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Successful Personal Statement For Engineering At Oxford

Last Updated: 3rd August 2020

Author: Adi Sen

  • Engineering

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through an Engineering applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of Engineering. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Engineering comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

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Engineering Personal Statement

I have always considered myself creative; much of my youth was spent designing and building with my Dad in his workshop. I would read encyclopaedias on cars and watch design-related TV programmes such as BBC’s Robot Wars, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of each robot and thinking about how they could be improved. This background, combined with a genuine enjoyment of mathematics and physics, has given me a desire to read engineering at university.

Reading Marcus du Sautoy’s “The Music of the Primes” and Simon Singh’s “Fermat’s Last Theorem” has shown how individuals have dedicated their lives to solving seemingly simple problems. The main attraction of these books and mathematics more widely, is problem solving, which is also what draws me to engineering. Solving a wide variety of problems is something I really enjoy; in the most recent UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, I was awarded a gold certificate, also the best score in my year at school.

Studying physics at A-Level has helped me to understand the world, and answered questions I had as a child; why does a satellite stay in orbit? How does gravity work? Why does a clock pendulum keep in time? My favourite aspect of physics is mechanics, complemented by my maths mechanics modules. The application of physics and mechanics to engineering was obvious from the outset; it is a fundamental skill set which bridges the gap between science and invention. I also enjoy studying Further Pure Mathematics, in particular calculus, and am interested in how the solutions of second order differential equations apply to problems in mechanics.

Projects including designing and making a desk lamp, a torch and bench vice grips in GCSE Engineering gave me an initial insight into the discipline. The course gave me hands on experience with equipment typical of an engineering department. Considering the benefits of materials was important too; from an economic, aesthetic, and practical perspective. I also secured work experience at a BMW Mini Plant in the ‘Whole Vehicle Analysis’, section. One project involved heating up a Mini’s bonnet to address complaints from customers in hot countries that the bonnet scoop sagged. I used CNC measuring equipment and helped to write up one of a series of reports, resulting in an alloy being added to the scoop so it retained its structure. The week introduced me to engineering in the real world, the importance of quality control and precision and the cost of a company’s mistakes.

Aside from my studies, I have always had a musical interest and am working towards grade 7 piano. I completed work experience at the local ‘Yamaha Homeworld’ music shop specialising in top range digital pianos. I am constantly impressed at how a digital piano can look, feel, and respond exactly like a real piano. I like being part of a team and am a keen rugby and cricket player. Being elected as prefect and head boy has further helped me to work well, and get on with others, as well as improving my public speaking. This has been complemented by taking Grade 8 ‘Speaking in Public’ last year, in which I achieved a distinction. I now feel confident talking in front of large groups and being able to communicate my ideas easily. Reading Steven Johnson’s “Where Good Ideas Come From” discussed the theory that “ideas are generated by crowds where connection is more important than protection” and for me this epitomises the importance of team work and communication within engineering.

Ultimately, I would like to play a role in the future of our rapidly developing world; studying engineering at university will not only give me the skills to do this, but will also stimulate my passion for mathematics and science.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is an excellent statement.

The student begins with personal reasons as to why they are interested in engineering, and by the end of the introduction, the reader is left in no doubt that the student is absolutely sure they want to pursue engineering at a higher level. The student successfully describes a range of experiences and interests covering several engineering disciplines and keeps the application general enough to be relevant to a general engineering degree. The statement is well-structured with a clear introduction, main body, and end.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

Although the student mentions several experiences/interests covering several engineering disciplines, they fall short of naming a specific engineering discipline that captures their interest.

Whilst this is not a requirement, naming a particular field of engineering as capturing one’s interest above other fields would demonstrate a level of decisiveness to the reader. Many universities do not offer general engineering degrees, and it is possible a student who is applying for engineering at Oxford or Cambridge will also make several applications to universities for specific engineering disciplines.

It is important to keep the statement general enough for applications to general engineering courses but also specific enough for applications to individual engineering disciplines. This would have been possible by stating an interest in a particular engineering discipline.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an excellent statement, one that is well-written and well-structured. The student’s motivation to study engineering is clear, although the student falls short of naming a specific field of engineering which capture’s their interest above all others.

Because of this one negative, we’re awarding this statement 4/5 stars. However, it’s important to note this rating is based on the overall strength of the statement. Although it had potential to be a little stronger, this had no impact on the number of offers the candidate received.

And there we have it – an Oxford Engineering Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Engineering application.

With our  Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme we help you craft the perfect  Personal   Statement , achieve a highly competitive PAT score and teach you how to  Interview effectively.

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Personal Statements for Further Study

A personal statement is your chance to explain your motivation for applying and why you are a great candidate for the course..

Guidelines given vary from the simple “Provide evidence in support of your application” to the more common “Tell us why you are interested in the course to which you have applied. Describe your academic interests and reasons for applying to XXX”. For some courses there may be a much more prescriptive and structured approach, requiring you to write a series of shorter responses to specific questions relating to your motivation, experience and suitability for the course. You may also come across some institutions that ask you to reflect on how you might add to the diversity of a cohort should your application be successful.  

If you are applying to more than one university, each statement will need a different emphasis – do not use the same statement for all applications.  

In your statement, you should demonstrate:

  • Motivation, enthusiasm, and a clear understanding of why you are making the application to this particular course, and to this particular institution.
  • How your academic background and other experiences have shaped your decision to apply and how the course contributes to your plans for the future.
  • Evidence that you have the ability, experience, skills and motivation to successfully contribute to the course, and to complete it.

Structure and Content

The opening paragraph sets the framework for the rest of the statement, think of it as your ‘trailer’. This is where you can grab the reader’s attention or lose it… You might start with a powerful anecdote, a brief narrative of your initial inspiration, or a thought-provoking statement linked to your academic interests.

Within the main body of the essay you should aim to cover:

Why you want to study this topic or field

Is it a natural extension of your current interests? How did you become interested in this area? Why does it continue to fascinate you? What have you done within your degree or outside of your study to fuel this interest? Would the course provide a step towards a longer-term goal?

Why you have chosen this specific course and institution

Are there particular options or modules that interest you? Is there particular expertise in that department? Has access to specific resources such as museum collections, libraries or laboratory equipment been a factor? Has the reputation (through recommendations or other means) of the course inspired you? Are you attracted by opportunities for collaboration or work placements? Have you attended any Open Days or other visits?

How your experience equips you for the course

Consider the subjects you studied at undergraduate level; your relevant skills (technical, language, computing, research methods); independent study or research; prior (relevant) experience; academic awards and other achievements. The focus here is likely to be on your academic suitability for the course, but if you have relevant work experience or extra-curricular activities that provide further evidence of your interest or ability then include them too. Your non-academic achievements might also provide evidence of project management, resilience, effective communication and so on.

Where the course might lead you

You don’t need to have a detailed career plan, but you do need to show how this course fits in with your general aspirations. Are you intending to continue on to a PhD? Do you have a broad interest in contributing to a particular issue or field, e.g. social enterprise, public policy, human rights, sustainability? Or do you have a more specific goal in mind? How will your chosen course help you to achieve your goals?

