nus undergraduate application personal statement

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

The Key to Writing Effective NUS Personal Statements

Table of Contents

An  NUS personal statement  is an essay required by an application to the National University of Singapore. It is a brief description of who you are as a student and an overview of the things that matter to you. 

Personal statements are not unique to the National University of Singapore. Students will encounter these assignments throughout their academic life and even when they transition into professional life.

Personal statements are common in job applications, internships, and applications to particular programs. They are a way to introduce yourself to recruiters and admissions board representatives and create a lasting impression.

The Importance of an Effective NUS Personal Statement in the Academe

Personal statements are crucial in the application process. Recruiters will want to gain a deep understanding of applicants they accept into their program or job. This matters greatly because they want to ensure that successful candidates deserve their spot.

Conversely, a personal statement is a golden opportunity to highlight your best qualifications . It showcases your writing ability and your exposition skills. The adaptability of a personal statement allows for a wide range of approaches that let you inject your personality into your content.

The most significant advantage of a personal statement is that  it paints you as a person rather than just another candidate . It’s a potent tool for expressing individuality and setting you and your story apart from other applicants.

If you want to enjoy all these benefits, the ultimate one being a successful application, heed these few tips.

Tips for Writing an Effective NUS Personal Statement

If you’re unsure how to start your personal statement, try a structured approach. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure you provide the information admissions boards need.

• Showcase your unique personality and background  – focus on experiences, skills, and achievements that make you stand out from other applicants. 
• Use strong storytelling techniques to keep the reader engaged  – ensure a clear narrative flow with an introduction, body, and conclusion. 
• Incorporate personal anecdotes  -demonstrate your growth and development over time. 
• Keep it concise  – highlight critical points without superfluous words. 
• Avoid clichés and platitudes  – devise creative ways to express yourself and add interesting facts and figures where appropriate.

While following these tips won’t make you a master overnight, they will help you form writing habits applicable to all types of content.

NUS Personal Statement Examples

I have always had a keen interest in the field of technology. As a professional, I have grown into an individual with considerable experience and expertise in this area. I recently attended an event to discuss the latest trends in artificial intelligence, which further fuelled my enthusiasm for innovation and cutting-edge technological solutions. Events like these regularly leave me invigorated and inspired to delve deeper into innovative ideas and contribute my insights where applicable. 

I am proud of my aptitude for problem-solving and finding creative solutions to address issues efficiently. By leveraging my knack for recognizing patterns, I can ascertain resolutions that are unorthodox yet efficient at achieving desired outcomes. My preference for outside-the-box thinking has earned me recognition from peers who consider me a formidable asset. I have a reputation for embracing challenges while utilizing common sense and poise in navigating obstacles. 

A strong work ethic and unwavering ambition drive me. This intense desire to succeed has enabled me to consistently strive toward greater heights despite any tribulations I may encounter. 

I strongly feel I possess the qualities necessary to excel in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment such as NUS. I look forward to contributing meaningfully towards the University’s goals of fostering a more technically competent future generation.

I have been interested in starting a career related to education since I first read about it. It has been an essential part of my life, so I have devoted many hours of research. With each article or book I read, I learn something new, furthering my understanding and expanding my knowledge base. 

Through these opportunities, I can explain my thoughts and gain even more insight from professionals in the area. 

I look forward to taking this journey further by applying for the scholarship to complete my studies on the topic. As part of this application process, I plan to include relevant evidence and anecdotes demonstrating my commitment and passion for the subject matter. I believe I can help showcase why I should be selected for this opportunity by submitting all necessary documents.

I have been working with Information Technology for the past three years. Throughout my professional career, I have asked myself questions to better understand different aspects of IT, ranging from software development to network security. Over those years, I gained good knowledge in this field and was able to apply it in many of my projects. 

I am now interested in taking an international course to further develop my expertise. Being part of your school would allow me to learn more about current trends and techniques. It can expose me to new applications that can help improve my work or service quality. Furthermore, it will also allow me to build strong connections within the sector. 

I believe that I could be a valuable asset to any organization looking for someone with a comprehensive understanding of the subject. That is why I’m applying for this course – it’s like a necessary step in order to reach my long-term career goals. With my commitment to continuous learning, I’m confident I’ll make a good impression at the National University of Singapore.

I have a long-standing interest in IT. My knowledge of this field has enabled me to successfully know, understand and apply its principles. I have used my subject mastery during job interviews to communicate clearly and coherently with potential employers about their respective needs for my services. 

Additionally, my impressive track record of achievements makes me an ideal candidate for an IT course at the National University of Singapore. My involvement in community service projects has exposed me to a variety of different technologies, which will serve as excellent support for my studies. All these experiences prove to be beneficial in allowing me to develop further and improve my understanding of IT concepts.

