Guidance Document for Applicants

Online Programmes
Guidance Document for Applicants Contents

Contents

Introduction 3

Documents to submit 4

Photo ID 4

An up-to-date CV 5

Personal Statement 6

Evidence of English Language profciency 7

A reference 8

University degree certifcate(s) 9

University transcripts 10

Professional Qualifcations / High school or college transcripts / certifcates 11

Document Examples 12

Example of CV 12

Example of Personal Statement: Health 13

Example of Personal Statement: Computing 14

Example of Reference: Work experience 15

Example of Reference: Academic 16

Page 2 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Introduction

As part of your University of Liverpool Online

Programmes application, you will be required to send
a number of supporting documents alongside your
application form. These documents are used to assess
your eligibility for your chosen programme.

You have the option to upload your supporting

documents when you submit your online application
form. Alternatively, once you have submitted the form,
your dedicated Admissions Adviser will inform you of
any additional documentation required to support your
application.

We accept either scanned, photographed (a picture

taken on your mobile phone is acceptable) or electronic
copies of all supporting documentation.

Page 3 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

Photo ID
• As part of your application, all applicants must provide a clear scanned or photographed copy
of a form of Photographic Identifcation (a picture taken on your mobile phone is perfectly
acceptable).

• We can accept the following forms of ofcial ID:

• Current valid passport (UK or International)

• Photocard driving licence

• Photographic registration cards for individuals employed by the public sector

• UK Residence permit issued by the Home Ofce to EEA nationals on sight of own country
passport

• National identity card bearing a photograph of the applicant

• Your photograph on the document should be clearly visible.

• Please make sure that your Photo ID includes your full name and date of birth.

• Your Photo ID must have an expiry date that is clearly visible.

NB: The information on the ofcial form of ID must match the information submitted as part of the
application.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 4 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

I
I
I
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An up-to-date CV
• All applicants are required to submit an up-to-date CV as part of your application.

• A CV, also referred to as a resume, is a document that details your academic and professional
background.

• Your CV should clearly detail your academic background i.e. where you have studied, and the
qualifcations that you have achieved.

• Your CV should also detail your professional background and any work experience.

• Make sure you include details of any relevant work experience including; junior management
responsibility, project responsibility, budgetary responsibility or working as a consultant on small
projects.

• Please also provide any extra information that you feel is relevant to your chosen programme
e.g. voluntary experience, vocational qualifcations or short-courses.

• A good CV format is to provide your employer details (company name and employment dates)
and a short summary of your roles and responsibilities. An example of a good CV template is
available in this guidance booklet.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 5 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

Personal Statement
• All applicants are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application.

• Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about your academic and professional
experience and why you have chosen your particular programme of study.

• We expect personal statements to be a minimum of 300 words in length.

• As a guide, we would suggest breaking your personal statement into three sections covering the
following points:

1. Your interest and any work experience in your chosen subject area (100 words)

2. Your reasons for choosing to study the programme you have chosen (100 words)

3. Your future aims or career plans and how the programme of study connects to your future
plans (100 words)

• Some examples of good personal statements are available in this guidance booklet.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 6 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

Evidence of English Language profciency

• If English is not your frst language, you must provide evidence that your English language
ability is equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 (7.0 for the MBA and MPH). If you do not
already hold an English Language qualifcation, you can take our FREE online English Language
test (KITE) during the application process to assess your profciency. The KITE test will take
around three hours to complete and your result will be available within three days.

• If you already have evidence of your English profciency please provide a clear scanned or
photographed copy of your English language certifcate. Some examples of acceptable IELTS
equivalent English Language qualifcations can be found here.

• Nationals of, or candidates who have a degree from an English-speaking university on this list
do not need to provide evidence of English language.

• English language certifcates must have been completed in the last two years to be eligible for
consideration.

• Please note, we are unable to accept Work Experience or Residency as evidence of English
language.

If you have any questions about the English language requirements or would like to book a
FREE online English test, please contact your dedicated Admissions Adviser or email
enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 7 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

A reference
• All applicants need to submit at least one reference as part of your application.

