Making a start on your UCAS application and personal statement got you worried? If you’re dreaming of a future in music production, performing as an artist, or shaping sound for games and film, your UCAS personal statement is your first big chance to show what you’re about, and we’re here to guide you through the process.
For 2026 entry, UCAS has updated the personal statement process; the old essay is gone and has been replaced by three structured questions. That means no more blank-page panic, no more trying to make your life story sound like a novel. Instead, you’ll be guided step-by-step to shout about your skills, creativity, and give strong, relevant examples that show why you're a great fit for your course.
At dBs Institute of Music, we think this is a good thing. Why? Because this change is perfect for creatives. It means less focus being spent on writing the perfect statement and more on showing who you are as a producer, performer, songwriter, sound designer or live sound engineer.
What’s changed (in 30 seconds)
- The personal statement is now three questions instead of one long essay.
- Minimum 350 characters per answer
- 4,000 characters total still applies (including spaces).
- The questions are designed to structure your thinking so you include exactly what unis/colleges want to see.
Tips for tackling the new personal statement
- Know your “why.” Whether you’re obsessed with sound design, producing beats, or performing live, we want to know what drives and inspires you.
- Show, don’t tell. Instead of saying “I’m passionate about music,” talk about the track you mixed, the demo you recorded, or the gigs you’ve played.
- Link it to your future. How does the course you’re applying for connect to your career goals? Be specific.
- Be real. Don’t stress about sounding overly formal. Write like yourself (while still checking spelling and grammar).
The three UCAS questions and how to approach them for music courses
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Show what lights you up about your chosen subject or specialism. If you’re applying to study at dBs Institute of Music, here’s how you might connect your answers to our courses:
- BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering - talk about tracks you’ve mixed, sessions you’ve recorded, or how you’ve developed critical listening.
- BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production - talk about your beat-making, DJ sets, underground influences, and how you experiment with hardware/soft synths.
- BA (Hons) Vocal Artistry & Production / BA (Hons) Performance & Production - tell us about your gigs, open-mics, collabs, your instrument and how you’ve pushed your musicianship.
- BA (Hons) Music & Sound for Film & Game / BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Design - we want to hear about scores you love and are inspired by, your foley experiments, spatial/immersive audio you’ve tried or coding/sound design tinkering.
- BA (Hons) Music Production & Event Management - the club nights or events you’ve organised, the sets you’ve played, or demonstrate your entrepreneurial side.
- BA (Hons) Live Sound & Event Management / BA (Hons) Live Sound - tell us about your experience at gigs, setting up rigs, soundchecks, or times you’ve volunteered as tech crew.
Tie everything to where you want to go next, whether that’s as an artist, engineer, songwriter, composer, tour manager, or label manager. Each of our degree pathways is designed to let you go deep into your chosen area while collaborating across disciplines, just like in the real music industry. Use your statement to show where you want to start, and how you see yourself growing.
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped prepare you for this course or subject?
This is your chance to connect the dots between what you’ve learned so far and what you want to study next. Universities already see your predicted/achieved grades on UCAS, what they really want is the story behind them:
- Tell us about specific projects or modules. Did you mix live recordings during your BTEC Music Tech project? Analyse film scores in A-Level Music? Compose original music for your course? Explain what you did and why it mattered.
- Highlight transferable skills. Think beyond the technical, teamwork from ensemble performance, problem-solving in studio sessions, or time management, balancing coursework with rehearsals.
- Show how you’ve progressed. How have your studies taken you from experimenting at home to producing with professional software, or from school performances to playing bigger venues?
- Link to your chosen course. If you’re applying for Music & Sound for Film & Game, talk about any film/media projects where you explored scoring or foley. If it’s Live Sound & Event Management, explain how a school concert gave you hands-on experience with soundchecks, logistics, or leadership.
We want to see that you’ve already laid foundations and that you understand how those experiences will help you hit the ground running at degree level.
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This section is about proving you’re more than your qualifications. Think about the experiences, projects and responsibilities you’ve taken on outside the classroom, and what they say about you as a future music student.
- Your creative projects. Have you released tracks on SoundCloud, uploaded mixes to Mixcloud, or busked in your city centre? Maybe you’ve run open-mics, DJ’d at parties, or built a following on TikTok through covers. These all show initiative, creativity and resilience.
- Your industry experience. Volunteered at a festival? Shadowed a sound engineer? Interned at a local studio or helped run events at your college? Even small roles prove you’re already engaging with the world you want to work in.
- Your personal initiatives. Organising rehearsals, managing a band’s socials, or promoting a DIY night are all relevant; they show leadership, organisation and a hands-on mindset.
- Other commitments. Part-time jobs, sports, or caring responsibilities can also strengthen your case. They demonstrate discipline, teamwork, communication and time management and all vital skills in creative industries.
The key is not just to list what you’ve done, but to reflect:
- What did you learn?
- How did it challenge you?
- How will it make you a better fit for your chosen degree?
Whether you’ve built a bedroom studio, co-written songs with friends, or crewed at your local venue, make sure you explain the so what, why that experience matters and how it connects to your future path.
How to make your answers standout (quick tips)
- Lead with your “why.” Name the moment, person, scene or problem that hooked you.
- Show, don’t tell. Swap “I’m passionate about production” for something practical - “For a college project I recorded a singer’s vocals in Logic, used EQ to clean up the sound and added reverb to give it more space in the mix. It showed me how small changes can really shape the final track.”
- Keep it relevant. Always connect back to the skills your course develops, like critical listening, stagecraft, scoring to picture, or system design. Review the module details to help identify these.
- Keep it real. Plain English, specific examples, no clichés. Proofread once, then read it out loud.
Remember, we want to hear about you
At dBs, we don’t expect you to fit a mould. We want to hear what makes you unapologetically you. We’re interested in your sound, your process, and your potential. So when you’re writing, focus on being honest, specific, and future-focused. That’s what will make your application stand out.
Need a hand with your personal statement?
You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Our Admissions Team are here to help, whether you’re stuck on how to answer a question, not sure which course is right for you, or just want someone to check you’re on the right track, we’ve got you.
Get in touch with our Admissions Team to ask your questions, talk through your options, or get advice on your application.
👉 Ready to take the next step? Explore our new courses for 2026 in Bristol, Manchester and Plymouth, and start shaping your future in music.
