Writing your personal statement - do's and don'ts

18th October 2024 by Anita Naik

Writing a personal statement is never easy, but knowing what admission tutors want can make it easier. Here are the dos and don'ts to putting one together.

For 2026/27, entry of personal statements is being made more accessible; instead of writing two pages of A4, students will need to answer the following three questions:

Why do you want to study this course or subject? How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject? What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?

While statements for the 2025/26 entry follow the normal process, these questions can still help you understand what admissions tutors are looking for in a personal statement.

1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This information is vital for any personal statement as it tells the university what has led you to your subject area. Here admissions tutors are looking for your personal journey with this subject. For example, what led you to love and want to study literature, history, or Maths? What have been the stand-out moments for you with this subject? Where do your interests within the subject lie, and why?

2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This question refers to information about your academic journey. In your statement, explain your classes and how studying in class and independently has helped you discover more about your chosen subject and your critical and analytical skills.

3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?

This is information about your passion for the subject beyond the classroom. What clubs, organisations, or volunteer work has further enhanced your knowledge and skills, and what have you read, seen, or listened to that has driven your passion and why?

Alongside this, there are various dos and don'ts to personal statements that everyone should be aware of:

Do stick to the character limit

You must remain within the 4000-character limit (including spaces and punctuation), roughly 700 words. However, check what your chosen university is requesting. If there are no limits, you can write up to 1000 words.

Don't overshare

See above for what admissions tutors want to hear from you. While your personal statement is the place to tell your academic story, avoid being too emotional with information irrelevant to your application.

The statement is a professional exercise, submitted to strangers who will decide your admission status rather than you talking to a close and personal friend.

Do use the UCAS personal statement tool

The UCAS personal statement builder tool is on the content grid on your UCAS Hub home page.

The personal statement builder breaks down the content you need for your statement into three key areas:

1. Writing about the course.

2. Skills and achievements.

3. Work experience and future plans.

Each section has questions to help you think of what to write.

Do check your punctuation and grammar

Proofread your statement multiple times or ask a teacher, parent, or mentor to check it.

It's also worth using a grammar checker like Grammarly to help with spelling, grammar, and punctuation (though make sure it's set to British spelling) and reading it through to ensure the suggestions are correct.

Don't copy from AI

Generating and copying your personal statement from an AI tool like ChatGPT is not recommended. You must now declare that your personal statement hasn't been copied or provided from another source.

The universities may be notified if UCAS software detects elements of a personal statement similar to others.

UCAS does, however, say:

You could use ChatGPT to get ideas about topics relevant to your chosen subject, which you can then relate to your own experiences and opinions. You can also ask ChatGPT to suggest ways of structuring your personal statement and check your draft for readability.

Don't copy someone else's personal statement

Social media is swamped with personal statements from students that show the 'perfect' way to write a personal statement.

The only issue is there is no perfect way, and while you may want to use these statements as a guide or for ideas, don't copy them or take large chunks from them. Again, you must declare that your personal statement hasn't been copied or provided from another source when you submit it.

Don't assume the statement doesn't matter

There will always be strong competition from other applicants, many of whom are likely to have similar grades and predictions to you.

Your personal statement, therefore, is your chance to sell yourself to the university and ensure you stand apart from the other applicants. Don't underestimate how much it can help you get into university.