ucas personal statement advice

How to Write a UCAS Personal Statement [With Examples]

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What are the big challenges students should be aware of before writing their UCAS Personal Statement?

• The essential ingredients for writing a great Personal Statement
• How to write the UCAS Personal Statement [with examples]

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The UCAS Personal Statement can sometimes be a student’s only chance to impress a UK university. Read our in-depth guide to helping your students plan & write a winning application.

There are hundreds of articles out there on how to write a UCAS Personal Statement that will grab the attention of a UK university admissions officer.  

But if you’re working with students to help them perfect their Personal Statement in time for the  relevant UCAS deadlines , we can sum up the secret to success in three words.

Planning, structure and story. 

The UCAS Personal Statement is a student’s chance to talk about why they want to study for a particular degree, course or subject discipline at a UK university. 

As they set about writing a personal statement, students need to demonstrate the drive, ambition, relevant skills and notable achievements that make them a  suitable candidate for the universities they have chosen to apply to . 

But the UCAS Personal Statement requires students to write a lot about themselves in a relatively short space of time. That’s why lots of planning, a tight structure and a compelling story are essential if a student’s Personal Statement is to truly excel. 

As important deadlines for UK university applications grow closer, we at BridgeU have put together a guide, outlining some of the strategies and techniques to help your students to write a personal statement which is both engaging and truly individual.

Handpicked Related Content

Discover the simple steps that will boost the confidence of your native English speaking & ESL students alike in  University Application Essays: The 5 Secrets of Successful Writing .

As they begin to plan their Personal Statement, students may feel intimidated. It’s not easy to summarise your academic interests and personal ambitions, especially when you’re competing for a place on a course which is popular or has demanding entry requirements. In particular, students will likely come up against the following challenges.

Time pressure

Unfortunately, the Personal Statement (and other aspects of university preparation) comes during the busiest year of the student’s academic life so far.

Students, and indeed teachers and counsellors, must undertake the planning and writing of the personal statement whilst juggling other commitments, classes and deadlines, not to mention revision and open day visits!

Because there is already a lot of academic pressure on students in their final year of secondary school, finding the time and headspace for the personal statement can be hard, and can mean it gets pushed to the last minute. The risks of leaving it to the last minute are fairly obvious – the application will seem rushed and the necessary thought and planning won’t go into  making the personal statement the best it can be . 

Sticking closely to the Personal Statement format

The character limit which UCAS sets for the personal statement is very strict – up to 4,000 characters of text. This means that students have to express themselves in a clear and concise way; it’s also important that they don’t feel the need to fill the available space needlessly.  Planning and redrafting of a personal statement is essential .

Making it stand out

This is arguably the greatest challenge facing students – making sure that their statement sets them apart from everyone else who is competing for a place on any given course; in 2024 alone, UCAS received applications from 594,940 applicants. In addition, UCAS uses its own dedicated team and purpose built software to check every application for plagiarism, so it’s crucial that students craft a truly  original personal statement which is entirely their own work .

The essential ingredients for writing a great UCAS Personal Statement 

We’ve already mentioned our three watch words for writing a high quality Personal Statement.

Planning. Structure. Story. 

Let’s dig deeper into these three essential components in more detail.

Watch: How to Write a UCAS Personal Statement with University of Essex

Planning a ucas personal statement.

It might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s vital that students plan their Personal Statement before they start writing it. Specifically, the planning phase could include: 

• Students thoroughly researching the UK university courses they plan on applying to. 
• Deciding on what relevant material to include in their Personal Statement (we’ll cover this in more detail later on). 
• Writing an unedited first draft where they just get their thoughts and ideas down on paper. 

Structuring a UCAS Personal Statement

As we’ve discussed, the UCAS Personal Statement requires students to be extremely disciplined – they will be required to condense a lot of information into a relatively short written statement. This means that, after they’ve written a rough first draft, they need to think carefully about how they structure the final statement. 

A stand out Personal Statement will need a tight structure, with an introduction and a conclusion that make an impact and really help to tell a story about who your student is, and why they are drawn to studying this particular degree. 

This brings us nicely to our third and final ingredient…

Telling a story with a Personal Statement

The UCAS Personal Statement is a student’s opportunity to show a university who they are and how their life experiences have shaped their academic interests and goals. 

So a good Personal Statement needs to offer a compelling narrative, and that means making sure that a student’s writing is well-structured, and that every sentence and paragraph is serving the statement’s ultimate purpose –  to convince a university that your student deserves a place on their subject of choice. 

How to help your students start their UCAS Personal Statement

In order to ensure that a personal statement is delivered on time and to an appropriate standard, it’s essential to plan thoroughly before writing it. Here are some questions you can ask your students before they start writing:

How can you demonstrate a formative interest in your subject?

It may sound obvious but, in order for any UCAS personal statement to have the necessary structure and clarity, students need to think hard about why they want to study their chosen subject. Ask them to think about their responses to the following questions:

What inspired you to study your chosen subject?

Example answer:  My desire to understand the nature of reality has inspired me to apply for Physics and Philosophy

Was there a formative moment when your perspective on this subject changed, or when you decided you wanted to study this subject in more detail?

Example answer:  My interest in philosophy was awakened when I questioned my childhood religious beliefs; reading Blackburn’s “Think”, convinced me to scrutinise my assumptions about the world, and to ensure I could justify my beliefs.

Can you point to any role models, leading thinkers, or notable literature which has in turn affected your thinking and/or inspired you?

Example answer :  The search for a theory of everything currently being conducted by physicists is of particular interest to me and in “The Grand Design” Hawking proposes a collection of string theories, dubbed M-theory, as the explanation of why the universe is the way it is.

Asking your students to think about the “why” behind their chosen subject discipline is a useful first step in helping them to organise their overall statement. Next, they need to be able to demonstrate evidence of their suitability for a course or degree. 

How have you demonstrated the skills and aptitudes necessary for your chosen course?

Encourage students to think about times where they have demonstrated the necessary skills to really stand out. It’s helpful to think about times when they have utilised these skills both inside and outside the classroom. Ask students to consider their responses to the following questions. 

Can you demonstrate critical and independent thinking around your chosen subject discipline?

Example answer :  Currently I am studying Maths and Economics in addition to Geography. Economics has been a valuable tool, providing the nuts and bolts to economic processes, and my geography has provided a spatial and temporal element.

Are you able to demonstrate skills and competencies which will be necessary for university study?

These include qualities such as teamwork, time management and the ability to organise workload responsibly.

Example answer:  This year I was selected to be captain of the 1st XV rugby team and Captain of Swimming which will allow me to further develop my leadership, teamwork and organisational skills.

How have your extracurricular activities helped prepare you for university?

Students may believe that their interests outside the classroom aren’t relevant to their university application. So encourage them to think about how their other interests can demonstrate the subject-related skills that universities are looking for in an application. Ask students to think about any of the following activities, and how they might be related back to the subject they are applying for.

• Clubs/societies, or volunteering work which they can use to illustrate attributes such as teamwork, an interest in community service and the ability to manage their time proactively.
• Have they been elected/nominated as a team captain, or the head of a particular club or society, which highlights leadership skills and an ability to project manage?
• Can they point to any awards or prizes they may have won, whether it’s taking up a musical instrument, playing a sport, or participating in theatre/performing arts?
• Have they achieved grades or qualifications as part of their extracurricular activities? These can only help to demonstrate aptitude and hard work. 

How to write the UCAS Personal Statement [with examples] 

If sufficient planning has gone into the personal statement, then your students should be ready to go!

