kings postgraduate personal statement

Important information for postgraduate students

The King's Admissions Office is here to help you throughout the application process. We hope the information below will help with most queries. If you can't find the answer to your question, feel free to contact our King's Advisors , or attend a postgraduate event  to find out more.

Before you apply

What can i study at king's how do i find course information.

There are overviews of all of our courses in the online prospectus, where you can also browse by subject area and by Schools and Departments of study.

Research applicants can also find more detailed information by contacting a potential supervisor directly (see our Research portal for details of King's researchers).

Can I visit King's?

King’s is pleased to offer guided campus tours of four of our five campuses. Delivered by a current student, you'll explore our teaching rooms, social spaces and campus highlights, all while learning more about university life at King's. 

What is the difference between postgraduate taught courses and postgraduate research?

For guidance on course type, level of study, and duration see types of courses offered at postgraduate level at King's.

What are the entry requirements? Am I eligible to apply?

To find out more about minimum requirements for your application to be considered, see further guidance in entry requirements .

What is a research proposal, and when do I have to provide this?

In most of our science and health science related courses our research supervisors usually devise projects, attract funding for them and then advertise them. In this case, if you require further information or wish to discuss the project in more detail, you can contact the named individual advertising the project in the first instance.

For courses in the arts and social sciences applicants are usually expected to create their own research proposal which they should submit as part of their online application. A research proposal should explain the field of study that you want to contribute to, the current research gaps, what you want to do, and how you propose to do it.

It is important that you check for any specific guidance on research proposals in the online prospectus . However, in general a good research proposal typically includes the following components:

A clear statement of the proposed research question

An explanation of the importance and originality of the proposed topic.

A section describing not only your proposed methodology but also an explanation of why this methodology is the most appropriate for the proposed topic.

A prospective chapter outline of the proposed thesis

A timetable showing a realistic plan, including critical milestones, for the completion of your research and writing within three years

You may want to conclude by showing why this research should be conducted specifically here, at King’s College London.

What is a PhD supervisor and how do I find one?

Your main supervisor will be a King's academic who has expertise in your specific field and will act as your academic mentor. For details see our postgraduate research webpages. The first stage of applying for a PhD would be to identify a PhD course which is relevant to your proposed research and then to identify a potential supervisor for your research. Staff and research group information is available:

in our online prospectus, for each course entry, under 'Staff & Groups'

In the King's Research portal

On departmental webpages

When you submit your application, you should indicate your preferred supervisor in the application form.

Can I live outside of the UK while studying for my PhD?

Only under exceptional circumstances, and with the full support of your supervisor, it may be possible for you to undertake your research while living overseas. However, if this is agreed there are strict requirements that must be adhered to:

You must attend King’s in person for a minimum of six months during your PhD and this must include a significant period of attendance at the beginning and end. In between attending in person you are also required to remain in contact with your supervisor at least every six weeks by email or telephone.

At the start of the PhD you will plan your attendance schedule with your supervisor. Amendments can be made to this at a later date providing you still meet the minimum attendance requirement.

Which courses can I study part-time or by distance learning?

A large number of our postgraduate courses are available for part-time study. Each entry in the postgraduate prospectus will make clear if a course is available part-time, and/or by distance learning. For more details see Study Options .

Can I study at King's while I'm still studying elsewhere?

University regulations do not permit you to study a course with us while also on another course of study at King's (with the exception of the AKC), or at another university (with the exception of Study Abroad students).

If you are currently taking qualifications elsewhere - including distance learning courses - and you are successful in receiving an offer for study at King's, you will be asked to provide evidence at campus registration that you have completed any previous studies.

How do I apply for postgraduate study?

See our guides to applying for:

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate research courses

When is the application deadline?

Application deadlines will vary by course. Find your course in our  online prospectus , then see the application deadline and application guidance under ‘Entry requirements’ for any specific deadline. Remember that separate (sometimes earlier) deadlines may apply for funding and scholarships. 

Is there an application fee?

Most of our postgraduate taught courses will require a non-refundable application fee before you can submit your application to be considered. This step is built in to the online application process . Please note that payment of an application fee is not a guarantee that you will receive an offer for your chosen course as many of our courses are competitive.

If you decide to apply to more than one course which charges an application fee, you will need to pay for each application submitted.

Please ensure that you read the information about your chosen course carefully in our online prospectus before applying.

Note: If you receive an offer, most of our postgraduate taught courses will also require a deposit payment to secure your place. This is in addition to the application fee, however, the deposit is used as a partial payment of the tuition fees upon enrolling. Your offer letter will include details of any deposit you must pay, deadlines, and payment methods. You should not make a deposit payment unless instructed to as part of an offer.