Closing paragraph

Use your closing paragraph to summarise your application, return to any themes you introduced at the beginning, and to restate your enthusiasm for the course.

Practical Advice

  • Writing effective personal statements takes time. Expect to go through several drafts and ask tutors, peers, careers advisers and others to review your statement before you submit it.
  • Good English, grammar and spelling are essential. Avoid jargon and make sure it can be understood by non-experts. 
  • Keep the tone positive, fresh and lively in order to convey enthusiasm and make yourself stand out, but remember that this is a document introducing you in a professional capacity.
  • It’s a good idea to mention relevant individuals whose work has truly inspired you, but avoid name-dropping for the sake of it, and excessive and evidence-free flattery of the institution or the course.
  • If you refer to any papers or books then reference these correctly in a bibliography at the end of the statement.
  • Pay attention to any word limits. If none are stated then aim for no more than two sides of A4 or 1000-1500 words.
  • It is usually possible to apply for multiple courses at a single institution. Many (including Oxford) will require you to complete a separate application form for each course that you wish to apply for.

Research Proposals

For many PhD and some research Masters applications the personal statement is often accompanied by a research proposal – a document that sets out your research interests and proposed area of study. The detail required in this section varies hugely for different disciplines. For some science subjects it may simply be a list, in order of preference, of the named PhD projects you wish to be considered for. However, for most areas – and especially in the arts, humanities and social sciences – you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to developing your ideas, discussing them with potential supervisors and writing a proposal. Your academic tutors should be able to give you some guidance on writing research proposals, and there is some useful advice from  Vitae  and from  Find a PhD .

Admission Essays for US Graduate Schools

The information in this handout applies also to applications to American universities. However, there are subtle differences in the style and approach to essays aimed at the US context. A statement written for the US is likely to feel more personal; think of it as your academic biography – setting out your inspiration for the academic path you have followed in the past, the present and into the future. The Careers Service runs a workshop on US applications early each Michaelmas Term. The Fulbright Educational Advisory Service  also publishes guidelines on completing US applications. US university career services often provide useful advice on writing graduate school admissions essays. See for example: MIT graduate school essay advice , UC Berkeley advice on writing graduate admissions statements , UNC application essay advice and Yale advice on writing personal statements for graduate school.

Teacher Training Applications

The personal statement for postgraduate teacher training is the key part of your application. The question is quite prescriptive, and your focus should be on your motivation for becoming a teacher: particularly how your teaching and other experiences have contributed. Ideally you should also set out how these have helped you to understand the role, and the sort of teacher you aspire to be. The Careers Service runs a workshop on careers in teaching each Michaelmas Term, which includes advice about the application process. For more information, see the Careers Service information on Teaching in Schools .

Graduate Entry Medicine

Applications to graduate entry medicine courses are submitted via UCAS and include a personal statement. Much of the advice in this document also applies to medicine applications, but you are likely to need to place considerable emphasis on the relevant work experience you have gained prior to your application.

See Careers Service's information on Medicine as a Second Degree  for further information.

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  • Aug 12, 2018

How to write an Oxford personal statement

Make sure your personal statement conveys your interest in the subject – write down talks you’ve been to (and what they made you think), open days you’ve attended (and what you took away from them), and maybe even books you’ve read (and whether or not you agree with the author and why). Are you seeing a common thread? It’s less about what you’ve done and more about what you make of it! It’s best to only mention one book or one talk, but really go in to some critical analysis, rather than to just write a list of seven without any additional commentary.

Any extra-curricular activities should be ‘super-curricular’, i.e. related to your degree: for Maths, maybe the Maths Olympiad, for Science, maybe a Science EPQ or that time you entered a Lego competition (totally relevant to Engineering!). For Law, I talked about teaching and debating, and the self-discipline involved in teaching myself a language as an A Level. You can honestly make anything work – try to make yourself stand out a little by having something people don’t normally have! But don’t worry about not having twenty different hobbies – you don’t have space to mention more than one or two, and you won’t really be asked about your personal life at interview.

What I would reiterate, above all, is to not stress over the personal statement. If you’ve spelt everything correctly and you’ve got all your proof that you’re genuinely and voluntarily interested in your subject outside of school then you’re doing it right! And, to the year 12s going in to year 13 – for the love of all that’s holy, take a few weeks off this summer. Breathe. Let yourself detach from the intimidating university admissions process and the pressure of A Levels for a bit, because that will let you be so much more engaged when you jump back in.

#Oxford #OxfordUniversity #PersonalStatement #UCAS #College #Oxbridgeapplication #OxfordPersonalstatement

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personal statement engineering oxford

What is an engineering personal statement?

Your engineering personal statement should tell the university all about your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.

It should also convey your enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific branch such as civil, aeronautical, etc.), and what aspects of the subject you enjoy and why.  

Your engineering personal statement will be used by universities to decide whether you are a good candidate to study engineering, and whether they want to offer you a place on their course.

How do I write an engineering personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study engineering at university. Try to pick one or two specific aspects that you like in particular and why they appeal to you.

Make sure you back up everything with examples (always show, don’t tell). You need to convince the admissions tutors that you they should offer you a place on their engineering course over anyone else.

A successful engineering personal statement should be written clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our engineering personal statement examples above.

What should I include in my engineering personal statement?

It’s important to include skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities if they helped you to build on certain strengths.

Think about how any work experience has benefitted you, and how it might be useful in your degree. University admissions tutors want to know what you can bring to their department and what value you can add.

Engineering also required you to demonstrate experience in highly practical subjects.

For example, for an electrical engineering personal statement, you could talk about your hands-on skills and interests. Have you repaired a radio or television? How did you do it and what did you learn from it?

Make sure you explain with enthusiasm – tutors want passionate students on their course that are really going to make the most of their time at university.

For more help and advice on what to write in your engineering personal statement, please see:

  • Personal Statement Editing Services
  • Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
  • Analysis Of A Personal Statement
  • The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
  • Personal Statement FAQs
  • Personal Statement Timeline
  • 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
  • What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What can I do with an engineering degree?

There are many career options available to those wishing to study engineering. These include:

  • Mechanical / electrical / chemical / aerospace / marine engineer
  • Operations manager
  • Building site inspector
  • Signalling technician
  • Metrologist
  • Technical brewer
  • Boat builder .

However, there are other areas or industries you can choose to work in where an engineering degree would be useful, such as teaching or research. For more information and advice, please see AllAboutCareers and the National Careers Service .

Which are the best UK universities for engineering?

Currently, the best universities in the UK for studying engineering at in 2023 are:

Other top universities for engineering include the University of Strathclyde , University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh . For more information about UK university engineering rankings, please see The Complete University Guide .

What are the entry requirements for engineering?

If you want to take a degree in engineering you need an A level (or equivalent) in maths. In many cases you also need physics.

Some chemical engineering degrees ask for maths and chemistry instead; some ask for maths and physics; and some ask for all three.

