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Tips on writing a Personal Statement

So, you are beginning the daunting task of summarising yourself in under 4,000 characters. Many people find it hard to shout about their achievements but remember, this is your moment to shine.

To help you get started we’ve put together some tips on how to write an effective personal statement.

1. Pick a course (and location) to suit you 

Figure out what course you want to do and what universities you will be considering. 

Your statement needs to be specific and have content showing you would be suited to that degree. You can write a more generic statement if you are stuck between different courses. 

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2. Relax and plan 

When you are staring at a blank page, it is easy to get stuck before you have even started. You need to breathe and get ready to plan. Structure is key. Write out a list of everything you could use about yourself, which is interesting, or relates to your course. 

• Hobbies  
• Qualifications  
• Volunteering  
• Books or articles you’ve read  
• Subjects you’ve studied 
• Personal qualities (communication, leadership, organisation etc.) 
• Your future goals 

3. Start writing 

Aim to write more instead of less and then slowly cut it down into the key points you want to include. Keep it professional, but still warm and personable. Don’t overcomplicate it, stick to short sharp sentences. 4,000 characters isn’t as much as it sounds.  

For inspiration, have a look at studential.com or search ‘personal statement examples’ in Google. In terms of what you could write about or what tone of voice to use these are great to get you started. Don’t copy them.  

4. Keep the language clear and straightforward 

Don’t overcomplicate your content. If you do find yourself struggling for varied adjectives, a thesaurus (or more likely thesaurus.com) should be your go-to. However, if you don’t understand the word or wouldn’t use it naturally, then avoid it. However, it can help your memory working when stuck. 

5. Avoid cliché statements  

Avoid starting with broad, unspecific statements like “I’ve always wanted to do (blank) since I was younger”. Try talking about a particular project that inspired you, something you watched or read which led to you researching that subject. Show us your passion for this course.  

6. End as strong as you started 

Make a lasting impression, your conclusion needs to highlight everything you have mentioned. Link everything back to your degree and why you should study it. Explain what makes you special and why you would be a perfect addition to the campus.  

7. Check it (and make sure others do to) 

You are human. There will always be errors to tidy up. Check it multiple times. Get friends, teachers, or family to have a look through. It’s always good to get fresh eyes on your statement, they’ll notice things you may have missed. Don’t be that person whose application is full of spelling mistakes.  

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How to Write Your Personal Statement: The Essentials

Your personal statement is one of the most essential – and powerful – parts of your university application.

It’s an opportunity for you to explain your reasons for choosing the course and why you’ve chosen this particular university over others. Most importantly, it’s your chance to introduce and sell yourself.

In this post, we look at the essentials of how to write a great personal statement that almost jumps off the page and gives you the best possible chance of admission into your chosen course.

What to write about

When writing your personal statement, think of the reasons that made you choose this course at Northumbria. Here is your chance to describe any qualities, skills, achievements and experiences that relate to the course, as well as demonstrate your passion for wanting to study in that field. It doesn’t have to be purely academic, these can also be social and sporting activities. If you feel it’s relevant to your desired course or shows some positive aspects about your personality, then include it in your statement.

Be sure to show enthusiasm for the course and university you’re applying for. This will really make your application all the more appealing to the admissions panel. If you’re missing some formal qualifications, you can include any similar experiences that relate, this will be helpful to your application.

Be sure to answer the following questions in your personal statement:

• Why are you applying?
• What makes you suitable for the course?
• What about the course attracted you the most?
• What do you hope to do in your future career?
• How is your chosen course relevant to your career plans?

How to write it

Your personal statement has to be around 500 words. When thinking about the structure, write it with your skills, achievements and qualities that are most relevant to your course or university’s entry requirements towards the start of the statement.

In terms of tone, write in a concise yet natural style that reads well. So, avoid overcomplicated sentences. You’ll want to show some personality in your writing, but avoid trying to be funny or anything unusual. Your intentions may not come across as intended when the admissions team read it.

Don’t be afraid to go back and reread your personal statement. Go over it regularly, making sure the language, grammar and sentence structures are correct. It never hurts to ask for help, so ask a tutor, family member or friend to read it and give you feedback and suggest changes.

When you’re happy with your latest draft, read it out aloud to make sure it’s clear, makes sense, and gets all your key skills and attributes across.

