Personal Statements for University 2024 Entry
In this guide, you will find all the information and advice you need to write the best personal statement for a university application and increase your chances of securing a place at your chosen university on your chosen course. We will take you step-by-step through everything you need to know to get started. This guide includes examples of what a good personal statement for university should look like, what you should include, how it should be structured, as well as what you should avoid.
What is a personal statement for a university?
Personal statements for university are an opportunity for students to showcase their experiences, skills and best attributes. You should use your personal statement to illustrate why these make you a suitable candidate for undergraduate studies, as well as highlighting your personality. It is your chance to convince the university that you deserve a place at the institution. Your statement will be your first impression on the university, which is why writing it requires time, thought and dedication.
How long should a personal statement for university be?
The length of personal statements for university should reflect the guidelines issued by UCAS. The general rules on UCAS specify that your personal statement for university should be 4000 characters, including spaces and punctuation, and no more than 47 lines. UCAS also recommends drafting and amending your personal statement on a Microsoft Word document instead of on the website to prevent errors and combat the time limits on the web page. Once the personal statement has been perfected, students should paste it into the designated area on the website before submitting their application.
How to start your personal statement?
The beginning of your personal statement for university is a chance to introduce yourself. In this section, it is essential to highlight your enthusiasm for your chosen subject and your motivations to pursue it. However, it is easy to fall into writing cliché, over the top statements. When it comes to opening your personal statement, it is critical to remember that often less is more. In your opening paragraph, the essential factor is to illustrate why you are choosing to partake in undergraduate studies. Your opening is often the determining factor in whether the admissions department considers your application.
Listed below are some questions that you may include in your opening paragraph.
What does enrolling on this course mean to you?
How does the course fit into your career aspirations?
Why have you chosen this university?
What do the courses offer?
What drives your interest in this field?
What do you intend to do with your degree?
Why do you want to live in the city?
(Example: A finance student may wish to study and live in London due to its thriving financial markets. This may be especially relevant if you are an international student)
These are various routes you could take in your writing. Whilst you may want to include everything, remember that there is a character limit on UCAS, so keep your opening short and to the point. You will have chances further on in your statement to elaborate.
It may even help you to write your opening last. Once you have written the rest of your statement, it may give you a clearer view of your argument which will allow you to write an authentic opening.
Best opening sentences for your personal statement for university
Below are examples of opening sentences for personal statements for university including a short summary indicating whether they are good or bad opening sentences, and why.
The phrases below are great ways to begin your personal statement, they allow you to express your interest in your chosen field of study, and how the qualification falls into your career plans.
This is a good way to open your paragraph as these are some of the key details that the admissions team will be looking out for:
‘My goal is to pursue a career in…’
‘My interest in (insert chosen subject/field) stems from’
‘I am at a point in my career where I would like to expand my knowledge of…’
‘Since studying (chosen subject) at school, I have been ever growingly fascinated by…’
Avoid using phrases that are vague and generic. Below you will find examples that we have often encountered and encourage you to avoid.
‘From a young age…’
‘I have always wanted to…’
‘I have always enjoyed…’
‘I am applying on this course because…’
You may also find a list of phrases to avoid on UCAS.
The most important piece of advice is to ensure that these words are your own and that your writing is authentic. Students often fall into the trap of obtaining elaborate famous quotes from activists, celebrities or scholars from their specialised fields. However, these are not impressive and do not reflect any key points regarding your personality. They are vague, fail to provide any useful information, and the admissions team will not be impressed!
How should I structure my personal statement for university?
Whilst there is no set structure to follow and you can take varying approaches in writing your statement, it may come with a lot of pressure. Your prospects for university are dependent on your application and personal statement which often makes it daunting to approach.
To devise a suitable structure, it may be best to break down the content into key sections that you wish to include. Working on smaller areas will also help you highlight the best points and ensure that you have included all the necessary information. Once you have written down your points, it will also be easier for you to structure your writing as you will be able to see which points connect well with each other.