Can I apply to more than one course at King's?

Yes you can apply for more than one course. You may be required to pay multiple applications fees for each programme. If you receive offers for both you will only be able to accept one of these.

Once you have completed an online application you can click on “new application” and create another application for a different course. You cannot, however, make more than one application for the same course in an admissions cycle.

If you're applying for a Research course, you will need to complete a new Research proposal for each application.

I have relevant work experience - will this help my application?

This will depend on the course you are applying to: please check the online prospectus for specific requirements. For most courses work experience is not generally required and cannot usually be taken in lieu of academic qualifications, but any relevant work experience could add weight to your application. You can provide full details of your work experience in the Employment section of the application form or in your personal statement if this is relevant to the course you are applying to.

Please note that some courses - for example some offered by the Dickson Poon School of Law and the Department of Education & Professional Studies - do have work experience as an entry requirement, and this will be listed in the online prospectus where relevant.

I haven't studied at university for a number of years. Will this affect my application?

This will not usually affect your application providing you can demonstrate a continued level of academic knowledge and interest in the research area. To help evidence this, there may be additional requirements (for example some admissions tutors may set a short essay to make sure that you would be up to the rigours of the course).

We will still require full transcripts and certificates for your studies, if for any reason you are unable to provide these please contact us.

What documents do I need to submit with my application?

You must check the online prospectus for any specific requirements, guidance or word limits for your specific course. However in most cases you would need to submit:

Two academic references

Official transcripts of your previous and current qualifications (detailing course, modules, subject grades and final overall grade, if completed).

Copies of your final degree certificate if you have been awarded the qualification

Some courses also require you to submit a personal statement.

Some courses may require a writing sample, such as an essay.

Research students must also usually submit:

A detailed research proposal

We are usually unable to consider applications until we have received all of the necessary documents.

I would like to attach some new information to my postgraduate application. Where should I send it?

If your application has been submitted and is under consideration, you should not send any additional documentation. The Admissions Office will contact you through King’s Apply if they need further documents to assess your application. All information relating to your application should be sent to Admissions. Please do not send documents to academic departments as applications are processed centrally.

Documents can be submitted:

online via King’s Apply . This is the quickest and easiest way to contact the teams.

Waiting for a decision

How long will it take before i receive a decision on my application.

King’s aims to make decisions on applications within 4-8 weeks, though some of our very competitive postgraduate taught programmes operate a ‘gathered field’ process for applicants who meet the advertised entry requirements and may therefore take longer. The selection procedure will be indicated on the relevant course page of the Online Prospectus .

Depending on the time of year, it may also take longer to process applications, particularly around deadline periods. Please ensure that your online application form is as complete as possible at the time of submission to avoid unnecessary delays and ask your referee(s) to be ready to submit a reference promptly.

Please also be aware there can be other factors that result in it taking longer for you to receive a final decision, for example, if you apply to a programme where an interview is required, or your application is sent to the department for review.

When a decision has been made, you will be emailed to log in to your King’s Apply account. The decision will be in the “Application Status” box on the Application Overview screen.

Who do I contact if I have any questions or need to send additional information?

After you submit your application, you should communicate with the Admissions Office through your  online application  portal (King's Apply).

Can I submit my English language test result after I submit my application?

Yes, you can submit your English test results after submitting your application. If you are taking an English language test at a later date, please mark this on your application. When you have received your results, please scan and upload them to the King's Apply portal.

In most cases it is possible for us to make a conditional offer to those who do not have an acceptable English language test result when they apply. If we cannot make a decision without an English test result from you, we will request this from you as part of the application process. All English language test results must be no more than two years old. See our Postgraduate English language entry requirements for details.

After a decision

My application was unsuccessful. can i find out why.

You can find a summary of the reason your application was unsuccessful through the King's Apply portal. For further detailed feedback, please send a formal request through the King's Apply portal and the Admissions Office will be able to give you further advice.

Further details of feedback and appeal procedures can be found on our policy pages.

I hold a conditional offer. How do I change this to unconditional?

You need to send official documents that show that your condition(s) have been met. This may include a formal translation of degree documents if your degree is not in English. You can send these as a scanned document on the  King's Apply portal . 

How do I accept my offer?

If you receive an offer to study at King’s, you can accept the offer via your King’s Apply account on the ‘Your offer’ tab. This tab will show your offer letter and the deadline by which you need to accept this offer.

Do I have to pay a deposit to accept my offer?

King's College London asks our offer holders to pay a deposit when accepting their offer to study for most of our postgraduate taught programmes; this is beneficial for the university in relation to student numbers and resource planning. There are limited places available on our programmes and a high number of qualified applicants. By paying the deposit, you secure your place and demonstrate your commitment to enrol at King’s provided you meet any conditions of an offer.

