Zayed University - sticky logo

Educational Effectiveness

University calendars, university catalogs.

aboutZU menu image

Institutes and Centers

  accessibility services, college of graduate studies.

college menu image

  • Programs Undergraduate Programs Admission Requirements Admission Deadlines How to Apply FAQs
  • Registration e-Requests Accreditation Educational Effectiveness
  • EmSAT Requirements International Students Key Contacts Scholarship Application

Admissions menu image

  • Introduction Vision and Mission Student Affairs Calendar Student Leadership Department
  • Financial Aid Student Careers Student Counseling Center Academic Integrity Zayed University Student Handbook

student affairs menu image

Research Tools

In the library.

library menu image

ZU Research

For researchers, for students, publications.

Office of research menu image

  • Alumni Association Careers Advice Discounts
  • Benefits Continuing your Education After Graduation
  • Events Graduates Success Stories
  • Univeristy Catalogs College Brochures ZU Logo ZU Innovation Week 2015 Zayed University Student Handbook Year of Zayed
  • Brand Guidelines News Center Convocation Speeches ZU Innovation Week 2016
  • Video Gallery Image Gallery Partnerships Year of Reading Annual Report
  • e-Participation

Zayed University - Large banner logo

Credential Verification

Welcome to the credential verification portal for Zayed University. Please use this portal to verify all qualified digital credentials issued by the University Registrar.

Select document(s) to verify:

   Submit and verify

Submitting . . .

Back   Export results

Powered by:

zayed university personal statement

Page last updated on : 02/28/2021 . This site is best viewed in 1024x768 screen resolution. | Supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox 40.0+, Safari 7.0+, Google Chrome 40.0+

Copyright © Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. All rights reserved

Confirm Navigation

You are about to exit Zayed University's website. Are you sure you would like to proceed?

Get university advice on The Student Room app

  • Teacher training
  • Bangor University
  • Birmingham City University
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Hull
  • University of Kent
  • University of Reading
  • A-level choices
  • GCSE choices and university
  • Choosing a course
  • Making firm and insurance choices
  • University open days
  • Top questions to ask at a university open day
  • Ucas Extra explained
  • Understanding conditional offers
  • University offers: what they mean and what to do next
  • Getting the most from Ucas university fairs
  • What do I need to get into Oxbridge?
  • What to do if you don’t get an offer from your first choice university
  • What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
  • AS and A-levels explained
  • Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
  • Universities

By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

Share this page

Email & print.

zayed university personal statement

Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

  • Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

  • Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

  • Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

  • What do you want to study?
  • Why do you want to study it?
  • What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
  • What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

  • Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

  • Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
  • What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
  • Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
  • Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
  • Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
  • Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
  • Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

  • Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

  • From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
  • For as long as I can remember, I have…
  • I am applying for this course because… 
  • I have always been interested in… 
  • Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
  • Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
  • [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
  • Academically, I have always been… 
  • I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
  • I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

  • Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

  • Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

  • Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

  • Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

  • Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
  • Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
  • Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
  • For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
  • Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
  • Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
  • Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
  • Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
  • Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
  • Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
  • Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
  • Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
  • Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
  • Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
  • Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
  • Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
  • Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
  • Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
  • Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
  • Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

What to do if you miss the 25 January Ucas deadline and still want to apply to uni

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

Where could your A-levels take you?

Enter your a-level choices below to find out.

  • Enter A-level option 1 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
  • Enter A-level option 2 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
  • Enter A-level option 3 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
  • Enter A-level option 4 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
  • Get results

Related to this article

Search the uni guide, find further advice or search for information on a course or university.

  • Search Advice
  • Search courses &/or universities

The Uni Guide and The Student Room are both part of The Student Room Group.