Remember that you have 47 lines to do this, so you may wish to split these into your chosen sections to ensure you are able to provide adequate information for each point.
Based on our experience, we recommend the following structure for your paragraphs:
An opening that highlights your interest and motivation to apply to the degree.
Short paragraph to illustrate how you became interested in the field and which aspects of the course you are particularly drawn to.
Your academic achievements, what they taught you and possibly why you chose those subjects at GCSE/A-Level or equivalent qualifications.
Work experience or any extracurricular experience and the skills you gained from them (Be sure to illustrate how they will benefit you on the course you are applying to. If your work is not relevant, choose experiences that are better suited to the course or ones where you have gained transferrable skills)
Your career aspirations and why you would be an asset to the university.
Although your writing may not follow this exact structure, this gives a brief idea of the things that you should be including in your statement. Notice how the points follow on from each other to create a solid argument for your place on the course. This is something that would be useful to replicate in your own writing and will ensure that your writing is easy to follow and understand.
When do I need to submit my personal statement for university?
The deadlines for your application submission may vary amongst universities and courses that you are applying to. To have a clear idea of your deadlines, it is best to check the university websites for the specific date. If you miss a deadline, we recommend contacting your desired university to enquire whether they have any vacant spots on your chosen class to apply again. If this is the case, you may be able to continue with your application. Nevertheless, we highly recommend that you make note of your deadlines well in advance to prevent hassle further down the line and ensure that you have important things, such as your funding, in place.
What makes a good personal statement?
A good personal statement for university should give the reader a clear understanding of your ambitions, personality, experiences, and why you are applying for the subject. Be specific about why you have chosen the course and university, and how they fall into your career path.
Personal statements for university should be authentic. It is okay to have a look at examples, however, you need to ensure that your statement is original and doesn’t include information that you have found online. The key is to write what comes naturally, your statement does not need to be elaborate and over the top.
How to write a personal statement for university?
Your statement should highlight your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the course, and your writing should adopt a neutral tone. Whilst you may be inclined to include everything, remember that you need to tailor your statement to your chosen course and ensure that you are writing in a concise manner.
Write about the skills and experiences that will help you excel with your undergraduate studies. A great way to do this is by demonstrating how your acquired skills will benefit you with various aspects of the study materials.
Focus on the main body of your writing. You may attempt to include a punchy introduction, but this doesn’t shed light on why you are suited to the course. Therefore, it may be best to focus on the middle sections of your work to truly illustrate what you can contribute to your field of study and experience.
Ensure that you have proofread your writing and that there are no mistakes, including spelling, grammar and repetition. Remember, this is your first impression on the university, and errors will appear careless and illustrate a lack of dedication towards your studies. Make sure you begin writing personal statement in advance to have enough time to redraft, amend and check for mistakes before your deadline. It may also be helpful to plan what you would like to cover. Sometimes it can be easy to miss mistakes in your own writing, especially if you have spent a prolonged period going over it. In this case, you may opt to have your work proofread by friends, other students or family who are willing to help.
Lastly, please keep it simple. A students personal statement should reflect your personality and have a neutral tone that is easy to understand. Refrain from including jokes or bold statements that may not resonate with the admissions team at the university.
Smart ways to end your personal statement for university
An efficient way to end your personal statement for university is to conclude what you have already demonstrated. Draw up your conclusion based on what you have chosen to write about and display how your skills, enthusiasm and experiences will allow you to contribute to the course and university positively. A clever way to do this, is by relating your ending to what you stated at the beginning of your statement. This will help you to strongly deliver your point.
You may also state what you wish to do during your time at the university. This may be joining various societies, having specific research goals, or building professional relationships. Illustrate how you wish to become an asset to the university.
Again, the ending does not need to be an elaborate description of far-fetched dreams or wishes to ‘change the world’. Simply reiterating how this degree falls into your plans and what you intend to do with it should suffice.