Greeting students of the world, in this video I'll be talking about the
Statement of Purpose that you'll need to write for your application to come and
study here in the UK.
Hello again, Jack here from Cardiff Met International to talk about writing your
statement of purpose, or in some cases personal statement. Writing a good
statement of purpose is a key part of making a successful application to a UK
University, so it's important that you understand what it is and how to write
one. I'll be breaking this video down into two sections: what is a statement of
purpose and why do you have to write one followed by what you should include. If
you want to skip ahead at any point just take a look at the timestamp
shortcuts below in the description. So, first of all what is a statement of
purpose? The statement of purpose is a piece of writing that gives you the
opportunity to explain to a University's academic staff why you would be a good
candidate for the course that you are applying for and why they should offer
you a place. It's a chance for you to make a big impact and talk about more
than just your academic background. It's a chance to show your chosen University
why you are suitable to study there. Writing a good statement of purpose is
important as it can be the difference between whether or not you receive an
offer to study in the UK. Universities receive large numbers of applications
everyday so you need to stand out and get their attention. They will need to
see that you are passionate about studying at their specific University as
opposed to just anywhere that will accept your application. It may also be
the only place where you can communicate your non academic achievements so if
there is something outside of your school grades that makes you impressive
this is where you need to shout about it. Before I continue just a quick note on
the difference between a statement of purpose and a personal statement. For the
sake of applying to a UK university they are essentially the same thing. In other
countries a statement of purpose may be more focused on what you are planning to
do, but for your UK university application both the statement of
purpose and personal statement serve the same objective that I've talked you through
in the last section. So, now you know what a statement of purpose actually is, what
should you include? Let's dive straight in. A good opening paragraph. The opening
paragraph is your chance to make the biggest impact, this is where you want to
grab the reader's attention and invite them to read on. Whilst you could simply
start with your motivation for your chosen course it's a good idea
to be a bit more creative. Either an experience or an anecdote related to
your course can be a great way of getting the reader interested. If you're
considering opening with a quote make sure that it's unique and relevant to your
experience, although there's every chance it's been used and many times before. Remember
this is about you not a Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King.
Commitment to your chosen course. Why do you want to study the exact course that
you have applied for. There are hundreds of similar courses offered across the
world so you need to explain exactly what makes this course the right fit for
you. It may be the modules offered the profiles of the academic staff or
something else entirely. Just make sure you explain what makes it the right fit
for you. Why the UK and your chosen University. Deciding to come and study in
the UK it's a big decision as an international student so it's a good
idea to explain to your university both why you've decided to come and study in
the UK and why you've chosen their university. Is it the facilities, the
location, the reputation? This is your chance to show that you've done your research
and make the university feel like you've made the right choice. What do you hope
to do when you graduate? It's important that you explain how your studies will
impact your future plans. What do you hope to achieve in the future
and will your course help you to do this? You don't need to be too specific but
sharing your ambitions and plans can help show a university that you're focused
and committed to the benefits of completing your course. Your achievements,
interests, work experience and passions. This is where you can share everything
that makes you a good candidate that isn't on your academic record. For example are you
applying for a sports course and have played for or coached your local team? Do
you have any work experience related to your course? Have you won any awards?
Done any volunteering? Or have any interests and passions that will help
you with your course. This is where you can communicate all of this information
to the University. What are your strengths. You may wish to share your
skills and strengths as a candidate. However make sure you can provide
evidence and show how they would benefit your chosen course. For example don't
just tell us for you're a good leader you need to explain a time that you've
shown leadership and why this would be beneficial for your
chosen course. Include your background. Some students may wish to tell the
university about their background however you should only do so if it's
relevant to your application. In fact throughout the statement of purpose it's
important that you only include things that are relevant. You might be a
fantastic juggler but this doesn't necessarily make you a great candidate
for a business course, or does it? Have a memorable conclusion. Your conclusion is
almost as important as your opening paragraph, you need to create a lasting
impact and highlight what it is that makes you a great candidate for the course.
Lastly read the instructions set out by the university you are applying for.
Whilst we don't have any rules around this at Cardiff Metropolitan University
some universities may have word limits or formatting requirements so make sure
you check before you start writing. Also please make sure you don't copy someone
else's work. The university will be able to tell and you'll just be making a bad
impression of yourself as a future student. Trust me, it's not worth it.
So there you have it the UK University statement of purpose, I hope that this has
been of use, and you're feeling informed and ready to get writing. But remember
that the examples in this video are just suggestions, the best person to write your
statement of purpose is you. If this video has been helpful please do give me
a like below. If you haven't done so already make sure that you subscribe to the
Cardiff Met International YouTube channel for more tips, guidance and
advice about coming to study in the UK and don't forget to click the bell to
turn on notifications. If this is your first Cardiff Met international video
and you want to find out more about the university make sure you check out our
Getting to Know Cardiff Met playlist and as always any questions, comments or
suggestions just let me know in the comments below.
But for now, thanks for watching and hopefully we'll welcome you to Cardiff Met one day soon.
Bye bye!