In this next section, we’ll break down the individual components of the UCAS Personal Statement and share some useful examples.

These examples come from a Personal Statement in support of an application to study Environmental Science at a UK university. 

Watch: King’s College London explain what they’re looking for in a UCAS Personal Statement

Introduction.

This is the chance for an applying student to really grab an admission tutor’s attention. Students need to demonstrate both a personal passion for their subject, and explain why they have an aptitude for it .  This section is where students should begin to discuss any major influences or inspirations that have led them to this subject choice. 

Example :  My passion for the environment has perhaps come from the fact that I have lived in five different countries: France, England, Spain, Sweden and Costa Rica. Moving at the age of 15 from Sweden, a calm and organized country, to Costa Rica, a more diverse and slightly chaotic country, was a shock for me at first and took me out of my comfort zone […] Also, living in Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, definitely helped me realize how vulnerable the world is and how we need to take care of it in a sustainable manner. 

This opening paragraph immediately grabs the reader’s attention by giving the reader an insight into this student’s background and links their academic interests with something specific from the student’s personal backstory. 

Discussing Academic Achievements 

The next paragraph in this Personal Statement discusses the student’s academic achievements. Because this student has had an international education, they frame their academic achievements in the context of their personal background. They also cite useful examples of other curricula they have studied and the grades they have achieved. 

Example : 

Throughout my academic life I have shown myself to be a responsible student as well as a hard working one, despite the fact that I have had to move around a lot. I have achieved several other accomplishments such as a high A (286/300) in AS Spanish at age 15, and also completed a Spanish course of secondary studies for ‘MEP’(Ministerio de Educacion Publica), which is a system from Costa Rica.   

You’ll notice that this student doesn’t just list their achievements – their strong academic performance is always linked back to a wider discussion of their personal experiences. 

Showcasing Extracurricular Activities

As well as discussing academic achievements, a good Personal Statement should also discuss the student’s extracurricular activities, and how they relate back to the student’s overall university aspirations. 

By the third/fourth paragraph of the Personal Statement, students should think about incorporating their extracurricular experiences, 

Another valuable experience was when my class spent a week at a beach called ‘Pacuare’ in order to help prevent the eggs of the endangered leatherback turtle from being stolen by poachers who go on to sell them like chicken eggs. We all gained teamwork experience, which was needed in order to hide the eggs silently without scaring the mother turtles, as well as making it more difficult for the poachers to find them. 

When the poachers set fire to one of the sustainable huts where we were staying, not only did I gain self-awareness about the critical situation of the world and its ecosystems, I also matured and became even more motivated to study environmental sciences at university.

This is a particularly striking example of using extracurricular activities to showcase a student’s wider passion for the degree subject they want to study. 

Not only does this Personal Statement have a story about volunteering to save an endangered species, it also illustrates this applicants’ wider worldview, and helps to explain their motivation for wanting to study Environmental Science. 

Concluding the UCAS Personal Statement

The conclusion to a UCAS Personal Statement will have to be concise, and will need to tie all of a student’s academic and extracurricular achievements. After all, a compelling story will need a great ending. 

Remember that students need to be mindful of the character limit of a Personal Statement, so a conclusion need only be the length of a small paragraph, or even a couple of sentences. 

“ After having many varied experiences, I truly think I can contribute to university in a positive way, and would love to study in England where I believe I would gain more skills and education doing a first degree than in any other country.  “

A good Personal Statement conclusion will end with an affirmation of how the student thinks they can contribute to university life, and why they believe the institution in question should accept them. Because the student in this example has a such a rich and varied international background, they also discuss the appeal of studying at university in England. 

It’s worth taking a quick look at a few other examples of how other students have chosen to conclude their Personal Statement. 

Medicine (Imperial College, London) 

Interest in Medicine aside, other enthusiasms of mine include languages, philosophy, and mythology. It is curiously fitting that in ancient Greek lore, healing was but one of the many arts Apollo presided over, alongside archery and music.   I firmly believe that a doctor should explore the world outside the field of  Medicine, and it is with such experiences that I hope to better empathise and connect with the patients I will care for in my medical career. 

You’ll notice that this example very specifically ties the students’ academic and extracurricular activities together, and ties the Personal Statement back to their values and beliefs. 

Economic History with Economics (London School of Economics)

The highlight of my extra-curricular activities has been my visit to Shanghai with the Lord Mayor’s trade delegation in September 2012. I was selected to give a speech at this world trade conference due to my interest in economic and social history. […] I particularly enjoyed the seminar format, and look forward to experiencing more of this at university. My keen interest and desire to further my knowledge of history and economics, I believe, would make the course ideal for me.

By contrast, this conclusion ties a memorable experience back to the specifics of how the student will be taught at the London School of Economics – specifically, the appeal of learning in seminar format! 

There’s no magic formula for concluding a Personal Statement. But you’ll see that what all of these examples have in common is that they tie a student’s personal and academic experiences together – and tell a university something about their aspirations for the future.

Watch: Bournemouth University explain how to structure a UCAS Personal Statement

Know the audience

It can be easy for students to forget that the person reading a personal statement is invariably an expert in their field. This is why an ability to convey passion and think critically about their chosen subject is essential for a personal statement to stand out. Admissions tutors will also look for students who can structure their writing (more on this below). 

Students should be themselves

Remember that many students are competing for places on a university degree against fierce competition. And don’t forget that UCAS has the means to spot plagiarism. So students need to create a truly honest and individual account of who they are, what they have achieved and, perhaps most importantly, why they are driven to study this particular subject.

Proof-read (then proof-read again!)

Time pressures mean that students can easily make mistakes with their Personal Statements. As the deadline grows closer, it’s vital that they are constantly checking and rechecking their writing and to ensure that shows them in the best possible light. 

Meanwhile, when it comes to giving feedback to students writing their Personal Statements, make sure you’re as honest and positive as possible in the days and weeks leading up to submission day. 

And make sure they remember the three key ingredients of writing a successful Personal Statement. 

Planning, structure and story! 

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Alan Bullock Careers

Independent careers adviser and writer, my three ucas personal statement articles – 2024/25 update.

A free resource for applicants, parents and guardians, schools, colleges and advisers

Since 2008 I’ve had more than fifty articles and two editions of a book published on the topic of UCAS personal statements. More recently I adapted three of the most popular articles and republished them on my blog as a free resource and since then they’ve had over 14,000 views worldwide with lots of positive feedback.

Meanwhile, after many years without any significant changes, UCAS has undertaken a consultation process with a view to reforming the way personal statements are structured. The reforms are due to be implemented at the start of the 2025/26 application cycle, but this means that the existing format remains in place for students applying through UCAS during the 2024/25 academic year and therefore my articles have one final year of shelf life left.

The three original articles were first written several years ago, but I’ve tweaked them a little bit since then to keep the content current and relevant. That being said, I certainly don’t want to claim that my advice on this subject is authoritative and I would urge applicants to seek guidance from a range of sources and especially from universities themselves.

However, I continue to hear students saying that they find the process daunting, or they don’t know where to start, or they’ve been given questionable advice on what to include. So I do want to dispel a few myths and misconceptions and to offer some practical suggestions and inspiration, whilst also highlighting what to try and avoid.

Here are the three articles. The first two are generic, whilst the third is aimed specifically at students who are thinking of applying for a mixture of different courses.

