If the time has come to start thinking about your UCAS personal statement, you might be overwhelmed with where to start. This is your chance to really showcase who you are and what you have to offer. It's also where you can show your enthusiasm for your chosen course. To help you with this exciting step towards your future, we’ve put together this guide on how to write a UCAS personal statement, including upcoming changes to the format and top tips for success. Let’s start with some of the practical things you’ll need to know.
What Is A UCAS Personal Statement?
UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A UCAS personal statement is an essential part of the application process, giving students the chance to demonstrate their experience, personal attributes, and their motivations for choosing a particular university or course. It’s a formal written document that highlights relevant academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and individual interests. By providing an insightful personal statement for UCAS, students can show universities how suited they are to an establishment and their chosen course, beyond their test scores or exam results.
When Should Your UCAS Personal Statement Be Submitted?
Knowing when to submit the final draft of your UCAS personal statement is determined by which university you apply to and the course you are choosing. There are two main dates you will need to know:
MId-October - The exact date will differ according to the year of entry, but typically, around the 15th October (the year before the course start date) is the deadline for applying to Oxford or Cambridge. If you plan to study medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine/science, then this is also usually the date your application will need to be completed by for all universities.
Mid-January - For most other universities and courses, the date you will need to have finished your UCAS application is the middle of January, prior to the start of your intended course. So, for courses starting in September 2025, for example, your application must be filed by 15th January 2025.
What Is The UCAS Personal Statement Word Limit?
There is a strict word limit enforced on UCAS personal statements to encourage students to be succinct and clear in their delivery. The current UCAS personal statement word limit is 4,000 words, which is approximately 2 sides of A4 paper. This is a maximum.
If you can say what you need to say in fewer words, but still make a compelling and thoughtful argument, then you do not need to use all 4,000 words. If you find your word count is much longer than this, it is crucial you edit your writing to fit the word count. It is also worth noting that any formatting, such as bold or italics, is advised against, so stick to standard text throughout.
Can You Use AI To Write A UCAS Personal Statement?
Crafting a compelling personal statement requires self-reflection, clarity, and an understanding of what admissions committees are seeking. Using AI is unlikely to really show off your individuality. At Sidcot, we encourage all of our students to be themselves, and this attribute is incredibly important when writing an effective personal statement.
UCAS asks all students to confirm that their work is original. UCAS will not accept statements it finds to have been fully or substantially generated by AI. If you do this and then declare that your work is original, it would be considered cheating, so we advise that you do not use AI to write your UCAS personal statement. Instead, focus on being true to yourself and writing a truly original piece.
Are Personal Statements Being Scrapped?
Personal statements are not being scrapped, but there have been some changes announced to the structure. These changes are due to come into effect from September 2025 for students applying to start university in September 2026. Any applicants writing their UCAS personal statement after this date will need to follow the new format. The changes create a clearer framework with three main questions to answer, as opposed to an open essay approach. The three questions that must be addressed are:
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This question is designed to give applicants the opportunity to show how passionate and knowledgeable they are about their chosen course. Demonstrating a genuine love and curiosity for the field of study you want to pursue tells UCAS that you will be motivated and successful if your application is accepted.
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This is where you can showcase relevant skills gained at your Senior School and Sixth Form, and how they’re relevant to your chosen course. You should highlight the link between your current subjects and results to show how these will positively impact your future studies. For example, you could detail how completing certain tasks in Maths or Science has contributed to problem solving skills and an in-depth knowledge of the subject. You should also talk about any co-curricular activities, such as maths challenges, science trips or completing a Duke Of Edinburgh award, to further support your application.
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?
The last area to cover is how your extracurricular activities have helped shape your interests and how they will support you in the next step of your education. You can include any leisure pursuits or interests that are not included in the curriculum; for example if you want to study veterinary medicine, then being a keen equestrian will be good to mention.
However, even pursuits that are not directly linked to your subject can be a big bonus. For example, fundraising for a local charity can show a willingness to use your time to help others, or a natural aptitude for sales and marketing.
Although this new structure doesn’t come into effect until September 2025, it’s worth thinking about implementing a similar format now, as these are the areas that UCAS is most interested in. It will also give you direction on how to put your UCAS personal statement together.
How To Write A UCAS Personal Statement
Now that we’ve looked at the practical elements of a personal statement, here are some of our top tips on how to write a UCAS personal statement:
1. Plan Ahead
Take time to think carefully about what you want to write and make a list of the points you want to include. This will include:
- Why you want to study the subject and what excites you about it
- Your skills and achievements that make you a good candidate
- Future ambitions and how the course fits into your long-term goals
- How any extracurricular activities complement your academic interests
2. Be Confident
You want to make sure that you show the best version of yourself, so you need to be bold and show that you have confidence in your abilities. Highlight your academic achievements and any further reading or research you have done. This will show that you have a genuine love of learning that will transfer to your studies. Give real examples to back up what you’re saying, such as:
“I am actively involved in the Computer Science Club at my Sixth Form. As a member of the club, I take part in coding competitions and attend workshops that cover emerging technologies and trends. Recently, I worked with other students to develop a prototype for an environmentally friendly waste management app. Experiences like these have strengthened my technical skills, and underscored the significance of teamwork and tenacity in pursuing ambitious goals.”
3. Avoid Clichés
When you first start to think about how to write a UCAS personal statement, you might not know where to begin. You want your application to stand out and be a true representation of you. This is why it's best to avoid clichés when introducing or signing off your personal statement. Here are some clichés that you might find yourself using, and recommended alternatives:
- “I am applying for this course because…”
This statement might be straight to the point, but it could be written to show off your individuality. Instead, you could say: “When I wrote my first article for the school newsletter aged 7, I knew journalism was the path I wanted to pursue...”
