International Research scholarships

The following UTS Research scholarships are available to support international students to study Masters by Research and Doctoral programs at UTS which are managed by the Graduate Research School. Applications are only open once a year. Other scholarship opportunities for international students can be found on the UTS: scholarships website.

How to apply:

For prospective students:
To apply, please submit the UTS International Higher Degree Research Application Form  for both the degree and scholarship(s) through UTS: International by the advertised deadline. UTS International has information on how to apply, and for further enquiries please contact theUTS: International Sponsored Students Team.

For currently enrolled research students:
To apply, please submit the completed HDR scholarship application form for current students with a CV by the advertised deadline. For further enquiries, please contact the Graduate Research School.

Please be aware that currently enrolled students are only eligible to apply for an International Research Scholarship if they commenced their higher degree by research in the past 12 months, and were unable to apply for the scholarship at the same time as admission due to the timing of their application. 

For further information on the eligibility criteria for International Research Scholarships, please view the scholarship conditions below.

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) :

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) program is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education. The objective of the IPRS is to maintain and develop international research linkages and to attract top quality international postgraduate research students to areas of research strength within Australian tertiary Institutions. The number of IPRS on offer varies from year to year and in 2012, four (4) scholarships were offered at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS).

The IPRS covers the tuition fees for a period of two years for a Research Masters degree or three years for a Research Doctorate degree and the cost of a standard Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the scholarship holder and their dependant(s). Applicants awarded the IPRS must commence their studies in the year of award. Applicants who are successful in receiving an IPRS will also be awarded the Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) living allowance scholarship.

Applicants should ensure that they submit their completed application, including all required supporting documentation, by the relevant application deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

International Research Scholarships (UTS IRS) :

The UTS International Research Scholarship (UTS IRS) is provided by the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) as part of its long term commitment to internationalisation with a particular view to enhancing its international links and profile in research. It is aimed at attracting high quality international students to work in areas of research strength. Each year, UTS offers up to 60 IRS to eligible candidates who demonstrate exceptional research potential.

The UTS IRS only covers the tuition fees for a period of two years for a Research Masters degree or three years for a Research Doctorate degree. The UTS IRS Scholarship is not transferable to another institution.

Applicants should ensure that they submit their completed application, including all required supporting documentation, by the relevant application deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA)

The Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) Scheme is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). From 2011 onwards, APAs are now awarded to international applicants who have been successful in receiving an IPRS scholarship. The APA covers general living expenses for a period of two years for a Research Masters degree or three years for a Research Doctorate degree. In 2014 the amount for this scholarship is A$25,392 per annum and is indexed annually.

Applicants should ensure that they submit their completed application, including all required supporting documentation, by the relevant application deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

UTS President’s Scholarship (UTSP)

The UTS President’s scholarship (UTSP) is provided by the University to international students who demonstrate exceptional research potential. The UTSP covers general living expenses for a period of two years for a Research Masters degree or three years for a Research Doctorate degree. In 2014 the amount for this scholarship is A$25,392 per annum and is indexed annually. The UTSP scholarship is not transferable to another institution.

Applicants should ensure that they submit their completed application, including all required supporting documentation, by the relevant application deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

UTS Aung San Suu Kyi Child and Maternal Health Care Scholarship

The UTS Aung San Suu Kyi Child and Maternal Health Care Scholarship is funded by the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in honour of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The scholarship is open to newly commencing Burmese international students of exceptional research potential to undertake a higher degree by research at UTS in a field relevant to midwifery or child and family health nursing. The scholarship is valued at $25,849 per annum, and is provided to assist with general living costs.

Applicants should ensure that they submit the completed scholarship application with supporting statement to Graduate Research School by the relevant deadline. At the same time, the application for higher degree research for international students should be submitted to UTS: International by the same deadline.

Deadline for the scolahips is 20th Aug. 2015.

