Your personal statement is a key aspect of the selection process.
It's your opportunity to demonstrate your drive and passion to study to become a nurse, what's inspired and motivated you to choose this profession, and to demonstrate the skills and qualities you have that will enable you to practice as a future registered nurse, showing how you can make a difference and contribute in meaningful ways when you're in post.
You need to detail the skills you have acquired such as specific communication skills, an understanding of and an ability to appreciate the needs of others such as supporting peers, and an understanding of cultural differences.
You should explain the inspiration behind your nursing field route and the sort of qualities you have that suit the programme you've chosen to apply for.
You should also show a genuine understanding of how the programme is structured and the differences between the practical and theoretical aspects of the programme.
The following tips may prove useful:
Nursing (Adult)
If you're applying for a degree in adult nursing you need to be able to demonstrate your ability to interact on a professional basis with adults from diverse backgrounds and ethnic groups, from young adults through to the older person and the acutely ill in hospital care, community care and end of life care.
Adult nurses also promote health, educate people how to live healthier lifestyles, assess, lead, co-ordinate, and deliver compassionate, sensitive, and culturally informed care. You need to demonstrate your knowledge of nursing in the adult field.
You should be able to evidence a wide range of personal and social interactions that support your application and highlight your qualities and strengths to the full.
Nursing (Learning Disabilities)
Learning disabilities nurses work with people across the whole lifespan, enabling each person to reach their full potential, flourish and live their best lives. They facilitate the care and treatment of people, including advocacy to ensure the people you care for have choice, control, and independence in all aspects of their daily lives.
Working in a diverse range of settings, such as people's homes, education, residential and community centres, hospitals and specialist Autism services, learning disabilities nurses help break down barriers to reduce health inequalities. You should be aware that a learning disability diagnosis varies between all individuals, and expert nursing care can really make a vast difference to outcomes.
Nursing (Mental Health)
Mental health nurses work with patients and carers from a variety of sectors in life, supporting patients experiencing acute, complex, or long-term mental health problems.
Mental health nurses support patients to understand their situation, promote recovery and help them live independent lives using their communication, interpersonal and therapeutic skills to build positive, trusting and person-centred relationships.
This type of role may entail nursing patients with drug or alcohol abuse issues alongside the complex range of mental illnesses that can present. Mental health nursing offers a range of opportunities, including crisis care and follow-up community psychiatric nursing opportunities. Make sure you research this area well before writing your personal statement in full.
Key themes
There are five key themes we look for in your personal statement. Ensuring you’ve clearly covered and addressed these will further strengthen and improve your application and hopefully secure an invitation to interview.
Making sure you’ve covered the below points will not only help you succeed in being offered an interview, but it provides excellent preparation for the interview as you’ll have already considered the key areas that will be discussed:
| Key Themes | Tips |
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Insight and understanding of the nursing profession and how you are suited to the specific field of study |
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Your motivation and inspiration for the chosen programme and profession |
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An understanding and commitment to the values, qualities, and behaviours expected of the nursing profession |
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Details that are relevant to the application: e.g., previous training, work or life experience, placements, or transferable skills |
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Literacy Skills |
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| Course title | Award | Year of entry | Link to view course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (Adult) | BSc (Hons) | Year of entry: 2025 | View course |
| Nursing (Learning Disabilities) | BSc (Hons) | Year of entry: 2025 | View course |
| Nursing (Mental Health) | BSc (Hons) | Year of entry: 2025 | View course |