- “I am predicted to get an A in PE…”
Your UCAS application will show your predicted grades, and while it is useful to mention them in relation to your aptitude for a subject, there are more interesting ways to say it. An alternative might be: “My passion for physical education has not only resulted in a predicted A grade, but it has also encouraged me to seek further opportunities in this area, undertaking work experience with local sports teams.”
4. Stay Focused
As we mentioned earlier, you will need to adhere to the UCAS personal statement word limit of 4,000 words. To do this you should:
- Make sure that you don’t over-explain, as this could look like you are waffling
- Stick to relevant information and make sure that every sentence has a clear point.
- Read your statement aloud to help you spot anything that could be removed.
- Use the suggested questions from UCAS as a guide, so that you know you have covered all bases.
This is where planning ahead and creating a first draft comes in handy.
5. Be Honest
You want to show a true representation of yourself, so it’s really important to be honest when writing your UCAS personal statement. Avoid exaggerating achievements and do not make them up. Admissions tutors are experienced in spotting statements that aren’t authentic. Focus on your genuine interests, experiences, and motivations. You might want to go to a prestigious university because of the quality education it offers, and you should absolutely state this, but it's also fine to say you want to go there because it’s further from home and gives you the chance to surprise yourself by moving to a new place. Being honest in your statement shows integrity, which is an excellent value to have.
6. Show Enthusiasm
Be enthusiastic in your application, whether it's about the university, the course or your achievements. Showing that you have a real longing to take on higher education in your chosen field will help set you apart. You don’t need to write a detailed career plan, but stating your future ambitions will illustrate how you have thought about your goals and how to achieve them. This helps admissions officers to see that you have a genuine interest in your subject, are excited about your future, and want to make a difference as you move towards your goals.
Should You Include A Gap Year On Your UCAS Personal Statement?
A gap year can demonstrate personal growth and a desire to live life to the fullest. It can also be an opportunity to develop further skills that are relevant to your chosen area of study. This is why including a gap year on your UCAS personal statement can be beneficial. A gap year can provide valuable experiences, whether through travel, volunteering, internships, or employment, which can be incredibly enriching and contribute to your academic and career aspirations.
When discussing your gap year, it’s important to articulate how the experience has shaped your interests and helped you to prepare for university. Make sure that the inclusion of your gap year is relevant and enhances your application, making it clear to admissions officers that you have used the time productively and with intention. If done well, discussing your gap year can have a very positive impact on your application.
Dos and Don’ts of Writing Your UCAS Personal Statement
There’s a lot to think about when you are planning how to write a UCAS personal statement. To quickly summarise some of the main points, here are our lists of do’s and don’ts:
Do
- Make sure your personal statement is focused on the specific subject you’re applying for. Highlight why you’re passionate about the course and how your experiences or studies have prepared you for it
- Show enthusiasm by talking about what excites you about the subject, any books you’ve read, or activities you’ve taken on related to the course
- Highlight the skills and achievements you’ve gained through extracurricular activities, work experience, or volunteering, and demonstrate how they link the course
- Use clear and concise language, writing in a formal yet engaging tone. Avoid overly complicated vocabulary and be succinct, so you stick to the UCAS personal statement word limit of 4,000 words
- Show your academic strengths and how they have prepared you for higher education. Mention specific coursework, projects, or challenges that reflect your intellectual curiosity and abilities
- Ask teachers, friends or other trusted people to read your personal statement and offer feedback. Proofread multiple times as spelling and grammar mistakes could leave a bad impression
- Reflect on how you have developed personally through overcoming challenges, balancing commitments or managing your time. This can show how you have developed qualities like independence, perseverance, or adaptability
Don’t
- Copy or plagiarise your statement as UCAS uses software to detect plagiarism or AI generated content. Be original and write in your own voice
- Make claims without offering evidence to support them. Provide specific examples of what sparked your interest or how you’ve pursued it and avoid vague or generic statements like "I’ve always been interested in…"
- List every activity or job you’ve ever had. Only mention experiences that are relevant to the course, and how they have developed skills that will help you succeed
- Repeat information from your application, such as restating your results, subject choices, or other information that admissions tutors already know. You should primarily focus on your motivations and experiences
- Be overly formal or use clichés, for example, "Ever since I was young..." or "I’ve always dreamed of...". Admissions tutors want to see fresh, authentic writing that is personal to you
- Focus too much on extracurricular activities. Although it’s good to refer to interests outside of academics, they must be relevant to the skills needed for your course. If not, then you could briefly mention them but do not go into too much detail
- Exaggerate or lie as you may be asked to discuss what you've written during an interview and admissions tutors can often spot false or exaggerated claims
- Leave it to the last minute. Crafting a strong personal statement takes time, so plan ahead and get started early. This will give you plenty of time to draft and edit, and make your UCAS personal statement perfect
Planning For Success With Sidcot
It can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to write the perfect UCAS personal statement. Of course, it’s an important task, but it’s also an exciting time. At Sidcot School, we prepare all of our students for the next stage of their journey by delivering a holistic education from junior school, right through to when they leave us and go onto their next destination. We encourage students to excel academically, but also to create a life and a future that represents their passions, interests and who they are as people.
To find out more about how Sidcot prepares students for life at university and beyond, request a prospectus, visit one of our open days or book a tour now.