After reading your personal statement, the university admissions team member should learn about your:

• enthusiasm – for the course
• motivation – to better your career prospects
• focus – on learning

If you’d like to expand your career horizons by studying at Northumbria, then take a look at one of the many pathway courses available. Or contact us directly for any other questions.

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• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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• UCAS Personal Statement

Writing a UCAS Personal Statement

How to write a ucas personal statement.

A personal statement is part of your application to study at a UK university . In a personal statement, the student writes about what they hope to achieve on a UK university course , what they hope to do after it, and why they are applying to this particular university. It is your first chance to show a demonstrable passion and understanding of your chosen subject away from exam results.

If you wish to begin studying in the UK in 2025, you must complete a personal statement. If you plan on studying in the UK from 2026, a new format of personal statement is being introduced by UCAS. See below for more details.

SI-UK will edit your personal statement and ensure the English is clear and grammatically correct. Arrange a free consultation with SI-UK London  to learn more.

What do I include in my Personal Statement?

• Your career aspirations
• How did you become interested in studying the subject
• What, if any, relevant work experience you have undertaken that is related to the course or subject
• What aspects of your previous education you have found the most interesting
• What attracted you to the particular university
• Other relevant academic interests and passions which display positive character and personality

Genuine experiences of extracurricular clubs, work experience, or knowledge around a subject are much more likely to make your personal statement stand out. Admissions officers are also looking for positive evidence of your character, which will make you a productive member of the university.

How long should my Personal Statement be?

The length of a personal statement varies depending on the university, but generally, the average length for an undergraduate application is between 400 and 600 words, around one side of A4 paper or a maximum of 47 lines. Certain postgraduate programmes may require a 1000-word personal statement, but this will be specified.

Try not to exceed the given character limit. Admissions officers have many personal statements to review, and a clearly written and concise personal statement is more likely to stand out.

What are common Personal Statement errors?

• The personal statement is too short/long
• The personal statement does not include important information/includes negative information
• The personal statement has a confusing structure

It is also important not to lie about any aspect of your personal life and education history or even exaggerate. Admissions officers will question you about almost all aspects of your application and will be able to see through any lies.

Tips for writing a Personal Statement

• Express a passion for your subject
• Start the statement strongly to grab attention
• Link outside interests and passions to your course
• Be honest, but don’t include negative information
• Don’t attempt to sound too clever
• Don’t leave it until the last minute; prepare ahead of the deadline
• Have friends and family proofread it
• Don’t duplicate material from your  CV/resume

In terms of presentation, attempt to create five clear paragraphs of text in a clear font such as Arial or Times New Roman, with a maximum size of 12.

Personal Statement Changes

Starting from September 2025, the traditional UCAS personal statement will be replaced by three mandatory questions. The new questions will be:

• Why do you want to study this course or subject?
• How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course or subject?
• What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?

If you have any questions about how the changes may affect your application to study in the UK, do not hesitate to contact the SI-UK team today.

Personal Statement Editing with SI-UK

Once you have completed your personal statement, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK London. We can edit your personal statement and ensure the English is clear and grammatically correct. Once this process is complete, we will return it within 1-3 working days.

Contact SI-UK about your application

Personal Statement FAQ

What should you avoid in a ucas personal statement.

Applicants should avoid misspellings and grammar errors and discuss topics unrelated to their application and character.

Do universities read personal statements?

Yes, universities read UCAS personal statements, and they play a major factor when shortlisting candidates.

What happens if you lie in your personal statement?

If you lie on your UCAS personal statement, your application will be rejected, and any offers will be revoked.

What happens if UCAS detects similarities in your personal statement?

If UCAS detects similarities in your personal statement, it will be flagged for review, and your university choices will be notified while it is under review.

Does UCAS tell you if you've been rejected?

UCAS will notify you if your UCAS application has been rejected. You may also receive an email from the university stating why your application has been rejected.

What happens if you make a mistake on your UCAS application?

Once your UCAS application has been submitted, it cannot be changed. So, before submitting, make sure you proofread your application or get it proofread by someone else to make it error-free.

Personal Statement Example

Please see below for an example of a personal statement to a Development Studies course.

