medicine personal statements newcastle

• Medicine Interview Book
• Sponsorship & Advertising

• Medical Personal Statement Review
• Medical School Interview Course
• Medical School Interview Tutoring
• In-House Courses For Schools
• Medical School Interview Guide
• Medicine Interview PDF Book
• Medical School Application Guide
• Medical Blog
• Your basket is currently empty.

Medical School Profiles: Applying To Newcastle Medical School

Applying to newcastle medical school.

Welcome to the Medicine Answered series of medical school profiles. These are entirely free as part of our commitment to making information on a career in Medicine free and readily available. These medical school profiles can be used in conjunction with our free guide “ how to choose which medical schools to apply to ” which covers 19 points that you can systematically run through when considering if a medical school is an excellent choice for you to apply to.

What this guide to applying to study Medicine at Newcastle Medical School covers

In this medical school profile, we discuss valuable information for applying to study Medicine at Newcastle Medical School. We begin by highlighting the Medicine programmes provided by Newcastle Medical School. We cover the entry requirements to study Medicine at Newcastle Medical School. This includes how Newcastle Medical School uses applicants UKCAT results; Newcastle’s Medicine interview process; the role of the Medicine personal statement at Newcastle Medical School and other key information which will assist in applying to study Medicine at Newcastle Medical School. Finally, we cover tips on how to write a Medicine personal statement for Newcastle Medical School and tips on how to pass the Newcastle Medical School MMI interview, or for international students, the Newcastle Medicine panel interview.

Medicine programmes at Newcastle Medical School:

Standard Entry Medicine (5 years). UCAS course code A100.

Accelerated Graduate Entry Medicine Programme (4 years) UCAS course code A101

There is also a pathway for dentists wishing to study Medicine at Newcastle medical school to pursue a career in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. There is also a pathway for some Newcastle Science students to apply to study Medicine.

Competition to study Medicine at Newcastle Medical School:

Competition for the 5-year Standard Entry Medicine Course at Newcastle Medical School:

Number of applicants per interview: 1.9 (home/EEA only) 4.5 (international)

Number of applicants per place: 5.6 (home/EEA only) 17.5 (international)

Competition for the 4-year accelerated Graduate Entry Medicine Programme at Newcastle Medical School:

Number of applicants per interview: 11 (home/EEA only)

Number of applicants per place: 41.5 (home/EEA only)

International Applicants to Medicine at Newcastle Medical school

Newcastle Medical School welcomes applications from overseas applicants to its five-year Medicine programme. However, only home students (UK and EEA) are eligible to apply for Newcastle medical schools accelerated Graduate Entry Medicine programme. For 2019 entry, International Medicine applicants can be interviewed in Newcastle or by online video in their home countries.

Graduate Entry Medicine at Newcastle Medical School:

Newcastle Medical School hosts an accelerated four-year Graduate Entry Medicine programme. Students with a degree from any discipline or healthcare professionals within the NHS or equivalent bodies (e.g. RMN, RGN, Physiotherapists) can apply to the Newcastle Graduate Entry Medicine programme. Newcastle Graduate Medicine entry requirements are atypical in that Newcastle medical school does not use A-level or GCSE results for Graduates when deciding which candidates to interview or to give offers to. Contrast this to for example the entry requirements for Birmingham’s Graduate Entry Medicine programme which has high minimum requirements for pre-degree qualifications.

For more information on applying to Medicine as a graduate, see our free graduate entry Medicine guide which includes a detailed breakdown on deciding if applying to Medicine as a graduate is for you, fees, funding, choosing between accelerated programmes and standard entry Medicine programmes and much more. We also have a free guide on how to write an excellent graduate entry Medicine personal statement . This comprehensive guide takes you from the ideas phase with no plan or draft, all the way to a finished Graduate entry Medicine personal statement ready for submission.

Newcastle Medical School course structure for its 5-year Medicine programme:

The course structure at Newcastle Medical School is based on an integrated Medicine curriculum. Integrated Medicine curriculums are the most common form of teaching Medicine at UK medical schools. Integrated Medicine programmes combine scientific teaching with clinical teaching instead of making a distinct separation between the two (as is the case in traditional Medicine courses which are now very rare). This allows students to learn the scientific disciplines in the context of how patients present clinically. Integrated curriculums typically allow for much earlier patient contact which is the case at Newcastle Medical School where there is patient contact from the first year.

During years 1 and 2 of the Newcastle Medicine course, a series of cases are used to facilitate learning. For example, a case on a stroke can be used to teach and learn about the nervous and cardiovascular system, clinical skills, pharmacology, public health and communication skills. Contrast, this to a traditional curriculum where all these topics would be taught separately and Clinical topics such as strokes would not be taught in the first few years of study as basic Sciences would be taught first. Years 3, 4 and 5 of the Newcastle Medicine programme are much more clinically focused, and students are based in clinical facilities, e.g. Newcastle Hospital, instead of the university.

Intercalation at Newcastle Medical School

Newcastle Medical School offers its medical students the chance to intercalate at BSc or masters level. Intercalation is offered throughout UK medical schools and is a popular option for medical students. You can learn more about the pros and cons of intercalating in our free medical blogs section. Intercalation allows students to interrupt their Medicine degree and study for another degree in a chosen subject and then return to the Medicine degree. This allows medical students to gain an additional qualification on top of their medical degree and often in a much quicker and cheaper manner. For example, a BSc can be awarded in one year instead of the typical three it would take a non-intercalating student top to achieve.

Newcastle medical school open days and poster offer visit days

Newcastle Medical School hosts several open days. Attending a Newcastle Medical School open day allows you to see the medical school for yourself and speak to students and staff. A Newcastle Medical School open day also provides an excellent opportunity to explore the city of Newcastle for yourself. Newcastle also holds post-offer visit days which will give you a taste of being a Newcastle medical student.

Age requirements to study Medicine at Newcastle medical school

Newcastle does not have an upper age limit to study Medicine. They state that it may not be possible to consider applicants who will be under the age of 17 on entry.

Entry Requirements for the Newcastle Medical School 5-year Medicine programme:

Applying to any medical school is highly competitive and requires meeting high entry requirements. While sharing many similarities, medical schools also have very different entry requirements and policies in specific areas. The entry requirements for Newcastle Medical School are no different in this regard. For example, unlike many other medical schools, Newcastle after initially considering academic achievements at the pre-interview stage, then do not consider academic achievement further in the application process.

You must carefully understand the entry requirements for Newcastle Medical School before you make an application there. Below are some headline details about the entry requirements for Newcastle Medical School for 2019 entry. You can see the full Newcastle medical school entry requirements on their prospectus or website.

Graduate applicants to the standard entry 5-year Medicine course: Graduate applicants must have achieved, or expect to achieve, an honours degree in any discipline to at least a 2:1 or Integrated Master’s degree.

A-Level entry requirements for Newcastle Medical School: AAA including Chemistry and/or Biology and not including Critical thinking or General Studies. Practical elements of Science A-levels must be passed if these are taken. If only one of Biology and/or Chemistry is offered at A-level, then the other subject should be offered at GCSE grade A/7 or a Dual Award Science grade A/7.

Admissions tests – how does Newcastle Medical School use UKCAT scores?

All applicants to Newcastle medical school must sit the UKCAT. This includes applicants to the accelerated four-year Graduate Entry Medicine programme and applicants to the 5-year standard entry Medicine programme. The UKCAT must be sat in the same year as the Medicine application to Newcastle medical school. Results from earlier years are not valid, and the UKCAT must be retaken.

For more information about the UKCAT and how to prepare for the UKCAT, see our free UKCAT guide and FAQ .

How Does Newcastle Medical School use the Medicine personal statement?

The Medicine personal statement is not read before or at the Newcastle Medicine interview. However, it is read before offers being made although not for scoring purposes.

Tips on how to write a successful Medicine personal statement for Newcastle Medical School

• Read our comprehensive free guide on how to write a medical school personal statement in 10 steps. This guide takes you from step 1 – with no draft, plan or anything written down, all the way to step 10 – a completed and excellent medical school personal statement ready for you to submit to UCAS.
• See our free full analysis of a successful Medicine personal statement which gained offers for an interview from all four medical schools (and subsequently four offers of a place). We analyse why this Medicine personal is effective and how you can learn from this in writing your own Medicine personal statement.
• The meaning and insight gained from experiences such as work experience or extracurricular activities are the most critical thing admissions tutors are looking for, even more so then what you actually did. Merely making long lists of achievements or diary accounts of activities is not what admissions tutors at Newcastle Medical School or any other medical school are looking for. It is up to you to make the most of what you have done and show the medical school admissions panel how your experiences will make you an excellent candidate to study Medicine. Our free article: How to display the attributes of self-reflection and personal insight in your Medicine application will help you to write in the manner that admissions tutors are looking for.
• You can consider a Medicine personal statement review service . Various companies offer these. They are not essential, so do not believe any company that tells you otherwise. However, services by competent providers can add real value to your Medicine application. When looking at providers ensure that they are by experts in Medicine admissions and have professional skills in editing and reviewing. Medicine Answered provide an excellent medical school personal statement review service with a unique level of expertise. A professional editor and then a doctor (who received all four offers to study Medicine) will examine the personal statement line by line and make the appropriate corrections. After making sure the grammar and writing are flawless, they will also comment on the overall strength of the application and make suggestions of things which may be asked at your Medicine interview based on your medical school personal statement.

What type of interviews does Newcastle Medical School use?

International students (as classified by fees status) are interviewed by a panel. For 2019 entry this can be in Newcastle or via online video in the international applicants home country. Newcastle interview home (UK/EEA as classified by fees status) students using MMI Medicine interviews.

For 2019 entry offers to study Medicine at Newcastle are made based on performance at the Medicine interview. Before and during an interview, selectors will not have access to the applicants Medicine personal statement or reference.

Tips for passing a Newcastle Medicine interview

Success at a Newcastle Medicine interview or any medical school interview is not random. It involves a tried and tested set of steps that you can also follow:

• A strategic plan on how to prepare for your medical school interview  – We cover this in detail in our entirely free guide on how to prepare for your medical school interview in seven steps.
• Learning critical medical school interview strategies –  We have a wealth of free articles covering Medicine interview strategies. We also have a free database of real medical school interview questions with full competent answers, analysis, and advice on how to answer these medical school interview questions. We also have a free guide to Medical Ethics and free blog articles such as answering opinion questions, dealing with rude or hostile interviewers/ MMI actors and many more topics
• Avoiding common medical school interview pitfalls – See our free guide on common medical school Interview pitfalls and how to prevent them.
• Intelligent, reflective medical school interview practice  – Use our free exclusive database of Medicine interview questions and answers .
• Execution on the medical school interview day  – Preparation and practice are one part of success. The other part is peak performance and execution on the day. Read our free article about dealing with nerves before and during your medical school interview .