The sunset photo is from my own collection and was taken in Lesotho, Africa    

UCAS personal statements: 20 things to put and 20 things not to put (2023 update)

UCAS personal statements: writing a killer opening (2023 update)

UCAS personal statements: applying for a mixture of courses (2023 update)

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

The Ucas personal statement is changing in 2025

A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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UCAS Personal Statement Advice

The Personal Statement is the most important part of the UCAS application - one that you will probably stress most about. 

This is your time to show who you are and why you want to study the course. A good personal statement should reflect your individuality, show your enthusiasm and commitment to the course, show admissions tutors that you are worth offering a place to and explain why the university should want you as a student. 

WATCH OUR VIDEO GUIDE

Law student Dave and Law lecturer and Admissions Tutor Chaynee offer advice on how to write a winning Personal Statement.

The UCAS Personal Statement is a marketing tool for your interests, talents and accomplishments. If you’re not invited for an interview, admissions tutors (the people who decide on who gets a place on their courses) rely on your statement when making their decision. 

Every single personal statement is read! 

You are competing against many other applicants and have to sell yourself. It’s important to take care in considering what you want to say and how to say it. 

Writing your UCAS Personal Statement can only be done properly when you are sure about what you want to do and why, so don’t start before you do. Look at the subject and the course details to get a clearer picture of what studying those courses will involve and remember that you can always ring Admissions Tutors if you have any questions. 

Tutors like well-rounded, responsible individuals, with a range of interests and well-organised enough to cope with university-level study. They're looking for motivation and potential and expect the statement to relate to your choice of course. 

Tutors will read hundreds of personal statements, many of which are dull, so make yours interesting! 

When you're writing your UCAS personal statement you should explain why you want to study that subject and give specific reasons for your interest in the course. Show evidence of research and background reading and make it clear that you’re prepared for studying the course - especially if it is a vocational course or a subject that you haven't studied before. What are your career plans for when you finish the course? 

Include information about any relevant job, work placement or voluntary experience – especially if it’s helped you develop skills and give experience that you wouldn't get through school or college. Have you attended any summer schools or related lectures?  

If you’re applying for different subjects on the same form, you’ll need to explain why that is, otherwise the universities might feel that you haven’t made up your mind. 

Most admissions tutors want to know more about you than just your academic qualifications, they love students who put themselves out to achieve something and enjoy a life outside their studies - i.e. they want to see what makes you tick! 

Include any hobbies/interests you may have and, if possible, relate them to how they will make you a better student, and mention any involvement with any other extracurricular groups e.g., the Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

If possible, include anything which shows that you have an intelligent interest in the world. Mention any positions of responsibility, evidence of self-motivation and any hurdles you’ve had to overcome and use these to show your character and your strengths. If you’re planning to take a gap year, explain why. 

The maximum size of your UCAS personal statement is 47 lines – that’s around 500-550 words, size 12 font. The maximum number of characters is 4000, and this includes spaces. 

Your reason for wanting to study your chosen course is the first thing tutors will look for and will usually be the opening part of a statement. 

BUT - Don’t start with “I’ve always wanted to study…” 

It is important to hook the reader and grab the attention of the Admissions Tutor from the start.  If you have a unique selling point, this is where it should be mentioned. 

Be personal and positive - and don't be bland.

• Don’t start every sentence with “I” 
• Write what comes naturally 
• Tone should not be over-familiar nor over-formal 
• Be honest – don’t lie! 
• Finish on a high note 
• Make a few copies 
• Take your time, be patient and get it right 
• Re-read prospectuses and information about the subject/course before you start 
• Don’t mention a university by name 
• Check that each sentence adds something new 
• Use the most relevant and recent examples of hobbies and extra-curricular activities 
• Ask a friend or careers advisor to read through your statement and check for typos 

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Personal statement

2020 Undergraduate Application

Make sure your personal statement is your own work

We'll carry out checks to verify your personal statement is your own work.

Provided it is your own work, you can use your personal statement from your application last year. If it appears to have been copied from another source, we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider appropriate. We'll also contact you by email to tell you this has happened.

My Application example pages

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UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success

UCAS personal statement is one of the most important parts of student application when applying to a university in the UK . It is the first “contact” between you and admission tutors. 

Read our detailed guide on how to write a UCAS personal statement with these extra tips. And, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

What is a UCAS Personal Statement?

UCAS personal statement is your cover letter. As the name suggests, this is a personal letter in which you will explain which courses interest you and why. 

This letter allows you to express your point of view on the disciplines you want, show your enthusiasm and explain what are your skills and qualities to join the desired program.

Your personal statement for UCAS reflects your personality and your ambitions . It must therefore be sincere and authentic, and above all unique. Don’t copy someone else’s and doesn’t lie about your skills and accomplishments. 

Of course, you have to show off, without exaggerating or appearing arrogant. It is quite simply a question of explaining the reasons which lead you to submit your UCAS application as well as your professional project while demonstrating your past experiences. 

Both professional and personal, have given you all the keys to succeed in the courses in which you are interested.

How to write a UCAS Personal Statement?

Your Personal Statement for UCAS is an essential element of your application, so you have to take good care of it.

Start early

Don’t underestimate the time you will need to pass your paper, especially if English is not your first language. 

So start gathering your ideas as soon as possible so you don’t forget anything. The earlier you become interested in your letter, the more time you will have to proofread, correct and refine your text. 

You will have to take the time to work on your English so as not to miss any mistakes.

Use the official documentation made available to you

Whether on the UCAS site or the site of the university you are targeting, documentation is available to you.

If you don’t know where to start, reading the descriptions of the courses you have chosen, in particular using the search tool available on the UCAS website , can be a good starting point. 

This will help you understand what skills and qualities are needed to be selected. Also, ask yourself about the reasons that lead you to choose these disciplines to show your enthusiasm and the consistency of your career. 

Making a table in two columns can help you more easily match your skills, qualifications and qualities with the conditions and requirements needed to join the course of your choice.

The UCAS site has published a small guide online in the form of a worksheet to be completed to help you determine what you can include in your Personal Statement. By answering the questions, you will have a good overview of the elements that you will have to put forward.

Ask for help from your friends and family 

If you can’t find qualities about yourself, what better way than to ask those close to you for their perspective? Your friends and family could certainly give you ideas and a different approach to your skills or what they admire about you.

The student chat rooms are also a great tool for connecting with students. Do not hesitate to ask them about the courses and universities they have chosen to get more information. Having successfully applied themselves, they will be in the best position to give you advice.

Find out directly from the source

Have you chosen your course carefully but are confused about the expectations of professors and admissions boards? 

Open Days are organised every year to allow you to go directly to the campuses to visit and obtain information on the courses. On UCAS , a search tool allows you to easily find open days at universities.

Take care of your English

It’s no secret that your style and your English must be impeccable. A relevant cover letter loses all its impact if it is full of spelling mistakes.

If English is not your mother tongue, it is important to show that you have a sufficient level and that you can express yourself correctly in this language. 

Don’t try to write with simplified turns of phrase: simplicity and conciseness are your best friends. Short, well-constructed sentences are the surest way to make yourself understood.

Choose your words carefully, and if in doubt, the dictionary is a safe source. In the Oxford directory, you will also find concrete examples to show you in which context you can use terms or expressions.

If you do not have the possibility of being corrected by a native, do not panic! There are proofreaders online who can help you. If these tools are not infallible, they can at least help you spot mistakes or improbable turns of phrases. 

Get reconnected

A good personal statement is not written all at once. You will have to be patient and ask your loved ones to proofread you to eliminate as many mistakes as possible but also to advise you on the merits. If you know any, ask an English speaker to correct you.

