how to write a personal statement for a degree apprenticeship

Do you need a personal statement for an apprenticeship?

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You don’t always need a personal statement to apply for an apprenticeship, but you may have to write a cover letter with your application. Think of it as applying for a job rather than a place at university and sell your suitability for the role.

Your cover letter should be a job-focused personal statement detailing your best qualities and attributes. It should tell your prospective employer who you are, why you are interested in the apprenticeship and, perhaps most importantly, the benefits you will bring to the company. 

Not all apprenticeships will require a lengthy personal statement, but you should include at least a few short paragraphs about yourself alongside your CV and a portfolio of any related work. You may also have to complete a test or task related to the role. Apprenticeships are competitive, so you want to do everything you can to stand out in the best way. Your personal statement is your prospective employer’s first impression of you, so you need to make it good. If you’re struggling, you can find apprenticeship personal statement templates online and tips in our guide to writing an apprenticeship personal statement .

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Apprenticeship CV example

When you’re pursuing apprenticeship opportunities, your CV needs to attract the best employers.

A strong CV should highlight your marketable skills, using a visually pleasing and clear structure  to really sell you.

I’ve created this comprehensive guide (and example apprenticeship CV), that will walk you through the process of producing an engaging and eye-catching CV and move one step closer to landing a top apprenticeship role.

Guide contents

• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Your education
• Vital skills for your apprenticeship CV

CV templates 

The above CV example displays how to structure your CV when you have limited or no work experience, documenting your core skills and how they can help you transition into an apprenticeship.

As the guide continues, I’ll support you in producing your own interview winning CV.

Build your CV now 

CV structure & format

Your CV needs to facilitate ease of reading through a clear and well-defined structure, allowing recruiters to easily identify your suitability for apprenticeships .

A strong structure will enable recruiters to simply navigate your details, pinpointing your potential with ease.

This infographic will give you the tools to write a CV that is well formatted , detailing what sections to include.

Formatting Tips

• Keep to a clear, professional CV structure, sticking to a muted colour pallet and easy to read font
• Maintain a CV length of between 1 to 2 sides of A4 to tell your story quickly to busy employers
• Avoid adding imagery to your CV such as company logos or headshots, these aren’t needed in the decision making process and just waste space

Structuring your CV

Make your CV easy for recruiters to navigate by breaking it up into clearly defined sections, working to the below order:

• Contact details – have your contact details handy at the top of the page
• Profile – engage recruiters at first glance, with an opening paragraph that summarises your suitability for apprenticeship roles
• Education – documenting your educational history, focusing on the qualifications/courses most related to the apprenticeship you’re pursuing
• Work experience –  detail any employment, voluntary experience or personal pursuits undertaken
• Interests and hobbies – add hobbies that showcase your transferable skills

I will now talk you through what to include  within each of these sections.

CV contact details

Add your contact details to the top of your CV, ensuring recruiters and employers can easily reach you.

Look only to include essential information:

• Phone number
• Email address

Avoid adding supplementary information such as your date of birth, headshots or your full home address – as the city you live within is enough detail.

Top Tip –  use a professional email address and even consider setting up an account solely to use for apprenticeship applications.

Your CV profile (or personal statement ) is a short opening paragraph, which should grab recruiters’ attention and engage them to read further.

Like a blurb to a book it should give an overview of your CV, detailing your voluntary experience, educational history and applicable skills.

Showcasing at first glance why you’re the ideal candidate for apprenticeship positions .

Use these tips to help you produce your CV profile:

• Your profile needs to be between 5-10 lines, a succinct paragraph to entice recruiters, you’ll be able to elaborate elsewhere in your CV
• Research the industry you’re looking to pursue and tailor your profile to those types of apprenticeships, making yourself custom fit
• Stand out from the crowd and avoid using overused statements such as “I give 110%”, recruiters read these types of phrases in hundreds of CVs and they only make you blend into the crowd

What to include in your CV profile?

• Qualifications – your educational history should be a focal point, specifically highlighting any qualifications needed to commence an apprenticeship
• Core skills –  feature your transferable skills, consider strengths such as communication, team work, organisation and interpersonal skills
• Passions –  explain why you’re looking to gain an apprenticeship role and your interest in that field

Core skills & achievement section

Beneath your profile, include a core skills and achievement section that is comprised of two to three columns of bullet points.

Use your industry research to tailor the skills you include to those required for apprenticeship opportunities, emphasising your relevancy for roles at first glance.

Consider strengths gained within your education, extra curriculum activities or any voluntary experience.

If you have limited work experience, your education should be highlighted throughout your CV, but your education section will allow you to provide more depth on these courses.

List each qualification obtained in bullet point form, documenting the course title, year obtained and the establishment you attended.

Factor in GCSE’s, A Levels, any vocational courses or short/online courses you have achieved, starting with those most related to the apprenticeship sector you’re applying to.

Clubs and Memberships

Also, look to include any club involvement or memberships acquired within your education section.

