7 Economics Personal Statement Examples | With Analysis

What makes a great personal statement?

How do you improve your chances of achieving a university offer in economics?

In this post I will give some personal statement examples and discuss what the best economics personal statements do well.

Key features that great personal statements share

Disclaimers, evolution of economics personal statements, what makes a great economics personal statement, key features that great personal statements share: a reminder, lots of supercurricular activities, personal insights about such activities, demonstrate key skills, a well written essay, more economics personal statement advice, latest posts.

This diagram shows my summary of what makes a great economics personal statement. Based on my experience as an economics tutor and economics personal statement examples, here are four qualities that make personal statements stand out.

4 tips | what makes a great economics personal statement?

I explore these categories further below and in my ultimate economics personal statement guide.

For my ultimate economics personal statement guide, check out the link below:

Firstly, here is a list of ten economics personal statement examples available online.

Also below, there is analysis of what makes a great economics personal statement.

Personal Statement – Details and Claimed OffersCommentsLink
Cambridge interview; offers from LSE, Warwick, UCL and St Andrews+ Good evidence of independent study.
+ Great supercurricular activities discussed.
+ Good personal takeaways.
Note work experience is not necessary for your application. Here the work experience has been used very well though. Yet if you do not have work experience, you can do equally as well through other activities such as reading books.
Offers from LSE, UCL, Bristol, Queen Mary, Warwick+ Solid supercurriculars mentioned.
+ Great use of personal experience.
~ Sometimes supercurricular discussions could be more detailed.
~ Introduction or conclusion may benefit from an anchor activity.
Offer from Cambridge+ Great supercurriculars mentioned.
+ Strong maths related supercurriculars
~ Introduction and conclusion could be more specific.
Offers from Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick and Bath+ Evidence of mathematics related supercurriculars
+ Great use of personal experience.
+ Interesting personal takeaways from many of the activities.
Offer from Cambridge+ Good economics related supercurriculars, touching on various different areas in economics
+ Good attempts at personal takeaways
+ Good use of personal experience.
~ Personal takeaways could be more varied and sometimes deeper.
Offer from Oxford (Economics and Management)+ Student’s motivations for applying for the course are clear.
~ Books and articles should be discussed, not only name-dropped. Personal takeaways are important.
~ The language often sounds contrived and not natural.
Offer from Oxford (Economics and Management)+ A lot of great supercurriculars mentioned.
+ Interesting extracurriculars too.
~ Often the personal takeaways could be more detailed and less surface-level.
~ Second paragraph lacks details about the supercurricular activities.
~ Conclusion and introduction are ok but at least one could be anchored in details.

To learn how to improve your economics personal statement, check out the link below by clicking the blue button:

I cannot guarantee that the personal statements linked above achieved the university offers claimed on those pages. Nor can I claim that each statement is 100% perfect.

By linking to these sites, I do not endorse any of the sites linked above.

You should not copy any part of the personal statements above. Doing so is plagiarism and can lead to the disqualification of your university application. Instead learn from the techniques and kinds of things mentioned in their statements. See specifically the rest of this article for what we can learn from these personal statements.

A proportion of the samples above are relatively old (five to ten years ago or more).

For some universities the personal statement is more important for applications. Consider for example LSE and UCL, top universities where there are no admissions tests or interviews.

We can look at more recently written and publicly available personal statements.

Based on these, here are some observable trends in recent years among the best performing economics personal statements:

  • More supercurriculars relative to the above personal statements.
  • More reference to undergraduate-level economic theory. This can show further reading and an ability to potentially do well in the undergraduate course.

In this section I am drawing on my experience as a tutor about what makes a great personal statement. I am also using the available online examples of economics personal statements and the criteria listed by the top UK universities.

Such statements are by no means always perfect, yet they show the qualities and skills that allow students to attend the best universities.

These examples allow us to analyse what makes a great personal statement and also where students often go wrong with personal statements.

As a reminder, here are the four features of great economics personal statements mentioned above:

  • Lots of supercurriculars
  • Highlighting key skills
  • Personal takeaways

Here is a breakdown of these categories:

What activities have you completed, outside of class, that relate to economics? Have you read a book, entered an economics-related competition, or watched an economics lecture? These are examples of supercurricular activities. I consider these a key focus for the best personal statements and I discuss these further in my economics personal statement ebook. These show your motivation to study economics which will be critical if you want to study the subject for three years at university.

For more on supercurricular activities, click the link here:

These are what I refer to as “personal takeaways” later in this guide. What did you learn from the supercurricular activity? Detail is very important, both for showing a high level of understanding and also to convince the person reading your statement that you actually completed the activity. This should go beyond just recalling the activity – maybe there is something you learnt from this activity or something you read that you disagreed with. We discuss how to write about personal takeaways in the ebook.

For more information about how to use supercurricular activities in your statement, including how to generate personal insights, click this button below:

Obviously you should try to show academic ability in economics and motivation to study economics. But what other skills are useful to show in a personal statement? 

