university of greenwich personal statement

The Uni Guide has a fresh new look

• Teacher training
• Bangor University
• Birmingham City University
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of East Anglia
• University of Hull
• University of Kent
• University of Reading
• Clearing and results day
• Preparing for university
• Ucas application
• Student finance
• Student accommodation
• Choosing a course
• A-level results day: what to expect
• A guide to Btec results day
• How Ucas Hub works on results day
• What to say in a Clearing phone call
• 10 tips to help you with Ucas Clearing
• A guide to Clearing 2024
• Which university is right for you?
• What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
• How to decide on a university course
• Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
• Universities

By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 12 October 2023 | 13 min read

Personal statement secrets – universities reveal all

Want to know how to craft an amazing personal statement? Take some advice from the experts...

Share this page

Email & print.

If you’re applying to uni this year, you’ll already know that one of the trickiest tasks is coming up with an original and interesting personal statement.  That’s why we’ve gone straight to the experts – the university admissions staff themselves – to pick their brains on what makes a stand-out personal statement.

• Read more: how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

Getting ready to write your personal statement

Understand what a personal statement is.

Your personal statement is a really important part of your application, and your chance to sell yourself to your chosen university.  "Ultimately, a personal statement is a chance for you to convey why you would like to study a particular course, and how you hope this will benefit you in the future. We want to hear what skills and experience you possess which will help you at university, and your passion for your chosen subject," explains Annie Richardson, outreach assistant in the outreach and educational partnerships team at the University of Greenwich . "Admissions staff look for applicants with a strong interest in their course; good qualifications and relevant experience; and the resilience and motivation to complete their degree," Annie adds. 

• Read more: how to write your university application

Before you even start writing, you need to have your motives for applying clear in your mind. Don’t rush your research. "It's impossible to write a strong personal statement until you have explored your options and feel confident in your university course choices," says Annie. "Spend time planning what you intend to write and include in your personal statement," adds James Calcutt, schools and colleges liaison manager at Royal Holloway, University of London . "Students with the strongest and most detailed plans write the best statements. This is because they have something to refer to, ensuring they stay on topic, and it offers them the opportunity to order all their thoughts before writing their statement." Take the time to review uni websites, prospectuses and online student guides, as well as attending open days and checking out our university guides . You could also visit the forums for any unis you're interested in on our sister site The Student Room .   Make sure you read the detail of each course and what it has to offer. Just because they have the same name , they will still have varying requirements. "Start early and take your time," says Anjli Shah, careers consultant at City, University of London . "Read the course summaries for every course you wish to apply for and where possible underline what they are looking for in candidates. Some universities will stipulate either in the course summary or clearly state what they look for in the personal statement. "Research the five courses that you want to apply for in detail. Every university publishes the course content and structure on their website. Understand what topics and modules you will be learning. Identify key themes across the courses and think about what you have done so far to develop your understanding and learning around the subject. As you do this, reflect on why this in interesting to you and why you want to study this. "Take a blank sheet of paper and jot down everything that comes to mind about why you want to study the course, the evidence (reading, experiences, project work etc) that you could include to show how you have developed your thinking about this subject. Always demonstrate what you learned rather than listing what you did.  "Remember whilst it is a difficult exercise, it is also helping you to reflect on why you want to study this subject and the courses you are applying for, and so it is an important tool in your own decision making."

• Read more: I want to go to uni but I don't know what to study

Keep your options open

Remember, it’s not wise to show a personal preference to one particular university, even if you have a favourite. "If you have paid to send five Ucas applications at once, the admissions tutors for each university all see the same personal statement. Do not make a specific reference to a specific university," says Annie at the University of Greenwich. "Remember that you can only have one personal statement no matter how many universities you’re applying to, so avoid mentioning any universities or modules by name," says Lisa Thomas, deputy director of admissions at the University of Chester . "Instead, it’s your task to show these universities why you’re well-suited to their courses, without mentioning specifics. "If you’re going for similar courses, you should notice likenesses in the skills, qualities and experience they’re looking for, making your life a bit easier. If you’re applying for courses that are very different, have a think about how your achievements, skill-set and experience can be applied more generally to fit with the varying course descriptions." 

