How to write a personal statement
The personal statement is a short essay where you can showcase your interest and skills to study a particular course. It is an essential part of your UCAS application. In the application process, your personal statement can be a key factor determining acceptance by a university.
Be aware that full-time undergraduate courses will have a character limit of 4,000.
1. Research your subject area
It is important to show that you have some understanding of the subject you are applying to study.
Use the following to help you.
- Read books, newspapers, or journals.
- Attend a free public lecture or workshop. Search Birkbeck's events calendar for public lectures and workshops.
- Visit museums, galleries and historical sites.
- Use online resources, such as a virtual lecture or online article.
2. Evidence and examples
Most of your personal statement should provide examples and evidence of:
- your understanding of the subject you want to study
- why you wish to study your course
- how your knowledge, skills and experiences have prepared you for studying your course.
What to include in your examples
- Subject knowledge.
- Transferable skills - use relevant examples from work or previous education.
- Personal experiences - don’t be afraid to include your personal experience if you wish to.
3. How to structure your personal statement
The new personal statement format for 2026 entry is structured around three separate questions to help students focus on their answers. Each answer must be at least 350 characters, and the overall limit remains 4000 characters (including spaces).
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Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Use this section to show your enthusiasm, motivation, and understanding of the subject and keep it focused on what excites you about the subject, the knowledge you already have and why this course is the right next step.
What to include:
- Your motivation - what sparked your interest, who or what inspired you, and why this subject matters to you.
- Your subject knowledge - books, articles, talks, super‑curricular activities, or topics you've explored independently.
- Your future goals - how the course connects to your ambitions, whether career‑focused or exploratory.
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Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course?
This is where you highlight the academic skills and knowledge you've developed through your studies, and how they connect to the course.
What to include:
- Relevant subjects, modules, or projects that link to your chosen course.
- Transferable skills - research, analysis, communication, problem‑solving, teamwork.
- Academic achievements - competitions, EPQ, leadership roles, or specialist projects (not grades).
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Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This section shows your wider experiences and personal qualities. Keep it reflective and relevant with what skills or insights you gained and why it matters for your chosen course.
What to include:
- Work experience or volunteering - what you learned and how it links to your course.
- Personal responsibilities or life experiences - caring roles, challenges overcome, or experiences that shaped your interests.
- Extracurricular activities - sports, creative work, clubs, summer schools, online learning, or subject‑related events.
- Employment - part‑time or full‑time roles that helped you develop useful skills.
4. Top tips
Undergraduate applicants can submit a draft of their personal statement and a member of our team will send you detailed feedback.
- Check your personal statement for spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Ask others to read your personal statement and provide feedback on any errors.
- Use the P.E.E.L method to help structure your answers
- P.E.E.L
- Point - what did you do?
- Evidence - key detail and information
- Explain - how is it relevant?
- Link - link to how that will relate to the course you’re wishing to study