statement advice: biology
• Personal statement advice: business and management
• Personal statement advice: chemistry
• Personal statement advice: dance
• Personal statement advice: dentistry
• Personal statement advice: drama
• Personal statement advice: economics
• Personal statement advice: engineering
• Personal statement advice: geography
• Personal statement advice: history
• Personal statement advice: law
• Personal statement advice: maths
• Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
• Personal statement advice: medicine
• Personal statement advice: modern languages
• Personal statement advice: music
• Personal statement advice: nursing
• Personal statement advice: pharmacy
• Personal statement advice: politics
• Personal statement advice: psychology
• Personal statement advice: social work
• Personal statement advice: sociology
• Personal statement advice: sports science
• Personal statement advice: statistics
• Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
• Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
• Personal statement: finance and accounting
• Filling in your application
• Staying safe online
• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
• The new personal statement for 2026 entry
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• Personal statement week
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

You'll impress them by reflecting on your experiences and understanding of the profession, talking about how you've demonstrated relevant skills, and by showing your awareness of the breadth of what physiotherapists actually do.

That's what admissions tutors told us when we asked them what they're looking for – here are some more of their dos and don'ts.

For more personal statement advice, see our article on how to sell yourself in your statement .

Show you know what physiotherapy involves

This is a competitive field. To have a good chance of being selected you will need to demonstrate a realistic understanding of the role, and show that you’re 100% committed to it. It’s important to show that you’ve researched the career – the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is a good starting point. You should also back this knowledge up with your experience – but what experience?

Firstly, experience of observing or at least talking to physiotherapists is highly desirable. It’s even better if you can do this in more than one setting, whether it’s in hospitals, private practice, GP surgeries, schools, residential homes, sport centres, or clubs or out in the community. Although it’s increasingly difficult to obtain formal work experience, try to plan ahead and use your initiative to secure this in time.

The next best thing is general experience or voluntary work in any health or care setting. Take the opportunity to observe how staff communicate and interact with people, especially vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, or people in distress.

What to include in your statement

There is no one-size-fits-all way to structure your personal statement, but here are some pointers:

Check what specific universities want

Some universities provide information about their selection criteria on their website, and some actually score your statement against those criteria. It may give you a handy framework to base your statement around.

Explain your motivation

Why do you want to be a physiotherapist specifically? How did you arrive at the decision that it’s the right fit for you? Convey your enthusiasm and determination. Don’t just say you want to be in a caring profession – be specific!

Show you understand the scope of physiotherapy

There’s a tendency for some applicants to be drawn to the profession through their passion for sport, with a view to becoming a sports physiotherapist. But the reality is that you will probably work with a range of patients with a wide variety of conditions, not necessarily sports-related.

This partly explains why one admission tutor's top personal statement tip was 'don’t mention sport!' It’s important to realise that sport isn’t representative of the profession as a whole. For instance, sports physiotherapy is predominantly concerned with musculoskeletal conditions in patients who are likely to otherwise be healthy and motivated.

So do show what you’ve learned about the diverse range and backgrounds of patients you will be treating or the kinds of situations these patients may also be dealing with. Reflect on the challenges this creates for the physiotherapist, such as how to motivate patients to manage their own long-term recovery when they are also having to cope with other conditions, illnesses, or struggles (such as depression, dementia, or family circumstances).

Reflect on the skills and qualities required

Don’t simply list what you saw in any experience or placements – they want to know how what you observed changed your perceptions or understanding.

Similarly, it’s not how much experience you’ve had that matters, it’s the quality of your insights and how you reflect on them.

Referring to your own experience as a patient may also be helpful, but only if you’ve gained a real insight through it.

Demonstrate that you have these qualities

The final piece in the jigsaw is to provide evidence of how you’ve personally demonstrated some of the important qualities you’ve observed.

Pick out your key observations and be explicit in explaining the links with your own skill set. For example, ‘on placement I noticed that physiotherapists needed skill X... I demonstrated skill X myself when I...’

Physiotherapists have to talk to, collaborate with, and counsel people, so do include how you’ve demonstrated these ‘softer’ caring, helping, or listening skills (this can be in or outside of school).

Other relevant qualities to talk about might include problem-solving, coping with pressure, being non-judgemental, leadership, and working in a team.

Values based selection

We spoke to a member of the admissions team at one of the universities who score your personal statement against their selection criteria. One of her key messages was that they assess your suitability for the career as a whole, not just the course.

In fact, some of the heaviest weightings in their scoring criteria are linked to the six core values of the NHS Constitution. So make sure you’re familiar with the NHS Constitution, and that you’re able to demonstrate behaviours of your own that align with these core values.

Mention any ambitions

This isn’t essential but, if you have a clear view of the direction you want your career to take, blend this into your statement too. This could be in the opening, the middle, or as a concise concluding sentence.

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, do you need to take an english test to study at university in the uk, make the most of your open day.