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

Getting started

Keep it personal.

When you're looking for inspiration on how to get started, remember: it's all about you. "The clue is in the word 'personal'," says Anjli at City, University of London. "All too often, students write what they think they ought to or will mention something in order to tick it off a checklist. This leads to disjointed personal statements that are too general and don’t tell us anything about why the student wants to study the subject they have chosen. So, make it personal! Spell out what motivates you to study the course; show us your  academic engagement with the course."  It can also be tempting to Google ‘personal statement’ and take your pick. But, be warned. Ucas has resources which will identify any plagiarised statements from the extensive library of archived statements. 

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

Don’t be like the rest of them

Be sure your statement is a true reflection of you; this will give it a more authentic feel. "We really want to see applicants being themselves and using their own experiences to inform their personal statements," says Lisa at the University of Chester.   "When you’re about to make the transition to higher education, it’s tempting to write in a stiff and formal way. It’s important to write clearly and appropriately but you should, ultimately, sound like yourself."

What to put in your personal statement

That first sentence….

For many of you this will be the hardest part, thanks to writer’s block, feeling pressured and desperation to create the perfect sentence. The solution? Get into your flow and scribble down all your thoughts in any old order first.  "Students often struggle writing their personal statements because they think it needs to be perfect, or that they need to sound smart – so they end up not sounding like themselves," says Annie from the University of Greenwich. "Write multiple drafts of your application and start as early as possible.  Even if you begin with a spider diagram or bullet points – that is still a draft."  Then, when it comes to structuring your notes into your personal statement, focus on the things the universities will want to read. "Students can stand out by using their introduction to talk about what they are looking to study, why they have chosen this and where their interest comes from," says James at Royal Holloway, University of London . "This gives an excellent context to the statement and provides the admissions specialist with the important information early on." "Opening your statement with a unique line about yourself and how it relates to you wanting to study a particular course is a great way to get your personal statement to stand out straight away," adds Lisa at the University of Chester. 

Be original

Avoid clichés (like the plague...), not least openers such as 'I have always wanted to be', 'From a young age' or 'I have always dreamed of' to justify your choice of subject. "Try to avoid phrases such as ‘I have been passionate about law from a young age’ - even if it’s true," says Lisa. "Admissions teams see them again and again. As an alternative, consider using your personal examples to demonstrate your passion for a subject. [For example], ‘I have been interested in law since shadowing a barrister as part of my work experience’." 

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement

Make the word count count

Your personal statement has a strict limit of 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. Exceed this and Ucas Hub will immediately cut you off and could leave your personal statement dangling in the middle of an unfinished sentence. Editing matters! "Make sure each word counts," says Anjli at City, University of London. "Anything that you choose to include in your personal statement must be relevant to answering the question 'Why I want to study this subject'. "Avoid generalisations. Be specific. If you read a book tell us about a specific school of thought or theory and your learning from it. Does it back your point up? Do you disagree with it? Why? Don’t simply state you read it. Avoid trying to include everything that you have done in your life – only relevant elements that back up your motivation for and understanding of the academic subject you wish to study." 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

Ditch the quotes

Admissions teams aren't interested in what somebody else has said about your subject – they want to hear what you think.  "We often recommend that students avoid including quotes," says James at Royal Holloway, University of London. "The statement is short, and students only have a small space to demonstrate their thoughts and experiences.   "We’re interested in hearing the student's opinions, not those of whoever they are quoting. Instead of quotes, we suggest students paraphrase the ideas and critical arguments of what they’ve read and give their interpretation." 