While there are many skills that could potentially be useful, I draw your attention for now to two key skills: Ability in mathematics and independent study (including research). Evidence from supercurricular activities that you have these skills will help convince admissions staff. Moreover these skills will help you in the economics course.

What constitutes a “well written essay”? 

Your personal statement should be well structured, with effective links between ideas and paragraphs. The grammar should be completely correct, that is  there should be no mistakes. 

Finally consider your vocabulary – can you embed economics-related terminology into your personal statement? You can use a thesaurus but do so with caution – sometimes it is obvious where a thesaurus has been used (and often the new word used does not make sense in that context!).

For more economics personal statement tips or for economics university application advice, check out the link below:

For A-level Economics resources, click the link here:

  • Edexcel Economics notes 2.6.2 Part 1 – monetary policy
  • 2.6.3 Supply side policies – Edexcel Economics notes
  • 2.2 Aggregate demand notes for Edexcel A Economics
  • 2.1.2 Inflation Edexcel A Economics Notes
  • Don’t be fooled! How to understand economic statistics

About the author

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Helping economics students online since 2015. Previously an economist, I now provide economics resources on tfurber.com and tutor A Level Economics students. Read more about me here .

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Economics Personal Statement Guide

Your personal statement is a significant part of your university application. It gives you the opportunity to show universities your enthusiasm for studying Economics and demonstrate your skills and motivations.

Many students struggle with writing personal statements. It can be difficult to balance academic interests with personal achievements, keep everything relevant to the economics courses you're applying for, and fit it all into just over one A4 page.

To help you get on the right track, our Personal Statement Guide takes you through everything you need to know to create an excellent Economics personal statement:

  • Why are Personal Statements Important?
  • What Should I Include in an Economics Personal Statement?  
  • What Should I Avoid in an Economics Personal Statement?  

Advice on How to Start an Economics Personal Statement  

Advice on how to finish an economics personal statement  .

economics university course personal statement

What Should I Avoid in an Economics Personal Statement ?  

You must avoid waffle and cliches. A common cliche that we recommend you avoid is "I have wanted to study Economics since I was a child" or "I want to study Economics because I want to make money". While these statements may be true, you need to focus on demonstrating your interests in economics, not just stating them.

Instead, talk about a documentary you came across and how it interested you and how, in light of this interest you read a book related to the topic. Connecting your academic interests in this way instead of using cliche statements helps keep you under the word count, but also makes your personal statement interesting and personal to your academic journey.

You should also definitely not mention anything in your personal statement that you have not read, watched, listen to, or done yourself. In other words, absolutely do not lie! Admissions tutors will sniff dishonest statements out very keenly, especially if you attend an interview with them further along the line.

Register to access our complimentary e-book "So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…"

Economic ,at undergraduate study contains many elements and topics; use this to your advantage and research widely to find various areas of personal interest. Before starting to write your Economics Personal Statement, consider making a mind map or list of the reasons you are interested in the subject, and any areas in which you are particularly interested. Which podcasts have you listened to, books have you read, or videos have you watched?

Remember to focus on what you have done, what inspired and benefited you, and what you would like to learn next. For instance, in studying elasticity of demand, what questions did it raise for you, and how have you explored the topic further?

If you are struggling to get your wider research off the ground, or need something new to get out of a research rut, check out some of our recommendations below:

Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo

The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs

Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Muhammad Yunus

Freakonomics  by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

IMF Podcast

Planet Money

Journals/Publications:

The Economist

American Economic Review

The Econometrics Journal

Journal of Political Economy

This is not an exhaustive list, and we strongly encourage you to research your areas of interest.

Writing the ending of an Economics Personal statement can often be just as hard as beginning. The most important task for the final section is not to overcomplicate things; focus on using clear and concise language to round up the main theme(s) of the preceding content.

Your final sentence or two should summarise your academic interest in Economics and your excitement about studying the course . If you wish, you may also briefly mention your hopes for the future (be it working in further research, a financial institution, or government policy) and tie an Economics degree into your plans going forward (although this is not necessary).

Think about what you want the admissions tutors to remember about you once they have finished reading. This is the information to foreground in your conclusion.

Lastly, always proofread your personal statement several times . We recommend giving a final version to a parent, guardian, teacher, friend, or anyone else you can find, really! Getting a second opinion, be it from someone with Economics expertise or someone completely new to the subject, can help weed out mistakes and ensure your writing is clear and your intentions can be understood.

  • What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Economics Personal Statement?
  • How Long Should my Economics Personal Statement Be?
  • What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Economics Personal Statement?
  • How Can I Tailor my Economics Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

A strong Economics personal statement will include relevant academic interests and the motivations behind pursuing Economics at a higher level, and not a lot else.

As Economics is a subject that links to other social sciences such as sociology or politics, the temptation can often be to discuss topics that are potentially not covered in an Economics course. To ensure against this, it's always good to check back over the course syllabus and double check that everything you mention is linked either by content or by the skills needed to study it.