UTS scholarships office

The UTS scholarships office provides information about a wide range of scholarship opportunities for all students, including some opportunities for Research students not administered by GRS. Go to the scholarships office website to search for other funding opportunities.

GRE EXAM

What is the GRE?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most graduate schools in the United States. Created and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 1949, the exam aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam administered at Prometric testing centers.

In the graduate school admissions process, the level of emphasis that is placed upon GRE scores varies widely between schools and between departments within schools. The importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an important selection factor.
                          

More than anything else, your admission to graduate school will depend on your scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE (not the Subject Test). It is essential that you do well--at least 550 on each test (600+ is even better)--to get into most doctoral programs. Master's programs are less competitive, so lower scores (450-500 on each of the tests) are less of a problem. You will probably have trouble being admitted into any program with scores less than 450 on one of the tests.
To ensure that you score as high as you can, it is essential to prepare for the GRE. Buy one of the review books and develop a systematic plan that will enable you to brush up on your skills in vocabulary, reading comprehension, analogies, algebra, and geometry. Don't think that you can "cram" in these areas the week before the test--you will simply need more time (months) if you are serious about doing well. (When you register for the GRE General Test, you will receive free software to help you study for the test, but it is likely that you will need to begin studying before you register.)

• In this video you will make an idea to when you should GRE exam . 

Plan to take the General Test in November. This will ensure that your scores will be available to meet any admissions deadline. Also, if you do poorly on your first try, you should have enough time to re-take the test in December to try to improve your scores. Remember, though, that you have a 50-50 chance of doing worse on the next try, and that both sets of scores will be reported to the schools to which you apply, unless you cancel your scores, an option you have after taking the computerized General Test (you must cancel without knowing your scores). You will receive your unofficial test scores on the General Test--taken on computer--as soon as you complete the test; official scores will be sent to you and to the institutions to which you will be applying within 10 to 15 days after the test. Scores for the Subject Test are usually reported about six weeks after you take the test.)


You must register to take any GRE.  For the General Test, it is important to register early to get your choice of test dates in the busy testing months of November, December, and January. For the Subject Test, you need to register at least six weeks in advance. In any event, you will need to have taken it by February 1 of your senior year to meet the admissions deadlines for most doctoral programs.You can register online (as well as take sample tests and order review books) at GRE Online.You can also register by mail by completing the registration form in the GRE Information and Registration Bulletin. You can obtain the latter by downloading it from GRE- Online or by writing to: GRE, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000. You may also be able to obtain a copy from the Testing Office on your campus.

Finally , this is very important video related to this subject , it's recommended  to watch it  :

For more information , please visit this site : https://www.ets.org/gre

PHOENIX Project

The PHOENIX Project grants scholarships which include a monthly allowance, travel, insurance and participation costs, to students (undergraduate, master, PhD, post-doctorate) and staff members from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria to undertake a mobility period or full degree in a partner University in Europe. Europeans will also be able to apply for the scholarship and study in the Middle East.

General information

• The Erasmus Mundus Programme
• The PHOENIX Partnership
• Scholarships
• Financial support

The Erasmus Mundus Programme

The Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 Programme is a cooperation and mobility programme in the area of Higher Education, implemented by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Erasmus Mundus Action 2 – STRAND 1 main goals are:

• to promote the European Higher Education;
• to improve and enhance the career prospects of students;
• to promote intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries scheme for students, scholars, researchers and professionals;

This strand includes partnerships between European and third countries’ Higher Education Institutions, exchange and mobility in several Higher Education levels, and also a scholarship scheme for students, scholars, researchers and professionals.

