Focus on your commitment to English and be specific. Concentrate on your intellectual and cultural interests
Say what excited and interested you about something you have read recently
Say what areas of language interest you, and describe any projects you have been involved in
Detail the types of literature you particularly enjoy and why
Name particular authors and texts – this will make your statement more vivid and give the selector a clearer impression of what sort of student you might be.
Say why you want to study language or literature at university level
Explain any deficiencies or blemishes elsewhere in your application. For example, if you gave up a previous course explain why.
Say what you hope to get out of the degree in the longer term. This can relate to a career or less tangible benefits. But see ‘What to Resist’ below….
If you’re applying for a joint or combined course, your statement should cover both subjects. You should justify your choice of subjects and be able to evidence interest in and understanding of both, even if you haven’t studied them at A Level. It’s worthwhile thinking about how you see the two subjects relating to each other.