You can accept your offer and pay your deposit on your King's Apply account. If you experience difficulties paying, please contact the Admissions Office who can advise you. A deposit will not be required where an offer holder can provide official evidence that they will be fully funded for the programme at King's, however, this evidence must be provided to the Admissions Office before the deadline to accept your offer.

The deposit is considered a partial payment towards your tuition fee upon enrolment.

Our deposit amounts can vary depending on the programme you intend to study, but they are usually £500 for Home/EU fee status and £2000 for Overseas fee status.

The deposit amount is usually higher for our overseas fee status students due to the additional administration required to process these applications. This includes, but is not limited to, checks regarding eligibility to study in the UK, CAS number and student visa processing, ATAS, calculating transcripts and assessing qualification equivalencies to a UK Bachelor's (hons) degree. For offer holders who require a tier 4 visa from King’s, the deposit payment will be used in your CAS number to evidence your ability to pay the tuition fees as part of your visa application.

Full details of the deposit terms and conditions, including how to show you are fully funded or when you can request a refund of a deposit payment, are available in your offer letter.

Can I defer my place?

After careful consideration, we have taken the decision not to allow any deferrals on our postgraduate taught programmes from 2022/23 entry to the next academic year. We have adopted this approach as it is the fairest way to ensure that the cohort of applicants for 2023/24 academic year have an equal opportunity in gaining a place at King's.

For Research degrees, deferrals will be dependent upon agreement from your proposed supervisor, who will need to consider if appropriate supervision will still be available.

Can I change my course of study?

Your offer is specific to a course, mode of study (full time/part time) and year of entry, as detailed in your offer letter. Before enrolment:

if you wish to be considered for a different course of study you will need to submit a new application through King's Apply, and be considered alongside other applicants for that course.

if you wish to change your mode of study (from full time to part time) on the same course, please contact the Admissions Office through the King's Apply portal for advice.

Once enrolled on a course, there is no guarantee that you will be able to change your course or mode of study: however Student Services can provide advice on internal transfer procedures.

How do I apply for King's accommodation?

You must have a firm offer to be able to apply for King's Residences.  Full details on how to apply for King's accommodation can be found on their How to apply webpages.

Can I study at King's while I'm on another course elsewhere?

College regulations do not permit you to study a course with us while also on another course of study at King's (with the exception of the AKC), or at another university (with the exception of  Study Abroad students ).

Cancellation rights

Please note, these terms and conditions apply to all levels of study. We also advise applicants who have submitted an application through UCAS to contact them directly for details of their cancellation policy.

1.1 You have the right to cancel your acceptance of a place at King’s for any reason (including if you change your mind) during a fourteen (14) day cancellation period (the “Cancellation Period”), which will start on the day you accept an offer from King’s.

1.2 To cancel your acceptance, you must clearly inform us in writing of your decision to cancel before the Cancellation Period has expired. We ask that you do this by sending a message through “King’s Apply”. Alternatively, you may contact the King’s Admissions Office by letter or email. You may also use the Cancellation Form to notify us of your decision to cancel.

1.3 To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the Cancellation Period has expired. King's Admissions Office does need to have received communication of your decision to cancel before the expiry of the Cancellation Period.

1.4 If you cancel your acceptance within the 14 day Cancellation Period, we will reimburse any tuition fee payment including any deposit received from you as soon as we can, and no later than 14 days after the day on which you informed us of your decision to cancel your acceptance.

Fees & Funding

What are the tuition fees when do i pay.

Tuition fees for your course can be found in our online prospectus : find your course entry, and then see the 'Fees & Funding' tab.

You will be sent an invoice for your first year’s tuition fees after you have enrolled on the course. This will take into account any deposit already paid (if applicable). You can pay your year's tuition fees in one or two equal instalments: see our postgraduate Tuition Fee guidance for further information.

What funding is available and when do I need to consider funding?

All our funding opportunities can be found on our  King’s Funding Database . You would need to consider funding as soon as possible as deadlines are usually early in the year around February time.

I think my Fee Status is incorrect. How do I change this?

Before responding to your offer please send a message to the Admissions Officer through the  King's Apply portal explaining why you feel your fee status is incorrect. You may be asked to complete a more detailed Fee Status questionnaire or provide documentation to give further details of your circumstances in order for us to make an assessment. Your fee status must be changed before enrolment in order for the new status to be reflected in your fee invoice.

Immigration and visas

How do i get my cas number for my student visa.

Make sure that you have told the Admissions Office that you will need a visa by ticking the box on the application form titled “International student: Will you require a visa to study in the UK?”. Please make sure that you have recorded the necessary details from your passport.

