How to write your personal statement

A personal statement is your opportunity to sell yourself to Regent's. We already know your academic achievements, now we want to hear more about you – your passions and your goals. What do you love doing? What are your ambitions for the future? Why have you chosen this course? And, more broadly, why have you chosen Regent's over others?

Preparation is key

There are two things to think about when you’re planning – the 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 want us to know and note them down – then use these to structure your statement.

Keep it personal

Your personal statement should be just that – personal. We want to hear from you, not anyone else! It's very important to note that this must be your own work – detailing your own goals and experiences. Remember, if you copy your work from another person or source, your application will be rejected.

Although there aren’t any set rules on what to include, there are a few things we'd like you to cover:

  • Your reasons for wanting to study here – what attracted you to the course? How did your interest develop? How can Regent's help towards achieving your career goals?
     
  • Why you’re suitable – have you done any relevant work experience, volunteering or wider reading? Check the course description and be specific
     
  • Your skills and achievements – what are you most proud of? Give us examples: how you developed your communication skills, how you overcame a challenge, etc
     
  • Your hobbies and interests – what makes you tick? Are you part of a club or a team? Have you joined an online course? Do you take regular theatre/museum trips? Show us you're a well-rounded, multifaceted person

Our top tips

  • Set out your objectives in your introduction
  • Express yourself – we want to hear your voice from the get go
  • Show your enthusiasm, but avoid cliches
  • Make every point relevant – and support with evidence
  • Be bold – talk about your proudest achievements
  • Tell us how you plan to use the course to launch your career
  • Finish with a powerful conclusion that grabs our attention
  • Edit, edit again (and possibly again after that)
  • Read it aloud – how does it sound?

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Applying through UCAS?  

Remember, if you apply though UCAS, and are applying to more than one UK university, you can only upload one personal statement. Make sure you don’t mention any university or course by name, just talk about your chosen subject area broadly. The UCAS rules on length are also very strict – your statement must be no more than 4,000 characters or 47 lines long.