Personal statements for university applications 2026

What is a university personal statement?

If you're applying for undergraduate study at a university or college, your personal statement is the part of the application where you explain the reasons for choosing a particular course.

This is your opportunity to stand out from other applicants by talking about what makes you a strong candidate for the programme, while providing an insight into your interests.

The aim is to demonstrate to course tutors how you'd be a valuable addition to their university.

What change has been made for 2026/27?

In July 2024, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) revealed a new format for university personal statements, which will be introduced in the 2026/27 academic year.

Instead of writing a single essay, applicants are required 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?

The change aims to make the process clearer and help applicants structure their answers to include what universities and colleges want to see from those applying to university.

How long should a personal statement be?

There is no maximum word count, but you must remain within the 4,000-character limit (including spaces) allowed in your UCAS application, with each of your three answers having a minimum character count of 350 characters.

This is highlighted in the question boxes, with an overall character counter enabling you to track your progress.

Despite the word count reminders, UCAS still recommends writing a draft of your personal statement offline, in an application like Microsoft Word, before copying and pasting it into the online application form. This makes it easier to check for clarity and ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

How do I write a personal statement?

In this new format, the questions are structured to include the details universities want to see, while also giving you the chance to break your statement down into more manageable chunks. This ensures that you cover the most relevant points.

The overall structure of the personal statement prioritises course-relevant skills and credentials. Therefore, the course descriptions can help to highlight what the admissions staff are looking for in candidates.

However, it's important to remember that, as you only have 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.

You should also consider the following points:

• Write your statement in a simple, concise, and natural style while still showing enthusiasm. Allow your personality to shine through.
• Allow plenty of time to write it and set yourself a schedule. It can often take several redrafts before the statement is ready.
• Get used to reading your statement aloud and ask for feedback from family, friends, and teachers before redrafting to ensure your writing flows well. You'll need to check for correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar, and not just rely on a spellchecker.
• Save an up-to-date copy of your statement, so you can refer to it during the interview.

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

How do I best answer the three questions?

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

You need to tell admissions staff what you love about the course or subject and your current level of knowledge. Think about why you're applying for the course and how you became interested in it in the first place.

Try 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.

When answering this question, ask yourself:

• Do I have a role model who has inspired me?
• Is it a subject I enjoy, am good at and would love the chance to study in more detail?
• What is it that excites me about the course?

Note down all the things you think could be relevant and add them to the list before writing them out as part of the statement. Discover some examples you can use by heading to the super-curricular activities section below.

It's essential to include all the activities you've undertaken outside of your course, as this demonstrates to tutors that your passion for the subject extends beyond the classroom.

If you have a specific profession in mind, consider how the course aligns with your long-term career goals. Will it be key to your success?

Even if you're not sure what you want to do yet, you can still discuss how the course may help you to make a decision. Read our advice on how to choose a career.

You can also get some inspiration on how to choose the right degree.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Use this opportunity to tell the university about any relevant or transferable skills you've gained from your formal education, including:

• your school or college
• online or short courses
• other forms of education.

To help ensure you don't forget any skills you've developed, see the skills employers want.

For each skill, you need to provide evidence of where you've used particular attributes, while demonstrating how it will help you to succeed in your degree course. Think about how your learning and training so far relate to your choice of subject.

For example, do you have any notable educational achievements you can discuss? What accomplishments are you most proud of? Your answer could include anything from participating in academic competitions to taking on a student ambassador role at school or college.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?

This gives you a chance to cover a range of experiences away from your A-level or T Level courses (or equivalent college qualifications) that you think would be useful or interesting to the university.

These include examples of skills you've gained through:

• in-person or virtual work experience, employment and volunteering
• personal life experiences and responsibilities
• hobbies and extra-curricular activities
• any other achievements.

You can discuss any of these things if you feel they will support your application.

What should I write about?

When considering what to include in your personal statement, ensure that you focus on answering each specific question without straying from the topic.

While writing your statement, always consider the main reasons you're applying to university and what makes you a suitable candidate.

Here are some examples of things you can include in your application. UCAS advises not to worry too much about which question an example fits under - just make sure your evidence is relevant.

Skills and achievements

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.