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Top Tips When Applying For A Masters

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Find the perfect course for you

Applying for a masters is a bit different from applying for an undergraduate degree. With more options available to you, such as the type of master’s you want to study, the start date and the duration of your studies, it’s important that you do your research to make sure you pick the right course for you. For more information on our postgraduate courses, click here

Don’t wait too long to apply

Give yourself plenty of time to get everything you need in order before applying. Things to consider include:

Funding – how will you fund your master’s course? Look at our fees and funding page to find out your options.

Accommodation – you may wish to relocate to be near the university. Discover our accommodation options here .

Supporting documents – make sure you have all the documents necessary for your application.

Perfect your personal statement

A personal statement should be just that, personal. We want to know what interests you about the subject area, and whether you have a long-term career goal. Ultimately, we want to learn about you - your extra-curricular activities, what you do in your spare time, any relevant work/volunteer experience, and any other achievements.

For more advice on personal statements, watch the video below!

Don’t just focus on academic experience

Other experiences are just as important as the academic stuff. Tutors want students who can demonstrate other qualities such as being hardworking and being able to work in a team. Share your experiences whether you’ve been a part of the campus life or have taken part in extra-curricular activities, this will help enhance your application too. Just make sure your experiences are relevant and add value. Examples of this can also include work and volunteering experience.

Get a reference suited to your studies

Most masters programmes require a reference. They should be a former university professor who can comment on your academic performance and your potential for postgraduate study. You should ask professors who know you well and preferably who taught you in courses related to your desired subject-area. Recommendation letters add another perspective of you and your qualities therefore you need to make sure you pick the right person and that they include everything that is required by your university.

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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.

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

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• Mature Student Personal Statements
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Napier University, Edinburgh Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to Napier University, Edinburgh. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 9 I have made my degree course choices based around my love of computers and all things computing. To help with my decision concerning degree course choices I read through many prospectuses and attended university open days, I sat in on some lectures that outlined the course content of each subject...

Advertising & Marketing Communications Personal Statement Example The reason I chose the UK as the country I want to study in is that I have always admired its long-established traditions not only in education but also in politics, religion, sport, etc. To me it is most fascinating how Britain has succeeded in preserving its culture, customs and traditions despite the crucial historical events it's been through...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 14 For as long as I can remember, aircraft have always been a primary interest of mine. Being a typical young boy my early interests and aspirations were to become a fighter pilot or an astronaut. However, as I grew older and my eyes were opened to the wonders of physics, my interests were turned to the engineering behind the machines themselves, from the 11 ton Eurofighter Typhoon to the 2000 ton Space shuttle...

Languages/Linguistics Personal Statement Example My decision to study languages at University stems from a fascination of the complexity of language and the changes which languages go through. As I am Scottish, I often speak in a regional dialect and I find myself engrossed as to why people speak in dialects and why speakers of the same language can have difficulties understanding each other...

International Business Personal Statement Example 2 The motivation behind my decision to gain a Business Degree lies in my determination to better understand how the real world works. I particularly enjoy the way that business blends in with everyday issues...

Law and History Personal Statement Example 4 Louis de Bernières writes in ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin' that history is fascinating 'because everything [is] connected to everything else in the most elaborate, devious and elegant ways'. Perhaps this explains the importance of history in understanding the modern world; it governs the way in which we view society, dictates our actions and, perhaps most importantly, provides guidance to those who establish law...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 21 The world of engineering is so complex, yet so inspiring. Incredibly, engineers are discovering more ingenious and inventive solutions to complicated problems, whilst continually maximising efficiency...

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Northumbria University London | The complete guide for admission!

Gain access to career-enhancing partnerships. learn from academics who are experts in their fields through northumbria university london . live in one of the world’s most diverse and popular student cities. keep reading for details., table of contents, northumbria university london | a brief overview, industry-focused, student life, academics with prior experience, student community, reputable alumn, admission process for international students, documents required for undergraduates, documents required for postgraduates, documents needed for a visa application are as follows, key takeaways.

Northumbria University London envisions 2023 to be a research-intensive, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Students at Northumbria benefit from a life-changing educational experience taught by experts in their field who are passionate about their subject. Their courses are at the cutting edge of current knowledge and practice and are backed by world-class research. Continue reading to learn more about the admissions process.

Why study at Northumbria University London?

Here’s why you should pursue education at Northumbria University London –

Study Business, Computing, Cyber, Project Management, and Technology to advance your career and get where you want to go.

