Writing your personal statement

Student studying in Andrew Kean Learning Centre with laptop..

Your UCAS personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate what makes you the perfect fit for a university.

More than 60,000 students apply for university places each year, so you need to stand out from the crowd.

When you choose Leeds Trinity University, you choose a university renowned for its outstanding approach to personal student support.

We'll support you from the moment you start applying. 

Our Admissions team has put together their top tips to help you craft the perfect personal statement.

Structuring your personal statement

Your UCAS personal statement is split into three sections with question prompts. The total length it can be is 4000 characters, including spaces and punctuation (around 500 words in total). This doesn’t have to be split evenly across all three sections, but you need at least 350 characters per section, so it’s important to have something in each.

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your chance to explain your motivations for studying your chosen course. Include any knowledge you have around the subject area and mention any plans you have for the future in this field.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject? 

Don’t just list the content or topics you’ve been learning in your subjects here. Think about the transferable skills you’ve gained as a result, and any educational achievements you have that really showcase your talents.  

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful? 

This is your chance to talk about any work experience, volunteering, part-time jobs, hobbies and personal life experiences you have that are relevant. Always remember to think about what you have learnt from these, what skills you’ve gained and how they will benefit you at university.  

Writing with the PEEL method

The PEEL method is a great way to structure your answers to make sure you’re sticking to the point of the question.

P – Point

Firstly, make a clear and concise point that directly answers the question.

E – Evidence

Next, you need to provide supporting evidence or examples to back up your point. This can be facts, experiences, or observations.

E – Explain

You can then elaborate on your evidence by explaining how it will support you when it comes to studying at university.

L - Link

This is where you bring your answer together and connect your explanation back to the question.

The PEEL method in practice

P: Outside of college, I work in a busy restaurant, which has really helped me develop skills that are useful for a Primary Education course. 

E: For example, working in a fast-paced environment has taught me how to stay calm under pressure and manage my time effectively, especially when handling multiple tasks or helping lots of people at once.

E: These skills would be really useful in a classroom, where teachers have to juggle different responsibilities, respond quickly to challenges, and support a range of needs. I have also become more confident in speaking to a wide range of people, which is important for building strong relationships in school as well as at university. 

L: Overall, my experience outside of school has helped me grow in my confidence, communication skills, and understanding of responsibility, all of which will support me in making the most of my Primary Education degree.

The dos and don'ts

Do…

  • Be specific. Write about why you’re interested in the subject, making sure to mention specific aspects relevant to you. 
  • Be unique and talk about your experience and inspirations. Mention any wider reading or interests you have related to your subject, and reflect on any news stories or current affairs, if relevant.
  • Be sincere with your enthusiasm. It’s important to be honest.
  • Be career-minded. Talk about the career you want and why doing this degree will help you. Take care to mention any relevant work experience or volunteering you’ve done to make your application stand out.
  • Be concise. You only have 4,000 characters (around 500 words) to sell yourself.
  • Be accurate. Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct. Triple check everything and ask your teachers or parents to take a look – a few extra pairs of eyes may pick up something you’ve missed.
  • Mention any extracurricular activities. Talking about any sports or volunteering activities you do can highlight your dedication and work ethic.

Don’t…

  • Exaggerate details. You may get caught out.
  • Copy someone else's personal statement. Applications are screened for plagiarism by UCAS, so you could get caught and risk having your application rejected.
  • Name a particular university you’re applying to. You're only sending one statement, which means multiple universities will receive it.
  • Use inspirational quotes to back up details in your personal statement.  Universities want to read your words and thoughts, not somebody else's.
  • Leave it until the last minute. A post-Christmas rush isn’t likely to result in a personal statement you can be proud of.
  • Rely on spellcheckers. Some mistakes can sometimes go under the radar, so it’s best to proofread your work thoroughly. 
  • Try to be funny.  This is a risky move since you can't know the sense of humour of those who will read your personal statement.

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