writing a personal statement for 2 different courses

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How do i write a personal statement for multiple courses, i wanted to apply for two different courses. how do i write a personal statement that covers two different subjects.

In the first place, we’d generally advise that where possible you choose courses in related subject areas. Many Admissions Tutors do use the personal statement as a key way of selecting applicants, so if part of your personal statement is about a completely unrelated subject area then you’re likely to be at a disadvantage compared to other applicants.

However, we recognise that many strong applicants may wish to apply for courses which are related but not exactly the same – and across different universities no two courses are completely identical anyway. In this case, we’d advise a topic-based approach, whereby you write about a topic/topics – maybe something in the news – which you can analyse from the perspective of the different disciplines of the courses you’re applying for. For example, there are many issues which can be viewed from both an economic and a political perspective, so you could write about e.g. Brexit, the Coronavirus pandemic, the US election, and many other topics from both these points of view.

In general we’d recommend avoiding dividing the personal statement into one half on subject A, the other half on subject B. Even for joint courses, we want to see how you can combine perspectives and apply your knowledge, so try to do this throughout the personal statement.

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How to write a personal statement for more than one subject

You can only submit one personal statement for all five of your university choices on UCAS, so what do you do if you’re applying for different courses, or even completely different subjects?

writing a personal statement for 2 different courses

You may be applying for different subjects because you’re still considering your options, you want a back-up in case you don’t get a place on a competitive course or you want to apply for a niche course that isn’t offered at other universities.

Whatever the reasons, we have some top tips to make sure your personal statement still hits the mark.

What to do if you’re applying for courses that are slightly different:

If you’re applying for two courses that sit within the same subject area, then cover the academic interests and skills you have that are relevant to the subject as a whole. Think about what those courses have in common and try and try to include examples of those skills or interests in your personal statement.

For example, someone applying to law and criminology may write about a case study that sparked their interest in the criminal justice system.

What to do if you’re applying for courses that are completely different:

Try to focus on your skills and attributes that would make you a good candidate for all of the courses you’re looking to apply to. Skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and leadership can be applied to many different subjects.

You could also try being transparent and explaining your reasons for applying to very different courses by providing relevant reasons and examples for why you’re interested in each of the subjects.

What to do if just one of your courses is different:

If four of your UCAS choices are for the same course and one course is different from the rest, then get in touch with the university you’re applying to by email or phone. The university may let you submit a second personal statement directly to them.

Whether the university can accept a second personal statement depends on the institution so make sure to check before writing two!

If you’re unsure of what to include, then contact the universities you’re applying to. Even if the university can’t accept a second personal statement, they may still be able to provide some advice on what they’ll be looking for.

Some universities may not make you an offer for a competitive course if they think the statement lacks focus or the applicant isn’t dedicated to their subject so check before you start writing!

What should you do next?

Download your free personal statement guide.

Get even more advice on starting, writing and checking your personal statement. Plus, be inspired by real personal statement examples from our students!

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Appendix 1) How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses (not the best option)

Appendix 2) Examples of Personal Statements
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How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses (not the best option)

According to Stowe's Careers Department - Don't try to apply for different types of degrees. You should know what you want to study before applying. Do the research.

Source: www.ucas.com

Communicating your passion for a subject in your personal statement is an art in itself; but what if you're applying to two (or more) very different courses with the same statement?

Ok, it is easier if all five Ucas choices are the same

The message is clear: admissions tutors are very keen to hear why you've chosen that course; the reasons you're so enthusiastic about it; and what aspects you especially want to learn more about at university. This assumes that you have one, specific course in mind because you can only write one personal statement in your Ucas application.

But what if your five choices aren't all the same?

With thousands of different courses it's hardly surprising that you may find it difficult narrowing down your choices to one specific subject or course. It's possible that you may want to apply to two, quite different courses, or to a mixture of single subject and joint or combined courses (with differing subjects). It isn't even unheard of for a student to apply successfully to five diverse courses with one application. If you're in this scenario, take care how you approach your application. But equally, don't be put off from applying to a variety of courses if you're genuinely interested in them and feel like you have a good shot at being made an offer.

