For those considering university in the UK, you’ll soon discover that your personal statement is a crucial part of the application process.

A personal statement is your chance to show off your unique qualities and experiences, as well as expressing yourself and your passions outside of school. In just 4,000 characters you have the opportunity to show your top universities that you are the best applicant for their course and provide reasons why they should make you an offer. 

What makes a good personal statement? 

First things first, you need to explain why you want a place on a course. When applying to university you can apply to five different courses but you only have one personal statement that you can tailor to reflect this. Therefore, you should think of including the following: 

1. Reasons for your course choice and how this fits in with your future aspirations 

2. Give examples of any related work experience or related academic work 

3. Show you’ve done your research and showcase that you know what the course will involve and mention any related subjects you’ve studied or are interested in

4. Demonstrate who you are and provide examples of any positions you’ve held, societies, interests and hobbies or memberships 

5. Be clear and concise and show how your experiences have prepared you with the skills that are needed for university

What are the admissions officers looking for in your personal statement?

To decide if you’re the right fit for the university, admissions officers are eager to learn how you express your academic potential and other experiences, in addition to teacher references. 

Those reading your personal statement are looking for: 

• Commitment and motivation 

• Communication, leadership and teamwork 

• Knowledge of your chosen subject 

• Relevant key skills and experience

How do I structure my personal statement? 

If you want to produce a well-written personal statement, it needs to be cleverly planned with a refined structure. There’s no one correct formula to structure your personal statement, but we would recommend the following: 

• A clear introduction with an explanation of why you want to study your chosen course 

• 75% of your personal statement should focus on academic achievements

• The other 25% should showcase any extracurricular activities

• End with a coherent conclusion

• Make sure your spelling and grammar are flawless throughout and you don’t keep using the same words, like ‘I enjoy’ and ‘I’m interested in’

How to end your personal statement 

The end of your personal statement is your last opportunity to make the admission officer remember you and answer why you should be offered a place on the course, so take some time to think about that punchy final sentence. 

Above all, be yourself and use your voice to show who you are and let them know about your experiences. Last of all, good luck! 

Melio University Preparation 

Looking for some help with applying to university in the UK? We want to help! At Melio, we provide university guidance to students who are considering taking the next step in their academic career in the UK. Book a call with our admissions team to see how we can help you on your journey.