If you are applying for different courses, such as PPE at a few universities and Economics at others, carefully think about which topics you write about to demonstrate that you are a passionate Economics student.

We recommend that you use the majority of the limit UCAS gives you. It is your first chance to make a lasting impression on the admission tutors, so you should take advantage of the opportunity to show them why you would be an exceptional Economics student.

4000 characters of 47 lines (whichever comes first) may seem ample, but once you have spoken about your interests in detail, you will find that it really is not. Often students go over the limit in their first draft of their personal statement; do not worry about this, as continual redrafting and reviewing (which you really should do) will help you shorten it down.

You want to ensure that you only include extracurricular activities that demonstrate relevant skills, interests, and qualities in your statement.

Whether the activity or resource you want to mention is directly related to economics or not (and it doesn't necessarily have to be), you should not just mention it, but also explicitly discuss why or how you believe that it either motivates you or equips you with the skills to perform well on the degree course to which you are applying.

There is no secret formula when writing a personal statement for Oxford or Cambridge, and you need to make sure not to mention the Oxbridge course directly since your personal statement goes to all your universities. In our experience, however, the key to an Oxbridge Economics personal statement lies within the amount of academic content you have in your statement. Oxbridge tutors are keen to hear as much as possible about your academic interests, therefore we recommend aiming to focus 80-90% of your statement on academic content, whilst the remaining 10-20% talks about your extracurricular activities.

To demonstrate your academic ability and potential, you must talk about how you have engaged with your subject beyond the school syllabus. This can include presenting your views on economists such as Milton Friedman or analysing the implications of theories such as economies of scale. You need to avoid waffle, be concise, and demonstrate your love for Economics at every stage.

It is important to note that if you do reach the interview stage of the Oxbridge application process, you can be asked questions about your personal statement, so do carefully select topics that you are passionate about. We offer a fantastic interview preparation course if you need support preparing for the interview stage of the process.

Book your Economics Personal Statement Package

You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss our personal statement packages.  

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Successful Personal Statement For Economics At Cambridge

Last Updated: 12th April 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Economics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Economics Course at Cambridge provides a rounded, rigorous education in Economics which is valuable for a wide range of career paths.

Read on to see how this candidate wrote a Personal Statement that helped secure their place on a reputable degree. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Cambridge Economics comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Economics Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Premium Programmes today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

Economics Personal Statement

The right answer – does such a thing even exist? When considering the field of mathematics, my response would be an unequivocal yes – indeed, I find its simplicity and elegance some of its most attractive qualities. For economics, however, the question of a right answer is not so straightforward. My interest in economics was sparked when I read “Freakonomics” and “SuperFreakonomics”. I found the search for a logical explanation behind seemingly illogical behaviour intriguing, and the idea that small changes to incentives could effect such large changes to those behaviours fascinating.

To further my understanding, I attended lectures at the LSE, including one given by Ha-Joon Chang. His arguments challenged much of what I had learned – deregulation and trade liberalisation would not, apparently, stimulate competitive growth, while education, it turned out, could not be counted on to increase entrepreneurship or productivity. These contradictions made me eager to read his “23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism” and “Bad Samaritans”. Although relishing his controversial stance on almost everything, I found his central thesis – that by using protectionism to support fledgling domestic industries, other poor nations can emulate South Korea’s success – overly optimistic and one-size-fits-all. As Paul Collier argues in “The Bottom Billion”, many are trapped by conflict or bad governance, with even bleaker prospects after “missing the boat” on which many Asian economies sailed away to prosperity.     

While economics is rooted in the world around us, with all its fascinating, messy complexities, mathematics derives its beauty from its abstract nature. It is unique in that it can lead us to an answer that is not merely the right one, but is true in an absolute sense. This was emphasised by G. H. Hardy in “A Mathematician’s Apology”, where he spoke of a mathematical reality distinct from the ordinary one, of which we can only ever hope to produce a “partial and imperfect copy”. Another of the appeals of mathematics is its breadth of application. I was able to explore this over the past three years in a series of Royal Institution master classes covering topics from graph theory to the mathematics of juggling. My decision to continue with mathematics was confirmed when I undertook the AEA; I found it challenging but immensely satisfying to be able to use simple concepts from the A-level core modules to solve even the most daunting problems.

Over the past year, I have mentored two students in mathematics. Explaining concepts to them helped deepen my own understanding and led me to explore proofs behind theorems I had previously accepted. In addition, acting as a primary school classroom assistant inspired me to set up my own volunteering scheme, in which I and other students help children learn to read. I have enjoyed competing in the UKMT Mathematics Challenge, in which I won a medal at Olympiad level, and the UK Linguistics Olympiad, in which I twice progressed to the selection round for the national team. I have also represented my school in the Hans Woyda competition, and am excited to be doing the same in the Target 2.0 challenge later this year.