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening

Don’t be a bluffer

Don’t write something in your personal statement that you won’t be able to talk about in an interview – keep it honest and resist the temptation to embellish the truth.  "It’s important not to exaggerate or even make something up just because it sounds good," says Lisa at the University of Chester. "We get that you’re out to impress, but when it comes to your personal statement, it’s important to be honest and true to yourself."

Emphasise your student super powers

Universities need to be convinced that you have developed your study skills enough to be able to study independently. "Students who demonstrate they have critically engaged in their subject through wider reading, taster days and online courses stand out," says James at Royal Holloway, University of London.  "It should become evident to the reader that the student knows why they wish to study the subject they have chosen as they demonstrate their learning so far and understanding of the subject," says Anjli at City, University of London. "This can come through their academic engagement with the subject in class but also through additional activities such as reading, listening to documentaries or podcasts or work experiences or project work that they have been doing."

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

Getting ready to send off your personal statement

Are extracurricular activities important.

This is always a very popular question on our sister site The Student Room . The key is relevance. "Admissions tutors are pleased to see extracurricular activities on a personal statement as it shows you have excellent time management and varying interests – traits that will serve you well during university," says Annie at the University of Greenwich.  "There must be a balance between academic and extracurricular content," says James at Royal Holloway, University of London. "We often suggest a 75%-25% split between academic and non-academic content. With the extracurricular content, this can be anything that demonstrates crucial transferable skills that will be useful in the course the student is looking to study."  Lisa at the University of Chester agrees that extracurriculars can give your application a boost. "You might think they’re not worth including, especially with the 4,000-character limit, but extracurricular activities can be where you really set yourself apart from other applicants. So, if you have any interests, hobbies or experiences that relate to your subject of choice or showcase your personal qualities, make room for them." Students "should highlight what skills they have developed by doing those activities and perhaps discuss how these will be useful on their course or at university," says Anjli at City, University of London.  "If they are keen to continue certain activities at university then these can be referenced here. If they have had limited opportunity to pursue other activities, but have a part-time job or caring responsibilities, then these are equally important to talk about as they definitely give students a whole range of skills and show how the student is currently managing their academic studies with additional responsibilities."  And Annie at the University of Greenwich has a tip for anyone puzzling over which extracurriculars to include. "If you are unsure how to make an extracurricular activity relevant to your application, you should remember your ABCs. "Think of an Action you have taken (a recent course/hobby/part time job); write about the transferable skills or Benefit this has helped you to develop; and how this experience will directly benefit you in your Course."

• Read more: how long does it take unis to reply to your application? 

Don’t keep the admissions team guessing

If you don’t know why the content of your statement is important, the admissions tutor won’t either. Whether you're writing about your interest in the subject or clarifying your skills, “make sure each point you are making is well developed and shows your motivation for the subject and builds on from the previous point – make it flow," says Anjli at City, University of London.  "The most important aspect of any student's personal statement is demonstrating their passion for the subject. This should be their main factor for studying at university and should be front and centre in their statement," says James at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Show understanding of your future career

If you're applying for a vocational course, such as medicine or law, you'll need to show that you know what to expect.  "If your course is vocational, you should show understanding of the career you are aiming for, any challenges you might face and your ability to cope with these," says Annie at the University of Greenwich. 

Skip the jokes

Your personal statement isn't the place to try to be funny – save the jokes for meeting your roomates in halls.  "A lot of people try to be funny in their application to stand out, but your sense of humour may not be the same as the admissions tutor," says Annie at the University of Greenwich. 

Remember what you're writing

Stay laser-focused on what you're writing and why, and you'll end up with a much better personal statement.  "What separates a good personal statement from a flawed one is often the tone or the structure," says Annie at the University of Greenwich.   "Remember: it is not a letter – so do not structure it like one; it is not your life story – we do not need to know where you were born; it is not an academic essay – do not list all the books you have read; and, it is not a place to list your qualifications – you have already done that earlier in the application." 