For those preferring a face to face approach, Medicine Answered also provide excellent doctor delivered one-day medical school interview courses as well as one to one private tutoring online or in person. All of our courses and tutoring are delivered only by doctors who passed all four of their Medicine interviews. For more information see our services section.

• UCAS Guide >
• Work Experience >

A Guide to Gaining Medical Work Experience in Newcastle

Gaining medical work experience is an invaluable step for aspiring medical students. It provides insight into the healthcare profession, enhances your understanding of patient care, and strengthens your medical school applications. Newcastle offers a range of opportunities for medical work experience. This guide will explore five hospitals in Newcastle that offer medical work experience, explain how to apply for such opportunities, discuss different medical work experience options, highlight the benefits of work experience, and provide tips on writing about medical work experience in your UCAS medical personal statement. 

Hospitals in Newcastle Offering Medical Work Experience

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

   – Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

   – Freeman Hospital

   – Great North Children’s Hospital

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

   – Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital

Applying for Hospital Work Experience in Newcastle

Research the medical work experience .

Visit the websites of the NHS Trusts mentioned above to explore their medical work experience programmes. Understand the application requirements, deadlines, and any specific prerequisites. Work experience placements are very competitive, so it is important that you are sure of which medical work experience programme would benefit you the most.

Medical Work Experience Application Process

Follow the instructions provided by the NHS Trust to submit your application. This may involve filling out an online form or sending a written application via email or post. Ensure your application highlights your genuine interest in healthcare and your willingness to learn. We have provided some more information on the types of programmes available and some prerequisites below:

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

Please note that there is a minimum age requirement of 16. Placements last between 1-2 days and some are only available for undergraduate/postgraduate students.The following placements are available, although these should be applied for well in advance of when you plan to undertake the Newcastle hospital work experience. Applications are done through the website.

Hospitals within this trust do offer medical work experience in a number of medical settings. We’ve listed some information below. For more information, please visit their website.

• Applications will only be accepted if you are 13 years old and above
• Clinical and non-clinical placements are available in hospitals, within administration or GP surgeries
• Paediatrics
• Maternity, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Clinical Psychology

Placements can only be arranged three months in advance of the placement date. You will also be required to go through a health clearance check and will be given a date for this via email, wafter you have submitted your application. All applications should go through the NHS Trust website.

Different Medical Work Experience Options in Newcastle

• Clinical Shadowing: Observe doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals in various medical specialties, gaining firsthand experience of patient care.
• Volunteering: Engage in non-clinical roles within hospitals or healthcare organisations, assisting patients, visitors, and healthcare staff.
• Research Placements: Work alongside researchers and contribute to ongoing medical studies, enhancing your understanding of medical research.
• Community Outreach Programmes: Remember that work experience does not just have to happen within hospitals or GP surgeries. Admissions tutors are looking for students to demonstrate the skills required as a doctor. By participating in initiatives that focus on community healthcare, you can help to promote health awareness. Skills used here, such as communication and empathy, will provide valuable transferable skills and you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of holistic healthcare.

Benefits of Doing Medical Work Experience

• Insight into the Medical Profession: Observe healthcare professionals in action, witnessing the realities of patient care and medical decision-making.
• Skill Development: Enhance your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities by engaging with patients, healthcare staff, and fellow volunteers.
• Personal Growth: Develop resilience, empathy, and professionalism, qualities essential for a successful medical career.
• Networking: Build connections with healthcare professionals who can provide guidance, mentorship, and potential references for future endeavours.
• Enhanced Medical School Applications: Medical work experience demonstrates your commitment to the field, sets you apart from other applicants, and provides compelling material for your personal statement and interviews.

Importance of Work Experience for Medical Applications, Personal Statements, and Interviews

Demonstrating Commitment: Work experience showcases your dedication to pursuing a career in medicine, indicating that you have explored the profession and understand its demands.

Reflection and Insight: Reflect on your experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the qualities required of a healthcare professional and the impact of patient care.

Developing Key Skills: Discuss the transferable skills gained during medical work experience, such as effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

Personal Narrative: Use your experiences to construct a compelling personal statement, showcasing your passion for medicine and how it has shaped your aspirations.

Interview Preparation: Draw upon your work experience to provide real-life examples in response to interview questions, demonstrating your suitability for medical school.

Tips on Writing About Medical Work Experience in Your UCAS Medical Personal Statement

• Specificity: Provide detailed examples of your work experience, highlighting specific interactions, challenges, and observations that left a lasting impact on you.
• Reflection: Discuss how your experiences influenced your personal and professional development, emphasising the qualities you have gained and how they align with a career in medicine.
• Patient-Centred Approach: Illustrate your understanding of the importance of patient care and how your work experience exposed you to different aspects of healthcare delivery.
• Transferable Skills: Link your work experience to the essential skills required of a healthcare professional, such as empathy, communication, and problem-solving.
• Future Goals: Convey how your work experience has solidified your commitment to medicine and how you plan to apply your experiences in your future medical career.

Medic Mind’s Medical Work Experience – Manchester

Want to take away the stress of organising medical work experience in Newcastle? Why not try our 5-day medical work experience in Manchester ?! 

Throughout the week you will gain hands-on experience in various settings, including a local hospice and a central Manchester hospital. You will be guided by senior clinicians where you will: 

• read X-rays
• analyse patient symptoms
• suture wounds
• Experience the daily life of trauma consultation in a simulated A&E environment

Our medical experts are also on-hand to answer all your questions and support you through the medical application process by giving you advice and tips on the UCAT/BMAT and medical interview.

With the option of staying at a hotel in Central Manchester, you can also get to know other aspiring medical students and senior clinicians.

Alternatively, you can sign up for our 5-day London hospital work experience , with the option of staying in accommodation at UCL as you embark upon your London hospital placement. 

Remember, medical work experience is a stepping stone towards your future medical career. It offers valuable insights, skills, and personal growth, while also strengthening your medical school applications. By engaging in medical work experience in Newcastle, you can enhance your understanding of healthcare and make a positive impact on your journey to becoming a healthcare professional. Good luck!

Most medical work experience opportunities in Newcastle are unpaid, as they primarily focus on providing educational and observational experiences.

Yes, international students can apply, but it is essential to check the eligibility criteria and any visa requirements. In addition to this, due to the competitive nature of medical work experience placements, many programmes stipulate that the student must live in Newcastle.

Work experience opportunities may vary, but some hospitals offer programmes during term time. Check with the respective hospitals for availability. It is also important to consider how this will affect your exam studies.

The duration of work experience can vary depending on the programme or opportunity. It may range from a few days to several weeks.

Yes, you can apply to multiple hospitals, but it is essential to consider the application requirements and manage your commitments accordingly.

Was this article helpful?

Still got a question leave a comment, leave a comment, cancel reply, related links.

• FREE Applying to Medicine Course
• FREE Applying to Dentistry Course
• FREE Applying to Vet School Course

5-day programme with insights into the medical profession. Includes accommodation and ALL meals!

5-day programme with insights into the dental profession. Includes accommodation and ALL meals!

Personalised 1-1 lessons, tailored to your individual UCAT preparation needs. Run by UCAT experts

What are you looking for? ?

Let's get acquainted what is your name, nice to meet you, {{name}} what is your preferred e-mail address, nice to meet you, {{name}} what is your preferred phone number, what is your preferred phone number, just to check, what are you interested in, when should we call you, what time works best for you (uk time), how many hours of 1-1 tutoring are you looking for, my whatsapp number is..., for our safeguarding policy, please confirm....

Please provide the mobile number of a guardian/parent

Which online course are you interested in?

What is your query, you can apply for a bursary by clicking this link, sure, what is your query, thank you for your response. we will aim to get back to you within 12-24 hours., lock in a 2 hour 1-1 tutoring lesson now.

If you're ready and keen to get started click the button below to book your first 2 hour 1-1 tutoring lesson with us. Connect with a tutor from a university of your choice in minutes. (Use FAST5 to get 5% Off!)

Guides & Info

Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Last updated: 29/6/2023

• Is Medicine Right for Me?
• What do Doctors do?
• The Daily Life of a Doctor
• How to apply to medical school
• Different Routes into Medicine
• Factors to Consider
• Medicine at Oxford and Cambridge
• Your Fifth UCAS Choice
• Getting Your Grades
• Extra-curricular Activities
• What is the UCAT?
• Preparing for Your UCAT Test Day
• After Your UCAT
• BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
• Work Experience and Dental Schools
• NHS Work Experience
• Personal Statement
• Medicine PS Examples
• Dentistry PS Examples
• UCAS References
• Medical and Dental School Interviews
• Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)
• Medical School Interview Questions
• Dental School Interview Questions
• Graduate Entry Courses
• Foundation and Access Courses
• International students
• Taking a Gap Year
• Medicine in Australia and NZ
• Medicine in Ireland Medicine in Eastern Europe
• Other Roles in Healthcare
• What Our "Plan B" Looked Like

Your UCAS personal statement is a chance to showcase the skills, attributes, and experiences which make you suited to studying medicine. This can be quite a daunting prospect, especially when you have to boil all that down to just 4,000 characters, or 47 lines. 

In this article, we will:

• Examine examples of strong and weak medicine personal statements (interested in dentistry? Check out dentistry personal statement examples )
• Help you learn what you should and shouldn't include in your medicine personal statement

Want to explore more examples? Our Personal Statement Course has over 100 personal statement examples to help you find your voice.

What you'll find in this article:

Personal statement example 1 – introduction

Personal statement example 2 – introduction, personal statement example 1 – main body, personal statement example 2 – main body, personal statement example 1 – conclusion, personal statement example 2 – conclusion, strong personal statement example, weak personal statement example, what should your personal statement include.

To get into medical school , your personal statement should:

• Demonstrate meaningful insight into the profession, in the form of work experience or independent research. This could be partly based on medical books or podcasts when medical work experience is not possible
• Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and experiences
• Mention your extracurricular activities
• Discuss your academic interests and achievements

'At the moment I am working towards A-Level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I achieved my AS-Level in Spanish but decided to drop it to focus on my more medically relevant subjects. I’ve been dreaming of studying medicine since I was a young child, and this was only reinforced when I contracted measles during my primary school exams. This affected my performance, but I found that this motivated me rather than discouraged me. A particularly inspiring doctor was heavily involved in helping me deal with the pressure. I was inspired by her to become a doctor myself and help others in a similar way. I am particularly interested in science and as such the practical side of medicine interested me. I’ve always enjoyed chemistry and biology the most, and have best learned when trying to link the pure science I learn in school back to it's practical and useful real-world applications. This is what is particularly interesting about medicine to me - you can apply pure, evidence-based science in a clinical and practical setting to have an obvious positive effect. Inspired by this interest, I invested in a subscription to the New Scientist magazine. I’ve read about a huge number of fascinating discoveries and how they’ve been applied in medical settings.'

