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The English guide to grammar when writing a personal statement, cover letter or CV

6 November 2019

Whether you’re applying for a university course or a job, you need to make sure you’re presenting yourself in a professional way. Not all of your qualifications or employment history will be relevant, but if your personal statement or cover letters and CVs are organised and well written, you’re more likely to get that interview.

Here’s our English guide to grammar and writing so you can impress your potential employers or university admission team.  

If you’re not sure what these terms mean, here’s a quick reminder... 

Personal statement: This is a short essay you write about yourself for the university admissions team. Its purpose is to show you’re the perfect candidate for the course you want to study. If you’re applying through UCAS (undergraduate, teaching, medicine etc) then you’ll be able to focus on why you want to study that course, but not the university.

CV: This is a document that showcases your skills, education and work experience when applying for job roles. Potential employers will look at it, so it has to be professional and easy to read. Some employers will request a personal statement as part of the application and some admission teams will request CVs for postgraduate courses and PhD applications. 

Cover letter: This is written to accompany your CV. You should include your most relevant work experience and skills for the role you’re applying for. Additionally it's just as important you include your motivation for the role and the place of work.

Why do I need to use the correct grammar when writing?

How your personal statement, cover letter or CV is written says a lot about your abilities, personality and professionalism. It’s the first impression a potential employer or admission team has of your qualifications and abilities. 

A document which is well researched, well written and does not include any spelling or grammar errors demonstrates good attention to detail, accuracy and an interest in the employer/role/course/university.

If you're claiming to be perfect at anything, for example, a spelling mistake such as "attention to detial" can put this statement at risk. Are you really perfect if you've not noticed and corrected this error? 

As well as this, spelling and grammatical errors give the person reading the impression that you weren't really interested in the job because you weren’t motivated enough to spend a few seconds proofreading before pressing send.

There are also certain word choices, such as the use of slang (informal language), that can make your writing seem less professional. 

This is just general advice for writing any of these documents. You can read more about the specifics below. 

How do I make sure my personal statement is the best it can be?

When writing a personal statement for undergraduate courses, you should cover the reasons why you’re a suitable choice for studying the course you’ve applied for. Here are some other tips.  

• be aware of your character limit - you only have 4,000 characters and 47 lines to use. So, plan which key points you’ll cover to show the university admissions teams that you’re the ideal candidate
• make sure your personal statement has a memorable ending. It’s important the admissions teams remember why they need you at their university, studying one of their courses
• don’t be tempted to copy a personal statement from online or your classmates. Plagiarism is a serious issue. UCAS has software to screen applications and if you're caught plagiarising, your application may be cancelled by UCAS , so don't risk it.

These are just a few tips for your personal statement, you can take a look at this blog for more information on writing it here.

How can I write a CV that impresses potential employers?

CVs are one of the first things potential employers see so you need to make a good impression. The easier your CV is to read, the better. Here are some other tips.

• your CV should never be longer than two A4 pages. However, for any PhD students, CVs for academic posts are regularly and normally expected to be longer than two pages
• focus on your most relevant experience. For example, if you’re writing a CV for a role at a big corporation, highlight all your business experience. For example, if you're applying for a marketing role include any related marketing experience you have, this could be paid or unpaid experience from internships, work shadowing and societies
• include a personal branding statement which showcases your best talents in just a couple of sentences at the top of the page
• regularly update your CV with your most recent achievements 
• try to include evidence for your achievements. For example, if you have experience in leading teams and you took part in a big project where you led a group of people, write about how you demonstrated leadership

Not only is the way you write your CV important, but the way you format it is too . Simple formats work best and are easier to read, so make sure the layout is uncomplicated. 

How can I make my cover letter professional? 

Cover letters work with your CV to give potential employers the best possible impression of you. This is the place to really show your skills and achievements and motivation for the role and work place. They’re just as important as the CV itself.

Here are some other tips.