So how do I write a personal statement for more than one course?

Here are some personal statement pointers depending on how different the courses you're applying to are:

1. If there are only slight differences, or you've chosen joint or combined degrees with slightly different subject combinations...

This shouldn't be a problem. Just try to make everything in your statement as relevant as possible to all five choices. If you've included some joint or combined degree courses, make sure that each discipline or subject is addressed in some way.

2. If there are big differences between your course choices...

It might be possible to blend your statement in such a way that everything you write provides appropriate evidence of your skills, academic interests and the way you think that's relevant to all of the courses you've chosen. Alternatively you could take the honest and transparent approach and openly explain why you've chosen to apply to different courses, providing reasons or evidence for each. Whichever approach you take, if some (or all) of your course choices are very competitive and receive many more applications than there are places available, then an application that comes across as not being 100% committed and relevant to that course is more likely to go on the rejection pile. You can get a rough idea of how competitive places on a particular course are by checking the percentage of applicants receiving offers on Which University. Search for a course .

3. If just one of your choices is completely different from the others...

If you're applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine courses, where you're restricted to a maximum of four choices but your statement really needs to be 100% focused on them. In this situation some courses at some universities will be happy to be your fifth choice, despite your statement not being directly relevant to them. But equally, some won't be happy at all. Again, ask.
If you're applying for a unique or unusual course that's only offered by a small number of universities, then it's quite likely that admissions staff will be used to advising on this issue and may even provide guidance on their website. So check with them directly.

Finally, if in doubt...

How to write a personal statement

How to approach writing your personal statement for graduate applications.

If you’re applying for a grad course that requires a personal statement (sometimes also called a ‘statement of purpose’), it can be difficult to know where to start and what to include. Read on for tips from some of our masters’ students about their process and what they found helpful.

1. Before you start

The academic work is the most important reason why we’re here, but that also translates into work experiences, internships, volunteering. I think a big part of the personal statement is crafting that narrative of academic self that fits alongside your professional experiences, to give that greater picture of who you are as an academic. Lauren (MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies)

Start by thinking about the skills, knowledge and interests you’ve acquired over time and how the course at Oxford will take them forward.

Your statement is the story you want to tell about yourself and your academic work to the department you are applying to.

Most of your application and its supporting documents communicate plain facts about your academic career so far. Your personal statement is your best opportunity to put these facts into context and show assessors how you’ve progressed and excelled.

Make sure you highlight evidence of your achievements (a high grade in a relevant area, an award or scholarship, a research internship).

Presenting yourself

When I was writing my personal statement, I went onto my course website. I looked at what they emphasised and what kind of students they were looking for, and I wrote about my experiences based on that. Kayla (MSc in Clinical Embryology)

Make it easy for an assessor to see how you meet the entry requirements for the course (you can find these on each course page ).

Don’t make any assumptions about what Oxford is looking for!

Get to know your department

You want to study this particular subject and you want to study at Oxford (you’re applying here, so we know that!) but why is Oxford the right place for you to study this subject? What interests or qualities of the academic department and its staff make it attractive to you?

Use your academic department’s website for an overview of their research, academic staff and course information (you'll find a link to the department's own website on each course page ).

I said, ‘why do I actually want to be here? What is it about being at Oxford that’s going to get me to what I want to do? Sarah (Bachelor of Civil Law)

Talk it out

Talking to others about your statement can be a great way to gather your ideas and decide how you’d like to approach it. Sarah even managed to get benefit out of this approach by herself:

“I spent a lot of time talking out loud. My written process was actually very vocal, so I did a lot of talking about myself in my room.”

2. The writing process

Know your format.

Make sure you’ve read all the guidance on the How to Apply section of your course page , so you know what’s needed in terms of the word count of the final statement, what it should cover and what it will be assessed for. This should help you to visualise roughly what you want to end up with at the end of the process.

