ucas gap year personal statement

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What does a gap year mean for my ucas application.

Gap years can mean finding work, internships, travelling and other adventures around the world. However, if you’re taking time out it can be unclear how and when you should go about applying to uni, or what to do if you have already been accepted on a course.

There’s no need to worry though, it doesn't need to be complicated. We’ve pulled together this simple guide to what you should do if you’re taking a year out.

Should I take a gap year?

First things first, should you take a gap year in the first place? There are lots of reasons to take a year out, the most common being to travel or to gain work experience. But there are others. You might have family commitments, or you might have a few options and need more time to decide on your degree choice – something which full-time work might help you to do. There’s no right and wrong answer to this question, but it’s important to have a plan for what you’re going to achieve during your year out so make sure you set some clear goals.

If you do, you can defer your place

UCAS  can allow students to defer (to defer just means to postpone) their place on a course for one year. However, they advise that you must have met the entry requirements deadline in the August before the course is due to start. For example, if you now want to start your course in September 2018, you need to have got your grades by 31 August 2017. Also make sure to check with your chosen university that they are happy for you to defer the place, as they could remove you from the course if you don’t.

Or you can reapply through UCAS next year

While you won’t have your school or college to help, UCAS allows you to pay a small amount to submit your own application . Lots of people do this all the time, from mature students to non-UK students, so you won’t be unusual. Following the same steps you did (or would have done) at school or college, you can apply by submitting your grades and personal statement even years after you complete your A levels (or equivalent entry qualifications). UCAS has a  helpful guide to take you through step by step.

…and don’t forget to add your experiences to your application

After you have taken a year or more away from education, make sure you add the experiences you have had to your application. Universities like to hear about what you have been doing and how this has helped you develop. Include information about volunteering you’ve done, places you’ve worked and where you’ve travelled to and why. It can help you to get that all important offer.

Tell Student Finance what you’re doing

If you have been accepted by a university but now want to take a year out, make sure to let Student Finance  know. If you’re hanging off for a year, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will be able to prevent your fees being sent until you are ready to go to university. They will also allow you to resubmit the information that they need to get your loans in place for your return. Or you can apply for your funding during your year out in preparation for your return to uni (just don’t leave it too late – the funding application window normally opens around about May for entry in September).

Keep in touch with potential referees

During your time at school or college, your teachers were probably the people to write your references. While they may still be, even if you’re applying again a year later, you need to make sure the people you are using as references are kept up to date with deadlines so they don’t miss them. Don’t forget to ask someone before putting them down as a reference on your UCAS application.  

If you’ve left it a bit late, Clearing can save the day

We know how it can be. You’ve been having travelling the world or taken on some responsibility in the workplace. Life’s got in the way and September is fast approaching, and you'd told yourself you’d be starting university. If you’ve got back into the application mind set a bit late and found you’ve missed the UCAS application deadlines, you can use Clearing to proactively search for a course to suit you. If you already have your grades you may be able to apply earlier, but Clearing really gets going in August after A level results day and some universities can still make you an offer of a place into October.

Written by Joey Tamburello. Joey is a first class graduate of the London Met Journalism degree . She runs her own entertainment blog, Let’s Start With This One .

Every year, London Metropolitan University helps hundreds of students find places on full-time undergraduate degrees. You can start a course at London Met in September, but many are also available to start in January. Take a look at  our full list of undergraduate courses  or  contact  our course enquiries team for more information.

"I was looking for a place, as someone who wasn’t born here, where I could learn more, where I could grow. I heard about London Met and I thought, well this is a huge community of people from all over the world and they seem to be so happy. The rest is history! London Met was so supportive. Honestly, I do not remember a time where I had to reach out to one of the lecturers and they were not available."

London Met graduate Nayara

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What to include in a Personal Statement

Personal Statement Tips

Need some help with your personal statement? Then this is the guide for you!

Writing a personal statement is never easy and it can take a long time to perfect, but if you take a look at our UCAS personal statement tips, then you'll see exactly what you should (and what you shouldn't) include in your personal statement.

Write for the degree course you want to study

There is no simple formula to write a personal statement for two unrelated degree courses. However, if the courses are similar, such as a Banking degree course, and an Accounting degree course , you can adjust your writing to suit both of these subjects.

The trick is to not mention the subject(s) by name if you are applying for different ones. The same can be said for universities, don’t talk about the institution if you are applying to separate universities.

Choose your biggest passion

Although if the courses are totally unrelated – you find that you have two passions, media and music and are waiting for A-Level results day to make a decision – it can be impossible to write about both subjects well.

If this is the case, then you will need to look at your predicted grades, your degree courses and career aspirations if you have them. Once you have chosen a degree course that you prefer over the other, then write about that one in your personal statement.

The most important thing to remember is to ensure your statement suits its purpose; to impress the university, to answer questions, and to represent yourself.

Check your notes

Hopefully, you will have a structured plan before you start writing and this could be in the form of bullet points or an entire page of notes. Regardless of your planning style, the crucial factor is that you have thought about your personal statement before sitting down to write it!

Within your notes, you can decide what language you want to use, the style, and goals of your statement. Once you begin writing don’t forget to check back to your notes! Some students produce a weak statement because they don’t remember to re-read their initial goals. Referring to your plan will also help you if you find that you go off-topic, or lose inspiration during writing.

Think about the structure of the personal statement

Our next tips for writing a personal statement, is about how your personal statement looks and reads and how important it is to universities. It shows admission tutors that you understand how to write effectively and to follow instructions. Remember to address the aims of a personal statement – why you should be accepted on to the degree course, at that university, and why you are a good fit for the subject.

The language that you use will also be judged. Avoid text or messenger style of writing and the use of slang, because let’s be fair, that’s not what universities are looking for in a personal statement.

Never write your statement on the UCAS personal statement page

Next up is one of the most important university personal statement tips. Students should write their personal statement within a word document where they can check spelling and grammar as well as being able to use a programme they understand. However, after each paragraph, you should then copy your statement back into the UCAS page to see how many lines or characters you have used.

Remember you are only allowed to have 47 lines or 4000 characters worth of space. This is different to a word count and can be easily misunderstood. One scenario that can make you panic is that you write this amazing statement and check the line count before submission to find out you are extremely over the limit!