The PHOENIX Partnership

The PHOENIX project intends to develop a structured mobility-based cooperation between 3 Palestinian, 2 Lebanese, 1 Syrian and 2 Jordanian HEIs on the one side and 9 EU HEIs from the second side. This cooperation network aims at supporting students from all levels (undergraduate, Master and PhD and Posdoctoral) academic staff, researchers and administrative staff to gain experiences, expertise and skills through interaction in an international environment.
Among this initiative’s main goals, the following can be pointed out:

• To set up an institutional-based sustainable Europe- Palestine- Lebanon- Syria- Jordan mobility network focusing on regional prioritized needs.
• To support a pool of 150 well-educated and responsible young men and women to study and get training in the identified specific thematic fields.
• To enhance partner HEIs capacity of conducting joint community-oriented quality research.
• To raise staff’s competencies for better university governance, a common priority by all lot2 participating Universities.
• To foster using technologies for academic and governance purposes.
• To develop sustainable academic and research network for future cooperation among the project partners.

To achieve these objectives, the project foresees 150 mobilities, divided in two cohorts.

Scholarships in the 2nd cohort:

The available scholarships are:

For Middle East candidates:

• Undergraduate: students from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria willing to develop their activity in a European Partner University. The duration of an undergraduate mobility flow is of 5 months and corresponding to a monthly scholarship of 1000 €.
• Post-Doctorate: students from a lot 2 country partner institution ( Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria)  willing to develop their activity in a European Partner University. The duration of a post-doc mobility flow is of 6 months and corresponds to a monthly scholarship of 1.800 €.
• Academic and Administrative Staff:  from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria  Higher Education Institutions who wish to develop their activity in a European Partner University. The total duration of the mobility is of 1 month, corresponding to a 2.500 € monthly scholarship.
   

For EU candidates:

• Undergraduate: students from European partner Institution willing to develop their activity in a Lot 2 country Partner University. The duration of an undergraduate mobility flow is of 5 months and corresponding to a monthly scholarship of 1000 €.
• Master: students from European Higher Education Institution willing to develop their activity in a Lot 2 country Partner University. The duration of a master mobility flow is of 9 months and corresponding to a monthly scholarship of 1000 €.
• Post-Doctorate: students from European Higher Education Institutions willing to develop their activity in a Lot 2 country Partner University. The duration of a Post-doc mobility flow is of 6 months and corresponding to a monthly scholarship of 1800 €.
• Academic and Administrative Staff:  from European Higher Education Institutions who wish to develop their activity in a lot 2 country  Partner University. The total duration of the mobility is of 1 month, corresponding to a 2.500 € scholarship.

Financial Support

In the 2nd Cohort, PHOENIX offers 46 scholarships that cover travel expenses, participation costs (if applicable), health insurance and a monthly allowance.

TYPE OF MOBILITY	DURATION	MONTHLY ALLOWANCE
Undergraduate	5	1000 €
Master	9	1000 €
Post-Doc	6 months	1800 €
Staff	1 month	2500 €

Every selected applicant will also benefit from a two-way flight ticket and a health, accident and travel insurance valid during the entire mobility period.

The scholarships offered by PHOENIX will be distributed as follows:

Third Country	Undergraduates	Masters (Exchange)	Post-Doctorate	Staff	TOTAL
Jordan	3	-	2	3	8
Lebanon	7	-	2	4	13
Palestine	5	-	2	-	7
Syria	2	-	-	4	6
SUM	17	-	6	11	34
EU	9	-	2	12	12
TOTAL	26	1	8	11	46

MOBILITY FROM MIDDLE EAST TO EUROPE

	TG1	TG2	TG3	TOTAL
Undergraduates	9	0	8	26
Post-doctorates	3	0	3	6
Staff	9	2	0	11
TOTAL	21	2	11	34

MOBILITY FROM EUROPE TO MIDDLE EAST

	TG1	TG2	TOTAL
Undergraduates	9	0	9
Masters (exchange)	0	1	1
Post-doctorates	1	1	2
TOTAL	10	2	12

Information about courses here.

Study In Poland

[Study in Poland

Poland is a great country in which to study. Here, you will find a wide selection of courses you can take at low cost. Polish universities are eager to welcome foreign students, while Polish cities not only offer suitable conditions for studying but also boast plenty of attractions.