Make a start

When it comes to writing your personal statement, just getting started can be the hardest part.

One good way to get around writer’s block is to just put it all down on the page, like Mayur.

First - write down anything and everything. In the first round, I was just dumping everything - whatever I’ve done, anything close to computer science, that was on my personal statement. Mayur (MSc Computer Science)

You’ll be editing later anyway so don’t let the blank page intimidate you - try writing a little under each of the following headings to get started:

areas of the course at Oxford that are the most interesting to you
which areas you’ve already studied or had some experience in
what you hope to use your Oxford course experience for afterwards.

3. Finishing up

Get some feedback.

Once you’ve got a draft of about the right length, ask for feedback on what you’ve written. It might take several drafts to get it right.

This could involve getting in touch with some of your undergraduate professors to ask them to read your draft and find any areas which needed strengthening.

You could also show it to people who know you well, like family or friends.

Because they’re the first people to say, ‘Who is that person?’ You want the people around you to recognise that it really sounds like you. It can be scary telling family and friends you’re applying for Oxford, because it makes it real, but be brave enough to share it and get feedback on it. Sarah (Bachelor of Law)

Be yourself

Finally - be genuine and be yourself. Make sure your personal statement represents you, not your idea about what Oxford might be looking for.

We have thousands of students arriving every year from a huge range of subjects, backgrounds, institutions and countries (you can hear from a few more of them in our My Oxford interviews).

Get moving on your application today

To find out more about supporting documents and everything else you need to apply, read your course page and visit our Application Guide .

Application Guide: Statement of purpose

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Personal Statement Outline & Structure Guide

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A compelling personal statement needs both structure and purpose. Each section should clearly connect your experiences and goals to the opportunity at hand. Below is a step-by-step guide for crafting each paragraph. These are merely suggestions—how you choose to write your personal statement is entirely up to you!

1. Introduction: Hook the Reader

Purpose : Capture attention immediately and set the tone for your statement. The introduction should intrigue the reader and encourage them to keep reading.
Why : Admissions officers or hiring managers often review many applications. A compelling introduction ensures your statement stands out from the start.
Start with a powerful anecdote, surprising fact, or a vivid description of a defining moment in your journey.
Clearly introduce your theme or motivation—what brought you to this field or opportunity?
Weak: “I have always wanted to be a nurse.”
Strong: “At 10 years old, I watched my father’s surgeon deliver news with compassion, and I knew I wanted to be in a role where I could not only provide care but also comfort during life’s most vulnerable moments.”

2. Body Section (Paragraph 1): Background and Motivation

Purpose : Explain your “why”—why you are pursuing this field or opportunity, and what sparked your interest.
Why : This section builds the foundation for your narrative. It personalizes your statement and helps the reader understand the origins of your goals.
Share a specific event, class, or experience that ignited your passion.
Highlight any challenges or turning points that shaped your perspective or commitment.
Demonstrate self-awareness by reflecting on what these experiences taught you.
Weak: “I took some science courses in college and found them interesting.”
Strong: “In my sophomore year of college, a biochemistry course transformed the way I saw science. Learning how molecular processes influence human health inspired me to contribute to research that drives solutions for global health challenges.”

3. Body Section (Paragraph 2): Experiences and Skills

Purpose : Highlight key experiences that demonstrate your qualifications, skills, and readiness for the opportunity.
Why : The reader wants to see evidence of your preparation and capability. This section connects your past achievements to the future goals you outlined.
Focus on 2–3 meaningful experiences (academic, professional, or personal) that directly relate to the opportunity.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe each experience with specificity and impact.
Emphasize transferable skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving, collaboration).
Weak: “I interned at a tech company last summer.”
Strong: “During my internship at a tech company, I led a cross-departmental project to streamline client onboarding, reducing processing time by 30%. This experience strengthened my ability to manage complex workflows and collaborate effectively across teams.”

