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Where you are applying changes what the statement has to do

A statement that works for an Ontario college will fail at an Ivy League department, and the reverse is just as true. These pages cover what each tier's admissions readers are actually assessing.

Woman walking towards the main building at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Canadian colleges

Publicly funded Ontario and western colleges. The application is assessed twice, once by the college and once by a visa officer, and the second is the one that refuses people.

Canadian universities

Graduate admission is departmental, and for thesis programmes it is supervisor-driven. The statement is a research fit document addressed to a specific person.

Ivy League and top US programmes

Everyone in the pool has cleared the academic threshold. What separates files is the specificity of the research question and whether a named faculty member would want to work on it with you.

Russell Group and UK universities

UK postgraduate admission runs on a personal statement rather than an SOP, and it is read by a subject tutor who wants evidence of engagement with the discipline before anything about your career.

Irish universities

Shorter statements than the UK asks for, read alongside a qualification comparison. The fit argument has to survive being made in under 800 words.

Group of Eight and Australian universities

Admission and the Genuine Student requirement are assessed separately, and the second asks questions about your intentions that the first never raises.

German public universities

A Motivationsschreiben with a Lebenslauf beside it, following conventions no UK or US reader would expect, and usually an APS certificate before any of it matters.

Institutions we write for

Applicants we have written for apply to these. The document changes by destination rather than by institution, so the argument for each is the one set out on the destination pages above.

United States

28
  • Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA

    Engineering, computer science and economics; heavily research-led admission

  • Stanford UniversityStanford, CA

    Computer science and engineering, with the closest ties to Silicon Valley hiring

  • Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA

    Public health, policy, business and the sciences

  • Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ

    Small doctoral cohorts; almost entirely research-funded

  • Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT

    Public health, management and the humanities

  • Columbia UniversityNew York, NY

    Data science, engineering and public health; large taught master's intake

  • Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY

    Engineering, agriculture and hotel administration; strong Indian cohort

  • University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA

    Business, engineering and applied data science

  • Brown UniversityProvidence, RI

    Public health and computational biology

  • Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH

    Engineering management and small doctoral programmes

  • Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA

    Computer science, robotics and machine learning; a primary target for Indian CS applicants

  • Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD

    Public health, biomedical engineering and clinical research

  • Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL

    Engineering management, journalism and analytics

  • University of Michigan, Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI

    Mechanical, automotive and electrical engineering; very large Indian graduate cohort

  • University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX

    Computer science, petroleum and electrical engineering

  • Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX

    Petroleum, mechanical and agricultural engineering

  • University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX

    Business analytics and computer engineering; a common funded-master's route

  • Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, GA

    Engineering and computing, including a large online master's in CS

  • University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUrbana, IL

    Computer science, ECE and agricultural engineering

  • University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA

    EECS, data science and civil engineering

  • University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA

    Engineering, public health and management

  • University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA

    Bioengineering, CSE and cognitive science

  • University of WashingtonSeattle, WA

    Computer science and data science; close to the Seattle tech employers

  • Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN

    Aerospace, mechanical and industrial engineering; long-standing Indian intake

  • New York UniversityNew York, NY

    Data science, finance and management at Tandon and Stern

  • University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA

    Computer science and engineering; one of the largest Indian graduate populations in the US

  • Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA

    Co-op based master's programmes in analytics and engineering

  • Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ

    Large engineering and computing intake with accessible entry requirements

Australia

25
  • University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC

    Engineering, IT and management; Australia's most research-intensive

  • University of SydneySydney, NSW

    Engineering, health sciences and commerce

  • Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT

    Computing, public policy and the sciences

  • University of New South WalesSydney, NSW

    Engineering and IT; the largest engineering faculty in the country

  • Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC

    Pharmacy, engineering and business; large Indian cohort

  • University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD

    Mining, biotechnology and public health

  • University of AdelaideAdelaide, SA

    Petroleum engineering, wine science and computer science

  • University of Western AustraliaPerth, WA

    Mining, geology and marine engineering

  • University of Technology SydneySydney, NSW

    IT, data science and engineering with strong industry placement

  • RMIT UniversityMelbourne, VIC

    Applied engineering, design and aviation

  • Deakin UniversityGeelong, VIC

    Nursing, IT and business; a common route for Kerala health applicants

  • Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW

    Accounting, actuarial studies and cyber security

  • Queensland University of TechnologyBrisbane, QLD

    Engineering, IT and health, with a professional-practice emphasis

  • Curtin UniversityPerth, WA

    Mining, petroleum and construction management

  • Griffith UniversityGold Coast, QLD

    Nursing, public health and environmental science

  • La Trobe UniversityMelbourne, VIC

    Health sciences, nursing and biotechnology

  • Swinburne University of TechnologyMelbourne, VIC

    IT, engineering and design with industry placement years

  • University of WollongongWollongong, NSW

    Engineering, computing and nursing

  • University of NewcastleNewcastle, NSW

    Engineering, medicine and architecture

  • Flinders UniversityAdelaide, SA

    Nursing, health sciences and social work

  • Western Sydney UniversitySydney, NSW

    Nursing, business and construction management

  • University of TasmaniaHobart, TAS

    Maritime engineering, agriculture and marine science

  • James Cook UniversityTownsville, QLD

    Marine biology, tropical health and nursing

  • Murdoch UniversityPerth, WA

    Veterinary science, biotechnology and IT

  • Edith Cowan UniversityPerth, WA

    Cyber security, nursing and hospitality

Canada

20
  • University of TorontoToronto, ON

    Departmental graduate admission; MASc is supervisor-driven, MEng is taught

  • University of British ColumbiaVancouver and Kelowna, BC

    Engineering, forestry and public health; thesis admission needs a supervisor

  • McGill UniversityMontreal, QC

    Medicine, engineering and management

  • University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB

    Petroleum, chemical and civil engineering

  • McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON

    Health sciences, biomedical and materials engineering

  • University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON

    Computer science and engineering with the country's largest co-op programme

  • Western UniversityLondon, ON

    Business, engineering and medical biophysics

  • Queen's UniversityKingston, ON

    Mining, engineering and management analytics

  • University of CalgaryCalgary, AB

    Energy engineering, geoscience and computing

  • University of OttawaOttawa, ON

    Engineering, health systems and public policy

  • Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS

    Ocean sciences, engineering and health administration

  • Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC

    Computing science, data science and interactive arts

  • University of VictoriaVictoria, BC

    Engineering, ocean sciences and computer science

  • University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB

    Agriculture, civil engineering and health sciences

  • University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK

    Agriculture, veterinary medicine and mining

  • Concordia UniversityMontreal, QC

    Engineering, computer science and supply chain

  • York UniversityToronto, ON

    Business, IT and environmental studies

  • Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON

    Aerospace, systems engineering and public policy

  • University of GuelphGuelph, ON

    Agriculture, food science and veterinary medicine

  • University of WindsorWindsor, ON

    Automotive and mechanical engineering, close to the Detroit corridor

United Kingdom

20
  • University of OxfordOxford

    Research degrees across the sciences, and one-year taught master's programmes

  • University of CambridgeCambridge

    Engineering, computer science and the sciences

  • Imperial College LondonLondon

    Engineering, computing and medicine; large Indian postgraduate intake

  • University College LondonLondon

    Engineering, urban planning and health

  • University of EdinburghEdinburgh

    Informatics, AI and veterinary medicine

  • University of ManchesterManchester

    Engineering, materials and business analytics

  • King's College LondonLondon

    Nursing, medicine and international relations

  • London School of Economics and Political ScienceLondon

    Economics, finance and public policy

  • University of BristolBristol

    Aerospace, electrical engineering and computer science

  • University of WarwickCoventry

    Business, engineering and mathematics

  • University of GlasgowGlasgow

    Engineering, computing and public health

  • University of SheffieldSheffield

    Materials, mechanical and automatic control engineering

  • University of LeedsLeeds

    Engineering, textiles and business

  • University of BirminghamBirmingham

    Engineering, health and business

  • University of NottinghamNottingham

    Engineering, pharmacy and business

  • University of SouthamptonSouthampton

    Electronics, maritime engineering and acoustics

  • Queen Mary University of LondonLondon

    Engineering, computing and medicine

  • Durham UniversityDurham

    Business, physics and engineering

  • University of ExeterExeter

    Business, environmental science and mining

  • Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne

    Marine engineering, computing and medical sciences

Germany

20
  • Technical University of MunichMunich

    Mechanical, electrical and computer engineering; extensive English-taught master's

