Writing a personal statement for university

The personal statement is your opportunity to shine in the UK university applications process. It's more than just a formality; it's a chance to show admissions staff who you are beyond grades and test scores. 

The process is changing a little for 2026 entry or later, and you’ll have three specific questions to answer. This guide will help you craft a personal statement that captures your unique character and academic aspirations, making sure that you know what to include to stand out from the crowd.

These tips will help you plan what to write when you apply.

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How do universities use your UCAS personal statement?

Each year, lots of students who apply to university meet the basic entry requirements, and often there are more students applying than there are course places available.

This means your personal statement is important, as it's a way for the admissions staff to get to know you. They will use it to help decide why you are more suitable for the course than others applying

Universities use personal statements in different ways depending on the course. Some will read all personal statements, others will refer to them for students who have borderline entry requirements, others might refer back to them on results day if you don’t get the grades you’d hoped for.

Therefore, the personal statement is an important part of the process regardless of which university you apply for.

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Starting your personal statement

For 2026 entry, the personal statement format has changed from one longer piece of text to three separate questions, with a combined character count of 4,000.

The questions are:

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

Organise your thoughts with bullet-point lists to cover all main points, ensuring nothing crucial is missed. These can then be written up in full to answer each question,

While personal statement answer examples online can provide structure inspiration, remember to craft a statement that is authentically yours, avoiding plagiarism.

Writing style: Clear, concise, and authentic 

Admissions tutors read lots of personal statements. If yours is clear, snappy and sounds like you, you’re ahead of the game already.

Ditch the waffle: say what you mean and say it with purpose. Make sure every statement is adding value.

Authenticity is key: don't write like a robot. Using an active voice will make your statement more engaging and direct, helping you to clearly articulate your thoughts. You’re not just listing facts; you're telling your story.

Strike the right balance: you need to balance the right level of formality, to demonstrate your readiness for university life and study.

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Timeline for writing a personal statement 

When applying for an undergraduate degree, the journey of writing a personal statement begins well before the UCAS deadline, which for 2026 entry is 14 January 2026.

Start early, ideally when you return for your final year of school or college or a few months before the deadline if you're not in school. This allows ample time for you to look at the three questions and draft, receive feedback and make revisions without the stress. 

Plan around your studies: Your final year of studies will be packed, so don’t let your personal statement become a panic project. The earlier you start, the smoother it’ll be. 

Stick to internal deadlines. Your school and college may set a deadline ahead of the official UCAS deadline – Try to stick to these as it means tutors and careers advisers can check through your work and support you with the process.

The bottom line: Give yourself time. A well-prepared statement stands out – and so will you.

Structuring your personal statement answers

Each question lets you focus on a different part of your story and show how you're prepared for university study:

 

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

This question is an opportunity for you to explain why you want to study the subject you’re interested in, your existing knowledge and experience with this subject and how studying this subject will help you to go on to achieve what you want to do in the future.

 

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

Here you can talk about what skills you have developed through your time in education and how these have made you well placed to study your chosen subject. You could also talk about your achievements in education beyond your grades if you think they are relevant.

 

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

Finally, with this question you can talk about what you have done outside of education, and how the skills you have gained will help you on your chosen subject. Some of the things you might want to talk about include jobs, volunteering, hobbies and your own life experience.

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What to include in your answers

Your personal statement answers should highlight your suitability for the course and the university. Here are some key elements to include: 

Academic studies and relevant work experience 

Your answers should detail your academic studies and work experience, emphasising how they've shaped your interest in the course and your ability to succeed.

For example, if you are applying for a business course, mention any relevant skills, industry experience or participation in entrepreneurship competitions. Or, if you have attended any university taster days or summer schools, this is a really good place to indicate how these experiences sparked interest in a certain subject area.

Extracurricular activities 

Question three gives you the chance to detail what you have taken part in outside the classroom. This shouldn’t be a bullet point list of everything you do, instead choose to talk about activities that complement your academic pursuits. Discuss how these activities have developed skills that are transferable to your chosen course.

You could include clubs, sports, music etc. You might want to highlight leadership roles or teamwork experiences or creative projects or competitions.

For example, if you’re applying for law you might want to talk about public speaking or debating society and how it sharpened your public speaking and confidence under pressure.

Skills, achievements, and experiences relevant to your course 

This is your chance to show you’re already developing a toolkit for your future. It helps if you can link your skills and experiences to the qualification you're applying for.

For instance, if you're aiming for a journalism course, mention your blogging experience or media habits, demonstrating your active interest and engagement in the field, not just why you want to study the course.

Don't forget to also include other experiences too: maybe you have a part-time job, or you volunteer in your spare time. Don’t underestimate how important these experiences are; they develop your communication skills, organisation and time management skills.

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Evidence of interest in the subject 

Admissions tutors are looking for candidates with a genuine interest in their subject. Discuss your experiences, like attending related talks or reading specific literature, that highlight your passion and understanding of the field.

Reflect on how these experiences have contributed to your skill set – such as leadership or time management – and how they fit with the course requirements. 

For example, if you are applying for Computer Science, mention how you taught yourself a particular programme or built an app or how you follow tech news and stay updated.

Evidence might include:

  • attending seminars or lectures on the subject outside of school
  • seeking out relevant work experience
  • voluntary work
  • reading journal papers or relevant books
  • listening to podcasts (you could give an example of one which especially contributed to your interest or understanding of the subject)
  • entering competitions, for example writing competitions or young enterprise schemes.

Drafting and revision: Step away, then re-read

After drafting your answers, take a break before coming back to it. Leave it for a day or two, and you’ll get a fresh perspective that can help spot things you didn’t notice before, gaps or unnecessary details, awkward phrasing or missing points.

Get Feedback: Have friends, family or tutors proofread for errors. They’ll spot typos or will be able to suggest improvements.

Keep your voice: Your personal statement isn’t an essay, its's a conversation. Avoid trying to sound overly academic or using complex phrases you wouldn’t say out loud. it needs to sound like you. Be honest, be enthusiastic. Let your personality come through

Additional tips for writing personal statement answers

  • Ensure all information supports your application. You have a character count. If you re-read the sentence and can say ‘so what?’, then has it added anything to your personal statement? Make every word count.
  • Be analytical. Think ABC: What was the activity, what was the benefit, how does it link to the course/career?
  • Focus on recent activities and how they contribute to your application - ideally within the last two years.
  • Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject and your post-university aspirations.
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Final checklist before submission

  • Proofread for spelling and grammar errors and confirm alignment with course requirements.
  • Once you are approaching a final draft you can get check your character limit (4,000) by looking in Word or by entering answers into the personal statement page on UCAS.
  • UCAS software does not check for spelling or grammar errors so make sure that you do this before submitting it to UCAS.
  • Remember, be yourself and avoid unnecessarily elaborate language.
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Remember: Be yourself

The tutors want to know about the real you, so don't try to be somebody else. Make your personal statement about you!

When writing a personal statement for university avoid unnecessarily elaborate language and long sentences. These can be hard to follow and could obscure your message. 

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Additional resources 

For more guidance, visit the UCAS website and make good use of university support services. UCAS offers useful videos and lots of helpful resources for writing an effective personal statement. 

Incorporating these tips and carefully considering each part of your application, from the personal statement to the UCAS form, will significantly enhance your chances of securing a place on the course of your choice. 

Remember, this is your opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for the course and the subject, and to demonstrate why you deserve a place at the university. Good luck! 

Useful questions and answers about writing personal statements

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