4. Body Section (Paragraph 3): Alignment and Goals

Purpose : Articulate how the opportunity aligns with your values, skills, and aspirations. Show how you will contribute to and benefit from this program or role.
Why : This section demonstrates your research and thoughtfulness. It reassures the reader that you are genuinely interested and a good fit.
Connect the mission, values, or offerings of the program/employer to your personal values or goals.
Discuss specific aspects of the program/job that excite you (e.g., courses, mentors, company culture, or opportunities for impact).
Illustrate how the opportunity supports your long-term goals and how you will contribute in return.
Weak: “This program seems like a good fit for me.”
Strong: “I am particularly drawn to your program’s emphasis on underserved communities, as my volunteer work with refugee resettlement agencies has instilled in me a commitment to health equity. I hope to leverage this training to provide accessible healthcare solutions in rural areas.”

5. Conclusion: Reinforce Your Enthusiasm

Purpose : Leave a lasting impression by tying everything together and reiterating your excitement about the opportunity.
Why : A strong conclusion leaves the reader with a positive image of you as a candidate and a clear sense of your future contributions.
Briefly summarize your key points without repeating them verbatim.
Reaffirm your enthusiasm and commitment to the field, program, or role.
End with a forward-looking statement that projects confidence and readiness.
Weak: “Thank you for considering my application.”
Strong: “I am eager to bring my dedication to health equity and my analytical skills to your program, and I look forward to contributing meaningfully to its mission while preparing for a career of impact in global health research.”

6. Final Editing and Review

Purpose : The final editing ensures that your statement is polished, free of errors, and effectively conveys your message.

Why : No matter how strong your ideas are, poor grammar, awkward phrasing, or inconsistencies can undermine your message. Editing ensures that your statement is professional, clear, and compelling.

Revise for clarity and coherence : Ensure that each paragraph flows logically to the next. Remove any repetitive or unnecessary information.
CPD Advisors are happy to provide a review. Email [email protected] to request a review. Please send your statement draft and any relevant content from the program, including prompts or guidelines.

Example of a Poor Personal Statement

Having graduated with an MA in English from Purdue University, with an emphasis on the writing of poetry, I feel that I have come a long way as a writer. I think that my poetry is strong, but I also feel that I need to continue in a concentrated study of writing and poetry. This is an important stage for me, and I think that continuing in a writing program – especially one as strong as the XYZ program – is the best way for me to accomplish my goals. Eventually I would like to be teaching poetry writing at the college level. After teaching creative writing at Purdue, I realize that it is something that I would like to continue doing as a career, along with writing my poetry. I have also taught composition at Purdue, and I enjoy teaching at that level as well. If accepted into the program at XYZ University upon graduation I would like to teach composition, and continue to write and publish poems, in the hopes that I will eventually be able to publish enough to allow me to gain employment as a creative writing teacher.

Every morning at 10:00 a.m. I come face to face with the power of language to free; it happens in a classroom. The students I teach at Seattle Central Community College come from night work in an industrial bakery, from a Vietnamese refugee camp, from a 9-to-5 job in a car wash, or from the day care center where they have left their children. All come to the English Skills Shop to improve their use of language and they move through the same process I have undertaken: uncovering their voices. When they get discouraged, I read aloud excerpts from their own writing. They applaud themselves. In this room, their varied experiences count. I remind them that the only reason to learn how to write well is because they have something to say. And they do. Until this past summer, I had no training in creative writing, nor even in literature; all my knowledge was absorbed like trace minerals from mass consumption of contemporary American fiction. The writer who does most masterfully what I attempt in my own stories is Wallace Stegner. He makes the intricate webs connecting his characters visible by illuminating the tears of dew balanced on each strand. Last summer I enrolled at the local university and have been working ever since to find resonance in my own stories and

Better Personal Statement

study the voices within others’. Through an advanced short story class and a creative writing conference, along with literature and critical theory classes, I’ve become a more critical reader and a better writer.

