Not sure what to do?

Browse subjects, locations and universities

Popular topics

  • How to apply to university
  • Writing a personal statement
  • Tracking your application

Popular subjects

  • Mathematics

Personal statement

2020 Undergraduate Application

Make sure your personal statement is your own work

We'll carry out checks to verify your personal statement is your own work.

Provided it is your own work, you can use your personal statement from your application last year. If it appears to have been copied from another source, we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider appropriate. We'll also contact you by email to tell you this has happened.

My Application example pages

  • Centre link – Buzzword, school or college
  • Centre link – Buzzword, terms and conditions
  • Centre link – Buzzword
  • Centre link – Buzzword, confirm school
  • Centre link – Centre preferences
  • Centre link – Wrong school
  • Choose & Send – Choices
  • Choose & Send – Overview 01
  • Choose & Send – Overview 02
  • Choose & Send – Contact details
  • Choose & Send – Course cards
  • Choose & Send – Education
  • Choose & Send – Education – Add qualification
  • Choose & Send – Education – Add qualification details
  • Choose & Send – Education – Add qualification with modules
  • Choose & Send – Education – Add qualification with modules 02
  • Independent reference – sign in
  • Independent reference – accept/decline
  • Independent reference – predicted grades
  • Independent reference – reference
  • Independent reference – thank you
  • Choose & Send – Personal details
  • Choose & Send – Personal statement – preview
  • Choose & Send – Personal statement
  • Receive & Review – Overview
  • Receive & Review – Substitute choice 01
  • Receive & Review – Substitute choice 02
  • Receive & Review – Withdraw choice
  • Receive & Review – Personal statement
  • Receive & Review – Application details
  • Receive & Review – Personal details
  • Receive & Review – Contact details
  • Receive & Review – Education
  • Receive & Review – Work experience
  • Receive & Review – Nationality
  • Receive & Review – Supporting information
  • Receive & Review – English skills
  • Receive & Review – Diversity and inclusion
  • Receive & Review – Finance and funding
  • Receive & Review – Letters
  • Receive & Review – View all updates
  • Receive & Review – Visa
  • Receive & Review – VARIANTS Application status
  • Receive & Review – Overview Extra
  • Receive & Review – Confirm your choices 01
  • Receive & Review – Confirm your choices 02
  • Receive & Review – Confirm your choices 03
  • Receive & Review – Overview Confirmed Choices
  • Receive & Review – Decline all offers
  • Receive & Review – Edit Contact details
  • Receive & Review – Embargo Overview
  • Receive & Review – Withdraw your application
  • Receive & Review – Add choice
  • Receive & Review – Decline place
  • Receive & Review – Referee details
  • Receive & Review – No reference
  • Receive & Review – Centre provided reference
  • Receive & Review – Confirm your choice (one option)
  • Receive & Review – Correspondence example
  • Choose & Send – References
  • Choose & Send – Residency and nationality
  • Similarity report
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Check your application
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Marketing preferences
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Terms and Conditions
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Pay and submit (Applicant)
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Pay and submit (Applicant or centre)
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Thank you
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Read only
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Payment unsuccessful
  • Choose & Send – Submit – Pay and submit (pay for full application)
  • Choose & Send – Supporting information
  • Choose & Send – UC Submit – Add choice
  • Choose & Send – UC Submit – Pay and submit
  • Choose & Send – UCAS Application Overview
  • Choose & Send – Work experience

UCL logo

Writing your personal statement

A personal statement is your chance to tell us what motivates you and why you’re suitable for your chosen programme.

Please note

you cannot amend your personal statement once you have submitted your application

Where to put a personal statement

You can type your personal statement in the online application form (3,000-character limit, including spaces) or upload it as a separate document. If you upload your personal statement, you can go over 3,000 characters but it cannot be longer than two sides of A4 paper (size 12 font and single spaced).

You should consider the following questions when writing your personal statement

  • Why do you want to undertake the programme or research?
  • What are your academic interests?
  • Why do you wish to study at UCL?
  • What educational experience do you have?
  • Do you have any relevant work experience?
  • Have you completed any extracurricular or voluntary activities relevant to the programme?
  • What are your career aspirations?

Some programmes ask for programme-specific information in your personal statement. Check your programme in the Graduate Prospectus for details.

Prospective Students Graduate

  • Graduate degrees
  • Taught degrees
  • Taught Degrees
  • Applying for Graduate Taught Study at UCL
  • Research degrees
  • Research Degrees
  • Funded Research Opportunities
  • Doctoral School
  • Funded Doctoral Training Programmes
  • Applying for Graduate Research Study at UCL
  • Teacher training
  • Teacher Training
  • Early Years PGCE courses
  • Primary PGCE courses
  • Secondary PGCE courses
  • Further Education PGCE programme
  • Entry requirements
  • How to apply
  • The IOE approach
  • Teacher training in the heart of London
  • Why choose UCL?
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Inspiring facilities and resources
  • Careers and employability
  • Your global alumni community
  • Your wellbeing
  • Postgraduate Students' Association
  • Your life in London
  • Accommodation
  • Funding your Master's

IMAGES

  1. 500 Word Personal Statement Sample One Page First

    personal statement over limit

  2. Personal-statements

    personal statement over limit

  3. PPT

    personal statement over limit

  4. 10 Personal Statement Mistakes To Avoid In Your Law School Applications

    personal statement over limit

  5. How to End a Personal Statement With a Lasting Impression

    personal statement over limit

  6. Amazing 300 word personal statement samples that you can use to get

    personal statement over limit

VIDEO

  1. how to write the PERFECT personal statement for top universities!!!

  2. How to write a Personal Statement (advice from Oxford, Sussex, Greenwich and Bangor)

  3. James Webb: How to Read a Financial Statement [Crowell School of Business]

  4. Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement for Graduate School

  5. Limit examples (part 3)

  6. Epsilon-delta limit definition 2

COMMENTS

  1. UCAS: within character limit; over line limit

    So basically, my personal statement has 4000 characters (pretty proud about this) but I am over the 47 line limit (51 lines). Is my personal statement still feasible or do I need to shorten it (though I really don't want to do this)?

  2. Ucas personal statement over line limit?

    When I paste my personal statement on ucas it says its 1 line over the limit which is fair enough. But this is without spaces for paragraphs and instead just indents where the paragraphs would …

  3. How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement …

    How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber. How to end your personal statement. Introducing the personal statement tool. Personal statement dos and don'ts. Personal statement week. What to include in a …

  4. Introducing the personal statement builder

    The personal statement builder in the UCAS Hub is designed to help you think about what to include in your personal statement, and how to lay it all out. It also counts how many …

  5. The new personal statement for 2026 entry

    The personal statement format changes will come into effect for students starting their studies in 2026. If you're planning to go to university or college before this, then we have lots of advice for the current personal statement …

  6. Choose & Send

    Your personal statement is too long to be saved. Click ‘save’ within 19 minutes so that your work is not lost. Your statement is 1 line (s) over the 47 limit, based on the preview. Your completed …

  7. How Long Should Your Personal Statement Be?

    How long should a personal statement be is a complex question, with several considerations to factor in. Learn about the ideal personal statement length.

  8. Writing your personal statement

    You can type your personal statement in the online application form (3,000-character limit, including spaces) or upload it as a separate document. If you upload your personal statement, …

  9. How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

    There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever …