Students applying for university in 2026/27 will find that the entry requirements for personal statements are more accessible. However, the basic concept remains the same: your personal statement should answer key questions such as:
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your studies and qualifications helped you prepare for your course/subject?
What have you done to prepare outside of education (extracurricular activities and/or work) and why are they helpful?
Personal statements typically have a 4,000-character limit (about 700 words), but the exact limit may vary depending on the university. Be sure to check the specific character count required by your institution.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This is the most important question. What makes this course or subject so interesting to you? Remember, you'll likely be applying to multiple courses, so your personal statement needs to work for each one, even if they are slightly different.
Think about what draws you to the subject. Why do you want to spend 3+ years studying it in depth? Try to avoid focusing solely on job prospects or salary—unless, of course, your career path requires that particular qualification. If the subject is not connected to a specific career (such as medicine), explain why the course will help you pursue that career.
Also, if there was a specific moment that sparked your interest in the subject, be sure to mention it.
How have your studies and qualifications helped you prepare for your course or subject?
This is all about your academic life. Most people do a variety of subjects which have varied skills so think about how they may apply to your future course.
For example, I applied for Chemistry at university, but I studied History at A Level. At first glance, History might not seem relevant to Chemistry. However, the critical thinking, analysis of sources, and research skills I gained from History were highly transferable and useful for studying science.
In other words, do not only focus on the subject you are going to continue, think about how the other ones have also helped shape and furthered your academic skills.
What else have you done to prepare outside of education (extracurricular activities and/or work) and why are they helpful?
This section is an opportunity to showcase your extracurricular activities, work experience, and any other initiatives that demonstrate your passion and commitment to the subject.
You can talk about clubs, volunteer work, online courses, or books and podcasts you’ve read or listened to that are relevant to your course. Most importantly, this section helps differentiate you from other applicants who might have similar grades but less experience or passion.
Writing a personal statement is not unlike writing a cover letter for a job. If you’re not planning to attend university, the same principles apply—just replace "course" with "job."
Remember that your personal statement should be formal and focused on the relevant information. Avoid being overly emotional, and stay on topic. And, of course, never copy text from AI or any other source—it’s plagiarism, and it could harm your chances of getting an offer.
For some tips on how to use AI check out this UCAS guide. There are also plenty of other guides on UCAS to help with your personal statement - so make use of them.
TIP: Those ending year 11 or in year 12 should think about whether you have enough to write about. If not, don’t worry—you still have time to engage in activities or take additional courses that will help you build a compelling statement later.
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