Learn more:

If you’re looking for more guides on student application process, I’d recommend these articles:

• A Simple Guide For Students To Overcoming Challenges In Studying Abroad
• UCAS Will Replace Personal Statements in 2026: What Students Need to Know
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on student life essay
• How To Write Masters Personal Statement
• How To Write A Personal Statement For Psychology

Structure UCAS Personal statement

To keep the content understandable, you have to take care of the structure of your Personal Statement for UCAS by including an introduction, paragraphs in the body of the text and a conclusion. 

Keep in mind you are limited to 47 lines or 4000 characters on UCAS. Line breaks and spaces matter, so you may be tempted to limit your paragraphs to save space. Don’t! Air your content by dividing it, it will be clearer and easier to read.

Build a plan

Before you start writing, put your ideas together by building an outline that will serve to guide you and draw the general look of your letter. There is no standard template to follow, the objective is only to show the relevance of your background and your motivation. Follow your logic but make sure that the sequence of your arguments is coherent for someone who does not know you. Be sure to order your ideas.

How to start a UCAS personal statement?

You need to open a personal statement with an original catchphrase that will make the recruiter want to read more. 

It briefly explains which discipline you want to study and why.

This personal statement example shows how a candidate can draw on personal experience to explain their desire to study sustainable development, with an impactful catchphrase:

I realised the importance of my passion for sustainable development when I with my family visited the waste-site Capricorn in South Africa. Capricorn is a one million metric tons waste site and home for about 50,000 people. Experiencing the huge volumes of waste and the appalling living standards of its inhabitants had an enormous impact on me and helped me recognise the necessity of resolving the coming issue of waste.

Cut the body of your text into different paragraphs including your professional experiences , your extracurricular activities , your studies , your future projects , your interests or your hobbies, if they are relevant to justify the choice of the sector you want to integrate.

Keep one key idea per paragraph to stay clear. Illustrate each of your ideas with concrete examples to support your point and show the logic of your journey.

The conclusion of the personal statement

Finally, your conclusion should summarise what you can bring by joining the targeted program. Highlight the main reasons that make you a suitable student for the chosen course or that show your interest and passion for this subject.

Content of the UCAS Personal Statement

As said before, UCAS Personal Statement should state your background and show how passionate you are about the courses you want to study. It will therefore be a question of mentioning all the relevant elements that can support this passion and show your enthusiasm.

Since you are applying to universities through UCAS, do not name any particular university. It is better to stay general and only mention the disciplines you want to study.

To help you, we have also put together some inspiring Personal Statement examples .

Reasons why you want to study in the UK

As a student, it is important to justify your choice to study abroad, and more particularly in the United Kingdom. Why do you want to become a student? Why not start a job? Do not hesitate to explain the reasons that lead you to choose this country rather than another and all the positive points that you see there.

Also justify your level of English if you can, to show your mastery of the language. If you have taken tests such as the TOEFL, TOEIC or Cambridge Certificate, indicate the results you obtained.

Your motivations

Explaining why you want to study the chosen courses and how this appetite for these disciplines has developed will give depth to your letter. 

These are essential elements to show in your UCAS Personal Statement. University staff, to select students, need to understand what motivates them. 

You are unique, so your reasons are too and are unique to you. Avoid clichés and platitudes; on the contrary, put yourself forward personally. 

You can also talk about what you understand about the courses and the topics that will be covered, and talk about your interests.

Your professional project

If you see further and you already have projects that will be the culmination of your studies, do not hesitate to describe them. This will support your motivations and show that you are sure of yourself and what you want to do.

School career

You can indicate everything relevant, such as your mention in the Baccalaureate. The projects you were able to carry out during your schooling, your taste for certain subjects, and your choices of orientation or specialities and options.

Show that your choice of studies today is the result of your previous journey and is only the logical continuation. 

Your extracurricular activities

Sport, music, arts… your hobbies can say a lot about you, your abilities and your interests and give additional indications to recruiters. If you practice activities, you can mention them if you believe that they will be able to support your choices and your UCAS application. Show the qualities and skills they have brought to you.

Your professional or volunteer experience

Whether you have worked or are involved with an association, for example, professional experience can be an important point in your UCAS personal statement.

If you are a volunteer for an association or organisation, describe your missions and the reasons for your commitment. 

You can once again highlight everything you have been able to acquire during your experience, be it abilities, skills, qualities or even revelations about yourself and the world around you. 

Explain how these newly acquired qualities will be useful to you as a student at a UK university, in the course you want.

The same goes for purely professional experiences, which can serve as concrete examples to show your motivation, your determination or your passion. 

Even if your experiences have no direct link with the subject you want to study, you can find transversal skills, that is to say, knowledge or know-how that can still be used in your university course.

Anything that may be relevant

A book, a trip, an event, a meeting. What has marked your life and drawn your desire to study a particular discipline has value. 

Tell in all sincerity what captivates you and shapes you, your authenticity will have every chance of making a strong impression on your reader. Be real and positive.

To conclude with these tips

With these personal statement tips , you now have all the tools to get started with writing. To increase your chances and apply to the university of your choice, start preparing as soon as possible.

If you’re looking for more guides on UCAS, I’d recommend these articles:

• How Many Universities Can You Apply To UCAS In The UK
• Top 30 Latest UCAS Statistics and Data For UK Universities
• How Many UCAS Points To Get Into Oxford University
• UCAS Deadline 2024: Everything You Need to Know
• UCAS Application Process For 2024 Explained

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Expert tips that will make any UCAS personal statement stand out

It’s that time of year again when thousands of students are preparing for their university applications. Every candidate is looking for the differentiating factors which will make them stand out from the crowd and search engines are on fire as they search for personal statement templates and top tips.

The British Science Association’s Innovation Manager Jane Dowden decided to make this search a little more personal by seeking advice from a university insider expert, Jane Marshall of Imperial College London .

Jane Marshall works as the Outreach School Visits Programme Manager at Imperial and advises hundreds of students on their personal statements every year. Her work with the students along with her collaboration with Imperial Admissions Tudors has shaped her unique point of view, which could assist students looking to start their academic journey.

Jane Marshall highlights how project work can provide evidence for the student’s interest and skills in their chosen field of study. She also identifies CREST Awards as an effective way to enrich a UCAS personal statement.

Read the full interview below to find out more.

What is your role?

My job title is Outreach School Visits Programme Manager and I work out in schools most of the time. I am currently working with over 150 schools mainly across London and the South East helping sixth formers write excellent personal statements and prepare for effective interviews. I also work closely with the Admissions team at Imperial, analysing applications and highlighting relevant information for Admissions Tutors.

How many personal statements do you (or your team) read each year?

I personally read about 500 personal statements across all subject areas pre-application every year, helping with proofreading, editing and suggestions for enhancement. I then read about 400 finished personal statements on applications to Imperial courses.

Why do you think doing a project is a good idea?

I always advise students that in order to write an effective personal statement, they need to pack it with actual evidence of their interest in the subject area.

If they are doing a project like a CREST Award which relates specifically to their subject area, it demonstrates a keen interest in the STEM subject they are applying for at university and also shows relevant skills which will be useful, such as independent research skills.

Isn’t it better to focus time and effort on improving exam grades? What does a project add?

Of course, students need to ensure that they have enough time to actually achieve the exam results they will need in order to meet the terms of their university offers.

