Careers & university
UCAS personal statement: the three questions
UCAS asks three questions. Each answer needs at least 350 characters, and all three together can't go over 4,000 characters, including spaces.
Draft yours in the planner (saved on your device) →
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Name the moment your interest started, and link it to the course. Show you know what the course involves.
Ideas from your DT subjects
- A product you redesigned in your D&M folio and what it taught you about users
- Why a structure or machine you studied in Engineering Science fascinated you
- How designing a promotional layout in Graphic Communication made you want to communicate visually
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course or subject?
Pick 2–3 subjects and say what skill each gave you, with a specific example. Skills beat lists of subjects.
Ideas from your DT subjects
- D&M folio: research, iterative design, testing and evaluating against a specification
- Graphic Communication: CAD modelling, orthographic drawing to British Standards, DTP
- Engineering Science: calculations, simulating circuits, programming, system diagrams
- Practical subjects: workshop skills, accuracy, working safely
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Work experience, part-time jobs, hobbies, volunteering, competitions. Say what you learned, not just what you did.
Ideas from your DT subjects
- Making or fixing things at home, Lego Technic, model making, 3D printing
- Work placement with an architect, engineer or joiner
- STEM competitions, e.g. F1 in Schools, Young Engineers, design challenges
- Part-time job: teamwork, reliability, communication