The ending of your personal statement is another key element to keep in mind. There is no right or wrong way to end your personal statement, however, we recommend two key elements: Make it personal and reinforce the key messages you've made earlier in the statement. These are the fundamental tenents to a good personal statement conclusion and will ensure that you sign off the statement in a meaningful way.

Be positive

There is no need to feel that you have to explain any shortfalls or negative aspects of your application – especially if the university won’t pick up on this!

Try to be positive and interesting to the admission tutor, tell them about any side projects you’ve done if this will seem more relevant and worthwhile than how you completed your coursework.

Look at the university prospectus

Most of our tips for writing UCAS personal statement might seem pretty obvious, but this one is often overlooked by students.

Before writing your personal statement actually read the university website and prospectus. In most cases, institutions will describe the type of students they are looking for, whether that be innovative, creative or those with academic excellence. You need to look at these prospectus as thoroughly as possible because these will yield more information than you think.

Talk about you

It seems like one of the more obvious personal statement writing tips, but it’s the most important one. The purpose of the personal statement is for universities to find out about you because the basic information within the application won’t tell them this.

Try to include the following: what you like to do in your free time, subjects you study that maybe won’t be graded, sport and leisure activities, hobbies, musical instruments, prizes you’ve won, competitions you’ve entered, languages you speak or side projects you were involved in.

You do not need to include everything, but the relevant information will help them form a decent impression about you and your personality. The vital thing is that you have a good reason for why you want to study that subject.

If you take a gap year then talk about your gap year

This too may seem like one of our more blatant tips on writing personal statements, but you’d be surprised just how many students are reticent to mention their gap year(s).

Admission tutors can see when a student has had a gap year in between college and university. They will be interested to know why you chose to have a year out and briefly explaining why will help your application. Discuss what you did during that time, why you chose to take a gap year and how it may be related to the course.

If you are considering taking a gap year or applying for a deferred place at university or if you have retaken your exams during a gap year or if you’ve been travelling during your gap year, then you can talk about this too. Write about your plans during this time and why it would benefit you in the long run.

Although there are no strict rules about discussing your gap year in your statement so if you decide not to that is okay too. You may still be asked about it during an interview with the university.

Why you want to study that degree course

This really is what the personal statement is about. Yes, you need to talk about yourself, but one of the best tips on how to write a personal statement we can give you, is talking about your deeply-held passion and love for the degree course.

The vital thing is that you have a good reason for why you want to study that subject. It doesn’t matter if it sounds silly or different to your friends’ personal statement; you can work on it later or go into more detail during the admission interview. The best part is that you’re honest. However, if your reasoning is purely due to not doing anything else at that moment then it’s best not to include that!

Take a look at some Personal Statement examples for ideas on how to effectively mention your potential degree course. Admission tutors search for enthusiastic and passionate students because they will be the best fit for the degree course.

Talk about the subject

Write down as much as you can about the subject you want to take. There may be certain aspects or modules that really interest you, or that you understand it is the right step for your career aspirations.

All of these reasons are music to the university’s ears because it not only shows that you have done your research but that you understand why you should study the subject.

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UCAS Applications 2024: Mastering Your UCAS Personal Statement

Embarking on the UCAS journey is a pivotal step towards higher education, and at its core lies the UCAS Personal Statement. As the linchpin of your application, your UCAS personal statement offers the opportunity to put your best foot forward and present yourself as an exceptional candidate. In this guide, we provide tips on how to write a UCAS personal statement that grabs the attention of university admissions tutors.

In this article we cover:

Completing your ucas application form, writing your ucas personal statement, structuring your ucas application for success: strategies and tips, course choices, finishing strong: before you hit submit, ucas deadlines: early advantage, what happens after submission.

The UCAS application form is your canvas; each stroke must reflect your academic prowess and personal attributes. Here’s how to navigate this critical document:

• Keep Contact Details Updated : Regularly update your phone, home, and email addresses. Ensure your inbox can handle bulk emails and that your school/college email address is functional.
• Precision in Exam Results : List subjects accurately with full titles. Provide complete details for BTEC awards, avoiding errors that could cause delays in result matching.
• Honesty is Key : UCAS employs sophisticated fraud-detection methods. Be truthful; any misinformation can lead to rejection and jeopardise your university prospects.

Your UCAS personal statement is your chance to communicate your narrative, and offer admissions tutors insight into your academic journey, motivations, and aspirations. It is your opportunity to get across who you are and why you’re passionate about your chosen field.

To ensure your personal statement stands out, follow these key principles:

• Preparation is Paramount : Allocate ample time for brainstorming, drafting, and refining your personal statement. Use UCAS Apply to paste in your pre-prepared statement.
• Be Authentic : Share experiences that have shaped your academic pursuits, revealing the real person behind the application.
• Be Clear and Concise : Stick to the word count (around 450 words). Admissions tutors have many statements to review, so make every word count. Aim for a balance between depth and brevity.
• Be Relevant : Tailor your content to the course you’re applying for. Highlight experiences, skills, and qualities that directly align with the requirements and expectations of the course you’re applying for.
• Showcase Your Unique Perspective: Share aspects of your life that contribute to your identity. This could include cultural experiences, personal challenges, or unique perspectives that have shaped your worldview.
• Communicate Positive Attributes and Motivations : Use your statement to showcase not only your academic achievements but also your positive attributes and motivations. What drives you to excel in your chosen field?
• Reflect on Work and Volunteer Experiences : If applicable, discuss how your work or volunteer experiences have influenced your academic and personal growth. Connect these experiences to the skills and insights you’ll bring to the university.
• List Your Extracurricular Achievements : Highlight relevant extracurricular achievements that demonstrate your commitment, leadership, and ability to balance diverse responsibilities.
• Articulate Your Career Aspirations : Admissions tutors appreciate candidates with a clear vision of how the course fits into their broader professional goals.
• Explain Your Gap Year Plans : If you’re planning a gap year, explain how this experience aligns with your personal development and future academic goals.