This introductory section has some promising features, but there are areas the author could improve:

• The introductory sentence doesn’t catch the reader’s attention or hold much relevance for a medical personal statement. This sentence would be better suited to a subsequent section on the author’s academic achievements, and it would need to be supplemented with a suitable explanation as to why the chosen subjects are relevant for medicine. 
• The author uses an anecdote to illustrate why they first developed an interest in medicine. This is a good idea, but the anecdote they've chosen is not the most suitable. It references ‘primary school exams’, which uses the cliché of wanting to do medicine from a young age. This is not only overused, but is also underdeveloped. 
• The applicant mentions feeling under pressure for these primary school exams. This won’t fill the reader with confidence that the author will be able to cope with the demands of medical school and a career as a doctor. 
• The introduction should open with the anecdote rather than academic achievements. A strong and memorable opening line will catch the admission tutor’s attention, and gives the student an opportunity to summarise why they want to study medicine.
• It is far too long. A good introduction should be around 4-6 lines.

There are some parts of the introduction that are more effective:

• The part discussing why they enjoy chemistry and biology is useful – it links their love for pure science back to the passion they mentioned earlier for helping people. This demonstrates the blend of empathy and interest in science that medical schools will be looking for. 
• The same part also introduces the candidate’s reading of medical literature, which they could choose to discuss in more depth later in the statement, or which might be something that interviewers could choose to examine in more detail.

'From a young age, my real fascination in life has been science - in particular, the incredible intricacy of the human body. My passion to discover more about its inner workings fuelled my motivation to study medicine, and the challenging yet rewarding nature of the job leaves me certain that I want to pursue it as a career. I think that my chosen A-Levels have only made me more determined to become a doctor, while simultaneously allowing me to develop and improve my skills. I have become a better problem-solver by studying physics and maths, while also learning the importance of accuracy and attention to detail. I’ve particularly enjoyed chemistry, which has again helped me improve my problem solving skills and my ability to think rationally and logically. Throughout my chemistry and biology A-Levels, I’ve been required to engage in practical work which has taught me how to design and construct an experiment. I’ve also become better at communicating with other members of my team, something I witnessed the importance of during my work experience in A&E. During recent months, I’ve started reading more medical publications such as the Lancet and the British Medical Journal. I’ve been particularly interested in how this evidence-based science can be applied to clinical practice to really make an impact on patients.'

This introduction contains some useful reflection and demonstrates some insight, but is quite jumbled. The main areas of weakness are as follows:

• The content is good but much of it would be better suited to a later section and should be explored in more detail while being linked back to medicine (for example, the whole second half could be included in a longer segment on academia). 
• The applicant mentions that they improved their problem-solving skills. How did they do this? Why is this important in medicine? 
• They say that medicine is demanding but that this attracts them to the job. What experiences have they had to show the demanding nature of it? Why does this attract them to it? 
• The author also briefly mentions a stint of work experience in A&E, but the rushed nature of the introduction means that they can’t go into detail about the experience or reflect on what exactly they learned from it. 
• Similar to example 1, this introduction includes some clichés which detract from the author’s overall message. For example, that they have wanted to do medicine from a young age or that they love science (with no further explanation as to why). 
• It is far too long. Again, an introduction should be a succinct summary of why you're interested in medicine, and not a brief account of all of your experiences.

The stronger parts of this introduction include the following:

• The author does demonstrate that they can reflect on the skills they’ve improved through experience. For example, the analytical and problem-solving skills they gained from chemistry.
• The candidate shows an understanding of the link between evidence-based science and clinical application when discussing how they did further research around their physics course. This shows a good level of curiosity and insight.

'I first became interested in studying medicine when I carried out a work experience placement with my father an elderly care specialist. I really enjoyed the experience and it gave me a deeper insight into the challenges doctors face. I now believe that I better understand the resilience - both mental and physical - that doctors need to cope with the heavy workload and emotional challenges. A few months ago I was given the opportunity to attend work experience in St Mary’s hospital in Manchester where I visited and observed many different specialties and areas of the hospital like A&E and the labs and witnessed how doctors carried out their jobs. For the past year I’ve been doing some other volunteering work too, such as, taking meals around to patients on the ward, asking them about their experience in the hospital and just chatting with them about how they’re feeling. They’re often delighted to have someone to talk to especially during Covid when they weren’t allowed to receive visitors. I saw how my communication and empathy made a real impact on the mood of the lonelier patients. I spent a few days working in the same hospital, shadowing doctors and Allied Health professionals in the stroke ward. I became much more familiar with the process doctors used for treating stroke patients, and developed an understanding of the role that physiotherapists and occupational therapists have in their rehabilitation. On top of that I organised a placement with the emergency medicine doctors and spent time in the haemapheresis unit at St Mary’s.'

This example does contain some of the features we look for in a complete main body section but could definitely be improved: 

• The main issue with this is the list-like presentation, which goes hand-in-hand with a general lack of reflection or insight. Although it is good to discuss your work experience in your personal statement, it would be far better if the candidate focused on just one or two of the experiences mentioned, but went into far more detail about what they learned and the insight they gained. For example, after mentioning the role of Allied Health Professionals in the rehabilitation of stroke patients, they could go on to discuss how they came to appreciate the importance of these healthcare workers, and how the contribution of all these individuals within the multidisciplinary team is so important to achieving good outcomes.
• Statements like ‘I [...] witnessed how doctors carry out their jobs’ make it seem as if the candidate really wasn’t paying attention. They need to explain what they mean by this. Were they impressed by the doctors’ effective teamwork and communication skills, or perhaps by their positive attitude and morale? Did they seem well-trained and effective? What did they learn from this that might help them in the future?  ‍
• Similarly, the student simply states that they saw the effect of empathy on patients: ‘I saw how my communication and empathy made a real impact on the mood of the lonelier patients.’ This adopts a ‘telling’ approach, when the student needs to adopt a ‘showing’ approach. Simply telling us that they saw something does not adequately demonstrate an understanding of why those qualities are important, or what they actually mean. What does it mean to have empathy? What does that look like in real terms? How did they use it? What was the effect? Showing the tutor that you are empathetic is important, but simply saying it is disingenuous and shows a lack of understanding.
• The candidate spends a number of characters name-dropping the exact hospital they visited and its location, which isn’t the best use of valuable space, as it has no real impact on the message they’re trying to convey.
• Generally, it isn’t a good idea to talk about work experience with family members. Of course, this might be the reality, but try to have some other placements that you’ve organised yourself so that it doesn’t appear as if your family are doing all the hard work for you. At the very least, you could simply leave this information out.
• There are a few grammatical errors here, especially regarding the use of commas. It’s important to use a spell checker or to ask an English teacher to check your work for you before submitting your statement.

The better features of this example are:

• The candidate does show some insight into the role of a doctor when they talk about the resilience required by doctors to cope with the hard hours and challenging conditions. They just need to reflect in this way in other parts of the section, too.
• The author has clearly done a lot of work experience and is right to discuss this in their personal statement. Just remember that you don’t need to squeeze in every single little placement.

'I was pleased to be appointed as head boy in my last year of school, and as part of this role I headed up the school safety office. I carried out inspections of the dormitories, roll calls and helped in the running of school festivals and activity days. The office I was in charge of needed to ensure the safety of every student in the school and I helped plan and lead drills to prepare the students for storms, floods and fires. This role has made me a far better leader, and I also believe that I am now far more calm and logical when working under pressure or in uncertain situations. I’ve been an editor on the online school blog for over 2 years now and the experience has taught me how to work effectively in a team when under time pressure. In order to meet my deadlines I needed to remain motivated even when working independently, and I think that the diligence and work ethic I’ve developed as a result will be incredibly useful to me as a medical student. I took on the role of financial director for both the table tennis club and Model United Nations at my school. At first I struggled with the weight of responsibility as I was in charge of all of the clubs’ money and expenditures. However, I am now a far more organised individual as I came to appreciate the value of concise paperwork and of keeping a record of my actions. I not only manage the funds of the table tennis club but am also a regular member of it. I often play independently, and the lack of a specific coach means that I have to identify my own strengths and weaknesses. I am now far better at being honest about my weaknesses and then devising strategies for working on them. The sport has also allowed me to demonstrate my ability to work well in a team, but also to get my head down and work independently when necessary.'

This example is generally well written and showcases some of the features of a good main body section. However, there are some areas that can be improved:

• This section would benefit from the ‘show, don’t tell’ approach. Instead of explaining specific situations or events through which the candidate demonstrated certain attributes, they simply state them and then link them vaguely to a more general role or activity.
• The bigger problem, however, is that the author mentions a wide range of skills but falls short in linking these back to medicine.  ‍ For example, after reflecting on their role in the school safety office and the leadership skills they developed as a result, the author could talk about the senior role that doctors have within the multidisciplinary team and the importance of good leadership in a medical setting.  Similarly, the author mentions their ability to work independently but should really round this off by describing how this would benefit them in medical school, as the ability to progress your learning independently is crucial to success there. The student mentions an understanding of and proficiency with paperwork and recording their actions. Doctors must constantly do this when writing notes for each patient, so the candidate should really try to mention this in their statement to explain why their skills would be useful. The mention of teamwork could be followed by an explanation of why it is important in a medical setting and how the applicant witnessed this during their medical work experience. Finally, when the student talks about being able to identify and work on their weaknesses, they could use this as an opportunity to demonstrate further insight into the medical profession by discussing the importance of revalidation and audit in the modern NHS, or talking about how important it is for doctors to be able to work on their areas of weakness. 

Better aspects of this example:

• The applicant doesn’t simply list the activities they have been a part of, but also explains what they learned from these and the skills and attributes they developed as a result. This reflective ability is exactly what assessors will be looking for.
• The tone of the section is appropriate. The applicant doesn’t appear arrogant or over-confident, but at the same time, they manage to paint themselves in a good light, highlighting their range of skills relevant to medicine.
• This example uses the character count effectively. Unlike the earlier examples, almost all of the sentences serve a purpose and are succinct.
• They demonstrate a wide range of skills, most of which are very relevant to medicine.

' I am a resilient and empathetic individual and I think that I have the qualities to thrive despite the social and academic challenges of university. Through my work experience I’ve gained an insight into the difficulties doctors face but this has not dampened my enthusiasm. My placements and voluntary work have only strengthened my commitment and dedication to studying medicine.'