Consider any sporting clubs you have been part of, drama groups or whether you were a prefect or school champion whilst in education.

See also: Graduate CV – School leaver CV

Work experience

Your work experience isn’t limited to just full time paid employment, you should look to include any voluntary work undertaken, freelancing or even any personal pursuits.

Structuring your roles

When structuring your work experience, you need to break up large blocks of text, enabling recruiters to easily navigate your experience.

Using the below three sections.

Give context to recruiters with an overview of your role and the organisation you were within.

“Working in a local cafe, serving customers at the till as well as supporting the kitchen with serving food ”

Key responsibilities

Documenting any duties in bullet point form.

• Taking customer orders, advising them which choices are best from the menu
• Helping to clean tables, counters and supporting in the kitchen when needed

Key achievements

Record your key achievements , adding any relevant figures to strengthen your examples.

• Received a 10 out of 10 score from a customer feedback form

Interests and hobbies

When you have limited work experience, your hobbies section is a great way to support your application by describing your transferable skills.

Avoid cliche hobbies  like “socialising” and instead include interests that confirm strengths such as team work, communication or organisation.

For example, playing for a sports club, being part of the debate team or being creative through a blog or YouTube channel you have created.

Essential skills for your CV

Feature the key strengths you have gained within your time in either education, extra curriculum activities or skills you acquired from voluntary experience.

Communication –  having the confidence to clearly communicate with people of all levels

Commitment and Drive –  display your commitment towards pursuing this training programme and career path

Organisational Skills –  whether juggling studies, voluntary work or other commitments

Team Work –  working with others, either in sporting teams or class projects

Writing your apprenticeship CV

When you’re applying to apprenticeship positions it’s essential for your CV to highlight your transferable skills, as well as your passion for the apprenticeships you’re applying to.

Using a clear, strong CV structure will help you grab recruiters’ attention, exciting them to delve deeper into your CV.

By using this guide, you’ll be able to produce your own eye-catching CV that’ll help you get hired.

G ood luck in your next application!

RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk

21 September 2023

How to Write an Apprenticeship CV

Are you struggling to write a CV for an apprenticeship? What a nightmare! If you’ve just stumbled across this page, you are incredibly fortunate.

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to writing a CV for an apprenticeship application.

Before we begin…

There’s no need to put ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top of your CV. It’s just stating the obvious. It can be difficult to spell too. So why risk it?

Just use your name.

Now that’s out the way, you’re probably wondering if an apprenticeship is even for you. Let’s break it down a little.

Why should I do an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a great option for any school leaver who wants the qualifications to start a career in a wide range of industries, but doesn’t want to tread the path of university.

If you’re dead set on uni, and you like the idea of apprenticeships – there’s a way. They’re called degree apprenticeships , and you don’t need to take out a student loan to do one. The government and your employer will pay your fees. So no debt for you. Score.

To find out more about the different types of apprenticeships and their entry requirements, read our overview of apprenticeship programmes .

Apprenticeship CV Guide

Step 1: your details.

After your name, you need to provide the employer with relevant contact information. Contact information is crucial. How will an employer get in touch to say ‘come in for an interview’ without your phone number or email address?

Step 2: PERSONAL STATEMENT

Keep it brief. Keep it focused.

Nobody cares for a long, rambling statement, which details your fondness for summer walks, soft cheese and watching re-runs of Friends.

In no more than five sentences, explain who you are, why you’re interested in this particular apprenticeship, and your career aspirations.

Apprenticeships train candidates to perform a specific job. Or for a role in that wider industry. Your personal statement should relate to that job or industry, and be tailored around the apprenticeship you’re applying for.

If you’re struggling with your personal statement, try and answer this question…

* How will you benefit the company during your apprenticeship? *

Step 3: KEY SKILLS

There can be an unholy number of applicants for each apprenticeship. And that means an unholy amount of CVs. Employers are unlikely to read each one from start to end.

A good apprenticeship CV has to grab the employer by the ears and scream ‘EMPLOY ME!’ within twenty seconds.

The best way to make an impression in such haste is with a series of bullet points listing your key skills. See it as a summary of your strengths. You can include things like…

• Time-management
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Working as part of a team.

Meet some of the RateMyApprenticeship team and find out some of their CV faux pas so you don’t make the same mistakes.

@ratemyapprenticeship We made the mistakes so you dont have to ✨👏🤝 #apprenticeships #cv #students #advice #gcses #alevels #school #jobs #exams #freshers2023 #examtimetable ♬ original sound – Ratemyapprenticeship

Step 4: EDUCATION

The first thing to remember in the education section of your apprentice CV is to put your most recent qualifications first. Put your A-Levels before your GCSEs.

Any modules studied during your A-Levels or GCSEs that are relevant to the apprenticeship are also worth a mention.

If you’re applying for an accounting apprenticeship, and you completed a project or a piece of coursework that focused on collecting and analysing data, let the employer know!

We’ve designed a template for an apprenticeship CV. This CV template is downloadable. And you can use it for any type of apprenticeship. 