Despite their differences, the authors I mentioned above hold something in common: their use of empirical methods to reach conclusions. It is here that the attraction of combining the study of mathematics and economics becomes especially apparent. Without mathematics, economics risks beginning to earn its title “the dismal science”, reducing to speculation and rhetoric without even the emotional investment enjoyed by politics. This is not to dismiss the importance of normative economics, but to say that it draws meaning from a basis in fact. I am not arguing for sound bite solutions to complex questions, but rather that, even in a field as hotly debated as economics, the right answer is still a worthwhile goal, reachable through the use of data and copious amounts of trial and error.

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This statement is thoughtful and interesting, and conveys clear motivations for studying Economics, as well as demonstrating a good level of preparation for university study. The student elaborates on their response to each preparatory activity they engaged in, rather than falling into the trap of simply listing books read and lectures attended. They are clearly passionate about the subject, and show promise as an economist, which they demonstrate in, again, not only listing their achievements, but explaining what they took from the experience, and subtly indicating what this says about them as a student.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

I have very little to say in criticism of this essay except that, perhaps, it could come across as a little cliché. Questioning whether there is such a thing as ‘the right answer’ in the introduction, and concluding that pursuit of the field to which they’re applying for further study is worthy are both very common.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an exceptional personal statement. Not only is the student accomplished, they convey this without bragging, and in enough detail that we gain insight into their abilities, motivations, and personal interests, rather than simply receiving a list in prose form. Though the ideas with which the student begins and concludes the statement are somewhat unoriginal, the explanation found in between is exceptionally strong, and justifies the unoriginal sentiments – they’re clearly not being added just as throwaway lines.

This Personal Statement for Chemistry is a great example of demonstrating motivation and development which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our other successful personal statements and our expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

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Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Cambridge Economics application.

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Writing an economics personal statement: expert advice from universities

Get your economics personal statement in top shape with these insider tips

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economics university course personal statement

The university application personal statement is changing in 2025
University admissions service Ucas has announced that a new style of personal statement will be launched in 2025. This will affect anyone making a university application from autumn 2025 onwards.

.

Read around the subject 

  • Read more:  how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

Let your passion for economics shine through in your personal statement

  • Read more:  teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

Make sure you really understand what economics is all about

Do your research into the course.

  • Read more:  personal statement FAQs

Keep your personal statement personal

Talk about how you engage with the world around you.

  • Read more:  the ten biggest mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement

Show your interest in collecting and analysing data

  • Read more:  universities reveal all about personal statements

Don’t only focus on finance

  • Read more:  universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

Include extracurricular activities with relevant skills

  • Read more:  how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

You could talk about your plans for your future, but don’t worry if you don’t have a definite career trajectory all mapped out

  • Read more:  how long does it take for universities to reply to your application? 

It shouldn’t matter if you haven’t studied economics before

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Ensure your enthusiasm for economics stands out

It's key to explain in your personal statement why you’re interested in economics and why you want to study it.

Think about the following:

  • Show an appreciation of mathematical concepts.
  • Reflect on something that has given you an insight into local, national, European or global economic issues, and explain what interests you about it.
  • If you have already been studying economics at A level (or equivalent), talk about an area of the course you’ve found especially interesting.
  • If you haven’t studied economics before, explain what has inspired your interest in it.
  • What especially appeals to you about the subject or the courses you’ve chosen? You can look up specific course details using our course search .
  • Demonstrate that you have a real interest in economic principles and concepts.
  • Show some understanding of economic theory.

What to include in your economics personal statement

  • Your long-term goals: explain how your degree choice fits with your future ambitions and career aspirations.
  • Wider reading: do pick out one or two specific issues that had an impact on you – just saying you subscribe to ‘The Economist’ or ‘The FT’ or that you’ve read ‘Freakonomics’ or ‘The Undercover Economist’ won't have an impact unless you elaborate. Better still, think outside the box and write about something you’ve read that’s slightly more obscure. As one admissions tutor said: 'If I read about ‘Freakonomics’ one more time, I’ll scream.'
  • Economics-related experience: reflect on any work experience, responsibilities, or non-academic interests or achievements that are relevant to economics or demonstrate appropriate skills or qualities.
  • Other relevant insights: if you’ve undertaken an economics-related project, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or summer school, reflect on any insights this has given you.
  • Demonstrate your skills: give examples of skills you possess that will serve you well as an economics student and mean you're able to proactively contribute to the course. These could include self-motivation, teamwork, the ability to think logically, effective time management, good communication, or problem-solving skills.

What not to include in your economics statement

We've also picked up some tips on what to avoid:

  • Don’t skim the surface – be specific.
  • Don’t give a shopping list of things you’ve read or done.
  • Don’t exaggerate.
  • Don’t waste space trying to impress with things you’ve done that aren’t relevant – relate everything to the courses you’re applying for.
  • Don’t make sweeping claims about your 'passion for economics', how you’ve 'loved it from an early age' and 'what an honour it would be to get accepted at your university'.
  • Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes.

