University undergraduate students studying in the Monica Partridge Building Digital Hub. Friday November 5th 2021.Cole Pearce; Jane Israel (denim jacket) and Francis Adam (black and white hoodie)

How to write a personal statement

Finding the right words to include in your personal statement can be tricky, but we're here to guide you through it.

Applying

Author Rachel Gascoigne

Read time 5 minutes

Writing a strong statement

You know we’re a good match, now all you’ve got to do is tell us why. Your personal statement is an opportunity to explain who you are, why you're interested in your chosen subject, and what makes you stand out.

If you’re tired of staring at a blank page wondering how to begin, don't worry. UCAS has changed the format for 2026 entry to make things more structured. Below, we'll guide you through the new format and share our top tips for writing a clear, confident personal statement.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement forms part of your application to study at university. It’s your chance to show your motivation for studying a course, and the skills and experiences you have that demonstrate you'll succeed.

From 2026 entry onwards, UCAS has replaced the single long essay with three structured questions. This gives you a clearer framework to follow, with a minimum character count of 350 characters required for each section, and a total character limit of 4,000 (including spaces).

The three sections are:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

How do we use the personal statement?

At Nottingham, exam grades remain the main factor in admissions decisions for most courses. However, your personal statement is read carefully to understand your motivation for university study. For some courses, it plays a more significant role in the decision-making process. Find out more about courses that place greater emphasis on the personal statement below.

BSc Physiotherapy (B160):

Your statement will be assessed against set application criteria – see this page for more details.

MPharm Pharmacy courses (B230 and B236):

Your personal statement should have a clear pharmacy focus, including knowledge and understanding of professional pharmacy practice. We welcome applications from those applying for other healthcare profession courses, such as medicine, but you might be asked to submit another statement if interest in and motivation to study pharmacy is not clearly defined.

BSc Sports Rehabilitation (C630) and the Sports Rehabilitation pathway of the Health Sciences Foundation Year (A30A):

Your statement will be assessed against set application criteria – see this page for more details.

What to write about in your personal statement

The simple answer? You!

You need to explain why you're a strong candidate for your chosen course and what makes you unique.

For question 1, be genuine about your interest in the subject. Link it to topics you've studied, wider reading, or relevant experiences that sparked your enthusiasm.
For question 2, show how your studies have prepared you. Which subjects, projects, or skills connect to your chosen course? This is about more than grades. It's the story behind how your learning has shaped your abilities.
For question 3, highlight activities outside the classroom. Work experience, volunteering, part-time jobs, extracurriculars or responsibilities at home all count, as long as you reflect on what you learned and why it matters for your course.

Top Tip: jot down examples over time in a notebook or on your phone. When it comes to writing, you'll already have a bank of ideas ready.

How to write your personal statement

Write simply and naturally – complex language rarely reads well
Show enthusiasm. Admissions tutors want to see genuine passion
Structure your responses around the skills and qualities universities value most. Use course descriptions for inspiration
Read it aloud to check flow and spot errors
Keep it original. UCAS uses plagiarism detection
Write freely at first, then edit it down to the 4,000-character limit
Redraft. Coming back with fresh eyes helps refine your answers
Ask for feedback from teachers, advisors, or family
Spell-check, then double-check punctuation and grammar yourself.

Finally, we recommend writing your personal statement in a separate document first. Once you are happy, copy and paste it into your online UCAS application. Remember to save as you go.

Need more application tips?

Life is full of opportunities, and studying at the University of Nottingham could be your biggest yet! If you’re looking for more application guidance, head over to our 'Applying' hub.

Hear from Charlotte, who discusses the changes to the personal statement format and offers tips on what to include.

Signup to FYN hub

Sign up to Find Your Nottingham and we'll help you find relevant study options, tailored information and advice before applying to become a student at the University of Nottingham.