• never use generic greetings like “to whom it may concern”. If you know who’s going to read your CV then address it to them. It shows you've made the effort to research the company and aren't just sending the same cover letter to several different employers. However, if you can’t find a personal name, you should use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ instead
• use the cover letter to add extra information about yourself. Don’t just repeat your CV. Instead use your cover letter to summarise the key selling points from your CV which demonstrate what you have that the employer is looking for
• provide lots of details on your most relevant roles and less information on roles that won’t assist your application for this job
• don’t make the mistake of only focusing on your educational background - you also need to talk about work experiences, volunteering, extra-curricular activities and internships too. This helps your potential employer know you have working experience
• when you don’t meet all of the job requirements, it’s tempting to use phrases like “while I may not have direct experience working in finance…”. However, instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, talk about the strengths and transferable skills you do have
• cover letters are a great way to show that you understand the culture of the company. Spending some time reading over the company website can give you a good idea of what kind of personalities they're looking for. You can use this knowledge to tailor your cover letter

General tips for writing

You might already have a good understanding of the English language, but everybody can benefit from these simple tips for writing:

• spell-checking tools like Grammarly are great for smaller mistakes but it’s important to get it checked by friends, family, teachers or Careers Service. They might be able to spot errors that you or Grammarly didn't
• these documents are all about you. However we discourage excessive use of first person words like ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘My’ when talking about yourself. Make sure you only do so sparingly, otherwise it can get repetitive
• tailor your copy to the job or course requirements and say what skills you have to succeed in the role or the course
• write your first draft on a word processor, such as Microsoft Word or Google Documents, so you can edit it more easily
• avoid complicated vocabulary or technical terminology if you can think of a simpler alternative. For example, using ‘assiduous’ when ‘hardworking’ works fine. A PhD applicant might use technical terms in an application that’s going to be read by somebody in the field, whereas someone applying for a graduate scheme which is going to a gen

Spelling and grammar are very important when it comes to personal statements, cover letters and CVS. After all, these documents are the first things a university admissions team or potential employer will have of your skills and experience. Errors can put your application at risk, making you seem unprofessional and uninterested in the course or job you’re applying for. 

Now you have all the knowledge and tips to write everything you need to develop your future career, it’s time to get started. 

Get ready with our guide to personal statements, CVs and working life

At Newcastle University, we can support you with everything career-related, but there are certain things like interviews and securing a job in the UK that you need to do yourself. Don’t worry, you can always ask our Careers Team for advice. They can help with everything from CVs to job applications and are a part of the university.

We’ve also created a useful guide that might help. Download it below for tips when it comes to CVs and working life.

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How to write a personal statement for university

Writing an eye-catching personal statement could be the very thing that earns you a place at your favourite university to study your dream degree..

But with so much information out there on how to write a personal statement, how can you tell what the best advice is? Follow our step-by-step guide to crafting a captivating personal statement.

What is a personal statement?

Planning your personal statement, structuring your personal statement, editing and proofreading, personal statement dos and don’ts, tips for international students, personal statement deadlines.

Your personal statement is a piece of writing that’s personal to you. It forms part of your UCAS application.

It's also your chance to communicate your passion for your chosen degree to university admissions staff and showcase your ambitions, skills and experience in your own words.

The planning stage can be as rough as you need it to be. Try to get as many points down as possible, including:

• why you want to go to university
• why you want to study the degree you’re applying for
• how your studies relate to your chosen degree or, if they don't, why you’re applying for something you haven’t studied before
• how you exhibit the qualities and skills your chosen universities are looking for
• how your application is supported through work experience, placements or volunteering
• your hobbies and achievements, and how they showcase your strengths and suitability for your chosen degree
• your future plans - what you want to do after university and how your degree could help you achieve this

Breaking down your statement into smaller, more manageable chunks, can make writing it easier. Here’s how:

The beginning

Make your introduction memorable, and get to the point quickly to show the university admissions staff you are focused and knowledgeable about the subject you're applying for.

Communicate your excitement, enthusiasm, and motivation to succeed. Draw the reader in, but don’t be tempted to rely on gimmicks or puns. Don’t just say you find the course interesting – explain why you find it interesting.

Write what comes naturally, and use personal examples to demonstrate your commitment to study. If your personal tone of voice starts to filter through, that’s a good thing (as long as you don’t stray from the point you’re making!)

This is where you flesh out your suitability and experience. Make sure you’ve included a good balance of academic and interpersonal skills, including the transferable skills an admissions tutor might be looking for.

Always back up each skill with a practical example of how you’ve applied it in the real world.

Linking your hobbies and interests to your chosen degree will also demonstrate your strengths and abilities, as well as show you’re a well-rounded person who isn’t afraid to get involved.

Revisit the key points you want the admissions tutor to remember the most. Summarise your passion, suitability, and motivations and how all this experience makes you a great candidate for the course.

Include a few words about how the university experience will help you develop as a person, such as building your confidence when meeting new people, or living and learning independently.