Things to Avoid:

• Plagiarism : Plagiarism is a serious offense and can have severe consequences on your application. UCAS uses advanced software to identify instances of plagiarism. It’s crucial to present an authentic and original personal statement that reflects your own thoughts, experiences, and aspirations. Drawing inspiration from sample statements is acceptable, but ensure that the final composition is uniquely yours.
• Overly Wacky Content : While injecting personality into your personal statement is encouraged, it’s essential to strike a balance. Tutors assess numerous statements, each representing a diverse range of individuals. What might be perceived as humorous to one person could be misinterpreted by another. Avoid excessive eccentricity; instead, focus on showcasing your character in a way that aligns with the professionalism expected in an academic setting.
• Sending Additional Papers to UCAS : UCAS has a structured application process, and additional documents, such as certificates, reference letters, or portfolios, should be sent directly to the universities you’re applying to, not through the UCAS system.

Each university may have its own requirements for supplementary materials. Refer to their respective admissions guidelines to ensure that you fulfill all necessary documentation, helping you present a comprehensive and organised application directly to the institutions of your choice.

• Make sure your application is well organised

Use paragraphs or sub-headings for clarity. An organised presentation not only enhances the readability of your personal statement but also demonstrates your ability to structure and communicate ideas effectively. Use paragraphs to separate distinct thoughts and sub-headings to delineate different sections. This approach ensures that your statement is coherent, making it easier for admissions tutors to follow your narrative.

• If your application is unconventional, explain why

If your academic journey or choices deviate from the norm, take the opportunity to provide context. Explain any unusual aspects in your application, such as gaps in education or unconventional experiences. This allows admissions tutors to understand the reasons behind your choices and presents you as a transparent and thoughtful candidate.

• Clearly state reasons for deferred entry or reapplication

If you’re opting for deferred entry or reapplying, transparency is key. Clearly articulate the reasons behind your decision. Whether you’re taking a gap year for personal development or refining your application for a more competitive edge, honesty about your intentions strengthens your application.

• Tailor statements for mature students or vocational courses

Mature students and those applying for vocational courses bring unique perspectives to the academic landscape. Tailor your personal statement to highlight not just academic achievements but also life experiences, skills gained, and how they align with your chosen field. Demonstrating a mature approach or a clear vocational commitment enhances your candidacy.

• Be detailed; avoid generic statements

When discussing your interests and motivations, specificity is paramount. Avoid generic statements and delve into the details of what truly fascinates you about your chosen subject. Whether it’s a particular aspect of the course content, a related personal experience, or a specific academic achievement, providing detailed insights showcases a genuine passion and a deep understanding of your field.

Selecting courses is an art. Follow these guidelines:

• Research Thoroughly: Dive deep into the specifics of each course. Understand the modules offered, the teaching approach, and the long-term implications of each choice on your academic and professional journey.
• Make Realistic Choices: Ensure your chosen courses align with your academic strengths and achievements. Select courses that challenge you but remain within the realm of achievable grades.
• Unified Personal Statement: Despite applying to multiple courses, ensure your personal statement maintains a unified theme. Showcase how your diverse choices contribute to a cohesive academic and personal narrative.

The finishing touches on your application are crucial:

• Grammar and Punctuation: Thoroughly proofread your application. Impeccable grammar and punctuation are vital, as errors can undermine the credibility of your entire application.
• Get Second Opinions: Seek feedback from teachers, peers, or mentors. A fresh perspective can uncover overlooked mistakes and provide valuable insights for improvement.
• Avoid Procrastination: Procrastination can lead to rushed submissions. Adhere to school deadlines and allocate ample time for reviewing and refining your application before hitting submit.
• Late Applications Risks: Submitting applications after the deadlines may pose risks. Universities may reject late applications, especially if they’ve already received sufficient submissions or if the course is highly competitive.
• Allowances for Late Applicants: Some universities may make allowances for mature applicants engaged in one-year Access Diplomas. However, it’s advisable to apply before the deadlines to ensure your application receives due consideration.

The period after submitting your UCAS application is a crucial phase in your journey to university. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what to expect:

• Confirmation Message from UCAS: Upon submitting your application, UCAS will send a confirmation message. This message will include details of the courses and universities you’ve chosen, along with your application number and password for UCAS Hub. Ensure you carefully review this confirmation to catch any potential errors, and safeguard your application number and password for future use.
• Focus on Your Exams : While awaiting responses from universities, shift your focus back to your academic responsibilities. Concentrate on preparing for exams and assessments, as strong results will play a crucial role in your final university offers. Use this time to excel in your studies and showcase your academic prowess.
• Weighing Your Options : As decisions from universities start arriving, carefully consider each offer. Understand the terms of the offer, whether unconditional or conditional. Take into account factors such as course content, university reputation, and location. Make informed decisions based on your preferences and long-term goals.
• Preparing for University Visits : If you receive offers, you might be invited to visit the universities. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain firsthand experience of campus life, explore facilities, and engage with potential future peers. Prepare a list of questions regarding your course, accommodations, and any other concerns. Treat these visits as a chance to make well-informed decisions about your academic journey.
• Exploring Alternatives : In case you find yourself facing rejections or want to explore additional options, consider alternatives such as gap years, apprenticeships, or alternative courses. Engage with career counselors, explore vocational opportunities, or research other pathways that align with your interests and goals.
• Financial Planning : Begin considering the financial aspects of your university journey. Explore scholarship opportunities, investigate student loans, and plan a budget for your academic year. Understanding the financial landscape will help you make informed decisions and alleviate potential stress down the road.
• Stay Proactive : Stay proactive and engaged throughout the waiting period. Regularly check your UCAS account and email for updates. Respond promptly to any correspondence from universities and UCAS. Being proactive demonstrates your commitment and enthusiasm to the institutions you’ve applied to.
• Mind Your Mental Health : The post-submission phase can be emotionally charged. Manage stress and anxiety by practicing self-care. Reach out to support networks, whether they be friends, family, or counselors. A healthy mindset is crucial as you navigate the next steps in your academic journey.

In essence, this period demands a blend of patience and preparedness. By focusing on your academics, critically assessing offers, and preparing for potential university visits, you set the stage for a successful transition to higher education.

The  National Careers Service  offers free advice about careers and skills to anyone aged 13 or over and living in England. To speak to a professional careers adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use  webchat  (8am – 8pm Monday – Friday; 10am – 5pm Saturday)

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Personal statement

The quality of an applicant's personal statement is very important at LSE. The School does not interview for places so this is an applicant’s only opportunity to demonstrate they are a good fit for the course. Applicants should consult the advice here, as well as advice from UCAS when preparing to complete this section of their application. 