We will request a CAS number for you once you have an unconditional offer and only within 3 months of the start of your course.

Once we have the CAS number you will be sent an email advising you log in to your online application , where a new tab will appear on the left called “Your Visa”. All the CAS information will be in this area.

Find out more information about the student visa process .

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King's College University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to King's College London. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

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

English Personal Statement Example 1 Ever since I have had the ability to understand it, I have been fascinated by the English language. As a child, I would either be writing, reading or telling stories and ever sine then, have read a wide variety of both fiction and non-fiction texts from a variety of genres and eras...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 1 My most memorable Christmas came with a parcel of Harry Potter audio books and this was where my quest to understanding language began. The moment Stephen Fry started to narrate chapter one, I fell in love with words and all they could achieve...

Law and Politics Personal Statement Example 1 Laws, in my opinion, are the cogs in the machinery of society; they are guidelines and deterrents that are fundamentally essential for humanity to function. Law is the combined public conscience that tells us right from wrong...

Politics & International Relations Personal Statement Example 2 It was November 1989. My parents were rattling their keys in the main square of Bratislava with other Czechoslovak youngsters asking for the democracy that was denied by the Communist regime. They raised me in an environment, where appreciation of freedom, expressing my thoughts and being an active citizen have been essential...

History Personal Statement Example 5 As the descendant of an Auschwitz survivor, my family history allows me to understand the influences that the Second World War has had on people's families and the victims of the Nazi regime in occupied Poland...

Economics and Politics Personal Statement Example 1 "I killed the bank": the last words of Andrew Jackson, former president of the US, after he had vetoed to renew the charter and withdraw all federal deposits from banks causing them to bust. Real money was backed with gold shortly after, causing the greatest economic boom in history for the US where no income tax was implemented...

History Personal Statement Example 7 It isn't an exaggeration to say my devotion to History has moulded me into the diligent and ambitious person I am today. History continues to shape our contemporary world and my opinions have been formed from an intellectual curiosity about the resonances between the past and the present...

Chemistry/Chemistry with Biomedicine Personal Statement Example I was told I couldn’t have the opening paragraph I had originally written, so to begin I’ll to describe the scientific processes in my own words as this is what will underlie my degree and hopefully my foreseeable future...

English Literature & Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 'I write for the same reason I breathe- because if I didn't, I would die.' I believe that Isaac Asimov sums up writing particularly aptly. Whilst it could be classed as hyperbole, I feel my sentiments are similar...

Law Personal Statement Example 11 My desire to study law at university is firmly rooted in my interest in world events and also with helping others. Law effects our everyday lives almost without us noticing. If we look at the news, there is always an aspect of law up for debate...

Natural and Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example Experiencing first-hand life as a human in the natural world, I have the authority to confirm that regardless of previous knowledge, unexplained phenomena still exist. As a scientist, I adore observing the unknown, analysing the known and making decisions accordingly...

English Personal Statement Example 23 My love of literature is rooted in the connection it gives us to centuries of ideas, giving us the ability to converse with ghosts, linking us with the greatest and most eloquent minds in history; as Bovee puts it, “books are embalmed minds”...

Pharmacology and Human Sciences Personal Statement Example From the race to find a vaccine for the H1N1 virus to the almost daily reports of breakthroughs in the field of cancer research, science has always fascinated me.On a more personal note, my interest has largely stemmed from school, work experiences, and science in the news...

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example 3 My fascination with the body and understanding how it functions has fuelled my desire to pursue a career in physiotherapy as it incorporates science, sports and medicine which are all areas of specific interest to me...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 40 I graduated from the University of Southampton in July 2008 with an upper second class honours degree in podiatry. Since leaving university I have worked as a locum podiatrist. The majority of my role involves working independently in the community providing a high standard of quality clinical care to patients who self present or are referred to the service...

Business & Management Personal Statement Example There is no limit to what you can learn and how much you can earn from it. Instilled with this belief by my father, I have since the beginning learnt to approach the world differently. I view that knowledge can be applied practically not only to earn a living, but also to earn wisdom...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 16 I believe that to read English is to read the human being itself: after all, we are all writers. Even in the very act of choosing our words - thinking them, speaking them, physically writing them down - we create something meaningful...

European Social & Political Studies Personal Statement Example In my opinion, the problems societies face today deserve an in-depth analysis which draws on different disciplines of thought for its relevance; furthermore the implementations of strategies to combat problems must take into account more than one academic approach if they are going to be positively effective...