For the third question, you are encouraged to discuss the relevant skills, experience and achievements you've gained through extra-curricular activities - whether they are:

• sporting
• musical
• creative.

For instance, have you held a position of responsibility in a club or group, such as being the captain of a football team? Are you part of a music group or band? Have you achieved any non-academic qualifications or won any awards that have honed your skills?

Super-curricular activities

While interests and pursuits outside the classroom are important in portraying yourself as a well-rounded candidate for university, super-curricular activities can set you apart from the competition. These can be discussed in your answer to the first question in your statement.

Super-curricular activities relate to your academic and career development pursuits that extend beyond what you've learned through your school lessons, demonstrating initiative and a passion for your chosen field of study.

For instance, this may involve:

• attending university taster lectures and masterclasses - see university open days
• exploring academic interests and researching around the subject
• getting involved in student competitions in areas like art, photography, coding hackathons or essay writing
• reading academic books or journals not on school reading lists
• listening to a podcast
• subscribing to industry magazines, e.g. New Scientist or The Engineer
• watching a webinar, documentary, or TED talk on a relevant topic.

The skills you'll develop, such as independent research and learning, are key components of university-level study.

To make the most of these super-curricular experiences when writing your UCAS personal statement:

• Focus on how it benefited you - as you discuss what you gained by doing these educational activities, relate them to yourself and what you learned. Explain how they have helped deepen your understanding of the subject.
• Note things down - by keeping a record of the super-curricular activities you undertake, you will not only benefit your personal statement, but you will also find it useful for university interviews.
• Show how you've used your initiative - let the university admissions team see how you've developed a proactive and self-motivated approach to learning. This proves to them that you're highly suited for undergraduate study, and it can give you an advantage over other candidates when applying for degree courses at competitive institutions such as the University of Oxford or Cambridge.

Work experience and volunteering

As well as covering your academic record to date, the final section of 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. Alternatively, you may have been a youth ambassador in achieving the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Remember that it's never too late to demonstrate that you're actively preparing for higher education. Consider getting a part-time job or volunteering for an organisation closely related to your proposed degree subject. Get some ideas about Year 12 work experience and popular student jobs at university.

You could even complete a short online course or microcredential in a relevant subject through providers including:

• Coursera
• FutureLearn
• The Open University

International students

If you're an international student, you could discuss why the UK is your preferred study destination. Don't forget to mention the English language tests, courses and qualifications you've taken. Get the lowdown on studying and living in the UK.

Mitigating factors

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 answer to the third question on this statement.

Consider how the situation you've had to overcome has influenced your decision to study this course at university. For example, have any personal responsibilities, such as caring for a family member, helped you develop essential qualities for the course?

What should I avoid with my personal statement?

• As you'll only have one statement, it's important not to mention universities by name - unless you plan on applying to just a single institution.
• Even if you appear to have plenty of time, don't leave your personal statement to the last minute. If you rush it, you may forget to include crucial details.
• Remember that admissions staff may not share your sense of humour, so avoid saying anything that might be misinterpreted.
• Refrain from using clichés or making arrogant or exaggerated statements. There's no need to be modest, but your passions should come across in the right way. Also, you may be asked to elaborate on any interesting achievements you talk about, so stick to the truth.
• Resist temptation to use somebody else's work as your own. The UCAS Similarity Detection Service uses 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).
• UCAS also advises caution when using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. Feel free to use AI for ideas, but not for writing your statement.
• Don't ramble. You can use the 4,000 characters across all answers in any way you choose. However, structuring your work makes it easier to stay focused on your main points.
• Despite changing to a three-question format, admissions staff review your answers as one statement, so check you haven't repeated any information. They look for passion, knowledge, and relevant skills, so make sure each answer adds something new.
• Finally, resist any urge to publish your completed personal statement online or post it via social media. Only share the file for feedback from those you trust.

Do you have any examples of university personal statements?

While you can find examples online, it's essential to use your own words and avoid copying them directly.

Some good examples for inspiration include:

• King's College London
• Reed.co.uk
• St Mary's University

Please note that some of these examples may be written according to the old format, which does not include the three questions.

Indeed, the UCAS personal statement worksheet can prove just as useful for 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 before adding them below the relevant question.

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 personal statement in 2026, visit UCAS.