The effectiveness of a conclusion depends on the rest of the statement before it, so it is hard to judge how good a conclusion is without seeing what the candidate has mentioned in the rest of their statement. Assuming this follows on logically from the statement, however, we can say that this conclusion is generally good for the following reasons:

• It is brief, to the point, and highlights that the student holds some of the skills doctors need (this would of course need to be backed up with examples in the rest of the statement). 
• The author doesn’t introduce any new ideas here, as that would be inappropriate, but rather reiterates their determination, which is exactly what admissions tutors want to see. 
• The author demonstrates a balanced understanding of the demands of a medical career, illustrating this is a decision they have made rationally while considering the implications of their choice. 

As is always the case, this conclusion could still be improved:

• The mention of the social challenges of university is a bit too honest, even though these exist for everyone. Mentioning them could give the impression that the student struggles socially (which is not something they would want to highlight), or that they intend to dive into the social side of university at the expense of their studies. 
• If the candidate really insists on mentioning the social side, they should at least do this after discussing academics, and they should do it in the body of the statement, where they have space to explain what exactly they mean.
• The student describes themselves as empathetic. This should be avoided, as it should be evident from the statement itself.

'Over the years I have built up a large and extensive set of medical work experiences and volunteering opportunities. These have allowed me to demonstrate my ability to communicate effectively and work in a team, and they will allow me to become a more diligent student and effective doctor. I think that this, alongside my ability and strength of character mean that I should be considered for this course. I am excited to get started and begin to put my skills to good use.'

This is a reasonably strong conclusion. It provides a to-the-point summary of why the author believes they should be selected to study medicine and shows their excitement for starting this journey. However, there are some parts of this example that could be improved: 

• The author mentions 'ability' and 'strength of character.' These are nebulous terms and not specific to medicine or a medical degree in any way.
• The mention of a 'large and extensive range of medical work experiences' indicates overconfidence. Medical applicants are not expected to have any medical ability or any 'large and extensive range' of medical experience, nor is it probable that this candidate actually does (otherwise they wouldn’t need to go to medical school in the first place). Rather, medical students need a suitable set of skills and attributes in order to make the most of their medical education and become an effective doctor.
• On a similar note, the applicant says that their range of medical work experience will make them a better student and doctor, but this is only true if they can reflect on their experience and learn from it. Impassively watching an operation or clinic without properly engaging with it won’t make you a better doctor in the future.

We’ll now go on to look at an example of a strong personal statement. No personal statement is perfect, but this example demonstrates a good level of reflection, engagement and suitability to study medicine (we know this because the writer of this statement went on to receive four offers). 

It goes without saying that plagiarism of any of these examples is a bad idea. They are known to medical schools and will be flagged up when run through plagiarism detection software. 

Use these as examples of ways you could structure your own statement, how to reflect on experiences, and how to link them back to medicine and demonstrate suitable insight and motivation. 

'It is the coupling of patient-centred care with evidence-based science that draws me to medicine. The depth of medical science enthrals me, but seeing complex pathology affecting a real person is what drives home my captivation. As a doctor, you are not only there for people during their most vulnerable moments but are empowered by science to offer them help, and this capacity for doing good alongside the prospect of lifelong learning intrigues me. In recent years I have stayed busy academically - despite my medical focus I have kept a range of interests, studying Spanish and German to grow my social and cultural awareness and playing the violin and drums in groups to improve my confidence when working in teams and performing. This is similar to the team-working environment that dominates in medical settings, and I have found that my awareness of other cultures is a great help when interacting with the hugely diverse range of patients I meet during my volunteering work. The independent projects I am undertaking for my A-levels teach me how to rigorously construct and perform experiments, process data and present findings, developing my written communication. My work experience showed me the importance of these skills when making patients’ notes, and of course, medical academia must be concisely written and well constructed and communicated. Maths teaches me to problem-solve and recognise patterns, vital skills in diagnosis. Over the past two years, I have actively sought out and planned work experience and volunteering opportunities. My time last year in Critical Care showed me the importance of communication in healthcare to ensure patients understand their diagnosis and feel comfortable making decisions. I saw the value of empathy and patience when a doctor talked to a patient refusing to take her insulin and suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. They tried to understand her position and remain compassionate despite her refusal. My experience deepened my insight into the realities of a medical career, as we were at the hospital for more than ten hours a day with breaks and lunches cut short by bleeps or calls from the ward. This helped me understand the physical resilience required by staff as I also came to appreciate the immense emotional burden they often had to bear. Despite this, the brilliant staff remained motivated and compassionate which I found inspirational. The Brighton and Sussex Medical School work experience and Observe GP courses I completed put emphasis on the value of holistic, patient-centred care, introducing me to specialities I had not previously considered such as geriatrics and oncology. Inspired by my experience I explored a variety of specialisms, reading memoirs (Do no harm) and textbooks (Oxford handbook of clinical medicine) alike. I investigated medical politics with my English persuasive piece, discussing the ethics behind the junior doctor strikes of 2016. I have been volunteering in a hospital ward since January, which helps improve my confidence and communication skills when talking to patients and relatives. I showed my ability to deal with unexpected situations when I found a patient smoking whilst on oxygen, and acted quickly to tell nurses. Over lockdown I felt privileged offering lonely patients some tea and a chat and seeing their mood change - it taught me that medicine is about treating patients as individuals, not a diagnosis. My work on the hospital door taught me to stay calm and interact assuredly with visitors, vital skills in public-service jobs like medicine. I coach tennis at a local club, planning and running sessions for younger children. I am responsible for players' safety and must manage risk while showing leadership qualities by making the sessions fun and inclusive. As a player, I am part of the self-run performance team, which forces me to better my ability without coaching. This means developing self-reflection and insight into my weaknesses, which I know to be integral skills for medics. One of the doctors I shadowed during my work experience was just starting her revalidation process and I saw the importance of self-awareness and honest reflection in meeting her targets and becoming a better doctor. I achieved my Gold Duke of Edinburgh certificate of achievement (and the Bronze and Silver awards), exhibiting my commitment and ability to self-reflect and improve. On our Silver expedition, we experienced severe rain, showing resilience by continuing when our kit was wet from day one. My diligence and academic ability will allow me to thrive in medical school, and I have the prerequisite qualities to become a compassionate and effective doctor. Despite the obstacles, I am determined to earn the privilege of being able to improve peoples' health. This is something that excites me and a career I would happily dedicate my life to.'

Strong personal statement example analysis

Introduction.

This statement is a good example of how a personal statement should be constructed and presented. The introduction is short and to the point, only dealing with the candidate’s motivations to study medicine while also demonstrating an insight into what the career involves. 

They demonstrate their insight briefly by mentioning that medicine involves lifelong learning. This is often seen as one of the challenges associated with the career but here they present it as an advantage which makes them seem more suited to the career. It also show they're a curious and interested individual who enjoys learning. 

The introduction's final sentence offers an opportunity for interviewers to probe the candidate further, to explore their curiosity, and ask them to explain what exactly attracts them to lifelong learning. An astute candidate would recognise this and try to think of a suitable answer in advance.

Paragraph 2 

The second paragraph opens the body of the statement by exploring the author’s academic interests. As with some of the previous example body paragraphs, the writer shows their reflective ability by explaining what each of their subjects taught them, and the skills they developed and demonstrated as a result. They improve upon this further by linking these skills back to medicine and explaining why they are important for doctors. 

This paragraph demonstrates the author’s work-life balance by showing their varied interests in languages and music, all without wasting characters by saying this directly. They also mention the diverse range of patients they encountered during their volunteering, which again implies an empathetic and conscientious nature while showing an insight into a medical career (particularly regarding the vast diversity of the patient cohort treated by the NHS). 

Their explanation of the relevance of maths could be more detailed, but again this could be something the applicant is hoping to be questioned on at interview. The candidate comes across as thoughtful and multi-talented, with the ability to reflect on their decisions and experiences, and with a suitable insight into how their strengths would play well into a medical career. 

In this particular paragraph, there isn’t much explanation as to how they drew their inferences about what a medical career entails from their volunteering and work experience (and what exactly these entailed), but these are explored in more detail later in the statement.

P aragraphs 3 and 4 

The next two paragraphs discuss the candidate’s work experience, beginning with a single work experience placement in detail. This is a better approach than the large lists of placements seen in the previous example body paragraphs. The author talks about a specific scenario and shows that they paid attention during their shadowing while also illustrating their ability to reflect on these experiences and the precise skills involved. 

The skills they mention here – communication, empathy, resilience – are skills that they specifically talk about developing and demonstrating through their activities in other parts of the statement. This shows that they have taken their learning and used it to inform the focus of their personal development. They also not only state that these skills are important for medics, but also explain why this is. For example, they explain that communication is important in helping patients relax and engage with their healthcare, and that resilience is required to deal with the antisocial hours.

In this section, the applicant briefly mentions a specific medical condition. This shows that they were engaging with the science during their placement and also provides interviewers with an opportunity to test the applicant’s scientific knowledge. Knowing this, the candidate would likely research diabetic ketoacidosis in order to be able to impress the panel. 

The author mentions some other virtual work experience opportunities they’ve been involved with and sets themselves up to discuss what these placements taught them. They then go on to explain the actions they took as a result of this, showing that they really engaged with the virtual placements and could identify what they learned and their areas of weakness. This is linked well to further reading and research they carried out, which illustrates their curiosity and engagement with medical science and literature. 

The reference to the junior doctor strikes at the end shows that they have engaged with medical news as well as the ethical side of medicine, which is something that many medical schools place a lot of emphasis on at interviews. Ideally, this section would explain how exactly they explored these different specialties and illustrate what they learned and how they developed their learning from the books mentioned.

Paragraphs 5 and 6 

These paragraphs discuss the applicant’s hospital volunteering and other extracurricular activities. The applicant doesn’t just state that they’ve volunteered in a hospital but goes into depth about the precise skills they developed as a result. They include an anecdote to illustrate their ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations, which is a great way to show that they’ve been paying attention (though this should really be backed up with an explanation as to why this is important in medicine). 

The candidate also shows their patient-centred approach when discussing how they cared for demoralised patients (again illustrating empathy and compassion). This style of healthcare is something that the modern NHS is really trying to promote, so showing an awareness of this and an aptitude for applying it practically will really impress your assessors. 

The author demonstrates another core attribute for medical students when talking about how their work on the front door of the hospital improved their confidence in communication, and they once more link this back to medicine. This last section could benefit from further explanation regarding the nature of their work on the hospital door and exactly how they developed these skills. 

In the second of these sections, the candidate simultaneously reflects on the skills they learnt from their tennis and explains how these apply to medicine, showing insight into the profession by mentioning and showing awareness of the process of revalidation. This will show assessors that the candidate paid attention during their work experience, reflected on what they learned, and then identified a way they could work on these skills in their own life.