Pharmacy Personal Statement Example 6 Having grown up with parents that were both involved in medicine and pharmaceuticals, I developed a deep interest in their work and the effects it had on their patients and customers respectively. Seeing them at work, and witnessing the help they gave to sick people to regain their health or cope with pain, made me decide that I wanted to be part of this fascinating profession...

Geography Personal Statement Example 16 "What do you want to be when you grow up?" is an ever recurring question asked to me by many individuals, including myself. I have come to the conclusion that I will never come up with a final answer, as I have many ambitions and aspirations...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 49 My views about computing changed considerably when I heard about Linux. In the late nineties it was a newer operating system and tasks like installing and configuring were considered to be quite challenging in India...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 57 My enthusiasm for the advances of medical science, understanding and technology drive me towards medicine. I yearn to discover further the wonder and complexities of science, and have a greater understanding of the illness' and diseases we face...

Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example 2 I am interested in pursuing a career in biological sciences because I am captivated by the wonders of the components of life. There upon, I desire to understand the background of problems that are formulated by biology on a molecular level, such as cancer, diseases and genetic disorders...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 58 My desire to study medicine grew from a young age when my mother was diagnosed with hypertension. The regular visits to the GP gave me a glimpse into the profession but particularly the thirst to learn more about heart disease...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 51 Building my first computer was an experience I will never forget. Looking over what seemed to be a city of silicone, I marveled at how elegantly the components were arranged on the motherboard. Yet I did not feel fully satisfied, as I knew there was a whole other world of computing, which could only be explored by completing a degree in computer science...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 62 When two, I suffered a large third degree burn on my chest. Living in a small town in Romania, I was not able to get appropriate treatment, so I grew up with complexes about the aesthetical appearance of the scar...

German Personal Statement Example 7 The study of language has always been appealing and is the focus of much of my time and energy, but the study of the German language is what mesmerises me most. Before understanding German I was first intrigued by its sound, and as I began to learn it, I became fascinated by its complexity...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 66 White coats, stethoscopes hung around necks and the sense of playing hero were popular amongst childhood dreams. However, unlike others around me, this dream was not lost when I realised reality paved a much tougher road- instead, it grew to become a fierce ambition...

Economics Personal Statement Example 30 The ever-changing nature of the human science intrigues me. Newton’s laws of motion will never change, from wherever ‘the ball is dropped’. However, different strategies and policies have to be framed and implemented for each economic problem...

PPE/Politics and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 I have a strong interest in the close relationship between political events and economic developments, highlighted by a study of Russia in the lead up to the 1917 revolution. I was grabbed by the film adaptation of Ten Days That Shook the World, with its emphasis on its power of the masses...

Dietetics Personal Statement Example 2 “Can I have the sirloin steak served with the oven dried tomatoes and pizzaiola sauce? This was the order of a girl between the ages of 10-14yrs. This choice of dish made me evaluate people’s reasons behind the food they eat and whether these choices are influenced by the people around them or their own individual decision...

Physics Personal Statement Example 15 I have always been intrigued by the world of physics. From everyday experiences to the most extreme boundaries of today's knowledge, I have always voraciously searched for answers to my questions. As I grew up, the elegance of mathematical demonstrations and of physical theorems fascinated me, and I have often dreamt of making contributions to the unification theory and of improving and simplifying the Navier-Stokes equations...

Pharmacy Personal Statement Example 9 I would like to study pharmacy as I wish to play a part in providing medical assistance to the general public, but in also understanding how this process occurs. My enthusiasm in science highly interests me into learning about the production of drugs and their functions on the body...

PPE/Economics Personal Statement Example Humanity today stands at the intersection of the most significant questions facing the world today: if democracy leads to political infighting, should it be sacrificed in the interest of economic well-being? Does religious fundamentalism provide a way for countries in the developing world to assert their identity in the face of Western hegemony? Does the entry of Western consumer goods threaten a country’s economic self-sufficiency? The answers of these questions will determine what the nature of our world is in the twenty-first century...

History Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) 2 Whether considering the real world applications of Bentham's utilitarianism in Religious Studies, analysing the context of a changing Victorian society in English Literature, or debating the evolving ideology of the Labour Party in Politics, there is one common thread connecting what I enjoy most about my studies: history...

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Published at 12 Apr 2021

How to rock your king's college application (postgraduate), choose your course.

