Writing your personal statement
Here you'll find everything you need to know about writing your personal statement.
What's on this page?
Applying for 2025 entry
Are you applying to start university in 2025? Here you can find lots of handy guidance on how to structure your personal statement, dos and don’ts on what to include, and what admissions staff are looking for.Stand out from the crowd by showcasing who you are and what you can bring to a university as you begin your undergraduate journey.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. But how do you start it strongly? Read our advice below on what to include, what not to do, and how to approach it.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. You’ve got this far – showing your passion for the subject. But how do you end your personal statement in a way that truly does it justice?
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. But it can be hard to know how to structure the information, which is where the personal statement builder can really help.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. Use these easy-to-digest bullet points to help you decide what you should and shouldn’t include in your personal statement.
The five things every student should include on their personal statement.
Using your personal statement beyond a university application
You’ve done all the hard work creating your personal statement, but have you thought about how you can use what you’ve written for different purposes? Whether you’re thinking about applying for an apprenticeship, or there’s a job you’d love, and you need a covering letter, your personal statement can be a great place to start.
Subject tasters
Subject Spotlights give you the chance to try a university course before you apply. Delivered by the lecturers themselves you will gain insight into what it’s like to study the course and give your personal statement a boost.Postgraduate personal statements
Stand out from the crowd by showcasing your expertise and passion for your subject.
We’ve asked experts in the field and created a simple list to tell you about the important differences between undergraduate and postgraduate personal statements.
Personal statement advice for other applicants
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. You should describe the ambitions, skills, and experience that’ll make you suitable for the course.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. Applying to university if you’re 21 or over isn’t unusual, but how can you best make that life experience shine through?
Everyone is individual, but certain life circumstances provide an opportunity to showcase the unique qualities and experiences you can bring to university life.
Applying for 2026 entry
If you’re applying to start university in 2026, the personal statement is changing from one long piece of text to three questions. Find out what to include in your answers, plus subject-specific personal statement guides to help you understand what admissions staff are looking for.
We talk you through how to make the most of the 4,000 characters and write a personal statement that stands out.
Follow our pointers and tips to make your personal statement work for multiple courses.
Read our advice to help you create a winning personal statement for a UCAS Conservatoires application.
If you're 21+, your background and experience may be different to students applying straight from school or college, so we've got some tailored guidance on writing your personal statement.
Applying to study in the UK? Here's some tips for how to write your personal statement if you're an international student.
