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Personal statements for college applications

AuthorDaniel Higginbotham, senior editor
Posted on

If you're applying for a course at a sixth form or further education (FE) college in the UK, you'll likely need to write a personal statement. Discover what to include and how to ensure your passion for the subject shines through

What is a college personal statement?

This short essay gives you an opportunity to explain to the admissions staff your main reasons for deciding to study a particular college course and your suitability beyond your predicted or achieved grades.

You can use this part of your application to:

  • explain what excites you about the subject and this particular course
  • highlight relevant skills and experiences from school, work and your hobbies
  • demonstrate the attributes you have that make you a strong candidate
  • offer an insight into your individual talents and future career goals.

Admissions teams use the personal statement to gain a deeper understanding of who you are - your passions, your goals, and what you could bring to their college community.

Will I need to write a personal statement?

Not necessarily, as this will depend on the sixth form or FE college you plan to apply to and its own application process.

If you're applying to study a full-time undergraduate qualification, such as a Bachelors degree, and the institution is a UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) course provider, your college will point you to the centralised UCAS system.

As part of an undergraduate UCAS application, you'll need to answer the three questions, which collectively form your personal statement. Get tips on writing personal statements for university applications 2026.

For part-time undergraduate courses and most FE qualifications (Levels 1 to 3, from GCSEs to A-levels), you'll need to apply to the college directly.

In these cases, many online applications provide space on the form to write a personal statement, which may appear as a:

  • personal statement section
  • free-text box where you can add information to support your application
  • series of guided questions about your suitability and interest in the course.

It's important to note that not all applications for college courses will require you to write a personal statement. Check the website of the college you're applying to and read through their 'how to apply' or 'admissions' section to find out specific details on their application process. If you are in doubt, contact the college's admissions team directly.

Read more about how to apply for college in the UK.

How do I write a personal statement?

Unlike the UCAS undergraduate personal statement, there is no official guide for writing a statement.

Each college you're applying to may have its own requirements, such as word and character limits or content requirements. For example, Shrewsbury College asks you to write 250 to 300 words as you share your:

  • story
  • experiences
  • skills
  • ambitions.

Even without a universal guide, most personal statements follow a few key principles:

  • Be clear and concise - concentrate on why you chose this subject and course, and tie this in with what the course outline expects of students.
  • Draft it first - write your statement in Word (or an equivalent program) before copying it into the online form so you can check it for any spelling or grammatical errors.
  • Structure your essay - break your statements into short paragraphs and easy-to-read sections.
  • Keep it relevant - all the points you make should focus on the course you're applying for. Provide examples of your skills and knowledge in this subject.
  • Tell the truth - be prepared to discuss some of the examples you've provided in the statement.
  • Get feedback - ask family, friends, or a teacher for constructive advice.

To structure the statement, you could order it like this:

  1. Introduction - provide brief details on yourself, the course you're applying for, and why you want to study at this college.
  2. Academic requirements - mention how your results or predicted grades demonstrate your readiness for the course.
  3. Experience and skills - pick out any relevant experiences and what you gained from them.
  4. Future goals - tie in how your career aspirations relate to the course and how it will help you achieve them. (This section can also be placed near the beginning.)
  5. Conclusion - briefly summarise your motivation and suitability for the course.

For inspiration, take a look at our college personal statement example. You can also discover how to write a personal statement for your CV.

What should I include in my statement?

This will all depend on your current study level, such as GCSEs, and the course you're applying for.

A-levels and T Levels

If you're leaving school and planning to study Level 3 courses, such as A-levels or T Levels at a sixth form or FE college, the main purpose of your statement is to explain:

  • your reasons for choosing three or four specific A-levels or a particular T Level subject
  • how your GCSEs and other school-based experiences have prepared you for the course
  • your enthusiasm for the subject(s) - supported by evidence of work experience, volunteering or extra-curricular activities
  • how the qualification fits in with your career plans, such as doing an apprenticeship or going to university.

For A-levels, which are academically focused, you need to:

  • showcase your academic strengths and how they relate to your chosen A-level subjects
  • include any wider reading or super-curricular activities you've engaged in outside of school
  • talk about any positions of responsibility you've held, such as student leader, prefect or mentor, and other achievements that show you as a positive role model.

To give you an idea of what other A-level applicants write about, take a look at the example personal statements from Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. A-level personal statement tips are also offered by the Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre.

For T Level courses, which focus on practical skills and involve an industry placement, you can emphasise:

  • any part-time jobs or work experience you've undertaken and the skills you developed, such as leadership, teamwork or adaptability
  • how your practical experiences relate to your specific T Level subject and what draws you to this particular industry.

Vocational college courses

Most other college courses are vocational, meaning they are career-focused programmes that provide practical skills and knowledge related to a particular job or industry. This differs from traditional academic routes, such as A-levels.

Vocational courses include:

If you're applying for one of these courses and the application isn't through UCAS, your personal statement should focus on:

  • the practical, hands-on training the course offers
  • how this relates to what skills you already have.

For example, if you're thinking of studying a technical animal care qualification, such as the Level 2 BTEC in Animal Management at Plumpton College, you'll need to show the admissions team that you're passionate about treating and looking after injured or stray animals - or even exotic and large animals.

Any previous work experience or volunteering at an animal shelter is ideal to demonstrate your:

  • motivation
  • responsibility
  • strong interest in the subject
  • time management.

Read about volunteering with animals and popular jobs working with animals.

You can then discuss how this qualification aligns with your future career aspirations, even if you don't have a perfectly clear pathway set out yet. Be prepared to discuss the content of your application and personal statement during a potential college admissions interview.

Adult learners returning to education

For adult learners returning to education, either to study a degree or change careers, college courses include:

For these courses, the personal statement should focus on:

  • your previous education experiences and personal progression
  • why you want to do this course now at this stage in your career
  • what you hope to gain from it.

It's essential to explain your journey and demonstrate how this qualification aligns with your future career goals. You'll also need to show how you'll make time for study alongside your other commitments.

If your goal is to start a new career, demonstrate that you understand the challenges involved and that you've already considered how you'll overcome them.

Explore adult education.

Find out more