If you follow our step-by-step guide to writing a CV for apprenticeships, you can use the template to create a CV that will have employers chasing you through the streets. 

Step 5: EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/WORK EXPERIENCE

If you have a job, list your key responsibilities and any awards or achievements you have been given.

If you’ve never had a paid job, this is a fantastic opportunity to discuss any unpaid or voluntary work you have under your belt. Detailing previous work experience is a great way of providing evidence of the key skills you have said you possess.

Anyone can write on their CV that they have a strength in customer service. How does an employer work out who is telling porkies? If you can point to your fortnight of work experience at Sainsbury’s, in which you dealt with a number of customer inquiries, you will look like royalty.

Some employers will hire apprentices even if they don’t have the required grades, but have completed relevant work experience. Not only is it crucial to finding an apprenticeship, but can make a difference when applying for jobs.

If you don’t have any work experience in the field of your apprenticeship, it’s a good idea to try and find some. Even just a week-long work experience placement in a role that is similar to the apprenticeship is valued highly by employers.

PRO TIP: When listing your responsibilities, it’s better to use words that convey action and a sense of purpose. Writing ‘I made a new pricing system’ is not going to inspire a prospective employer. However, if you change it to ‘I introduced and developed a new pricing system’, it sounds like you had a more active role.

Step 6: INTERESTS

If you don’t have the qualifications or relevant work experience, the interests section is the most important part of your apprenticeship CV.

Here, you can use your outside interests and extra-curricular activities to show an employer why you are an ideal candidate for an apprenticeship.

If you play in a sports team, now’s the time to convince the employer that you work well in a team. If you are a team captain, you can feed in your leadership qualities.

If you have any extra-curricular activities or interests that relate to the apprenticeship, highlight them. What you do with your free time is valuable information to an employer.

It tells them about your passions. If you can assure an employer that you are passionate about accounting, engineering or design, they are more likely to employ you.

Employers invest time and money in apprenticeship schemes. They would rather employ an apprentice who is enthusiastic about the course, rather than someone who is more qualified, but doesn’t care.

Step 7: REFERENCES

‘References are available on request’.

Unless an employer asks for your references ASAP, put this at the end of your CV.

You usually have to pick two referees. It’s a good idea to pick a person who knows you academically – perhaps a teacher in a subject that is similar to the apprenticeship.

If you have a job, your second referee could be your manager. They can testify to all the skills you have outlined throughout your CV. If you haven’t worked, choose someone you know from any work experience or volunteering you have done.

It’s better to choose referees that know you well. And who you share a good relationship with.

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CV examples

Apprenticeship CV

Amirah is a passionate apprentice, ready to leverage accounting skills within the finance sector. The modern Erasmus template presents her skills easily and concisely, while giving an overview of relevant work experience, courses, qualifications.

"Qualified accountant with ACA qualification, possessing a strong foundation in financial principles and strategies that drive business growth"

Table of contents

How to Write a CV for an Apprenticeship (Step-by-Step Guide)

Lack of experience and uncertainty can naturally leave you unsure of how to approach your apprenticeship CV and make a lasting impression on potential recruiters. However, apprenticeships offer abundant opportunities for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds, providing a direct pathway to professional success. Whether you're a school leaver, changing careers , or someone seeking to enhance your skills, this guide equips you with tips and examples to help you craft an impressive CV that effectively sails through applicant tracking systems (ATS) .

The CV writing process: Where to start? 

Crafting a good CV as an apprentice demands a strategic approach, underlining your educational background, work experience, and key skills. It serves as your initial introduction to potential employers and mentors, making it crucial to leave a memorable impression that piques their interest. Here are two essential pointers to help you create an outstanding CV:

Master CV : Start by developing a comprehensive master CV, laying the groundwork for your academic and professional journey. Regularly update this document to include personal profile, educational accomplishments, work experiences, skills, and notable achievements.

Job-specific CV : Tailor each version of your CV to highlight relevant experiences and qualifications to align with your chosen career path. Strategically showcase pertinent skills that distinguish you in the highly competitive job market, capturing the attention of recruiters.

For more information, use the National Career Services to find an apprenticeship and tailor your CV accordingly.

Customise this apprenticeship CV example

Apprenticeship cv example .

Download this apprenticeship CV sample in PDF

This CV sample features Amirah, a passionate and qualified apprentice with a keen interest in accounting. Her exceptional academic background and remarkable achievements have been thoughtfully showcased, underscoring her potential as a valuable asset for the organisation. Amirah's two-column Erasmus CV template concisely showcases areas of expertise and relevant experience, while his personal profile highlights in-depth knowledge of accounting and finance.  

Take a look at the following CV examples for specific apprenticeships for skilled trades:

Carpenter CV

Mechanic CV

Bricklayer CV.

​​What to include in a CV for an apprenticeship? 

There are certain must-have and optional sections on a CV. Beyond adding core sections such as work experience, skills, and personal details, focus on researching the job description to determine which additional details could further bolster your profile. 