 I am an experienced Finance student seeking to apply for a postgraduate course at the National University of Singapore. With my knowledge and experience, I believe that I can contribute to the University’s vibrant academic environment and community. 

 I have been exposed to finance studies since I was in high school, where I studied economics, accounting, and financial management. This gave me a well-rounded understanding of the industry. During my time as a university student, I had the opportunity to participate in several research projects focusing on financial markets. This has enabled me to gain insights into the nuances of investing and trading, allowing me to develop my analytical skills further. 

Moreover, I have taken part in various activities related to financial analysis during my years as a student. For example, I wrote essays on financial topics such as derivatives, capital structure theory, and risk management techniques. Furthermore, I also organized events such as panel discussions with industry professionals, which allowed me to interact with other students and experts alike. These experiences served to hone my problem-solving capabilities and taught me how to think critically about financial matters. 

Overall, I believe that I possess the necessary qualities to excel in a postgraduate program at NUS. My expertise and interest in finance, coupled with my strong communication and critical thinking will make me an ideal candidate for the course.

An  NUS personal statement  is a special essay that candidates submit to the admissions board. These essays showcase an individual’s background and personality. Make sure to remember our simple tips as you write your NUS personal statement. You are more likely to write a potent essay when you know the aspects you need to emphasize. 

Again, keep your statement short, concise, and authentic. We hope these tips give you the know-how and confidence to write a compelling university personal statement. Good luck!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Write Personal Statement Articles

How to draft meaningful length of law school personal statement.

Are you confused on how to write a law school personal statement? One of the essential elements of your application…

• Write Personal Statement

Effective History and International Relations Personal Statement to Try

Are you considering studying history and international relations? Or you may be curious about what a degree in this field…

Guide to Quality Global Management Personal Statement

Are you applying for a global management program and want to stand out from the crowd? A well-written personal statement…

How to Draft Better Examples of Personal Statements for Residency

Achieving a residency can be a massive accomplishment for any aspiring medical professional. To secure your spot in one of…

Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

A personal history statement can be crucial to many applications, from university admissions to job search processes. This blog will…

Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Applying for a dietetic internship is a rigorous process and requires submitting a personal statement, which is an essential part…

Blog » Undergrad » Singapore » Application Process » How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement when Applying to Universities in Singapore for an Undergraduate Degree?

How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement when Applying to Universities in Singapore for an Undergraduate Degree?

A personal statement is an essay that you write to show the University’s admissions committee who you are and why you deserve to be admitted to their university. It provides a platform for you to highlight your skills and achievements . It is critical for you to tailor your personal statement to the university you are applying to. 

Each application in Singapore is different. While one university may ask you to write a Statement of Purpose, another may ask you to write short essays as part of your application. For example:

• NUS requires one personal statement of 300 words
• Example of a short answer question could be: “What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?”
• Example of a short essay question could be: “ Have you ever struggled for something and failed? How did you respond?”

Although the various requirements may seem daunting, the standard rules of writing and the tips provided by us can be used universally across pieces of writing. So make sure to follow them!

While writing your personal statement, admission officers look for the following:

• An insight into your background and how it has shaped your personality.
• Your formative experiences.
• Important events/ significant achievements that have led to changes in your life.
• Your interest in your course choice.
• Your interest in studying in Singapore, and in particular the university.
• Your expectations from tertiary education.
• Your future goals and dreams.

 Make sure to cover these points when writing your personal statement.

Tips to write a good Personal Statement

To help you write a good personal statement or essay, we have come up with a few tips for you.

• Firstly, plan your essay well in advance . Create a rough skeleton for the essay and jot down important details that you can include in your essay. This includes your background, significant experiences and achievements, why you wish to pursue this course and why you want to study at this university. 
• Next, your essay must truly show who you are . The essay has to be highly tailored to fit in how your unique experiences have shaped you and your interests. You should be able to specifically address why your interests lie where they are. This can be done through an anecdote. It could also be your motivations and feelings about a certain topic.
• Thirdly, being honest goes a long way. Mention your achievements and strengths in your own voice and it is okay to not be overly positive. You can mention your setbacks and analyze how those situations have helped you grow as a person. 
• Next, always make sure that you don’t overcomplicate your sentences . Your personal statement must be clear, coherent and succinct. 
• Lastly, proofread your essay as many times as possible. Look for grammatical errors, sentence semantics and wordplay. And keep in mind the word count, so as to not exceed it. 

