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Writing your personal statement

Applying to university

Here you'll find everything you need to know about writing your personal statement.

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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.

How to write your undergraduate 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.

How to start a personal statement: the attention grabber

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.

How to end your personal statement

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?

Introducing the personal statement builder

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.

Personal statement dos and don'ts

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.

What to 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

How to write your postgraduate personal statement

Stand out from the crowd by showcasing your expertise and passion for your subject.

What are the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement?

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

How to write a personal statement for a conservatoire

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.

Mature students: Five things to include in your personal statement

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?

Writing your personal statement: carers, estranged students, refugees or asylum seekers

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.

Writing your 2026 entry personal statement

We talk you through how to make the most of the 4,000 characters and write a personal statement that stands out.

Applying for multiple courses or subjects

Follow our pointers and tips to make your personal statement work for multiple courses.

Writing a 2026 entry conservatoires personal statement

Read our advice to help you create a winning personal statement for a UCAS Conservatoires application.

Mature students: Writing your 2026 entry personal statement

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.

International students: Writing your 2026 entry 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.
2026 personal statement guides
Find out what universities and colleges want to see in your personal statement and how to set yourself apart, with our subect-specific personal statement guides. 

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