UCAS Personal Statement

Just about anyone who has thought about going to university will know that the most common way to apply and get an offer is by going through UCAS. The bit a lot of people don’t know about or expect to have to complete is a UCAS personal statement. This statement is a way for you to stand out from the crowd, it’s your opportunity to demonstrate your passion and knowledge for the course you’re longing to study at university.

So, what do you need to include in your UCAS personal statement? Well that question is almost like asking how long a piece of string is! There is no set structure or checklist for exactly what you need to mention and include, but there are some good starting points you can keep in mind.

First off, you’re going to want to start with a bit about you. Try and get across who you are, what drives you, what you enjoy and why you would be a great addition to a university. Sometimes, it helps to try and see yourself as a brand, what are your selling points? why do people like you? why should the university consider you?

As you only get to write one UCAS personal statement, you need to make sure you aren’t too specific in what you write. You want to go into detail but try and avoid being too specific, this way your UCAS personal statement will be transferable if you’re applying for more than one certain subject or university. For example, instead of talking about the exact course you’re applying for, talk more about the subject matter and avoid mentioning course titles.

Don’t forget to show you have more to you than just a brain studying A-Levels, include information on clubs you are a member of, voluntary work you partake in, employment experience you have taken on. All these additional details show your character and your drive.

Last and not least, proofread what you have written! Nothing is worse than a glaring typo or grammar error in your UCAS personal statement. Ask friends or family members to read your statement when you’re done and get feedback from them. It’s always helpful to get a fresh pair of eyes to look over what you have been working on and give a fresh perspective.

More help and advice on writing your UCAS personal statement can be found here in this helpful article.