Promoted universities

  • Durham University
  • Lancaster University
  • University of Glasgow
  • University of the Arts London
  • University of Southampton
  • Aston University, Birmingham
  • Swansea University
  • Ulster University
  • Cardiff University

Browse expert advice

  • Oxbridge applications
  • Ucas application
  • Personal statements
  • Ucas deadline 2024 countdown
  • Clearing and results day
  • Preparing for university
  • Student accommodation
  • Student life
  • Student finance
  • Advice for parents

About this site

  • Cookie policy
  • List of universities and colleges
  • Privacy notice
  • Terms and conditions
  • Where we get our info

Who we work with

  • Your account settings

Ad privacy settings

Popular tools and features

  • A-level Explorer
  • Course search

zayed university personal statement

Connect with us

zayed university personal statement

Testimonials

Free Resources

PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

zayed university personal statement

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

Quick side note: we've created the world's leading online GRE prep program that adapts to you and your strengths and weaknesses. Not sure what to study? Confused by how to improve your score? We give you minute by minute guide.

You don't NEED a prep program to get a great GRE score. But we believe PrepScholar is the best GRE prep program available right now , especially if you find it hard to organize your study schedule and don't know what to study .

Click here to learn how you can improve your GRE score by 7 points, guaranteed .

falcon-2339877_640

What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

fence-1670087_640

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

  • An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
  • A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
  • Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

mt-fuji-2232246_640

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

  • The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
  • The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
  • The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

  • I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
  • I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

piano-1655558_640

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

Want to improve your GRE score by 7 points?  We have the industry's leading GRE prep program. Built by world-class instructors with 99th percentile GRE scores , the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through machine learning data science, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible.

Try our 5-day full access trial for free:

  • This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
  • This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
  • In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

fruits-2562540_640

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

acoustic-guitar-336479_640

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

Want to improve your GRE score by 7+ points?

Check out our best-in-class online GRE prep program . We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your GRE score by 7 points or more.

PrepScholar GRE is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses . We also feature 2,000 practice questions , official practice tests, 150 hours of interactive lessons, and 1-on-1 scoring and feedback on your AWA essays.

Check out our 5-day free trial now:

However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

hand-1543062_640

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

  • A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
  • Specific examples to support that narrative.
  • Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
  • Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
  • Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

zayed university personal statement

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

zayed university personal statement

zayed university personal statement

Clearing Universities & Courses

Clearing advice.

Recommended Clearing Universities

Popular Course Categories

Take our quick degree quiz.

Find the ideal uni course for you with our Course Degree Quiz. Get answers in minutes!

Take our full degree quiz

Get more tailored course suggestions with our full Course Degree Quiz and apply with confidence.

Search by Type

Search by region.

Recommended Universities

zayed university personal statement

The University of Law

London (Greater) · 93% Recommended

zayed university personal statement

Heriot-Watt University

Scotland · 97% Recommended

zayed university personal statement

Northeastern University - London

London (Greater) · 100% Recommended

Search Open Days

What's new at Uni Compare

zayed university personal statement

Bangor University

Boost your employability with a Computer Science degree!

zayed university personal statement

dBs Institute

Discover Music, Game, and Tech degrees at a premier UK institution.

Ranking Categories

Regional rankings.

More Rankings

zayed university personal statement

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 131,500+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

zayed university personal statement

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice categories, recommended articles, popular statement examples, statement advice.

zayed university personal statement

What to include in a Personal Statement

zayed university personal statement

Personal Statement Tips

Nail your uni application with our personal statement examples.

Discover personal statements by subject, from A to Z. Find inspiration for your own application with these successful personal statement examples from real students.

A-Z of Personal Statements

Learn from previous student personal statements here. We have collated over 700 personal statement examples to help you on your university journey and to help you with how to write a personal statement.

These personal statement examples will show you the kind of thing that universities are looking for from their applicants. See how to structure your personal statement, what kind of format your personal statement should be in, what to write in a personal statement and the key areas to touch on in your statement.

A personal statement is a chance to tell your university all about you - a good personal statement is one that showcases your passion for the subject, what inspired you to apply for the course you’re applying for and why you think you would be an asset to the university.

Our collection includes personal statement examples in Mathematics, Anthropology, Accounting, Computer Science, Zoology and more.

Writing a personal statement has never been easier with our vast collection of personal statement examples.