The author name-checks the Duke of Edinburgh Award but then goes on to explain how exactly this helped them grow as a person. They link back to resilience, a skill they mentioned in an earlier section as being important for medics.

The conclusion is succinct and direct. Although clichéd in parts, it does a good job of summarising the points the candidate has made throughout the statement. They demonstrate confidence and dedication, not by introducing any confusing new information, but rather by remaking and reinforcing some of the author’s original claims from the introduction.

The following example illustrates how not to approach your personal statement. Now that you’ve read through the analysis of previous example passages and a complete example statement, try going through this statement yourself to identify the main recurring weaknesses and points for improvement. We’ve pointed out a few of the main ones at the end. You can even redraft it as a practice exercise.

' ‍ The combination of science with empathy and compassion is what attracts me most to a career in medicine. However, I wanted to ensure that the career was right for me so I attended a Medic Insight course in my local hospital. I enjoyed the course and it gave me new insight - the lectures and accounts from medical students and doctors helped me realise that medicine was the career for me. I was also introduced to the concept of the diagnostic puzzle which now particularly interests me. This is the challenge doctors face when trying to make a diagnosis, as they have to avoid differential diagnoses and use their skills and past experiences to come to a decision and produce the right prognosis. In order to gain further insight into both the positives and downsides of being a doctor, I organised some work experience in my local GP’s surgery. I managed to see consultations for chest pain, headaches, contraception and some chronic conditions which was very interesting. I also sat in on and observed the asthma clinic, which proved to be a very educational experience. During my experience, I tried to chat to as many doctors as possible about their jobs and what they enjoyed. I recently took up some work volunteering in a local elderly care home. Many of the residents had quite complex needs making it arduous work, but I learned a lot about caring for different people and some appropriate techniques for making them feel comfortable and at home. I became a better communicator as a result of my experience Nevertheless I really enjoyed my time there and I found it fulfilling when the patients managed to have fun or see their family. I appreciated how doctors often have high job satisfaction, as when I managed to facilitate a resident to do something not otherwise available to them I felt like I was making a real difference. My academic interests have also been very useful in developing skills that will be crucial as a doctor. I chose to study Physics and business at a-level and these have helped me develop more of an interest in scientific research and understanding; I’ve also become a more logical thinker as a result of the challenging questions we receive in physics exams. I know how important communication is as a doctor so I chose to study Mandarin, a language I know to be spoken widely around the globe. I was the lead violin in my school orchestra and also took part in the wind band, showing that I was willing to throw myself into school life. I really enjoyed our school’s concert, in which I had to perform a solo and demonstrate that I could stay calm under pressure and cope with great responsibility and i think that I’m now a better leader. This skill has also been improved in roles within my school on the pupil council and as form captain, which have improved my self-confidence. I needed to work hard in order to achieve my bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards, and have dedicated much of my time outside school to this endeavour over the past few years. I endured weekly sessions of Taekwondo, worked voluntarily in the charity shop Barnardo’s and took part in violin lessons.  As I’ve demonstrated throughout this statement I have an affinity for music, and so at university I plan to get involved with orchestras and bands. I also want to widen my horizons and discover new interests and hobbies, while trying to make new friends and cultivate a good work-life balance. I’m also keen to hike in the university’s surrounding territories. If I were allowed to study medicine, it would not only allow me to achieve one of my life goals, but to prove to you that I can become an effective, and successful doctor. I am absolutely dedicated to the study of medicine and know that I have the prerequisite skils and qualities to thrive in medical school and become a credit to your institution.”

Weak personal statement example analysis

• This personal statement does have some promising features, but overall it isn’t well structured and lacks appropriate reflection and insight. You can see this by comparing it to the strong example above. The author in this weak example very rarely describes what exactly they learned or gained from an experience and rarely links this back to medicine. 
• It reads quite like a list, with the candidate reeling off the experiences they’ve had or activities they’ve taken part in, without going into any real depth. They also use some vocabulary that implies that they really weren’t enjoying these experiences, such as when they speak of ‘enduring’ their time doing taekwondo, or of caring for residents being ‘arduous’ work. You don’t have to enjoy every activity you take part in, but implying that caring for people (a huge part of the job you are applying for and claiming to enjoy) is something you consider a chore isn’t a great start. This statement also has some questionable grammar and punctuation errors, which raises a red flag. Don’t forget to proofread your statement carefully before you submit it.
• The candidate often starts off their sections in a promising way. For example, by stating that they started volunteering in a local GP practice to gain more insight into the profession, but they rarely actually follow through on this. You never find out what insight the candidate actually gained or how they used this to inform their decision to apply for medicine. 
• Such lack of explanation and specificity is a theme throughout the statement. In the introduction, they say that personal accounts and lectures confirmed their wish to become a doctor, but they don’t actually explain how or why. They mention that their school subjects have helped them think more logically or improved their communication skills (which is good), but then they never go on to explain why this is relevant to medicine. They talk about leadership and self-confidence but again don’t link this back to the importance of self-confidence and the prominence of leadership in a medical setting.

To create an effective medicine personal statement, you need to provide plenty of detail. This includes concrete experiences demonstrating qualities that make a good doctor. If you can do this authentically, humbly and without selling yourself short, your personal statement will be in very good shape.

‍ ‍ If you're looking for more inspiration to craft a compelling medicine personal statement, check out our Personal Statement Online Course . It has over 100 personal statement examples, in-depth tutorials, and guidance from admissions experts, to help you create a ready-to-submit personal statement in just three days.

Lost for words?

Need a helping hand?

Create a ready-to-submit PS in 3 days

Find your voice with medify’s ps course.

Personal Statement for Medical and Dental Schools

Personal Statement Examples for Dentistry

—Get into Medical School

online courses

Guides & information, useful links & resources.

• [email protected]
• +44 (0) 333 050 7764 (Mon-Fri (9AM-5PM)
• Award-Winning Medicine Application Support
• +44 (0) 333 050 7764 (Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM)

You decide how much you want to pay for our Personal Statement Bundles!

Other PS Support

All UCAT Support

All Interview Support

• All-In-One Tutor
• UCAS Statement Tutor
• Interview Tutor
• Medicine Mock Interviews
• A-Level Tutor
• Medical School Guides & Reviews
• Medical School Success Calculator
• PS Free Resources
• UCAT Free Resources
• Interview Free Resources
• Our Guarantee

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Oxford (Alexander)

Home » Application Guide » Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Oxford (Alexander)

We believe in leveling the playing field. You can pay whatever you want  for our Personal Statement bundles!

Application Guide Menu

PS Self-Study

Awesome ps resources., awesome resources + course.

Welcome to our collection of Medicine Personal Statement Examples! We’ve searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today’s subject is from Alexander, who studies Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Alexander applied to study medicine in 2014 at 4 of the best medical schools in the UK, including Edinburgh and Sheffield . In the end, he received offers from both University College London and the University of Oxford , of which he chose the latter and began his studies in 2015.

Let’s read the personal statement that got him a place at Oxford, or skip straight to his feedback to learn what made his personal statement a success!

Please be aware that these examples are meant purely for the sake of inspiration, and should absolutely NOT be used as a model around which to base your own personal statement. UCAS have a rather strict system that detects plagiarism .

University of Oxford Medicine Personal Statement Example

Whole personal statement.

Life as a doctor is hard – long hours, demanding patients and a pressurised working environment. However you also have the tremendous privilege of helping people at their most vulnerable. This is what appeals to me about medicine.  

I have always been interested in science and health and used to enjoy listening to my grandfather talking about his experiences as a family doctor at the birth of the NHS. My parents are pharmacists, so healthcare has always featured in family conversations. It made me think that medicine would be a challenging yet rewarding career.  

Medicine reflects my academic interests. For instance, I am a keen follower of rugby and American Football and became intrigued by concussion. My EPQ allowed me to research the physiology of brain injuries, analyse scientific papers on the materials used in helmet construction and study the psychological impact of wearing helmets.  

Taking part in the Chemistry Olympiad and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge really tested my understanding and ability to apply the principles of chemistry to new and unique situations such as drug manufacture. I was particularly interested in the complexity of the processes that create some of our most basic, yet fundamental drugs.  

I am curious about medical research, so read ‘The Trouble with Medical Journals’ by former BMJ editor, Dr Richard Smith. It showed me how difficult it is to conduct studies that are wholly free from bias and conflicts of interest, and opened up an interesting debate about the role of pharmaceutical companies in funding clinical trials.  

My work experience has given me a great insight into life as a doctor. I organised a placement in an orthopaedics department, where I closely observed the whole process from admission and surgery to after-care. I saw how important communication was in all aspects of the department: having clear, defined roles in theatre, and using the right language to guide scared patients through complex procedures. I also witnessed first-hand one of the main challenges facing a doctor – dealing with uncooperative patients, yet still achieving a good outcome.  

My work as a volunteer at a dementia care home showed me some of the harsher realities of long-term illness and gave me a practical understanding of the effects of degenerative brain disease. I spent time talking to residents and keeping them company, including one who was a former matron. She could remember how to diagnose illnesses but could not remember when she last had a cup of tea. When I asked her about her time as a matron, she cried. I found this upsetting and it pushed me way out of my comfort zone. Initially I felt uncomfortable and did not know how to approach my time at the home. However I persevered and gained a new appreciation of the difficulties faced by both the elderly and those caring for them.  

A doctor must keep calm and make good decisions under pressure. On my Gold DofE expedition, I used my problem-solving ability to navigate out of a dense forest using only contour lines. At times the group became frustrated and started to argue. I took responsibility to try and resolve these difficulties by suggesting solutions in a non-confrontational manner.  

My passion outside work and college is cricket. I play as much as I can for several clubs and coach young people aged 4-15. I like the responsibility of influencing a young cricketer’s development. Coaching has enabled me to gain valuable experience in organising other people and become a better communicator. It can be frustrating, but worth it when you see how much they improve. I also help junior school children with their reading, which is richly rewarding but demands great patience.  

In summary: I enjoy science. I can relate to people. I am resilient and would relish an environment of lifelong learning. A career in a caring profession like medicine would be stimulating, meaningful, and provide me with the best opportunities to apply my knowledge to benefit others.

Need some extra guidance in your Personal Statement preparations?

Signing up to the Personal Statement Bundle means you’ll be guided by expert Medics who will help you write the perfect Personal Statement and provide unlimited redraft submissions. 

Want to learn how to Write the Perfect Personal Statement? This bundle is the one for you…

Pay what you want for expert Personal Statement support.

Write an impressive Personal Statement with the help of our in-depth resources and intensive crash course, all for the price that you decide.