As the University of Bristol's ' Why Study Economics? ' website says, 'a straightforward personal statement that gets all the core points across in a coherent way serves the purpose best'. So do say something that will stand you out from the crowd, but avoid being too off-the-wall.

Don't be too bland and generic, either. London School of Economics says 'your statement should be as original as possible to differentiate you from other applicants' while the University of Nottingham looks for 'students with a wide variety of interests and enthusiasms from a wide variety of backgrounds'. Strike the right balance by demonstrating your enthusiasm, your intellectual curiosity, and the quality of your insights.

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How to Write an Economics Personal Statement

economics university course personal statement

Many students are unsure of how to write an Economics personal statement as they haven’t written one before. Starting your personal statement can be daunting, but you are not alone! We are here to give some pointers for students wishing to study Economics at university, particularly those applying to UK universities via UCAS. We have separated the process into three stages – research, writing and editing.

What to Research for your Economics Personal Statement

What to include in your economics personal statement, how to edit your economics personal statement, research your economics courses.

Research is vital for writing your Economics personal statement. First, you should have good knowledge of the Economics courses you are applying to. How does the university describe the Economics course (e.g. how Mathematical is it?). What content does the course include? Will your interested area in Economics be taught in the course?

Research Advice on How to Write an Economics Personal Statement

Second, you may want to read Economics personal statement examples from past applicants. This will give you some information what a good Economics personal statement includes, and what you should aim for. It is also good to look up any advice on writing personal statements. For example, this article you are reading! LSE also provides some general advice to writing any personal statement.

Research Which Aspect of Economics you are Interested in

Finally, you should research into the topic in Economics that you are interested in, which we will discuss more below. Google Scholar is a great way of searching for academic papers/essays regarding a specific Economics topic you want to learn more about. Another option may be to look through any suggested texts/reading for the university course you are applying to – does any topic in particular catch your eye? Finally, our article on Economics books to read for your personal statement may also help.

An Economics personal statement consist of many different components, and we explain the reason behind including each one in the sections below.

Area of Interest in Economics

In your statement, more than half of it should be used to show academic interest for a key topic/theme in Economics. The topic can be an extension to A-Level/IB syllabus that is slightly more advanced, or it can be something that will be explored further at degree level. This shows your understanding of Economics, and is a good opportunity to impress the admissions tutor with your enthusiasm. Remember – if you are interested in studying Economics, you should be self-motivated to learn more than what you are required to! Ideally, the topic/theme should also be tied to your personal reason to study the subject. This will make your interest more genuine, consistent and convincing. Have a specific topic in mind? Ask us about it !

Your Opinion on Economics

It is all well and good to explain what aspect of Economics you are interested in. However, that is not enough – admissions tutors would want to know your opinion on the issue/concept you discussed. They want to understand if have processed and understood what you have learnt, rather than just regurgitating it. It also demonstrates your ability to think and evaluate about a topic in Economics critically, showing independence of thought.

Motivation to Study Economics

Of course, you need to specify why you wish to study your subject in your statement. It is important to figure out a good reason here that is relevant to you personally, in order to stand out. Avoid generic reasons like ‘I wish to study Economics to understand the world better’ or ‘I wish to study Economics as my father works in finance’. Think deeper – what is it that is uniquely different about your environment, or what you experienced, that causes you to be interested about Economics?

Interest in Mathematics

For most, if not all Economics courses, there is a large amount of Mathematics involved. This is because Economics pursues a more scientific approach via Mathematical Modelling and Econometrics at higher levels of study. Hence, it is important for you to demonstrate your interest in Mathematics, and the use of it within Economics. You can reduce emphasis in this component if the course you are applying for involves less Mathematical modules.

Extra-curricular activities

It is important to include some extra-curricular activities relating to Economics, as it demonstrates your interest in the subject outside of your studies. Ideally this can relate to your area of interest in Economics and your motivation to study the subject. The activities can range from anything such as reading books on Economics , attending Economics events, to having a related work experience. If you want to include any experiences not relevant to Economics to show what you are like as a person, that is certainly acceptable, but should be less than 25% of your statement. Ask our Economics admissions advisor a free question below if you would like to know more about the various activities, and how to write about them.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Ask Wilfred a Free Question on GCE, IB or GCSE Economics * Email * We will answer your question by email and send you relevant notes/materials for your Economics course. Email Ask

After a first draft, it is important for you to get someone to review your Economics personal statement. This can help give you an objective perspective on what others think. Show it to your careers advisor at school, your Economics teacher, your Economics classmates, maybe even parents/siblings that have gone through a similar process. Of course, those who have more exposure to the subject may be a bit more helpful, like someone who applied for an Economics degree a few years ago. If you need professional, personalized advice on your Economics personal statement, you can reach out to our qualified admissions advisor for suggestions. After receiving feedback, you can edit your personal statement accordingly, taking into account each reader’s unique perspectives. You will then have to compare the suggestions and decide which parts/sentences to keep, change or remove. After many changes/edits your personal statement will finally be concise, unique and polished enough for submission!