King's College London is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranked within the first 20 by QS World University Rankings in 2014. It is clear then why you chose to study at this institution. The first and most important (although often underestimated!) step of your application is choosing the right course. Start from the King's website, where you can browse courses by keywords. You can also download an overview of all postgraduate offers in the online prospectus. There are tons of options! If you're not quite sure whether you want to become a specialist in polar bears' reproduction yet, there are ways for you to find out what your dream course is. Check for postgraduate open evenings and campus tours on the website. Visits represent a great chance for you to clear your doubts, or even just “feel the vibe”. Keep in mind that this is where you'll spend some of the most exciting times of your life! Don't be afraid to ask: you can contact the programmes' directors, academics and current students. For this purpose, there is a Virtual Fair with videos, download materials, and even live chat opportunities. A few sample questions: what is the research in my field focusing on at the moment? Can I take optional modules from other Departments? What about foreign languages and joint Degrees? What conferences does the Faculty host? Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Check the entry requirements

So you've found your perfect postgraduate programme at King's College . It's time to find out if you've got all it takes! Remember that entry requirements vary for each course and you can read them on the programme's webpage or on the online prospectus. For the majority of postgraduate taught courses, a 2:1 honours degree is required. Many postgraduate research degrees will also require a master's degree. King's is an international university, very aware of the different academic paths around the world. If you undertook your undergraduate studies overseas, they will recognise the equivalence. If you are an international student, make sure to meet the English language requirements too. These vary depending on your Faculty of choice but simply mean that if your mother tongue is not English, you have to prove your English language skills with an English Proficiency Test. Typically, students take the IELTS or TOEFL test. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

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Personal statement

If you're applying for a Master or PhD, in order to be offered a place at King's College there's some writing for you to be done. A personal statement is basically a letter to the admissions panel, where you outline why you would make a great asset for their programme. This is not simply an extended version of your CV! It's usually good to start with a very personal paragraph (an anecdote, maybe) which tells the story of how you fell in love with the subject. Then you should move on proving this passion: your previous studies and extra-curricular activities related to the field, your publications and awards... It's not a bad idea to tell something extra about yourself: you speak other languages and love travelling, or maybe you care for animals and have volunteered in your local dogs' shelter. You definitely need to talk about King's too: why did you choose to study there? What do you expect from this programme? What are your academic and career goals? Some Master's programmes also ask you to write a short paragraph to outline the optional modules you'd like to take, and the topic you intend to write your final thesis on. PhDs applicants usually won't need to write a personal statement but are always required to submit a detailed research proposal. You will find guidance about how to write a research proposal on the department's website. Pretty much all PhD programmes (and some Master's too) will ask you to submit a written sample. This will typically be your Master's thesis or one other academic essay. Just a tip: check, double-check and ask someone else to check. Spelling and grammar mistakes could seriously compromise your application. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Reference letters

Reference letters are essential to both Master and PhD applications, at King's College and elsewhere. These are letters written by a person from your past in the position to describe your suitability for your intended studies: typically, previous professors or employers. King's College usually asks you to submit two reference letters. If you are applying for a Master, it's best to ask your undergraduate professors, while previous employers and supervisors are good options for PhD applicants. Your referees need to know you well and truly be excited about your future: “plane” reference letters are simply bad reference letters. They will need to describe in details your personality, writing and research skills and the projects you took part in, together with your attitude towards your peers and supervisors. In short, a good referee will describe you as special! Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

Time to apply!

The new year has started, you have decided what to study next at King's College and made sure you have all it takes: it's time for you to submit your application! First of all, find out when the deadline is but don't worry, we can already tell you there is still plenty of time. For September 2016 entries, Masters' applications at King's usually close in early April (with some earlier exceptions!), while for PhDs we are talking about the 2nd of September. Keep in mind that usually, funding deadlines are earlier! International students are often required to apply earlier too. Sometimes, late applications may be considered subject to the availability of places. If you are a PhD applicant, remember that you are strongly advised to contact potential supervisors before you submit your application. Some Departments actually ask you not to apply if you can't find a supervisor. Applications are made through UCAS or the “King's Apply” website. Here, you will have to register, give your personal information and upload relevant documents. Check for the application fee. Not all programmes require the application fee but if that's the case, you won't be able to submit your application until you will have paid £30. At King's College, it is possible to apply for several programmes, but you will have to pay a separate fee for each application. Biancamaria Fiore - KCL Student

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Writing the personal statement for King's College London: Why you should play to your strengths

King’s College London is a leading institution for higher studies in law, and provides students with an opportunity to broaden their horizons in a vibrant community of intellectuals, students from other jurisdictions, and leading practitioners.

As part of the entry requirements for the LLM program applicants are required to submit a personal statement, English proficiency scores, copies of their academic transcripts, and can optionally submit a CV. This post breaks down how one should go about putting together the personal statement, and includes snippets from CollegeIt’s interaction with Farhan Shafi , an LLM candidate at King’s College London pursuing a specialization in international dispute resolution.

What should you include in the personal statement?

The university website specifies that the personal statement should not exceed 4,000 characters if directly entered into the online application form, or two pages if uploaded as an attachment.