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

Review and redraft

"You will probably redraft at least five times before you are happy with your personal statement," says Anjli at City, University of London.  When you're editing it down, "keep the language simple and avoid unnecessary words such as 'indeed' or 'I had the opportunity to'. Keep it to the point," Anjli adds.  "Remember the personal statement is about one side of an A4 sheet so you can only write so much. Do not try to include everything! Select five or six key points that you can develop in detail to demonstrate your motivation for and understanding of the course you are applying for." 

Read it out loud

"Read your personal statement aloud – this can make a big difference," says Lisa at the University of Chester.  You could also "try reading your work from the bottom up, taking each paragraph at a time – reading it in a different order can help you spot mistakes," Lisa adds. 

• Read more: five practical tips to help with your personal statement

Dotting the Is and crossing the Ts

Check, check and check again.  "Now is not the time to be lazy with your proofreading and spellchecking," says Lisa. "The extra time you spend checking your personal statement could make an important difference. Obviously, if you do send off your personal statement with a mistake in, it isn’t the end of the world! But don’t take away from the great things you’re saying with errors that could have been caught." 

Don’t be shy about asking for feedback

This is really important – when you’ve been re-drafting your application a number of times it can be hard to spot mistakes. “Get someone else to check over it – a fresh pair of eyes can work wonders," says Lisa.  Visit our personal statements hub for more tips to help you ace your uni application. 

You may want to look at these...

Writing a history personal statement: expert advice from universities.

Here’s how to shine in your history personal statement

The Ucas personal statement is changing in 2025

A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Help and advice on putting your application together

Related to this article

Search the uni guide, find further advice or search for information on a course or university.

• Search Advice
• Search courses &/or universities

The Uni Guide and The Student Room are both part of The Student Room Group.

Promoted universities

• Durham University
• Lancaster University
• University of Glasgow
• University of the Arts London
• University of Southampton
• Swansea University
• Aston University, Birmingham
• Ulster University
• Cardiff University
• University of Essex

Browse expert advice

• Oxbridge applications
• Personal statements
• University open days
• Ucas deadline 2024 countdown
• A-level choices
• GCSE choices and university
• Making firm and insurance choices
• Student life
• Advice for parents

About this site

• Cookie policy
• List of universities and colleges
• Privacy notice
• Terms and conditions
• Where we get our info

Who we work with

• Your account settings

Ad privacy settings

Popular tools and features

• A-level Explorer
• Course search

Connect with us

• Log in
• Site search

Personal statements for university applications

Forming a key part of your university application, you should use the UCAS personal statement to showcase how your skills, experience and aspirations make you a good fit for the course

New personal statement for 2026/27 entry

UCAS has announced that from September 2025 students will no longer need to provide a 4,000-character personal statement to get into university. Instead, those applying for entry in 2026/27 will need to answer the following three questions:

• Why do you want to study this course or subject?
• How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
• What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?

This change has been made to encourage applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for university.

Read more at UCAS - New personal statement to help level the playing field for disadvantaged students .

What is a university personal statement?

With two sides of A4 to work with, this is your opportunity to tell course tutors in your own words the reasons why you feel you'd be an asset to their university.

How long should a personal statement be?

There's no maximum word count, but you'll need to remain within the 4,000 character limit (including spaces and punctuation) allowed in your UCAS application, as well as keeping the statement to a total of 47 lines of text.

UCAS recommends that you write your personal statement in Microsoft Word before copying and pasting it into the online application form. This is because the application page times out after being inactive for 35 minutes. You'll still need to account for how individual characters are counted differently between Microsoft Word and the online form.

What do I write about?

When considering what to include in your personal statement, take time to think about the reasons you're applying to university and what makes you a suitable candidate.

To make this work for different courses and universities, you'll need to find some common ground by providing examples of why you'll be a success - demonstrating enthusiasm for the choices you've made and how they fit in with your career ambitions.

You'll need to talk about the relevant skills, experience and achievements you've gained through extra-curricular activities - whether these are sporting, musical or creative.