However, as students also need to include evidence of their interest in a subject above and beyond the A level or IB curriculum, doing any kind of extended essay or extra project such as a CREST Award will not only add to the evidence they provide but it can also enrich the curriculum and broaden the students' knowledge of the subject area which, in turn, could also even enhance their exam performance.

Is doing a project more useful if applying for certain degree subjects?

I would say that doing a project or extended essay is exceptionally useful for any subject as it adds to the evidence a student needs for their personal statement. For any subject where it is difficult to arrange non-compulsory work experience, a project can be just the thing to set a student's application above the rest.

What are the best examples of projects you have seen in personal statements? (any CREST projects or other science projects?)

Any project or extended essay which demonstrates that students have gone above and beyond the curriculum to satisfy their curiosity about a subject area - those are the very best examples.

It's also lovely when a student can get really excited about their project in an interview!

What are the pitfalls when talking about projects in personal statements?

Going into lots of detail! The personal statement just isn't long enough for an in-depth discussion of a project - I have seen TONS of personal statements with entire paragraphs delving into the academic depths of a project; it's overkill and just not needed. (Remember, the academics reading it know the science already!).

I would suggest briefly mentioning the type of project, e.g. CREST Award and the project title. Students can always go into much more detail in the interview. They could also use their project to include a couple of relevant skills they have developed such as teamwork or research skills, if they haven't mentioned them elsewhere.

What are your top tips for students who want to start a new project to enhance their personal statement?

Pick something which makes you go 'WOW!'. If you happen to be reading an article about something to do with your chosen degree subject and you think 'Wow! That was really exciting!' and you are motivated to look in to it in more depth...that's probably a great topic to choose.

How can students make the most of a project they have already done when writing their personal statement?

Always include lots of evidence of your interest in a subject - if you did the project in Y11, that's great! You just say, 'While I was researching for my project on XYZ, I discovered something interesting…’ etc. It doesn't matter when you did it, just what you got out of it and what it tells Admissions Tutors about your level of interest in the subject. Obviously, if you did a project back in Y2 it might have less relevance, so you do need to be selective!

CREST Silver and Gold Awards are intended for 14 to 19-year-olds. 

For CREST Silver, students work independently or in groups to run a project addressing a real-life STEM problem. At Gold level, students must complete a project which makes an original contribution to a STEM field of study. Both can be used in UCAS personal statements as an example of extra-curricular project work.They can start their project at any time. 

Get started with CREST here.

In the news: Enhancing UCAS applications with CREST

Why a lack of equity in the UCAS process means inequality bookmarks school education

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How to write an effective UCAS personal statement

Personal statement top tops

For many students, writing a compelling personal statement for their UCAS application is a daunting prospect. Louise Evans,  Head of Adviser Experience at UCAS, shares her top tips for writing an effective personal statement below.

The personal statement is an important part of the UCAS application. It’s a student’s opportunity to describe their ambitions, skills, and experience. However, it’s often the part of the application they also worry about the most.

If they’re in need of some inspiration, then look no further – here are the best places to pick up a pointer or two.

1. The UCAS website

Planning should start on the UCAS website . There are tips on how to get started and what to include. It also covers technical aspects to bear in mind, such as the character count.

2. Personal statement timeline

The  personal statement timeline is really useful. It’s packed with advice on how to spread out the planning and writing stages so there’s no last minute panicking.

3. Our blog

A few years ago we asked university admissions tutors to tell us what they’re looking for in the personal statement .

4. Teachers and tutors

Teachers and tutors are well placed to know a student’s strengths and can point out areas and skills a student may not have considered, but are really relevant.

5. Open days

Open days are not only a chance to find out what a university has to offer, but also to find out what they expect from their students. If at all possible students should make the time to visit a university and ask as many questions as they can. Course tutors can offer advice on what they like to see in personal statements, and what can help somebody stand out from the crowd. Find out when open days are happening in our  open days search .

6. Video guide

This video with Jane Marshall from Imperial College has everything a student needs to know about how to write a personal statement. In less than five minutes you can get some great tips.

7. Personal statement mind map

Although it might look a bit chaotic, this personal statement mind map is a great way for a student to get their thoughts in order .

7. Search for course details 

Every course that can be applied for is listed in our search tool , together with entry requirements and a description of what it covers. Students can find the courses they’re interested in and try to match up their strengths and experiences to the course requirements.

8. Friends and family

Once they’ve drafted their personal statement, get your students to read it aloud to people they trust. They’ll be able to offer fresh insight into how the statement flows and any areas that might have been missed.

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UCAS personal statements | 10 ways to support your child

Applying to university can be a long and complex process as your child explores what and where they want to study, making decisions that will shape their future career and happiness..

Although this is a journey only they can take, you can offer both practical and emotional support as they prepare their application – and that includes helping them as they plan and write their personal statement.

What is a personal statement?

Why are personal statements important, what should a personal statement include, why must personal statements be unique, how can i help my child with their personal statement, tips for international parents.

A personal statement is a key element of your child’s UCAS application. Submitted online with their application, it’s a mini essay they must write that showcases their ambitions, skills and experience.

Even though they can apply to up to five courses at once in a single UCAS application, they only need to write one statement.

For your child, a personal statement is their first opportunity to impress a university with their passion and flair for their chosen degree. In their own words they can show what makes them the best candidate for the course. It can make their application stand out.

For admissions staff, a strong personal statement that shows your child’s suitability for their course and commitment to their chosen subject, can tip the balance in favour of making them an offer.

Your child has just 4,000 characters (including spaces) to create a well-rounded personal statement. It needs to be impactful and reflect their personal and academic journey. It should include:

• an engaging introduction that shows their passion for their subject, setting the tone for the rest of their statement
• their achievements and interests and how these have prepared them for their chosen course
• any relevant experience – from work experience to placements, internships and volunteering – especially if these relate to their course
• extracurricular activities that have helped them grow and learn and that demonstrate transferable skills such as resilience, teamwork, and leadership
• skills and personal attributes that make them a strong candidate
• their ambitions and career goals, and how their course will help them achieve their dreams
• a strong conclusion that shows they're ready for university life

A personal statement has to be your child’s own work. It must be unique to them. They shouldn’t copy anyone else’s statement or share their own.

UCAS has a dedicated verification team that checks applications and personal statements for fraud and similarities with previous applications. This includes similarities to text on the internet if, for example, an AI chabot has been used to generate the statement.

Any incidents are flagged and the relevant universities alerted, potentially stopping them from making offers.

The guidance from UCAS is simple: your child’s personal statement should be just that – personal and written by them.

Even though your child must write their own personal statement, there are things you can do to help them.

• Talk to them about why they want to go to university, their experiences, achievements and ambitions – it’ll spark ideas about what they want to include, and why.
• If they want to start writing straight away – great! It not, encourage them to make notes that they can come back to. But don’t let them leave it too long.
• Help them organise what they want to say into sections – it’ll allow them to focus on what’s most important to include.
• Once they’ve written a draft, offer to read it. You might be able to suggest improvements, spot grammar or spelling mistakes.
• Don’t over-edit their work. This is their personal statement, expressed in their words, not yours.
• Be encouraging – it could take several rewrites before they’re happy with their personal statement.
• Make sure they know the deadline for completing their personal statement.
• Some schools/colleges review students’ personal statements before submission. If this is the case, encourage your child to make the most of the feedback.
• Don’t be upset if your child doesn’t want your help. They’re growing up and this might be something they want to do on their own. Respect that. But if you know they’re running out of time, or suspect they’re floundering, ask them what you can do.
• Download our guide to writing a personal statement – it’s packed with helpful, practical tips, as well as insights from our staff about what admissions teams look for in personal statements.

