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UCAS Personal Statements: The Essentials
Only one part of your application to higher education, but an important one!
New for 2026 - you will now be requested to answer THREE questions instead of creating one large statement
However the limit is still no more than 4000 characters (including spaces and paragraph breaks)
It is not an essay; there's no right or wrong, or argument to win. You're writing about YOU.
It is an opportunity to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for a course that you have identified as being right for you.
To do this, you will tell the universities what you want to do and show them how them that you are ready to it.
Question One:
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Question One:
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
What are your motivations to study this course - were you inspired by something in particular?
What have you been studying at the moment to inspire you to take it further?
What are you looking forward to going into more depth on at university level?
What are your plans for your qualification? Are you planning on using it for your career e.g. a teaching degree?
Question Two: How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course/subject?
Question Two: How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course/subject?
You could talk about:
Modules or subjects you have studied that have engaged you
Skills you have developed which will be useful for your chosen course
Any academic accomplishments
Additional reading around your subject i.e. studies you have undertaken yourself
Question Three: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and how are these experiences useful?
Question Three: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and how are these experiences useful?
This can include things such as:
Informal things you do in your personal life that have helped you prepare for higher education such as caring responsibilities or situations you have faced
Any employment or experiences of work you might have had - this can be anything from a day shadowing to a paid part-time role, volunteering or visits to a workplace
Any hobbies or interests that you have which are relevant for your subject
The ABC method is a good way to structure your personal statement paragraphs and examples. It ensures you demonstrate the link between YOU, what you have done and the course you want to study.
A - Activity
What did you do? What were the tasks and your responsibilities?
B - Benefits
What did you learn or develop from this activity? A skill, knowledge or quality?
C - Connection/Course
How is this relevant for the course (or career)? How has this helped you prepare for university study?
UCAS statements final.pdfIt's normal for students to get worried, stressed even, about their personal statements: What will you write, how do you start, how to fit it all in and will it be good enough? There is no set way to do a personal statement, but there are things you should aim to include and avoid.
What-Makes-A-Good-Personal-Statement.pdfThings to include
What has inspired you to study that specific subject at university level
How your current studies have prepared you (this could be course content but can also be linked to the study skills needed at university)
Any extracurriculars you have done - volunteering, work experience, part-time jobs, clubs and societies - and how they have helped you with relevant skills
Similarly, you can also talk about supercurriculars and how this insight has prepare you to take your next step into higher education
Things to avoid
Plagiarizing other people's statements. UCAS has software to check that your work is yours, which is why it's essential that you write your own statement in your own words.
Talking to much about one thing/giving your life story - try to keep it concise!
Writing too little or too much, there's a limit for a reason.
Mentioning something but not exploring why this is important for your application.
Lying - you will get caught out. Be truthful! Luckily you can write about lots of things, so there should be no reason to fib.
Poor grammar and spelling - this is a formal application and poor English will not be seen favorably.
Some courses may also require other methods to decide if you're right for their courses like a creative portfolio or interview...
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