I’m looking for a graduate program which combines the two elements I’ve found most valuable in my recent studies: strong mentors and tight community. I seek teachers who can pull me out of the details of works and phrases to see the whole piece, its form and contradictions. I seek guidance; the self-motivation is there. To balance the hours of solitary writing, I want a graduate program, which nurtures a supportive community. Throughout this process of thawing my voice, I’ve taken periods of formal training and applied the techniques; I see graduate schools as one of these steps. Through it expect to move to another level in my writing and myself, the ability to honestly and compellingly explore the world through stories. The stronger and more fluid connection between my life and writing, the better I’ll be able to teach that connection to others. I would like to write my own stories and teach other how to write theirs. In the end, both undertakings help us all find our voices.

Good Personal Statement (with commentary)

My awakening to the wonder of human cultural diversity began with my entry into Army Basic Training. Living in an open barracks for three months with women from every corner of the United States opened my eyes and mind to the amazing variety of cultural groups just within our own country. Since then, I have lived, worked, and traveled in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. I gained valuable cross-cultural experience as a member of a multi-national task force, which provided Emergency Medical Service in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. In addition to these experiences, my Army training has enabled me to develop strong skills in leadership, teambuilding, and organization. These are all qualities that will help me to be successful in my chosen field of Community Health Nursing . [In this paragraph, she shares her turning points, skills and attributes. She also connects her past and present.]

I have chosen the focus area of cross-cultural nursing because I know that making health programs culturally accessible is as important as making the geographically and financially accessible. This has been clearly demonstrated to me at the Washington Poison Center where we provide telephone information services to the entire state of Washington. Poison Center services are underutilized by non-English speaking population groups and those with English as a second language. This is due in part to a lack of awareness of or understanding of the services provided by the Poison Center. Cross-cultural health education is the key to informing these populations of the benefits of using Poison Center services. [In this paragraph, she discusses why she is applying for this program and talks about some related experiences.]

As a cross-cultural nursing consultant, I will work with multidisciplinary teams planning and implementing community health programs for underserved populations. I will bring to these teams the unique nursing perspective and an expertise in the effects of culture on health seeking behaviors for underserved populations. I will bring to these teams that unique nursing perspective and an expertise in the effects of culture on health-seeking behaviors. Washington State has a rapidly growing Hispanic population with a large subculture of migrant farm workers. I intend to spend some time in rural eastern Washington working with Public Health officials and community leaders to increase the focus on primary prevention for this population group. I am also interested in working with Hispanic populations in other locations. With these plans in mind, I am currently studying Spanish. In addition, I plan to teach cross-cultural nursing subjects in the academic setting and in other venues such as hospital in-service training. [In this paragraph, she talks about her future goals. She also describes why she is a unique candidate.]

Writing Personal Statements for Academic Programs within an Undergraduate College

So, you’ve chosen to apply for a specific academic program for your undergraduate degree! Maybe you’re applying to a business school, a school of nursing, or another program. Now, it’s just a matter of writing that personal statement they all ask for.

As you sit down to write the personal statement, it’s important to reflect on what, exactly, the personal statement should do. At its core, this is your chance to tell them why you—yes, you!—are the right person for their program. By giving insight into who you are and your motivations for applying to their program, you can give them more to consider than just your grades or test scores. For undergraduate programs, you will focus on your life story. But remember: when you narrate your life story, you will reflect on what you have learned from those experiences.

To begin your brainstorm, here are some questions to ask yourself:

For this, it is key to familiarize yourself with the program’s website: their mission, faculty, courses, values, opportunities, etc. Identify keywords you might use when narrating and evaluating your past experiences.
Here, think about the experiences that are most relevant to those career goals. You do not need to narrate all these experiences, but show how they entail your goals, interests, and decisions.
Here, reflect on how their mission, research, and values align with your profile and professional goals. For this, identify keywords you might use when narrating and evaluating your past experiences.
It is very important to think about how you will contribute to the community of the program: you will be an active participant in the events, activities, and projects imagined, planned, and implemented. Show that involvement!
This question allows you to highlight aspects of your profile and experiences that will be more persuasive and more effective for the audience of your application, namely, the admission committee.