In Farhan’s experience “ universities tend to put a lot of weightage to [the candidate’s] uniqueness and what [applicants] need to focus on is what makes you, ‘you’ .”, and accordingly it’s important to include details in the personal statement that are based on one’s strengths and experiences.

I didn't talk much about academics, I mean, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot, right?

Following such an approach can also makes it easier gloss over shortcomings in one’s profile – for instance, Farhan did not meet the academic requirements for the LLM program at King’s . While the program required a High 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 65% or above, he only had about 61%.

In playing to his strengths, Farhan mentioned that he "didn't talk much about academics, I mean, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot, right?", and instead he chose to talk about an access to justice initiative he had started in law school, which was engaged with by over 6 million people in its lifetime. He bolstered his statement by talking about his prior work experience in arbitration, potentially adding a few brownie points to his application, considering Farhan also wished to specialize in the same field.

I focused on my work experience, and an access to justice initiative I had started in law school

Academic achievements and engagement outside of the classroom, such as summer school experience, conferences, internships, and related work experience, can all be incorporated into the personal statement. Discuss prospects for postgraduate research, specific courses, and professors you admire. It's a good idea to avoid employing platitudes and generic phrases, and instead using the personal statement to speak in specifics about topics that you like.

Structuring the personal statement

As a broad approach for the personal statement, Farhan suggests that applicants should highlight their motivation for going for an LLM, what they bring to the table, and what they can do after obtaining an LLM. He followed a structure which focused on his prior work experience, which he then linked with the reasons for which he wanted to obtain an LLM, and demonstrated how the skills which he gathered could help him during the course of the program.

Based on our conversation with Farhan, the personal statement can potentially be structured as follows:

Make a great first impression in the initial part of the personal statement. Start out with a strong introductory paragraph that captures the attention of the reader. Consider mentioning your motivation for pursuing an LLM, and include a few lines about your biggest accomplishments.

Go ahead and tell your story after the strong introductory paragraph: talk about how your interest in law developed over the years, and how that led to an inclination towards any particular area of law. You can build a coherent narrative to demonstrate your interest in a particular specialization and your suitability for the program using past internships and work experience. In doing so, it is important to highlight how these experiences prompted you to apply for an LLM, and how they can help you during the program. A general caveat for the personal statement is that it should not be a bland restatement of your CV – instead, it should be used to bring out how the several line items in your profile shaped your ideas and interest in law, and how it eventually prompted you to apply to KCL.

Once you’ve laid down a strong foundation in the initial part of the personal statement, you can dedicate a paragraph to your most recent work experience. Farhan used this space to talk about his prior experience in arbitration, and how this experience helped him appreciate the intricacies of dispute resolution. You can also use this paragraph to demonstrate how an LLM would contribute to your skills and understanding in your preferred area of specialization.

After you’ve talked about your work experience, put down a few lines to discuss your academic background and achievements, and use these to demonstrate how such background has prepared you to meet the challenging demands of KCL’s LLM program.

Several universities in the UK require LLM candidates to submit a dissertation towards the end of the program. Keeping this requirement in mind, it may be a good idea to dedicate a paragraph to talk about your prior publications – essentially, these will speak to your ability to write a dissertation and effectively fulfil the requirements of the program. You could also consider mentioning a potential dissertation topic – Farhan explains that this provides a fair bit of substance to your motivation behind applying for an LLM, and that you’re always free to change your topic later on in the course.

Finally, you can wrap up the personal statement by writing about what you like about the university and why KCL would be a good fit for you. A simple way to do this would be to highlight specific modules in the program, or faculty members who you like, and how you believe this would contribute to your intellectual growth. You can also consider linking this paragraph to your overall motivation for applying for an LLM.

As a disclaimer, the structure set out above is indicative and Farhan's approach might not work for everyone. At the end of the day, it may be a good idea to let the personal statement be what it is designed to be: personal.

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Applying & writing your personal statement

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This is how to write a personal statement for a Master's

In theory, a personal statement should be easy. but we understand how hard it is to put pen to paper. read our latest blog by postgraduate student, kristina, on how to write a personal statement when applying for your master's. .

It can be tricky to put down in words why you should be accepted on a course, especially when you're trying to be persuasive, formal and concise all at once. Below, I've collated both what to include in a personal statement, as well as top tips to make sure your personal statement accurately reflects you, your passion and why you're a perfect fit for the postgraduate course of your choosing.

What should I include in a postgraduate personal statement?

1. why do you want to study this course.

This section has two clear and distinct points. Firstly, you need to project your passion for the subject. In my opinion, the hardest part about this is being engaging and passionate, without sounding cliched or insincere.