The London Campus has modern and professional study facilities, where the financial district meets the heart of London’s digital and technology sector. It provides the students with an excellent foundation for taking full advantage of everything London offers, including work experience and networking opportunities.

Learn from a team of qualified academics, many of whom are professionals with years of experience in their field.

The student community learns alongside people from more than 100 different countries.

Join a community of over 216,000 graduates from 175 countries to share your experiences and successes.

International students applying to undergraduate programs must create a UCAS profile. Candidates applying for pathway programs and postgraduate courses can do so directly through the University’s online portal.

Candidates can apply to undergraduate programs through UCAS. The following are the application steps-

• You can complete the registration process and access your UCAS HUB dashboard by visiting the UCAS portal.
• Click the ‘your application’ tile to access the online application form.
• Enter vital information such as educational history, residential status, parental education, etc.
• Provide information on how you intend to fund your education.
• Connect your UCAS application to the school so they can add a referee.
• Choose up to five courses of interest.
• Compose a Personal Statement (between 1,000 – 4,000 characters).
• Go over the information you’ve entered and make any changes needed before applying.

English language proficiency

One of the most crucial admission requirements for international applicants is English proficiency. Students from non- English -speaking countries must submit one of the following test scores as proof of English language proficiency-

Northumbria University offers UG courses in over 200 undergraduate programs, including Art, Design, and Social Sciences, Business and Law, Engineering and the Environment, Health, and Life Sciences. The UCAS portal accepts applications for students. Candidates who applied through UCAS by the January 26 deadline will receive a decision by May 19.

• PTE or IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency
• Statement of Purpose
• Interview (if necessary)
• Portfolio(if applicable)
• Academic letter of recommendation
• Minimum overall score of 65% in standard XII.

Postgraduate admissions

Here’s how you can apply to the university-

Step 1- Go to the postgraduate course page of your choice and click the ‘Apply Now’ button.

Step 2- Determine your preferred intake period.

Step 3- The university will take candidates to a new window where they can select the ‘create new user account’ option.

Step 4- After clicking the ‘new user account’ tab, they will be taken to another page where they can enter their name, email address, and other information to create login credentials.

Step 5- They can log in and access the online application form using the credentials provided.

Step 6- Candidates should carefully read each section and enter accurate information.

Step 7- Attach all supporting documents, review the data, and submit the application form.

Northumbria University offers over 170 master’s courses and certificates to all graduates. In addition, the university offers 11 postgraduate distance learning courses. MBA, MSc Advanced Computer Science, M.Eng Mechanical Engineering, Data Science, and other popular courses are available.

• English language proficiency score
• 60-65% in undergraduate degree
• Personal statement
• Three years work experience (for MBA)
• Two letters of recommendation

Visa requirements

Students who receive a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies from Northumbria can begin the application process for a Tier-4 student visa in the United Kingdom. You must also meet the following requirements to apply for a UK study visa-

• Applicants must have sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses in the United Kingdom.
• Candidates aged 16 or 17 must have parental permission to apply for a student visa in the UK.
• Students must be fluent in English.
• Visa application fee- 363 GBP.
• Copy of passport
• Written parental consent (for applicants under 18)
• Proof of parental or guardian relationship (for applicants under 18)
• Medical certificates
• ATAS Certificate
• English proficiency exam scores.
• Northumbria University London is a research-intensive, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence.
• They offer various industry-focused programs, inclusive social life, and of course reputable alumni.
• The admission process for undergraduate and postgraduate students are similar, but differ in requirements.
• As an international student, you will require a student visa to study in the UK and also meet the eligibility requirements.

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. In case of any queries, or assistance with your application process, reach out to us or drop a comment below!

Liked this blog? Read next: Iowa State University | A world-class research institution

Q1. What is the rank of Northumbria University in the UK?

Answer- Northumbria University consistently ranks among the best universities in the UK. Northumbria University ranks 46th in the United Kingdom by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Q2. How much do you expect to pay for accommodation per week in London?

Answer- If you choose to live on-campus or in a university hall, your weekly rent will be between £210 and £240, with some universities charging slightly more. Depending on where you live in London, rents can reach £500 per month.

Q3. Does Northumbria University have registered agents?

Answer- The university collaborates with several recognized agents/university representatives worldwide. Northumbria University’s dedicated country page contains information about registered agents.

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