Please note that writing a personal statement following the guidelines below does not guarantee an offer of admission. Personal statements are looked at on a comparative basis and there is a great deal of competition for places at LSE. 

LSE does not accept additional or supplementary personal statements. We can only consider the personal statement submitted via UCAS.

Writing your personal statement

We expect that your submitted Personal Statement is structured and coherent and that you fully utilise the space available on your UCAS application form. We expect that you have checked spelling, punctuation, and grammar and that your Personal Statement flows in a logical order. We expect that your Personal Statement is entirely your own original work. We reserve the right to reject your application where it has been found that a statement has significant similarities to a previous submission or has been created with the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Before you start writing, do your research

Before you start writing your personal statement, you should visit our course guides . These guides give information on the course content of each of our undergraduate programmes. 

When assessing your personal statement our Admissions Selectors will look at how well your academic interests align with the LSE course. So, for example, the Anthropology Admissions Selector is likely to prefer a statement which focuses mainly on social anthropology - which is taught at LSE - over one which suggests the applicant is very interested in biological anthropology, or a combined degree with archaeology, as these courses are not offered at the School. 

Similarly, a personal statement which shows an interest mostly in modern international history (the focus of LSE’s International History course) is likely to be more competitive than one which shows a significant interest in ancient history, as LSE does not offer any ancient history units.   

If you are applying for a range of slightly different courses, we recommend that you focus your personal statement on the areas of overlap between them, so that your statement appeals to all of your UCAS choices. It is important to note that LSE does not accept replacement or supplementary personal statements. 

What to include in your personal statement

Your personal statement should discuss for the most part your academic interest in the subject you wish to study. One way to think about the personal statement is to reflect on what we expect from LSE undergraduates: we ask them to learn about topics relevant to their course, through reading or other experiences, and then discuss the ideas they have encountered in academic essays. This is the skill we look for in the personal statement and we recommend at least 80% of your statement should be dedicated to this type of academic discussion. 

How you show your wider engagement with your subject is entirely up to you. Our Selectors look for students who can best reflect on the experiences and academic ideas they have encountered through the opportunities available to them, not those who have had the best opportunities. If you are not sure where to start, you could try listening to podcasts of LSE public events or look in the prospectus for examples of suggested reading. Remember we are interested not just in a list of what you have read/encountered, but evidence you have reflected on the academic ideas. 

To help you begin, there are several questions you could think about:

• Why have you chosen the course? What attracted you to the subject? Which aspects of the subject have interested you sufficiently to want to study it at degree level? Is there a specific area of the subject you wish to focus on? What are the big issues in the subject, and what do you find most interesting about them? What are your thoughts on these topics?
• Have you developed your subject interest outside of your school studies? For example, have you undertaken any additional reading to broaden your knowledge of the subject? Have you attended lectures or explored online material relating to the subject? What did you find interesting in your reading/in the lectures you attended and what are your thoughts on the topics covered?
• Have you gained any skills from your other school subjects that complement your application to study your chosen subject? Have you had the opportunity to undertake work experience relevant to your application? If you did, how did this experience give you a wider understanding of the topics you will study at university?
• Have you attended any schemes or activities at LSE or other universities, such as Summer Schools, Saturday Schools, LSE Choice, etc? What you have learned from these? Have they furthered your knowledge of or interest in your chosen subject?

If you are applying for deferred entry, as well as thinking about the questions listed above, you may also wish to indicate (briefly) why you are taking a gap year and what you plan to do during the year. 

If you are applying as a post-qualified student (ie, you have already received your final results), you may wish to mention briefly what you have been doing since your exams. 

Please note : You are not expected to simply answer all of the questions above; these questions are merely intended to give you some guidance as to what to think about when writing your statement. 

Extra-curricular activities

At LSE you are admitted to study a particular degree course so the majority of your personal statement − at least 80% − should focus on your academic interest in that subject. Many students like to include some details of their extra-curricular activities such as involvement in sports, the arts, volunteering or student government. As our Selectors are most interested in your academic interests, we recommend that no more than 20% of your statement is spent discussing extra-curricular activities. 

Applying to combined degree programmes

LSE offers a number of combined degree programmes. If you are applying to one of these programmes, you are advised to give equal weighting to each subject in your statement. For instance, if you are applying to our Politics and Economics degree, you must show evidence of interest in both subjects; a statement weighted towards only one aspect of the degree will be significantly less competitive.

Example of a poor personal statement

"I have always dreamed of coming to LSE since I was young. It has been a dream of mine to study at this institution, which is well renowned for its social science courses.  

I am currently studying History, English and Business and Management at Higher level and Italian, Maths and Chemistry at Standard level in the International Baccalaureate, and feel that these subjects are providing me with a solid background for university study.  

I want to study History because I want to be a world class Historian, and feel that this degree will help me. I am especially interested in Ancient History, particularly the history concerning the Roman Empire. I am fascinated by the way in which the empire was run, and the events that led to its downfall.  

"I was the captain of the school football team, and this has taught me the importance of working together as a team, and allowed me to prioritise my time between my studies and football practice. I feel that this has provided me with the experience to successfully balance my academic and social life, and I plan to continue this balance whilst at university.  

It is my dream to become an alumnus of the School, and I am sure that as I am the top student of my class, you will offer me a place."  

This brief example of a personal statement is poor. The applicant has mentioned an interest in history but they have not discussed this in depth or shown any evidence of wider engagement with the subject. Where the applicant does talk about history, the discussion is superficial and focussed on ancient history, which LSE does not offer as part of our history course. 

The applicant has specifically mentioned LSE, which is likely to be unattractive to their other choices, and has wasted space listing their International Baccalaureate subjects, which would be shown in the qualifications section. The applicant has described how a history degree will help them get the job they later want, rather than what they are looking forward to studying during the degree. 

The applicant has reflected on the transferable skills they have developed leading the football team. This is good, but it would be nice to see the same level of reflection applied to academic topics - this student has spent more time talking about football than about history. 