Personal Statement

15 Accounting statements have been submitted.

Aerospace Engineering

2 Aerospace Engineering statements have been submitted.

American Studies

1 American Studies statements have been submitted.

Anthropology

2 Anthropology statements have been submitted.

Architecture

4 Architecture statements have been submitted.

Biochemistry

3 Biochemistry statements have been submitted.

26 Biology statements have been submitted.

Biomedical Science

7 Biomedical Science statements have been submitted.

Biotechnology

1 Biotechnology statements have been submitted.

Business Management

6 Business Management statements have been submitted.

Business Studies

23 Business Studies statements have been submitted.

3 Chemistry statements have been submitted.

Civil Engineering

2 Civil Engineering statements have been submitted.

4 Classics statements have been submitted.

Computer Science

14 Computer Science statements have been submitted.

Criminology

5 Criminology statements have been submitted.

2 Dentistry statements have been submitted.

6 Design statements have been submitted.

1 Dietetics statements have been submitted.

3 Drama statements have been submitted.

17 Economics statements have been submitted.

Engineering

9 Engineering statements have been submitted.

English Language

5 English Language statements have been submitted.

English Literature

13 English Literature statements have been submitted.

Environment

1 Environment statements have been submitted.

Event Management

1 Event Management statements have been submitted.

1 Fashion statements have been submitted.

4 Film statements have been submitted.

1 Finance statements have been submitted.

Forensic Science

2 Forensic Science statements have been submitted.

6 Geography statements have been submitted.

1 Geology statements have been submitted.

Health Sciences

1 Health Sciences statements have been submitted.

9 History statements have been submitted.

International Studies

2 International Studies statements have been submitted.

3 Languages statements have been submitted.

50 Law statements have been submitted.

2 Management statements have been submitted.

7 Marketing statements have been submitted.

7 Maths statements have been submitted.

5 Media statements have been submitted.

10 Medicine statements have been submitted.

1 Midwifery statements have been submitted.

10 Nursing statements have been submitted.

Pharmacology

9 Pharmacology statements have been submitted.

3 Pharmacy statements have been submitted.

5 Philosophy statements have been submitted.

Physical Education

1 Physical Education statements have been submitted.

3 Physics statements have been submitted.

Physiotherapy

5 Physiotherapy statements have been submitted.

14 Politics statements have been submitted.

23 Psychology statements have been submitted.

Religious Studies

2 Religious Studies statements have been submitted.

Social Policy

1 Social Policy statements have been submitted.

Social Work

3 Social Work statements have been submitted.

6 Sociology statements have been submitted.

Sports Science

1 Sports Science statements have been submitted.

Teacher Training

8 Teacher Training statements have been submitted.

2 Veterinary statements have been submitted.

1 Zoology statements have been submitted.

Want to learn more about a university?

Get your questions answered by sending them an enquiry now.

Personal Statement Help

What is a personal statement.

A personal statement is an essay written by a student applying to either a college or university. A personal statement is written and then uploaded to UCAS and is then attached to any university applications that the student may then make.

If you need more information check out our personal statement advice articles .

How to write a personal statement

There isn't a clearly defined personal statement template for you to use as each person's statement is different.

When it comes to writing a personal statement for universities, your personal statement should touch on your passions, your interest in the course, why you're applying for the course and why you would be an asset to the university you're applying to.

Talk about the clubs and societies that you belong to, any work experience you may have and any awards you might have won.

If you're still looking for information check out our article on how to write a personal statement .

How to start a personal statement

When it comes to starting your personal statement, the best thing to do is to be succinct and to have enough tantalising information to keep the reader informed and eager for more.

Your introduction should touch on your personal qualities and why you are applying for the subject you're applying for. Keeping things short and sweet means that it also allows you to break your personal statement up, which makes it easier for the reader.

We have plenty of advice for students that are wondering about what to include in a personal statement .

undergraduate Universities

Undergraduate uni's.

