A personal statement is a short, written statement of around 4,000 characters which you submit to universities alongside your UCAS application.
Universities receive hundreds of applications from students with similar grades to yours – your personal statement enables you to share what sets you apart from other applicants. It’s your chance to talk about your experience outside of the classroom, your talents, and what makes you interested in the subject or course you’re applying for.
This is your opportunity to stand out and get noticed by admissions tutors!
Researching, planning, and preparing for your personal statement
Start by researching the universities and the courses you’re interested in. Visit their websites and course pages and compare them to create a shortlist. This research is important as it will guide you on what to include in your personal statement and give you a good idea of what each university is looking for.
Once you have decided which universities and courses you are applying to, you can begin to prepare your personal statement. At this stage, you can just make notes and shape them into fuller sentences later. Here are some points to help you get started:
- What excites you about this subject and why have you chosen this course?
- How is your previous or current study relevant?
- Do you have any work experience that is relevant to the subject?
- Tell us about your achievements
- What skills do you have that make you a good fit for the course?
- What ambitions do you have for your future career?
How to start your personal statement
Get straight to the point! Admissions tutors will be reading hundreds of personal statements, so you want yours to stand out. Avoid overused phrases and cliches such as ‘From a young age I have always been interested in…’ and ‘I am applying for this course because…’.
Try to sum up in one line why you want to study the course – you can add more detail in the rest of your statement.
Personal statement structure
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach here. However, you may want to structure it this way:
- Opening paragraph – make an impact with your short, snappy opening sentence, introduce yourself and why you want to study this subject
- Paragraph on your academic skills and achievements
- Paragraph on your extracurricular skills and experiences
- Paragraph on your ambitions and goals after university
- Conclusion – revisit what you’ve talked about, bring it all together, end on a positive note
Personal statement dos and don'ts
Do
- Plan ahead
- Be clear and concise
- Use examples
- Keep it relevant
- Keep a positive tone throughout
- Let your personality shine through
Don't
- Exaggerate
- Be negative
- Use quotations
- Start with overused statements or cliches
- Repeat information from the rest of your application, e.g., which A Levels you’re studying
- Plagiarise your work
Access your full personal statement guide
For more tips on how to write your personal statement, including more dos and don’ts, detailed guidance on structure, and phrases and keywords you might want to use, access your full personal statement guide.
Published: 8 October 2024