UCAS reference Your teacher's reference: what we're looking for

Watch this presentation LSE Admissions Specialist Paul talks about personal statements

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Your Gap Year

When it comes to taking a gap year you have two options – to take it before you begin university, or to take it during your time at university. Luckily, whichever option you choose will look good on paper.

Universities like to see that their students have life experience outside of their academic career and a gap year is the perfect chance to pick up new skills, take part in different activities, and see a little bit more of life. 

Gap years prove to universities that you’re ready for a new adventure and like to take on a challenge. These are positive personal attributes for potential university students and can make you stand out from the crowd.

However, there are some definite dos and don’ts when talking about your gap year in your personal statement. The admissions tutors will want to hear either about what you did during your gap year, or what you intend to do if you haven’t already taken it.

You don’t have to focus your personal statement on your gap year but a few sentences or a short paragraph near the end of your application outlining your plans will show the reader that you’ve thought about what you’ll be doing.

It doesn’t matter if you’re going to be spending the time working to gain relevant experience in your subject or whether you’re travelling, as long as you show the admissions tutor that you have a plan and know what you will gain from taking the time out of education.

What you do on your gap year is completely up to you but most universities would warn you off wasting your time. Lying on a beach for an entire year might sound like a great reward for all your hard work at school, but you won’t gain anything from it.

It’s important to have a break but taking the time to volunteer for a community project, learn a new skill or language, and gaining valuable vocational experience will get you ahead of the game when the time comes to apply for/or return to university. 

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• Mature Student Personal Statements
• Personal Statements By University
• Personal Statement Editing Service
• 10 Personal Statement Don'ts
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement Example
• Frequently Asked Questions
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• Personal Statement Questions 2025
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Personal Statement FAQs

Our personal statement FAQs will help ease the pain of writing a personal statement for your UCAS form . More advice can also be found on our blog .

What can I find in this article?

1. When should I start writing my personal statement?

It's never too early to start thinking about it! Unfortunately, UCAS deadlines have a tendency to creep up on most students, especially if you are applying to Oxbridge where the deadline is much earlier than other universities ( 15th October ).

However, you probably want a good idea of what course you're going to apply for before you launch in to actually writing the thing .

Check out Choosing A Degree if you're still deciding what subject to take.

On the other hand, don't leave it too late - you'll probably need a few weeks to write it and a week or so to get a reference written.

As a general guide we would say start writing it when you come back to school or college after the summer, though it might be worth jotting down a few ideas during the holidays.

We know some people are extremely organised and get at least their first draft done by the end of the summer!

2. How long can the personal statement be?

There is no actual word limit - instead, you have a maximum of 47 lines or 4000 characters to work with.

This is all the space UCAS give you on their online system, Apply . You can check that your statement will fit in the area provided by using our handy Personal Statement Length Checker .

3. How do I start writing my personal statement?

Most people won't be able to just start writing their personal statement off the top of their head - so it's a good idea to jot down a few notes first.

The main things to think about are:

• why do you want to study your chosen course?
• how do your skills, experiences and interests prove you are passionate about and committed to taking this course?

These are the two main things to start with, and if this still doesn't help you can look at a few more detailed starting points .

Many people have trouble writing about themselves and their personal qualities.

So if you're having trouble pop down to a library or bookstore and get a book on writing CVs that will go into this process in much more depth.

4. What are admissions tutors looking for?

Usually the sort of things you've written about for the part above!

Obviously the things admissions tutors are looking for will differ but in general: "Do we want this student on this course?" And "Do we want this student at this university?".

The idea of your personal statement is to show this - so once you've written it, have a read through and see if it answers these questions.

Individual universities and departments often publish information on applying and writing personal statements, so surfing the admissions scetion of their website should turn up more specific information on exactly what they're looking for.

Our blog post, 8 Things Not To Put In Your Personal Statement , will help you avoid making any obvious errors. Then check out What You Should Include In Your Personal Statement to make sure you don't miss anything important.

Read through our Personal Statement Writing Tips and How To Write A Personal Statement Guide for more comprehensive information and advice.

5. What's the most important part of the personal statement?

From our days of GCSE English, we would say either the beginning or the end.

A good first sentence will get the reader interested and ensure they actually read your statement rather than skim it.

A good ending will ensure the reader remembers your personal statement, though it also helps to have a good middle section as well.

The first line is probably the most important thing to work on. Most people put their reasons for studying the subject at the top, and this is generally regarded to be the most crucial part of the statement, as you need to hook the reader and make them want to read more.

However, the rest of your statement should make you shine as a candidate too, so there isn't really a definite answer to this question!

Just try to make your personal statement as interesting and polished as you can.

6. How do I write a statement for two different courses?

There's no easy way to write a personal statement for two totally unrelated courses.

If the courses are similar (i.e. Business Studies and Economics ) you may find you can write a personal statement that is relevant to both subjects without mentioning either subject by name.

If the courses are totally unrelated it may be impossible to write for both subjects without your personal statement sounding vague and unfocused.

Instead, you will need to concentrate on just one subject and just ignore the other, although you may want to question whether it's a good idea to apply for such different course, and re-think your subject choice .

7. Should I talk about what I want to do after university?

You could, but only if you have a good idea of what you want to do.

If you sound sure about what you want to do after university , it gives the impression that you've thought carefully about your course and what you want to do with it.

It is also a nice way to round off your personal statement , rather than just finishing on less important stuff like extra curricular activities.

If you don't have any future plans then leave it out - you don't want to be asked about them at interviews .

8. How should I structure my personal statement?

Most people write their personal statement in an essay style, usually starting off with the course and why they want to do it, then talking about their relevant work experience and skills, and finishing off with extra curricular activities.

However, you can use any style that you feel works best for you.

As a guide, spend around 50% of the space talking about your course and how you're suited to it and 50% on your work experience and other activities.

Exactly how you write your personal statement depends on your subject - generally people write more about work experience for vocational subjects like Medicine and Law than they would for Maths or English , where work experience is less important.

9. Is it worth doing loads of extra-curricular stuff to make my statement sound good?

There's no point doing extra things just to try and make yourself look good to universities - you won't enjoy it and it probably won't help much either.

From what we've seen, an interest and aptitude for the course is more important to admissions tutors than lots of extra curricular activities.

