Writing a personal statement for Medicine, Dentistry, Oxford or Cambridge requires more than listing your grades and experiences. You need to explain your motivation, demonstrate academic preparation and reflect on what you have learnt.
Use the free personal statement examples below to understand how applicants can structure their answers to the new UCAS personal statement questions.
Watch Dr Ahmed’s guide on how to start your PS
Choose the example most relevant to your application.
Medical Personal Statement Example
See how a Medicine applicant can demonstrate motivation, scientific interest, understanding of the profession and reflection on work experience.
View the free medical personal statement example
Learn how to discuss your interest in Dentistry, oral healthcare, patient communication, practical skills and dental work experience.
View the free dental personal statement example
Explore how an Oxford-focused personal statement can demonstrate academic curiosity, wider reading and critical engagement with scientific ideas.
View the free Oxford personal statement example
See how a Cambridge applicant can present super-curricular activities, independent learning and analytical thinking.
View the free Cambridge personal statement example
These examples should be used for guidance only. Do not copy their wording, experiences or conclusions. Your personal statement must remain an accurate account of your own preparation and interests.
The UCAS personal statement is now divided into three questions:
Applicants have a combined maximum of 4,000 characters, including spaces. The answers are considered together, so each section should contribute different evidence without unnecessary repetition.
Explain why you want to study Medicine, Dentistry or your chosen Oxbridge subject.
Strong answers may refer to:
Avoid generic claims such as “I want to help people” unless you support them with specific evidence.
Connect your academic experience to the course.
You might discuss:
Do not simply list your subjects. Explain what you learnt and why it will help you succeed at university.
This section can include:
Reflection matters more than prestige. Explain what you observed, what you learnt and how the experience affected your understanding.
A useful structure is:
Experience → Observation → Learning → Relevance
The webinar explains how to approach the new UCAS personal statement format, including:
During an online review, a Dr Admissions Super Tutor assesses your draft line by line. The review considers:
content and structure;
The tutor helps you improve your own statement without writing it on your behalf.
Avoid:
Your statement should be specific, concise and easy to discuss during an interview.
Before submitting, check that you have:
Your personal statement gets you noticed — but your interview gets you the offer.
The next stage is the most important, and often the one students feel least prepared for.
Prepare properly with our Consultant-led interview course and learn exactly what medical and dental schools are looking for.
Yes, but their importance varies by university and course. Some medical and dental schools use the personal statement during shortlisting, while others use it mainly for interview preparation or contextual review.
A strong personal statement can still help by demonstrating clear motivation, relevant preparation and thoughtful reflection. It may also provide material for interview questions, so every claim should be accurate and ensure your statement is high quality.
The three answers have a combined maximum of 4,000 characters, including spaces.
This is generally ineffective. Medicine and Dentistry require different motivations, professional understanding and supporting evidence.
Oxford and Cambridge applicants should demonstrate academic curiosity, wider reading and independent engagement with their chosen subject.
No. Examples should only be used to understand the structure, content, and expected depth of reflection. But if you are re-applying, you can use your own personal statement again.
