The answer depends on which subject you want to study. The subject-wise ranking of the UK universities compiled by the “Guardian" newspaper is a popular reference for students to find out which university comes top in the subject of their choice. For example, in its 2005 university ranking, the Imperial College, London, got the top slot for civil engineering, while Queen Mary, University of London, was adjudged the best college for dentistry.

Almost all British universities and colleges are affiliated to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), the central admissions organization of UK, and accept student applications through it for fresh enrolment in undergraduate courses. The admission tutors of the institutions rely on academic history, references and the personal statement within the applicant to decide whom to call for an interview.

It began as a small University College in October 1876, with only 99 students. Despite its size, it broke new ground by becoming the first UK educational institution to admit men and women equally without gender discrimination. The college expanded quickly, helped by financial grants from the business families of Wills and Fry.

About three decades later, in 1909, the institution was granted full university status by a charter signed by King Edward VII. The new University of Bristol opened in October of the same year with about 700 students. In 1929, Winston Churchill was appointed the chancellor. Steered by him, the university grew steadily over the next decade and established a reputation for academic excellence and commitment to quality education, a reputation it still holds.

Today, the university – located in the heart of the Bristol city centre – has 45 departments arranged in six faculties and 15 research centres. These cater to 23,000 students, including about 12,000 full-time undergraduates.

For admissions, each department looks at the personal statement in its own way. Generally though, according to the university, the personal statement must show motivation and commitment to the subject – either evidence of insight or interest into some aspect of the subject – as well as the applicant’s general aptitude for academic study. It is also examined to find appropriateness of the chosen course in relation to the candidate’s declared interests and aspirations, relevant reading or research beyond the A-level syllabus.

The standard of written English and the applicant’s response to challenges faced are also taken into account. The one-to-one discussion with the applicant at a UCAS day would to a large extent be based on the personal statement, which would also be scanned to find mitigating circumstances or reasons for any oddities in the grades.

Oxford University, which is considered as the best university in the UK along with Cambridge and rates amongst the top three universities of the world, got a boost when Henry II banned English students from enrolling in the University of Paris. By 14th century, Oxford was getting all-round praise by the monarchy and the Church for its academic excellence and contribution in various fields.

As an academic torchbearer and forum for intellectual debate, the university throughout its history has had its share of animated controversies of religious and political nature. During the Reformation in the 16th century, the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were burnt at the stake in Oxford. During the Civil War, Charles I held a counter-parliament at its convocation house.

In the 18th century, John and Charles Wesley’s prayer meetings at the Oxford laid the foundations of the Methodist Society. From 1833, The Oxford Movement tried to revive the Catholic aspects of the Anglican Church. In 1860, a famous debate took place at the university between evolutionist Thomas Huxley and Bishop Wilberforce.

No wonder this oldest university in the English-speaking world has become a tourist attraction. The Oxford Guild of Guides organizes walking tours of the Oxford city, which include visits to college and university sites.

Present-day Oxford has a student population of 18,000, a quarter of it from all over the world. It is a collegiate university with 39 self-governing colleges bound in a kind of federal structure. All of them admit both men and women, except St Hilda’s which is Oxford’s lone women’s college.

According to the university, at least 90% of applicants from the UK and Europe are called for an admission interview. The personal statement you submitted with the UCAS form becomes the basis for conducting this. The tutors consider the activities and interests outside your academic work that you have mentioned and may ask why you enjoy a particular activity and what you have learned from it.

Therefore, be careful what you mention in the statement. Be honest and do not pretend to be someone you are not. The interviewer may ask you how you balance your time between work and extra-curricular activities. You should re-read your statement before the interview, anticipate questions and consider how you can expand on the information you have provided.

The University notes that you can lead the admissions tutor in the direction of specific topics for discussion by mentioning them in your personal statement. The interviewers are looking for academic potential and interest in the chosen subject and whether you are self-motivated and enthusiastic. Your statement should be written keeping this in mind.

Cardiff University is one of the UK’s biggest universities, established by Royal Charter in 1883. The hopes of the local community from the institution were so high that the day it was founded over a century ago in a dilapidated hospital, a public holiday was declared, church bells rang non-stop to welcome it and people rejoiced in the streets.

The University more than met with the people’s expectations and is now counted amongst the country’s premier research and teaching institutes. It is the only Welsh university to be a member of the Russell Group of Britain’s leading research universities and was ranked seventh in terms of research excellence from over 100 British universities.

The campus, located amidst parks, Portland buildings and leafy avenues, hosts 25,000 students, about 17 percent of whom are international. Add to this more than 5,000 staff members and the area resembles a small, thriving town. Each year, about 7,000 students graduate, over 20 percent of which go on to do post-graduate studies.

The University’s 28 academic schools and 4 graduate schools are organized into two colleges – the Wales College of Medicine, Biology, Life and Health Sciences and the College of Humanities and Sciences. These hold about a 100 research centres.

For admissions, each university department gives much importance to the personal statement. Though the main criterion to judge applicants is academic ability, the statement is used to judge if they have a strong interest in the subject. Hence, you should not fail to mention all subject-related work experience, hobbies and memberships. An important part of the statement is letting the tutors know what you are hoping to gain from the degree. The statement is considered an important part of the selection process and assessment of this may have implications on the conditions set for entry.

The statement is examined to look for evidence of independent thinking, wider or independent reading beyond the requirements of the A-level syllabus, the ability to articulate one’s skills, interests and wider activities as well as general qualities and skills, such as intellectual independence and commitment.