This site has been created by Rob Oliver and Helen Martin to support students in writing the Personal Statement for university applications in the UK. It is based on workshops given at the International School of Amsterdam since 2001 and at Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest since 2008.





Use the menu on the left or, if you have a specific question, try our 'FAQs' section which is regularly updated. Also see our list of recommended links on university entrance in the UK.



If you have a question about UCAS, the central clearing system for university applications in the UK, try the UCAS web site or ask your careers counsellor.



Other Systems

If you are applying for the US you will need to write a college essay. This is often similar to a UK personal statement but individual colleges set their own questions which might include creative writing options. This web site focuses mainly on UK applications. See the links (left) for some web sites on the US college essay.

If you are applying for a university in the Netherlands, there is a good chance that you will be required to write a personal statement or motivatiebrief. This is similar to the UK statement but may include more guided questions.

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Any opinions expressed here are entirely those of the authors and reflect no affiliation to a university in the UK or elsewhere. (If you are a teacher or a careers advisor, you are welcome to use these materials freely. We would ask you, however, to fully attribute any reference made to them.)