Showcase Magazine Winter 2026 - Flipbook - Page 33
HE & FURTHER
EDUCATION
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Advice and Importance
If you are thinking about applying to university, you may have heard of a personal statement. A
personal statement isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being authentic, clear, and intentional.
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STATEMENT?
A UCAS personal statement is a short, reflective piece of writing for a university application that explains
your motivation, suitability, and passion for a chosen course. Your personal statement is your opportunity to
talk about your skills, talents and experiences, outside of your grades. This helps the admissions team to
understand what drives you, what obstacles you have come, and why you would be a good fit. It also
shows evidence that you are passionate and knowledgake about the subject area.
For students applying to university for 2026 entry, the personal statement format will be changing from
one longer piece of text to three separate sections. Each answer will have a minimum character count of
350 characters, however the 4,000 overall character limit remains the same. The questions include:
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
DO’S
DON’TS
Do reflect on your experiences
Don’t be modest
Do show your motivation
Don’t exaggerate or lie
Do highlight your strengths
Don’t leave it to the last minute
Do be genuine and authentic
Don’t copy and paste
Do proofread and get feedback
Don’t focus on only achievements
Do make it relevant
Don’t include irrelevant details
For more information about how to write a personal statement, visit UCAS’s website here:
ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/writing-your-personal-statement#applying-for-2026-entry
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Showcase Training 33