As well as going through your academic record to date, your personal statement also gives you the opportunity to mention any work experience or volunteering you've undertaken, detailing what you've learned from it. For instance, you may have been involved with the Young Enterprise programme at school and have a better idea of how to manage your money.

It's never too late to show you're actively preparing for higher education. Get involved with an extra-curricular club, secure a part-time job or do some volunteering. You could even complete a free online course in a relevant subject through FutureLearn or The Open University .

If you're an international student, you could discuss why the UK is your preferred study destination ahead of universities in your own country. Don't forget to mention the English language tests, courses and qualifications you've taken.

Finally, if there are any personal or financial circumstances that have had a strong bearing on your performance at school or college, you can outline these in this statement.

How do I write a personal statement?

By breaking your personal statement down into sections, you can ensure you cover the most relevant points.

Course-relevant skills and credentials should be given prominence in the overall structure. You can use the course descriptions to help you.

However, as you only have the one personal statement for all your choices, if you've selected a variety of subjects that aren't that similar, you'll need to focus on the transferable skills and common qualities typically valued by universities - for example, creativity or problem-solving.

Adopt a simple, concise and natural style for writing your statement, while still showing enthusiasm. Allow your personality to shine through.

It can often take a number of redrafts until the statement is ready, so allow plenty of time to write it properly, and set yourself a schedule.

Get used to reading your statement aloud and asking for feedback from family, teachers and advisers before redrafting to make sure your writing flows well. You'll also need to check for the correct punctuation, spelling and grammar and not just rely on a spellchecker.

Keep an up-to-date copy of your statement saved so you can refer back to it during the interview process.

How do I start a personal statement?

At this point, think about why you're applying for the course, and how you became interested in it in the first place. Was it through work experience or studying the subject at A-level?

Once you've noted down your reasons for choosing the course, you can move on to your skills and what makes you stand out positively from other applicants, providing evidence of where each attribute has been utilised.

After you've written this down, condense it so it's less wordy. You can then attempt to write a punchy opening paragraph showcasing your excitement at the prospect of going to university, and an understanding of what you're getting yourself into.

Get off to the best start by using the UCAS personal statement builder .

What should I avoid?

• As you'll only have the one statement, it's important not to mention universities by name - unless you plan on applying to just a single institution.
• Remember that admissions staff may not share your sense of humour, so steer clear of anything that might get misinterpreted.
• Refrain from using clichés or making arrogant or exaggerated statements.
• Resist any temptation to use somebody else's work as your own. The UCAS Similarity Detection Service utilises the Copycatch system, which will compare your statement against those stored within a comprehensive library of statements - those sent to UCAS and elsewhere (including paper publications).
• Be careful not to ramble. Structuring your work so you know how much space you have for each section will make sticking to your main points much easier.

University personal statement examples

While you can find some examples online - from the likes of Reed.co.uk , St Mary's University and King's College London - it's important to use your own words and not copy them directly.

Indeed, the UCAS personal statement worksheet can prove just as useful when it comes to helping you decide what to put in your own personal statement.

You can simply print out this personal statement template and jot down any ideas into the various sections as you think of them.

Find out more

• Read the full lowdown on how to apply for university .
• Get tips on preparing for a university interview .
• For further advice on writing a university personal statement, visit UCAS .

How would you rate this page?

On a scale where 1 is dislike and 5 is like

• Dislike 1 unhappy-very
• Like 5 happy-very

Thank you for rating the page

• University Pathways chevron_right
• Direct to University chevron_right
• Pathway Centres chevron_right
• Vocational Centres chevron_right

Start your undergraduate or postgraduate journey at one of our UK colleges or US centres.

• Undergraduate Pathways
• Postgraduate Pathways

Degree admission to industry leading universities

• BPP University
• Ravensbourne University London
• University Roehampton London
• Mercy University
• The University of Notre Dame Australia
• Universal Higher Education

Your pathway to 15+ top ranking universities.