  • RWTH Aachen UniversityAachen

    Mechanical and automotive engineering; the classic route for Indian engineers

  • Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichMunich

    Sciences, economics and medicine

  • Heidelberg UniversityHeidelberg

    Life sciences, physics and medicine

  • Humboldt University of BerlinBerlin

    Humanities, economics and the sciences

  • Free University of BerlinBerlin

    Social sciences, biology and computer science

  • Technical University of BerlinBerlin

    Engineering, urban planning and process technology

  • Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruhe

    Mechanical engineering, informatics and energy

  • University of StuttgartStuttgart

    Automotive, aerospace and production engineering

  • University of FreiburgFreiburg

    Renewable energy, microsystems and life sciences

  • University of GöttingenGöttingen

    Physics, mathematics and agricultural sciences

  • University of BonnBonn

    Mathematics, economics and agricultural sciences

  • University of HamburgHamburg

    Climate science, informatics and economics

  • Goethe University FrankfurtFrankfurt

    Finance, economics and biochemistry

  • University of CologneCologne

    Business, economics and information systems

  • Technical University of DarmstadtDarmstadt

    Electrical engineering, IT and mechanical engineering

  • Technical University of DresdenDresden

    Microelectronics, transportation and mechanical engineering

  • University of Erlangen-NurembergErlangen

    Medical engineering, materials and optics

  • University of MünsterMünster

    Chemistry, geosciences and business

  • University of MannheimMannheim

    Business administration, economics and data science

Ireland

16
  • Trinity College DublinDublin

    Computer science, business analytics and immunology

  • University College DublinDublin

    Engineering, business and agricultural science

  • University College CorkCork

    Pharmaceuticals, food science and nursing

  • University of GalwayGalway

    Medical technology, biomedical engineering and nursing

  • Dublin City UniversityDublin

    Computing, biotechnology and business

  • University of LimerickLimerick

    Engineering, computing and physiotherapy, with co-op placements

  • Maynooth UniversityMaynooth

    Computer science, electronic engineering and geography

  • Technological University DublinDublin

    Applied engineering, computing and hospitality

  • Munster Technological UniversityCork and Kerry

    Engineering, computing and biomedical science

  • Atlantic Technological UniversityGalway, Sligo and Donegal

    Engineering, computing and medical technology

  • South East Technological UniversityWaterford and Carlow

    Pharmaceutical science, engineering and business

  • Technological University of the ShannonLimerick and Athlone

    Polymer engineering, software and business

  • Dundalk Institute of TechnologyDundalk

    Computing, engineering and nursing

  • Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin

    Medicine, pharmacy and physiotherapy

  • National College of IrelandDublin

    Computing, data analytics and business

  • Griffith College DublinDublin

    Business, computing and law

New Zealand

8

New Zealand has eight universities in total, and these are all of them.

  • University of AucklandAuckland

    Engineering, business and health sciences

  • University of OtagoDunedin

    Medicine, dentistry and public health

  • Victoria University of WellingtonWellington

    Public policy, law and computer science

  • University of CanterburyChristchurch

    Civil, mechanical and earthquake engineering

  • Massey UniversityPalmerston North

    Agriculture, veterinary science and aviation

  • University of WaikatoHamilton

    Computer science, management and environmental science

  • Lincoln UniversityLincoln

    Agriculture, agribusiness and land management

  • Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland

    Engineering technology, health and hospitality

Naming an institution here says only that applicants we have written for apply to it. It is not a ranking, a partnership or a claim about admission rates, and we do not publish placement figures we cannot evidence.

Also written for

We write for applicants to these institutions regularly. They do not have pages of their own because the argument a statement has to make at each is the one already set out under Canadian colleges above.

  • Conestoga College · Kitchener, Ontario
  • Fanshawe College · London, Ontario
  • Seneca Polytechnic · Toronto, Ontario
  • Humber Polytechnic · Toronto, Ontario
  • George Brown College · Toronto, Ontario
  • Centennial College · Toronto, Ontario
  • Algonquin College · Ottawa, Ontario
  • Durham College · Oshawa, Ontario
  • Niagara College · Niagara, Ontario
  • Mohawk College · Hamilton, Ontario
  • St. Clair College · Windsor, Ontario
  • Loyalist College · Belleville, Ontario
  • Georgian College · Barrie, Ontario
  • Confederation College · Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Northern College · Timmins, Ontario
  • Canadore College · North Bay, Ontario
  • St. Lawrence College · Kingston, Ontario
  • Fleming College · Peterborough, Ontario
  • Douglas College · New Westminster, British Columbia
  • Langara College · Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Bow Valley College · Calgary, Alberta
  • NAIT · Edmonton, Alberta

Send us the draft, or the deadline.

Tell us the programme, the word limit and the date the portal closes. We will say plainly whether we can do it and what it costs, before anything is charged.

  • First draft in 4 days
  • 3 revision rounds included
  • Similarity report with every delivery