Polish education has a long and impressive academic tradition with its roots going back as far as the Middle Ages! Jagiellonian University in Kraków was founded in the 14th century and is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Today we are proud to offer education on a par with the European standards.


In almost every big city, there are public and private schools offering third level education. Course availability is rich and the schools are continuously expanding their offerings to suit the market demand. Polish diplomas are recognized in the European Union (EU) and worldwide, and in countries like the USA, Canada and Australia. Studying in Poland gives you a solid education and a better chance to find a good job in the EU and beyond!


The high quality of Polish education can be seen in the fact that many Polish scientists have built international careers. Did you know that the first full face transplant in the USA was done by a team of surgeons lead by a Polish doctor, Maria Siemionow who graduated from Poznan Medical Academy?


If you choose to study in Poland, you can apply for a Polish Government Scholarship. There are also a lot of other ways to lower the cost of your college fees.

[Life in Poland

Poland is located in the middle of Europe. It links East and West not only geographically but also culturally. The country’s territory is 322,575 sq km; inhabited by 38 million people. Poland is a member of the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN).


Poland is a dream country for those who love tourism. One day you can admire the sunrise on the coast of the Baltic Sea and another watch the sun hide behind the peaks of the mountains in the south of Poland.


From the cities full of sightseeing wonders you can take a trip to breathtaking wild primeval forests with unique flora and fauna. In Poland, everybody will find something for themselves. Love windsurfing? Make sure you visit the Hel Peninsula. Are you into climbing? The Swietokrzyskie Mountains are waiting for you. You can also sail amidst the beautiful scenery of the Warmia and Masuria Regions or climb to the tops of the Tatra Mountains – the highest mountain range in Poland.


Poland is one of the fastest growing economies. It is the 6th largest economy in the EU and 21st in the world. Poland was the only EU member state that showed a positive GDP growth during the recent great economic crisis.

• Erasmus Student Network Politechnika Warszawska (ESN PW / WUT) facebook Link.
• Photos about Erasmus life in Poland Link. 

• Are you interested in studying in Poland? Find out more about entry requirements.
• University? Polytechnic? Academy? Find out more about different types of schools in Poland
• How to pay less? Find out more about scholarships for foreign students.
• Studying Polish or other foreign languages? Find out more about language courses.

Scholarship for International Students in Design Studies | Turkey

Izmir University of Economics is offering two scholarships for International Students. Scholarship is awarded in the field of Design Studies. Scholarships are available for pursuing master`s program at the Izmir University of Economics. The scholarship covers tuition fees only.

Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded in the field of Design Studies.
Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing master`s program at the Izmir University of Economics.
Scholarship Provider: Izmir University of Economics
Scholarship can be taken at: Turkey and Abroad (spend a part of their educational life abroad)

Eligibility: Currently, students with bachelor’s degrees in architecture, interior architecture, industrial design, graphic design, fashion, management, textile and mechanical engineering are doing research in areas that range from prototypical car design to urban identity, from smart textiles to cultural representation, from the use of daylight in architecture to fashion and gender.

Scholarship Open for International Students: International Students can apply for this scholarship.

Scholarship Description: The Master`s Program in Design Studies offers a common ground for various design disciplines and embraces interdisciplinary as an academic framework. Such interaction between disciplines will allow students to discover more creative solutions. Introduced as the first graduate program of this kind in Turkey, architects, interior architects, graphic designers, industrial designers, fashion designers and applicants of other disciplines are provided with a unique research opportunity. With studies informed by this broad approach, ultimately, students will prepare a comprehensive thesis in their chosen field. Students aiming to apply their skills in their respective industries are provided with opportunities to deal with projects in a theoretical framework. Consequently, it is possible for graduates to pursue careers in both the field market and academia.

Number of award(s): Design Studies Master’s Program offers 2 scholarships for international students.

What does it cover? The scholarship covers tuition fees only.

