University experts offer this simple advice

As UCAS start offering places during this national lockdown, you may feel that you’ve missed vital opportunities to develop your skills through your usual work experience, industry placements and enrichment, leaving you with little to talk about in your statement.

Since universities most commonly look for passion in the subject you wish to study, these top tips will help you demonstrate this, even throughout the lockdown period, as well as highlight your key strengths, the depth of your interest and your dedication to your chosen field of study.

1. Research your area of interest away from the UCAS website

Universities most want to learn about the extra time you’ve spent on additional reading and research on the subject you would like to study. Talk more about your wider interests to demonstrate why you wish to pursue your chosen field of study.

Have you read a book on this subject? Have you attended any related events? Have you listened to any interesting debates? What are field and industry experts saying on the subject? Do you have a view? How would you like to make a difference?

Find virtual events

2. Give details of projects or assignments that relate to your chosen course

Tell them about specific projects or assignments where you have learnt and understood a topic well, whether this is through experiments, field study or research essays. Talk about your findings and how this makes a difference to you and your future ambitions.

How to research a topic

Filling in your UCAS Postgraduate

3. Save space on your statement

It’s natural to want to be kind and courteous in your statement by saying ‘thank you for taking the time to read my statement’ or ‘I wish to be given the opportunity to have an interview with you’. You may also wish to talk about how you ‘had a passion from a young age’ or was ‘always fascinated with this subject’.

However, you can in fact, leave these statements out to talk more about why you wish to study the programme. Try to avoid clichés and common sentences. Universities do not mind an abrupt ending as long as you have used the space to meaningfully highlight your involvement in pursuing this subject.

Tips for writing your personal statement

4. Relate your skills and experiences to your field of study

Try to link your work experiences or enrichment activities to the course itself. For example, if you enjoy sports, talk about how the leadership or teamwork skills you’ve developed will help you with your degree or HE course. If you are part of a club or society, talk about how the presentation or public speaking skills you’ve developed will help. Try to find a link as that will highlight your strengths in a more positive light.

Easy tips to map, start & ace your UCAS personal statement

5. Join online subject talks and read related articles

Try to join online webinars to hear from guest speakers talking about your field of study, watch related videos, read articles or take part in virtual work experience days. This will help you gain more knowledge, allow you to build your own perspective on wider issues and give you a lot more to talk about during your interviews and statements.

If you have student development opportunities at your college, join them and take an active role in developing more skills. This will also help you begin your course with confidence.

Virtual work experience programmes

NewVIc Student Union

Online university events

6. Mention online learning and lockdown activities

Since the national lockdown, you would have studied and dealt with life in a different way. You may also have taken part in different activities than usual for example taking part in online enrichment and joining virtual clubs.

Have you undertaken any volunteering? Perhaps you have supported siblings in their home-school studies? Talk about how you managed your time, what new skills you have developed, the challenges you overcame, and how this can support you in your future goals. Whether you have developed your ICT skills, become resilient or more patient, it is all worth mentioning.

Remember that you do not need to ‘say’ you are passionate, you need to ‘show what you have done’ to demonstrate your passion.

How many of these 10 skills have you developed during lockdown?