How to write a personal statement

Your personal statement

You will be answering the following three questions:

1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

You have 4,000 characters in total to use across your three answers. Each answer will have a minimum character count of 350 characters, which is clearly labelled on the question boxes, along with an overall character counter, so you can keep track.

Things to consider in your personal statement 

1. Why you want to study this course or subject 

• The specific areas of the course you find the most interesting and what else you want to learn
• Whether there was something or someone that influenced your interest in the subject or inspired your intended career
• If you've done any wider reading or independent research on the subject
• How does this course relate to your future goals or career plans? 

2. How your qualifications and studies have helped you to prepare for this course or subject

• What training or studies have you done, and how do they relate to your chosen course or subject area? 
• What skills have you gained, and how are they relevant or transferable to this course or subject area? 
• What achievements, such as competitions or roles of responsibility, can you share? 
• Focus on what you have learned rather than the grades you have achieved (we can already see those). 

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

• What personal or work experience have you had that is relevant to the course/subject, or studying at university? 
• Describe specific activities, events, or responsibilities you have taken on and explain how they relate to your course. 
• What have you learned from these experiences, and what skills have you gained? 
• Share experiences relevant to the question and course or subject area, such as work experience, projects (blogs, vlogs, articles), books you have read, trips you have taken, awards you have won, or other personal achievements
• What extracurricular activities or unique experiences demonstrate your skills and abilities for this course or subject area? 

Tips for writing a personal statement

You only have one personal statement 

• Avoid vague statements and focus on giving examples that demonstrate your skills, knowledge, or interest
• Your statement should reflect who you are and why this course or subject area is the right choice for you
• Don't exaggerate or include information that you cannot explain or discuss further if asked
• Your personal statement goes to all your chosen universities, so avoid naming specific ones or courses titles. Focus on your subject area instead
• If you’re applying to multiple subject areas, focus on general skills and experiences relevant to university study. For Health & Social Care courses, be specific about your chosen subject to demonstrate your commitment to the field and profession. 

Plan your personal statement 

• Write a list of points you want to include and decide how much space to dedicate to each question
• You have 4,000 characters or 47 lines, about one side of A4. You will divide this between the three questions based on how much you want to say for each
• Write a few drafts of your personal statement to make it clear, well-organised, and show your skills and experiences in the best way. 

It’s important to proofread 

• Be sure to proofread your personal statement thoroughly before submitting your application; you may wish to ask a friend or family member to review it for you. 

For more information and guidance on structuring a personal statement visit the UCAS website.