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  • Economics Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Hannah Slack

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Economics. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

The notion of financial risk has always fascinated me. Risk is involved all parts of our life, and learning economic theory and statistics can help mitigate some of the larger financial risks that can massively impact our economy. Since my undergraduate course I have been intrigued by the theoretical side of economics and statistics. I particularly enjoy learning how to project potential outcomes, as this is a vital skill desired by many corporations to strengthen their decision-making processes.

Currently I am in my final year of an Economics undergraduate degree and I am projected to graduate with a first. Modules in Behavioural Economics, Finance and Investment have been a strong interest of mine since the beginning of my degree. I have also enjoyed learning more about economic policies across the globe. In order to keep up to date with the latest economic policies I make sure to follow governmental and news outlets, such as the Financial Times.

In my second year I completed a four-month placement with a national bank. This allowed me to learn more about the practical implications of economic theory in a financially focused setting. I grew very interested in the work of the Risk Manager, who further enlightened me on the many different factors that must be considered before making a major financial decision. The main thing that I enjoyed about financial risk was the tangibility of it. As history has demonstrated, financial decisions can have a major impact on society, both positive and negative. Learning how to restrain negative impacts, and how to manage risks appropriately, intrigues me as an essential part of our modern world.

My third year I spend abroad studying Economics in Australia. I found it particularly interesting to learn the differences between the Australian economic system and the UK’s, which will become increasingly important with the advent of post-Brexit trade deals between the countries. This experience only contributed to my enthusiasm with economic theory as I was able to learn more about its role within other countries.

I have decided to apply for this course because it is one of the finest in the country, with excellent links to industry. To contribute to financial risk management in the way I aspire to, I believe that I need the best education possible. This course not only has a compelling combination of modules and specialisms, but its reputation and research quality will help propel me as a competitive graduate on the job market. I truly believe that with my passion and intrigue in the subject, and this course’s quality resources, this university will be the best place for my studies.

What are some of my options for studying a Masters in Economics?

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Economics personal statement example 20.

Having been born in the UK, with parents from Delhi and Kenya, I feel my background has given me an internationally diverse outlook. In my travels, I have met with both the affluence of Europe and the poverty existing in India. Such contrasts have compelled me to seek an understanding of the forces that drive the world economy, and why after centuries of economic theory such inequalities continue to exist.

Over the summer, I have been researching India's economic development, partly stimulated by the issues above. The Indian economy is a fascinating topic for me, not just due to my heritage, but because of the juxtaposition between rapid increases in wealth on the one hand and the Sub-Saharan African levels of poverty on the other. Another part of economics I find appealing is the use of theories. I have been introduced to the Tragedy of the Commons and the Coase Theorem's take on externalities. My interest in strategic decision-making has been boosted by Game Theory, which has developed an understanding of the situations faced by oligopolies and the implications of Nash equilibrium. Such theoretical models have led me to Experimental Economics and Charles Holt's 'Markets, Games and Strategic Behaviour', in an attempt to see if people actually behave in the way theory predicts.

Being awarded the 2007 Kirk Cup for Mathematics at school, encouraged me to take A-level Further Maths. My problem solving skills and ability to manipulate algebraic variables have since been enhanced, which is beneficial considering the numerical analysis involved in economics. Given the problematic nature in conducting controlled experiments, I am eager to explore the range of statistical tools available to economists.

Presently, I offer tutoring for GCSE Maths students, and have taught an adult how to use various PC applications in the past. Such an experience has stressed the need for planning, patience and presenting work coherently for others to follow. I have also used graphical design software to produce adverts for my Mother's beauty business, and have assisted with book-keeping for annual tax returns. It has been noticeable how economic factors affect such a business; for example how demand for different treatments has changed with the credit crunch.

My internet browser's homepage is set to prompt me with the latest headlines from the BBC Business website, as it is a priority for me to keep up-to-date with the world around me. In addition, for different opinions, I also frequently read articles on economics in various newspapers. Reading books by economists, such as John Kay, has led me to appreciate better how concepts have developed over time. These include 'The Penguin History of Economics' by Backhouse and Levitt's 'Freakonomics', which I found entertaining, but thought lacked true economic substance. Besides reading, my other hobbies include remixing music on the computer and using Investopedia.com, on which I have a virtual portfolio of shares. As a representative of my college's debating team, my communication skills have greatly improved. At our next debate, I will be arguing for the wider use of congestion charges.

The recent economic turmoil has reinforced my belief in how economics is truly an integral part of our lives. University will provide the ideal environment in which to strengthen and test my understanding of such a discipline, whilst being a place where I can formulate and contribute my own theories to the subject. After receiving full marks in AS-level Economics, I have set myself a high standard, and I wish to continue my ambitions in the finance industry. However, I recognise that my passion for economics will lead me to many more career horizons.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Mopac for application in 2009.