Photo of The University of Law

126 courses

Photo of Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt Uni

337 courses

Photo of Northeastern University - London

Northeastern Uni

Photo of University of Chester

Uni of Chester

630 courses

Photo of SOAS, University of London

467 courses

Photo of University of East London

Uni of East London

570 courses

Photo of University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD)

893 courses

Photo of University of Sunderland

Uni of Sunderland

332 courses

Photo of University of Westminster

Uni of Westminster

515 courses

Photo of University of Roehampton

Uni of Roehampton

468 courses

Photo of Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Met Uni

500 courses

Photo of West London Institute of Technology

West London IoT

Photo of University of Bradford

Uni of Bradford

393 courses

Photo of University of Winchester

Uni of Winchester

258 courses

Photo of Ravensbourne University London

Ravensbourne

103 courses

Photo of University of Kent

Uni of Kent

588 courses

Photo of University Academy 92, UA92

Staffordshire Uni

478 courses

Photo of University of Leicester

Uni of Leicester

436 courses

Photo of University of Surrey

Uni of Surrey

740 courses

Photo of Middlesex University

Middlesex Uni

670 courses

Photo of Swansea University

Swansea Uni

1360 courses

Photo of New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, NMITE

Uni for Creative Arts

610 courses

Photo of Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett Uni

459 courses

Photo of Coventry University

Coventry Uni

780 courses

Photo of LIBF

Goldsmiths, UOL

342 courses

Photo of University of Hertfordshire

Uni of Hertfordshire

598 courses

Photo of Queen's University, Belfast

Queen's Uni

634 courses

Photo of Escape Studios

Escape Studios

Photo of University of Bedfordshire

Uni of Bedfordshire

651 courses

Photo of Leeds Arts University

Leeds Arts University

Photo of University of Suffolk

Uni of Suffolk

222 courses

Photo of University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol

UWE, Bristol

495 courses

Photo of Wrexham University

Wrexham Uni

294 courses

Photo of Bath Spa University

Bath Spa Uni

512 courses

Photo of University of Huddersfield

Uni of Huddersfield

784 courses

Photo of Bangor University

826 courses

Photo of University of Reading

Uni of Reading

692 courses

Photo of University of South Wales

709 courses

Photo of University of Hull

Uni of Hull

Photo of University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Highlands & Islands

451 courses

Photo of Kingston University

Kingston Uni

619 courses

Photo of University of Essex

Uni of Essex

1397 courses

Photo of University of Portsmouth

Uni of Portsmouth

779 courses

Photo of Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin Uni

876 courses

Photo of University of Central Lancashire

Uni of C.Lancashire

795 courses

Photo of University of Brighton

Uni of Brighton

521 courses

Photo of Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent

930 courses

Photo of ARU Writtle

ARU Writtle

Photo of Edge Hill University

Edge Hill Uni

400 courses

Find the latest from Uni Compare

Image of Bangor University

University of Law

Ranked Top 20 amongst English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey!

Image of Northeastern Uni London

Northeastern Uni London

Want to earn two globally recognised degrees simultaneously? Look no further!

zayed university personal statement

"Zayed University shall become the leading university in the region, embodying the same rigorous standards and intellectual elements found in major universities throughout the world."

 

Zayed University seeks to prepare Emirati students for a meaningful and successful twenty-first century personal and professional life; to graduate students who will help shape the future of the U.A.E.; to support the economic and social advancement of the U.A.E.; to lead innovation in higher education in the U.A.E. through teaching, learning, research, and outreach; and to do so in a culturally diverse, humane, technologically advanced, and increasingly global environment.

To achieve this mission, the University will identify and build on its strengths; continue to strengthen its undergraduate programs; establish a role in serving the country's needs for graduate education; develop a research program that supports the social, economic, technological, and strategic needs of the country; forge innovative and mutually productive relationships with business, industry, civic organizations, other educational institutions, and government; manage resources efficiently; and establish a clear identity as an outstanding and innovative institution.

Zayed University was established in 1998 by the federal government of the United Arab Emirates to educate U.A.E. national women. It is named after the founding president of the U.A.E.: President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan. It has two main campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as satellite locations in Dubai, and is led by a single administration, offering similar programs on both campuses to approximately three thousand five hundred U.A.E. national women.

In 2008, Zayed University opened its Sweihan campus..  The Sweihan Campus is a collaboration between Zayed University and the U.A.E. Armed Forces to establish a baccalaureate academic program for Armed Forces cadets.