Finally, make your ending forward-looking, dynamic, and optimistic. You don’t need to plan out the next 20 years of your life but try to show how your chosen course ties into your future career plans.

Once you’ve edited it to the correct length, you need to proofread your personal statement. Try these techniques:

• read what you’ve written out loud, slowly
• print out a copy – sometimes it’s easier to edit a paper copy than via a screen
• try reading your personal statement backwards to notice each word individually 
• change the font or size of your text to see your personal statement in a new light
• make one read-through just for punctuation, particularly missing full stops, upper and lower-case text, and apostrophes
• ask a parent, sibling, or friend to read your personal statement to check for spelling mistakes or typos

Let’s take a look at some of the basic personal statement dos and don’ts.

• write in clear paragraphs, avoiding flowery language
• be truthful
• relate your strengths, experience and achievements to the course you’re interested in
• follow our steps to plan, structure, and check your statement
• exceed 4,000 characters (including spaces)
• leave writing your statement until the last minute
• repeat information that’s included elsewhere in your application
• share your statement or copy someone else’s – UCAS uses software to check for similarities with previous statements; any similarity greater than 30% is flagged and the university you have applied to will be alerted
• use AI to generate all or part of your personal statement - for more detailed information, check out our blog on whether using AI is cheating .

If you're looking to write a personal statement as an international student, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• explain why you want to study in the UK; show you have thought about your decision to study abroad and that you are ready to take this step.
• explain why a UK university is the right choice for you and fits your career dreams.
• show you have the required level of English language proficiency - and remember to  include details of any tests or qualifications you hold as part of your application

The deadlines for submitting your application - including your completed personal statement - to UCAS are:

• Tuesday 15 October 2024 (6pm) - if you’re applying for a Medicine, Veterinary medicine/science or Dentistry degree
• Wednesday 29 January 2025 (6pm) - for the majority of other degree programmes

Make sure you factor in plenty of time to make any last-minute changes; you don’t want to panic and rush the final stage of your application.

And there you have it - how to write a personal statement for university, in one easy-to-follow blog post.

If you want a deeper dive into the best personal statement advice we have to offer, click the button below to download our comprehensive personal statement guide!

Published By Jenny Shippen on 31/10/2023 | Last Updated 25/07/2024

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Statement of purpose imposes word limit, but I already have a significantly longer version. Can I submit it as it is?

I am currently in the process of applying to a PhD program at a university in Canada. As part of the application, I need to submit a statement of purpose. The prompt for the statement of purpose is as follows:

A statement of purpose (maximum 500 words) that discusses your career goals, why you want to do research, and the areas of research that interest you. If you have done any original research, please describe the results, their importance, and your particular contributions. If you have specific research plans, outline them here.

I have already written my statement of purpose for other universities and all of them required a maximum of 2 pages. My statement of purpose is currently 2 pages long, with a total of 1,249 words. I have described everything that the prompt mentions in these 2 pages, but I do not think I can do that in under 500 words. Is it ok to submit it as is? If not, how do you suggest I proceed?

Thanks for the help.

Update : I emailed the University in question about the length of the statement of purpose, and it turns out that their application form was not updated. They in fact allow a 1-2 page statement of purpose. I think this is helpful for future situations.

• graduate-admissions
• graduate-school
• statement-of-purpose

• 6 Does this answer your question? How to condense a 2 page statement of purpose to 500 words? –  GoodDeeds Commented Nov 1, 2020 at 11:04
• @GoodDeeds This is not a duplicate of that one: this asks if one can submit an SoP longer than the limit, the other how to shorten it to stay within the limit. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Nov 1, 2020 at 14:33
• +1 for the update. –  user111388 Commented Nov 5, 2020 at 18:21

I would think that two and a half times the maximum would be a bit extreme and leave people less than pleased.

A few extra words wouldn't hurt most likely, but what you suggest seems unreasonable.

Factor out the most important ideas and express them concisely. Consider it a test that you don't want to fail.

A note on the SoP. Don't use it to reprise what is in the CV or other materials. Don't use it to explain past problems/issues. Make it entirely forward looking. What do you expect to accomplish in doctoral study and thereafter. You are wasting words if you try to use it for other things.

• Would explaining your contribution in previous published research be a negative in this case? A large portion of my SOP is a long the line of <I published paper x. My contribution was y. I explored z which didn't work. This led to a publication>. Would this count as wasting words? –  user3508551 Commented Nov 9, 2020 at 6:53
• Probably, if it puts you over the limit. But talking at all about already published papers is talking about the past. Talk about the future. The CV already shows your publications. –  Buffy Commented Nov 9, 2020 at 11:15

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Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged graduate-admissions graduate-school statement-of-purpose canada ..

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• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Medicine Personal Statement

Get advice on your Medicine Personal Statement, including what to include, how to structure it, and how you can get help with this vital part of your application.

• Learn what a Medicine Personal Statement is
• Understand how long it needs to be
• Find out what it should include
• Discover how to structure your Personal Statement
• Explore how to get help with it

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Your Personal Statement for Medicine is your chance to tell Medical Schools why you want to study Medicine and become a Doctor. With a successful Medicine Personal Statement, you’ll really stand out from the pool of other applicants.

What is a Medicine Personal Statement?

Your Personal Statement supports your UCAS Application. It’s designed to help Medical Schools choose the best candidates.

It gives you the chance to tell Admissions Tutors about the skills or qualities you have that are relevant to studying Medicine and being a Doctor – and write about your motivation to study Medicine .

Have a look at our Medicine Personal Statement examples from current Medical School students to get an understanding of the content and structure.

How Important Is It?

Medical Schools use Personal Statements in different ways.

You’ll find that some Medical Schools won’t pay much attention to it, while some will use it to shortlist candidates for interview . Some will also use it to form the basis of interview questions , so make sure your PS is interview-proof and doesn’t include anything you can’t justify or elaborate on.

If a Medical School is struggling to decide between two candidates, they may use the Personal Statement as a deciding factor.

You can learn more in our guide to how Medical Schools use your Personal Statement .

Make Sure You Stand Out

Get The Best Personal Statement Advice

How Long Should My Personal Statement Be?

Your Medicine Personal Statement needs to be 4,000 characters – which is around 500 words – over 47 lines.

What Should My Personal Statement Include?

Medicine Personal Statements should cover the following elements, so that Medical Schools can get to know you.

• Motivation — Why do you want to study Medicine and become a Doctor?
• Exploration — What have you done to learn about Medicine? For example: work experience , volunteering , wider reading or research
• Suitability — Why are you a good fit for Medicine?

Reflection should be a big part of your PS. When you’re writing it, don’t just list your work experience placements, academic achievements and extracurricular activities — reflect on key learning points and link everything back to qualities that are important for Medicine.

For more specific advice about what to include when you’re applying for Graduate Entry Medicine, check out this blog .

What Should My Personal Statement NOT Include?

When you’re writing your Personal Statement, try to keep it concise and avoid unnecessary information. After all, you only have a limited number of words!

Some common PS mistakes include:

• Giving a generic or clich éd reason for wanting to become a Doctor
• Writing about what you did for work experience, without offering any reflections on what you actually learned from the experience
• Claiming that you have a certain quality (e.g. empathy ) without backing it up
• Listing all of the extracurricular activities you do, without mentioning the skills they helped you to develop which are relevant to Medicine

Of course, it’s also important to check your PS for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Get it checked by someone else for a second opinion too.

When Should I Start Writing My Personal Statement?

Personal Statements need to be submitted before the UCAS deadline, which is typically a date in October for Medicine.

Don’t leave it until the last minute! It’s a good idea to start working on it during the summer break – perhaps after you’ve got your UCAT out of the way. If you leave it all until September or October, remember that you’ll be writing it alongside A-Level work and BMAT revision if you’re planning to sit the BMAT.

Start by reading some Medicine Personal Statement examples for inspiration. Then note down everything you can think of to cover your Motivation, Exploration and Suitability for Medicine. Perhaps check this content plan with someone like a parent to see if you’ve missed out anything important. After you have a clear plan, you can start writing your first draft.

How Should I Structure My Personal Statement?

The structure of your Personal Statement is a matter of personal preference, but we advise you to follow a format that covers the following points:

• Why you want to study Medicine and become a Doctor (Motivation)
• Work experience and/or volunteering – and what you learned from it (Exploration)
• Wider reading and study beyond your school curriculum (Exploration)
• Skills from extracurricular activities which are relevant to a Doctor’s skill set, e.g. leadership skills, communication skills, teamwork, etc (Suitability)
• Conclusion (Motivation)

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What Is Changing In The Future?

UCAS has announced that Personal Statements will be changing in the future. To make the writing process more structured, there are plans to provide applicants with a series of questions to answer.

