Personal statement structure | Advice for international students

As part of your UCAS application to study at a UK university you'll need to write a personal statement - also known as a statement of purpose. 

Your statement is a chance to showcase your skills, experience, and suitability for the course you're applying for.

This blog will tell you how to structure your personal statement as an international student. It also includes some top tips on what you should include. Read on to find out more...

Contents:

1. Why is a personal statement important to UK universities?
2. What does a personal statement stucture look like?
3. What are the personal statement questions?
4. What do universities look for in a personal statement from a international student?
5. Personal statement tips
6. Submitting your personal statement
7. Why you should apply to a UK university

Why is a personal statement important to UK universities?

A personal statement – or statement of purpose – forms part of your application to study at a university in the UK. It is your first opportunity to showcase your skills, ambition, and experience in your own words, and let the admissions staff know how suited you are to the course you’re applying to.

A well-written personal statement could be the deciding factor in whether or not you are offered a place at university in the UK.

What does a personal statement structure look like?

Traditionally a pesonal statement was an essay, but for 2026 entry onwards, the format has changed. Now, you'll answer three specific questions.

These questions have been designed to act as ‘starting points’ for what you want to say. They'll help you build your answers.

You'll have a maximum word count of 4,000 characters (including spaces) to answer all three questions. Each question has a minimum word count of 350 characters.

What are the personal statement questions?

The questions are:

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

This is your chance to explain why you've chosen this course and who or what has inspired you. Show off your knowledge of your chosen course and how it fits your career plans. You could also talk about things you’ve done outside the classroom to develop your knowledge and passion for this subject.

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

Use this question to showcase your relevant and transferable skills and how they'll help you succeed at university. Think about academic achievements that aren’t grade-focused – your grades will be included elsewhere in your application, so don’t waste space on them here.

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

Extracurricular activities such as work experience, a part-time job, or volunteering, can showcase your suitability for your course. Highlight how these experiences - including any relevant hobbies and interests -  tie in with your chosen course.

Include personal life experiences and responsibilities that have helped you develop essential qualities for university.

What do universities look for in a personal statement from an international student?

As an international student there are some additional things you need to consider when answering the three personal statement questions: 

• explain why you want to study in the UK - show that you didn’t apply to study abroad on impulse. Prove that you've thought about your decision to study in the UK, and are ready to take this next step in your education
• make sure you include any work or volunteering experience from home that might be relevant to the field of study you’re applying for
• if English isn't your first language take particular care with how you write your statement, You'll need a certain level of English language proficiency to study in the UK (and you'll have to include the relevant qualifications in your application) but this is your chance to actually show how good you are at English

Personal statement tips

Feeling confident enough to write your own personal statement? Here are some further tips and advice to help your application for 2026 entry shine:

• your personal statement will be read by all your UCAS choices, so take care not to mention any universities by name
• don't duplicate information you’ve included elsewhere in your application
• don’t share your personal statement answers with anyone, or copy someone else’s – UCAS has a dedicated team that checks for similarities between personal statements. If your statement isn't genuine it could jeopardise your chances of getting into your dream university
• don’t use AI to generate all or parts of your personal statement – for more information, read our blog on whether using AI is cheating
• be authentic – admissions staff want to read about the real you
• leave plenty of time to edit your personal statement to avoid any last-minute panic and submit by the appropriate deadline

Submitting your personal statement

Once you're happy with your personal statement - and have checked and proof read it thoroughly - you'll be able to upload it as part of your application. You'll do this in your UCAS Hub. This is your personal space for preparing and submitting your university application.

If you're applying to study at a UK university in 2026, you need to submit your completed application by the following deadlines:

Wednesday 15 October 2025 (6pm UK time): for courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine/science 

Wednesday 14 January 2026 (6pm UK time): for the majority of other courses

Why you should apply to study at a UK university

Wondering what the benefits are of a degree from the UK?

A degree from a UK university can open up many career opportunities after graduation. It can prove to a potential employer that you have the capacity to earn a high-value degree and are willing to experience new things by moving abroad for your higher education. This can give your resumé a boost in a highly competitive job market.

Newcastle University is one of the founding institutions of the Russell Group. This group of 24 prestigious universities - which includes Oxford and Cambridge - is known for exceptional research, teaching expertise, and strong links with the business and public sectors.

Russell Group universities rank highly in both UK and international league tables, and are incredibly popular with international students. A degree from a Russell Group university is recognised and valued worldwide.

Find out more:

• Discover why you should choose Newcastle University
• Explore the academic year at a UK university
• Wondering how much it costs to study in the UK? Find out here