Your child’s personal statement must be written in English so, if that’s not your native language, it can be difficult to support them practically. But there are still things you can do.

Encourage your child to research the UK university system, the requirements of their chosen course, and what universities are looking for in applicants. This will help guide the content of their personal statement.

UCAS’s official website features a range of resources to help your child plan and structure their personal statement. Once they’ve registered with UCAS and set up their online Hub, they’ll also be able to access a personal statement builder.

Online educational forums in your country can offer useful insights, while grammar and spell-checking tools can provide valuable language support.

Similarly, English-speaking friends or teachers familiar with the UCAS system can offer valuable feedback, and help your child’s abilities, dreams, and ambitions shine through in their personal statement.

Although we use the terms parent/child in this blog for simplicity, it is intended for anyone fulfilling a parenting role.

Published By Judith Charlton on 30/08/2024 | Last Updated 30/08/2024

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Personal statements

The personal statement is an integral element of the UCAS application form and inevitably the section that can prove to be the most challenging.

It is an opportunity for students to demonstrate to Admissions Tutors their passion and enthusiasm for their chosen course and to highlight the transferable skills that they have that will make them successful when studying.

There isn’t one set formula for writing the perfect personal statement, each will require time, patience and several redrafts to ensure that the finished piece really is the best representation of a student’s capabilities.

It is recommended that student’s include a variety of examples to illustrate what fuels their ambition, where they have acquired their skills from and how their current studies will complement their Higher Education choices.

Wherever possible a personal statement should be structured through key paragraphs, the first should always outline the motivation behind an application – whether it is based on previous study in a related field, work experience or an extracurricular interest the reasoning should be clear.

Other paragraphs may include details surrounding current studies, part time and/or voluntary work and wider reading and research around the subject. If student’s wish to discuss hobbies and interests this should be towards the end of their statement and shouldn’t dominate too much space.

A strong statement is often one that can draw additional skills from these activities, for example, if a student is the captain of a sports team they can use this to showcase skills in leadership, motivation and team work.

How you can support students

As a teacher or Careers Advisor there are several ways in which you can support students with their statements.

Firstly, encouraging them to emphasise their strengths and to structure their sentences to incorporate examples as evidence. Secondly, ensuring the statement is free of any spelling or grammar errors and slang terminology. First impressions can make a real impact with Admissions teams.

Finally, students should be actively discouraged from “borrowing” sentences from any existing personal statements – including those that have been previously submitted or that can be found on the internet.

UCAS run each application through Similarity Detection Software and alert universities to any plagiarism that may have taken place. In order to reduce the risk of accidental plagiarism students should avoid including clichés and include content that reflects their own individual circumstances and ambitions as this is unique to them.

For further advice and guidance regarding personal statements please download our PowerPoint and handout.

Personal statement tips

Key points to be aware of.

• Must be written in size 12, Times New Roman font, you only have a maximum of 47 lines.
• You can't write the perfect personal statement first time  – be prepared to plan and redraft lots!
• Make sure there are no spelling and grammar mistakes.
• You can't use any bold, italics, underline or colour.
• Don't copy sentences from other personal statements.
• Write your draft in Word and then copy and paste your final version onto your UCAS application.
• 30% why that course/profession;
• 30% how your current studies have given you skills to help support you through university;
• 30% work experience and voluntary work  – drawing out additional skills;
• 10% extracurricular activities.

Writing tips and suggestions

• What/who has inspired HE choice? Where does the students motivation come from?
• Highlight key points with relevant examples.
• May choose to use wider reading and/or work experience to show commitment to subject area or further research into a profession.
• Make sure you refer to how all of your qualifications are supporting your transition into Higher Education, not just the one(s) with the most relevant subject content.
• Don't just list skills that you believe you have, make sure you can provide examples of how and when you have developed them.
• Work experience, part time employment and voluntary work can highlight additional skills that you may not be able to get from the classroom.
• Take advantage of local events and activities to broaden your understanding of your chosen subject/profession.
• Make sure you don't make any reference to your university choice.

Examples of things someone wanting to study English may consider

• Where does my inspiration come from?
• What motivates me to study further?
• What do I love most about literature?
• Who are my favourite authors and texts?
• A Level Psychology: team work, research, debate, analysis.
• A Level Maths: Problem solving, report writing.
• A Level English Literature: critical thinking, written communication.
• P/T job in Pharmacy: customer service, communication, time management, organisation, reliability.
• Involved in setting up and writing school blogs.
• Love reading outside the classroom.
• Part of the swim team  – compete regularly.
• Creative writing workshop during the summer  – great chance to learn more!

UCAS Personal Statement: Format, Sample, and Tips

Zollege Team

Content Curator | Updated On - Feb 14, 2024

UCAS Personal Statement is 4000 character document s submitted by a student for admissions to UK universities. In UCAS personal essay, students should mention the unique strengths to make respective SOP for UK stand out from other applicants. Applicant should demonstrate the understanding of the course in UCAS SOP . In UCAS personal statement, a candidate can include voluntary work, and work experience . To showcase qualities to admissions committee, the applicant should link relevant professional work experience while applying to UK universities .

UCAS allows you to stand out from the crowd by showcasing who you are and what you can bring to a university. It is one of the most important document as you begin your undergraduate study in UK . You must include something unique and memorable about yourself. The admission department receive thousands of applications each day. Hence, you should make your statement unique and give them a reason to read yours more than once. You can find many examples of a personal statement UCAS online.

You should show positive attitude in UCAS personal statement. The personal statement should be submitted before you get a CAS letter from the university. You must include answers for questions like Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject and what are your life experiences . Be bold to talk about your achievements but do not brag about it. The conclusion of UCAS personal essay, should summarize all the important points made in SOP for admission to the best universities in UK .

UCAS Personal Statement Format

Points to be included in ucas personal essay, sample ucas personal statement, tips for ucas personal statement.

The  Statement of purpose format and UCAS personal statement examples format is similar. Candidates can check the UCAS SOP format as given below:

• Introduction: In introduction of statement of purpose for UG courses , candidate should demonstrate the enthusiasm for pursuing the program. Candidates can show the knowledge, and share the career goals in introduction. The introduction should be simple and to the point.
• Personal Skills and Achievements: Candidate should mention achievements, position of responsibility in UCAS for postgraduate. Applicants can also add qualities for making the UCAS personal statement unique.
• Work experience and Future plans: In UCAS personal essay, aspirants can add relevant work experience. Student can write how the knowledge gained in the course will help in achieving career goals.
• Conclusion: Establishing a connection between the beginning and the conclusion of the statement is a wonderful approach to reaffirm opening points. It should create a positive and long-lasting impression on the governing body. They should understand that you know what is UCAS .

Points to be included in SOP for UK student visa and UCAS Personal Essay are given below:

• Give a brief about the skills, achievements, and relevant work experience
• Demonstrate skills with examples in UCAS for masters
• Showing the passion for the course, candidate is applying to. For example, an applicant applying for BSc Nursing in UK, should write the reasons for pursuing the course.
• Write how studying a specific course in specific affordable university in UK will help candidate achieve the career goals.

