Example personal statement: medicine

Look for inspiration for your medicine or medical sciences application? In this guide we show you a personal statement written for 2026-entry, and break down what works to help you on your way.

Be aware that not all medical schools use a personal statement in the traditional way. Before you start writing your personal statement, check the course pages and entry requirements for each course you’re applying for.

Question 1: why do you want to study this course or subject? 

To me, medicine isn’t just about treating an individual; it’s about healing communities, and addressing health inequalities. I want to help make positive change, working towards more equal healthcare for all.

Your reason for wanting to study medicine might be personal, altruistic, or something else; you’ll be asked why you want to study it in an interview, so make sure you’re honest here so your whole application is cohesive.

I first became interested in medicine during a school trip abroad after speaking with ambulance service volunteers. I was amazed that people gave up their free time to help others while also working their own jobs. I watched ‘Sicko’ and ‘Keeping Britain Alive’ to research the possibility of worldwide universal healthcare, where I learnt that this is a much more challenging and complex solution that requires massive, institutional change.

After this, I took up a placement in a local care home. My role was to build an empathetic relationship with the residents, and I quickly saw the benefit of doing so; the residents were much happier whenever the volunteers arrived. I also shadowed the medical staff, learning about their aims for each patient, how they managed physical and psychosomatic pain, and observing some of the more complex procedures they performed.

I learnt two things on my placement: the first was that however hard you work, it isn’t always enough. And the second was that regardless of this, I want to work as hard as I can to help people who are just like the residents I’d come to befriend.

Don’t rely on a ‘lightbulb’ moment (i.e. one defining moment when everything became clear); it’s not realistic, and your reason for studying medicine should be mature and show that you’ve really thought about your choice. You can write about a particular instance that first sparked your interest like this student has, but you need to follow it up by showing how you developed this interest by taking up work experience, reading around the subject, or networking with medical staff.

Question 2: how have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

My studies in chemistry and biology have developed my interdisciplinary understanding of the human body on a molecular level. I became interested in the role of the mononuclear phagocyte system in immune response, and took a MOOC to learn more about the effect of macrophage dysfunction on the progression of hepatic encephalopathy. I used the Khan Academy to research this further, and read up on the role of the gut microbiome on liver disease. I found that it’s still unclear how much of a role genetics plays in autoimmune diseases like liver disease. This helped me develop my research and analysis skills, which will support me further in modules on medical genetics. 

In this section, you can choose to write about a specific topic you’ve enjoyed studying and what you did to learn more about it to show your independent study skills and natural curiosity in medicine. Or, you can choose to focus this on academic awards related to your science-based subjects.

You must write at least 350 characters for each question, but check with your chosen universities to find out what they want to know in your personal statement; often, medical applicants need to write more about their placements, volunteering, or work experience, which means you need as many characters as possible for question 3.

Question 3: what else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful? 

I’ve spent time in emergency medicine as a volunteer, and in non-emergency medicine on a work placement. The main thing I’ve learnt is how diverse a doctor’s skill set needs to be in order to treat physiological problems in emergency and non-emergency situations.

In my role as a voluntary emergency medic, I’ve been learning about trauma management and the skills needed to work in such an intense environment. While helping a paramedic to move a patient with an incomplete injury of the lumbar spine, I learnt the value of maintaining a calm approach in treatment. You need to be able to rely on your clinical knowledge in emergencies to correctly diagnose a patient and use equipment accurately, without allowing stress or emotions to cloud your judgement.

I also watched the team deal with a cardiac arrest. The resuscitation lead calmly gained control of the situation and directed the team. It was clear that teamwork and practice are vital in incidents like these. Each member of the resuscitation team carried out their roles instinctively, communicated clearly, and worked accurately, even at speed.

You don’t need to have completed loads of work experience in order to apply for medicine, but you should be able to reference something that you’ve done. Even volunteering in a non-medical setting with vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, or disabled people, will give you something to write about that you can relate to studying medicine. 

Whatever you choose to write about, use scientific or medical terminology where it’s relevant (don’t throw it in all over the place!), and write about key things you learnt. You should also write about any relevant skills you developed or saw in action.

The urgency of this setting contrasted to that in my GP surgery placement. Doctors in these settings employ a much more holistic approach to medicine using a relationship they’ve built over time with their patients. The doctors I shadowed needed similar skills to emergency staff, but used them in different ways. For example, in one appointment with an elderly man who was hard of hearing, the doctor needed strong communication skills, but this was to make sure the patient had heard and understood the diagnosis, rather than to direct a team.

I read ‘This is Going to Hurt’ by Adam Kay to learn more about life as a doctor. Kay’s humour showed me the importance of managing your own mental health and resilience as a doctor, especially where there is nothing you can do to help your patients, which I would like to learn more about at university.

If you’ve completed more than one volunteering or work placement, you can compare the style of medicine or care you observed to show your understanding of the diversity of healthcare. Again, focus on the skills you built or observed, and write about what you learnt or found interesting. If your experiences led you to study, read, or research more about a topic, write about it! It’ll show off your independent study skills and your natural curiosity in the subject.

You don’t have to write about your extracurricular activities. If you want to, make sure you focus on the skills you’ve built from them, and limit the number of characters you use so that your focus is on your scientific knowledge and passion for medicine.