How to Apply: For detailed information please contact the Office of International Affairs Hulya Incekara – hulya.incekara-at-ieu.edu.tr

Tubtak 2015: Graduate Schoolarships for least developed countries in turkey

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) grants scholarships for Least Developed Countries (LDC) students seeking to pursue a graduate (MA/MSc or PhD) degree in Turkey. The scholarship covers fields of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technological Sciences, Medical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. You should be able to demonstrate the potential to contribute significantly to Turkey’s goal of international cooperation in scientific and technological development.

The scholarship will consist of:

• A monthly stipend of 1.500 Turkish Liras (TL) for MSc/MA students

• A monthly stipend of 1.800 Turkish Liras (TL) for PhD students

• Tution Fee (up to 2.000 Turkish Liras)

• A monthly allowance for health insurance coverage for the award holder only.

• Travel Allowance

• Support for Turkish Language Learning

Maximum duration for the scholarship is 2 years for the Masters and 4 years for the PhD program. If you successfully complete a Master’s program you will be rewarded scholarship for a PhD program on the condition that you are admitted to a program at a Turkish University.

Eligibility

Specialities

Agriculture

Engineering

Medical Sciences

Science

Social sciences and humanities

Age

- 30

Languages

English

Educational level

Bachelor

Master

Other conditions

You must be a citizen of one of the countries above (and not have dual citizenship or denaturalized Turkish citizenship)
You must be 30 years old or younger for the MSc/MA programs and 35 years old or younger for the PhD programs
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree or who are currently enrolled in your fourth year of college are eligible to apply for scholarship for the MSc/MA programs.
If you hold an MSc/MA degree or currently enrolled in a master’s program and intend to enroll in a PhD program in Turkey you are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

How to apply

[1] Application form
[2] Copy of birth certificate or passport (pages of personal information)
[3] Copy of Bachelor’s  and Master’s degree (If any)
[4] Copy of Undergraduate and Graduate transcripts (If any)
[5] A motivation letter (Statement of purpose)
[6] Curriculum vitae (please use this template)
[7] Two reference letters
[8] Certificates of achievement (if any)

The documents must be in English or Turkish. Officially translated copy of the documents can be used in the application.

During the application, the original copies of required documents are not demanded.However, applicants who receive the scholarship must send the original copy of required documents in order to be able to use their scholarships.

More information

For further information please visit the website here and the FAQ page here. If you have further questions please contact bideb2235@tubitak.gov.tr
Program Officer: Mustafa Eren TOPAL
Tunus Caddesi No: 80,06100 Kavaklıdere/ANKARA
Tel: 444 66 90

Türkiye scholarships

                             Türkiye scholarships

Opportunities

• Türkiye scholarships consist of these opportunities:

• Allowance

• For Undergraduate Students 250 USD per month
• For Master's Students 360 USD per month
• For Ph.D. Students 500 USD per month
• For Research Scholarships Holders 900 USD per month

• Accommodation

Türkiye Scholarship students can stay in public university dormitories without paying any fee. Students who do not want to stay in these dormitories can use other housing possibilities on their own expenses.

• Tuition and Fees

Türkiye Scholarship students do not pay any tuition or university fee for education.

• Health Expenses

Türkiye Scholarship students are covered by public health insurance.

• Turkish Language Course

Türkiye Scholarship Students take Turkish language course for one year if they do not have proof of Turkish Language knowledge. Turkiye Scholarship students who study in other languages instead of Turkish must also take Turkish Language Course.

• Transportation

Türkiye Scholarship students will get a certain amount of money for their transportation expenses at their first arrival to Türkiye and departure after graduation from Türkiye.

Application Requirements

Candidates who have graduated or are likely to graduate from an educational institution equivalent to that of Türkiye's in the present academic (i.e. bachelor's degree for master's level) can apply to Türkiye Scholarships.

There is also age condition for candidates required to meet.

