What are the rules for a personal statement?

Tell the reader why you’re applying – include your ambitions, as well as what interests you about the subject, the course provider, and higher education. Think about what makes you suitable – this could be relevant experience, skills, or achievements you’ve gained from education, work, or other activities.

Table of Contents

How do you structure a personal statement?

Personal statement structure

Reasons for choosing this subject(s)
Current studies and how these relate to your chosen subject(s)
Experiences and how these relate to your chosen subject(s)
Interests and responsibilities and how these relate to your chosen subject(s)
Your future after university.

What should be covered in a personal statement?

What to Include in a Personal Statement

Information about yourself.
Why you want to study the subject.
Your passion for the subject.
What type of student you are.
Any previous assessments that you’ve done that relate to the course that you’re applying for.
Your achievements.
Your hobbies.

How do you start writing a personal statement?

Start with why you chose it, then try and summarise this in one or two sentences. Be original and refer to personal experiences as a way to draw attention. Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like ‘when I was young…’ They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

What should you not put in a personal statement?

7 Things to Avoid in Your Personal Statement

Whining. Don’t whine in your essay!
Someone else is the hero.
Reads like a resume.
Lack of focus.
Leaves out personal growth.
Overcomplicated language.
Incorrect grammar or spelling.

Do I put my name on my personal statement?

In the absence of any guidelines provided by the graduate school, your heading should include the name of the document you are submitting (e.g., “Personal Statement”), the school and department for whom you are writing it (e.g., “Ohio University College of Education”), and your name.

Does my personal statement have to be 47 lines?

There is no actual word limit – instead, you have a maximum of 47 lines or 4000 characters to work with. This is all the space UCAS give you on their online system, Apply.