Therefore, it's important to check the entry requirements carefully for any engineering course you are considering applying for.

A level entry requirements range from CCC to A*A*A*, with universities and colleges usually asking for ABB.

Find out more in our engineering subject application guide .

Which is the easiest engineering degree?

Most students would say that although still considered challenging, civil engineering is the easiest engineering degree to obtain.

However, it is still a rigorous course and you will need all the necessary entry requirements to secure a place (as well as a great personal statement !).

What engineering job has the highest salary?

According to the Engineer Salary Survey 2022 , engineers in the manufacturing sector are the highest paid in the UK, with an average salary of £65,340; followed by engineers in the energy, renewables and nuclear sector, who earn an average of £62,709.

The average salary for all engineers in 2022 was £58,108, which compares reasonably well with other professions in the UK, sitting below those in strategy and consultancy, qualified accountants, and those in banking, but above those working in financial services.

Is studying engineering hard?

Engineering ranks among one of the hardest degrees you can do.

The degree requires you to have everything from logic and common sense to a tremendous amount of patience when things don't go your way.

Engineering can be very difficult because you're essentially becoming a “professional problem solver”.

Remember that all engineering fields require a sting grasp of mathematics but some require more than others.

Engineering disciplines like electrical , mechanical , chemical , biomedical , software , aerospace and civil engineering all require very good math skills. However, some disciplines, like industrial engineering require slightly less.

Further resources

For more information on engineering degrees and careers, please see the following:

  • What type of engineering should you study?
  • Engineering and technology subject guide
  • Engineering degrees in the UK
  • Engineering and maintenance careers
  • What are all the different types of engineering jobs?
  • 5 exciting careers in engineering
  • Engineering careers advice for school leavers .

Related resources

Engineering vs medicine.

personal statement engineering oxford

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Oxbridge-Mind

Top Tips for an Oxford E&M Personal Statement

Oxford economics & management personal statement – top 10 tips: do’s and don’ts.

The Oxford E&M Personal Statement is a crucial component of your university application. It presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are. It also provides a platform to bounce off questions during your interview. 

They can tailor questions to your personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. To guide you through the arduous university application process, our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement tips. This includes dos and don’ts– for your Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

General Advice for Oxford E&M Personal Statement

The Economics and Management degree at Oxford is grossly concerned with how organisations and the economy operates. It also involves how the world’s scarce resources are allocated to achieve organisational objectives. The economics branch examines how this allocation is influenced and determined by governments, consumers, and firms. It goes further into how they influence each other and are intrinsically linked to one another. Management, on the other hand, examines how to coordinate and use labour and resources effectively within a firm, such that its desired objectives are met. 

The knowledge from both economics and management are complementary, with the understanding of each intended to support and strengthen the other. Hence, when writing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement, incorporate your interest and understanding of both fields. Furthermore, when planning out your Oxford personal statement, make sure you research Oxford’s achievements in their relevant fields. Use it as a guide to illustrate your interest in Economics and Management.

Top 5 Tips for Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement

1. explain why you are a good fit for economics & management ..

Economics and management students would have vastly different personalities and interest profiles from that of students from other courses. For example, economics and management students should be particularly able to have flexibility. They should also demonstrate their ability in constructing and assessing arguments.  You should be able to demonstrate that you display these desirable qualities in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. You can do so by referencing experiences that you have gone through that have caused you to be equipped with such traits. For example, you can show that you are flexible in constructing arguments through past debate competitions, or essay competitions that you have participated in or won. An experience might not be directly related to economics and management. However, the skills and qualities that you could have picked up from going through that experience are transferable. They could also be useful to you as an economics and management student.

2. Having a strong understanding of what the economics and management course entails .

Usually students’ understanding of a particular course of study is shaped by what they have witnessed in films or from their high school experience in related subjects. Some students may have taken economics in high school, which would definitely lay a good foundation for the course. However, definitely do not expect your university experience to be one and the same! Some students may consider the course to be too math-heavy as per their expectations, or they did not be expecting to write as many essays. Do ensure that you thoroughly research the course syllabus and have a realistic understanding of what the course entails. Demonstrating a pragmatic and sensible understanding of the course in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement would also be favourable in your application. You can illustrate that you are a good fit for the course. Furthermore, it can display to Oxford tutors that you have a thought-through and reasonable motivation for wanting to study Economics and Management. For example, you can explain that you enjoy being able to study both essay-based and mathematics elements.

3. Being well-read in economics and management .

It is always recommended that you display that you are well-read in your Oxford personal statement. This is because it is a great way to display that you are interested and passionate about the subject. It also shows that you are a wide reader and are comfortable with perusing large volumes of text. This is a handy skill in any humanities or academically vigorous course.  Some books that are relevant to the economics and management course include End this Depression Now by Paul Krugman. You can also read The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier. Do keep in mind that reading is not only restricted to books! This could also include news articles, magazine columns, or even podcasts, documentaries, or Youtube videos! Finding a medium or format that is more accessible or tailored to your style of learning would be a great way for you to incorporate more content into your everyday lifestyle. For example, you could listen to a podcast when you are travelling to school instead of listening to your usual playlist.

4. Allowing yourself sufficient time to write your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement .

Many people mistakenly think that they can leave their Oxford Economics & Management personal statement to the last minute as it is only a 4000-character count essay. However, remember that you need time to redraft your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement multiple times. You also need to buffer enough time for seniors, friends, or career guidance counsellors to take time out of their schedule to read your Oxford personal statement. They can provide feedback on your work, and you can refine it based on their comments!

5. Having a good structure .

Structure matters a lot when writing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. It enhances readability. It also allows you to communicate exactly what you intended to your admissions tutor without anything being lost in translation! A good structure would include a short introduction paragraph briefly introducing why you want to study economics and management. Next, your body paragraphs could highlight desirable qualities and traits. These could include those that an economics and management student should have. It could also include aspects of the course that aligns well with your interest or type of personality. You could lastly conclude by summarising key points that you would like your Oxford tutors to take away.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Economics and Management Personal Statement

1. mentioning and listing every experience and achievement that you have done ..

Even though you would have done a variety of activities and experiences in high school, not all of them would be relevant in your application to be an economics and management student. Many students misunderstand the application process, thinking that Oxford is looking for the most decorated, well-rounded student. However, they are instead looking out for the student who is a good fit for the economics and management programme instead. You could be the perfect student, but that does not mean you are the perfect economics and management student. There may be a specific experience that you definitely want to include in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement but it is not relevant to the course. You can include it by talking about relevant qualities or skills that you have picked up from the experience. For example, volunteering and mission trips might not seem directly relevant to economics and management. However, you could explain it by stating that they initiated your desire to study economics as you hope to seek a deeper understanding of economic policies that can help reduce inequality or poverty.

