Personal Statement

1. Don’t copy anyone’s work

Remember that you’re trying to find the university that’s the best fit for you, not somebody else. By making your personal statement totally your own you’re giving yourself the best possible chance to find that perfect university (and besides, UCAS have sophisticated plagiarism-detecting software which will spot any copied work).

2. Carefully read the course descriptions

Just like when you’re applying for a job, you need to match your skills to the right position. By reading the course descriptions that universities make available in their prospectuses and on their websites, you can pick out the most common skills and qualities that the course providers are looking for and write about them in your personal statement.

3. Try not to be funny

Of course, your true personality needs to shine through in your personal statement, but humour can be a really subjective thing. It’s best to avoid trying to win over an Admissions Officer with your jokes as it might seem like you’re not taking the process seriously.

4. At Least 70% of your personal statement should be about your suitability for the course.

You only have a small amount of space to make an impression, so you need to make sure that everything you write about yourself is relevant to the course you’re applying for. For example, you don’t need to waste space by including your qualifications, as Admissions Officers will be able to see that information from the qualification section of your form.