Start off with an eye-catching personal profile 

Your personal profile , also known as a personal statement, is a snapshot of your qualifications, achievements, and career goals, aiming to captivate the attention of recruiters. This section offers a concise yet impactful glimpse into how you envision yourself in the field. It should showcase your passion for learning and eagerness to adapt to different situations. Doing so allows employers to gauge your potential and commitment to excel professional environment.

Accounting CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Results-driven accounting apprentice with a solid foundation in finance and an eye for detail. Skilled in handling financial data and analysis. Eager to contribute my analytical skills and dedication to accuracy to support the business success.

For more insights, refer to the accountant CV .

Childcare Assistant CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Compassionate childcare assistant apprentice with a nurturing nature and experience in creating a safe and stimulating environment for children. Dedicated to providing exceptional care and promoting children development through engaging activities.

Explore the care assistant CV for more in-depth advice.

IT Business Analyst CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Analytical and tech-savvy IT business analyst apprentice with expertise in data analysis and problem-solving. Adept at collaborating with teams and applying technical knowledge to support business objectives. Eager to contribute to digital transformation and optimise processes.

Take inspiration from the business analyst CV for crafting your version.

Library Assistant CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Detail-orientated library assistant apprentice with a genuine passion for literature and organisation. Customer-focused with excellent communication skills to assist library patrons effectively. Enthusiastic about promoting reading and learning within the community.

See our librarian CV for more information.

Nurse CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Compassionate nursing apprentice with a strong desire to care for the well-being of patients. Knowledgeable in medical terminology and dedicated to patient-centred care. Committed to learning and making a positive impact on the lives of patients.

Refer to the nurse CV to find out more. 

Marketing Assistant CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Creative and results-driven marketing assistant apprentice with a talent for crafting compelling brand stories. Proficient in social media management and digital marketing strategies. Eager to collaborate with marketing teams and contribute to successful campaigns.

For more information, read the marketing CV article. 

Electrical engineering CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Innovative electrical engineering apprentice with a passion for electrical systems and technology. Eager to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. Proactive and eager to learn from experienced professionals to develop technical expertise and contribute to cutting-edge engineering solutions. Excited to contribute to cutting-edge engineering projects and innovations.

Check out the following CV examples for further guidance:

Engineering CV

Electrical engineer CV

Hairdressing CV apprenticeship example for personal profile

Creative and customer-orientated hairdressing apprentice with a flair for style and current trends. Excellent communication skills and a passion for providing outstanding customer service. Excited to learn and contribute to creating personalised looks that enhance clients confidence.

Refer to the hairdresser CV example for job-specific insights.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the following CV examples for role-specific apprenticeship opportunities:

Doctor CV example

Fashion designer CV example

Banking CV example

Lab technician CV example .

List your work experience on an apprenticeship CV

When writing your CV, the best strategy is to highlight work experience and achievements directly related to your job target. Whether you’re childcare assistant, hairdresser. The key to capturing the recruiter’s attention is to include specific and measurable achievements which align with the specific program or role description. See our five tips below to best showcase your work experience.

Work experience example  

Electrical engineer | Aberdeen, UK | 2023-Present

Collaborate with senior engineers on electrical system design and implementation projects. Assist in troubleshooting electrical issues and conducting system testing and analysis. Participate in project meetings, contributing ideas and insights for process improvement.

Designed and implemented a low-power consumption electrical system for a new building, resulting in a 20% reduction in energy costs compared to the previous system.

Led a team in conducting electrical tests on critical equipment, identifying and resolving potential faults, resulting 30% decrease in system downtime.

Presented a research project on renewable energy integration at an industry conference, receiving recognition for innovative ideas and approaches in sustainable electrical engineering.

Highlight your education for an apprenticeship CV

When applying for an apprenticeship, showcasing the appropriate qualifications is crucial. To become an apprentice in the UK, you typically need to have a relevant educational background or specialised training. If you are still studying for it, mention it in your personal profile or cover letter, indicating your progress or expected date of completion. Tailor the CV sections and keywords based on the specific apprenticeship role you’re targeting. 

For entry-level apprenticeships, prioritise the education section, while for roles valuing practical experience, emphasise work experience. Alternatively, opt for a skills-based CV format to elaborate on relevant expertise when uncertain about the ideal format.

Explicitly state your degree name with the specialisation or chosen track. 

Specify the field of study or research area in which you pursued. 

Mention the university or institution name where you earned your degree. 

Include the year of your graduation or expected date of completion.

[ Degree] in [ program name], [ institution/school name], [ Location], [ date range, year of graduation, or in progress]

Intermediate apprenticeship CV example

Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship, City & Guilds College, London, UK, 2021

Advanced apprenticeship CV example

Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, 2022

Higher apprenticeship CV example

Accounting and Finance Apprenticeship, Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), London, UK, 2020

Degree apprenticeship CV example

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK, 2024

Showcase your skills for an apprenticeship CV

When writing your apprenticeship CV, it's essential to emphasise a diverse set of soft and hard skills that align with the specific program’s requirements. Start by incorporating key soft skills within your personal profile, such as adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving, to showcase your versatility and ability to thrive in diverse work environments. As for the hard skills, we encourage you to highlight them in a separate section called ‘Skills’ or ‘Areas of expertise’. 

