How to write your personal statement

Undergraduate study

It can be hard to know where to begin when writing your UCAS personal statement. We've put together some top tips and advice to help you make the most of your personal statement.

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. 

Guide to writing your personal statement

Discover how to write a great personal statement with our handy guide. It covers everything you need to know from structuring to tips on what to include.

Download your copy now
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Hear from our students

Writing about yourself in a personal statement can be difficult, I’ve put together some tips that I found useful when writing my own personal statement.
portrait of Annelise
Annelise Ellen Furniss
Screenwriting with Film, Television & Radio, BA (Hons)
Read more

Your personal statement questions answered

Personal statement dos and don'ts

  • Read it out loud.

    This will help you spot sentences which aren’t worded correctly.
  • Check it’s all there.

    UCAS has a limit of 4000 characters or 47 lines of text, including spaces and blank lines.
  • Do some practice.

    You should be prepared to write several drafts- the average is six.
  • Be well prepared.

    Be ready to talk at length about everything written in your personal statement.
  • Don't be negative.

    Focus on what you have done, not what you haven’t.
  • Don't complicate it.

    Keep your statement concise and write in your natural style.
  • Don't copy or paraphrase.

    UCAS use sophisticated software and check every personal statement for plagiarism.
  • Don't include irrelevant facts.

    Apply the ‘so what’ rule. If you can’t explain how a point relates to your course, leave it out.

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University application dates

When to apply for university courses, including UCAS deadline dates and enrolment.
  1. 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.

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    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.