Higher Education Applications Guide 2 - PERSONAL STATEMENT

Higher Education Applications Guide 2 PERSONAL STATEMENT 2026 entry

Contents – Key dates – What is the PS and how is it used by universities?

– What to include – Using Unifrog to write your PS – Tips – FAQs – How the PS works alongside the Reference –E xample PS excerpts – What the Unis say

Key dates 2026 entry Summer Term Year 12

From the 7 May onwards

May - June

Personal Statement writing begins – Tutor Time sessions – Uni Prep/Uni Prep+ sessions – O ngoing review and redraft process between Uni Prep Mentor and student (not Futures) Higher Education Day

19 June

– UCAS Apply 2026 account registration and form completion – PS research and writing alongside other activities – Unifrog Activities log Early applicants submit the 1st draft of their personal statement.

26 June

Early applicants should receive feedback on their 1s draft of their personal statement by 3 July.

Summer Break Complete final version of PS – reading, drafting, polishing

Autumn Term Year 13

9 September

Early applicants submit the second draft of their personal statement. Feedback by the 16 September.

Non-early applicants submit the first draft of their personal statement. Feedback by the 16 September.

22 September

Early applicants submit UCAS Form including final draft of Personal Statement for checking.

3 October

Non-early applicants submit 3rd and final draft of their personal statement. Feedback by the 16 October.

15 October

UCAS deadline for Oxbridge and MDV applicants.

3 November

All other applicants submit final draft of PS for review to Futures.

10 November

Non-early applicant deadline for submitting UCAS Form and final draft of Personal statement for checking.

14 January

UCAS deadline for all other applicants.

You will get support from your Uni Prep Mentor and the Futures Team but only if YOU are proactive and consult us throughout the drafting process. Make the most of the expertise on offer by engaging with us early.

What is the PS and how is it used by universities?

– 3 question prompts now form the PS and it is part of your UCAS application – 4,000 characters and spaces maximum; 350 characters and spaces minimum per question – Read by admissions staff for your chosen course – All universities will read the one PS so it is about the course and not the university – A chance to sell yourself and convince them why you should be chosen to be in their classroom – what makes you stand out?

– Can include co-curricular activities but they must demonstrate relevant skills When the admissions tutors are reading your PS, they will be asking themselves the following questions: – Does this applicant have a genuine interest in the subject and a desire to learn more about it?

– Does this student have the necessary skills and qualities for the course?

– How well do they communicate their ideas, and can they think critically?

– Will the student cope with the demands of the course?

What's changing for 2026 entry

What to include

Examples you could use to support your points: – Work experience (in person/virtual)

– Independent research projects or EPQ

– Books

– Clubs and societies

– Documentaries

– Volunteering

– Online courses (MOOCs)

– Positions of responsibility

– Podcasts

– Awards

– TED talks

– Challenges you have overcome

– Articles from journals and industry magazines

– Hobbies

– Exhibitions, galleries, field trips

– Paid employment

– Essay competitions

Using Unifrog to write your PS Avoid writing your PS in Word docs that can get lost or confused between versions. Use the writing tool on Unifrog. It is easy to share it with your Uni Prep Mentor or Futures Team when ready for review.

This is where you can throw down your notes and examples to start building your PS. Here’s how you share it for feedback:

Make sure you use this platform or we won’t be able to review it.

Tips – Only work on one draft of your PS at any one time and keep it on Unifrog – Limit the number of teachers you show it to – stick to your Uni Prep Mentor and one member of the Futures Team – Refer to any criteria that is published on university websites to ensure you are ticking the boxes for your particular universities – It needs to be personal, evaluative and reflective so avoid listing activities without explaining what you have gained – Do not use language you would not normally use – it is very obvious to readers when you have consulted the thesaurus a lot or have used ‘fancy’ words incorrectly – Use your own voice and don’t be tempted to let anyone else edit it – it must be all your own work – Do not plagiarise or use AI - UCAS use software to check for this and it won’t be authentic – When applying for a Joint Honours degree, ensure your statement shows commitment to both subjects – If applying for deferred entry and taking a gap year, mention your plans and how they might relate to your course – Avoid starting every sentence with ‘I’ and stay away from vague adjectives such as ‘interesting’ and ‘nice’ – Check your grammar and spelling very carefully, including names of sources

FAQs How formal should I make my writing?

You want the PS to sound like you and to reflect your character; you don’t want it to sound like you’ve swallowed a thesaurus. Having said this, you should think of the PS as a piece of academic writing and not a letter to a friend!