If you are transitioning to a new role from a different background, draw attention to you transferable skills acquired from your previous experiences. Remember, many soft skills are applicable across different apprenticeship positions, so don’t let you hold you back from pursuing your dream job.

Hard Skills:

Data analysis

Freelance management

Project management

Statistical analysis.

Soft Skills:

Attention to detail

Organisation

Communication

Customer service.

Transferable Skills:

Time management

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Problem-solving.

Include relevant courses for an apprenticeship CV

Enrich your CV with relevant courses and certificates to demonstrate your industry-specific knowledge and dedication to continuous learning. Keep the list concise, limiting it to one to two lines maximum. Additionally, consider including relevant courses from secondary and higher education, along with any certifications or awards earned. Remember to customise your CV for each application, tailoring them to specific role and industries.

City & Guilds NVQs

Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) 

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 

Institute of Chartered IT Professionals (BCS) Certificate in IT User Skills

Cisco Networking Academy

Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)  

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)  

National Health Service (NHS).

Key takeaways

Knowing what to include and how to structure your CV for an apprenticeship is essential to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Remember, a successful CV effectively markets yourself, highlighting your relevant qualifications and genuine passion for your subject or field. Using our CV example and insights you’re one way ahead of competitors to create outstanding CV and seize that opportunity. 

Harness a captivating personal profile : summarise your key career accomplishments, qualifications, and career goals in 4-6 lines, ensuring it is brief and without personal pronouns.

Highlight relevant experiences : Organise your experiences in reverse chronological order, showcasing any relevant work, volunteering, or academic achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Showcase relevant skills : Emphasise a diverse set of skills like problem-solving, adaptability, and practical knowledge, along with any specific technical abilities related to your job target.

Education and traineeships : Present your education, including relevant coursework or awards concisely. Briefly mention program's name and university name to showcase your dedication and passion for this career path.

Courses and professional training : Demonstrate your commitment to professional growth by mentioning any additional courses or certifications you have pursued to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Next steps?

Smooth out any imperfections using our user-friendly CV builder, offering over CV templates . To complement your CV, discover our collection of cover letter templates. If you don’t want to leave anything to chance, connect with our professional CV Writing Service . Draw inspiration from our CV examples to save time, emphasise important sections and make it easier for hiring managers to grasp your unique professional offer even quicker.

How to write a CV for an apprenticeship?

A well-crafted apprenticeship CV should display your genuine passion for learning and professional growth. Emphasise your ability to adapt to new challenges, work collaboratively, and resolve problems effectively. It should showcase your educational qualifications, any relevant certifications, and practical experience in the field. Distinguish yourself from other applicants by highlighting specific skills or achievements that demonstrate your potential as an apprentice.

If you need further support, see how to improve your CV.

Are apprenticeships competitive?

Yes, they can be competitive, especially degree apprenticeships, which tend to be more challenging to secure compared to intermediate ones. The level of competition also varies depending on the specific program and the company offering it. 

To increase your chances of success, focus on building a strong CV with relevant experience and references, even if you don’t have all the required qualifications. Additionally, demonstrating genuine interest in the company and position you're targeting are essential steps to stand out and increase your likelihood of being selected.

Do you need a CV for an apprenticeship?

Once you find the ideal position, you usually need both a CV and a cover letter . It's a good idea to apply for a few apprenticeships at a time. Doing so could increase your chances of success but remember to tailor your CV for each job application. Additionally, this means you're not waiting for a response from one employer.

How to write a CV for a degree apprenticeship?

Highlight relevant academic achievements, transferable skills from extracurricular activities, work experience, or volunteering. Tailor your CV to showcase how your skills align with the program's requirements. Include a well-crafted personal profile reflecting enthusiasm for learning and practical experience.

Degree apprenticeships take three to six years to complete, combining on-the-job training with a full bachelor's or master's degree. The entry requirements are higher, typically needing 112-120 UCAS tariff points from A levels and 2 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics. Applicants must be 18 or older due to the academic nature of the program.

See the academic CV for more details.

Are apprenticeships classed as students?

They can be regarded as a form of full-time education but it could differ depending on your specific circumstances. Usually, this applies to students or pupils under the age of 18 years old in England. You can receive training from an apprenticeship provider, an employer, or a college. It usually takes from one to five years to gain your qualification. 

See our undergraduate and internship articles for more inspiration.

Are apprenticeships vocational?

Yes, it is a type of vocational education and training (TVET) which combines classroom learning as well on-the-job training. This type of training allows people from all walks of life to acquire knowledge, skills, and know how to to perform a specific job. They consist of basic training (theory) and practical application needed to perform a specific job in any industry. 

