Personal Statement Coaching

When applying to HK universities through the non-JUPAS route, you apply to each university individually. The word limits for HK personal statements vary by university, with the top institutions ranging between 1000 words and two A4 pages.

For the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the word limit is 1,000 words. For the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the limit is two A4 pages. HKUST does not have a fixed word limit, but recommends keeping it no longer than two pages.

Since you can submit a separate personal statement to each university, you have the flexibility to tailor your personal statement to tailor for each institution. Be sure to check the university websites for the latest updates as well.

To write a strong HK personal statement, start by building relevant experiences and content, then describe and reflect on them effectively in your statement.

Before you begin writing, it is important for you to take time to review your profile, including your experiences, extra-curricular activities, interests, and strengths. Draft bullet points outlining your main achievements and engagements over the last three years of high school, categorising them into subject-related and others. This will help you identify any gaps that you may need to address. Consider seeking more opportunities to strengthen your profile if needed.

During the writing process, it is often beneficial to ask yourself two key questions: “Why this subject?” - exploring your motivation to pursue the chosen subject - and “Why you?” - how you are a suitable candidate for the course. Identify your aspirations and strongest experiences. Organise them in your draft, whether chronologically, thematically, or starting with the most relevant ones, to ensure a smooth flow.

Make sure to proofread your statement carefully. It is also a good idea to share it with your school, tutors, and/or family to ensure you have effectively conveyed your passion and strengths. Good luck with your writing!

If you are applying for the same subject in both Hong Kong and the UK, you can adapt your UK UCAS personal statement for your HK application.

While the UK personal statement emphasises a student’s academic interest and vigor related to the target university subject, HK personal statements allow greater flexibility in the content highlighted. This means you can present a more all-rounded view of your experiences and learnings.

Given that, you can adapt the UK personal statement by elaborating on extra-curricular activities that may or may not be directly related to the target subject. Additionally, since you can submit a separate personal statement to each institution, you have the flexibility to tailor your personal statement to each university. Lastly, the word count limits are often more lenient for Hong Kong universities, thus you can likely expand upon your UK personal statement for the Hong Kong side.