• Your reference can either be academic or professional. Academic references can be written by a
previous tutor, or dissertation supervisor. Professional references should be written by someone
that you directly report to (or directly reported to in a past role), such as a supervisor or manager.

• The reference is a document in which the writer assesses the qualities, characteristics, and
capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that individual’s ability. 

• In terms of formatting, your reference should be written on letter-headed paper and be signed
and dated by the referee.

• If your referee cannot provide letter-headed paper then they must still include a date, signature,
and full contact details.

• Some examples of reference are available in this guidance booklet.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 8 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

University degree certifcate(s)

• All applicants are required to submit copies of prior educational qualifcations.

• Please provide a clear scanned or photographed copy of your university degree certifcate(s), if
applicable.

• The degree certifcate should clearly detail the awarding institution, the name of the
qualifcation, your details and the ofcial stamps and signatures of the institution.

• If your degree certifcate was not awarded in English, please provide an original copy alongside
a copy translated by an ofcial translation agent, if possible.

• If you hold multiple degrees (for example, Bachelors and Masters), please submit all
qualifcations for review.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 9 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

University transcripts
• If no class of degree is noted on your degree certifcate, please provide a clear scanned or
photographed copy of your university degree transcript.

• The transcript is the document which is typically awarded alongside your degree certifcate and
provides detail of the modules studied, the credits awarded and the respective module grade.

• The transcript is used to calculate the overall GPA/Grade, in order to be comparable to the UK
degree standard.

• Please make sure that the institution and any stamps and signatures are clearly visible.

• If your transcript is not awarded in English, please provide an original copy alongside a copy
translated by an ofcial translation agent, if possible.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 10 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Documents to submit

Professional qualifcations / high school or college transcripts/

certifcates
• If you don’t have a degree, please provide a clear scanned or photographed copy of any
professional qualifcations or High School or College certifcates and transcripts that you would
like us to consider as part of your application.

• These documents should clearly show the professional/awarding body, institution, subjects
studied and respective grades.

If you need to submit this documentation but haven’t yet done so, please email it directly to
Page 11 of 16 your dedicated Admissions Adviser or send it to enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk.
Guidance Document for Applicants Example of CV

FIRST NAME LAST NAME

Address · Phone
Email · LinkedIn Profle · Twitter/Blog/Portfolio

Briefy state your career objective, or summarize what makes you stand out. Use language from the job
description as keywords.

EXPERIENCE
DATES FROM – TO

JOB TITLE, COMPANY

Describe your responsibilities and achievements in terms of impact and results. Use examples, but keep
it short.

DATES FROM – TO

JOB TITLE, COMPANY

Describe your responsibilities and achievements in terms of impact and results. Use examples, but keep
it short.

EDUCATION
MONTH YEAR

DEGREE TITLE, SCHOOL

It’s okay to brag about your GPA, awards, and honors. Feel free to summarize your coursework too.

MONTH YEAR

DEGREE TITLE, SCHOOL

It’s okay to brag about your GPA, awards, and honors. Feel free to summarize your coursework too.

SKILLS
• List your strengths relevant for the role you’re applying • List one of your strengths
for
• List one of your strengths
• List one of your strengths
• List one of your strengths

ACTIVITIES
Use this section to highlight your relevant passions, activities, and how you like to give back. It’s good
to include Leadership and volunteer experiences here. Or show of important extras like publications,
certifcations, languages and more.