Can apprenticeships be part-time?

Yes, tney can be both full-time and part-time . Usually, apprentices need to work at least 30 hours and a maximum of 40 hours per week. If you intend to work fewer hours you can arrange an agreement with your employer and ask for 16 hours a week. This situation often applies to those who have caring responsibilities or have a second job on the side.

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Effortlessly create your professional CV within 10 minutes and download it whenever and wherever you want!

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What is an engineering personal statement?

Your engineering personal statement should tell the university all about your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.

It should also convey your enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific branch such as civil, aeronautical, etc.), and what aspects of the subject you enjoy and why.  

Your engineering personal statement will be used by universities to decide whether you are a good candidate to study engineering, and whether they want to offer you a place on their course.

How do I write an engineering personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study engineering at university. Try to pick one or two specific aspects that you like in particular and why they appeal to you.

Make sure you back up everything with examples (always show, don’t tell). You need to convince the admissions tutors that you they should offer you a place on their engineering course over anyone else.

A successful engineering personal statement should be written clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our engineering personal statement examples above.

What should I include in my engineering personal statement?

It’s important to include skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities if they helped you to build on certain strengths.

Think about how any work experience has benefitted you, and how it might be useful in your degree. University admissions tutors want to know what you can bring to their department and what value you can add.

Engineering also required you to demonstrate experience in highly practical subjects.

For example, for an electrical engineering personal statement, you could talk about your hands-on skills and interests. Have you repaired a radio or television? How did you do it and what did you learn from it?

Make sure you explain with enthusiasm – tutors want passionate students on their course that are really going to make the most of their time at university.

For more help and advice on what to write in your engineering personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What can I do with an engineering degree?

There are many career options available to those wishing to study engineering. These include:

• Mechanical / electrical / chemical / aerospace / marine engineer
• Operations manager
• Building site inspector
• Signalling technician
• Metrologist
• Technical brewer
• Boat builder .

However, there are other areas or industries you can choose to work in where an engineering degree would be useful, such as teaching or research. For more information and advice, please see AllAboutCareers and the National Careers Service .

Which are the best UK universities for engineering?

Currently, the best universities in the UK for studying engineering at in 2023 are:

Other top universities for engineering include the University of Strathclyde , University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh . For more information about UK university engineering rankings, please see The Complete University Guide .

What are the entry requirements for engineering?

If you want to take a degree in engineering you need an A level (or equivalent) in maths. In many cases you also need physics.

Some chemical engineering degrees ask for maths and chemistry instead; some ask for maths and physics; and some ask for all three.

Therefore, it's important to check the entry requirements carefully for any engineering course you are considering applying for.

A level entry requirements range from CCC to A*A*A*, with universities and colleges usually asking for ABB.

Find out more in our engineering subject application guide .

Which is the easiest engineering degree?

Most students would say that although still considered challenging, civil engineering is the easiest engineering degree to obtain.

However, it is still a rigorous course and you will need all the necessary entry requirements to secure a place (as well as a great personal statement !).

What engineering job has the highest salary?

According to the Engineer Salary Survey 2022 , engineers in the manufacturing sector are the highest paid in the UK, with an average salary of £65,340; followed by engineers in the energy, renewables and nuclear sector, who earn an average of £62,709.

The average salary for all engineers in 2022 was £58,108, which compares reasonably well with other professions in the UK, sitting below those in strategy and consultancy, qualified accountants, and those in banking, but above those working in financial services.

Is studying engineering hard?

Engineering ranks among one of the hardest degrees you can do.

The degree requires you to have everything from logic and common sense to a tremendous amount of patience when things don't go your way.

Engineering can be very difficult because you're essentially becoming a “professional problem solver”.

Remember that all engineering fields require a sting grasp of mathematics but some require more than others.

Engineering disciplines like electrical , mechanical , chemical , biomedical , software , aerospace and civil engineering all require very good math skills. However, some disciplines, like industrial engineering require slightly less.

Further resources

For more information on engineering degrees and careers, please see the following:

• What type of engineering should you study?
• Engineering and technology subject guide
• Engineering degrees in the UK
• Engineering and maintenance careers
• What are all the different types of engineering jobs?
• 5 exciting careers in engineering
• Engineering careers advice for school leavers .

Related resources

Engineering vs medicine.

Find out more

Engineering Personal Statement Guide

Applying For An Engineering Degree

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CV Template For Apprenticeship

Finding the right apprenticeship to start your career can be a daunting process. To help you stand out and maximize your chances of success, having an effective CV is essential – a CV template for apprenticeship applications can be a useful tool. Discover our CV template for apprenticeship here.

There’s power in upskilling

Do you need a cv for apprenticeship.

Just like for any other job, you will need a CV to apply for an apprenticeship. Having a professional-looking and well-written apprenticeship CV shows employers that you are serious about getting an apprenticeship and demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. It also gives them a clear picture of your qualifications, experience, abilities, and potential. Your CV should include information such as work history, education background, awards or certificates received and references. Additionally, it should be tailored specifically to the apprenticeship position applied for in order to show how your skills match up with what they are looking for. You can simplify the process for yourself by following the CV template for apprenticeship that we’ve outlined here.