Essentially, you are writing an application letter to a highly qualified academic. This is not the time to be telling jokes or using colloquial language so always err on the side of formality.

What if I want to do a Joint Honours degree?

If you are applying for a Joint Honours degree, then it is likely that your PS will be read by two different Admissions Tutors. You will need to address both subjects in your PS. If the course is weighted differently to 50/50 (for example History with Politics as opposed to History and Politics), then there should be slightly more emphasis on the major subject. It is a good idea to explain how you feel the subjects are linked, indicating your strengths in interdisciplinary thinking.

What if I want to apply for different courses at each University?

You are only allowed one PS so it must be suitable for all five courses you are applying to. It is not recommended to apply to different courses unless very closely related (PPE and Politics & Economics) as you are unlikely to gain an offer. If the courses you are interested in have overlapping foci, you should be able to cover what is needed by finding a common theme or topic to approach from different angles. Speak to the Futures Team about this should you be considering different courses in one UCAS application.

If I’m applying for Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Med, do I need to mention my 5th choice back-up course in the PS? No because Admissions Tutors are fully aware that applicants will be applying to them as the 5th choice. You will not be penalised for this; however, be ready to submit an alternative PS for this course (e.g. Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Neuroscience etc.) because this has been asked of applicants in the current UCAS cycle.

What do I write if I’m taking a gap year?

You should briefly mention this in your PS. Write about what you intend to do in your gap year and how those activities relate to your course and will enhance your skills and/or subject knowledge. You don’t want an Admissions Tutor to think that you are just going to take a break for an entire year.

Should I mention prizes and achievements?

Yes, but make sure you explain how these achievements demonstrate the qualities and/or skills that will be beneficial for your course. For example: ‘I was able to develop my teamwork and leadership skills on my Geography field trip in Morocco.’

How the PS works alongside the Reference Your Reference writer can include other achievements that you are particularly proud of if they don’t fit into your PS. It sounds better if they mention in the Reference that you achieved A*s in every French assessment or won Gold in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.

The way to let Futures know about relevant points that could be added to your Reference is by making sure your entries in the Activities section of Unifrog are detailed and complete.

Good examples of Activities logged on Unifrog:

Example PS excerpts “ From a young age I have been interested in the techniques and strategies employed by companies to capture the consumer and sell their products. How does the layout of a supermarket affect consumer behaviour? What makes a successful marketing campaign? How can inflated pricing actually encourage sales? It is questions like these that have drawn me to a degree in Business Management and Marketing.” “ The Middle East has always been a political hot zone, at the centre of international disputes which gain worldwide attention. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the region has acted as a battlefield for other nations, making stability in the area an impossible feat. Growing up in the Middle East, I became accustomed to hearing political discussions at every social gathering. I came to realise that as an Arab, and a Lebanese Arab especially, politics was an inescapable part of my life.” (International Relations) “ Having been born in the UK, with parents from Delhi and Kenya, I feel my background has given me an internationally diverse outlook. In my travels, I have met with both the affluence of Europe and the poverty existing in India and Africa. Such contrasts have compelled me to seek an understanding of the forces that drive the world economy, and why after centuries of economic theory such inequalities continue to exist.” (Economics) “ In my studies to date I have looked at the modern novel but have recently become interested in learning more about the Victorian novel as the precursor to modernism. I particularly enjoy exploring the concept of the didactic, omniscient narrator and how Victorian authors dealt with issues of contemporary social change.” (English) “ Physical environments have long been at the core of my fascination with Geography, particularly the complex systems which bring about the formation of coastal zones. I relished the opportunity to explore this physical system further on an AS residential trip based in Abergavenny. Investigating the effects of erosion and transportation on a stretch of limestone coastline at Llantwit Major allowed me to analyse data and further my understanding of the dynamic forces at work.” (Geography) “ Assisting with the post-mortem of a dairy cow during a work placement at a Veterinary Centre was a fascinating experience. I wondered how the cow had died; if it had been infected by a pathogen or had an anatomical problem. I wondered about the reaction of the remaining herd and the implications for human health and ecology.

I find such connection between different areas of biology intriguing. The huge diversity of biology and the constant interactions between living organisms and their environments have inspired me to study this subject beyond A Level.” (Biology)

What the Unis say

St Helen’s School Eastbury Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 3AS enquiries@sthelens.london 01923 843210

@sthelensnorthwood

www.sthelens.london

@sthelensnorthwood