Personal Statement Crash Course

University of Oxford Medicine Personal Statement Example Analysis

Now, let’s go section by section and see what Alexander has to say about what he wrote:  

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

I wanted to keep this introduction very simple and straightforward, which I believe I did well. I didn’t waffle about any life-changing events that made me decide to study medicine overnight, I just focused on an honest appraisal of my background that led me to consider medicine. It’s very direct, but I feel admissions teams prefer honestly over trying to create a massively blown-up story about something that is actually pretty simple. It saves time and space that can be used to thoroughly discuss my experiences and skills later on.

‘Life as a doctor is hard’ does sound a little cliché and cringy when I read it back all these years later. I wanted to create a catchy opening but instead, it just feels like I’m either moaning or explaining medical work to a child. In the second part, emphasising the medical background I come from may come across as I’m only doing medicine because my family do it/want me to do it. It is certainly worth mentioning, but I barely discuss how living with medical professionals has helped me develop my own skills and interests.

Lastly, and this is a reoccurring issue, why did I split this into two paragraphs? They both link together, but splitting this section in half makes each part feel less significant than if I had left them as one.  

I am curious about medical research, so read ‘The Trouble with Medical Journals’ by former BMJ editor, Dr Richard Smith. It showed me how difficult it is to conduct studies that are wholly free from bias and conflicts of interest, and opened up an interesting debate about the role of pharmaceutical companies in funding clinical trials.

I start off the main part of my personal statement by discussing my academics. Here, I found ways to relate the extra things I’d done at sixth form (EPQ, Olympiad, Trouble with Medical Journals) to medical topics and reflected on how they had helped me become a good medicine applicant. Again I kept the things I gained from them very simple, being very clear about exactly what I did and not trying to stretch the truth. Although I am trying to sell myself, I didn’t want to over-exaggerate my accomplishments as many admissions teams can see right through insincerity. Detailing my additional research is also a great way of demonstrating my interest in medicine in a practical and applicable way, rather than just describing life experiences that inspired me.  

Throughout these paragraphs, the writing sometimes comes across as a bit waffly, such as being intrigued by concussions because of rugby and American football. It’s a very random detail to mention and could have flowed more naturally into my EPQ. Instead of providing this surface-level information about myself, I could perhaps have given examples of what I’d learnt, although I did leave it slightly open to encourage interviewers to ask me about my EPQ at the interview. I do provide a better amount of depth when discussing the other topics here though.  

As for the paragraphing issue, this section is a bit more justifiable as each paragraph does tackle a separate topic. However, paragraphs this small do make the content feel less important or in-depth.

This is my discussion of work experience and volunteering work . Here, I was clear that I organised my orthopaedic work experience and dementia home volunteering myself, not that it was arranged for me. This may seem like an odd thing to point out, but it definitely shows a level of confidence and initiative that some applicants do miss (it was especially important for me considering my medical background, it would be very easy for the reader to assume my parents sorted something for me).  

Again, I didn’t over-exaggerate what I had done or learnt, I was very factual and let that speak for itself as I was confident it was good enough to be impressive. Even if it wasn’t the most impressive experience they had seen, the confidence in which I presented it gives it equal or greater value to work experience that has been dressed in over descriptive language.  

Paragraph-wise, this is actually a section I handled correctly in my opinion.  

Given how much I could have written about these two experiences, I unfortunately wasn’t as reflective as I should have been here. I had learned a lot from these experiences, but I only really discussed the surface-level skills I had learnt from them. There are many underlying lessons that I could have defiantly discussed in order to give this section a bit more power.  

I was a bit nervous about including the time I made a person cry, and how difficult I initially found the care home, but overall I think that it was important to show awareness that I’m not yet a perfect doctor/person, but at least I have been able to see an improvement in myself from the experience. This is a tactic that could backfire if you’re not fully confident, but as long as you can explain yourself in the interview, you’ll come off as a stronger candidate because of it.  

Here we have another pretty straightforward paragraph which only says what I myself did and doesn’t try and take too much credit. It ticks off some of the soft skills medical schools are looking for, again with examples that I could elaborate on further in the interview. The first sentence of this paragraph also serves to justify the inclusion of everything else I discuss here by linking everything back to medicine.  

In reality, it’s a bit of a filler paragraph to try and show I’ve got some other skills they are after. Nothing here is as strong as what I previously discussed, although it’s really not expected to. I certainly don’t feel it’s a particularly strong or stand-out paragraph like the previous one, but it serves its purpose of demonstrating some additional skills.  

I think this paragraph works well, showing both my extra-curricular interest in cricket and also how I’ve turned my passion for it into something that helps others, which sounds like a decent analogy to medicine. The personal statement isn’t just about medical abilities; universities also want students who are happy, healthy and likely to contribute to university life as a whole. This example perfectly encapsulates how I would be a fantastic university student!

Everything doesn’t need to be “all medicine, all the time”, but linking this topic to medicine would have definitely helped it feel more relevant in this personal statement. I just said that this sounds like a good analogy for medicine, so all I would have needed to do is point this out in a slightly more explanatory way. Looking at the wording and phrasing I used, “ I like the responsibility ” maybe sounds a bit sociopathic while “organising other people” is also a slightly odd phrase. The junior school reading is maybe something I could have expanded on further, to show a bit more breadth.

Looking for more support with your Personal Statement?

When you sign up to 6med’s Personal Statement Bundle, you’ll be getting guidance from expert Medics, alongside a tonne of insightful resources to teach you everything you need to know about personal statement writing.

So are you ready to Write the Perfect Personal Statement? Then get started today with 6med!

Want more expert Personal Statement support?

Pay What You Want for expert Personal Statement guidance from 6med, including comprehensive resources and access to an intensive crash course.

Personal Statement Work Book

Personal Statement Workbook

This is a proper summary of my personal statement; it doesn’t contain any new information and brings everything from my personal statement together in just 3 lines. It comes across as very snappy and ends with a true reflection of why I want to study medicine. This is pretty much everything expected of a good quality conclusion.  

This is perhaps where I may become a bit overly confident describing myself with all those terms. Taken on its own, the paragraph does nothing to show how I can say these things about myself, but I have tried to demonstrate why I believe I have those qualities throughout my statement. So hopefully, in context, it sounded appropriate. I suppose it must have done or else I wouldn’t have gotten my offers.  

Final Thoughts

Throughout this analysis, I have made sure to point out several times that this statement is no-nonsense and straight to the point. It’s very factual, and I make a point of showing my qualities with evidence rather than just saying I am caring or I like science for example. I show a good breadth of experiences and am not afraid to speak about the bad ones, which shows I have a fuller picture of the highs and lows of a career in medicine. I wrote this knowing that whoever would end up reading would know far more than me about medicine and be far more experienced than myself, so I didn’t want to either talk down to them or sound like I was desperate to impress them. I’d say the biggest strength of this personal statement is its confidence. When writing, know what your strengths are and own up to your weaknesses while understanding that they don’t detract from your abilities unless you let them.  

Because I was applying to Oxford I put my academic achievements first, even though my strongest paragraphs were more in the middle. There were several things that I had done that I did not include, and perhaps I could have created more space by shortening some of the paragraphs to create space for them, to ensure I’m covering more of the skills and qualities medical schools are after. These are all structural issues, but I had a few issues with my writing style too. The confident writing approach is effective when done well, but it can fall flat when you make weird statements like my first line, or become a bit too cocky. There’s a balance to reach and, although you probably won’t perfect every line, you will need to most likely go through countless drafts to get it right.  

So there you have it! This personal statement helped Alexander earn 2 offers from two of the most prestigious medical schools in the country!

Everyone has different experiences and abilities, so you may not be able to relate to everything that was said in this personal statement. However, the information and advice provided by Alexander is universal and will help any applicant write a better personal statement!  

Be sure to check out more Medicine Personal Statement Analyses to see advice from all different kinds of applicants, including Ali Abdaal , another Oxbridge medical student! Or if you want to get started on your own statement, check out 6med’s Personal Statement Bundle for all the support and resources you’ll ever need! If you want full support on every part of your application and a guaranteed place at med school, the Complete Bundle will be perfect for you.  

More Medicine Personal Statement Examples & Inspiration

Reapplying to Medicine – Anton’s Personal Statements

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Jonathan (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Millie (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Duranka (Oxford)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – James (UCL)

Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement – Samah (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Ali Abdaal (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Elizabeth)

Medical Biosciences Personal Statement Example – Imperial College London

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Warwick (Laura)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Plymouth (Abdullah)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – King’s College London (Azzra)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Brighton and Sussex

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff University (Faris)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Lucy)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Sunderland (Ikrah)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Annie)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Bristol (Faraz)

Are you feeling stuck with your Personal Statement?

Matthew Amalfitano-Stroud

unlock infinite medical wisdom

Just leave your email in the box and you’ll receive weekly updates and the best tips for your medical application!

Application Support

• Personal Statement
• Crash Courses
• 1-1 Tutoring

Free Resources

• Personal Statement Free Resources
• Medicine Application Guides

Other Stuff

• UCAT.Ninja™
• Exams.Ninja
• School Support
• Tutor With Us
• Help Centre

Lost with your application?

A friendly medic is just a phone call away! Get some helpful advice and get on track with your application.

• 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 Guide

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

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

Postgraduate medicine personal statement example.

Quite simply it is my curious nature which has always underpinned my desire to study medicine; the sheer complexity of both the human body and its healing processes have always fascinated me and, during my time in 6th form and subsequently while studying for my BSc. in Acupuncture, my thirst for "medical understanding" has only grown.

In my home life I have also a great deal of interaction with a PMLD child, my foster sister, who has, amongst many other things, a rare form of autism. At school I did my GCSE and my 6th Form work placements in a doctor's surgery and in my local Outpatients department respectively. I also attended an information day run by Cardiff University which gave me the opportunity to shadow doctors and talk to current medical students.

Since leaving school I have worked as a health care assistant for my local NHS trust, both full time during holiday periods and on a casual basis whilst studying, amassing a total well in excess of 2000 hours.

I have worked within a wide variety of primary care settings including general medicine and surgery, theatre, A&E and psychiatry. Each clinical discipline has brought new challenges, allowing me to form working relationships with a large number of healthcare professionals and their patients.

I have particularly enjoyed my time working in the department of "Psychiatry for the Older Person"; a rewarding environment that required me to call upon all my previous nursing expertise as well as skills as varied as playing dominos and curling patients hair in an attempt to create an atmosphere more pleasurable and conducive to recovery, particularly important to these vulnerable patients who can frequently feel quite isolated whilst in hospital.

While studying acupuncture at Lincoln I found the pathophysiology and differential diagnosis modules the most interesting; they provided me with not only theoretical knowledge but also the ability to apply my learning within a clinical context.

