Personal Statement - A Guide

A guide to writing your personal statement

When applying to university for the first time you will have to prove yourself is when writing your personal statement for you UCAS form.

In order to apply for a course at a UK university or college you must go via UCAS (universities and colleges admissions service). The personal statement section of the UCAS form is compulsory and it is your chance to explain exactly why you are making the choices you are and why you are suitable for them. Students writing their personal statements for university in 2010 or 2011 should find this guide very helpful.

There is no word limit as such to the UCAS personal statement; instead you have a character limit of 4000 (including spaces) and a line limit of 47. It is highly recommended that you use at least 75% of this limit.

Personal Statement Guide

• Use of language
• Making your personal statement relevant
• Why you've made certain personal choices
• How to lay-out your personal statement
• Foreign students
• Plaigarising - why you shouldn't