With top institutions, excellent teaching standards and world-recognised qualifications, it's no surprise that the UK is one of the world’s most popular study destinations. Whether you decide to stay in the hustle and bustle of one of the big cities, or prefer the backdrop of rolling hills and mountains, there's lots to do and people from all walks of life to meet.
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As part of your UCAS Application you will be required to submit a personal statement. This is your opportunity to tell the universities and colleges about why you feel you are suitable for the course and what strengths set you apart from the crowd. This personal statement can be different to those required in other countries, so here is some helpful advice for when you are writing it.
Remember, you only write one statement for all the courses you apply to through UCAS so try and write about general qualities you possess that would aid your study of the courses. For example, studying art or literature both involve using critical thinking and creative qualities.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Keep your sentences short and concise - UCAS recommends using sentences that average 12-20 words. By using long, complex structures you might cloud what you are trying to say; often five words are better than fifty. Remember, this short statement reveals a lot about the quality of your thinking and ability to demonstrate your point.
Try and avoid attention grabbing in your statement. Being too bold or using jokes might make you stand out but it could be for the wrong reasons. Read your statement aloud and show it to as many people as possible, including teachers or guidance counsellors.
Write about the reasons you want to study the course. As an international student, try to include why you want to study in the UK. How have you arrived at this decision? What factors or experiences in your life have made you want to study this subject? Why would going to university in the UK help you to further your interest and development in this area, and what can you bring to the course should you be accepted? Have you gained any work experience that could contribute towards your studies? Also include any information about any previous studies and/or extra curricular activities that have been taught in English, as well as any past examinations you may have taken.
Mention any skills or achievements that might benefit you on the course. These don’t have to be too subject specific. Sometimes skills you learn in very varied areas can be applied to learning at degree level. Any hobbies or interests you have outside of academic work will also make you stand out, especially if you can demonstrate what you have learned from them and how this has helped you develop.
This is a vital aspect of your statement. Make sure it reads well by reading it out loud. Have other people read it and get their honest opinions. Always make sure it is checked for grammar, spelling and punctuation. Your statement may detail important achievements but if it is full of mistakes this will come across badly. This statement is supposed to prove you can learn and study at the highest level, so make sure it is as good as it can be.
Please note you cannot use bold or underlined text, or foreign characters such as accents, as the system will remove them. Universities will be aware that for international students some characters will not appear as they should.
The whole statement should be no longer than 4000 characters with spaces included.
Make sure you write your own personal statement. UCAS operates a similarity testing system to check that each statement is the student’s own. The statements are checked against a library of previous statements, as well as various other publications. Any degree of similarity to other work over 10% will be subject to review and the details forwarded to your choice universities. You may want to present the best statement, but these will always be the most natural and personal - don’t be tempted to copy someone else’s statement or download it from the internet.
For more information about personal statements, please visit the UCAS webpage.
Last updated: 15 December 2011