Before you start writing, keep these principles in mind:

You usually won’t have much space for a personal statement—likely two pages, maximum—, so you’ll want to be efficient. Though you surely have plenty to say, remember that “less is more”: pick the most essential elements of your story to share, and really focus on those. For instance, instead of enumerating a series of past experiences, focus on two or three that are the most representative of your career path and your professional mission. In other words, do more than just repeat resume statement points: go in-depth by tailoring experiences to match the program or the internship, and by elaborating on your few experiences and tell a story of those.
For example, the sentence “I have always wanted to study nursing because I like to help people” is something that any applicant to the School of Nursing could write: this statement is implied by the very application to the School of Nursing. The admissions committee will want to see evidence not only that you like a particular subject, but also that there is something about that subject that can’t be satisfied with any other program or school.
Further, instead of saying that you “like” something, you can describe an experience that inspired or confirmed your interest in that subject. Explain how and why it influenced you, that is, think critically on the contextual cues and potential implications of your past experience. These details will show your enthusiasm and dedication more effectively than stating that you “like” something.
Not everyone knows immediately what they want to do, nor do they immediately perform at a high level in college. One way to stand out in a personal statement is to demonstrate that you are on an upward trajectory as you pursue your education. Don’t be afraid to identify that you started slow in college, or mark notable challenges—but be sure to identify how you have grown and will continue to grow. In other words, you can textually transform an apparent negative information into a positive comment on that upward trajectory by means of contrastive structures. For instance, you can use the following pattern: “Even though I did not perform well in…, I learned that…”. In other words, growth can be shown by how your thinking has evolved and matured over time.
Make sure that you are responding to the question being asked: the answer to the question might be the very argument or claim that you are building throughout the personal statement. And make sure that you are staying within the word limit, because we do not know the criteria that the committee members might use in terms of the extension of the text.
Spelling, typos, and grammatical errors may distract your reader. Remember that readers often have to make quick judgments about potentially hundreds of candidates, so they may be quickly turned off by any errors they perceive and may assume that the writer isn’t fully prepared for their program if a statement seems sloppy. To proofread your writing, keep in mind that the whole process (outlining, drafting, editing, and revising) takes time.

For more information about personal statements required for graduate programs, visit our entry in the Writing Center’s Handbook: Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. programs .

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Alan Bullock Careers

Independent careers adviser and writer, ucas personal statements: applying for a mixture of courses (2024 update).

I’ve written this article to try and help UCAS applicants who are not fixed on one specific course or subject.

If you’ve read my ’20 things’ and/or ‘How to write a killer opening’ articles, you will have got the message that admissions tutors are very keen to hear about why you’ve chosen the course, the reasons you’re so enthusiastic about it and maybe what aspects of it you especially want to learn more about at uni.

This assumes that you know exactly what you want to study, because you can only write one personal statement in your UCAS application.

But what if your five choices are not all the same?

With around 35,000 courses listed in UCAS, it’s hardly surprising that some applicants will have difficulty in narrowing their choice down to one specific subject.

Some students genuinely want to apply for two or more different courses, or for a blend of single subject and joint or combined courses. Others will want to go for a mixture of joint or combined courses in which one or both subjects are not the same. It isn’t even unheard of for a student to apply successfully for five quite diverse courses in one application.

If you’re one of these students, take care and seek advice. But equally, don’t panic and don’t be put off applying.

How can you get around this? Well, my advice would be to consider one of the following approaches:

If there are only slight differences, or if you’ve chosen joint or combined degrees with slightly different subject combinations:

This shouldn’t be a problem. Just try to make everything in your personal statement as relevant as possible to all five choices. If you’ve included some joint or combined degree courses, make sure that each discipline or subject is addressed in some way.

