As we’re sure you’re all aware, a personal statement is incredibly, incredibly important. If done correctly, you can increase your chances of being selected by the university you want to go to. You’ll need to cover several topics ranging from your interests and goals to where you think your chosen course will take you. There’s quite a lot of information to fit in, so it’s important you know how long a personal statement should be. Try to make the most of the allowance to truly show off your skills and suitability!
Before you start your personal statement…
Making sure you’re meeting the requirements is always a good idea. You can check them out on the UCAS website here. Always check the specific university and course requirements too to make sure you adjust your writing accordingly.
How long should a personal statement be?
A personal statement is typically up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines, which translates to around one side of A4 paper. It’s also around 500-600 words, so try to get your personal statement to around this length.
This can be good to know when drafting your writing. Once you’re on your final draft, try to ensure that your personal statement all fits on one page – this will guarantee that you’re on track.
How long does it take to write a personal statement?
This honestly depends on the individual. For some, as little as a few days are enough but others may need weeks to complete their personal statement. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to start writing your personal statement early so you have time to make changes.
Try starting by making notes about the course requirements and then thinking about how you fit these. It’s always a good idea to back up your skills with examples too, so try to make a list of your past experiences.
Overall, a personal statement shouldn’t be too complicated or rambling. Keep it concise, engaging and succinct, and stick to the allocated length. Be genuine and don’t be afraid to highlight your accomplishments – after all, it’s your chance to show what you can do!
