2. WHAT IS PS FOR?
A personal statement is your introduction to your desired institutions.
With many candidates applying with the same grades, personal
statement helps you stand out from others and impress the
admission tutor.
The UCAS personal statement is a 47 line (or 4000 character or 700
words) piece of writing that allows you to tell the universities and
colleges you are applying to why they should offer you a place on the
course.
3. STRUCTURE OF A PS /WHAT TO WRITE
ABOUT
Why you are applying – your ambitions and what interest you about
the subject, course providers and higher education.
It is important to display in this section why you are interested in this
particular programme. Surprisingly, simple opening statements can
be very effective, for example, “I want to study English because…”.
Next, you need to show your ambitions, what interest you about the
subject, course providers and higher education. You can use the
points below as a guide:
Your knowledge of the subject?
Why is it important to study this topic?
Why does it interest you?
Where could studying this programme lead?
4. This section could start with a short sentence and
needs to capture the reason why you are interested in
studying on the programme you are applying for.
Some of the most effective personal statements start
simply, for example, "I want to study History
because…". With this opening statement you are trying
to communicate to the Admissions Selector your
enthusiasm for the programme
5. You might then want to think about covering these questions and
areas:
Your knowledge of the subject area. What have I done to research my
subject and show an understanding of what the course involves?
(Remember, it is often not essential that you have studied the
discipline before but you should be able to demonstrate exploration
of the subject through other resources – reading periodicals and
websites, attending public lectures or summer schools, writing blog
posts, etc).
oWhat does the programme entail? Why is it important to study this
topic? Can I link it to issues within society that highlight its relevance?
oWhy does it interest you? Is there a specific topic of interest within
the subject that may help to show I am a genuine enthusiast?
oWhat interests you the most? Can I talk about a piece of work or
research that I carried out which I found particularly interesting? Or a
text that inspired me?
6. Make sure you look at the course requirements for each university you are
applying to, and make reference to what is said in the prospectus. Showing
you have done your research will help to highlight your commitment to the
subject.
Once you have outlined your reasons for being interested in the programme
you are applying to, you need to demonstrate why you would be a good
student. In this section you are trying to convey your inclination and ability
to study on the programme. You need to be able to show the admissions
tutor that you have the right background in terms of academic ability and
the right interest or inclination, that is, that you know what the programme
you want to study involves. For example, if you want to be a primary school
teacher but have never worked with children of that age the admissions tutor
will wonder what your inclination to study to be a teacher is! When writing
this section you’ll need to think about and quote evidence from:o Your academic studies
o Any voluntary work
o Your hobbies and interests
o Things you have learned from books, newspapers, TV programmes and so on
o Experiences in your year out (if you are having one)
o Any relevant work experience (e.g. medicine, physiotherapy)
o Particular project work in your studies
7. What makes you suitable – any relevant skills, experience or
achievements gained from education, work or other activities?
In terms of your academic achievements, think about why you are
applying for the courses you have chosen – universities will want to
see evidence that you know what’s required and that you’re
enthusiastic about studying the topic.
If you do or have done any of these before, they could be ideal things
to mention in your personal statement. Or you might be able to
organise or start a new activity before you send your application.
Whilst your academic motivations should form the majority of your
statement, admissions tutors are keen to attract applicants who can
demonstrate well-rounded involvement in extra-curricular activities.
This part of your personal statement is an opportunity to talk about
all the additional experiences you have been involved in that have
helped shape you into the person you are.
8. Think about the following activities:
Part-time work – don’t forget that all part-time work is relevant, even
if it doesn’t relate to your career aims. Again, don’t just say what
you’ve done – focus on the transferable skills you have gained along
the way (teamwork, leadership, communication, organisation etc).
Volunteering – a great way to show commitment and motivation. Do
you work regularly for a charity or have you helped towards the
organisation of a one-off event?
Clubs and societies – do you hold any positions of responsibility,
perhaps at school or in the community? Are you a team captain, a
mentor, a committee member?
Awards and achievements – have you been involved in schemes like
the Duke of Edinburgh or Young Enterprise? Have you received any
awards for your accomplishments?
Hobbies – how do you spend you spare time? Are there any hobbies
you are interested in continuing at university?
9. What’s your long-term plan?
If your course is vocational (teaching, medicine, social work etc), you
will be expected to show that you have gained sufficient work
experience or career knowledge through, for example, work
shadowing, observations, taster days or networking with
professionals. Your personal statement should focus not just on what
you did but on a reflection of what you learned about the career and
the skills that it requires.
Alternatively, maybe you are not applying to a vocational course but
you do have career ambitions that you are already able to
demonstrate you are working towards. Perhaps you have gained
useful business and employability skills through participation in a
school or community challenge.
Don’t worry, however, if your career plans are still undecided at this
stage. This is a university application, not a job interview!
10. Why you want to study in the UK?
Your English language skills and any English courses
or tests you’ve taken.
Why you want to be an international student rather
than study in your own country?
11. Do Don’t
4000 characters/47 lines/700 words
Use formal tone
Be original, inspirational. Avoid cliché
Keep it positive, concentrate on your strength
Clear, concise and honest. Grammar errors, typos
Keep it personal
Proofread several times, with friends and family
Take time to brainstorm ideas, use mindmap or spider diagram
Once you submit it, stop reading it
Simply list details they already have
Exaggerate
Be funny
Use quotes
Copy other’s work
Rush it. Leave it till the last minute
Panic
Google before you start
DO / DON’T
