How to write a personal statement

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getting started

The personal statement is your chance to show universities why you would make a great student on your course. It helps us get to know you and is an important factor in the application process. To help you get started, we’ve put together a guide below.

There are certain steps to follow in order to make sure you are ticking all the boxes when you write your personal statement. In this guide, we've broken it down into manageable sections so you can feel more confident before hitting ‘send’ on your UCAS application.

FIND A COURSE

Our guide to writing your personal statement

The first thing to figure out is what the purpose of a personal statement is…

You have one personal statement for all of your choices, so it’s really a chance to sell yourself as an individual. It’s a commonly held belief that getting into university is just about getting good grades, but really, that’s only one reason why a university would make an offer.

Universities are looking for driven, experienced and dedicated students, and so it’s really important to make sure your personality, interests, and motivations shine through.
Before you start writing…

The most important thing to do before you write your personal statement is to plan. Make sure that you carefully think about the different sections you want to include, the type of message you are trying to get across and the most important points you want to include. Once you have the framework, it's just a case of following your plan and ensuring that you use your own personal tone and writing style to show your personality.

How are personal statements structured?

Although in the past a personal statement required one continuous piece of text, it’s now been updated to include three separate questions. This change provides a valuable opportunity to structure your answers more effectively, ensuring you’re answering exactly what the universities and colleges want to see.

Each response must contain a minimum of 350 characters, while the overall character limit remains 4,000. The questions are as follows:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This section allows you to demonstrate to universities the motivation and passion behind your choice. When responding, consider addressing points such as:

What you enjoy most about the subject and why you wish to pursue it further
Any significant influences, such as an inspiring event, experience or role model
Evidence of genuine enthusiasm, including independent research, such as books, podcasts or lectures you've engaged with
Extra-curricular activities that have deepened your interest and knowledge
The career path you are considering, and how the subject will support this ambition
The role this subject will play in your future goals and overall success

Male and female working on laptops in quiet zone

How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare?

This section allows you to discuss the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education. When responding, consider addressing points such as:

Your understanding of the transferable skills you have developed, and how these will support your success in this subject area.
The relevance of your studies and/or training to your chosen course.
What you have learned from school, college, online courses, or other educational experiences, and how these have equipped you with the skills needed to succeed.
Any academic achievements or responsibilities you are particularly proud of, such as competitions, awards, student ambassador and team captain roles.

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

This section highlights the more personal aspects of your application, including activities outside formal education that demonstrate your suitability for the course. When responding, consider addressing points such as:

Skills gained through work experience, employment, or volunteering relevant to your chosen course
Personal challenges you have overcome that have influenced your decision, such as caring responsibilities that helped you develop resilience and empathy
Hobbies and extra-curricular activities that demonstrate qualities suited to being a successful student
Achievements outside of school or college, such as musical accomplishments or additional qualifications
Trips, visits, or experiences (e.g., museums, exhibitions, or relevant sites) that have deepened your interest in the subject
Any other experiences or activities that strengthen your application.

Before you submit your application…
Once you have finished, leave it for a day before proofing and editing so that you are approaching it with a fresh pair of eyes.
- Spell check and grammar check - it may sound simple, but it’s extremely important.
- Make sure that you have highlighted your strengths throughout all three answers.
- Remember, less is more. While it's important to meet the minimum character count, anything that seems to have no substance should be removed.
- Ensure that you have referred to the correct course that you are applying for.
- Make sure your personality shines through.
- Ask other people like a friend, parent or teacher to read it, give advice and offer another perspective.
But most importantly, make sure you're happy with it. At the end of the day, this is your application and an opportunity to showcase everything that makes you great.

Your personal statement dos and don'ts checklist

DO

Be positive. Enthusiasm for your course goes a long way!
Proof it before you send it (your friends, family or a teacher could help with this)
Tailor it to the course you are applying to
Stick to the character and line limit and ensure you have a clear, easy-to-read structure
Talk about the career path you would like to take and why you think the course will help you achieve it
Avoid generic statements and clichés, such as “I’ve always wanted to…” or “For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a…"

DON'T

Try to include all your qualities. Instead focus on the ones you are most proud of
Just list your achievements – focus on the skills you’ve learned from any achievements and why they will help you on the course
Treat it as a list of skills and interests – without context and reasoning they will lose their value
Just copy and paste from ChatGPT - if you need to, use it to brainstorm ideas or help with structure
Be shy. This is your opportunity to showcase why you stand out!