If there are big differences between your course choices:

It might be possible to blend your statement in a way that everything you write still provides appropriate evidence of your wider skills, interests or the way you think, even though some of it will not be directly relevant to some of the courses you’ve chosen. This might be risky, but see below.

Or you could take the honest and transparent approach and openly explain why you’ve chosen different courses, providing reasons or evidence for each. This might be risky too, but see below!

Whichever of those approaches you take, one of the key considerations will be the extent to which the courses and universities you’ve chosen are oversubscribed or undersubscribed with applicants (or neither). In other words, if some or all of your choices are popular courses at unis to whom lots of applicants aspire, the risk will be much higher. Conversely, if your choices are mainly courses that nobody else you know is applying to, or at unis that nobody else you know is considering or even heard of, then it’s more likely that they won’t be put off if some of your statement isn’t directly relevant to them. The risk will therefore be lower.

In that context, I’m reminded of the words of an admissions tutor from the science faculty at a popular university who told me that it’s very rare for them to reject applicants because of their personal statement. And let’s be completely honest, there are some courses at some unis where the personal statement is not taken into account at all, as long as your predicted grades are reasonably close to what they want.

That said, if some or all of your choices are competitive courses that receive many more applicants than there are places available, then that will probably be a different matter. In this case, an application that comes across as not being 100% committed and relevant is more likely to go on the rejection pile.

If just one of your choices is completely different from the others:

In this scenario, some unis might even consider a separate personal statement sent directly to them. It quite often happens that admissions staff will agree to this if you contact the university directly and simply ask. On the other hand, they might not accept it in any circumstances. So don’t assume anything. Make enquiries, or seek advice from teachers or advisers, before adopting this approach.

Another possible solution to this kind of situation is that an admissions tutor for the ‘different choice’ course might advise you just to include a subtle hint somewhere in your statement.

There are also three specific circumstances where choosing one course that’s different from the other four might be unavoidable.

Firstly, if you’re applying for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine courses, you’re restricted to a maximum of four choices and your statement really needs to be 100% focused on them. In this situation some courses at some universities will be happy to be your fifth choice, despite your statement not being directly relevant to them. But equally, some won’t be happy at all. I have met numerous admissions tutors in the past who are more than happy for their course to be a ‘fifth choice’ in this scenario, but I have also met some who are not. One of these was a Chemistry admissions tutor at a popular Russell Group uni with whom I spoke at an open day. I asked how they would respond to a Medicine applicant who put them as a ‘fifth choice’ and the unequivocal reply was: “We would reject them”.

Secondly, if you’re applying for a unique or unusual course that’s only offered by one or two universities, then it’s quite likely that admissions staff will be used to advising on this issue, so check them out.

Thirdly, there might be a specific personal reason why one of your choices is different from the other four. I personally remember a good example of this. It was a student who wanted to study Speech & Language Therapy but for family reasons didn’t want to move away from home. There was only one uni within daily travelling distance that offered Speech Therapy, so she therefore wanted to apply to them whilst also applying for English degrees at four other unis that were reasonably ‘local’. She contacted the Speech Therapy uni and they agreed to accept a separate personal statement from her, while the statement in her UCAS application was focused 100% on English. She is now a speech therapist, so this strategy worked perfectly in her case.

Get advice from the horse’s mouth!

If you’re worried or in doubt about any of this, the best way to seek advice is to get it from the horse’s mouth – the unis themselves. A lot of courses and/or unis will be quite happy to answer an email, phone-call or direct message on social media, or will have a chatline where you could run it past a student ambassador. Or if you get the opportunity, go to an open day and actually ask them.

Some courses will not be fazed in the least if they can tell that you’ve mixed your choices, but some will reject you outright if your statement lacks focus. So don’t make assumptions, get advice. And if in doubt, ask them!

My featured image is a photo I took at Cardiff University.

http://www.alanbullockcareers.com