Writing your personal statement

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a short piece of writing that forms part of your UCAS application. It’s your chance to tell universities about yourself beyond your grades, showing your interests, experiences, skills, and motivations. Think of it as a way to explain who you are, why you want to study your chosen subject, and what makes you a strong candidate.

Getting started

You’ll answer three questions, using a minimum of 350 characters (roughly 55-60 words) for each. Your response should be clear and specific, showing why you’re a strong fit for your course.

Key points to remember

UCAS limits statements to 4,000 characters (roughly 650-700 words) overall, so be concise.
Use tools like the UCAS Personal Statement Builder to organise your ideas.
Admissions teams read your application as a whole, so you don't need to repeat your points in different sections.

How to answer each question

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Think about what started your interest in this subject, whether a key moment in your life, a role model or simply a passion that you want to explore further. This is your opportunity to talk about everything that’s led you to this point.

Explain what sparked your interest and why the subject excites you.
Include experiences beyond the classroom, such as wider reading, projects, or influences - perhaps you've read a thought provoking book, been inspired by a leading expert in the field or simply enjoy watching online videos on the topic.
Show how the course supports your goals or career ambitions. If you’re still exploring options, focus on how the skills and knowledge you’ve gained will help you.

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

Reflect on how your studies have given you the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed. Use this question to show your preparation and highlight the experiences that make you a strong candidate.

Show how your studies have developed relevant knowledge and transferable skills, like problem solving, critical thinking, or communication.
Highlight achievements beyond grades, such as awards, projects, or leadership roles.
Be specific when explaining why these skills will be directly useful for your next step.

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

Consider the experiences, challenges, and personal projects that have helped shape who you are. This question lets you show the skills and qualities you’ve developed beyond your studies.

Include real-world experiences such as work, volunteering, or personal projects.
Reflect on personal challenges or responsibilities and the skills you’ve gained, like resilience, problem-solving, or empathy - perhaps you’ve taken on significant responsibilities such as caring for a family member, managing a long-term health condition or balancing work commitments with your studies.
Highlight hobbies, extracurricular achievements, or leadership roles that show what motivates you. Whether you've been captain of a sports team, earned a music qualification, won a writing competition or accomplished something else that you’re particularly proud of, it’s important to mention this.
If you’ve left full-time education, mention how employment, courses, volunteering, or other activities have prepared you for university.

Tone and style

Write in a way that’s authentic, enthusiastic, and engaging. Show your passion for your subject with specific examples, and avoid clichés like “I have always had a passion for…” Instead, explain why you’re interested by sharing real experiences.

Keep your audience in mind - admissions teams expect a professional piece of writing. Stay clear, concise, and positive, and avoid slang or filler words. Reading your statement aloud is a great way to check if it flows well.

Key tips for writing

Be specific: give real examples of your skills, experiences, and achievements.
Show, don’t tell: instead of saying “I have leadership skills,” describe a time you led a team or project.
Vary your sentences: mix long and short sentences, and start them in different ways to keep your writing engaging.
Stay positive: focus on what you’ve learned and accomplished, rather than negative experiences.

Using the PEEL method

The PEEL method can help structure your paragraphs clearly and persuasively:

Point: start with a clear statement about a skill, experience, or interest.
Evidence: give a real example to support your point, like a project, award, or placement.
Explain: describe what you learned and how it developed relevant skills.
Link: Connect it back to your course or why it makes you a strong candidate.

Bad example (repetitive and generic with a choppy flow)

“I have always been a hardworking student (point). I am also good at communicating (point). I became interested in Business at School (point). We had to create a mock business plan which involved lots of research (evidence). This made we want to study Business because I’m eager to develop skills in leadership and problem solving at university to help me reach my dream career (link)."

Good example (varied, engaging and uses PEEL structure)

"My passion for Business began at school when I was tasked with creating a mock business plan (point) which involved researching market trends, customer needs and financial strategy (evidence). This experience sparked my fascination into how successful companies analyse challenges and adapt to change to stay competitive, while it helped me to discover problem-solving skills and a strategic mindset, which I am eager to refine further (explain). Through this project, I realised that a career in this field is the ideal path for me, and I am excited to gain crucial practical knowledge at university (link)."

Tip: the good answer uses real examples, explains what was learned, and clearly shows skills in action.

Using AI

Using a tool like Chat GPT to generate large chunks of your personal statement might seem tempting, but did you know that this could be considered cheating by universities and colleges, affecting your chances of receiving an offer?

Ask yourself this… does AI know you, the challenges you’ve faced and the effort you’ve put in to get to this point? It might be able to generate polished-sounding text, but it can’t replicate your personality – and this is what will make you stand out to Admissions teams. Don’t sell yourself short with a robotic personal statement that lacks true substance and authenticity!

While you shouldn’t use AI to write your personal statement for you, there are some scenarios where it can be helpful including:

Grammar and spelling checking
Structure suggestions
Generating ideas

Finding inspiration

Showing a deeper understanding and genuine interest in your subject is a great way to stand out. Engaging with wider reading including books, articles, podcasts, videos or anything other educational materials shows universities you're informed and motivated to succeed.

Looking for inspiration? You can explore our Inaugural Lecture series to see academics sharing insights from their latest research across a wide range of subjects. Visit our research page to discover world-leading projects and hear stories of academics who, like you, began by following their curiosity and passion for their subject.

Inside the minds of University of Derby Researchers

Before you submit

You’ve worked hard on your personal statement – now take a moment for a final review. Print it out and ask a teacher or family member to proofread. Their feedback can help you spot typos and make sure your writing is clear and compelling.

After making any changes, read it through once more. If you’re happy, submit with confidence knowing you’ve given it your best.

Frequently asked questions

Before you dive into your personal statement, find answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

When should I start writing it?

It’s never too early to think about your personal statement, and it’s a good idea to start as soon as possible – ideally several months before the UCAS deadline. Most schools and colleges will set an internal deadline, earlier than the official submission date, aimed at giving you plenty of time to gather feedback and make necessary changes.

Can I use quotes?

When used effectively, quotes can help to convey your point – but remember that university Admissions teams want to hear your voice, not someone else’s. Use them sparingly, make sure they’re directly relevant and explain why the message matters to you.

How long should it be?

A maximum of 4,000 characters in total with a minimum of 350 characters per question.

Do I need to talk about my qualifications?

No, universities will already see your qualifications as part of your application, so there’s no need to waste word count by listing them again. Instead focus on how your studies have shaped your skills and passions relating to the course.

What if I’m applying for two completely different courses?

Writing a personal statement that works for two contrasting courses is challenging, but not impossible! Look for common ground between each, and focus on the transferrable skills and experiences that apply to both. This could be qualities like problem solving, research skills, adaptability, creativity, effective communication or anything else that’s relevant.

What happens if I miss the UCAS deadline?

In this scenario, your application will be marked as late, and while this doesn’t mean that you won’t be considered, it could impact your chances of getting a place on competitive courses where places are limited. Getting started well before the UCAS deadline is the best way to produce a personal statement to be proud of and avoid any unnecessary stress, while giving yourself the best chance of securing a place on your preferred course.

If you've missed the UCAS deadline, don't panic, you're not out of options! You can still apply through UCAS Extra or Clearing – which both offer great opportunities to find your perfect path.

How can I make mine stand out?

The best way to stand out is to tell your own story. Avoid getting sucked into the trap of using clichéd quotes or vague statements, and instead share experiences, interests and skills that reflect who you are, why you’re passionate about the subject area and what you’ve learned from your experiences. Give Admission teams a glimpse of your journey to this point and get them interested in where you plan to go next!