The personal statement speaks volumes about you as a person as it is the most qualitative piece in your application and gives a human touch to all the numbers and scores. Make the most of your personal statement to showcase your voice in your application.

At UniRely, you can get access to 100+ sample personal statements of students who have been accepted to top universities abroad. Please visit our website unirely.com to learn more about the process of applying to universities in Singapore for an undergraduate degree.

previous post

where am I able to access the 100+ personal statements on this site?

Sign up on the AI platform and get access to personal statements. For more details, please leave us a message and we’ll get back to you.

Anisha Goyal

Great tips to work on personal essays..

Henry Smith

well crafted information.

post a comment cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Pre-Clinical Years
• Clinical Years
• Med School Resources
• Must-Read Guides
• Personal Statement
• Interviews & MMI
• Books & Inspiration
• Applying for University
• Med Application Notes
• A-Level Notes
• O-Level Notes
• FAQs on Receiving Notes
• Book Reviews

How to Write Your Medicine Personal Statement (Singapore): The Complete Guide

Both NUS and NTU medical schools require a personal statement as part of the application. Instructions are brief, and no suggested framework is given. This article reviews the requirements of the personal statement when applying to Medicine in Singapore, and guides you through the entire process of writing your own—from planning to proofreading.

Personal Statement Prompts from NUS and NTU Medicine

Nus medicine personal statement instructions.

This is an introduction of yourself to the Admissions committee and the interviewer, who would like to learn about the experiences that have shaped your desire to study medicine . (Word limit: 500 words) (Source: NUS Medicine admissions page )

NTU Medicine Personal Statement Instructions

The personal statement is an essay of not more than 300 words, introducing the applicant including, but not limited to, the reasons for wishing to study medicine and of any experience that may have driven the desire to become a doctor . Leadership experience and teamwork ability should be highlighted. The personal statement must be furnished in the application form, and it may be followed up at the interview stage. (Source: NTU Medicine admissions page )

Key Aspects of Your Personal Statement

Notice that I’ve bolded the keywords in the above two excerpts:

From the above information, we can gather three key aspects to cover in your essay:

In this case, “desirable qualities” refer to personal attributes or skills that make you a good potential candidate for medical school. Importantly, they must be conveyed through concrete examples.

Indeed, overall, your personal statement should be “examples-driven”. It’s like saying “I’m compassionate”, versus telling a compelling story of a personal interaction with an autistic student. Which one is more convincing?

The admissions officers do not know you personally, and they will need proof of your leadership, teamwork, commitment, and so on.

Which Personal Statement to Write First?

(This question is only relevant if you’re applying to both NUS and NTU Medicine. Otherwise, feel free to skip to the next section.)

Note the difference in the word limit set by the two schools: 500 words for NUS versus 300 words for NTU. This means that you will have to submit a different personal statement for NUS and NTU.

There are two ways to go about doing this, and you may choose whichever one suits you:

• Write the 500-word NUS personal statement first, then shorten and edit it to 300 words for the NTU personal statement.
• Write a separate personal statement for NUS and NTU.

The “advantage” of the second option is that you can tailor each of your personal statements more to the school’s philosophy and what (you think) they are looking out for. However, the first option is an efficient and solid method.

Even if you’d like to “customise” your NTU personal statement more, you can always write that with your original 500-word essay as the foundation.

Step 1: List Out Your Activities and Achievements

Start by listing out all your activities and achievements in the past two years . This is essentially your portfolio. If you’ve already done one (most schools would ask for it close to graduation), just take that as reference.

It may be helpful to list the activities under the following categories:

• Academic awards e.g. scholarship
• Academic contribution e.g. academic competitions, research projects, H3 subjects
• CCA and leadership positions e.g. CCA exco, student council
• Community involvement e.g. volunteering, service learning project, OCIP
• Work experience e.g. attachment or job shadowing, internship
• Other relevant experiences e.g. long-term illness in the family, others

Next, select the most significant ones to include in your personal statement. To determine which activities to prioritise, look for those that:

• have impacted you the most (e.g. a self-initiated project you devoted yourself to > a project in which you were not in the core organising committee and did not contribute as much to)
• shows long-term commitment (e.g. weekly volunteering at a nursing home over two years > an ad hoc stint as a volunteer at an event that you did not organise)
• demonstrates a desirable quality for medical school (e.g. any leadership experience or effective teamwork, any form of volunteering or service learning, etc)
• shows your interest in medicine (e.g. work experience, volunteering, healthcare-related events or competitions, etc)

Choose at most three activities as the “keystone activities”. These are the ones you will write about in more detail.

