Personal Statement
This is a compulsory document for all applications. If you are applying for more than one course, you will need to upload a specific Personal Statement for each course.
When completing your personal statement, be mindful that what you submit is intended to enhance your application. If constructed poorly it may have a negative impact on your application as a whole. This is your opportunity to expand on qualifications and experience listed in your application form, as well as detailing why you would like to undertake a certain programme.
Information you may wish to include:
- Why you would like to undertake the programme
- Elements of the programme you are keen to study
- Academic achievements
- Extra-curricular achievements
- Relevant work / volunteer experience
- Relevant skills
- Future plans, if your application is successful
- Interests
Word limit: There is no specific word limit (unless specified for certain programmes in the sections below) however, as a guide, approximately 500 words should suffice.
Curriculum Vitae
Even if CV is not a generic compulsory document, a CV or other information can be uploaded to enhance your application, for example, to provide further information on employment history.
References
All programmes require at least one academic/professional reference at application stage. Programmes with specific reference requirements are included on the tabs below.
Reference Guidance
This information has been put together to provide assistance in verification of references, however the notes on content are for general guidance only. References provided are to verify fact or opinion from a third party to enable an academic institution to make a judgement on suitability of a candidate (fact and opinion must be clearly differentiated).
Applicants are required to have agreement from their chosen referees before providing details with their application (family, friends, or similar are not permitted). If you agree to provide a reference for an applicant to Cardiff Metropolitan University you should remember that, under the terms of the
Data Protection Act, applicants can ask for copies of their references and any other personal information we hold on their application record.
Referees can decline a request for a reference from an applicant if they feel, for example, they have reservations about the information they can provide. There is no legal obligation to provide a reference, however if in agreement to provide a reference, referees are under a legal obligation to use duty of care in the information they submit.
Unless specific requirements are noted below, here is some general guidance for referees with regards to providing references for applicants to Cardiff Metropolitan University postgraduate, part time or research programmes.
Academic Reference |
Employer/Work Experience Reference |
- Length of time and capacity in which you have known the applicant. - Confirmation of achieved and/or predicted grades and title of programme (it is important to differentiate facts from opinions where applicable). - Level of performance and relevant subjects studied. - Comment on strengths, skills and abilities. - Comparison of applicant's level of performance in their cohort. - Applicant's motivations for the programme of study. - You are welcome to add any further relevant comments not covered in the above notes, which would assist us in making a decision. | - Length of time and capacity in which you have known the applicant. - Role and duration of time applicant has been in post. - Duties and standard of work. - Comment on strengths, skills and abilities relevant to the programme applied for. - Work ethics. - Applicant's motivations for the programme of study. - You are welcome to add any further relevant comments not covered in the above notes, which would assist us in making a decision. |
References must not contain any false, misleading or partial information, and must not be written, edited or changed in any way by the applicant. If it is found that an applicant has provided their own, or amended, their reference their application may be withdrawn.
Submissions of references
Applicants are able to upload a copy of their reference letter (signed and on official headed paper) when applying through Self-Service. Alternatively, reference letters can be sent directly from the referee's work email address to
directapplications@cardiffmet.ac.uk. Please ensure
contact details are noted on the reference letter in case of verification.
If your referee will be sending your reference directly to us, please upload a word document stating so on Self-Service, otherwise you will not be able to continue with your application.
Current Cardiff Met students are generally not required to provide academic reference, unless the programme you are applying for is included on the following sections, and states so. In order to be able to submit your application through self-service, you will need to upload a document stating that you are a current student, otherwise the system will not allow you to continue.
Undergraduate Part-Time Courses - Additional supporting documents
Postgraduate Courses - Additional supporting documents
School of Art and Design:
All postgraduate Art and Design programmes: a copy of your
portfolio.
MSc Product Design: a copy of your
portfolio
and
2 Academic References.
School of Education and Social Policy
MA Creative Writing: a copy of your portfolio or work (max 5,000 words of fiction/creative non-fiction/script, or up to 6 poems); CV.
MA Education (Wales): evidence QTS; reference from Head Teacher or other relevant senior colleague/manager, on headed paper; RPL request form (even if you are not willing to transfer credits, please read RPL policy prior to completion) ; if you are applying for funding:
- Supplementary Application Form. Please upload this document as 'MA Education Application' on self-service; and
- Proof of Residency in Wales Form and evidence. Please upload this document as 'Proof of address' on self-service.
MA Education (and pathways): you will need to provide: CV; Undergraduate Degree Transcript (or interim official transcript, if you are still undertaking your course); RPL request form (even if you are not willing to transfer credits. Only level 7 credits can be transferred); References:
- Former / current PGCE Cardiff Met student: no reference is required.
- Former / current Cardiff Met Undergraduate student: 1 Academic Reference
- Other: 2 Academic References
MA Education in Youth and Community Work (Youth Work): please upload your CV.
MA English Literature: a copy of your
portfolio
or work (one of the following: six poems; or 2000 words of prose; or 2000 words of critical writing or 5 mins of script);
CV.
MA English Literature and Creative Writing: a copy of
portfolio
or work containing an example of your critical writing (such as an undergraduate essay);
CV.
MSc Psychology in Education: at least one
Academic Reference (also compulsory for Cardiff Met students).
MA Specialist Journalism: copy of
portfolio or work containing an example of your writing (this can be a piece of journalism, a blog or an undergraduate essay);
CV.
School of Sport and Health Sciences
MSc Biomedical Science: you will need to upload:
2 Academic References (or professional if not applicable); a copy of your Undergraduate Degree
Transcript (or interim official transcript, if you are still undertaking your course); your
pathway preference form.
PgDip Dietetics: Required Credits Summary Form and
RPL request form (even if you are not willing to transfer credits).
MSc Dietetics: RPL request form (even if you are not willing to transfer credits).
MSc Forensic Psychology: you will need to upload one full
Academic Reference (or professional if not applicable)
also for Cardiff Met students; f
inal Degree Certificate (or interim official transcript, if you are still undertaking your course); confirmation of your
Graduate Chartership with the
British Psychological Society.
PgDip Practitioner Forensic Psychology: please click this
link.
MSc Sport Leadership: Personal Leadership Statement to be uploaded as 'course specific document 1' on Self-Service.
MSc Sport Rehabilitation: a copy of your degree transcript. If you have not yet completed your degree, please provide an official interim transcript of your completed modules to date; one Academic Reference (also from Cardiff Met students); CV.
School of Management
MBA: please click this link to view the mandatory documentation.
MBA Executive / MSc Strategic Marketing / MSc International Business Management / MSc Fashion Marketing Management: 2 Academic References.
Master of Research in Management and
Doctor of Management require a
research proposal with the application. Details on research proposal content for the School of Management can be found
here.
PCET Courses
-
PGCE / PCE Post Compulsory Education & Training: additional application
form. Please save this form under 'Course specific document 1' on self-service. You will also need to provide 2 references and your
CV.