SOP sample for UK universities helps student understand the structure of statement of purpose. UCAS personal statement examples are given below:

The tips to be followed for UCAS statement are similar to SOP for MBA in UK tips. SOP UCAS tips for personal statement are given below:

• Motivations for studying the particular field should be mentioned in the content.
• Write-up should be relevant to the subject that one has selected.
• Do not write more than 4000 characters in UCAS personal statement.
• The scholars have to talk about only the positive sides of themselves.
• Write in own words, and do not exaggerate the statements.
• Spelling and grammatical errors should not be there in the content.
• There should not be any plagiarism in the topic.

UCAS personal statement describes the motivational factors that work behind the desire to achieve the goal. Character limit of 4000 is set, and UCAS personal statement word limit is not there. The presentation of the write-up should be very precise and impressive. Applicants can follow the tips for UCAS personal statement.

Ques: What should you avoid in a UCAS personal statement?

Ans : In UCAS personal statement, candidate should avoid spelling errors, and exaggeration. Moreover, UCAS personal essay should not have any plagiarism.

Ques: What is a successful personal statement for UCAS?

Ans : A successful personal statement for UCAS has no spelling errors, clearly states the reasons for joining the course, includes career goals, work experience and position of responsibility.

Ques: What is the character limit for UCAS statement?

Ans : The character limit for SOP UCAS is 4000.

Ques: What do you write in a personal statement for UCAS?

Ans : Candidate should write about achievements, position of responsibility, work experience, and reasons for pursuing the program in UK university.

Ques: Can you get rejected because of personal statement?

Ans : Yes, applicant can rejected because of personal statement.

Ques: What if my personal statement is over 47 lines?

Ans : As the character or line limit is set by UCAS, so students should avoid writing more tahn 47 lines, as it can lead to rejection.

Ques: How do I shorten my UCAS personal statement?

Ans : To shorten the UCAS personal statement, avoid exaggeration, and merge sentences (if possible).

Ques: Is a personal statement 4000 characters with or without spaces?

Ans : 4000 characters in UCAS SOP includes spaces.

Ques: Can UCAS personal statement be over 47 lines?

Ans : No, UCAS personal statement should not be over 47 lines.

Ques: Can you go over 4000 characters in your personal statement on UCAS?

Ans : UCAS has set a character limit of 4000. So, student should not write more than 4000 characters in UCAS SOP.

Ques: When should I start writing my personal statement?

Ans:  You should start writing the personal statement as soon as possible. You should give yourself ample time to write, revise, and get feedback. Start researching course requirements and reflecting on your experiences early on.

Ques:   What are admissions department looking for in UCAS?

Ans:  The admissions team are looking for enthusiasm, clarity, and evidence of your suitability for the course in your personal statement. You must show your passion for the subject, highlight relevant skills and experiences, and connect them to your academic goals.

Ques: What should I avoid in UCAS?

Ans:  The things that you should avoid in UCAS are clichés, irrelevant information, negativity, factual errors, and exceeding the word limit. You must stay authentic, focus on the essentials, and proofread to avoid any mistakes.

Ques: How important are extracurricular activities in UCAS?

Ans:  The extracurricular activities are very important in UCAS. They showcase your skills and interests beyond academics. You should choose relevant activities to demonstrate transferable skills and passion for your chosen field.

Ques: Can I get professional help writing my statement?

Ans:  Yes, you can definitely seek professional guidance for feedback and structure, but avoid ghostwriting. You must write the personal statement yourself since authenticity is crucial, and the statement should truly represent your voice and experiences.

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Discover Economics

• Simran Kumari
• 12 hours ago

5 Economics personal statement tips

As summer comes to a close and school starts again, most year 13’s will be starting to think about UCAS and personal statements. Personal statements seem daunting and overwhelming but if you start preparing in advance, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Trust me, I’ve been in the same position that you’re in now.

If you are a bit nervous and don’t know what to do, I’ve prepared 5 tips to help you get started on your personal statement.

1.       Research universities and courses

Even before you even think about starting to write, you should do some research around the universities and courses you’re considering applying to. Do you want to do a straight economics degree or do a joint honour degree? What kind of modules would you want to study? Would you prefer a more essay based or a more maths-based degree? Thinking about these questions will help give a foundation for your personal statements and some ideas of what to write about. For example, if you know that the universities you’re applying to have similar modules, you can talk about them in your personal statement. Or if you know that you would a prefer studying a maths-based degree, you would highlight your mathematical competency.

2.       Do a short online course.

If you have an area of economics that you are interested in, why not learn more about it a little more by doing a free online course. Coursera, EdX and the Open University offer so many free short courses. These are available to do in a variety of different areas and normally only take 3 to 20 hours to do. You can learn about niche or broad economics concepts and when writing about it, you will be able to display your proactiveness and enthusiasm. I did a short course on Global Prosperity and GDP which linked environmental economics to classic economic theory and then I wrote about it in my personal statement. An easy trap to fall into is just listing things you’ve done which doesn’t tell the admissions team much. You should talk about why you chose to do that course, key takeaways from it and how it’s relevant to why you want to study economics.

3.       Read books and articles

This links very closely with my second tip. If you’re interested in a certain aspect of economics, read books and articles on it. Discover Economics has some amazing book recommendations and most university course pages have a recommended summer reading list, both great ways to discover books. Make sure to not be too basic with the books you talk about such as talking about how much you loved Freakonomics. It’s very overused and universities often favour originality. Like I mentioned previously, don’t list. Try to write in a chronological almost story like way. E.g. I am interested in X area of economics which lead me to read X book; where I particularly liked X part as it helped deepen my understanding of X; from this I am excited to study X further at university.

4.       Know current affairs

A major part of economics especially macroeconomics is to about what’s happening around the world which is why it can be useful to mention current affairs. However, not just randomly but in an economic context. Consider what has been happening in the news recently and read articles and listen to podcasts related to those events. A lot of the time, schools have free subscriptions to the Financial Times or the economist so ask your school. If not, there are plenty of other sources that can be used. Explain and link what you have listened to and read to economic concepts and theories. I talked reading an article on how prisoners dilemma can be used to figure out how to distribute Covid-19 vaccines because I was applying to university  straight after the pandemic. It wouldn’t make sense for you to talk about the pandemic now as it happened 4 years ago and is no longer ‘current’. Make sure what you’re writing about is relevant to what’s going on today.

5.       Reach out

Ask your teachers, friends, family for advice and guidance. If you know someone who is studying a course that you want to study, reach out to them and ask them how they went about applying to university. Some universities even do personal statement review sessions where you can ask for pointers and tips. Bearing that in mind, remember at the end of the day this is your personal statement and you don’t have to implement every piece of advice that’s been given to you. Everyone would have had a different experience with the university application process and you can choose what bits and pieces you want to take from their experience.

These tips aren’t the holy grail to writing a perfect personal statement but they’re a good starting point. If you’re unsure. And with that, enjoy the rest of your summer and good luck with the upcoming academic year!

Simran is a 3rd year economics student at the the University of Warwick. She is currently studying doing a year abroad at LMU in Germany. 

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What makes a great personal statement? transcript

University of Birmingham admissions tutors inform you of what makes a great personal statement on a UCAS application.

Title:  What makes a great personal statement? Duration: 6.09 mins

So the opening paragraph to your personal statement is really important. So you want to draw the reader in. Recently, we had a student write, “well, without chemical engineers we wouldn’t have everyday products such as shampoos and detergents, and I want to be the person that creates these products of the future”. So this really shows they understand the scope of Chemical E ngineering and how it relates to the real world, and that’s really nice to see in a personal statement, because it shows you’ve done your research as well.