In February 2008, approximately two hundred male students were admitted to the Sweihan campus.  The plans are for the program's intake to grow by an additional fifty students per year, so that in the second year two hundred and fifty students will be enrolled. Although the initial years will be for military students only, once the University moves to its permanent Abu Dhabi campus,  it may be open to civilians of either gender, and to other nationalities.

Students admitted to the Sweihan campus will follow the same academic model as their counterparts at the University's main campuses.  The startup program is expected to be the Academic Bridge Program, along with a developmental math component. Long-term goals are to offer baccalaureate programs in IT, Education, Communication and Media Sciences, Business Administration and Health Sciences.

Over 650 faculty and staff members, both male and female, representing over thirty five nationalities contribute to the success of Zayed University and its students.

Zayed University is based on an international model of higher education. It is organized academically into six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business Sciences, Communication and Media Sciences, Education, Information Technology, and University College. The primary language of instruction is English. The University expects its graduates to be fully bilingual in English and Arabic, proficient in the use of computing technology, and strong in quantitative and research skills. It expects them to achieve significant intellectual and social development. It also expects its graduates to be well-prepared professionals ready to become leaders in government, business, civil society, and family life.

zayed university personal statement

zayed university personal statement

Copyright © Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. All rights reserved.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

University of the Arts Students: Visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page  for information and resources.

Zayed University

  • CEO: Dr. Michael Allen, Acting Vice President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Andrew Marrington
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Sean McKitrick, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification -->: Not classified
  • Control: Public
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Non-Compliance Show Cause
  • Candidacy Granted: 2004
  • Accreditation Granted: June 26, 2008
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2013
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2022-2023

