In this next instalment of the LIFT OFF Student Corner Blog, Sara shares her tips on how to piece together your UCAS university application and shares her top tips on writing, editing and overall content you should include if you are thinking about applying to university.
Getting Started on Your Application
Firstly, I want to mention that applying to university is not nearly as hard or complicated as you might think. It is important that you don’t pressure yourself too much or get in your head. As an international student, I applied through the UCAS app that made the process accessible and easy to follow. You will be following a similar process, so make sure that you check deadlines and follow up with your UCAS Advisor or anyone that can assist with the process if you have any questions.
Filling out all the sections of the application is honestly more work than writing your personal statement. I would advise you to do a little bit for your application every day, since it can end up taking more time than you planned most of the time. Doing a little every day makes spreads out the process so it doesn’t feel as overwhelming. Put some music on in the background when filling out the forms, and it will be over before you know it!
Also make sure you include all relevant information, including any additional circumstantial information. Making people aware of any support that you may need sooner rather than later is the best thing you can do, as it ensures you have the support you need in place prior to starting your academic course.
Prior to Writing – Conduct Research
Writing the personal statement requires a little more brain power and creativity, but it is also a lot more fun. You get to think about why you want to do your major, demonstrate your skills, and talk about yourself. Before starting to write mine, I read through a couple of good statements online so I knew what was expected of me. Because I took a gap year, I did not receive any guidelines or help from my school, which meant I had to figure out how to write it myself. However, that didn’t stop me from writing a good personal statement. Again, don’t be too intimidated by the processes. At the end of the day, it is simply another essay you write. There are also various videos online that give you helpful tips and guidelines, including materials on the UCAS website.
The Statement – What to Include
For my statement, I made sure to start with creatively expressing my passion and interest in my course to stick out and show my personality. I provided examples of my inspirations and desires to study the course I chose. This will serve as the introduction to your personal statement and now makes up the first question of the personal statement application.
Within the second section of my personal statement, I provided personal information about my previous studies and two specific example paragraphs that highlighted evidence of my academic achievements and demonstrated my understanding and skills related to my degree. This is the most important part in your application in the UK, since the universities ultimately want to see your potential and academic competence.
In the last section, I described various projects and extracurricular activities that related to the degree I wanted to study and outlined the different skills they equipped me with that set me up for university. As an extra, it adds scope to your statement if you end with future goals and aspirations that your major will enable you to achieve. An outlook on the future will demonstrate your ambition and add overall meaning to your statement.
Prior to Submission – Check, Check and Check Again!
Finding people who can read over your draft and give you feedback will polish your writing and can prevent misunderstandings. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and paint yourself in the best possible light, even if it feels uncomfortable or excessive. Ultimately, you have to persuade the university of your value, motivation, and competence, which can only be done if you stop being afraid of your own potential and achievements.
Final Reminders and Thanks
For 2026 university entry, the deadline for applications to receive equal consideration is Wednesday 14th January 2026 at 6PM. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered by universities, due to high demand for places.
Thank you to Sara for providing some fantastic tips on how to piece together the UCAS Personal Statement and application! If you have any questions or want some more helpful tips from our student volunteers, send us an email at lift.off@abertay.ac.uk or send us a message via our social media platforms!