Throughout my time at university I accumulated over 450 hours of direct patient contact, working in a complementary medicine clinic. One of the most rewarding patients I worked with was receiving acupuncture to aid rehabilitation following a stroke.

I spent a great deal of time researching how a stroke can affect the body in both the immediate and long term, allowing me to devise an appropriate treatment regime. It was very useful in this instance to be able to draw upon my nursing background for information and I have really enjoyed the opportunities I have been given to improve my rapport with patients.

For my dissertation I wrote a research article on the use of a specific acupuncture point to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and have been fortunate enough to have this published in the September 2009 journal of the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Between July and September this year, I went backpacking around Latin America, relying largely on my spoken Spanish. In the past I have travelled with friends, but this time I went alone as a personal challenge. Whilst overseas I spent a large proportion of my time volunteering in a children's care centre in Honduras, where my work varied from bathing and feeding the children to advising parents on hygiene and nutrition.

I also helped create a safe play environment, designing simple games and painting a mural to decorate the centre's walls. I am also a keen scuba diver and took the time to explore the Honduran coastline; a truly exhilarating experience. The trip was challenging both physically and mentally and I really had to have never ending self belief, discipline and motivation to complete my goals.

I have a strong work ethic, an enquiring mind and, after four years of working for the NHS, a realistic view of what it means to work as a doctor. I am highly motivated to study medicine and I am looking forward to the prospect of returning to university to achieve my long held goal of becoming a doctor.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by peachface for application in 2010.

peachface's university choices The University of Birmingham University of Newcastle Upon Tyne University of Leicester The University of Warwick

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Finally a good one.

Tue, 20/09/2011 - 14:24

I was just reviewing all the personal statements on the website and so far they looked so bad I was going to give up. However your one is truly good although I can see the rough edges. You FINALLY talked and explored your feelings and understanding of the different situations you were placed in showing great intellect in the process. However like you said about 1/4 or 1/5 of the statement is waffle as it's just listing. Still, had you applied with such a statement (fixed) at undergraduate you would have SURELY got an interview as long as you had the grades. I hope that you got in

This was written a while ago

Mon, 24/09/2012 - 16:41

How did you do? Did you get into any or get any interviews with this?

Thu, 25/07/2013 - 17:52

I loved your article post. Much obliged.

Add new comment

Health insurance giant Kaiser will notify millions of a data breach after sharing patients’ data with advertisers

U.S. health conglomerate Kaiser is notifying millions of current and former members of a data breach after confirming it shared patients’ information with third-party advertisers, including Google, Microsoft and X (formerly Twitter).

In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Kaiser said that it conducted an investigation that found “ certain online technologies, previously installed on its websites and mobile applications, may have transmitted personal information to third-party vendors.”

Kaiser said that the data shared with advertisers includes member names and IP addresses, as well as information that could indicate if members were signed into a Kaiser Permanente account or service and how members “interacted with and navigated through the website and mobile applications, and search terms used in the health encyclopedia.”

Kaiser said it subsequently removed the tracking code from its websites and mobile apps.

Kaiser is the latest healthcare organization to confirm it shared patients’ personal information with third-party advertisers by way of online tracking code , often embedded in web pages and mobile apps and designed to collect information about users’ online activity for analytics. Over the past year, telehealth startups Cerebral , Monument and Tempest have pulled tracking code from their apps that shared patients’ personal and health information with advertisers.

Kaiser spokesperson Diana Yee said that the organization would begin notifying 13.4 million affected current and former members and patients who accessed its websites and mobile apps. The notifications will start in May in all markets where Kaiser Permanente operates, the spokesperson said.

The health giant also filed a legally required notice with the U.S. government on April 12 but made public on Thursday confirming that 13.4 million residents had information exposed.

U.S. organizations covered under the health privacy law known as HIPAA are required to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of data breaches involving protected health information, such as medical data and patient records. Kaiser also notified California’s attorney general of the data breach, but did not provide any further details.

The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan is the parent organization of several entities that make up Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest healthcare organizations in the United States. The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan provides health insurance plans to employers and reported 12.5 million members as of the end of 2023.

The breach at Kaiser is listed on the Department of Health and Human Services’ website as the largest confirmed health-related data breach of 2024 so far.

To contact this reporter, get in touch on Signal and WhatsApp at +1 646-755-8849, or by email . You can also send files and documents via  SecureDrop .

• Current Students
• News & Press
• Research Excellence
• Teaching & Student Experience
• Graduate Employability
• UK Rankings
• World Rankings
• Single Topic Rankings
• Research Excellence Framework
• Higher Education Awards
• Ageing and Health
• Cities and Place
• Culture and Creative Arts
• Social Justice
• Discover Festival
• Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Central and South Asia
• Latin America
• Middle East and North Africa
• North America
• Small Island Developing States
• South East Asia and Oceania
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Transparency
• Office for Students Transparency Data
• Access & Participation
• Support for our Community
• UN Sustainable Development Goals
• https://www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/equality/race-equality/black-history-month/
• Faith, Religion & Belief
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
• Let Us Know
• Workplace Adjustments
• Useful Resources
• Equality Analysis
• Social Justice Stories
• Voluntary & Community Groups
• Santander Universities
• Regional Partnerships
• Widening Participation
• Newcastle Helix
• Art on Campus
• History of Newcastle University
• Find a Degree
• Subject Areas
• Step-by-Step Guide for UK Students
• Step-by-Step Guide for International & EU Students
• Applying through UCAS
• A and AS Levels
• Application Decisions
• Access Schemes & Pathway Programmes
• Policies & Procedures
• Applicants with Disabilities
• Mature Applicants
• Deferred Entry
• Undergraduate Application Advice
• Subject Scholarships
• Sports Scholarships
• Opportunity Scholarships
• VC's Excellence Scholarships
• VC's Global Scholarships
• VC's International Scholarships
• International Foundation Scholarships
• St Nicholas’ Educational Trust Scholarship
• NU Sanctuary Scholarships
• Undergraduate Norway Scholarship
• International Family Discounts
• VC’s EU Scholarships – Undergraduate
• VC's Excellence Scholarships - Europe
• VC's Business Excellence Scholarships - Europe
• Cowrie Foundation Scholarship
• Edward Long Scholarship
• Alumni Discount
• Different Tuition Fees
• Additional Costs
• Student Loans
• International Student Finance
• Sign up & Discover
• School and College Outreach
• Information for Parents and Supporters
• Why Choose Newcastle?
• Your Study Options
• Qualifications Explained
• Postgraduate Research Programmes
• Search for Funding
• Guide to Funding
• Postgraduate Tuition Fees
• Application Help
• Advice & Resources
• Your Offer Guide
• Postgraduate Open Days
• Postgraduate Virtual Open Day
• Doctoral College
• Distance Learning
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Study Support
• Campus Tours
• Life in Newcastle
• Get Involved
• Cost of Living
• Health & Wellbeing
• Mature Students
• Childcare Support
• Care Leavers
• Asylum Seekers
• Teaching & Learning
• Student Blog - Belong
• Types of Rooms
• Accessibility and Individual Requirements
• Castle Leazes
• Bedrooms we offer
• Accommodation Guides
• New Student Guarantee
• Advanced Booking
• Submit an Application
• Part Year Student Accommodation
• What Happens Next?
• Safety and Security
• Returning Next Year
• Extending Your Stay
• Room Changes
• Parking & Bicycle Storage
• Post and Parcels
• Guest Visitors and Going Away
• Energy & Recycling
• ResLife Find a Flatmate
• Your ResLife Team
• Student Support
• Payment Methods
• Payment Schedules
• Managed Partnerships
• Rent Adjustments
• Student Village Receptions
• Your Accommodation Team
• Report a Fault
• Feedback and Complaints
• Internet Connection
• Work Placements
• About the Careers Service
• Careers Service News
• Careers Service Events
• Work for Yourself
• Career Planning
• Careers Modules
• Making Applications
• Interviews, Tests & Assessment Centres
• Internships, Placements & Shadowing
• Finding Jobs
• Handling Job Offers
• Researching Employers
• Making Contacts
• Further Study
• Awards, Competitions & Project Funding
• Volunteering
• Boost Your CV
• Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
• Getting Here
• Self-Guided Campus Tours
• Undergraduate Offer Holder Days
• Postgraduate Schools & Supervisors
• Undergraduate Open Days
• Tier 4 Visa from Inside UK
• Tier 4 Visa from Outside UK
• Short-Term Visa from Outside UK
• International Study Blog
• Our Pathway Courses
• English Language Courses
• Fees, Costs and Scholarships
• INTO Newcastle University
• Student Exchange and Study Abroad
• Request a Prospectus
• Chat to a Student
• Your Academic Experience
• Research Impact
• Research Strengths
• Centres of Research Excellence
• Research Culture Action Plan
• Working Together on Research Culture
• Policy Notes
• Global Partnerships
• Let's Work Together
• Sustainable Water
• Food Security
• Sustainable Livelihoods
• Global Impact
• Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• Code of Good Practice in Research
• University Research Committee
• Animal Research Policy
• Declaration on Openness on Animal Research
• Animal Procedures
• Helping Human Health
• Animal Research News
• Ethics at Newcastle
• Research Data and Open Access
• Research Strategy & Development
• Policy and Information Team
• Grants & Contracts (HaSS and SAgE)
• NJRO (inc Grants & Contracts FMS)
• Research Funding Development
• Biomedical Facilities
• Chemistry Facilities
• Clinical Facilities
• Engineering Facilities
• Marine & Agricultural Facilities
• More Facilities
• Facilities A to Z
• Research Funding
• Research News
• Case Studies
• CPD Courses
• Collaborative Research
• Company Creation
• Consultancy
• Corporate Partnerships
• DA Power Engineering
• DA MSc Digital Technology Solutions
• DA Executive Education Snr. Leader Apprenticeships
• Facilities and Equipment
• Intensive Industrial Innovation Programme
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
• Technology Transfer and Licensing
• Clinical Trials & Research
• Working with Newcastle
• Tender Opportunities
• Submitting an Invoice
• Sustainable Procurement
• Code of Conduct & Policies
• Meet the Team
• Health & Social Challenges
• Creative Collaborations
• Connect with alumni
• Develop your career
• Discover lifelong learning opportunities
• Support future generations

Application help

Find support and guidance to help you navigate through the postgraduate application process.

• Newcastle University
• Postgraduate
• Applications and Offers

Application guide

There are a few variations in postgraduate taught (PGT) and postgraduate research (PGR) course applications. We've illustrated these differences in the advice below.