Public Disclosure Statement Noncompliance Letter

Notification of Non-Compliance Action Institutional Statement

Contact Information

Khalifa City Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

(971) 440-2111

www.zu.ac.ae

  • Accreditation Actions
  • Alternative Delivery Methods
  • Credential Levels
  • External Resources
  • March 14, 2024 To note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on January 17-18, 2024. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation.
  • February 23, 2024 To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include alternative delivery method-distance education within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when the change is implemented by email to [email protected] . To require written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. To note the Commission does not offer retroactive approval for substantive changes. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation.
  • November 16, 2023 To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the institution missed the deadline for submission of the self-study report and evidence. To remind the institution of its obligation to submit accreditation materials within established deadlines and in accordance with Commission policy and procedures. To note the on-site evaluation visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on June 5-9, 2023. To note the following additional location was visited: P.O. Box 19282 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. To require the institution to show cause, by March 1, 2024, to demonstrate why its accreditation should not be withdrawn because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard II (Ethics and Integrity); Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration); and former Requirements of Affiliation 6, 12, 13, and 14. To note that the institution remains accredited while on show cause. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance, which starts on November 16, 2023. To require a show cause report, due March 1, 2024, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with the Commission's standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements. The show cause report must include evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standard II (Ethics and Integrity); Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration); and former Requirements of Affiliation 6, 12, 13, and 14, including but not limited to (1) compliance with all applicable federal, state and Commission policies and regulations (Standard II and former Requirement of Affiliation 6); (2) public disclosure of required information for students and the public (Standard II and former Requirement of Affiliation 6); (3) substantive changes affecting institutional mission, goals, programs, operations, sites, and other material issues which must be disclosed in a timely and accurate fashion (Standard II and former Requirement of Affiliation 6); (4) a commitment to academic freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and respect for intellectual property rights (Standard II and former Requirement of Affiliation 6); (5) a grievance policy that is documented and disseminated to address complaints or grievances raised by students, faculty or staff (Standard II and former Requirement of Affiliation 6); (6) a clearly articulated and transparent governance structure that allows the institution to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that benefits the institution, its students, and the constituencies it serves and outlines roles, responsibilities, and accountability for inclusive decision making by each constituency, including the institution's legally constituted governing body, administration, faculty, staff, and students, as well as any related entities (Standard VII and former Requirements of Affiliation 12, 13, and 14); (7) a legally constituted governing body that serves the public interest, ensures that the institution clearly states and fulfills its mission and goals, has fiduciary responsibility for the institution, and is ultimately accountable for the academic quality, integrity, planning, and fiscal wellbeing of the institution (Standard VII and former Requirements of Affiliation 12, 13, and 14); (8) a governing board that has sufficient independence and expertise to ensure the integrity of the institution and whose members have primary responsibility to the accredited institution and that does not allow political, financial, or other influences to interfere with their governing responsibilities (Standard VII); (9) the Chief Executive Officer does not serve as chairperson of the board (Standard VII); and (10) an organizational structure that is clearly documented and that clearly defines reporting relationships with skills, time, assistance, technology, and information systems expertise required to perform their duties (Standard VII) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To further request that the show cause report demonstrate further evidence of (1) student learning experiences that are designed, delivered, and assessed by appropriately credentialed professionals, sufficient in number, with a core of faculty and/or other appropriate professionals with sufficient responsibility to the institution to assure the continuity and coherence of the institution's educational programs (Standard III); (2) adequate and appropriate institutional review and approval on any student learning opportunities designed, delivered, or assessed by third-party providers, including general education (Standard III); (3) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement of institutional and degree/program goals and that document the use of assessment results to improve educational effectiveness (Standard V); (4) clearly-defined decision-making processes, with clear assignment of responsibility and accountability (Standard VI); and (5) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate institutional effectiveness, including the assessment of non-academic units (Standard VI). To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by March 1, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to another institution, if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation. To note the Commission may reject the teach-out plan and require resubmission if all of the required information is not provided. To direct an on-site show cause visit following submission of the report and the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. The purpose of the on-site show cause visit is to verify the information provided in the show cause report and the institution's ongoing and sustainable compliance with the Commission's standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. To note that the institution will be invited to appear before the Commission when it meets to consider the institution's show cause report. To require the institution to submit a substantive change request for the initiation of a new method of delivery (distance education) that is not currently included within the institution's scope of accreditation, due by January 1, 2024 (Standard II and Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). To note that Recommendation Responses in conjunction with the AIU are no longer required. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation.
  • October 31, 2023 To reject the supplemental information report required by the Commission action of July 12, 2023, because the report provided limited responses to requested information and did not present evidence and analysis in a manner conducive to Commission review. To request resubmission of the supplemental information report by November 30, 2023. Upon reaffirmation of accreditation, the next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
  • July 12, 2023 Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due August 1, 2023, documenting the reasons the institution failed to comply with all applicable Commission policies and regulations, including the timely submission of the required annual institutional update (AIU) due June 14, 2023 (Standard II: Accreditation Actions Policies and Procedures, and Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policies and Procedures). To note that the self-study evaluation visit has occurred and will be acted upon at the November Commission meeting.
  • May 7, 2020 To acknowledge receipt of formal written notice from the institution in response to the Commission's request of March 9, 2020. To temporarily waive Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and allow the use of distance education to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions. Continued use of distance education beyond the period of COVID-19 interruptions will require substantive change approval in accordance with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. The institution is responsible for adhering to all applicable regulations of the country in which the institution and its students are located. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • March 5, 2020 To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted and no further evidence is required at this time. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
  • June 23, 2016 To accept the progress report. The date for the next accreditation review will be determined by the Commission when it revises its accreditation cycle.
  • June 4, 2015 To note that the Single Institution with Multiple Sites (SIMS) designation has been removed. The primary address located at Dubai, P.O. Box 19282, Dubai, United Arab Emirates becomes an additional location and the additional location in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates now becomes the main campus.
  • November 20, 2014 To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To request a progress report, due April 1, 2016, documenting further steps taken to (1) strengthen collegial governance, including the establishment of processes to ensure faculty participation in governance and (2) assess the effectiveness of institutional leadership and governance (Standard 4). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • June 27, 2013 To reaffirm accreditation and to commend the institution for the quality of the self-study report. To request a monitoring report, due September 1, 2014, documenting further steps taken to (1) periodically assess the effectiveness of institutional leadership and governance (Standard 4); (2) assure continuity and stability of institutional administration (Standard 5); (3) document an organized and sustained assessment process with sufficient simplicity, practicality, detail and ownership to be sustainable (Standard 7 & 14); and, (4) strengthen library/learning resources (Standard 11). A small team visit will follow submission of the report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • November 1, 2011 To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the new campus at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, within the scope of the institution’s accreditation, and to re-classify the site at Delma Street and Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as an additional location. To note that site visits have been conducted to both the new campus and the additional location. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2012-2013. To remind the institution of the Commission’s policy on international travel.
  • June 28, 2011 To acknowledge the substantive change request and to include the Master of Arts in Judicial Studies degree within the scope of the institution's accreditation. To remind the institution of the Commission's policy on international travel. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2012-2013.
  • June 28, 2011 To acknowledge the substantive change request and to include the additional location at PO Box 112885, Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. To note that the site visit to the additional location has been conducted. To remind the institution of the Commission's policy on international travel. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2012-2013.
  • Distance Education Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
  • Correspondence Education Not approved for this delivery method

Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope
  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Main Campus Zayed University Khalifa City Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
  • Additional Location Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy P.O. Box 112885 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Opened: 06/28/2011
  • Additional Location Delma Street and Airport Road Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Opened: 11/01/2011
  • Additional Location Dubai P.O. Box 19282 Dubai United Arab Emirates
  • Additional Location Dubai Internet City PO Box 500320 Dubai Internet City Dubai United Arab Emirates

The following are links to sites that are not maintained by the MSCHE. These are provided as additional external resources about each institution that the MSCHE accredits.

  • College Navigator Website
  • College Scorecard Website
  • Student Achievement Website

IMAGES

  1. How to Write a Personal Statement for University

    zayed university personal statement

  2. How to write a REALLY good personal statement for university

    zayed university personal statement

  3. Graduate Student Handbook

    zayed university personal statement

  4. Student Handbook

    zayed university personal statement

  5. Zayed University

    zayed university personal statement

  6. Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

    zayed university personal statement

VIDEO

  1. zayed university Abu Dhabi

  2. 08 Final Call for Graduate Applications, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, UAE

  3. ZAYED UNIVERSITY

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Application for Undergraduate INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

    Personal Statement: Please write a personal statement (250-500 words) outlining your desire to study at Zayed University. This personal statement is your opportunity to show us interest in Zayed University and our degree offerings. You may wish to choose from any of the following topics:

  2. Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

    Proudly bearing the name of the founder of the nation - the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - Zayed University was founded in 1998 to inspire, encourage, educate, and lead a powerful generation of students. 2009 heralds a new milestone for Zayed University as the University welcomes UAE Nationals, UAE residents, and international students to campuses for men and women in Abu Dhabi ...

  3. Zayed University, Dubai Admission, Criteria & Application Deadlines

    In addition to that the university primarily assesses the candidates on the basis of their supporting documents- personal statement and letter of recommendations. It is mandatory for the international students to submit their TOEFL, IELTS scores. ... Zayed university offers over 35 majors, minors and graduate programs to international students ...

  4. Zayed University : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details

    If you're an international student who would like to apply to study at Zayed University, you'll need to provide two letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining your desire to study at the university. Any education certificates earned outside UAE should also be attested by the U.A.E Ministry of Education. Tuition fees

  5. Personal Statement Tips for College and University Applications

    The Free Guide to Writing the Personal Statement. Kick things off with the two greatest brainstorming exercises ever, learn about options for structuring a personal statement + example outlines, check out some amazing example personal statements, and get on your way to writing your own killer personal statement for university applications.

  6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ph.D. Programs

    Bachelor's degree only in Computer Science, with a minimum of 50% Computer Science content, and the required GRE test scores. Ph.D. programs in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Robotics: MBZUAI accepts applicants from all nationalities who have Bachelor's and a Master's degrees in STEM fields such as ...

  7. Vision & Mission

    Vision & Mission. Zayed University is a national and regional leader in educational innovation. Founded in 1998 and proudly bearing the name of the Founder of the Nation - the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this flagship institution has met the President's high expectations. Today, Zayed University has two modern campuses in Dubai ...

