What to Include in Your UCAS Medicine Personal Statement

So, what exactly do you think you should write about in your UCAS personal statement? Over the years, medical schools have developed a more unified understanding of what they want applicants to demonstrate in their personal statements. Below is a list of key points that almost all UK medical schools expect you to cover in a medicine personal statement:

• Your motivation to study medicine: Clearly explain why you have chosen medicine as a career. Admissions tutors want to see genuine enthusiasm and commitment. Are you fascinated by the science of the human body? Do you love the idea of helping people through illness and making a difference in others’ lives? Perhaps a personal experience with healthcare (like observing a great doctor, or a family member’s illness) inspired you. Be specific about what draws you to medicine – and avoid simply saying “I’ve wanted to be a doctor from a young age” without deeper explanation (more on clichés to avoid later).

• Understanding of what a medical career involves: Show that you have done your research into the realities of studying and practising medicine. Medical training is a long and demanding process; the job can be challenging and requires resilience. Reflect on any research you’ve done – for example, mention if you’ve spoken to medical students or doctors, watched documentaries, read books or articles about the profession, or completed a medical work experience program. Indicate that you are aware of both the scientific and the caring aspects of medicine. Medical schools will appreciate evidence that you know what you’re getting into and are motivated for the right reasons (e.g. an interest in patient care and science, rather than just status or salary).

• Relevant work experience or volunteering (and what you learned from it): Almost every strong medical school personal statement includes some form of work experience or volunteering in a caring or health environment. If you have shadowed a doctor, volunteered at a hospital or care home, worked with a charity, or even completed virtual work experience, talk about it. Crucially, don’t just list what you did – reflect on what you observed and learned. For example, you might describe how volunteering at a nursing home taught you the importance of patience and empathy when caring for vulnerable people, or how shadowing a GP showed you the value of listening and communication in adequate healthcare. Medical schools are far more interested in your insights and growth than a lengthy checklist of activities. Many medical schools say they check that you have relevant work experience and look for your reflections on it, rather than formally scoring how many placements you’ve done. They want to be confident you’ve gained realistic insight into medicine through these experiences. If you haven’t done much in-person work experience (mainly due to recent pandemic limitations), don’t panic – even other experiences like mentoring younger students, working in a team, or caring for a family member can be relevant if you tie them back to skills functional in medicine. Just make sure you can discuss whatever you include, since it may be brought up in an interview.

• Skills and qualities that make you a good candidate: Use your statement to provide evidence that you have the key skills and personal attributes needed to succeed in medicine. Think about the qualities of a good doctor (and a good medical student) and how you exemplify them. Are you a strong communicator? A team player? Do you stay calm under pressure or show resilience in challenging situations? Have you demonstrated leadership or responsibility? You can draw on a variety of experiences to showcase these attributes. For instance, mention if you’ve held positions of responsibility at school (like prefect, sports team captain, or club leader) and what skills you gained. Perhaps being a science club leader taught you teamwork and leadership, or doing a part-time job improved your time management and communication with diverse people. Medical schools also value problem-solving ability and attention to detail – you might highlight how an academic project or even a hobby (like coding or playing chess) honed your analytical skills. Tip: Rather than just claiming you have a quality (e.g. “I am compassionate”), show it through examples (e.g. describe a scenario where you showed empathy and explain why that mattered). Remember to keep the focus on relevant skills – being captain of the basketball team is excellent. Still, you need to explicitly connect it to medicine (such as learning teamwork and perseverance, which are vital in both sports and healthcare). Being well-rounded is important (universities like to see that you have a life outside of academics), but always tie it back to how it will benefit you as a medical student or doctor.