Page 12 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Examples of Personal Statement

Subject Area: Health

Personal Statement

I have been working in the Healthcare sector for several years now, following the successful
completion of my Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in 2010. Upon completion
of my undergraduate studies, I gained my registration and joined the NHS as a junior doctor.
From then, I have completed numerous training courses and developed my practical knowledge
and skills to advance my career as a Doctor. At present, I am now a senior clinician, and I have
recently been promoted to head of the neurological department in a large hospital. Although I
have worked hard through my experience to advance my career, I would like to study the MSc
Healthcare Leadership programme in order to learn and develop my theoretical knowledge of
management within a healthcare setting, so I can apply this to my new role.
Troughout my career I have seen how high-quality care is best achieved in environments where
there is good leadership and strong teamwork, when staf feel supported and engaged in their
workplace. I aspire to be a manager that creates a culture of excellence in care, by ensuring that
staf members feel valued. Te knowledge I will learn from this programme will allow me to
develop my own leadership skills and apply this in practice in my current role.
Additionally, as a healthcare professional for many years, I have a keen interest in safety and risk
aspects within healthcare settings. Terefore, the Quality Management and Safety in Driving Safe
Healthcare will drive me to explore the quality, safety, and risk within my own department, as
well as the importance of maintaining and developing an efective and well-trained workforce.
Tis will also enable me to monitor and support my team members to ensure compliance with
statutory requirements regarding supervision and training protocols, as well as identify any gaps
in assurances about the service’s ability to achieve its objectives.

Page 13 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Examples of Personal Statement

Subject Area: Computing

Personal Statement

I have always had a keen interest in Computer Science starting from when I was in school,
learning programming basics and problem-solving skills. I thoroughly enjoy mathematics and
logical reasoning, so building computer programmes quickly became a key hobby of mine. For
the last 10 years, I have been working as a sofware developer which has included developing
front-end and server-side functionality to a variety of applications. A large part of my roles has
also involved confguring and working with databases and confguring new applications with the
ability to make automated decisions based on large datasets. As part of my experience, I have also
developed the use of programming languages including JavaScript, Python, C++ and SQL.
With the way technology is constantly evolving, this programme will enable me to develop
a deeper understanding of how artifcial intelligence can be utilised to improve automated
decision-making processes. Tis will not only assist me in my current role but will also
enhance my knowledge in the feld to enable my career progression. Te machine learning in
practice module is of particular interest to me to provide me with comprehensive knowledge of
techniques and metrics used to evaluate machine learning algorithms. Tis will also ensure my
knowledge is current and up to date with current practices in the feld, which can then be applied
within my current role.
One of my future career goals is to improve access to information, specialised skills and
communication, which I feel the knowledge I will gain from studying the MSc Artifcial
Intelligence programme will help in fulflling this ambition. My aim is to contribute towards
advancements within accessibility by improving means of communication for those who sufer
impairments such as loss of sight or hearing. In summary, this programme will provide me with
the necessary knowledge and tools to advance my career in this feld and achieve my personal
goals.

Page 14 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Examples of Reference

Reference
Work Experience

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you regarding Mr Joe Bloggs who requires a letter of recommendation to support
his application onto the MSc Artifcial Intelligence programme.
Joe worked at Google as a Sofware developer and reported directly to myself, director of
Technology. In his role he demonstrated self-motivation, as well as a willingness to go above
and beyond to develop his skills and knowledge. I could always rely on him to work to a high
standard and deliver to client expectations.
I have thoroughly enjoyed having Joe work in my team and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend
him for the masters degree and I fully support his decision to progress his studies further.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your sincerely

(Signed )
Name
Director of Technology
Date
Contact Details

Page 15 of 16
Guidance Document for Applicants Examples of Reference

Reference
Academic

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you regarding Mr Joe Bloggs who requires a letter of recommendation to support
his application onto the MSc Sports Business and Management programme.
Joe was a dedicated student who was always willing to learn more and work collaboratively with
peers to enhance his student experience.
Joe took a proactive approach to his studies by taking on additional reading and easily grasping
theoretical concepts while applying this to real world situations. Furthermore, Joe took part
in extracurricular activities and was a member of a number of societies, again demonstrating
his commitment to the University. I have no hesitation in recommending Joe for this masters
programme and taking the next step to achieve his career aspirations.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your sincerely

(Signed )
Name
Academic of
Date
Contact Details

Page 16 of 16
 Ready to submit your
supporting documents?
Contact your dedicated
Admissions Adviser
+44 (0)151 318 4466
enquiries@study-online.liverpool.ac.uk