2. Focusing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement on economics or management and not both.

Do not forget that the course that you are applying for includes both economics and management, and the course syllabus is roughly split equally between the two! If you only focus on economics or management and leave out the other, this could signal to your admissions tutor that you are not clear on the course you are applying to. However, understandably, you would be applying to five different schools and courses in your university admissions. If you are applying to four other economics courses and Oxford’s economics and management programme is the only choice you are applying to, you can still mention both by leaving a section of your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement on management to acknowledge and show it.

3. Turning your Oxford personal statement into an economics essay instead of explaining your interest in the course .

Many applicants choose to mention an economic theory that got them first interested in economics, to use it as an opening to their Oxford Economics & Management personal statement or when they are explaining about a book or an article that they have read. However, do keep in mind that the focus of the Oxford Economics & Management personal statement should always be why you want to study economics and management and why the course would be a good fit for you. Do remember that Oxford tutors would already be extremely knowledgeable in their field. This means that regardless of how obscure or unconventional the theory that you are explaining is, you would not impress your Oxford tutors with it. They want to learn about you, and if they wanted to learn about a theory, they would read a textbook!

4. Not reflecting whenever you bring up a personal experience .

Whenever you mention an experience that you went through, always elaborate on it by linking it back to economics and management. For example, you could mention how the experience has caused you to pick up desirable traits that an admissions tutor would want in an economics and management student. You could also elaborate on how participating in such activities was due to your interest in economics and management, or how it grew your passion for it.

5. Exaggerating or lying about experiences in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement .

If you are invited for an interview, the Oxford admissions tutors would be basing some of their interview questions on your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. This means that they are likely to ask you to elaborate on some experiences or theories that you mentioned in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. If you exaggerated or lied about any experience that you have mentioned, it is likely that the Oxford tutor would catch you in the lie or realise that you were exaggerating. It is better for you to come off as authentic than deceitful, so be truthful when explaining your story!

→What is the Oxford E&M program?

The Oxford Economics and Management (E&M) program is an undergraduate degree program offered by the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. The program combines economics and management to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business, finance, and economics.

→What are some tips for writing a strong Oxford E&M personal statement?

Some tips for writing a strong Oxford E&M personal statement include researching the program and demonstrating an understanding of the subject, highlighting relevant academic achievements and extracurricular activities, showcasing leadership and teamwork skills, and demonstrating a genuine passion for economics and management.

→What should be included in an Oxford E&M personal statement?

An Oxford E&M personal statement should include information about the candidate’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal qualities that are relevant to the program. It should also include specific examples of how the candidate has demonstrated leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

→How long should an Oxford E&M personal statement be?

The Oxford E&M personal statement should be no more than 4,000 characters or 47 lines, whichever comes first. Candidates should use this space wisely to showcase their strengths and demonstrate their suitability for the program.

→Is it important to tailor the personal statement to the Oxford E&M program specifically?

Yes, it is important to tailor the personal statement to the Oxford E&M program specifically. This includes researching the program and understanding its unique features and requirements, as well as demonstrating a genuine interest in the subject and a strong motivation to study at the University of Oxford.

→How important is the personal statement for the Oxford E&M program?

The personal statement is a crucial part of the Oxford E&M application process as it allows candidates to showcase their passion for the subject and their potential to succeed in the program. The personal statement also provides the admissions team with insight into a candidate’s motivation, academic background, and personal qualities.

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Simon Fraser University Engaging the World

Computing science.

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personal statement engineering oxford

ADMISSION  

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Application Deadlines

  • Application deadlines for the Master of Science in Professional Computer Science Program can be found  here .

Before Applying

Before submitting an application, you should read carefully about:

  • SFU's Graduate Studies Application Process  - You will need to submit your application through SFU's graduate application system, goGRAD .
  • Becoming an SFU Graduate Student
  • Graduate Studies Admission Requirements  for Graduate Programs
  • School of Computing Science Admission Requirements
  • Frequently Asked Questions about the program
  • Information about Financial Support 

Application Checklist

Please note that you are required to fulfill admission requirements as laid out by both Graduate Studies and the School of Computing Science.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the graduate programs in computer science is competitive: only the best qualified applicants are offered a seat. Therefore, it is imperative that students familiarize themselves with the admission requirements in order to ensure they submit a strong application. 

The minimum requirements for admission to the doctoral program:

a) a master's degree in Computing Science or related field from Simon Fraser University or its equivalent from a recognized institution

b) The School's Graduate Admissions Committee may offer, at its discretion, PhD admission to exceptional students holding only a bachelor's degree and without a master's degree or equivalent in computer science or a related field. In this case, the student should have obtained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5/4.33, or a grade point average of at least 3.67/4.33 (A-) based on the last 60 units of undergraduate courses.

MSc (Thesis)

The minimum requirements for admission to the MSc (Thesis) program:

a) a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University or its equivalent from a recognized institution with  a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B),

b) The School's Graduate Admissions Committee may offer, at its discretion, M.Sc. admissions to exceptional students without an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related field.  Students must demonstrate, at a minimum, competence in computer science at the third year level equivalent to CMPT 300 (Operating Systems 1), CMPT 307 (Data Structures and Algorithms) and CMPT 354 (Database Systems and Structures).

MSc (Accelerated) 

The minimum requirements for admission to the MSc (Accelerated) program:

a) Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at SFU are qualified to be admitted into the Accelerated Master's program in the School of Computing Science provided that they have satisfactorily completed at least 90 credits of undergraduate work with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.67/4.33 including at least 24 credits of upper division CMPT course work.

b) To be admitted to the program, the student must submit evidence, usually reference letters, from qualified referees demonstrating the student’s ability to undertake advanced work in the area of interest.  Students must also satisfy typical admission requirements set by the graduate program committee.

MSc (Professional Master’s Programs)

Please visit the Professional Master's Program  admission requirements page

SFU-ZJU Graduate Dual-Degree Program (GDDP)

Applicants must be admitted to one university, and then apply and be admitted to the partner university.

To qualify for admission, students must satisfy the usual admission requirements as specified by each university. The university of first admission will be referred to as the student's 'home' university. Students whose home university is SFU are called SFU students, while those whose home university is Zhejiang University are called ZJU students.

For Masters within the GDDP with SFU as your home university, please refer to MSc (Thesis)  admissions requirements.

For PhD within the GDDP with SFU as your home university, please refer to PhD admissions requirements.

All those interested in a graduate program at SFU must complete an online application  to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Each application must include all of the following:

  • Online application form
  • All post-secondary transcripts
  • CV/Resume 
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • English language competence exam results

English Language Competency

The language of instruction, examination, and communication in the professional master's program in computer science is English. Students whose primary language is not English must meet SFU's English proficiency requirements as set out in the Graduate General Regulation 1.3.3 . Applicants who have completed a degree at a recognized post-secondary institution where the language of instruction and examination is English in a country where English is the primary language are not required to submit proof of English proficiency. Please view the list of accepted countries here .

All other applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more detailed information on the requirements, please visit the Graduate Studies page on English Language Requirements .