• Discover the Pathway Centres
• Oxford Centre
• London Centre
• Course Finder
• Explore Universities

Study and work in Canada or UK, on one of our vocational courses.

• UK chevron_right
• US chevron_right
• Canada chevron_right
• Australia chevron_right

Discover top universities in the UK for studying abroad.

• Bangor University
• University of Bradford
• De Montfort University
• University of Dundee
• Edinburgh Napier University
• University of Greenwich
• University of Kent
• Ravensbourne University
• University of Roehampton

Discover top universities in the US for studying abroad.

• San Francisco State University

Study and work in Canada.

Study abroad in Australia.

• Find out how to apply chevron_right
• Entry Requirements Tool

You can easily apply online via our application form.

• Apply online
• Application process
• Frequently asked questions
• Still have questions? Chat to our team and students
• Student Guides chevron_right
• Chat to our students
• Blog chevron_right

Are you joining us soon? We recommend checking out our pre-arrival guides to help you prepare for your arrival!

• Bangor University International College Guide
• University of Bradford International College Guide
• De Montfort University International College Guide
• International College Dundee Guide
• Edinburgh Napier University Guide
• University of Greenwich International College Guide
• Mercy University Guide
• Ravensbourne University London Guide
• San Francisco State University Guide
• Scholarships

How to write a personal statement for your university application

For all university applications, wherever in the world you are applying, you need to write a personal statement. But what is a personal statement and how can it help?

For all university applications, wherever in the world you are applying, you need to write a personal statement. But what is a personal statement and how can it help? Put simply, it is your chance to articulate to the university or college that you would like to apply to, to let them know why you’d like to study there, why the particular course, and showcase the experience and skills that you have that will help you during the course. If you’re wondering how to write a personal statement, then read on for the techniques and the information that will help you to have a personal statement that will stand out from the crowd.

Write about you

It can feel awkward for some to talk about themselves, especially in a way that highlights strengths and positive attributes, but you do need to write about yourself. It is your chance to let admissions staff know why you are an ideal candidate for the course you’re applying for and why you’d be a good addition for the institution you are applying to. That being said, you usually just get the chance to write one personal statement, so avoid using university names.

Ideas to help you get started with your personal statement

Look at the course that you are interested in applying for, and think what skills or experience would be beneficial. Make sure you highlight those points in your personal statement. Include why you are interested in the particular course, such as a stepping stone to your dream career, or because you are keen to learn the course subject matter. Talk about your wider personal life in your personal statement, to give the admissions officer an idea about you for a while and how you’d fit into university life there. If you’re a member of a club or a team, for example, then let them know and let them know how it helps you in life. Discussing other areas of interest and experience in your life, such as volunteering or different awards that you have achieved are also good to talk about in your personal statement. Make sure that each element that you discuss is brought back to how it has helped your life, what you’ve learned from it, or how it has improved you and your skills and why it makes you a suitable candidate for the course you are applying for.

When you’re writing about yourself you might be tempted to ‘bend’ the truth a little to make you sound more appealing. As tempting as it might be, you need to always be honest. Don’t write that you’re fluent in French, for example, when you only know some basic conversational French. Highlight what you can do and make that sound more appealing, rather than filling the personal statement with things that aren’t quite true.

When it comes to your personal statement, you need to remember that everyone is different and has a unique voice. You might find reading some others helpful, but remember to not copy and keep it unique and personal to you. And one last thing, make sure someone proofreads it before you send it (a simple thing that many people can forget).

• Pathway Courses expand_more
• Direct to University expand_more
• Vocational Courses expand_more
• Student Guides expand_more
• Download Prospectus expand_more

Cookie settings

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our website, remember your settings and provide you with the best possible experience

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content form their services. View Cookies link

You have been chosen

to provide your feedback.

• How To Write Your Postgraduate Personal Statement

Choosing a university

• Fairs and open days
• Entry requirements
• What are the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement?

