Accounting and finance personal statement: how to write it

Accounting and finance degrees are academic courses in financial reporting, corporate finance, markets and the economics behind them. A strong statement shows interest in those questions, not only in a well-paid career. For 2027 entry, UCAS asks three questions with a shared 4,000-character limit.

The three questions, for accounting and finance

1. Why do you want to study this course?

Start from a specific question. Why did a profitable-looking company collapse? Why do two firms with the same profit have very different share prices? Explain what you found out and what you still want to understand.

2. How have your studies prepared you?

Show the numbers side. Maths, economics or business can all count if you name a specific piece of work. If you have not studied maths beyond GCSE, show evidence you are comfortable with quantitative work, such as a statistics project.

3. What else have you done to prepare?

Work experience, an investment society, reading company reports or following a market story all count when you say what you learnt. “I shadowed an accountant” says little; “I saw how the audit team tested stock counts and why a small error mattered” says much more.

Common mistakes

• Writing a job application. Tutors are choosing students for a degree, not hiring.
• Confusing accounting with economics. Show you know what the course covers.
• Vague ambition. “I want to work in the City” with no reason or detail.
• No evidence of numeracy. Especially for quantitative courses such as LSE Accounting and Finance.

Who reviews accounting and finance statements

Econ Coaching statements are edited by a first-class Cambridge Economics graduate who is also a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) with Big 4 accountancy, financial services and consulting experience.

Questions people ask

Sources: Imperial College London: the UCAS personal statement. Checked October 2026.