These questions have not been confirmed yet, but UCAS says they are likely to cover areas such as:

• Motivation for the course
• Preparation for the course through learning and through other experiences
• Preparedness for student life
• Preferred learning styles
• Extenuating circumstances

According to UCAS, the changes will be introduced no earlier than 2024, for candidates applying for 2025 entry. Find out more here.

How Can I Get Help?

Getting feedback on your Personal Statement for Medical School is incredibly important.

You could ask a relative to read it, give you feedback on how it reads, and let you know if you’ve forgotten any big accomplishments that they can remember. Another option is to ask a friend or a teacher to have a read and tell you if it makes sense and gives a good impression.

You might also like to get professional help with your medical Personal Statement, since it’s such an important piece of writing.

Of course it’s important that you write it yourself, but getting advice and getting it reviewed can be incredibly beneficial. Some of the best options include:

• Get a Personal Statement Review by an Admissions Tutor
• Join a Personal Statement Workshop to get help crafting an excellent statement
• Focus on one-to-one help with Personal Statement Tutoring for your Medical School application

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• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement

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What to include in a personal statement

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What's on this page?

What’s a personal statement, preparing to write your personal statement, how to open your personal statement, your personal skills and achievements, work experience and future plans.

An undergraduate personal statement is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents and experiences you have. It’s an important part of the application process as it’s an opportunity to talk about yourself and your passions, outside of your grades.  

In this article, we’re going to talk you through how to write an undergraduate personal statement that stands out, without leaving you feeling overwhelmed.

Chloe Ng, HE Career Coach, Manchester Metropolitan University

You’ll have heard the saying preparation is key, and that’s no different when you’re tackling your personal statement. There are two things to think about when you’re planning. The practical and factual information you need to get across, and the more emotional, human parts of you that make you different to everyone else.  

Before you start writing, take some time to think about the key things you’d want an admissions tutor to know about you, and get them down on paper. Don’t worry too much about making your notes perfect – this is more about making sure you know why you should be offered a place.

You can also look at the course description as this’ll help you with what to include and give you a good idea of what each uni is looking for. 

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Here are a few questions you can answer to help you get started:.

• Why have you chosen this course?
• What excites you about the subject? 
• Is my previous or current study relevant to the course?
• Have you got any work experience that might help you?
• What life experiences have you had that you could talk about?
• What achievements are you proud of?
• What skills do you have that make you perfect for the course?
• What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Admissions Tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements so it’s important to grab their attention right from the start. 

Remember, it can only be 4,000 characters, which is about two sides of A4. So, you’ll need to use your words wisely to fit everything in.

You can find a full guide on How to start a personal statement: the attention grabber , but here are the main things to think about . 

• Don’t overthink the opening. Just start by showing your enthusiasm for the subject, showcasing your knowledge and understanding, and sharing your ambitions of what you want to achieve.
• Avoid cliches! Remember, this opening part is simply about introducing yourself, so let the admissions tutor reading your personal statement get to know you. 
• Keep it relevant and simple. You’re limited on how much you can include so avoid long-winded explanations. Why use 20 words when 10 can make your point? 

Annabell Price, L’Oréal degree apprentice (Professional Products Division)

Next, you’ll need to write about your personal skills and achievements. Universities like to know the abilities you have that’ll help you on the course, or generally with life at university.

Don’t forget to include evidence to back up why you’re so excited about the course(s) you’ve chosen.

• Be bold and talk about the achievements you’re proud of.
• Include positions of responsibility you hold, or have held, both in and out of school.
• What are the things that make you interesting, special, or unique? 

Your work experience and future plans are important to include. You should share details of jobs, placements, work experience, or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your course. 

• Try to link any experience to skills or qualities that’ll make you successful.
• If you know what you’d like to do after as a career, explain how you plan to use the knowledge and experience that you’ll gain to launch your career.

It’s always good to connect the beginning of your statement to the end and a great way to reinforce what you said at the start.

You want to see the ending as your chance to finish in a way that’ll make the admissions tutor remember you. 

This final part of your personal statement should emphasise the great points you’ve already made and answer the question of why you should be offered a place on the course. 

Read our full guide on How to finish your statement the right way.  

The personal statement tool image

Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.

UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. 

Find out more

Want to read more.

Check out our full list of Personal Statement Dos and Don’ts

See how you can use a personal statement beyond a university application

Now you’ve written your undergraduate personal statement, you’ll need to do a couple of final things before you submit it. 

• Have you proofread it?

