Let's get statement-savvy
Writing a great personal statement is a challenge every year for students. So, let's help them shine through their writing with these guidelines.
Despite much talk around the UCAS personal statement, it will not be changing on applications for 2025 entry. This means students still have 4,000 characters to make their application stand out.
UCAS personal statements at a glance
4,000 characters or 47 lines
Your students' personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines long. That's only around 1 side of A4 paper. So keep their writing needs to be concise and clear.
Apply for multiple courses
They can apply for up to 5 courses, but they should remember that they're only submitting 1 personal statement. So they're writing needs to cover all of their course choices.
Highlighting their interest
They'll need to be clear about their interests and say how they relate to the course and career. That means talking about what appeals to them and why they're suitable for the course.
Preparation is key
Encourage your students to start thinking about their personal statement early. This might prompt them to get some extra experience before they apply. But crucially, it will help them piece together their skills and experiences, so they've got a bank of things to refer to when writing.
And to help them get flowing, we suggest the following questions:
- Do they have any work experience? What transferrable skills did they gain from this?
- If they’ve done an EPQ – was it in a relevant subject? What skills did they gain?
- Again, are these skills transferable to university or their chosen course?
- What plans and ambitions do they have for their future?
- Do they have any achievements are they proud of?
- What personal experiences have they had? What did they learn, or develop from this?
- Why do they want to do their chosen course?
- Have they been to a subject taster day or had some previous exposure to their course of interest?
The answers to some of these questions may reveal relevant experience that admissions teams will look for on their statements.
We also suggest asking them to consider what skills they'll need for university or their chosen course, and get them to match what they’ve written about their experiences to these skills.
Structuring a UCAS personal statement
Follow this template
There’s no set template, but here's a simple structure that they can follow to guide them.
- 5% – for their introduction
- 70% – focusing on their academic experiences, or relevant experience for the course and reasons for choosing the course
- 20% – on extracurricular activities, interests and the skills they've developed that are relevant to the course
- 5% – conclusion to tie everything together including why they'll make a great student
Use the ABC method throughout
To help find the link between their experiences, skills and the course they like, we recommend students follow the ABC method:
- Activity – What have they done?
- Benefit – What skills/experience has that given you?
- Course/Career – How does this relate to the course (or their future career)?
The ABC method in action
Check out a few examples of turning simple reflections into strong statement paragraphs.
'The effects of climate change are really important to me, therefore I want to study Environmental Sciences...'
Using the ABC Method:
I am in the process of conducting an independent research project on the environmental implications of plastics in my local river and te impact on local ecosystems.
This has helped me expand my knowledge further and I hope my findings will provide a great base for studying a degree in Environmental Science.
'From my Saturday job, I gained skills in leadership, teamwork and time management...'
Using the ABC method:
Through my part-time job, I have developed the ability to manage my time between work and study effectively. At work I am a valued member of a team, working collaboratively to achieve goals against tight deadlines. On occasion, I have stood in for the shift manager, which demonstrates my readiness to rise to challenges and take on extra responsibilities. In doing so, I have developed resilience and confidence in my ability to succeed under pressure, putting me in an excellent position to succeed at university.
'Since I was young, I have always been fascinated by e.g, history and politics...'
Using the ABC method:
My fascination with history and politics stems from my need to understand how our daily lives are continuously being shaped by policy decisions implemented by past and present world leaders and governments. Since following international politics more closely over the past two years, I have enjoyed making connections with events of historical and global significance, which has not only deepened my understanding, but widened the scope of the questions I am now asking about the media.
Key elements of a UCAS personal statement
The daunting intro
The best advice is to keep the introduction brief and avoid overthinking. Students should steer clear of clichés and overly used quotes, such as the typical "I've always wanted to be..." statements.
Instead, they should reflect on the origins of their passion and what motivated them to choose their desired subject. If they find themselves stuck, they can always return to the introduction once they have crafted the rest of their content.
Including subject-specific content
It's crucial for students to discuss the course they are applying for throughout their personal statement and connect it to any relevant exposure they have had to the subject.
They can highlight their enthusiasm for learning, their genuine interest in the subject, or their aspirations to pursue a specific career. Additionally, they can mention any noteworthy books, podcasts, or online courses (MOOCs) they have enjoyed.
These experiences demonstrate what they've gained from their studies or any additional resources they have engaged with. And then by using the ABC method, they can effectively link these experiences to the course, impressing admissions teams.
Highlighting personal skills and achievements
Students should dedicate a section to discussing their experiences and the skills they have developed, making relevant connections to their desired course.
This provides admissions teams with valuable insights into the applicant's potential to contribute to the university community, both academically and personally. But above all, helps to paint a well-rounded picture of your student beyond their academic qualifications.
Work experience and future goals
Students can include any jobs, work experience, placements, or voluntary work they've done. This is especially relevant if it relates to their chosen course. They should focus on linking their experience to skills or qualities that will help them thrive at uni.
If they have a career goal, they can talk about how their course connects to it and will aid their journey towards achieving it. By highlighting this connection, students demonstrate their motivation and determination to make the most of their university education.
The final conclusion
The concluding part of the personal statement should serve as a summary of the points already discussed by the student. It's important not to introduce new information here, but rather provide a closing that reinforces why they have the knowledge and skills to study in higher education.
Preparation is key. Encourage your students to start thinking about their personal statement early. This might prompt them to get some extra experience before they apply.
Applying to Professional and Healthcare Courses
When applying to professional and healthcare courses, students should show their understanding of the job roles they will fulfill during placements and after graduation. For healthcare courses, it's important to show familiarity with the core values of the NHS. Similarly, for professional courses, students should have an understanding of the values upheld by the relevant governing body in their field.
This is a great opportunity for students to highlight any relevant work experience they have, whether in the industry or in settings where they have developed communication, interpersonal skills, and professional qualities. The key is to reflect on these experiences and explain how they will support them in their studies and future career.
By showcasing their understanding of the job roles, aligning with core values, and reflecting on their experiences, students can effectively convey their suitability and dedication to their chosen professional or healthcare course.
Top tips for students
- Encourage students to avoid including headings in their personal statement to maximize the use of the limited 4000 characters.
- Stress the importance of being concise and removing unnecessary content to stay within the character limit and maintain relevance to their application.
- Suggest that students consult family and friends if they struggle to recall achievements, as they may provide helpful reminders.
- Remind students that their personal statement should cover all five of their course choices, avoiding specific university names or module details.
- Guide students to focus on highlighting their strengths rather than dwelling on weaknesses due to character limits.
- Emphasize the use of appropriate language throughout the personal statement, avoiding slang terms that could negatively impact their application.
- Recommend thorough proofreading and seeking feedback from a trusted friend or teacher to ensure accuracy and clarity.