Conditional and Qualifying Admission

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted with lower formal qualifications when there is significant professional experience relevant to the proposed area of scholarship. Please do not contact us about waiving the requirement. Instead, use your application materials (your CV, statement of purpose, etc.) to make the case that your professional experience is relevant and should be considered along with your GPA.

The School's graduate admissions committee may also, at its discretion, offer admission to the program to exceptional students whose undergraduate degree is not in computer science or a related field. Such students typically make up for the lack of program-specific education through relevant work experience, course work, or certificates, diplomas, etc.

For more information on qualifying and conditional admission, please view Graduate Admissions Regulations 1.3.8  and 1.3.9

Please note: Conditional and qualifying admission is offered only in exceptional circumstances.

Application Fee Waivers

The SFU School of Computing Science will consider waiving the application fees for applicants from least developed countries , as identified by the UN, as well as applicants from countries affected by crisis, who have a strong likelihood of being admitted. If you wish to be considered for a need-based fee waiver, please reach out to your potential supervisor to nominate you to be considered for one. Please do not contact the School directly to request a waiver, the nomination must be made by your potential supervisor.

You can review all current faculty in the School of Computing Science here .  

Decision Timeline

Admission offers are sent out on a rolling basis following the application deadline. Please note that we are unable to provide application status updates. Applicants will be notified via email once a decision has been made. All Fall applicants should receive a decision by the end of April. All Spring applicants should receive a decision by the end of November.

personal statement engineering oxford

  • Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc)
  • Graduate School
  • Prospective Students
  • Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Geologists study the materials that make up the earth, the features and structures found on Earth as well as the processes by which these features and structures formed. Our department has a wide range of expertise in geological sciences, including field-based studies (e.g., mineral deposit research, volcanology, sedimentology, tectonics, petrology, hydrogeology), experimental research (e.g. hydrofracking, rock deformation, volcanic processes, C02 sequestration), and laboratory analyses (e.g. petrography, petrology, geochronology).

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

  • The Geological Science program in EOAS is consistently ranked as one of the best geological science programs in Canada, and in the top 20 internationally.
  • We house world-class instrumentation for isotopic and geochemical research (PCIGR), the Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU), and Vancouver is the world headquarters for Mineral deposit exploration.
  • British Columbia is an ideal natural laboratory to foster combined field and laboratory research.
  • Industry and government collaborations are extensive and many graduate students are funded by Industrial partnerships, which typically lead to fulltime employment.

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

  • Canada or the United States
  • International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Applicants with a B.Sc. or B.A.Sc. are considered; a B.Sc. in Earth Science or a B.A.Sc. in geological engineering is desirable.

2) Meet Deadlines

January 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, september 2025 intake, january 2026 intake, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc)

Prospective students are encouraged to read about the research interests https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/research/areas of individual faculty members to identify who would be a suitable supervisor and to contact this person before applying to the department.

Citizenship Verification

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research focus.

Research within our program includes:

  • the effects of climate change on landscapes, surface processes, and terrestrial sedimentary deposits
  • carbon sequestration processes at and near the surface of the Earth
  • processes involved in the genesis of mineral deposits
  • composition and thermal structure of the mantle underlying the oldest portions of the earth (cratons)
  • reservoir characterisation of unconventional petroleum resources
  • strain localization and processes in structural geology
  • processes operating in subduction zones
  • the origin and evolution of silicate magmas and mineralization potential
  • the reconstruction of the elevation of mountain belts through time
  • constraining the dynamics and geochemistry of the lithosphere through time
  • the distribution of elements and isotopes in Earth systems
  • volcanology and igneous petrology as related to the formation, transport and eruption of magma

Research Facilities

Our Geological Science program is housed in the recently constructed Earth System Science Building. Research facilities include, the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research (PCIGR); the Electron Microbeam and XRD Facility (EMXDF), the Centre for Experimental Studies of the Lithosphere (CESL), and the Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU).

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

Masters students are guaranteed a minimum salary of CAN $26,530.20 per year for the first two years, which can consist of research assistantships (RAs) to help professors with their grants and contracts, teaching assistantships (TAs) to help teach courses and labs and grade assignments, scholarships and prizes, and combinations of all the above.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

Our two-year M.Sc. program in Geological Science is designed to prepare students for employment in the public or private sector, or to pursue further studies in a Ph.D. program. Recent graduates have taken positions at numerous mining exploration companies (many of which are headquartered in Vancouver), government Geological Surveys, and faculty positions around the world. Those looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences have gone on to studies at Stanford, MIT, Melbourne, Oxford, Lyon, Bristol, Edinburgh, and many other institutions, including our own Ph.D. program!

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

  • Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

personal statement engineering oxford

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

  • Ameli, Ali (Geology; Applied Hydro-geochemistry; Climate Changes and Impacts; Environmental Tracer; Ground Water and Water Tables; Groundwater Ecohydrology; Groundwater-Surfacewater & land Interaction; Hydro-geological Engineering; Hydrological Cycle and Reservoirs; Numerical analysis; Watershed Management)
  • Barker, Shaun
  • Beckie, Roger (Other environmental engineering and related engineering; Hydrogeology; Mine drainage; physical hydrogeology; groundwater geochemistry; groundwater contamination)
  • Bustin, Robert Marc (Unconventional Petroleum Reservoirs)
  • Chritz, Kendra (Anthropocene, Onset, tempo, and trajectory of human impacts on biological processes and environmental change)
  • Crowe, Sean (Geobiology, biogeochemistry, microbial evolution)
  • d'Arcy, Mitch (Earth and related environmental sciences; Geomorphology; Climate/palaeoclimate; Sedimentology; Geochronology; remote sensing)
  • Dipple, Gregory (carbon sequestration, geologic fluid flow, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions )
  • Eberhardt, Erik (Geotechnical engineering; Mining engineering; Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering; Deep Underground Excavations; Rock Slope Engineering; Block Cave Mining)
  • Groat, Lee (Mineralogy and crystallography (except soil mineralogy and chemicals aspects of crystallography); Inorganic geochemistry; Economic geology; mineralogy; crystal chemistry; Geochemistry; economic geology; gem deposits; pegmatites)
  • Hickey, Kenneth (understand the processes involved in the genesis of mineral deposits from a multidisciplinary perspective; Post-mineralization weathering, denudation and subsequent burial of Carlin-type Au-mineralization at the Cortez Hills deposit: Implications for finding Au-deposits in bedrock under cover.)
  • Jellinek, Mark (Volcanology, Geodynamics, Planetary Science, Geological Fluid Mechanics)
  • Johnson, Mark (Geology; Natural environment sciences; Agriculture; Biogeochemistry; Carbon cycle; Climate Changes and Impacts; data science; Ecohydrology; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Fresh Water; Ground Water and Water Tables; Hydrological Cycle and Reservoirs; Land and Soil; land use; Running Water Hydrosystem; Water and Sustainability)
  • Kennedy, Lori (Geological science, structural geology, development of large-scale fault systems and shear zones, displacements, fluid-rock interactions, strain localization, confining pressure)
  • Kopylova, Maya (diamond ore deposits, Diamond exploration, petrology and volcanology)
  • Lukes, Laura (Earth and related environmental sciences; Psychology and cognitive sciences; Education; Geoscience Education Research (Discipline-Based Education Research); Self-regulated Learning; field-based experiential learning; learning in informal settings (e.g., museums, parks, science centers); crowdsourced and citizen science; teacher beliefs; motivation, emotion, and beliefs in learning; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in STEM; learning engineering)
  • Mayer, Ulrich (Geology; groundwater contamination; groundwater remediation; hydrogeology; low-temperature geochemistry; mine waste management)
  • McDougall, Scott (Other earth and related environmental sciences, n.e.c.; Geotechnical engineering; Debris flows / floods; Geohazards; Landslide-generated waves; Landslides; Natural and man-made geological hazards; Rock avalanches; Shoreline erosion; Tailings dam breaches)
  • Peacock, Simon (Natural sciences; metamorphic petrology; Tectonics; earthquakes)
  • Russell, Kelly (Physical sciences; volcanology; petrology; magma rheology; geochemical thermodynamics)
  • Saylor, Joel Edward (Paleoaltimetry; Paleoclimatology; Tectonic Basin analysis; Quantitative sediment provenance analysis; Rivers; Tectonics; Sedimentary Basins; Structural Geology; Field Geology; Sedimentology; Stratigraphy; Sequence Stratigraphy; Sediments; Geology)
  • Scoates, James (Igneous petrology; Geochronology; Economic geology; magmatic evolution; layered intrusions; flood basalts; large igneous provinces; Proterozoic anorthosites; magmatic ore deposits)
  • Smit, Matthijs (1) timing and duration of)
  • Weis, Dominique (Isotope geochemistry; Environmental geochemistry; Earth Structure and Composition; Geodynamics; Chemical Pollutants; Earth Sciences; Geochemistry; High-precision/sensitivity geochemical analyses; Indigenous studies; Oceanic islands and mantle plumes)