Don’t just rely on spellcheckers. We’d recommend reading it out loud as that’s a great way to spot any errors as well as checking it sounds like you. 

• Have you asked for feedback?

Ask friends, family or a careers advisor to have a read through your personal statement and take their feedback on board.

Want more advice on your personal statement? Use the links below.

More advice

Use the UCAS’ personal statement tool alongside this guide to help you structure your ideas. Are you interested in how you can turn you Personal Statement into your CV?  Read our advice here

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How to write a PGCE personal statement

29 th September 2021

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Advice on how to write a PGCE personal statement that shows you’d make a great addition to a teacher training course.

What is a teacher training personal statement?

What to write, pgce personal statement tips.

When applying for a PGCE or postgraduate teacher training, you’ll probably have to write a personal statement. This is your chance to say why you’d make a great teacher by highlighting your relevant experiences and passion for teaching.

If you’re applying directly to a university or school, you should tailor your statement precisely to the course you’re applying for.

If you’re applying through UCAS Teacher Training, you can send your application to more than one university. Therefore, your statement should be more generic so that it applies to each one you’re applying to.

In both cases, make sure that your personal statement reflects the nature of the course or courses you’re applying for. Think about, for example, is it school- or university-based training? What age of students will you be teaching? Will you be specialising in a particular subject?

Before you start writing, look at any information you can find about the course and what you must do to apply. Has the university provided any guidance or topics of what you need to cover?

If not, can you speak to one of the course tutors to discuss what they might want to see in your statement? Or can you talk to a current PGCE student and ask what they wrote in theirs?

When you have a good idea of what admissions tutors will be looking for, create a mind map or list:

• Your relevant academic and practical experiences
• Areas of the course that you’re most interested in
• Anything else the university wants you to include

When structuring your statement, you can use your mind map or list to plan what information to put where.

Your structure can look something like:

• Introduction – about yourself and why you want to do the PGCE
• Middle paragraphs – relevant information of your academic achievements and experiences of working within education
• Concluding paragraph – tying up the main points of why you’re the best candidate for the course

If you’re applying directly to the university, check what the word limit for your personal statement is.

If you’re submitting to UCAS Teacher Training, your personal statement can be up to 47 lines of text or 4,000 characters.

Expanding on your mind map or list from before, think in more depth about why you want to teach.

• What qualities do you have that would make you good at teaching?
• What do you think are the challenges and benefits of being a teacher?
• Why have you chosen this particular age group and/or subject?
• What have you learned from your previous experiences in education?
• Will you be completing any extra exams or relevant experiences before the course starts?

If you studied education at undergraduate level, your course was probably focused on the theoretical side of the subject. Your PGCE course, however, will be about applying those theories to real-life situations in schools. Your personal statement should reflect your understanding of this.

If you haven’t taught before, what other activities or events in your life suggest that you would make a good teacher? Have you worked with children in different environments?

Admissions tutors don’t just want to see why you think your experiences make you a good teacher. Instead, they want to know that you’re aware of the importance of teaching and the demands that come with it.

• Why is it important to reflect on your abilities as a teaching practitioner?
• How will you work on your own development to become a great teacher?
• What interests you about the education system and its challenges?
• Do you have any thoughts are on child welfare and social justice?

When writing, make sure to use evidence and examples to back up your points. Through your tone of voice, try to show that you are positive and passionate about the work.

To see more information on how to style your personal statement, see our postgraduate statements guide.

• Ask someone you know to check it through. Even better if you can get feedback from a teacher
• See if you can speak to other students applying for a PGCE to share thoughts and ideas of what to write
• Similarly, reach out to PGCE staff at your university – or a teacher you know – they have experience that might be valuable to you!
• Any time you can spend in a school will be a valuable addition to your application. If you haven’t already, see if you can arrange to volunteer with one locally
• If you’re invited to an interview, you’ll be asked about what you’ve written on your statement, so be prepared to talk about it in more detail

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Get noticed

Apply to university for 2024 entry

UCAS is now open for 2024 entry undergraduate applications, and your personal statement is your greatest opportunity to stand out amongst the crowd of new applicants. This guide will help you catch the eye of admissions tutors and secure a place on your dream degree.

Discover your skills

Our free eBook is full of insider information from staff who assess applications every year. It's been stamped with our  admissions team seal of approval .

• what is a personal statement and why is it important
• what admissions teams really look for in a personal statement
• how to structure an effective personal statement
• resources to help with planning and proof-reading

Complete our form to download your copy