- Focus at least 75–80% of your personal statement on academic content: your subject interest, independent reading, and how you think about what you’ve learned.
- Show your thinking, not just your reading list. Choose a small number of books, articles, or experiences and explain how they changed or deepened your understanding.
- Use a clear structure: a specific, authentic opening that shows intellectual curiosity; a middle section developing depth through reading/research/practical work; and a brief conclusion linking your interests to the course.
- Avoid generic phrases (e.g. “I am passionate about…”, “I have always been fascinated by…”) and content that could appear in any statement.
- Only include extra-curricular activities if you can connect them to skills or ways of thinking that are relevant to your subject.
- Edit ruthlessly so every sentence earns its place by revealing something concrete about how you think about your subject.
Personal Statements
UCAS Personal Statement Tips: What Admissions Tutors Actually Want to Read
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