Human, Social, and Political Science (HSPS) Personal Statement Guide

Applying to study Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge University is an exciting but challenging process.

Along with your grades, your personal statement plays a vital role i showing your academic credentials and enthusiasm for the subject.

But you won't have much space in which to do this, so it's crucial to be as clear and concise as possible.

This guide provides detailed advice on how to write a strong personal statement that will capture the attention of admissions tutors and help you stand out.

• Why are Personal Statements Important?
• What Should I Include in an HSPS Personal Statement? 
• What Should I Avoid in an HSPS Personal Statement? 
• Advice on How to Start an HSPS Personal Statement 
• Advice on How to Finish an HSPS Personal Statement 
• FAQs 

Why are Personal Statements Important? 

The personal statement is a critical part of your application because it allows you to discuss your specific interests in the subject you’ve chosen. Unlike the more quantitative aspects of your application (e.g. your A-level grades), the personal statement should be used to explain in detail why you want to study HSPS and why you think you’d do well on the course.

Admissions tutors at Cambridge are looking for a number of attributes in a personal statement. First and foremost, they want to see a genuine interest in your subject. But it’s not enough to simply say ‘I’m passionate about politics’. You need to demonstrate your interest in that topic by writing about specific things you’ve read and ideas you’ve engaged with. 

Doing so will provide evidence of your intellectual curiosity and ability to engage with complex ideas, which is exactly what the admissions tutors want to see. You can also discuss skills you’ve acquired and experiences you’ve had, just make sure they’re relevant to HSPS.

What Should I Include in an HSPS Personal Statement? 

Academic Interests

Highlighting your intellectual curiosity and independent interest in HSPS is perhaps the most important goal of your personal statement. 

Mention any relevant books, articles, or online courses you have engaged with and explain what you’ve learned from them. If you feel confident enough, you can also offer some criticism of things you’ve read or explain why a particular theory or author doesn’t convince you. 

And remember, HSPS is an extremely diverse academic field. For that reason, it’s important to convey your specific interests. Specificity will make your personal statement more memorable. Consider areas like politics, international relations, public policy, sociology, culture, anthropology, and so on. 

It’s a good idea to check out the course descriptions before you apply to make sure the things you’re reading are relevant to the HSPS course at Oxford or Cambridge. If you’re not sure about what to read, look for recommendations online.

Relevant Experiences

Talking about activities and experiences could help demonstrate your independent interest in HSPS. Relevant things might include academic projects (e.g. coursework), work experience, volunteering (e.g. community outreach), and other extracurricular activities (e.g. debating clubs, student council).

Before you start writing about these kinds of activities, though, ask yourself the following questions: is this relevant to HSPS? What have I learned from this activity that has deepened my understanding of a human, social or political issue? 

If you can’t think of anything good to write when you ask yourself these things, it might be better to leave that particular experience out. The amount of space you’ll have is too limited to waste words on things that won’t benefit your application. 

Skills and Attributes

Admissions tutors are looking for candidates who possess a range of skills that will help them thrive at Cambridge. 

These skills include things like critical thinking, which is the ability to deconstruct, examine and criticise complex ideas. If you can demonstrate an ability to do that by critically evaluating something you’ve read, you’ll come across as a much stronger candidate to the admissions officers. 

Other relevant skills include analytical thinking. An HSPS degree requires the ability to analyse complex human, social, and political issues. Try to provide examples of times you’ve demonstrated analytical thinking, such as in research projects or essays.

You could also talk about your research skills, including data collection, fieldwork, and literature reviews. Consider mentioning any specific research projects you’ve conducted and the methodologies you used.

What Should I Avoid in an HSPS Personal Statement? 

Avoiding common pitfalls will help your personal statement stand out for the right reasons—not the wrong ones. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:

• Too many extracurriculars: focus mainly on your academic interests—not your extracurriculars. A good rule of thumb is to keep your extracurricular section to 10-20% of your personal statement. And try to make your extracurricular section as relevant and targeted as possible by showing how these activities contribute to your academic potential. 

• Vague statements: avoid making broad, unsubstantiated claims like "I have always been interested in politics." Instead, provide specific examples that demonstrate your interest, like books and research projects.

• Clichés: phrases like "politics affects everyone" or "Sociology helps us understand society" are overused and add little in value. If you want to include quotes, make them as specific as possible to avoid sounding wishy-washy. Better still, connect them directly to one of your own academic interests. 

• Irrelevant information: stick to content that is directly related to HSPS and your suitability for the course. Avoid long descriptions of unrelated hobbies or achievements. The admissions team are interested mainly in your academic interests and potential. 

Advice on How to Start an HSPS Personal Statement  

The introduction is your chance to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your personal statement. Here are some strategies for writing an engaging introduction:

• Anecdote: start with a brief, vivid story that illustrates your interest in HSPS. For example, you might describe a community event that sparked your fascination with sociology, or a political event (e.g. Brexit) that sparked your interest in politics.

• Quote: begin with a quote from a notable sociologist, political scientist, or anthropologist that has inspired you. Make sure to keep it specific and relate it to your own experiences and interests. Don’t drop quotes from famous authors just for the sake of it! Doing this could actually have the opposite effect of what you’re looking for. 

• Question: pose a thought-provoking question related to HSPS that you aim to explore through your studies. This can pique the reader’s interest and lead them your academic interests in an engaging way. 

• Analysis: begin with a brief analysis of a current social or political issue, such as immigration or social inequality. Explain why this issue is important to you or how you might like to learn more about it during your degree.

Advice on How to Finish an HSPS Personal Statement  

The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader. Here’s how to conclude effectively:

• Summarise key points: briefly recap the main points you have made in your personal statement. This helps to remind the reader of your specific interests and strengths.

• Emphasise enthusiasm: restate your enthusiasm for HSPS. Consider explaining what you would be most excited to study or in what areas you would most like to add to your academic skillset.

FAQs