Mopac's university choices Oxford University London School of Economics University College London The University of Warwick University of Bristol

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Economics & Management at Oxford University

Mopac's Comments

When writing this personal statement there were a few key points (about myself) that I wanted to get across. I wanted the let the university know that I have a genuine (not just an academic) interest in economics. I wanted to stress my knowledge of the subject (by bringing up various theories, and mentioning books I have read). And of course, I also wanted to emphasise my academic success.

I have to admit, writing this personal statement was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I guess its all worth it in the end.

Related Personal Statements

Tue, 17/08/2010 - 17:19

Your statement is really amazing and has helped me a lot! Do you think there is anyway in which I could get in touch with you? Especially as I am applying for economics and management this year and would love some feedback from someone who has experienced the whole process. Thank you!

Fri, 10/09/2010 - 02:13

yeh sure I'd be happy to help - sorry about my late reply by the way. Do you have an email address I can send mine to? (prefer to do it this way =P)

Same "guest"

Thu, 16/09/2010 - 20:29

Hey I'm glad you got back to me!

My email address is [email protected] (this is just a subsdiary email) but I did not want to put my original one in the public domain! If you email me on this, I will definitely email you back from my "actual" one!

Tue, 28/09/2010 - 10:12

I really like your statement especially the indirectness with which all your points come across. Perhaps the best personal statement i have read so far on economics and relevant subjects

Thu, 28/10/2010 - 11:31

Hi, i am applying to ucl and lse and im currently in the process of writing my personal statement.. I was hoping that upon completion you could read it andtell me if i have a chance and also suggest you input.. Thanks.. Can you give me your email? Or email me at [email protected]

Hey, this personal statement

Thu, 21/07/2011 - 18:34

Hey, this personal statement is absoloutly amazing and I really want to study economics at LSE. Could I email you my personal statement?

Fri, 23/09/2011 - 21:26

hey, This piece of ps is absolutely splendid! are you open to reviewing ps' and giving any feedback at all? cheers

hey i really need your help

Sun, 23/10/2011 - 08:54

hey i really need your help with my personal statement. how can i contact u? please check mine and help me out. i love ur statement btw

How the hell did you get an

Thu, 03/11/2011 - 20:49

How the hell did you get an offer from Oxford, LSE and not from University of Bristol?

:O Help me out here please! Because I am applying to Bristol but my predicted grades are AAD which are way way below yours. Im thinking if you didn't get an offer then where in the hell will I get one?

I would love to get some help

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 09:40

I would love to get some help from you regarding on my personal statement!

Hi Mopac. I mailed you at the

Tue, 18/09/2012 - 07:58

Hi Mopac. I mailed you at the above id but it says delivery error. Can you please give me your e mail? i need your help man!

Mon, 01/10/2012 - 14:55

hey! i would really like your help in writing my personal statement .. since you have such a good one ... thanks

Wed, 24/07/2013 - 16:00

I appreciate you sharing this article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.

Thu, 22/08/2013 - 03:22

If you don't mind me asking, what grades did you get at GCSE and A level?

Hi, i'm planning to study

Thu, 19/09/2013 - 16:15

Hi, i'm planning to study economics at uni preferrably at either LSE or Cambridge, im having difficulty writing it at the moment, is it possible if you can email me?

Hey, this is really good and

Sun, 06/10/2013 - 15:11

Hey, this is really good and i am applying for economics and maths at lse (main target), I was wondering if i could get in touch with you somehow. Thanks

someone help me do mine

Tue, 07/01/2014 - 09:33

just kidding

Overall a very strong

Sun, 13/07/2014 - 12:10

Overall a very strong personal statement in my mind. I especially liked the opening and the way you subtly included academic results without wasting too many characters. Whilst, if I'm honest, the book keeping and such for your mum isn't the greatest work experience, the following passage where you described the skills you gained from it and how they would be applicable to the course is great. I only hope my personal statement can be near the same standard as this.

Hi. Your personal statement

Thu, 07/08/2014 - 18:10

Hi. Your personal statement is great. I've written about 3 drafts but I am not sure about them. Can I get ur email address and i can email my personal statement to u. plz plz plz. Help!!

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  • Economics personal statement examples

Economics and mathematics degree personal statement example (1a)

This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our . 

My interest in both Mathematics and Economics has grown through the challenges presented to me in my A level studies. While Mathematics as a subject has always been of huge enjoyment throughout my time at school, the A level course has furthered my understanding of and passion for the subject, offering a diverse range of new concepts. I am enthused mostly by the pure and statistics modules, as the pure modules have consistently challenged my way of thinking, whilst the statistics modules showed me a clear and concise application for my mathematical knowledge. One aspect of the maths course which I particularly enjoyed was the work on proofs in FP1. The precision, reasoning and rigour behind reaching such a definite result greatly appealed to me. Proving formulae which had been assumptions in earlier pure modules proved to be a very rewarding experience which helped to deepen my knowledge and stimulate my interest of the work done previously.

