Top tips for writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is one of the most important parts of your UCAS application. It’s your opportunity to tell universities why you want to study a particular course and demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for the subject. 

Your UCAS personal statement is made up of three questions and can only be 4,000 characters long (including spaces and blank lines) in total, so it needs to be clear and concise while showcasing your relevant achievements and talents. You have a minimum character requirement of 350 characters per question.

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Things to consider: 

• Show your passion, curiosity and interest.
• Focus on motivations, knowledge and future plans.

Examples:

• Why this subject
• Role models; Key moment
• Passion for the subject
• Have you researched
• Further reading
• Future careers
• How will this course help.

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

Examples:

• Current or previous studies
• MOOC’s or short courses
• EPQ
• Taster days or Summer Schools
• Relevant modules
• Transferable skills
• Positions of responsibility
• Volunteering.

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

Things to consider: 

• Examples should be reflective and link to the course.

Examples:

• Part-time job
• Your skills and interests
• Work Experience
• Personal Experience
• Volunteering
• Taster days or Summer schools
• Pivotal moment
• Lifeguard? Dancing? Coaching?
• Sports Clubs
• Positions of responsibility.

Make it relevant – not just a list of achievements!

Make sure you have a good structure and use paragraphs.

Spell check, proofread and show your statement to teachers and parents/caregivers to ensure there are no mistakes.

Don’t try to be funny or controversial.

While personal statement examples are available online, don’t plagiarise – UCAS has advanced software to detect this! The use of AI is allowed but within certain guidelines, you should use it to help generate ideas or tidy up your statement when it is written. Do not rely on it to write your statement for you; the point of this is that it is personal to you, not the chatbot. See the UCAS guidance on the use of AI.

Universities use your personal statement to get to know you, understand your insight and motivation, and to complement your academic potential and achievements. Not all courses require an interview, so your statement is your opportunity to present your passion, skills and experience.

Remember to include:

• Why are you passionate about your particular subject or course
• How have your current studies helped you prepare for university
• How you’ve gone above and beyond the curriculum to demonstrate your interest in the subject (e.g., books you’ve read, taster sessions you’ve attended)
• Your skills and experiences (including work and placements), and how you feel they’ll help you to succeed on your chosen course
• The achievements that you’re particularly proud of (be honest – you may be asked about them at an interview!)
• What you hope to gain from university, and your career aspirations
• Your interests/hobbies. 

Opening lines to avoid

UCAS did a study into the most common opening lines in personal statements. The statements below were the most common:

• From a young age, I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because…
• I have always been interested in…
• Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed… 

To make your personal statement stand out, avoid the sentences above and come up with your own way of expressing yourself.

Find out more information on how to apply for an undergraduate course at Surrey.