  8. Zayed University

    UAE. Campus. Urban. Website. www .zu .ac .ae. Zayed University ( ZU; Arabic: جامعة زايد) is a public university based in the United Arab Emirates. Established in 1998, [2] it is one of the three government-sponsored higher education institutions in the UAE. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

  9. Zayed University in Dubai: culture and conditions for admission and

    Register now at Zayed University in Dubai: Culture and conditions for admission and registration in the Emirates and study your university major for less than 20419 US dollars per year! ... Applicants are asked to submit a personal statement or essay presenting their motivations, interests and aspirations. This is an opportunity for applicants ...

  10. Zayed University

    Welcome to the credential verification portal for Zayed University. Please use this portal to verify all qualified digital credentials issued by the University Registrar. 1. Submit. 2. Verify. 3. Results.

  11. MBZUAI Undergraduate Research Internship Program

    Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a graduate research university dedicated to advancing AI as a global force for humanity. ... Statement of Purpose. In an essay, explain why you would like to participate in the UGRIP at MBZUAI and include the following information: ... Motivation for applying; Personal and ...

  12. How to Write a Personal Statement

    Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me." 3. Stay focused. Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written.

  13. How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

    Use your closing couple of lines to summarise the most important points in your statement. 9. Check your writing thoroughly and get someone else to check it, too. 10. Give your brain a rest by forgetting about your personal statement for a while before going back to review it one last time with fresh eyes.

  14. 3 Successful Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

    Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3. PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 - Public Health. This is my successful personal statement for Columbia's Master's program in Public Health. We'll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I'll highlight a couple of things that ...

  15. PDF ZAYED UNIVERSITY

    10 | Fact Book 2020 - 2021Zayed University Zayed University Fact Book 2020 - 2021 11 Vision Statement Globally recognized as the leading university in the region for excellence in educational innovation, research, and student leadership development that serves the changing needs of the nation in economic, social and cultural advancements

  16. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Machine Learning

    Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a graduate research university dedicated to advancing AI as a global force for humanity. ... Statement of purpose . In a 500- to 10 00-word essay, explain why you ... Motivation for applying to the university; Personal and academic background and how it makes you suitable for ...

  17. 500+ Personal Statement Examples

    A-Z of Personal Statements. Learn from previous student personal statements here. We have collated over 700 personal statement examples to help you on your university journey and to help you with how to write a personal statement.

  18. Personal Statement Format + Examples

    My skin was consistently tan in splotches and ridden with random scratches. My wardrobe consisted mainly of track shorts, Nike shoes, and tournament t-shirts. Gatorade and Fun Dip were my pre-game snacks. The cacophony of rowdy crowds, ref whistles, squeaky shoes, and scoreboard buzzers was a familiar sound.

  19. Zayed University

    Zayed University opened in 1998. It was an Emirati women's university for ten years. In 2008, 200 men started attending the university. The first Abu Dhabi campus was on Delma Street in the city but in 2011, they moved to a new campus in Khalifa B city. The Dubai campus moved to Academic City in 2006.

  20. Colleges/Centers/Institutes

    Zayed University offers globally recognized bachelor degrees in Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, IT and Media. Our graduates are bi-lingual in English and Arabic, globally and culturally aware, prepared for leadership roles, and ready to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

  21. University Mission

    Mission. Zayed University seeks to prepare Emirati students for a meaningful and successful twenty-first century personal and professional life; to graduate students who will help shape the future of the U.A.E.; to support the economic and social advancement of the U.A.E.; to lead innovation in higher education in the U.A.E. through teaching ...

  22. Zayed University

    Contact Information. (971) 440-2111. www.zu.ac.ae. Accreditation Actions. March 14, 2024. To note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on January 17-18, 2023. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. February 23, 2024.

  23. 12 Outstanding Personal Statement Examples + Why They Work 2024

    Example #3 - 12. Example #4 - Flying. Example #5 - Arab Spring in Bahrain. Example #6 - Poop, Animals and the Environment. Example #7 - Entoptic Phenomena. Example #8 - The Builder & Problem Solver. Example #10 - The Little Porch and a Dog (With Spanish Translation) Example #10 - Life As an Undocumented Student.