Other activities of some significance can be “lumped” together. The five categories above can serve as a guide. For instance, all your academic awards and/or contributions could be “bundled” together in the same paragraph, without going into the details of each individually (highly unnecessary).

Note: If you have a limited number of items in your portfolio, and would like to include all of them, you may skip the selection/elimination step. However, if you do have many scattered activities, some of which may not be significant (e.g. volunteer at an ad hoc event, certificate of participation at some competition or seminar), eliminate ruthlessly. Do not attempt to cram your JC life into 500 words. Your essay will lose direction and focus.

Step 2: Create an Outline of Your Personal Statement

With the activities and accomplishments you have chosen, think about what each intends to show. Remember, your personal statement should be examples-driven. Each example and every line in your personal statement should contribute to demonstrating either one of these two points:

• an amazing quality you have that makes you a good candidate for medicine
• your undying motivation for pursuing medicine

You don’t have to complete the table, but at least think through this:

In the first column, “ Activity or achievement ”, jot down the name of the activity . If it is a “keystone activity” (i.e. one that you will write about in more detail), also note down poignant moment(s) and/or details that you wish to highlight .

Under the second column, “ Significance ”, answer the question: What does this activity or achievement show about a skill or quality of mine (desirable qualities for medicine) OR about my interest in the course (motivation for medicine)?

A very quick example could look something like this:

Here is a list of some key qualities that medical schools are looking out for:

Note: You can also reverse engineer the process, and fill in the second column first (taking ideas from the list of qualities above). For example, write down “leadership”. Then fill in the corresponding row in the first column with experience(s) that demonstrate your leadership capability.

Next, you can think about the flow of your essay and how you want to order the components. There is no fixed way to do this. Just make sure that it is logical and coherent.

A good idea is to have one focus paragraph dedicated to your motivation for pursuing medicine, and to place this as either the first or the last paragraph. In between, you can then bring in your various experiences and qualities.

I have seen an example in which the student opened with his many years of service in the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade (SJAB). His experiences in SJAB formed a huge part of why he decided to do medicine. (It was also one of his “keystone activities”, and thus written about in greater detail.)

For me, I chose to close with my motivation to study medicine, as a culmination of all the preceding paragraphs. There is no “right” way, and both work equally well.

Step 3: Write the First Draft of Your Personal Statement

Create a new document and start writing your essay. The first draft will always be trash, but once you have that absolutely trashy first draft out, you’ve won more than half the battle.

This is a key step. No matter how terrible the words sound, resist the urge to reread and edit every line as you are writing. Just keep on writing the next sentence, the next paragraph. Leave all the refining till later.

Step 4: Get Feedback on Your Personal Statement

Ask someone to read through your essay and give comments. This could be your parents or other family members, your teachers (they may not agree to do this for individual students), your school’s ECG (if they have such a service), your seniors, etc.

Ask specifically for areas in which you can improve. Not everyone you ask may be a “figure of authority” on the subject of personal statements, so you can choose which comments to act upon and which to ignore.

You can also act as your own critic. You might know best which parts of your essay you’d like to improve on, or where the wording doesn’t seem quite right. A personal statement should be “personal” (based on your personal experiences and insights), and therefore if you’re confident of your own writing and your own ideas, you shouldn’t feel obliged to have someone look through it for you.

Step 5: Refine Your Personal Statement

Lastly, keep on refining. As you near the end of your editing and proofreading process, the tweaks should become more and more minor. Importantly, know when to stop and just let that be the final version.

Some quick, self-explanatory pointers:

• Proofread – check for errors in spelling and grammar
• Refine sentence structure – vary sentence length and avoid starting sentences with the same word
• Cut words – look for concise expressions to fit your ideas into the word limit, and delete entire sentences or ideas if you must
• Check for key aspects – ensure that you have devoted sufficient breadth and depth to each of the three key aspects required in your personal statement
• Check for focus – every example and every line should convey either a desired quality for the course or your motivation for the course (Medicine)

Free Personal Statement Planner (PDF)

This is a very simple two-page planner to guide you in the ideating and planning process for your own personal statement (Steps 1 and 2 described in this article).

It is deliberately designed to make the planning as quick and painless as possible. All blanks are for you to jot down brief notes in point form (and not to write any full-sentence answers). An example of one section is shown in Step 2 above.

You don’t even have to write in it if you’re lazy (like me), but it could give you a good framework for thinking through and structuring your personal statement.

Download  « SG Medicine Personal Statement Planner »

Check out other articles on medical school applications , or specifically for applying to Medicine in Singapore . If there’s anything you’d like to see, or if you have any questions at all, please leave a comment below, or drop me a message anytime. I read and respond to every message and email.

PhD (by Research): Application Information

Application, submission of application.

