Your UCAS personal statement is your opportunity to tell universities more about you, your interest in your chosen subject and the experiences that have helped prepare you for university.
It’s structured around three questions, covering your motivation for studying the subject, how your studies have prepared you and what you’ve done outside education.
You have 4,000 characters in total across your answers, so it’s important to focus on the things that are most relevant to you and the course you want to study.
A few things to think about
Before you start writing, take some time to think about what you want universities to know about you.
You could consider:
- what interests you about your chosen subject
- what you’ve enjoyed learning about through your studies
- experiences you’ve had outside education
- skills you’ve developed and where they came from
- how your experiences have prepared you for university
- where studying the subject could take you in the future
You don’t need an unusual story or a long list of achievements. What matters is choosing relevant examples and explaining why they’re important to you.
Turning your ideas into strong answers
Try to be specific rather than making general statements about your interests or skills.
Instead of simply saying that an experience helped you develop communication, teamwork or problem-solving skills, think about what you actually did, what you learned and how it relates to the course you want to study.
It’s also worth researching the courses you’re considering before you start. Looking at what you’ll study and the skills you’ll develop can help you decide which of your experiences are most relevant.
Remember that the same personal statement is seen by all the universities and courses you apply to through UCAS, so avoid focusing on one particular university.
Dos and don’ts
Do:
- give yourself time to plan and draft your answers
- use specific examples
- keep your answers relevant to your chosen subject
- explain what you’ve learned from your experiences
- check your spelling, grammar and punctuation
- make sure the final version sounds like you
Don’t:
- simply list your skills or achievements
- include something just because it sounds impressive
- repeat the same information unnecessarily
- invent experiences or achievements
- use complicated language when simpler wording will do
- submit something that doesn’t reflect your own voice
Get more help with your personal statement
If you’re ready to start putting your answers together, our Personal Statement Guide has more detailed advice to help you approach each of the three questions.
It includes practical tips, examples and guidance to help you decide what to include and make the most of the space you have.
Download our Personal Statement Guide