• For applicants applying to Undergraduate Degree: Those who were born no earlier than 01.01.1994,
• For applicants applying to Master's Degree: Those who were born no earlier than 01.01.1985,
• For applicants applying to Ph.D Degree: Those who were born no earlier than 01.01.1980,
• For applicants applying to Research Program: Those who were born no earlier than 01.01.1970,
• Applicants shouldn't have any health problems barrier to education.

It is expected to have certain academic score from candidates for each program and scholarship level. There are specific minimum score of the program that you are applying at "assessment and selection" section.

Students who are currently studying in Türkiye are not allowed to apply to the level that they are already studying.

Turkish citizens and persons who lost Turkish citizenship cannot apply for this scholarship program.

Türkiye scholarships are open for all country citizens who meet these conditions.

Short-term scholarship programs may have additional application requirements. Please check the requirements during the application period.

Application can only be made on-line via this website.

Assessment and Selection

The selection of candidates is carried out according to academic achievement and interview performance. Türkiye Scholarships is a program based on academic success of the candidates.

Academic criteria of the applicants will be measured according to these documents:

• Diploma Grade

• General Average Grades Received Until The Last Term (*)

• University Entrance Exam Grade (if any)

• High School Graduation Exam / Baccalaureate Grade (if any)

• International Test Score (if any)

• Other Academic Assessment Score

(*) cumulative GPA

Candidates must have at least

• For Undergraduate degree applications 70 %

• For Master's degree and Ph.D. Degree applications 75 %

• For Medical School applications 90 %

weighted grade point average over their maximum graduation grade.

Candidates among those who completed the application fully will be invited to interview according to their academic success.

Interview information will be delivered by e-mails and online application system. Interviews will be held face to face or via communication tools in the countries where Turkish Consulates or Embassies don't exist.

For further info:

http://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/index.php/en/

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

If you're applying for a Masters degree or other type of postgraduate course, you may classify writing the personal statement as the last thing that you care about doing ,but in fact writing an excellent personal statement is more important than you think and it plays a major role in increasing your opportunity .

here is a little guide to help you understand what a good Postgraduate personal statement should achieve, how to get started on putting it together, and complete a polished final draft ready to send off.

What's the aim of a Postgraduate personal statement?

A postgraduate personal statement is a document used to highlight your personal experience, skills, grades and other supporting factors that will assist when you embark on completing a postgraduate application, either for a Taught Masters, Research Masters or PhD.
Each time you submit an application, you will usually be required to write a personal statement.

Length of a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Typically you will be allowed around 1 side of A4 to say why you think you should be accepted on to the course. there are many things to consider first before knowing the structure of your statement  . 

Sometimes you will just be asked to provide a statement that supports your application, though at other times you will be given more of a description of what to include. 

For example, if you are applying for a PGCE course you may choose to use the following tip:

Describe briefly your reasons for wanting to teach giving the relevance of your previous education and experience, including teaching, visits to schools and work with other young people.

There will be times when you are not given any clear indication of what you should include in your statement, so we’ve written some guidelines to help you put together a well-structured statement.

this is an outline to follow if this is the case.

Before you start your Postgraduate personal statement

Before starting to write your first draft of your personal statement, use the points below as a guide.

Try to put together a paragraph of 2 or 3 sentences for each question, as this will help you construct a good personal statement that focuses on what the reader is interested to find out.

Notes About You

Why do you want to pursue postgraduate study?

This would likely to be based around your career choice and personal development and achievement.

What are your reasons for wanting to study at a particular university?

It may be the university’s educational reputation, the course you want to join is highly recommended for excellence, or that the location is where you would like to pursue your career goals following completion of you course.

Why is this particular course of most interest to you?

Perhaps consider the career route you wish to take means the course is highly relevant to that choice or that you want to study it because of  your personal interests.

What aspects of the course are of particular interest to you? e.g. specialist modules, work placement opportunity.

You may have discovered that the chance of work experience whilst you study; or the excellent job prospects upon completion of your course are particularly alluring.
 

