Undergraduate Admissions Personal Statement Guide

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a free-text written statement, which presents a reasoned case supporting your application to a particular course. A Personal Statement should demonstrate the applicant's capacity and motivation for study in the course to which the Personal Statement applies.

Do you need to submit a Personal Statement?

It is important that you check the additional selection criteria, if you haven't already, to see if you should be submitting questionnaires or personal statements to UTS in addition to your Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) application. UTS will not process personal statements for courses that are not listed in the Additional selection Criteria for UAC Applicants table.

It is compulsory to submit a personal statement, in addition to your UAC application, if:

  • you are a mature age applicant applying for a course at UTS and your basis for admission is a Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) or a Limited UAI .

It is optional, but strongly recommended, to submit a personal statement, in addition to your UAC application, if:

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Preparing and submitting your Personal Statement

Make sure to read through the information on this page before composing your personal statement.

The personal statement must be submitted online directly to UTS using the SUBMIT - Personal Statement link.

  • There is a 2,500 word limit for personal statements;
  • you should keep a copy of your personal statement/s for your records;
  • you need to submit a separate personal statement for each of your UTS preferences - if you don't submit a personal statement for each of the preferences that require or accept one, then your personal statement will be considered for your highest UTS preference;
  • we recommend that you compose your personal statement in your own word processor and copy and paste for submission, in order to avoid timeout problems.

If you can't submit the online personal statement paper forms are available from UTS Student Centres. Paper based personal statements will be accepted only in extraordinary circumstances and must be received at UTS by the closing date for the online submission at the addresses outlined in the additional documentation section.

No late personal statements will be accepted.

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What information and documentation should be provided as part of the Personal Statement?

The Personal Statement must be written by you and reflect your personal views. It should contain statements which:

  • reflect on your educational experience to this point and how it has prepared you for studying the course/s for which you are applying (results of formal study will be available for us to view via your UAC application);
  • indicate your knowledge and interest in the area in which you plan to study (you may include here any relevant details of short courses you have undertaken);
  • outline your expectations of the course/s for which you are applying;
  • reflect on any work (paid or voluntary) you have undertaken - you may also wish to include details of your work history; and
  • mention anything else about you that will help us assess your application.

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Additional documentation

You may submit additional documentation to support your online submission. For example this could be hardcopy references supporting employment history, or certificates from short or private courses.

You have a limit of five (5) A4 size attachments that you can hand in or post to UTS.

You need to attach a copy of the cover sheet, (download pdf) or request one from a UTS Student Centre.

Additional documentation:

  • is not compulsory - only submit additional documentation if it conforms to the guidelines above;
  • must be verified copies;
  • must be submitted to UTS - it is not to be submitted to UAC and is an additional component of the UAC application process;
  • must arrive at UTS by the closing date for the online submission.

Your additional documentation must not:

  • contain original documents, as these will NOT be returned - only verified copies of original documents are to be submitted;
  • contain copies of formal educational documents, for example High School, Associate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor's or postgraduate course - UTS will have access to these results through your UAC application;
  • contain portfolios, tapes or videos;
  • be submitted in a binder or folder.

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Submitting - additional documentation

By Express Post to:

Undergraduate Admissions
Student Administration Unit
University of Technology, Sydney
PO Box 123
Broadway NSW 2007

In person to:

UTS Student Centre - Broadway
Foyer Level,
Tower Building (Building 1)
15 Broadway, Ultimo

Ph: 9514 1222
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 6:00pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

OR

UTS Student Centre - Building 10
Level 2,
235 Jones Street, Ultimo

Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

OR

UTS Student Centre - Kuring-gai
Level 6, Administration Building
Eton Road
Lindfield

Ph: 9514 1222
Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm

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Verified copies - additional documentation

Who can verify documents?

Note: Copies verified by a Justice of the Peace without registration number will NOT be accepted.

An authorised officer must verify documents. Authorised officers include employees of:

  • the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
  • the Student Enquiries Office or Admissions Office at any UAC participating university
  • the Administration Office at any TAFE college
  • Interstate tertiary admissions centres
  • the official records department of the institution that originally issued the document(s)
  • an Australian overseas diplomatic mission and Australian Educational Centres

Note: There may be a charge for copies made at some participating institutions.

Alternatively, documents verified by someone who is currently employed as:

  • an accountant - members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, or the National Institute of Accountants, or the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants or Registered Tax Agents
  • a bank or credit union manager
  • a barrister, solicitor or patent attorney
  • a police officer with the rank of sergeant and above
  • a post office manager
  • a principal of an Australian secondary college, high school or primary school
  • a commissioner for declarations
  • or a Justice of the Peace with registration number - copies verified by a Justice of the Peace without registration number will NOT be accepted.

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How should documents be verified?

The person who verifies your documents must:

  • write on the copy(ies) "This is true copy of the document sighted by me"
  • sign it
  • affix the official stamp or seal of the verifier's organisation on the copy - if the organisation has such a stamp, and
  • print the following details:
    • name and business address
    • contact telephone number
    • profession or occupation or organisation
    • date verified
    • registration number - if the person is a Justice of the Peace.

The person who verifies your documents must be contactable by telephone during normal working hours.

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How will the Personal Statement affect your application?

Each course or faculty may use the personal statement in different ways. The faculty admission requirements describe the effect of personal statements on an application.

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Personal Statement checklist

The following is a checklist to ensure that your Personal Statement is completed in accordance with the instructions contained in this guide:

  • Have you? Lodged a UAC Application by the relevant closing date.
    No late applications will be accepted.
  • Do you? Know the preference codes on your UAC application and know your UAC application number.
  • Have you? prepared a Personal Statement for each UTS preference.
    Each personal statement must be submitted individually, requiring your personal details to be entered each time, with the distinct UAC preference code for the course needing the statement.
  • Is your? Statement no longer than 2500 words.
  • Are you? Ready to copy and paste the Personal Statement directly into the online application form.
    This will prevent timeouts affecting the submission.
  • Have you? Had additional documentation verified in accordance with the instructions of this guide.

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Submit on-line Personal Statement

SUBMIT - Personal Statement

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