Here you'll find everything you need to know about writing your personal statement.
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 AI and ChatGPT with your personal statement
If you're not already using ChatGPT or other AI tools, you've probably heard about them. But should they be used to help with your UCAS personal statements? Is it cheating? Or can they be helpful in crafting your 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.
Find out more
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.
The best way to approach writing a personal statement is to consider it like a rock concert... which may sound mad. If you consider a rock concert, it starts with a big lively song to get everyone in the mood and ends with a similar song. So that's one of the most important aspects of writing a personal statement – to make a big impact at the beginning and then round off with a big impact too.
My best tip if you've got writer's block when it comes to a personal statement is just get any information you can on a piece of paper. It doesn't have to be in an order, it doesn't have to be in any kind of system. It just needs to be on the paper, because you can redraft, you can edit. What's important for the first step isn't making it perfect. It's getting something down. The best thing you can do is think about the course you're applying to. What can you write about why you want to do this course?
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.