If you have decided to do a Master’s after your undergraduate degree, there are several different things you need to think about. You might want to consider what type of Master’s you are planning on doing, which city you want to study in and whether you want to study on a part-time or full-time basis.
You will also need to write a personal statement to show your potential universities why you want to study there. This can be a daunting process but fortunately, I have some top tips to help you out!
Talk about your achievements
If you have a good work ethic and have been able to achieve certain goals, you need to showcase this in your personal statement. This could include grades, external projects, voluntary work or paid positions. It’s a good idea if these are related to what you want to study your Master’s in but even if they aren’t directly connected, demonstrating that you have a high level of transferrable skills can also be beneficial. Talking about these achievements could help you stand out against the others who are also applying for the course.
Why do you want to study the subject at this University?
A Master’s is more demanding than an undergraduate which means you will need to be more motivated to put in the extra effort. You might get fewer contact hours and less support over assignment writing, so in your personal statement, you should demonstrate that you have the appropriate work ethic to cope with this.
You may also want to tailor your personal statement specifically towards that University by mentioning the key modules you’re looking forward to studying or why this uni can help with career development.
Summarise your personal interests
People reading your personal statement will also want to get to know you and find out about what you enjoy doing in your spare time. If this relates to what you are hoping to study a Master’s in, that’s really helpful as it adds even more to the reasons why you want to study.
Showing your personality in your personal statement demonstrates your ability to convey a message and adds something different to others who are just following an essay-based formula. There’s nothing wrong with talking about your interests in your master’s personal statement but remember to keep it professional.
Talk about your future goals
The purpose of extending your University journey in the form of a Master’s is to expand your knowledge of a certain sector or field. Universities want to see that somebody undertaking a master’s is driven in their future direction and that they want to use the Master’s studies as a stepping stone towards getting there.
You don’t have to be too specific (such as mentioning an exact company that you’d like to work for), but the clearer you are with your future goals, the better.
If you are applying for a Master’s and need help with the application, it’s best to get specific advice from the University you’re hoping to study at as what they’re looking for in a personal statement may be different to another University. Good luck!
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