• Deadline for Applications

Notification of Application Results

Programme briefing.

There will be an information session on:

Date: Saturday, 6 July 2024 Time: 2pm ( Registration starts at 1:30pm ) Venue: E2i, 80 Jurong East St 21, Level 1, Halls 2 & 3, Singapore 609607

Please click here to register your interest by 5 July 2024, noon.

If you have any queries regarding the programme, please  contact us .

To apply for our PhD by research programme, candidates are to submit their applications via the online  application portal .

*Important Note: If you wish to be considered for more than one department, you must submit a  separate  application. There is no limit to the number of applications you can submit. However, each application must be accompanied by separate application fee payment and supporting documents.

Unless granted approval by our University, no candidate may concurrently be a student for more than one degree or register as an NUS candidate and of another university/institute.

Password (for online application) When submitting your application online, you will be asked to enter a 6-character Password. Your Password is important and can be used, together with your application number, to access the following online facilities related to your application;

Online Application Status Enquiry* Online Update of Contact Details Online Reply to Offer of Admission

*Note: Please refer to “Notification of Application Results”.

Application Fee A S$50 non-refundable application fee (per online application & inclusive of prevailing GST) is payable for our PhD programme.

When submitting your application via the online  Graduate Admission System , you are required to prepare your   supporting documents for upload via the online system.   The documents to be uploaded to the online system should be in  pdf   format. All documents that are not in English must be accompanied by certified true copies of the English translation documents. Omission of required information and documents may render the application void. Your online application submission should consist of the following documents:

Providing Documentary Evidence Applicants should submit original official transcript  of academic records from each university attended  during completion of registration formalities if your application is successful . Candidates are responsible for requesting their transcripts from the university concerned. You may use the transcript request form for this purpose if necessary.

For foreign graduates, the official transcript must be enclosed in a SEALED envelope with its flap bearing the security seal of the University and the signature of the Registrar or his representative. Supporting documents, if not in English, should be accompanied by copies of the English translation of the documents. Original copies of supporting documents submitted by candidates will not be returned.

Candidates are required to produce the  originals  of the earlier submitted certified true copies of documents for the School’s verification during enrolment (if your application is successful).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Completed applications must be submitted with the above mentioned supporting documents via the Graduate Admission (GDA) System by the stipulated application deadline.

• All required documents must be uploaded at the point of submission in order to be considered for admission.  The School will not upload documents on behalf of applicants.
• Applications deemed incomplete by the School (e.g. those with insufficient documents, transcripts, etc. that do not contain all semesters’ examinations results or have not satisfactorily completed their requirements for the bachelor’s degree by the stipulated deadline of submission) will not be processed.

Applicants are required to submit a new application with full set of supporting documents should they be interested to apply for the PhD programme again. Applications received after the closing date will not be processed.

In a small number of exceptional cases, some strong candidates might be exempted from the GRE requirements (up to 25% of accepted students). The admissions committee will evaluate these exceptions on an as-needed basis. As there is limited room for exceptions to be made, we encourage all applicants to submit GRE scores with their application.

Note: Those currently without GRE score may still proceed to submit their PhD applications. They may subsequently either be exempted or be asked to furnish GRE scores to further support their PhD applications.

Deadline of Application

Applications are accepted year round, and will be considered for the next nearest intake. There are two intakes per academic year, and the cut-off dates for each intake are:

• August Intake: 15 December 
• January Intake: 15 June (of previous calendar year)

Note : Local applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early, since scholarships places will be allocated as soon as qualified applicants have been successfully shortlisted.

Applicants may check their application status in the Graduate Admission (GDA) System after the application deadline.

Upon verifying that the application is complete, the status of the application will be updated to  “online application verified”   two weeks  from the application deadline. Application outcome will be made known  three months  from the application deadline via the GDA System. An offer package will be sent  via email  to the successful candidate at a later date. Applicants who did not receive their outcome status can contact us at  [email protected] .

Unsuccessful applicants who wish to be considered for admission for the following intake, are required to submit a new set of application together with all their relevant supporting documents.

Click here for PhD Online Application.

• Resources for Current Students
• PhD in Computer Science
• DCS At A Glance
• Why NUS Computer Science PhD?
• Admission Requirements
• Application Information
• Industrial PhD Programme
• Scholarships
• Graduate Tutorship-PhD Scheme
• Graduate Student Directory
• Oral Defense & Seminars
• Computing 1 13 Computing Drive Singapore 117417
• +65 6516 2727
• Find Our Venues

NUS COMPUTING

Departments.

© National University of Singapore. All Rights Reserved. • Legal • Branding guidelines