Sample Thesis Submissions

  • Measuring enhanced carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and mine waste derived from ultramafic hosted mineral deposits
  • Using radiogenic isotopes to fingerprint the source of geochemical enrichment in the Hawaiian mantle plume from the Koʻolau basalts on Oʻahu
  • Emplacement environment and structural modification of the Big Bulk Cu-Au porphyry system, northwestern British Columbia
  • Characterization of gas migration related to ethanol blended fuel spills and stray gas
  • Source and timing of alkali metasomatism and associated critical element mineralization in the Pool Creek map area, southeastern Yukon
  • Carbon mineralization in ultramafic mine tailings via CO₂ injection
  • Processes governing carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and hydromagnesite-magnesite playas in Atlin, British Columbia
  • Till geochemistry and lithogeochemical exploration for a concealed kimberlite, Northwest Territories, Canada
  • Olivine diversity in the Leslie kimberlite, NT, Canada : implications for transport and emplacement processes

Related Programs

Same specialization.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD)

Same Academic Unit

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD)
  • Graduate Certificate in Applied Geological Engineering (GCAGE)
  • Master of Applied Science in Geological Engineering (MASc)
  • Master of Applied Science in Geophysics (MASc)
  • Master of Engineering in Geological Engineering (MEng)
  • Master of Science in Atmospheric Science (MSc)
  • Master of Science in Geophysics (MSc)
  • Master of Science in Oceanography (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

UBC and the Province of British Columbia offer exceptional opportunity for combined field and laboratory research. The Canadian Cordillera offers research opportunities in:

  • petrology of intrusive and volcanic rocks of many kinds, and of metamorphic rocks of all grades
  • structural studies of complex metamorphic terrains exposed in three dimensions
  • metalliferous deposits of varied genetic types
  • mineral exploration methods; mineralogy associated with many different environments
  • complexly folded and faulted successions of bedded rocks in the mountain belts and plateaus, and in virtually undisturbed coal- and gas-bearing strata of the north-eastern province
  • numerous problems of engineering, environmental geology-related to water, slope stability, natural geological hazards, and hydrogeology (lakes, fjords, deltas, tidal flats, continental shelf, and oceanic depths provide a wide range of aquatic environments for students interested in sedimentology, geochemistry, biostratigraphy, and geological oceanography)

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Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

personal statement engineering oxford

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ENGINEERING

Vantage one engineering.

(Bachelor of Applied Science degree program)

By starting your UBC degree in Applied Science in the Vantage One Engineering program, you will gain a strong foundation of core knowledge in engineering, while also developing your English language skills. You will also have the opportunity to work in teams and learn through critical analysis and research. Coursework ranges from sustainability and engineering, to matter and energy, and computation in engineering design, with Term 3 of the program taught at the picturesque UBC Okanagan campus.

Placement into second-year engineering programs will be based on an evaluation of your first-year averages and a personal statement. You can complete your BASc degree at UBC’s Okanagan or Vancouver campuses. Approximately 50% of Engineering students will go to UBC-V and 50% will go to UBC-O after Term 3, depending on your major and academic performance. 

Vantage One engineering progression

  • First year of UBC’s Bachelor of Applied Science, when you complete the Vantage One Engineering program you will be fully prepared to transition into second year of the degree, so the program doesn’t add extra study time. 
  • Dual campus structure allows students to experience both the iconic UBC Vancouver campus in Term 1 and 2, then the beautiful UBC Okanagan campus in Term 3.
  • Upon completion of the Vantage One Engineering program, approximately half of Engineering students will go to UBC-V and half will stay at UBC-O (depending on your major and academic performance)
  • Program includes Academic English courses designed to bolster language skills alongside academic studies.
  • Small class sizes ensure a heightened degree of support from both fellow classmates and faculty.
  • With over 40 highly-trained faculty and staff at Vantage One, you are surrounded by a strong support network to enhance their academic performance, English language development, study skills, and overall preparedness for continuing your degree studies at UBC.

ELIGIBLE SECOND YEAR PROGRAMS

Okanagan Campus: Civil ,  Electrical ,  Manufacturing , and  Mechanical  Engineering. 

Vancouver Campus:  Biomedical ,  Chemical , Chemical and Biological ,  Civil , Computer , Electrical , Engineering Physics ,  Environmental *, Environmental (UNBC) **, Geological , Integrated , Manufacturing,   Materials , Mechanical , and Mining  Engineering.

*UBC offers two Environmental Engineering Programs, one is entirely at UBC's Vancouver campus and the other is jointly offered by the University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George) and UBC's Vancouver campus. To find out more about the difference between the two programs, please click here for more information .

**If you are interested in the joint Environmental Engineering specialization with UNBC , you will be required to apply as a transfer student to UNBC in second year, and relocate to Prince George, BC, for at least two years.  Please click here for more information , or email Vantage College's Engineering Academic Advisor,  [email protected] .

Wondering how you can progress from Vantage One to Year 2 of your UBC degree? Learn more here .

DUAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

UBC Okanagan campus

All Vantage One Engineering students complete  Term 1 and  Term 2  at UBC's Vancouver campus. During  Term 3  (May to July), Engineering students study at UBC's Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC. Upon successful completion of the Vantage One Engineering program, you will progress into second year and finish your Bachelor of Applied Science at either UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan. Approximately 50% of Engineering students will go to UBC-V and 50% will go to UBC-O after Term 3, depending on your major and academic performance. 

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM DETAILS

The Faculty has reserved space for all UBC Vantage College Engineering Stream students to be able to transition to a second year program. Half of the reserved spaces are located at the Okanagan campus, and the other half are located at the Vancouver campus.

UBC Vantage College students in the Engineering program who pass all courses and have achieved an average of 60% will be eligible for year two of the BASc degree program.

Program selection is competitive, and all students will be asked to rank both their preferred campus and their eligible program. Both academic performance and a personal statement are considered in placing students into programs in second year.

Students who do not successfully complete the full UBC Vantage College Engineering program or who achieve an average lower than 60% in the full program will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for evidence of academic promise for continued study in Engineering at UBC.

Upon successful completion of the UBC Vantage One Engineering program, students will be eligible for second year standing. Additional program requirements (humanities elective or APSC 181, depending on program) that are normally completed in first year will not have been met and must also be completed prior to graduation.

Students transferring into the second year of the Biomedical Engineering program who have not completed all required first year BME courses may be required to complete additional first year course work during second year.

Between September and July, you will be registered in the following courses:

APSC 160 (3) Introduction to Computation in Engineering Design Analysis and simulation, laboratory data acquisition and processing, measurement interfaces, engineering tools, computer systems organization, programming languages.

APSC 176 (3) Engineering Communication Purpose, audience, content, format, and tone are studied, as are team-based report writings and presentations. Community Service Learning projects are integrated into existing assignments.

APSC 172 (3) Engineering Analysis I Functions, limits, differentiation, applications of derivatives, integration, applications of definite integrals.

APSC 173 (3) Engineering Analysis II Integrals and transcendental functions, techniques of integration, applications of integration, polar coordinates, infinite sequences and series, vectors and the geometry of space, and partial derivatives.

APSC 178 (4) Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves Coulomb's law, electric field, Gauss' law, electric potential, conductors, capacitance, electric currents, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic fields and forces, sources of magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves, light propagation, geometrical optics.

APSC 179 (3) Linear Algebra for Engineers Systems of linear equations, Gaussian elimination, engineering application of linear algebra, matrix operations, special matrices, determinants, vector space, orthogonality, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, linear transformation.

APSC 180 (3) Statics Force vectors, Cartesian coordinate system, free body diagram, dot and cross products, forces equilibrium of particles, force and moment equilibrium of rigid bodies, analysis of trusses, frames and machines, friction, wedges, pulleys, and belts. Applications of linear algebra in statics.

APSC 182 (3) Matter and Energy I Thermometry, states of matter and phase change, ideal and real gases, 1st law of thermodynamics, 2nd law of thermodynamics, liquids, solutions.

APSC 183 (3) Matter and Energy II Atomic structures and bonding, solid crystals, chemical equilibrium, reactions in gas phase and in aqueous solutions, acid-base and redox reactions, kinetics of chemical reactions, thermochemistry, electrochemistry.

LLED 200 (3) Introduction to Writing in Academic and Professional Registers Examination of sociolinguistic knowledge and skills that are central to the production of academic and professional texts.

LLED 201 (3) Critical Reading and Writing in Academic and Professional Registers In this course, the heightened awareness of effective academic writing gained in LLED 200 is applied to a small research project that students design, implement and report on. Students receive explicit, critically-framed instruction in reading and writing academic reports, and individualized feedback on the draft sections of their research paper, including a research proposal.

VANT 140 (4) Content and Language Enrichment Tutorials Sustained language support for linked content courses in the Vantage One Program. Students develop strategies for self-directed learning.

VANT 150 (3) Sustainability and Engineering Design Topics in sustainability, including the impact of technology on the environment and society, and fundamentals of engineering design.

VANT 151 (3) Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Project Design project that culminates in student-led project fair.

VANTAGE ONE APPLIED SCIENCE COURSE TABLE

Example weekly schedule.

Vantage One Applied Science Schedule Term One

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The personal profile is a crucial section in your UBC application. This is your chance to tell us about the things that are important to you, your significant achievements, what you’ve learned from your experiences, and the challenges you’ve overcome. It’s our chance to determine whether you’re a good fit for UBC and if you’ll receive an entrance scholarship.

On this page:

Who must write a personal profile

Preparing for the personal profile, personal profile questions, how ubc evaluates your personal profile, your personal profile and disruptions outside of your control.

Watch: Your personal profile for your UBC application

Get tips for crafting a strong personal profile that will help UBC understand what’s important to you, what you’ve achieved, and what you’ve learned from your life experiences so far.

You must complete a personal profile as part of your online application if:

  • You’re a high school student applying to any degree on UBC’s Okanagan or Vancouver campuses (except the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism ).
  • You’re a university or college transfer student applying to the Bachelor of Nursing on the Okanagan campus, or the Bachelor of Commerce or the Bachelor of International Economics on the Vancouver campus.

Each of the personal profile questions requires short essay responses (50 – 500 words), so you’ll want to think about your answers before you start your online application. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

  • Take time to reflect. Instead of simply listing your accomplishments and experiences, tell us what you’ve learned from them.
  • Be specific. Use details to provide context and elaborate on your answers.
  • Be true to who you are. Don’t focus on what you think we want to hear. Use your unique voice to tell us what you want to say.

Depending on which degree(s) you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions in your personal profile:

  • Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
  • What is important to you? And why?
  • Family/community responsibilities
  • Creative or performing arts
  • Work/employment
  • Service to others
  • Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
  • Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
  • Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well.
  • One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above.
  • For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.
  • Note that UBC does not send a link to references. We will contact your references directly, after offers of admission have gone out.

For the Bachelor of Education personal profile only:

  • Why do you want to become a teacher?
  • Describe the kind of teacher you want to be. Give examples.
  • Give an example from your experience which illustrates your suitability for the teaching profession. For example, share a story of how you overcame a challenging situation, solved a problem in a professional manner, or learned from your mistake(s), etc.

For the Bachelor of Commerce personal profile only:

  • Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • We live in a global and diverse society. Explain how your community involvement prepares you for the future in this complex world.

UBC’s trained readers will read and evaluate your personal profile and compare it with the profiles written by other UBC applicants. We’re not looking for a particular experience, and there are no right or wrong answers. Your profile will be assessed against four criteria.

Engagement and accomplishment

How do you pursue your interests and manage your responsibilities? What do you do with your time when you are not in class? What would you (or others in your community) consider your most significant contributions and accomplishments? Whether it’s winning an international award or taking care of a younger sibling, any experience can teach you something about yourself and/or the world around you. We want to know what you have been doing and what have you have learned from your experiences. Make sure to give specific examples.