Economics was a new subject for me at A level, presenting me with unfamiliar problems. I quickly realised that the applications for economics are endless and the simple economic concepts of supply and demand can explain many of the world’s problems. The modules on the macroeconomy particularly interested me as I was fortunate to begin studying economics at a time when it could be applied to real life situations, providing me with many opportunities to apply my newfound economic understanding. Reading the ‘Economic Naturalist’ series of books and Tim Harford’s ‘The Undercover Economist’, has extended my application of knowledge outside of the A level syllabus, and has shown me some interesting ideas. Harford’s comments on price targeting and how prices can show a lot more than we first consider, such as the status of the consumer and how they view their own social standing were particularly provoking. One area of economics I would particularly like to study is econometrics as it would allow me to see how I can apply my knowledge of Mathematics to economic theory.

Outside of my formal study, I participate in the UKMT Maths Challenges, and have been an entrant in the team challenges for the past two years. Alongside this, I help with the arrangement of a number of events to assist other young people in their own learning of maths, which include fortnightly sessions for the junior maths team, and a yearly event to promote maths to groups of year 6’s in the local area. The latter, arranged solely by 6th form students has provided me with skills of organisation and leadership. Alongside this, throughout my first year in the 6th form, I spent time assisting a year 7 student, who struggled with his Maths and English. Through one session a week I helped to improve his confidence with both subjects, and began to make the subjects more enjoyable for him.

In addition to this, I recently joined the school debating league. This has been of great benefit to me, helping to develop my evaluative skills, confidence of public speaking and skill of trying different approaches to those I would normally use. This has been of great benefit to me in Maths and Economics, as well as helping me outside of school, helping me to master a group interview situation to successfully gain employment. Working within a large store environment has taught me important skills of team work and co-operation, which I feel will be a benefit to me in the future, as they are vital skills for the area of work I would like to enter.

I look forward to the opportunity of furthering my knowledge and skills at university, while developing my current interests to the best of my ability.

Universities Applied to:

  • Lancaster - Offer ABB - Insurance
  • Nottingham - Offer AAA  or  AABB - Firm
  • Glasgow - Offer AAB
  • Edinburgh - Rejection
  • St. Andrews - Rejection

Grades Achieved:

  • Mathematics A2 - A
  • Economics A2 - B
  • General Studies A2 - C
  • Further Maths A2 - C
  • English Language AS - A
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economics university course personal statement

Undergraduate Certificates

Certificate

Students who major in Economics and who are particularly interested in business economics, environmental economics, data sciences, or finance have the option to obtain a certificate from the Economics Department to demonstrate knowledge and skill in those fields. The student will be awarded a physical certificate upon completion of the appropriate coursework. 

Requirements

A student who takes at least four courses (with 18 or more credits) from the Certificate Course List for (for example) Business Economics will be awarded a Certificate in Business Economics. The course list for each area is provided below and the student must earn a grade of C or higher for a course to count toward the certificate. A student can petition to add a course to a Certificate Course List and the Director of Undergraduate Studies will make a yes / no decision.

A student can earn more than one certificate, but the same course cannot be counted toward more than one certificate for the student. Courses taken for certificate requirements may also be counted toward Economics degree requirements.

Application

Once a student completes the necessary coursework for a certificate, the student can fill out and submit the Economics Department’s certificate form to the Undergraduate Student Services Officer. The Undergraduate Student Services Officer will then review the courses submit and approve or deny the student's petition. Student's will be notified by email once their petition decision has been made and, if approved, they may come to the Economics Academic Office to retrieve a copy of their certificate. 

NOTE: Certificates MUST be picked up in person. Copies will not be mailed. Successful completion of an Economics certificate will not appear on the student's diploma or transcript. 

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  2. Economics Personal Statement Examples

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  11. Economics Masters Personal Statement Sample

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    After receiving full marks in AS-level Economics, I have set myself a high standard, and I wish to continue my ambitions in the finance industry. However, I recognise that my passion for economics will lead me to many more career horizons. This personal statement was written by Mopac for application in 2009. Mopac's university choices.

  19. Economics and management degree personal statement example (1c) Oxford

    Economics and management degree personal statement example (1c) Oxford offer. This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements. Economics in the current climate is inescapable ...

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  22. Undergraduate Certificates

    A student who takes at least four courses (with 18 or more credits) from the Certificate Course List for (for example) Business Economics will be awarded a Certificate in Business Economics. The course list for each area is provided below and the student must earn a grade of C or higher for a course to count toward the certificate.

  23. BSc Economics Personal Statement

    All Economics Statements Search Economics Courses Learn Economics in the heart of London. Pick Economics at QMUL to study in a financial superpower city, and have access to internships and specialist facilities which set you up for success!

  24. Economics Personal Statement 11

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