If you do want to do something to boost your application, read relevant books or do work experience related to the subject instead.

10. Should I talk about my qualifications?

No. There's already a section on the UCAS form for this, so don't waste space talking about them on your personal statement.

If you have something important that doesn't go in the qualifications section, ask your referee to put it down in your reference - it will sound better if it comes from them than from you.

11. Where can I see some example personal statements?

We have loads of free personal statement samples that you can browse through, broken down into subject categories so you can hopefully find what you are looking for quite easily!

Looking at what other students have written and submitted on their application is a useful way of seeing what makes a great personal statement (and what doesn't!).

Just make sure you don't copy sentences or whole chunks of these examples though, as UCAS has plagiarism detection software and your application will be rejected if it's found you've cheated!

12. What should I do after I've written my statement?

Ask for opinions on it!

Show it to your friends, parents, teachers, career advisors, etc and note down their comments.

The most useful comments are likely to come from your teachers in the subject and the people at your school or college who handle UCAS applications.

If you have enough time, leave your personal statement for a couple of weeks or a month and come back to it - if you're not still happy with what you wrote, it's time to start redrafting.

13. Should I post my personal statement online?

It's generally not a good idea to post it on an internet forum or discussion board before you've started university.

Anyone can steal information off a website and pass it off as their own, and with something as important as a personal statement, you don't want that to happen.

You should be OK sending it to people you trust by email - see the next question for a better way of getting people to look at it.

14. Where can I ask for feedback on my personal statement?

To get people to look at your personal statement without the risk of plagiarism visit the personal statement review section.

You can also get your personal statement professionally edited and reviewed here at Studential, through one of our very popular personal statement editing and critique packages.

We offer a range of services covering a variety of prices, so there's bound to be a package suited to you.

15. I'm still stuck with my personal statement - where can I find more in-depth advice?

Some people say writing a personal statement is easy – maybe it is, but it’s difficult to write a personal statement well. As this is such a big topic to cover, we suggest taking a look at our personal statement examples to help give you some inspiration for what to write, and then read through our  personal statement writing guide  when you’re ready to put pen to paper. Browse through the  other information and advice  we have in our personal statements section, and if you still feel you need a little extra help, you can always get your personal statement  professionally edited and reviewed  by one of our editors. We offer a range of UCAS personal statement editing and critique services , so there’s bound to be one suited to your needs. Don’t forget to ask your family, friends, teachers and careers adviser to look through your personal statement drafts, and incorporate any feedback they give you until you are 100% happy with it. Remember - it doesn’t matter how many times you have to redraft your personal statement – the most important thing is you get it right so you give yourself the best possible chance of being offered places by your chosen universities/colleges.

IMPORTANT:  When writing your personal statement, it’s vital you remember  not to copy from anyone else’s personal statement  (not even just a sentence!). Not only is it wrong and unfair, but any plagiarism will be detected by the Copycatch Similarity Detection Software. If UCAS discover you have plagiarised your personal statement, whether you have copied someone else’s entirely or parts of it, they will cancel your application.

You can also try looking through our personal statement guide for extra guidance.

This takes you through how to write a personal statement step-by-step, and goes into far more detail than this FAQ does.

If you feel you need more help, check out our personal statement editing and critique services  where our professional editors will review your statement to make it a success.

16. How do I write a personal statement if I'm a mature student?

Don't worry if you're a mature student applying to university - your qualifications, skills and extra experience will count as an advantage! Universities want to take on students from all walks of life, and this includes mature ones with more life experience.

Focus on what you can bring to the university if they offered you a place on the course, and how your degree fits into your future plans.

Read through some of our Mature Student Personal Statement Examples for inspiration.

17. How do I write a personal statement if I'm an international student?

As mentioned previously, universities want students from a range of backgrounds, and this includes those who want to study at their institution from abroad.

Again, try to convey how your experiences in your own country will benefit you on your course, and how they make you a valuable asset to the university.

To give you an idea of what other international students have written in the past, read through some of our International Student Personal Statement Examples for inspiration (but please remember not to copy them, or your application will be penalised!).

A few last tips

What have you done, relevant to your subject, that is unique and no one else is likely to put down?

Many people have the same old boring interests and work experience - you need something to separate you from the crowd, and while it's a gamble to make an individual personal statement, anything individual you do related to your chosen field can only look good.

Have a think - what makes you so special? If you can't think of anything then you can't complain if you get rejected! Finally, remember it's your personal statement, and you can write whatever you want in it.

If everything in this guide conflicts with what you've got already but you think you still have a killer personal statement, then use that.

A personal statement is about you, and you shouldn't let anyone tell you what to put in it - sticking blindly to the formula mentioned here will just stop your true personality showing through.

Further information

For more tips and advice on writing your personal statement, please see:

• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Top 10 Personal Statement Writing Tips
• Personal Statement Advice From A Teacher
• Personal Statement Writing Guide
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline .

Best of luck with your personal statement!

Has lots of valuable

Mon, 19/09/2011 - 05:17

Has lots of valuable information

Thu, 06/10/2011 - 20:30

very good site!! Helped a lot!!!!

Wed, 12/10/2011 - 17:21

Great info, i appreciate it.

Fri, 14/10/2011 - 14:35

i wana apply for a science

Tue, 25/10/2011 - 10:22

i wana apply for a science faculty but what i did in the past were only related to English (eg:joining competitions in sos verse speaking,public speaking;volunteered to teach english;being chairman of english society at school./) and seems almost nth for science.... so should i write those experience also?but how can i link them to the content.... thanks

Wed, 26/10/2011 - 22:56

Excellent website, I have searched high and low for a website like this. Very impressed.

wow this has just simply

Fri, 28/10/2011 - 21:15

wow this has just simply saved my life:)

Sun, 30/10/2011 - 11:11

Thank you for the guidance, its very simple and straight forward

Disabilities

Fri, 04/11/2011 - 06:38

I have Aspergers should I include this in my PS because it has affected my involvement in extra curricular activities

like to point out that it is

Wed, 09/11/2011 - 15:13

like to point out that it is 47 lines and not 37 :) that aside, very helpful - thanks!