Secondly, you need to have some kind of idea how this Master's relates to your life goals. Is there a specific job you want? Or, perhaps a specific organisation that you’d like to work for? Maybe you have plans to study this subject beyond your Master's, and you intend on completing a PhD?

The admissions team is more likely to recruit you if they think that you might contribute to the academic field, or to the specific university department.

2. What relevant skills can you bring from previous academia?

Once you've stated why you want to study a course, now you need to argue why the university should want you. At this stage, give a succinct but comprehensive overview of your relevant skills and academic experience. For example, “ During my undergraduate studies, I improved my mathematical, analytical and problem-solving skills .”. Then go into detail about specific case studies, assignments, achievements etc..

The key point here is to make sure everything you mention is relevant. It's natural to want to sell yourself by listing all of your achievements, but only showcasing relevant information can act as a testament to your essay-writing skills. 

3. What relevant skills can you bring from your personal or professional life?

Have you had relevant jobs/volunteering/internships? This is an opportunity to show that you’ve taken initiative to develop skills in the field beyond compulsory academic activities. This section doesn't just reflect your abilities, but your passion for your chosen career path through the fact you've dedicated your personal time to expanding your skills. 

4. Why this specific course?

So you've said which subject you want to study, you've shown how you fit the requirements and how you intend to put your learnings to good use. Now, explain why you want to study this specific course. Mention the modules by name and how the learning formats will help your learning i.e. if there's lab work, field work etc. This is your opportunity to show you have carefully considered the different postgraduate courses available to you, and state your reasons for narrowing it down to the one you're applying for. 

Tips for writing a university personal statement 

Rediscover your old statement as a reminder.

Writing a personal statement for a Master’s degree is much the same as writing one for an undergraduate degree. My first tip would be to search through your old files and find the personal statement you submitted to UCAS all those years ago.

Whilst the content will be very different, reminding yourself of the structure you used and the topics you covered is just one way to trigger ideas for what to write in your new personal statement.

In fact, I have a folder on my laptop full of all my old job and university applications so that I can draw inspiration and sometimes re-use relevant sections, whilst slightly modifying them to fit the role I am applying for. This saves a lot of time. 

Start early so you can take your time, and revisit 

Writing ~1,000 words in one sitting probably isn’t the best idea. Whilst everyone has different styles of working, I personally feel that the best way to write something like this is to start out with a bullet point plan. This way you don’t have to simultaneously think about content, structure, and wording, you can just brainstorm ideas for the content, then reshuffle them into an order that makes sense and flows. Once you've sorted this out, you can spend time thinking about how you will construct the sentences and paragraphs.

Being organised like this gives you the freedom to take breaks and revisit your personal statement at a later time or date. 

Make sure your ending is strong and clear

The first and last paragraphs are the most important. The serial-position effect in psychology shows that people tend to remember the first and last items on a list much better than they remember the content in the middle, so your introduction and conclusion should be your best-selling points.

Make sure every point you make is evidenced

Anyone can say that they have a specific skill or interest in a certain topic, but you need to convince the admissions team that you know what you’re talking about.

A key framework to follow is skill > evidence & understanding > outcome. For example, state you have a relevant skill (e.g. scientific literature reviews) and then talk about specific techniques (e.g. avoiding bias, using a reference manager) or specific examples (dissertation topic and what methods you used / conclusions you reached / real world implications of the topic). The outcome will often be that you achieved a high grade or were praised.

Draw on your undergraduate successes

Talking in detail about your dissertation is imperative for research master’s or those which include a dissertation. If you achieved a first-class grade for it, or are predicted a first-class grade, then mention it.

Write for academics 

 Write academically (e.g. “it is” rather than “it’s”) and formally, but balance this with conveying enthusiasm and not sounding robotic. One way to test whether your writing flows is to read it out loud to yourself.

Tailor your application to your course

Tailor your application so that it is very specific to the course. Mention specific modules or interests/skills that relate strongly to aspects of the course. Most courses have their own webpage on the university website. This page is your most important resource for ensuring that you write a persuasive personal statement, as it will outline relevant skills, interests, career paths, module descriptions etc.

Get a second opinion

Ask someone to proofread the final draft. Fresh perspectives are always valuable. Also, it’s often easier for someone else to point out your strengths and accomplishments than it is for you to.

Overall, your personal statement needs to be lots of small anecdotes that relate to each other and can be joined up to tell one overarching story about you, to persuade the admissions team that you will succeed in the course, benefiting the university and also your own progress in life. For more information on applying for a Master's, why not read this blog by student Amy Harris on funding a Master's ?

Published By Kristina on 02/09/2020 | Last Updated 17/11/2023

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