Personal statement guidance for IELLI postgraduate courses

Applicants for all postgraduate courses in the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI) must submit a personal statement as part of the application process.

There are several topics you should cover in your personal statement, in separate paragraphs. There is no required word length or limit but, as a general rule, you should focus on content rather than length.

• Explain why you are interested in the qualification you are applying for. This should include discussion of your relevant work experience, paid or voluntary. If you are intending to change the direction of your studies, for example from an engineering undergraduate degree to a Masters in International Education or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), the University would like to understand why you would like to make such a change.
• Provide some information about your intended career after gaining the qualification.
• Tell us why you are interested in studying at the University of St Andrews, and, if appropriate, why you are interested in studying in the UK. 
• Include any other relevant information which you believe would support your application. This section may be quite short.