Pharmacy, pharmacology, and toxicology 2026 personal statement guide

Pharmacy, pharmacology, and toxicology are all practical, professional courses, so show you’ve gained an insight into the profession you wish to head into. Do your research and really demonstrate your suitability, commitment, and enthusiasm for your chosen course in a convincing way. 

General advice about writing your personal statement

What do admissions staff at universities and colleges want to see?

Guidance and examples you can use

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.

Examples:

• The University of Manchester is looking for ‘a creative statement that demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment for the subject’. Think about what’s sparked your interest in your chosen subject through books you’ve read or TED talks you’ve enjoyed, such as Dr Jamie Dewitt talking about water pollution, and explain why you want to study it further.
• If you know, mention where you hope this career could take you, whether that’s working as a community pharmacist, designing clinical trials or testing food supplies, and make sure it relates to the course you’re applying for.
• Show you understand the profession you’re applying to through any personal experience too – even if it was just talking to a pharmacist, or learning about pharmacology through visits to university open days or relevant events. 

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• Think what skills and qualities will be required – both to study pharmacy, pharmacology, or toxicology, and to practise it as a profession – then mention things such as lab skills you’ve picked up at school or times you’ve demonstrated attention to detail during a science project.
• Relate how you’ve studied, both independently and as a team, to the skills you’ll need during your degree. Perhaps you’ve also learned analytical skills from sciences, psychology or English literature.
• What projects or clubs have you been involved in, such as Young Enterprise or a drama production, which show your potential management and leadership skills? Think how these may benefit you on your course.
• Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest? 

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• Pharmacists need patience, empathy, and good customer service skills. If you’ve had part-time jobs in a cafe, leisure centre or on reception for a business, you’ll have picked up a lot of these transferable skills. Mention any caring roles you’ve had too.
• As a pharmacologist or toxicologist, you’ll focus a lot on laboratory work and scientific skills, so relate any experiences you’ve had conducting experiments at college or at home and what qualities you picked up from them, such as attention, focus, teamwork, and critical thinking.
• Your hobbies and interests will also have taught you things, whether it’s adapting and going back over information when you’re coding or gaming, or perseverance and commitment to something you enjoy such as learning a musical instrument or building up to a Crossfit handstand!

How to set yourself apart

The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the ‘personal’ bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you?

What journals do you read or scientists do you follow that show your unique interest in your chosen subject? Maybe you follow the British Toxicology Society on LinkedIn, or you’re a fan of Forensics Talks on YouTube – try and illustrate the knowledge this has given you and where you think you might take your career.

Reference your personal life or interests if they demonstrate relevant skills, whether that’s empathy from caring for a parent or relative, motivation and enthusiasm from creating a TikTok channel showing off your science knowledge, or teamwork and leadership from being captain of the football team.

Think how else you can make yourself stand out, without going overboard. It's even better if you can link it to something you've learned in your chemistry, biology, or psychology studies, or read in the New Scientist or the BBC Science Focus Magazine, or watched on Expert Witness.

Tutors at University of Bath expect you to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in pharmacy and evidence of your understanding of the role of a pharmacist. This doesn’t mean telling them what a pharmacist does, but reflecting on what you’ve found out for yourself through your research and any relevant visits, volunteering or work experience.

Some more tips to consider

1. Commitment to the profession: Cardiff University’s admissions tutors assess your suitability by the way you demonstrate your 'knowledge of the science and practice of pharmacy' through your 'background reading or work experience’. On its website, Aston University offers examples of how the emphasis of a pharmacist's role has changed, and mentions some of the key skills you might want to evidence in your statement, such as a growth mindset, ambition, and critical thinking.
2. Relevant work experience: Admissions tutors at Keele University are keen to hear about any relevant experience, what you feel you’ve gained from it, and how it has helped you to understand more about what your future career in pharmacy, toxicology or pharmacology might involve.
3. Other relevant skills: Reflect on any applicable skills you’ve gained in academic, socialor work settings, whether it’s teamwork, communication, leadership, caring for others, or how you balance work with relaxation. But don’t exaggerate this. Be mindful that tutors will also read your reference to see if it fits with what you’ve said about yourself in the statement.
4. Your wider reading: University of Reading reinforces that the best way to stand out from the crowd is through the way you explain what interests you about your chosen subject, your comments on the relevant reading and research you’ve done, and/or the experience you’ve had.