If you’re filling out your UCAS form and have reached the bit about “Extra Activities,” you’re probably wondering what you’re supposed to put there — and whether that part-time job or Saturday volunteering really matters.
You’re not alone.
The Extra Activities section can feel a bit like an afterthought, but it actually gives you a valuable chance to show universities what you’ve done beyond schoolwork.
The trick is knowing what counts, what doesn’t, and how to write about it in a way that feels genuine.
What UCAS Means By Extra Activities
“Extra Activities” isn’t just a random add-on — it’s there for you to talk about what you’ve done to prepare for university life and study. This could mean taster courses, summer schools, volunteering, work experience, or online learning that links to your subject. It’s your chance to say, “Here’s what I’ve done to explore this subject in the real world.”
It’s important to understand the difference between the “Extra Activities” section and the “Employment” section. UCAS treats them separately: employment is for paid work, while extra activities are about things that show your enthusiasm, curiosity, and initiative. Both can strengthen your application, but they serve different purposes.
What Definitely Counts
Subject Enrichment And Academic Curiosity
Anything that helps you explore your subject beyond the classroom counts as an extra activity. Think summer schools, online courses (like MOOCs), university taster sessions, public lectures, competitions, or even independent projects. For example, if you’re applying for biology, a short ecology course or volunteering on a local conservation project would be great to mention. Admissions tutors love to see curiosity that goes beyond what you were told to study.
Work Experience And Volunteering
If you’ve done any work experience that relates to your subject — even loosely — it’s worth including. For medicine or nursing, this might be shadowing professionals or volunteering in care settings. For business, maybe helping run a school fundraiser. The key is to show what you learned from the experience, not just that you did it. Reflect on what it taught you about teamwork, communication, or the realities of that field.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
If you’ve done an EPQ, definitely talk about it. It shows independence, research skills, and a willingness to take initiative — all things universities value. Even if your topic doesn’t perfectly align with your degree choice, it still demonstrates that you can plan, investigate, and write in depth.
Paid Work And Responsibilities
Even though paid work goes in the Employment section, you can still mention it in your personal statement or interview answers. Part-time jobs are excellent examples of transferable skills. Managing shifts, dealing with customers, or balancing work with school shows maturity and responsibility. The same goes for caring responsibilities or helping out at home — they can say a lot about your character and how you handle real-world challenges.
What Sometimes Counts (Depending On How You Frame It)
Hobbies And Personal Interests
Your hobbies can work in your favour if you explain what you’ve gained from them. Being captain of a football team, for example, isn’t just about sport — it’s about leadership, motivation, and commitment. Learning an instrument shows discipline and creativity. Even gaming can count if you connect it to relevant skills, like problem-solving, strategy, or community involvement. It’s all in how you describe it.
One-Off Events
A single open day or lecture doesn’t usually carry much weight on its own, but if it inspired you to take something further — say, by reading up on the topic or pursuing a related project — then it’s worth including. Admissions tutors are more interested in what you did with the experience than the event itself.
What Usually Doesn’t Count
Long Lists With No Explanation
A long, unexplained list of clubs and activities might look busy, but it doesn’t say much about you. Admissions teams don’t just want to see what you did — they want to know why it mattered. “Member of the debating club” doesn’t mean much on its own. “Member of the debating club, where I developed public speaking confidence and learned to structure arguments” is much stronger.
Activities With No Clear Connection
Some activities just don’t have much relevance to your course or your personal growth. That’s fine — not everything in life has to make you more “admissible” — but when space is limited, focus on the ones that genuinely reflect your interests, skills, or personality in a way that fits your chosen subject.
How To Prioritise When You’ve Done A Lot
If you’re involved in loads of things, narrow it down to what really shows off your academic interest and personal growth. Start with the most relevant experiences — things that prove your motivation for your chosen course. Then, mix in one or two personal achievements that show individuality.
For example, if you’re applying for psychology, leading a peer mentoring group or volunteering for a mental health charity might be more useful than listing every hobby you’ve ever tried.
When writing about your experiences, focus on reflection over description. Instead of saying, “I volunteered at a primary school,” try something like, “Volunteering at a primary school showed me how patience and clear communication can build confidence in children — skills I hope to develop further as a teacher.”
That kind of reflection is what makes admissions tutors pay attention.
Common Misunderstandings About Extra Activities
“I Need Loads Of Them”
You don’t. Universities prefer depth over quantity. One meaningful experience that clearly links to your course can be more effective than five vague ones. A student who’s spent a year volunteering in a hospital will always make a stronger impression than someone who’s attended five unrelated summer events.
“My Part-Time Job Doesn’t Count”
It does. Your job might not relate directly to your subject, but it can still show responsibility, time management, and people skills. A Saturday shift in retail or hospitality can teach just as much as a formal work placement if you can reflect on it properly.
“It Doesn’t Matter Now That The Personal Statement Is Changing”
It still matters. The new UCAS format replaces the single personal statement with a series of structured questions, but they’ll still ask about your motivation and preparation. Your activities are what give those answers depth. The format might change, but universities still want evidence that you’ve engaged with your chosen subject beyond school.
Writing About Activities Without Sounding Like A Robot
One of the biggest traps students fall into is over-polishing their writing. Admissions tutors can spot copy-and-paste phrases like “I am passionate about…” a mile off. The best approach is to write naturally, as if you were explaining what you did to someone in person. Be specific, keep it genuine, and focus on moments that mattered to you.
Try breaking down each activity into three parts:
- What you did
- What you learned or noticed
- How it helped you prepare for university
For example: “After completing an online course on data science, I used what I learned to analyse football statistics for a school project. It made me realise how much I enjoy turning raw data into insight — something I’m keen to explore further in a computer science degree.” It’s simple, honest, and tells a clear story.
Making Every Experience Count
At the end of the day, the Extra Activities section isn’t about showing off a list of achievements. It’s about showing who you are, how you’ve grown, and what steps you’ve taken to get ready for university life. The best activities are the ones that feel personal and purposeful — not the ones that sound the most impressive on paper.
So take a step back and think: what experiences have shaped the way you think, work, or see the world? Whether it’s a volunteering role, a part-time job, a creative project, or just genuine curiosity in your subject, those are the things that will make your application stand out — not because they tick a box, but because they tell your story.
