As part of the UCAS application process, you'll need to complete a personal statement. Your personal statement might be the only chance you have to ‘speak’ directly to an Admissions Tutor so it’s important to get it right. Many people find it difficult to write about themselves. Particularly their own strengths, so don’t worry if you’re struggling for ideas. You can use this guide to help ensure you write a great personal statement.
Your personal statement questions answered
Personal statement dos and don'ts
University application dates
When to apply for university courses, including UCAS deadline dates and enrolment.Start your UCAS application
You will need to start your UCAS application around September in the year before you want to apply to university. For example, if you want to start in September 2025, start your application in September 2024.
You can start you application as early as May, but you won't be able to submit until September.
References
You'll need to submit your form to college so they can add your reference.
Apply by the deadline
Make sure you submit your UCAS application online by the deadline. Deadlines vary each year and are different depending on the course you want to study.
UCAS deadlines September 2024 entry - 16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses and to Oxford and Cambridge
- 31 January 2024: Main application deadline. Some art and design courses have a March deadline, please check UCAS for details.
September 2025 entry - 15 October 2024: Deadline for applications to medicine, dentistry and Veterinary courses and to Oxford and Cambridge
- 29 January 2025: Main application deadline. Some art and design courses have a March deadline, please check UCAS for details.
After you apply
Once you submit your application through UCAS, they will send you an acknowledgement. They will then forward your application to your chosen institutions.
Once you've submitted your application, you may have several stages before you find out if you have an offer.
Institutions will look at a number of things to make their decision. This includes your personal statement, reference and predicted grades.
Interviews and auditions
You might be invited to interview or audition to see if you're right for the course. This is also your chance to see if it's the right place for you.
Receiving an offer
If you submitted your application by the January deadline, you should receive all of your offers by March. Some courses and late applications may not receive responses until later in the cycle.
You can receive a conditional or unconditional offer, depending on whether you already have your grades or not.
Offer holder days
Some universities might invite you to an offer holder or applicant day. This is a great opportunity to get a taste for your course and meet your tutors.
Accepting your offer
Usually, you'll need to reply to any offers you have received by May. This depends on when you submit your UCAS application.
If you have conditional offers, you'll be able to choose one university as your firm choice, and one as insurance.
UCAS Extra
If you've used all five choices on your application, and you're not holding any offers, then you can add extra choices to your application - free of charge.
If you're waiting for your results, you should receive these in either July or August. This depends on what qualification you have taken.
Your offer will either be confirmed or rejected based on your results.
Clearing
If you don't receive the results you expected, or you apply after July, you will be entered into UCAS Clearing. This helps match you to university places that haven't yet been filled.
Enrolment
Once you've confirmed your offer at your chosen university, you will receive information about how to enrol.