Personal Statement Support
Everything you need to know about writing a Personal Statement for your UCAS university application. Get the insider tips from our UCAS experts right here.
A personal statement a written statement produced by a university applicant to explain their suitability for the course they are applying to. This part of your UCAS application is a chance to show admissions officers what makes you a unique candidate who stands out from the many applicants with the same predicted grades as you.
With competition for university places at an all-time high, a strong personal statement is more crucial than ever. So, it’s important to make it count.
What is a personal statement?
UCAS Deadlines 2023
15 October 2022 for 2023 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry.
25 January 2023 for 2023 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – the majority of courses at non-Oxbridge universities.
Meet Alex
"I've been helping students with their personal statements for over 15 years now. I've read and reviewed thousands of personal statements, and helped students secure places at their dream universities."
How can Tutor House help?
Personal Statement Tutors
Wide selection of tutors
We have a variety of personal statement tutors, all of whom are highly experienced in helping students produce top-quality personal statements. Our personal statement tutors all have different subject specialisms, allowing them to provide tailored support for every student, no matter what they are hoping to study.
Tutor Support
Your tutor will support you throughout the entire process from planning to drafting to producing the final product, making them an excellent option for students who simply don’t know where to start with their personal statement. They have an in-depth knowledge of what admissions officers are looking for and will work with you to give your personal statement both a flawless structure and the flair needed to ensure it stands out from those of other candidates.
Advantages
The advantage of investing in a personal statement tutor is that, unlike your teachers at school, your tutor can give you unlimited time and attention. They will help you build a personal statement from scratch and can look over as many drafts as necessary.
Further information
For further details on our personal statement tuition and to get in touch with the perfect tutor for you, head over to our personal statement tutor page or have a read of our blog Why Hire a Personal Statement Tutor?.
If you’ve done most of the work and are looking for some help with the final touches, we also offer a personal statement review service. This unique offer allows you to upload a draft to our website and receive feedback within 48 hours. Expert edits from our UCAS team will give your personal statement the polish it needs to take it from passable to outstanding.
Personal statement review service
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Writing a strong personal statement
Whatever form of support you choose to enlist when writing your personal statement, here are a few things to keep in mind while completing those initial drafts.
Content
Personal statements are capped at 4000 characters (including spaces) so make sure you use the space you have wisely. Think of it as an opportunity to show off not only your skills and interests, but also your ability to write clearly and concisely.
Admissions officers want to know about you; who you are, what is behind your motivation to study the course you are applying to and why they should choose you over another candidate. So, make sure the content of your personal statement is relevant and tightly focused on the subject you are passionate about and why you would be a committed student.
Note also that if your circumstances (for example, illness or difficulties at home) have had an impact on your educational performance, your personal statement is the place to explain this, if you would like to.
Structure
We recommend you structure your personal statement like this:
Why you want to study your chosen course - this may include your ambitions or plans for the future.
How the subjects you are studying, books you have read, talks you have been to, etc, contribute to your passion for the course.
What kind of work experience and achievements you have behind you and how these make you a suitable candidate for the course.
Your hobbies and wider interests - these may include sport, music, volunteer work or anything else you can think of.
Tips
Start early. Sixth form is a busy period, so give yourself plenty of time to produce as many drafts as you need to make your personal statement slick and refined (and don’t forget to submit a draft to our personal statement review service!)
Be specific. Include details of exactly what inspires you within your chosen subject and the material (books, events, news stories…) that generated your interest. Avoid generalisations and clichés.
Prioritise authenticity and honesty. It might be tempting to lie about your goals or what you’ve read but it’s never a good idea - admissions officers can spot a lie a mile off! Sticking to the truth will show your chosen universities why you are a unique candidate and unlike anyone else who is applying.
Write your introduction last. It is important to know what you’ve included in the rest of your personal statement before introducing it. Think of the first few sentences as a way of enticing the reader; the meat is in the middle.
Don’t forget to proofread. Start by proofreading your personal statement yourself and then ask someone else to do it again to make sure it’s grammatically perfect.
UCAS Advice & Personal Statement Support Tutors
Whether you are just starting to think about university or are mid-way through the application process, get the support you need to make the most of your UCAS application.
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