• Extracurricular activities and achievements: Finally, paint a picture of yourself as a well-rounded individual. Medical schools want students who have interests outside of academics – it shows you can maintain a work-life balance and have outlets for stress. Whether it’s music, sports, art, debate, or any other hobby, mention a couple of your significant extracurricular activities and any notable achievements (such as awards, certifications, competition results). Again, link them to relevant qualities: for example, years of piano lessons might demonstrate discipline and patience; playing on a football team could show teamwork and resilience; winning a prize in a science fair highlights intellectual curiosity and initiative. If you have any notable achievements (Duke of Edinburgh Award, grade 8 in an instrument, an interesting personal project, etc.), include them briefly and explain what you learned in the process. However, don’t clutter your statement with every single hobby – pick the most relevant or those that have truly shaped you. A sentence or two about extracurriculars is usually enough to show you’re a balanced person. As one guide puts it, limit non-academic content to around 20% of your statement so that the majority of your writing focuses on medically relevant experiences.

The above points outline the key elements your personal statement should include. In summary, you need to convey why you want to be a doctor, how you have prepared for it (academically and through experience), and why you have the right skills and character for the profession. If you cover motivation, understanding of medicine, work experience insights, key skills (like teamwork and communication), and a bit about your outside interests/achievements, you’ll be hitting the main things medical schools look for.

• What do medical schools want to see in your motivation for studying medicine?

  Medical schools are looking for genuine, well-thought-out motivation—not vague statements like “I’ve always wanted to help people.” Instead, they want to understand why medicine specifically appeals to you. Reflect on key moments that sparked your interest, such as volunteering in a care home, shadowing a GP, or personal experiences with healthcare.

  Your motivation should demonstrate:

  • A realistic understanding of what a career in medicine entails

  • A strong drive to serve others and make a difference

  • Evidence that your interest is long-standing and informed by experience

  Make it personal and specific. The more authentic your motivation, the more memorable your statement becomes.

• How can I show that I understand what a medical career involves?

  Admissions tutors want to see that you’ve done your research and explored the realities of being a doctor—not just the highlights. Use your work experience or volunteering to reflect on:

  • The emotional and physical demands of the job

  • The importance of teamwork, resilience, and communication

  • The variety of roles within medicine—both clinical and non-clinical

  • Observations from doctors, nurses, or allied health professionals you’ve worked alongside

  Instead of simply describing what you did, focus on what you learned. For example:

  “While shadowing a GP, I observed how crucial empathetic listening is in consultations, especially with anxious patients. This taught me that medicine is as much about human connection as it is about clinical knowledge.”

• What type of work experience should I include in my personal statement?

  There’s no “perfect” work experience—but what matters most is how well you reflect on what you’ve seen or done. You can include:

  • Shadowing doctors in hospitals or GP surgeries

  • Volunteering in care homes, hospices, or community centres

  • Roles involving responsibility and communication (e.g. working in a pharmacy or with children)

  • Online work experience programmes such as Observe GP or the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Virtual Work Experience

  Don’t just list activities—use them to demonstrate insights into the profession and how they've influenced your desire to study medicine.

• Which skills and qualities should I highlight to stand out as a candidate?

  Medical schools are looking for well-rounded individuals who show potential to succeed as future doctors. Focus on the following skills and qualities:

  • Empathy – Understanding and sharing the feelings of others

  • Resilience – Coping with pressure and learning from challenges

  • Communication – Listening, explaining clearly, and building rapport

  • Teamwork – Collaborating effectively with others

  • Leadership – Taking initiative and responsibility

  • Integrity – Honesty, reliability, and professionalism

  • Reflectiveness – Ability to learn and improve from feedback and experience

  Demonstrate these through real examples. Rather than claiming to be resilient, describe a time you overcame a setback and what you learned.

• How do extracurricular activities strengthen a UCAS personal statement for medicine?

  Extracurriculars can be a powerful way to showcase your personality, commitment, and transferable skills. Whether it’s sport, music, debating, part-time work, or volunteering, these activities demonstrate:

  • Time management and balance

  • Dedication and long-term commitment

  • Communication and leadership (e.g. captaining a sports team)

  • Compassion and teamwork (e.g. mentoring younger students)

  Link your extracurriculars back to how they’ve helped prepare you for a career in medicine. For example:

  “As a volunteer youth football coach, I’ve developed patience, leadership, and communication—skills that will help me build rapport with patients and work within multidisciplinary teams.”