Apprenticeship CV example

Below is an apprenticeship CV example that you can refer to while writing your own apprenticeship CV.

Structure and format

Your apprenticeship CV should facilitate ease of reading through a clear and well-defined structure. A strong structure will enable your reader to navigate your details, pinpointing your potential with ease.

Formatting tips

When writing your CV for apprenticeship, keep to a clear CV structure, sticking to a muted colour pallet and easy to read font. Maintain a length of between 1 to 2 sides of A4 to tell your story quickly. Avoid adding imagery like logos or headshots, as these aren’t needed in the decision making process.

Structuring your CV

Break your CV up into clearly defined sections, working to the below order:

• Contact details – have your contact details handy at the top of the page
• Profile – engage recruiters at first glance, with an opening paragraph that summarises your suitability for apprenticeship roles
• Education – documenting your educational history, focusing on the qualifications/courses most related to the apprenticeship you’re pursuing
• Work experience – detail any employment, voluntary experience or personal pursuits undertaken
• Interests and hobbies – add hobbies that showcase your transferable skills

What to include in your CV profile

When creating your profile, be sure to include key information such as your current job title, relevant industry experience and any specialist qualifications which make you suitable for the role in question. You should also write about any particular career highlights or successes that show off your strengths in relation to the position applied for. Additionally, it’s important that you demonstrate how these experiences have prepared you for this new opportunity by detailing how they gave you transferable skills which will benefit this role in particular.

Core skills and achievement section

Beneath your profile, include a core skills and achievement section that is comprised of two to three columns of bullet points. Use your industry research to tailor these skills to those required for your apprenticeship opportunities.

Work experience

This shouldn’t be limited to just full-time paid employment – you should also include any voluntary work undertaken, freelancing or even any personal pursuits.

If you have more limited work experience, your education should be highlighted throughout your CV, but provide more in depth information in the education section. List each qualification in bullet point form, documenting the course title, year obtained and the establishment you attended.

Clubs and memberships

Look to include any club involvement or memberships acquired within your education section. Consider any sporting clubs you have been a part of, drama groups or whether you were a prefect or school champion whilst in education.

Interests and hobbies

When you have limited work experience, your hobbies section is a great way to support your application by describing your transferable skills. Avoid cliché hobbies like ‘socialising’ and instead include interests that confirm strengths like team work, communication or organisation.

Essential skills for your CV

First, communication skills are incredibly important in any role and should be mentioned on your CV. This includes written communication – such as emails or reports – verbal communication like presentations or phone calls, and non-verbal communication like body language or facial expressions. Make sure you highlight any relevant experience that demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively with different audiences. Another key skill employers look for is problem solving; being able to think critically and come up with creative solutions when faced with obstacles.

Personal statement for apprenticeship

You may be asked for a personal statement for apprenticeship applications with some companies. A personal statement is your chance to show potential employers that you have the qualifications and enthusiasm needed for the job. It is important to make sure your statement stands out, as it will be read alongside many others.

Your personal statement for apprenticeship should explain what makes you suitable for the role. Include information on why you are interested in the industry or sector, any relevant skills and experience from previous jobs or education, and how this position fits into your overall career aspirations.

How to write a personal statement for apprenticeship

Before you write your apprenticeship personal statement, you should do your research about the company that you are applying for so that you can demonstrate how your own values align with theirs. The personal statement part of your application is a chance to dive deeper into your career history, interests and skills, as well as showing a genuine interest in the work of the company itself.

Your personal statement for apprenticeship should follow a structure like this:

• Explain why you want to do your chosen apprenticeship and how the apprenticeship aligns with your future career aspirations
• Give brief examples of any relevant academic or work experience from your past
• Demonstrate knowledge of the apprenticeship and pinpoint reasons why you would be well-suited to the course
• Give an overview of any hobbies and interest you’ve had and societies or teams you have been a part of, especially those which might be of relevance to the course.
• Proofread your personal statement in full before sending, checking carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes.

You should try to keep your personal statement clear and concise, between 350 and 500 words.

Find an apprenticeship with Estio

Estio is a leading provider of digital and technology apprenticeship programmes, offering a comprehensive apprenticeship course informed by industry expertise, and delivered remotely to ensure enough flexibility for your apprentice’s needs to be suited. 

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Apprenticeship CV: How To Write A CV For An Apprenticeship

Have you found yourself at your wits’ end as you struggle to create a CV for an apprenticeship application? 

Chances are, you’ve typed in “how to write an apprenticeship CV” and stumbled on this page (thankfully!). 

Carry on reading for an in-depth guide on how to write a CV for an apprenticeship. Here are our top tips on what to include:

First things first – why choose an apprenticeship?

Have you recently left school? Want the certifications to get your career off to a brilliant start but don’t fancy going to university? 