What's on this page?

What is a personal statement, preparing to write your personal statement, opening your personal statement, work experience and future plans, ending your personal statement.

Your postgraduate personal statement is your chance to get noticed for your expertise and experience you’ve gathered. It’s an important part of the application process as it allows you to talk about yourself and your passions and prove the value you can bring to your chosen university.

In this article, we’re going to talk you through how to write a postgraduate personal statement that stands out and gives you the best chance of being offered a place on the master’s programme you’re applying for. 

Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

You’ll have already written a personal statement for your undergraduate study, so you’ll know the importance of preparation. There are two things to think about when you’re planning:

• The practical and factual information you need to get across.
• Then, the more emotional, human parts of you that make you different to everyone else. 

Before you start writing, take some time to think about the key things you’d want your chosen university to know about you, and get them down on paper.

Questions to focus your mind

• Why have you chosen this master’s programme?
• Why are you passionate about this subject matter? 
• How has your undergraduate study influenced your decision to apply?
• Have you got any work experience that might help you?
• What life experiences have you had that you could talk about?
• What achievements can you talk about to support your application?
• Why do you want to study at this particular university?
• What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Three top tips

Be specific.

Remember that a postgraduate personal statement needs you to talk specifically about the university you’ve chosen.

Demonstrate experience

Universities will be looking for postgraduate students who are able to demonstrate expertise in a particular subject – so include that.

Show what you've learnt

Tell the university about your university life as an undergraduate and include any clubs or societies you were involved in.

Admissions tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements so it’s important to grab their attention right from the start. 

You can find a full guide on How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber but here are the main things for you to think about. 

• Don’t overthink the opening . Just start by showing your enthusiasm for the subject, showcasing your knowledge and understanding, and sharing your ambitions of what you want to achieve.
• Avoid cliches . Remember, this opening part is simply about introducing yourself, so let the admissions tutor reading your personal statement get to know you. 
• Keep it relevant and simple . You’re limited on how much you can include so avoid long-winded explanations. Why use 50 words when ten can make your point?

Talking about the course

Now you’re ready to start talking about the course and subject you’re applying for.

There are four main areas you’ll need to cover in this section of your personal statement. 

• Why are you applying for this master’s?  Think about your undergraduate study and how this master’s will develop your expertise further. Do you have career aspirations this course will help you achieve?
• Why does the subject interest you? This is your chance to show your passion and really demonstrate who you are. If you have work or volunteering experiences related to the subject, include them here.
• Why do you think you’ll be an asset to the university?  Your personal and practical skills combined together create a unique picture of who you are and why you’ll be a successful postgraduate student, so include both. 
• How does your previous undergraduate study relate to the course? Showcase your enthusiasm for your current study and take the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge now, and how you want to build on that. 

Next, you’ll need to write about your personal skills and achievements.

Universities like to know the abilities you have that’ll help you on the course, or generally with life at university. Don’t forget to include evidence to back up why you’re so passionate about the programme you’ve chosen.

Your personal skills and achievements

Be bold and talk about the achievements you’re proud of., include positions of responsibility you hold, or have held, both in and out of school., what are the things that make you interesting, special, or unique .

Your work experience and future plans are important to include in your personal statement. You should share details of jobs, placements, work experience, or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your course. 

• Try to link any experience to skills or qualities that’ll make you successful on your course.
• If you know what you’d like to do after as a career, explain how you plan to use the knowledge and experience you’ll gain.

It’s always good to connect the beginning of your statement to the end and a great way to reinforce what you said at the start. You want to see the ending as your chance to end in a way that’ll make the university remember you. 

This final part of your personal statement should emphasise the great points you’ve already made and answer the question of why you should be offered a place on the course. 

Read our full guide on How to finish your statement the right way .

Aakriti Labra – MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology, University of Surrey

Now you’ve written your postgraduate personal statement, you’ll need to do a couple of final things before you submit it. 