The best site I have found to

Fri, 02/12/2011 - 22:29

The best site I have found to help with personal statements, got so much useful infomation and straight to the point, will definately recommend to others in my class who are in the middle of their personal statments!

I have read that you should

Tue, 06/12/2011 - 14:57

I have read that you should write about why you wish to study at university and what inspires you to, and i want to but the real reason i want to study at uni is because of a very personal reason and im not sure wether to mention it as i feel i may come across as an attention seeker? the real reason i want to go is because of a very abusive relationship with an ex boyfriend that made me realise i should make the most of my life and do exactly what i want and never let anyone bring me down... do u think it would be too much if i said this - I was very unsure whether to write about the real reason I want to pursue what I’m passionate about, because its very personal. The truth is that is wasn’t a good experience. A traumatising abusive relationship with an ex boyfriend woke me up and made me see I should make the most out of my life.

Tue, 06/12/2011 - 15:03

Tue, 06/12/2011 - 15:08

Amazing Stuff

Mon, 13/02/2012 - 13:06

I'm so glad I found this site

Thu, 01/03/2012 - 15:46

I'm so glad I found this site. It's helped alot.

I'm so glad I found this site. It's helped alot. :)

Thu, 01/03/2012 - 15:47

Lying on your personal statement

Tue, 10/07/2012 - 20:27

I was very disappointed to see this included in your FAQs. Even more to see it answered in the way it was. If someone can lie and "get away with it" does that not suggest we could potentially have a generation of useless, brainless, incompetent potential lawyers, doctors, politicians heading our way? Oh, wait...how long have you been giving this advice out?

do we have to write about our

Tue, 31/07/2012 - 19:13

do we have to write about our interests and hobbies???

if yes what if we dont have enough space and gone over max line limit??

thx a lot for the post..lots

Thu, 13/09/2012 - 23:21

thx a lot for the post..lots of info :)

you get 47 lines not 37 as it

Thu, 20/09/2012 - 11:35

you get 47 lines not 37 as it says

Wed, 17/04/2013 - 11:16

Some of the universities I'm applying to offer different courses to other unis I'm also applying to. Is it possible to send two different personal statements depending on which uni? For Edinburgh and Manchester, I want to apply for English Literature, but for Aberystwyth, East Anglia and Manchester Metropolitian they offer English Lit and Creative Writing.

Any advice would be great, thanks!

Wed, 24/07/2013 - 03:11

Say, you got a nice article.Much thanks again. Awesome.

Wrong information

Thu, 25/07/2013 - 16:15

The maximum on UCAS for personal statements is 47 lines and 4000 characters, not 37 lines as stated on this page.

This is really helpful and

Fri, 27/09/2013 - 14:15

This is really helpful and informative but I'm fairly sure the number of lines allowed is 47, not 37 as written here.

Retaking year 12

Sun, 29/09/2013 - 12:22

I have recently retook year 12 and I am now in the process of writing my personal statement. Having gathered differing opinions on this matter i was wondering for your input on whether or not its worth putting it down on my personal statement.I have changed subjects, left one out for a year and returned to it and retaken a subject. This now leaves me with 5 As levels.

Mon, 30/09/2013 - 20:06

"Have a think - what makes you so special? If you can't think of anything then you can't complain if you get rejected!"

As if we're not under enough stress already!

Previous Work

Tue, 29/10/2013 - 20:33

can I put links in to websites I have professionally made

wow very good much

Fri, 15/11/2013 - 09:25

wow very good much informative

Very informative. I really

Wed, 15/01/2014 - 14:57

Very informative. I really appreciate your site.

Not required

Mon, 30/06/2014 - 14:27

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How to decide your next steps, choosing what to study after gcses, life after your ucas discovery exhibition, need to take time out for yourself, what is a gap year, anyway, what does ‘meaningful’ mean to you, it’s okay not to know.

Simply put, a gap year is when you decide to take a year out after school ends. This could be for many reasons – from wanting to learn more about the world before going to uni, to getting some work experience before jumping into a career. A gap year is a great time to decide on your right move after school.

Volunteer overseas

Work or intern full-time in a company

Travel the world

Pick up a new skill/language

Pursue an activity they’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time to

Organise your choices in the UCAS Hub.

Taking a gap year has been proven to bring many benefits – in fact, lots of students feel more motivated and certain of what they want to do with their lives after one. But just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean that taking a gap year is the right choice for you.

“Your speed doesn't matter, forward is forward.” – Anonymous

Gap years can help you with this. Here, you’ll have to decide exactly what you want to do with your time – which can be extremely scary to think about if you’ve never done it before.

There’s no harm in volunteering or picking up some work experience – who knows, this might just be the thing that gives you that moment of clarity.

Equally, not everyone has that lightning bolt moment. Sometimes, it’s a raindrop – the smallest change that could lead you to pick up a new language, or an interest in something you’ve never considered before which could very well shape what you want to achieve in your life.

So, don’t put any pressure on “finding yourself” during your gap year – just absorb as much as you can and ride the wave. You never know where you’ll come out on the other side.

Sometimes, the best explanation is the simplest one: you just need a break. You might feel that your mental health hasn’t been the best over your school years, and you want to give yourself some time to breathe.

Discover the UCAS Hub

See your opportunities. Organise your choices.

Gap years have been rising in popularity – and this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, the Department of Education and Skills estimates that around 200,000 to 250,000 school leavers take a gap year annually.

Maybe you’d like to save some money so that you’re better prepared to pay for uni. Or perhaps you’re not sure what you want to do after school and need some time to figure out your next steps.

But is taking a gap year the right decision for you?

Things people do during their gap year

Like everything else in life, there are pros and cons to taking a gap year. Here are some you can consider:

You get hands-on, real-world exposure, which can help you if you’re stuck on what to do for uni or an apprenticeship

You may not want to go to uni and thus, not graduate

You have a year to earn money and save up for uni or whatever you choose to do next

If you don’t plan your year properly, you could end up spending more than you save

Getting work experience looks really good for your CV

You won’t enjoy term breaks or summer holidays that are typical of uni students

You get to decide exactly what you want to do with your time

You might feel uncomfortable making decisions for yourself

On the fence? Here are some ideas and things to think about.

This is why it’s really important to think about why you’d want to take a gap year, rather than if you should.

