Why it Matters activity.
Complete the activity by filling in the online worksheet.
Your UCAS Personal Statement should illustrate your interest and curiosity for the subject you are hoping to study.
Understanding the research and development work relating to your subject and how it might improve our world can help fire your passion for that subject. This in turn can lead to a Personal Statement that is informed by your own interest and curiosity; a Statement that is unique to you and compelling to read for the University Admissions Teams.
Research is carried out in a range of organisations around the world. Many research projects have websites explaining their purpose, with a remit to disseminate their findings to the public. Exploring these pages can provide you with inspiration for your subject of choice.
Complete the Why it Matters worksheet to help you develop some additional evidence to illustrate your interest in the subject beyond the school or college curriculum.
Where to find information about research and development projects
- Check out the research pages for the Higher Education Institutes you are interested in.
- Check out the Research Council webpages:
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Research England
- Innovate UK
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
Identify
Find research related to the subject you are interested in.
- Subject
- Title and references (and url)
- Your initial thoughts on the research
Understand
Read about the research and make some notes about what its impact is.
- What is the research about
- What have the researchers found?
- What are the potential outcomes of the research?
- Why does that matter?
Explain
Think about why this is of particular interest to you.
- Why did this research catch your attention?
- Why is it important to you?
- What does it tell you about your proposed subject?
Personal Statement
Write a paragraph to illustrate your own interest in your subject based on the research you have analysed.
You could use this as part of your Personal Statement to evidence your subject knowledge and curiosity.
Think about how this research fired your curiosity and belief that your subject choice is important.