When applying to universities in the UK for an undergraduate degree, the admissions committee puts a hefty weight on the statement of purpose and its structure. The statement of purpose, also known as the personal statement, is an essay that every student applying to the UK for an undergraduate degree has to write. Through these SOPs,  the students have to show the universities that they deserve admission by elaborating on their ambitions, skills and experiences. The SOP is submitted through the UCAS and can be a maximum of 4,000 characters, which is roughly 700 to 800 words.

Writing the SOP is the most time-consuming part of an application so make sure you start working on it early. The five main questions that students should answer in their Personal Statement are:

1. Why am I applying for this course?

The first question to be answered in your personal statement is the reason for your choice of course or field of study. You should be very specific and mention why you would like to study that course and how it will help you in the future. 

2. Who am I and what makes me different from other applicants?

Admissions officers want to know how you are different from the other applicants. Universities are looking for driven and motivated students so make sure that your SOP is not generic and dull! Talk about your experiences and be honest!

3. How would I be a perfect fit for the universities I am applying to?

Make sure you do some research about your chosen course and the university culture in the UK. Remember to mention the importance of university life and how it will benefit you in the years to come. However, do not mention any particular university’s name as the same Personal Statement goes to all of your chosen universities. 

4. What activities have I participated in which shows that I have an interest in the course I am applying for?

The personal statement is the only platform where you can talk about your activities and achievements as there is no place to upload your resume on the UCAS. Make sure you include all leadership roles you have held in the past years, activities you have participated in, books you have read, online courses you have completed, internships you have experienced, and social service activities you have participated in. Also, it’s important to reason why your chosen activities can help you with your intended field of study. 

5. How can I prove to the admissions officer that I am passionate about my course and have something to offer to my chosen university?

Admission officers will not be impressed if you pen down all your activities and establish no connection between them and the course you are applying for. Therefore, make sure you are convincing and write about how you have extremely enjoyed those particular activities, which led to your choice of subjects. For example, if you are applying for International Relations, you may mention an activity like MUN and how you realized that International Relations was the course that you want because of your experience at the MUN. 

Here are a few important tips to remember when writing your statement of purpose: 

• Do not plagiarize! The UCAS performs a plagiarism check on your SOP and if there is more than a 5% match, you may be questioned. Make sure your writing is concise as you have only 4000 characters to show the university what all you have done and why they should offer you admission.
• Take your time and write multiple drafts before submitting your final statement. Show it to a couple of people and ask for their opinions because many times people have very useful tips which you can benefit from. 
• There is no need to use elaborate vocabulary! Admission officers are not testing your English abilities; however, they are testing your honesty, so be honest! Admission officers are experienced and would come to know if you have lied on your SOP. 

Make sure you do every one of these things, and you won’t be far away from the university of your dreams. At UniRely, you can get access to 100+ sample SOPs of students who have been accepted to top universities in the UK including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and many more. Sign up today on unirely.com