How to Write One Personal Statement for Slightly Different Courses

One of the most common questions students ask when applying through UCAS is:

“What if my courses are slightly different?”

Because UCAS allows only one personal statement for all five choices, students often worry about how to write something that works for multiple courses.

The answer depends on how different the courses actually are.

Step 1: Understand how different the courses are

Before writing anything, evaluate the distance between the courses you’re applying for.

There are two broad scenarios:

1. Mildly different courses (most common)

Examples:

• Chemistry and Chemistry with Management
• Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering
• Biology and Biomedical Sciences
• Medicine and Life Sciences

These courses sit within the same academic field and develop overlapping skills.

In this case, one personal statement is expected and completely normal.

2. Fundamentally different courses

Examples:

• Medicine and Economics
• Computer Science and Philosophy
• Law and Engineering

These involve different motivations, academic preparation, and career trajectories.

In such cases, one personal statement may not work well. Some universities may allow you to submit an alternative statement directly by email, but this requires checking with admissions offices beforehand.

However, most applicants should avoid applying to drastically different courses in the same UCAS cycle unless they have a clear strategy.

Step 2: Focus on the shared intellectual foundation

When courses are related, the key is identifying what connects them.

Admissions tutors are not expecting a separate statement for each course. They want to understand:

• your academic motivation
• your curiosity about the field
• how your experiences prepared you for it

For example, a student applying to Medicine and Biomedical Sciences might frame their interest around:

understanding disease mechanisms and improving patient outcomes.

That motivation supports both courses.

Similarly, someone applying to Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering might frame their interest around:

designing systems that solve real-world engineering challenges.

This allows the statement to remain coherent while still fitting multiple courses.

Step 3: Use course pages to identify shared skills

A practical strategy is to review the course pages for each programme and identify:

• skills universities want in applicants
• skills developed during the degree
• academic interests emphasised in the course description

Then compare them.

For example, both Medicine and Biomedical Sciences emphasise:

• analytical thinking
• understanding biological systems
• interpreting scientific data
• communication and teamwork

Your personal statement can demonstrate these skills through:

• work experience
• reading or research
• volunteering
• academic projects

The goal is not to list every skill, but to prioritise the ones shared across courses.

Step 4: Avoid trying to mention every course directly

A common mistake is writing sentences like:

“I am excited to study Medicine or Biomedical Sciences or Life Sciences…”

Admissions tutors already know what course you applied for.

Instead, focus on the academic theme that links them.

For example:

“My interest in understanding how biological systems respond to disease has led me to explore both clinical and laboratory approaches to medicine.”

This statement works for Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, and Life Sciences without needing to name each course.

Step 5: Adjust slightly for course variations

Sometimes the difference between courses is small but meaningful.

Example 1: Chemistry vs Chemistry with Management

Imperial College London offers Chemistry with Management, which combines core chemistry with business and innovation modules.

A personal statement could:

• emphasise curiosity about chemistry
• include examples of problem-solving or analytical thinking
• briefly mention interest in applying science in industry or entrepreneurship

This subtly supports the management element without weakening the chemistry focus.

Example 2: BSc vs MSci programmes

Many UK universities offer both BSc and MSci versions of the same course.

For example:

• BSc Physics
• MSci Physics

An MSci typically includes:

• integrated research
• advanced laboratory work
• deeper specialisation

A student applying to both could show:

• interest in research
• curiosity about advanced topics
• willingness to engage in extended projects

This signals readiness for an MSci while still fitting a BSc application.

Step 6: Prioritise clarity over coverage

Trying to satisfy every possible course can lead to an unfocused statement.

Instead:

• identify the core academic theme
• choose 2–3 strong examples
• explain what you learned from them

Depth is always stronger than breadth.

Admissions tutors prefer a statement that clearly demonstrates how you think rather than one that tries to cover everything.

Step 7: When it works well (a real pattern)

A very common UCAS strategy is:

Medicine applicants using a life sciences course as their fifth option.

For example:

• Medicine at several universities
• Biomedical Sciences or Pharmacology as a backup

This works because the personal statement focuses on:

• understanding disease
• biological systems
• patient impact

Those motivations apply to both courses.

Admissions tutors are used to seeing this pattern.

The real takeaway

Writing one personal statement for related courses is not a problem.

Universities expect it.

The key is to focus on:

• the intellectual thread connecting the courses
• shared skills and motivations
• thoughtful reflection on your experiences

When done well, a single personal statement can speak clearly to multiple programmes — without feeling generic.