Personal Statement Hub

The way you’ll complete your UCAS personal statement will be made up of three structured questions. These will give you a clear framework to follow and help you reflect on your experience, ambitions and readiness for university.

This guide is here to help you understand the format and how to approach each question. You’ll find support for planning, writing and reviewing your responses — plus advice on what admissions staff are looking for and how to avoid common mistakes.

Why do I have to write a personal statement?

Your personal statement is the only part of your application where you speak directly to the people reviewing it. That makes it a powerful opportunity to stand out — especially if your grades and qualifications are similar to other applicants. It might be the reason you’re offered a place — or not.

It’s also a chance to show your writing skills — how clearly and thoughtfully you express yourself matters just as much as what you say.

Even though you’re answering structured questions, your unique voice matters. This is your chance to show the person behind the application.

UCAS personal statements at a glance

4,000 characters or 47 lines

Your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines long. That's approximately one side of A4 paper.

Your writing needs to be concise and clear.

Covering multiple courses

You can apply for up to five courses, but you can only submit one personal statement.

So your statement needs to cover all of your course choices

Highlighting your interest

You should be clear about your interests and say how they relate to your chosen courses and career(s).

That means talking about what appeals to you and why you're suitable for your course choices.

Who is going to read my statement?

Your statement could be read by a range of university staff, depending on when and how you apply, and how each university handles admissions.

At Portsmouth, that could include:

Admissions staff, who make initial decisions
Course leaders, who want to know you’re a good fit
Subject lecturers, who may teach or interview you
Clearing support teams, if you apply later in the year

Each of them is looking for a genuine, thoughtful response that shows why you want to study here — and how you’ll make the most of the opportunity.

Get started with the right support

Planning your personal statement

Planning what you’re going to include is the first step in writing an excellent personal statement. Here we'll look at the basics of planning, before you dive into writing. Learn about structure, get an overview of a UCAS personal statement and find out how universities will use your personal statement.

Three students studying on Laptop in Eldon centre outdoor space

Get planning

How to stand out on your personal statement

You may have plenty of relevant experience to write about on your personal statement. Or perhaps you're looking for more inspiration? This page will help you identify the skills you can include in your writing – and extra activities you can do in your spare time to develop your experience.

4 students in Southsea walking on the common

Set yourself apart

Writing your personal statement

So, you're ready to start writing your personal statement. Whether you're working on your first draft or making improvements to your latest version, you're in the right place.