If you're unsure if your course is PGT or PGR, you can read our 'Qualifications Explained' page

You'll have shared some of the details when you registered, but there are a few extras that you will need to provide:

• nationality
• country of permanent residence
• ethnic origin

You can also enter some further information if necessary, such as:

• previous family name
• known as (preferred name)
• agent details
• mobile phone number
• student number (if you are a previous or current student)

You can use the 'Create Enquiry' option to change any incorrect details after submission.

Within the application, you'll need to find the course you are applying for using the course search criteria .

You can find the course by entering a keyword or the course name, as well as the type of study, mode of study and year of entry. 

The search results will appear below the search function. Click 'select' next to the programme you want to apply to. This will add it to your application.

If English is your first language, select 'yes' and move onto the next step.

If English is not your first language, you'll need to select:

• your native language
• whether your first degree was in English
• how long you have studied English for

You may also need to submit an English Language Qualification. It is a University requirement that English ability is checked at admission. An adequate level of English is needed to succeed on your chosen programme of study. It is also needed for International students to meet the UKVI’s Tier 4 Student Visa requirements. English Language ability is usually shown via an IELTS, TOEFL IBT, Pearson PTE score or equivalent.

Find out more about our English Language Requirements website

In this section, you should enter your previous qualifications and any work experience you have that could be relevant to your course. Please enter all of your previous university qualifications.

You'll need to provide details of:

• name of university attended
• level of study
• programme name
• dates of study
• marking/grading scheme
• result achieved (or expected)

For example: Newcastle University, BSc (Hons), Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry, September 2011-May 2014, 2:1, 14th July 2014 If you are unsure whether your work or qualifications are relevant, you can contact a member of staff for more information. You can do this by using the enquiry function in the application portal you applied through. 

You'll need to let us know how you intend to fund your course at this stage. You may not know exactly at this stage how you'll fund your studies but you should select one of the following:

• full sponsorship/scholarship
• fully self-financed
• partial sponsorship/scholarship

You should also let us know if you have any relevant criminal convictions.

Applying with a disability

You can also use this section to let us know if you have a disability. We welcome applications from students with a disability. We are committed to providing an accessible environment, with a range of support for students with additional requirements.

If you state on your application that you have a disability, we can arrange for you to talk to our Student Wellbeing Service and/or arrange a visit.

This visit will allow you to:

• talk to the team
• discuss your support requirements
• assess the suitability of facilities offered
• ask any questions

We can provide course-related information and application advice in alternative formats:

For PGT courses, and some PGR courses, you'll provide a personal statement. It's your chance to share your motivation and enthusiasm for your chosen course. Use this section to show your suitability for postgraduate study.

Your statement should include examples of relevant work, voluntary or study experiences. You should incorporate skills such as:

• time management
• project management
• communication
• problem-solving

You should also cover your successes and achievements relevant to the course. This is to show your aptitude for postgraduate study. Outline why you have:

• chosen the course
• chosen Newcastle University
• how you will apply your current skills, knowledge and experience

You may also consider showing how the course fits into your career plans and ambitions.

Read our personal statement guide by our award-winning Careers Service for more detail

• Saving your application regularly is important, especially when writing longer sections such as your personal statement.
• Be sure to have someone else proofread your personal statement before submitting it.

You'll need to include contact details for two referees. At least one of your referees should be able to comment on your academic ability. 

We'll contact your referees to request references. This is usually at the same time as sending the conditional offer.   If you already have a reference from your referee(s) you can attach it in the application portal you applied through.  The reference must be signed by your referee, dated and on official letterhead.  Where you have attached the reference we may also contact your referees for their confirmation .

You should contact your referees before adding their details. This allows them time to prepare.

Check the 'How to Apply' tab on your course page to see what documents to include. The main documents the University requires for postgraduate programmes are:

• a transcript of your degree studies. This is an academic record of the subjects you’ve studied and the grades/marks achieved. If you are still studying you should provide a current transcript of your degree studies to date.
• certificates to confirm your degree or highest qualification, if your degree is complete
• evidence of your English language ability
• a copy of your passport
• a curriculum vitae
• a research proposal for research programmes, if your course requires one
• a Personal Statement
• a receipt of your application fee, if your course requires one
• a portfolio. This is only for some of our creative courses. Check the 'How to Apply' tab on the course page to find out if you need to include one.
• any transcripts of marks or certified documents should be translated into English

We do not need you to send:

• any pre-university qualification documentation
• any non-academic certificates of achievement

What happens next?

We aim to respond to your application within 30 working days. For some courses, or during busy times, this may take longer.

If we need further information to help us make a decision, we will email you. You can track the progress of your application by logging in to the application portal you applied through.

Technical guide

If you have any technical issues with your application, please refer to our technical guide for additional support.

You can find our technical guide here

Postgraduate Admissions Service

Our Postgraduate Admissions Service process all Newcastle University's postgraduate applications. 

Once you apply for your course, we'll email the address you give on your application form if we need to contact you. To make sure you receive our emails you can whitelist our e-mail address.

If you've got a question about your application, send us an enquiry via the application portal you applied through.

If you haven't applied yet, you can send your questions with our  enquiry form .

If you're in Newcastle and would like to speak to us in person, you can visit us at our drop-in sessions. Come to the Student Services Helpdesk between the following times:

• Tuesday: 10am - 12pm
• Thursday: 2pm - 4pm 

Student Services Helpdesk Level 2 King's Gate Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU

Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 5503

Find us on a map

Take a virtual tour of King's Gate

Admissions policies

We have several policies to communicate how we make admissions decisions.

This policy clearly outlines how we make decisions on applicants to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 

Download our  Admissions Policy  (PDF:214KB)

We work hard to be fair and process every application within a reasonable timescale. But, if you're unhappy with the way we've handled your application please get in touch. We try to resolve issues fast and informally.

This policy explains how and when you can make a complaint or appeal against a decision.

Admissions, complaints and appeals procedure (PDF: 268KB)

If you have a criminal conviction you might worry about it stopping you from studying with us. This policy explains which convictions we need to consider and the process we go through.

Download our  Criminal Convictions Policy  (PDF:222KB)

We welcome applications from people of any age. If you're under 18 then we have a special duty of care as in the UK you're still classed as a child. This policy sets out how we prepare for the admission of someone under 18.

Download our  Under 18s Policy  (PDF:268KB)

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification.  Find out more.

Usually your deposit is non-refundable and we'll deduct it from your tuition fees. But, there are some instances when we'll refund your deposit. Our Deposit Refund Policy sets out the circumstance and deadlines by which you can ask for your money back. 

Find out more about the  Deposit Refund Policy  (PDF: 119KB)

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

[email protected]

+44 (0)20 8834 4579

How Your Personal Statement Will Be Used At Your Medicine Interview

Find out which Med Schools will ask you about your Personal Statement at interview – and get some tips to make sure you know how to answer these questions.

During your Medicine interview , it’s possible that you will be asked to talk about aspects of your Personal Statement . Here’s a guide to which Med Schools are likely to do this, plus some guidance to help you with your answers.

Why Will I Be Asked About My Personal Statement?

Your Personal Statement should provide a clear explanation as to why you want to study Medicine, why you would be suited to the course/the career, and what you have done to expand your knowledge and your experience. These are things that interviewers should want to know about during your interview – so they might use what’s already in your Personal Statement as a starting point to quiz you on your motivation for Medicine , your work experience , and your extracurricular activities . 

Even if the Med School doesn’t say anything specific on their website or in your interview invite about using Personal Statements at interview, it’s still a good idea to re-familiarise yourself with the content of your Personal Statement in order to prepare. 

Turn Interviews into Offers

Get the most popular interview prep, trusted by 1000s every year

Which Med Schools Will Ask About My Personal Statement?

We’ve had a look at what all of the Med Schools are saying about interviews on their websites, so here’s a guide to the ones that mention using Personal Statements at interview…

• Aberdeen University says that your Personal Statement will be assessed during your interview.
• Anglia Ruskin University advises that you should be prepared to discuss or use aspects of your Personal Statement at your MMI . 
• Barts (Queen Mary University of London) states that interview panelists will use your Personal Statement to ask questions about your work experience.
• Exeter University suggests that you keep a copy of your Personal Statement, because it will likely be referred to at interview. 
• Glasgow University recommends that you revisit your Personal Statement to prepare for interview, because the interviewers will have no knowledge about you other than your name.
• Imperial College London says that you could face questions about your Personal Statement at interview, and that you should use your Personal Statement to highlight the skills you have that make you suited to the course.
• Keele University mentions that you can expect to be asked at some length about your hobbies and interests, and that an obvious starting point for these questions will be areas mentioned in your Personal Statement. 
• Kent and Medway Medical School suggests that you could be asked about your Personal Statement at one of the MMI stations.
• Lancaster University advises that interviewers will want to explore your understanding of your chosen career through discussion of your Personal Statement and your work/voluntary experience.
• Liverpool University mentions that information relevant to your Personal Statement is likely to be considered as part of the interview process. 
• Queen’s University Belfast states that your Personal Statement will be considered as part of the MMI process. 
• Southampton University uses Personal Statements at their Selection Days.
• Sunderland University says that you will have an opportunity to discuss your Personal Statement at your MMI.

Save 20% on Interview Prep

Combine Doctor-delivered strategy with MMI Circuits & more

How Should I Answer Questions About My Personal Statement?

Before the interview, look over your Personal Statement to refresh your memory of the information – but don’t just learn it off by heart. If the interviewers have seen your Personal Statement in advance, or have it in front of them, they will know if you’re regurgitating it instead of speaking more spontaneously. 

If you’re asked about aspects of your Personal Statement at interview, use the opportunity to expand on any points you want to say more about. For example, you could reflect on lessons learned from your work experience in more depth, or give further details about your hobbies and how these skills could be relevant to a career in Medicine. 

You can also use this opportunity to tell the interviewers about anything you’ve done since submitting your Personal Statement (e.g. if you’ve recently started a new work experience or volunteering placement), because obviously they won’t know about this already and it could strengthen your application.

Even if you aren’t asked about your Personal Statement by the interviewers directly, you can use information from your Personal Statement to discuss yourself and your experience in a clear, structured way.

Popular Interview Prep

Explore all of our Doctor-created interview prep in one place.

Interview Course

Stand out with our one-day Medical School Interview Course - delivered by Doctors. Get proven strategies and a real mock interview.

MMI Circuits

The most popular way to prepare! Our Doctor-created MMI Prep Course is trusted by thousands of students every year.

Medicine Interview Tutoring

Turn Medical School interviews into offers. Get Doctor-designed strategies, delivered by top Medical School Interview Tutors.

PREVIOUS ARTICLE

Update: UCAS Application Stats For 2022 Entry Medicine

NEXT ARTICLE

7 Tips To Prepare For Online Interviews

Loading More Content