How to write a stand-out personal statement for your UCAS application
If you’re applying for uni through UCAS, the personal statement is possibly the most important part of your application.
It’s a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have, an opportunity to talk about yourself and your passions, outside of your grades. This is often what sets you aside from other similar applicants, so we want to help make you stand out from the crowd!
Keep reading for our top tips on how to write the best possible personal statement for your UCAS application.
Nail the structure
The personal statement is now made up of 3 questions that focus on why you want to study your chosen course, how your education so far has prepared you to study this subject and what else you’ve done to prepare for the course outside of education.
Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
In this section, Admissions Teams will want to hear about your motivations to study your chosen course or subject. Were you inspired by a life experience or something you’ve studied at school? What are you excited about learning at university, and how does it tie into your career goals?
Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course?
Here you might want to talk about specific modules or topics that you have enjoyed, skills you’ve developed that will be useful on your chosen course. This is also a good section to mention any additional academic work or accomplishments that relate to your course.
Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and how are these experiences useful?
This can include things such as:
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Informal things you do in your personal life that have helped you prepare for higher education
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Any employment or experiences of work you might have had - this can be anything from a day shadowing to a paid part-time role, volunteering or visits to a workplace
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Any hobbies or interests that you have which are relevant for your subject
Avoid using AI
It might sound obvious, but the personal statement is meant to be just that, personal to you! The last thing Admissions Teams want to read is a cut-and-paste statement that doesn’t capture your passion, personality or experience. Trust us, putting in the work to write this yourself will benefit you in the long run.
Stick to the wordcount
The personal statement is limited to just 4000 characters (including spaces and paragraph breaks), so you have to be clear, confident and concise. Whilst it’s good to mention things in your past that have inspired you, you don’t need to include your entire life story. If you’re struggling to stay under the word limit, try and find examples that highlight more than one aspect, for example your work experience may have been the thing that inspired you to apply for this course, but also where you learned transferable skills!
Proof read, proof read, proof read
Although this isn’t an academic essay, your personal statement is still a formal piece of writing, and the last thing you want is for a rogue spelling error or typo to let down your beautifully crafted personal statement that you’ve spent so much time on.
Make sure to complete your personal statement well before the application deadline so that you and your tutors or careers advisors have plenty of time to proof read it and make any changes before you submit your application!
If you’re still struggling with your personal statement, our Careers Advice Team have loads of helpful advice and guidance over on their Google site.