• Have you proofread your personal statement? Don’t just rely on spellcheckers. We’d recommend reading it out loud as that’s a great way to spot any errors as well as checking it sounds like you. 
• Have you asked for feedback? Ask friends, family or your undergraduate university tutors to have a read through your personal statement and take their feedback on board.
• Check out our personal statement dos and don'ts Have a look at the common pitfalls against your final draft to make sure you haven't made any obvious errors!

Postgraduate

More advice.

Use the UCAS’ personal statement tool alongside this guide to help you structure your ideas.

Do you want to understand the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement? Take a look at our guide here.

Why study a postgraduate course? Find out here.  

What funding is there for postgraduate courses?  

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Student finance for postgraduate loans, five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, how to find a job.

• Applying to Uni
• Apprenticeships
• Health & Relationships
• Money & Finance

Personal Statements

• Postgraduate
• U.S Universities

University Interviews

• Vocational Qualifications
• Accommodation
• ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
• ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
• ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
• ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

• ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
• ​​​​​​​Technology
• ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

• Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

• Postgraduate Personal Statements
• International Student Personal Statements
• Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

• Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

• Mature Student Personal Statements
• Aberystwyth
• Anglia Polytechnic University
• Bath Spa University College
• Bournemouth University
• British College of Osteopathic Medicine
• British School of Osteopathy
• Canterbury Christ Church University College
• Central School of Speech and Drama
• Chester A College of The University of Liverpool
• City College Manchester
• Coventry University
• De Montfort University
• Edge Hill College of Higher Education
• Falmouth University
• Farnborough College of Technology
• Glamorgan Centre for Art and Design Technology
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Goldsmiths College
• Heriot-watt
• Heythrop College
• King's College
• Kingston University
• Leeds Metropolitan University
• Liverpool Hope
• Liverpool John Moores University
• London Metropolitan University
• London South Bank University
• Loughborough
• Loughborough College
• Middlesex University
• Napier University, Edinburgh
• Newcastle College
• Northumbria University
• Nottingham Trent
• Oxford Brookes
• Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
• Queen's, Belfast
• Regents Business School London
• Roehampton University of Surrey
• Royal Holloway
• Royal Veterinary College
• Sheffield Hallam University
• Southampton
• Southampton Institute
• St George's Hospital Medical School
• St Mary's University College
• Staffordshire University
• Strathclyde
• Swansea Institute of Higher Education
• Thames Valley University
• The Arts Institute At Bournemouth
• The Glasgow School of Art
• The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
• The London Institute
• The Manchester Metropolitan University
• The North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
• The Robert Gordon University
• The Surrey Institute of Art and Design
• The University of Bradford
• The University of Buckingham
• The University of Gloucestershire
• The University of Huddersfield
• The University of Salford
• University College Northampton
• University College Worcester
• University of Abertay Dundee
• University of Brighton
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Derby
• University of East London
• University of Glamorgan
• University of Greenwich
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Lincoln
• University of Plymouth
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Sunderland
• University of Teesside
• University of The West of England, Bristol
• University of Ulster
• University of Wales College, Newport
• University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
• University of Wales, Bangor
• University of Westminster
• University of Wolverhampton
• Writtle College
• York St John College
• Personal Statements By Subject
• Personal Statement Editing Service
• Personal Statement Writing Guide
• Submit Your Personal Statement
• Personal Statement Questions 2025

The University of Gloucestershire Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to The University of Gloucestershire. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Law Personal Statement Example 80 I have chosen a law degree because it will enable me to study criminal and human rights law in more depth. This course has a practical and theoretical basis, which I find fascinating, and will expand my knowledge; it will also help me understand legal aspects of law and their impact on society...

Computing Personal Statement Example 9 Computers have always fascinated me. From my very first desktop PC to my current laptop, I have always had the desire to know more about how they work, why they work and more importantly, what could I do to improve them...

• University specific personal statements
• All personal statements