What we don’t want to see is lots of people saying I first wanted to be a dentist when I was 5 years old, because lots and lots of people say that, we don’t think it’s particularly genuine. What’s much more valuable to us is telling us what kind of things you think appeal to you about the career, what makes you think that you’d be a good fit for it. And do you have a kind of an awareness as to the good points and the bad points of the career so that you’re fully prepared to go into it.

What makes a good personal statement is when a student really goes into detail about why they want to study that particular subject. What I’m really looking for as an admissions tutor is something unique to that individual, and something that shows that that student has taken a bit more time than just thinking about the things that they’ve studied within their class. It might be that they’ve thought about what they want to do with a law degree in the future, whether that’s to become a solicitor, a barrister, or do something completely different with their law degree. What I’m looking for is for them to talk about their extra-curricular activities, the wider reading that they’ve done, and how that’s going to make them effectively a better law student in the long run.

One of the things that I might look for if I’m reading a personal statement maybe, for instance, is there something that the student has read recently that demonstrates an interest and a passion for the subject? Students can also evidence their interest in a topic by talking about a particular academic lecture that they may have been to see, or if they’ve been on-line to see a TedX talk, for instance - and they should really reflect on how this has sparked their interest in a topic. 

Applicants often ask the sort of work experience they should include in a personal statement. For me, this doesn’t have to be a prestigious internship, in many respects it can be a summer job or it could be a Saturday job. For instance, if you’ve applied to a Sociology or a Social Policy Degree, you might reflect on how that Saturday job has offered a series of insights into the flexible labour market, zero hours contracts, that have sparked your interest in these disciplines. I suppose the point is that no experience is wasted if you relate that experience to the course you’re applying to.

We really want students to show us what skills they’ve got beyond academic achievement. We are interested in finding out about your part-time jobs, but not necessarily the specifics of what you were up to every day. We’re looking for what transferable skills you’ve managed to get from your job, be it leadership, team-working, etc, and how this can enhance your CV.

We have a lot of applicants that say “I like maths, I like chemistry, so I want to do Chemical Engineering”. But Chemical Engineering is more than just maths and chemistry. So it includes business, it includes physics, it includes biology. So we really want you to bring that all into your personal statement. A really easy way of doing this is talking about your experiences. Maybe you’ve read an article or you’ve read a book or you’ve seen a TV programme and it’s really inspired you to study Chemical Engineering. Bring this into your personal statement and really show your interest for the subject.

In Biosciences, it’s a numeric degree, so we like to know that students can do basic numerical functions, look at statistics. We also like students to emphasise if they’ve had any lab experience - this can be obtained at school. What have they enjoyed about practical sessions? What have they gained out of it?

For a student applying for a joint honours degree I would recommend that they include both of the subjects they are applying for in their personal statement. This is because it’s likely that admissions tutors for both of those subjects will have a look at the application and at the personal statement. So, for example, if the student was applying for History and English I’d be looking for them to find a way that those subjects actually link together and complement each other. And go into a bit of detail about why they want to do that particular combination of subjects.

So the things that we look for in a personal statement are basically the things that you can’t get across on your UCAS form or anywhere else. So the things that we think are really important are you telling us about some work experience that you’ve done. Ideally, we want our candidates to have 3 days work experience in an NHS or an NHS and private mixed practice. And also tell us a bit about the things that you reflected on from that, and the things  you learnt from it. Was it the kind of job that you expected it to be? Were any things different? Rather than just listing the procedures that you saw. And also voluntary work - so, we ask all of our candidates to undertake a voluntary placement. And that’s to show a few things, really. To show that you’re willing to give back to the community, and that you enjoy working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. And, again, we’ll give credit to candidates a little bit more if they push themselves a bit outside their comfort zone with that voluntary work. So maybe if they work with people they wouldn’t normally come into contact with during their day-to-day life, possible a care home or helping in a homeless shelter, something like that, rather than maybe just tutoring children within their own school or working in youth clubs they might have attended themselves when they were younger.

We’re looking for applicants to convey a passion for the subject. This says something in particular: you’ve had an interest in, on your A’ Levels or BTEC, that you want to learn more about across three years. How will your degree help to contribute to the sort of career that you might want to go into? Or is it that you have a set of skills that you wish to develop through your degree? Or more broadly, what’s the sort of person that you want to be when you leave University?

You’ll be studying with academics who live and breathe their subjects. They do not only teach them, they also research them for a number of years. And so we’re looking for students to demonstrate the same desire and interest that our academics have.

END OF RECORDING

• Supporting your child with writing their personal statement for 2026 entry

Advice for parents, guardians and carers

• How to fill in the UCAS application
• What happens once UCAS gets an application?
• Parent, Guardian and Carer Guide
• Key dates and the application journey
• Planning their future
• Researching options
• Revision tips and how to manage exam stress: a guide for parents and guardians
• Alternatives to university
• How to pay for uni
• International student finance
• Bills, budgeting and preparing for uni
• Finding university accommodation
• Making new friends and dealing with homesickness
• Parents Evening: The UCAS parent series

Understanding the new personal statement format

For 2026 entry, the personal statement focuses on three key questions to help students clearly communicate their motivations and suitability for the course. These questions ensure all students, no matter their background, can present a strong case. 

Your child should explain their passion for the subject, how their interest developed, and what they hope to achieve. 

They should link their academic achievements to the skills needed for the course. 

Here, your child can discuss any activities outside school—such as work experience, volunteering, or personal projects—and how these experiences have prepared them for university. 

How you can help your child get started

Encourage reflection:  Help your child think about why they are interested in the course and what sparked their passion. This reflection is key to answering the first question. 

Identify experiences:  Support your child in identifying both academic and personal experiences that relate to their course. Whether it’s a project, job, hobby, or a balancing of their responsibilities like caring for a family member, these experiences can demonstrate their commitment and readiness. 

Discuss future goals:  Talk about your child’s career goals and how the course can help them achieve these. This will help them focus their personal statement. 

Emphasise relevance:  Encourage your child to avoid vague statements and focus on specific experiences and achievements that support their application. 

Structuring the personal statement

• Show passion: They should explain what excites and interests them about the subject. 
• Relate to career goals: Link their interest to long-term goals. 
• Highlight achievements: Help them pick academic accomplishments relevant to the course. 
• Link skills: They should demonstrate how their studies have given them skills for success. 
• Include extra-curriculars: Volunteering, internships, or personal projects can be great examples. 
• Make it personal: Encourage your child to select experiences that show commitment. This is where your child can include any challenges they’ve overcome and how these experiences prepared them for university. 

For students without extra-curricular activities

Your child can focus on academic achievements and personal responsibilities. Encourage them to: 

• Discuss classroom experiences that helped them develop key skills. 
• Highlight part-time jobs, linking them to transferable skills like time management. 

Springpod Sreenshot

Subject tasters and virtual work experience.

These programmes, run by Springpod through the UCAS website, offer an unparalleled insight into courses, subjects and careers, and can be included in their personal statement as relevant evidence.

Subject tasters

Virtual work experience

What to avoid

Supporting your child to stand out, final checks.

Proofreading:  Encourage your child to check their statement for spelling and grammar mistakes and have someone review it for clarity. 

Seek feedback:  Suggest they share their personal statement with a trusted person for constructive feedback. 

Check relevance:  Remind them to ensure every part of their statement is relevant to the course and their goals. 

By following this guidance, you can help your child create a personal statement that reflects their strengths and ambitions. This is their chance to tell their story - ensure it truly represents who they are and what they want to achieve. 

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