Lots of people might think that gap years consist of travelling to a rural area and volunteering at an orphanage, for example. While this is a great thing for anyone to do, someone with an interest in music might find that taking a year out to perform at different venues and “find their sound” is just as important. Some people take a gap year for more practical reasons. Going to uni can be costly and a gap year might help you save up for this. Some people come out of a gap year realising that they don’t want to go to uni after all, and want to jump straight into their careers.

There’s also the possibility that you’re thinking about taking a gap year because you just don’t know what you want to do. And here’s the thing: that’s completely, 100% fine.

The beauty of gap years is that it doesn’t just give you the opportunity to explore the world around you – it gives you the time to discover more about yourself, as well.

Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

If you feel this way, know that taking a gap year to focus on yourself ≠ you’re a failure. Everyone is on their own path, and yours is no less important, even if you don’t do anything like take an internship or volunteer. Always do what feels right for you – and if that means taking a gap year, then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Only you get to define what’s important to you.

UCAS personal statement examples

Having managed successfully to navigate through the 370,000 courses at over 370 providers across the UK, it is now time to make a start at drafting your personal statement.

Students often find this the most daunting of tasks within the application process. This guide will help you through putting together the statement that is going to help get you a place on your ideal course.

Knowing where to start and what to say to when setting out your reasons for applying and convincing the admissions tutor to offer you a place can be a challenge. Looking at examples of how other students have approached this can sometimes be helpful.

Example one

Things to consider when reading this example.

• Consider the structure – what are your thoughts around this?
• Think about spelling, grammar, and punctuation– how does this fare?
• What course do you think this personal statement may have been for?

“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Ghandi

From a young age this quote has inspired my chosen career path to become a children’s nurse. Being one of many siblings I have the role of supporting my nieces and nephews when they become ill and providing comfort. Working with children in my family has motivated along this career path as it has taught me to take responsibility in life, become more organised and mature.

I am currently undertaking a health and social care course. This course has given me insight into the different aspects of health care and its overarching infra structure. Caring for children and young people helped me gain an understanding of the risk that children and young people may be put in and the exploitative and abusive behaviour that they may encounter. We focused on the tragic case of Victoria Climbie. This brought home the significance of multi agency working.

I am committed to ensuring that children and young people in my care are safe,healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic well being and putting in a positive contribution. A core element of the course has been work placement, working with children. This came in very useful for me because it taught me how to deal with children at different ages and what I need to do in order to meet their needs. During this work experience I was responsible for supporting and maintaining the children’s hygiene needs and encouraging them with their speech. I learnt different approaches to meeting the needs of children; for example I was taught to talk the children in a calm, but stern tone of voice when they misbehaved and to use very positive gestures and praise when children listened and kept to task.

I consider myself as having very good communications skills I am able to reassure people positively in any circumstance, I am the committed to ensuring that children and young people in my care are safe and healthy and I am confident when dealing with both children and parents, For example when a child injured herself in the nursery I shadowed one of the senior staff while they administered first aid, it was then my responsibility to explain to the caregiver exactly what had occurred.

I take part in many activities which are helping me to become independent ad preparing me for my course that I want to take part in, in university; I presently volunteer in a nursery. I take part in planning and creating activities and I have a duty to observe the children throughout the day and then give feedback to the parents and carers.

I have many qualities which will be ideal for my future career path I am honest, patient and a reflective individual, this is something that I feel is most important when dealing with children and adolescents.

I have many hobbies that I carry out in my spare time. I have taken part in being a team leader to raise money for a charity that supports children who have been abused because I believe strongly in the cause. We raised awareness, held a campaign, fundraising and protest.

I also enjoy travel, I have visited countries such as Egypt, Eritrea, Holland, Germany and Italy - this has allowed me to explore the outside world and has given me a taste of different cultures and traditions; and ultimately giving me a better understanding of diversity.

I would like to be given the opportunity to study at university because I believe it will be the perfect platform to launch my career. Having the chance to study Paediatric Nursing at university will allow me to fulfil my career path and make a change to my life as I will feel that I am achieving new things on a day to day basis with what I am able to offer children and young people when it comes to having a positive impact on their health.

Being given the opportunity of Working in an environment with children daily would be my dream goal in life that I wish to achieve.

Example two

• Thinking about the experiences gained from a gap year, how has this applicant drawn on these transferrable skills?
• How does experience both in and outside the classroom environment relate to the chosen subject area?

I am a hardworking, talented and motivated young woman looking forward to studying at degree level and taking an active part in university life.

I have a keen interest in the world around me, and enjoy taking part in a variety of activities for example: volunteering at my local brownies, volunteer marshal at Brighton Marathon; textile and weaving classes; completion of the Trinity Guildhall award at both Bronze and Silver level; and a Stand Up Paddle board instructor. These activities, coupled with part time work whilst at sixth form college, have not only been enjoyable but have also helped me to develop skills in communication, organisational, leadership and interpersonal skills.

Although having been accepted to start university in 2014 (Primary Education) I realised that I was not ready to fully commit to the course and took the decision to gain some real life experience and reflect on what I really want from university and my future career.

Since leaving sixth-form college I have been working full time as a waitress/ bar assistant at a local hotel, which has been hard but interesting work demanding stamina, patience and an open mind. I have also secured 3 weeks work at a trade exhibition in New York, where I will have the chance to attend networking dinner and I plan to go inter-railing across Europe in Summer 2015. As a result of these experiences I am more self-assured and resilient. I am ready to commit to full time study and have much to contribute to university life.

I realise that I am most interested in people, what makes them the people they are and how this manifests in their behaviour and opinions.

I enjoyed studying sociology at A level and gaining an insight into how the study of sociology helps us to understand how society works. This coupled with my recent experience in the hospitality world and observation of the behaviour of those who use and manage the service, has fuelled my desire to study Sociology in depth at degree level. I am completely fascinated by the behaviour of others and why we act the way we do. I believe that studying sociology at degree level will allow me to begin to explore and understand aspects of human social behaviour, including the social dynamics of small groups of people, large organisations, communities, institutions and entire societies.

I believe that the skills and knowledge that I will accrue whilst studying will be applicable to a wide variety of careers and that is why I have chosen to study the topic at degree level.

Why St Mary's

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