What previous academic and practical experience have you got that shows your interest in your chosen subject?

Did you take up work experience whilst studying at your last educational facility or were your grades particularly impressive?

Maybe you have been part of a specialist club or have taken on additional interests in your chosen subject.

What about mentioning if you took a year out to get involved in a relevant activity?

Make sure you include everything that is relevant to your application.

What skills do you have that will help you make the transition between undergraduate and postgraduate study and make you succeed in the research area?

Consider in this area if you have taken part in a skills programme which helps you with language and study as an undergraduate or postgraduate.

Think about the skills you learned or developed during your undergraduate degree or other previous studies. These might include time management, IT, numeracy, communication or analytical skills, as well as practical skills gained from field or laboratory work. 

Try to give an example that demonstrates you have each of these skills - admissions tutors want to see proof behind your claims. 

We go into a little more detail in the section below ‘What Should I Include in my Personal Statement’.

General guidelines for writing your Postgraduate personal statement

Do not use the same statement for each application – each one will require slightly different content depending on the university you are applying to and the content of the course. 

Therefore it’s important to research each university and what’s involved in each course, so you can see what is unique about each of your choices and how they each stand apart from the others.

Don't underestimate how difficult it can be to write a good personal statement that will do you justice. Therefore make sure you give yourself ample time to write it.

Always use good vocabulary and grammar – well-written sentences that flow easily will make your statement more fresh and dynamic compared to other applicants.

There are many ways to discover good grammar and language by visiting the library or going online - some pieces of software available free of charge can check your grammar for you. Avoid Americanisation’s (unless of course you are American!).

Do not use overly long sentences.

Try to keep the tone of your statement positive and enthusiastic. You also need to demonstrate you are able to make the points required in a concise manner, and make sure you adhere to the word limit.

Write a draft and keep checking it, shortening if you need to and rewriting it until it feels right.

Perhaps get someone else to read it and provide you with any errors they spot as you tweak it.

When you've completed your final draft, make sure you use the spelling and grammar checker on your computer to correct any obvious mistakes.

How to Structure a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Your statement should be structured, with a clear introduction, main body and end.

The aim of the introduction is to grab the reader’s attention and hold it so they remain interested and read to the end of your statement.

In the main body of the statement you should concentrate on relating your skills, knowledge and experience in the field and how this relates to the course you are applying for.

When you think your statement is as good as you can make it, ask a few friends or family members to take a look at it and see if they can suggest any improvements. You could also ask one of your last teachers to check it for you.

Print off a copy of each statement you write as what you have written will probably be referred to in your interview. It’s important you remember what you have written so you can answer any questions from the admissions tutors as fully as possible.

What should I include in my personal statement?

As mentioned above, there are many different things to include. The following is a list of areas you could potentially cover in your statement, remembering to keep a positive view on all of the things you choose to include: 

Why you want to do this particular course/study this particular area of research – write down your reasons why you are interested in and enthusiastic about pursuing further study into the field. 

Convey your motivation and mention any relevant projects, dissertations or essays that demonstrate your skills. Put down anything that shows creativity, responsibility and independence.

You should also mention any prizes or awards you have, plus any relevant travelling experiences or time spent studying abroad. 

Finally

It's important to remember that a personal statement is meant to be "personal".

Almost every postgraduate course requires one, it provides the department with information about you whereas your application will cover the formal details such as where you last studied, your grades, which course you are applying for. 

No matter which course you intend to apply to you will need to consider the language that you use, get the grammar and spelling correct, and make sure it is tailored to the course and university you are applying to.

There's nobody else who knows you and your experiences as well as you do, so you are the best person to write your personal statement in order to present yourself in the best possible light. 

You may wish to ask yourself this question – could my personal statement apply equally to, say, my friend or my neighbour? 

If the answer is "yes" then it is probably too general and you need to make it more specific and more personal.

 Here are some sample examples :
https://www.studential.com/personal-statement-examples/postgraduate