Then an apprenticeship could be just the thing.

Yet, if you’re keen on going down the university path but not so keen on the soaring student debts, consider degree apprenticeships.  

The government launched these in 2015 and they pave the way to get a degree without the price tag. 

Plus, there’s more chance of becoming employed by several of the UK’s largest firms.

For more reasons why an apprenticeship may be the right choice for you , make sure to read our blog.

How to write a CV for an apprenticeship

Keep this nice and simple – the title of your apprenticeship CV should be your name. There’s no need to add anything else to it, not even ‘CV’ or ‘curriculum vitae’.

Contact information

Once you’ve stated your name, you must give the hiring manager the correct contact details – in particular, your email address and mobile phone number 

If you don’t, how will they reach out to you for an interview?

Personal statement

The secret to nailing the perfect personal statement is to keep it short, snappy, and to the point.

Your best bet is to tell the hiring manager a little about yourself, what drew you to this specific apprenticeship and your professional goals – but limit it to five sentences.

An apprenticeship aims to teach applicants how to perform a particular position or about working in the wider sector. 

Make it relevant to the industry or position. You can do so by adapting your personal statement to the apprenticeship you’re interested in. 

Are you finding it tough to put together a personal statement? Have a read of our blog to find out how you can sell yourself in a personal statement .

Main strengths

The competition for apprenticeship schemes is fierce. Each apprenticeship will be flooded with CVs and hiring managers won’t look at every single one in detail. 

The best apprenticeship CVs entice the hiring manager and implore them to hire you within roughly 20 seconds.

So, to grab an employer’s attention, we recommend: 

• Compiling a sequence of bullet points that list your principal strengths
• Summarising your key skills – list things like ‘exceptional written and verbal communication’, ‘excellent time management’ or ‘work effectively as part of a team’

These are the traits that hiring managers are seeking. Including key strengths in your CV is a terrific way to stand out from the crowd.

Be sure to mention any A-levels, GCSEs or other qualifications when you apply for an apprenticeship. You should list them clearly and include your grades, starting with your most recent qualifications.

You can also include details of specific projects you completed that are relevant to his apprenticeship. 

For example, if you’re interested in a bookkeeping apprenticeship, you could write about a time you completed some coursework that concentrated on compiling or analysing data.

Work history / employment experience

If you’re currently working or have had a job in the past, list your primary duties and any achievements.

Use language that communicates action or purposefulness. Using the right vocabulary is vital when detailing your responsibilities. 

Stating ‘I created a pricing scheme’ isn’t going to wow a prospective hiring manager. 

Instead, tweak it to something like: ‘I conducted market research and led the team in developing and launching a brand new pricing scheme’.

This section is also a great chance to include any voluntary or unpaid work you secured, especially if you haven’t had a paid job. 

Listing your employment is a brilliant way to provide proof of the top talents you claim to have.

Hiring managers don’t always recruit applicants with the right marks. If possible, they will also want to hire applicants who have a proven track record of success at work. 

Hobbies and interests

This part of your CV for an apprenticeship may be critical, particularly if you don’t have fitting work experience or credentials.

Tailor your extracurricular activities and hobbies to show an employer you’re the ideal candidate.

If you play football, you can use this to persuade the hiring manager that you can proactively work in a team. Or if you’re a sports team captain, this points to your leadership and management skills.

Your after-school interests and activities are key to apprenticeship success, so don’t forget to use them. 

How you spend your free time can tell the employer a lot about you as a person, and if you can convince a hiring manager you’re enthusiastic about your chosen field, they’ll be more likely to hire you.

Hiring managers put a lot of time and money into training apprentices, so they’d prefer to hire someone who’s passionate about the scheme, not a candidate with more qualifications who seems less enthusiastic

References serve as a way for potential employers to validate the skills you have listed on your CV.

However, your references should not typically be included on your CV , instead you should write ‘References to be made available on request’ at the end.

It’s best to have two references prepared in advance by asking for their permission to be your reference beforehand.

Pick one referee who knows you on an educational level – for example, your schoolteacher in a subject related to the internship. 

If you’re already working, select your line manager as your second referee. They’ll be able to confirm all the abilities you’ve summarised in your CV. 

If you haven’t had a job yet, choose someone you know to be your second referee, for example from volunteering or work experience you’ve done.

Pick individuals who know you and with whom you’ve built a good rapport.

Apprenticeship CV example

There’s tremendous competition for apprenticeship roles, so if you want to entice the best companies, wow employers with a standout CV.

Want to craft a compelling, captivating CV? 

Check out our real-life apprentice CV template aimed at marketing apprenticeship placements:

The takeaway: how to write a CV for an apprenticeship

When writing your apprenticeship CV, you need to emphasise your transferable skills and passion for the programme. 

Use our clear-cut CV template above to show your enthusiasm for the apprenticeship to which you’re applying and entice employers to delve deeper into your CV. 

Need a little more help? Make use of one our expert CV writers and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. 

Good luck with your next application!

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

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