Have you undertaken responsibilities and activities that have benefited those around you and/or contributed to your community in a meaningful way? If so, what have you learned about yourself and others in the process? Leadership can come in many forms. Any act of responsibility and/or initiative that serves others is a form of leadership. Leadership can be demonstrated in a formal role, within a group (e.g., being president of a club or captain of a team), or in an informal role, as an individual (e.g., taking it upon yourself to help in your community). And remember – it’s not just about being in a leadership role, it’s about what leadership has taught you.

Have you spent sufficient time reflecting upon what you want to say? Have you answered the questions in a detailed and meaningful way? Is the content of your personal profile superficial or clichéd, or are you presenting interesting, well-thought-out, and relevant ideas? Remember that trained UBC readers will be reviewing and comparing thousands of personal profiles. The best way to stand out is by making sure you have something meaningful and insightful to say.

Communication is important. Have you written a personal profile that is genuine and unique to who you are? Does your profile authentically reflect your own words? Will your voice stand out in a meaningful way, or will your profile read like many others?

We know that disruptions can arise that may affect your access to extracurricular activities at school or in your community. We will be as flexible as possible to ensure that your personal profile is not disadvantaged by disruptions caused by things outside of your control.

Remember that when we assess your personal profile we take into account all of the activities you’ve done across multiple years, not just the ones you hoped to complete in Grade 11 or 12. Your examples can come from any aspect of your life, including within your family or smaller community. There are no right or wrong answers – we’re not looking for certain activities or a long list of achievements, but rather your reflections on what you’ve experienced.

More on how to apply:

IMAGES

  1. MY PERSONAL STATEMENT EXPLAINED

    personal statement engineering oxford

  2. Personal Statement

    personal statement engineering oxford

  3. Oxford Physics Personal Statement

    personal statement engineering oxford

  4. Free engineering personal statement

    personal statement engineering oxford

  5. Engineering

    personal statement engineering oxford

  6. Successful Personal Statement For Oxford Engineering

    personal statement engineering oxford

VIDEO

  1. How To Write A Personal Statement #studentlife #oxford #personalstatement #ucas

  2. HOW TO WRITE AN OXBRIDGE PERSONAL STATEMENT (CHEMISTRY)

  3. What personal statement will get you an interview? (Cambridge admissions officer explains)

  4. Revising the Personal Statement for Health Professions

  5. PAT 2015

  6. PAT 2012

COMMENTS

  1. Successful Personal Statement For Oxford Engineering

    Today, we are looking through an Engineering applicant's Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines.

  2. Oxford Engineering Model Personal Statement Exemplar from Successful

    This is an Example personal statement by a successful Oxford Engineering applicant. I have always enjoyed solving problems, understanding the questions raised by them and the physical and mental processes required to find a solution. Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Art at AS have presented me with a variety of challenges, which with my ...

  3. 10 Top Oxford Engineering Personal Statement Tips

    Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Engineering Personal Statement. 1. Writing a list of achievements. Avoid listing things for the sake of it. Make sure each point in your Oxford Engineering personal statement is relevant and backed up by evidence. Expand on statements in order to explain why you're an ideal candidate.

  4. MY PERSONAL STATEMENT EXPLAINED

    My UCAS personal statement was a big project - let's break it down to see what elements worked best!SECTIONS: 0:00 - Introduction1:18 - Paragraph 14:03 - Par...

  5. Oxford University Personal Statements

    Oxford University Personal Statements. We hope our collection of Oxford University personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. Please do not plagiarise them in any way, or UCAS will penalise your application. Our Personal Statement Editing & Review Services are availble if you feel you need a little extra help.

  6. Personal Statements for Further Study

    Engineering. Games. Government and Public Services. Human Resources. ... For many PhD and some research Masters applications the personal statement is often accompanied by a research proposal - a document that sets out your research interests and proposed area of study. ... Oxford University Careers Service. 56 Banbury Road, OX2 6PA, Oxford ...

  7. Revealing the personal statement that got me into Oxford engineering

    People are always curious to read personal statements. In this week's video, I'm revealing the personal statement that got me into Oxford University's Engine...

  8. Engineering Model Personal Statement

    Engineering Model Personal Statement. This is the model personal statement of a successful Oxbridge Engineering applicant. My drive to study Engineering began as a curiosity about why things fail, and then how an understanding of those failures can give us new tools with which to manage unforeseen problems. This first manifested when I joined a ...

  9. Engineering personal statements

    Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1h) Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1i) work experience, Imperial offer. Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1j) with year abroad. Civil engineering degree personal statement example (1a) international applicant, Cardiff offer.

  10. Chemical Engineering Model Personal Statement

    Contact Us. Chemical Engineering Model Personal Statement. This is a model personal statement of a successful Oxbridge Chemical Engineering applicant. I was introduced to Chemical Engineering aged eleven, during my stay at a hotel in Colombo. The manager explained their sustainability programme and how chlorine is used to neutralise water and ...

  11. How to write an Oxford personal statement

    How to write an Oxford personal statement. Make sure your personal statement conveys your interest in the subject - write down talks you've been to (and what they made you think), open days you've attended (and what you took away from them), and maybe even books you've read (and whether or not you agree with the author and why).

  12. Engineering Personal Statement Examples

    Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 3. It is my ambition to work in the engineering industry and gain 'Chartered Engineer' status. Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 4. I am passionate about Engineering and will embrace any opportunity to develop my skills and flourish in my chosen career.

  13. 10 Top Tips for an Oxford Human Sciences Personal Statement

    Ultimately, they can deduce your commitment to the subject you're applying for. To help guide you through the process, our Oxford application experts have compiled a list of top 10 tips. It includes everything you should and should not do for your Human Science Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

  14. Top 10 Personal Statement Tips for Oxford E&M

    For example, you can explain that you enjoy being able to study both essay-based and mathematics elements, both of which are included in the course. 3. Being well-read in economics and management. It is always recommended that you display that you are well-read in your Oxford personal statement.

  15. Admission

    The minimum requirements for admission to the MSc (Accelerated) program: a) Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at SFU are qualified to be admitted into the Accelerated Master's program in the School of Computing Science provided that they have satisfactorily completed at least 90 credits of undergraduate work with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.67/4.33 including at least 24 ...

  16. Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc)

    Geologists study the materials that make up the earth, the features and structures found on Earth as well as the processes by which these features and structures formed. Our department has a wide range of expertise in geological sciences, including field-based studies (e.g., mineral deposit research, volcanology, sedimentology, tectonics, petrology, hydrogeology), experimental research (e.g ...

  17. Engineering

    VANTAGE ONE ENGINEERING (Bachelor of Applied Science degree program) ... Placement into second-year engineering programs will be based on an evaluation of your first-year averages and a personal statement. You can complete your BASc degree at UBC's Okanagan or Vancouver campuses. Approximately 50% of Engineering students will go to UBC-V and ...

  18. Write your personal profile

    You must complete a personal profile as part of your online application if: You're a high school student applying to any degree on UBC's Okanagan or Vancouver campuses (except the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism).; You're a university or college transfer student applying to the Bachelor of Nursing on the Okanagan campus, or the Bachelor of ...