UCAS APPLICATION GUIDANCE
UCAS APPLICATION CHANGES
When you are applying to UK universities via UCAS, your personal statement is still super important. But as of September 2025 (for students applying for 2026 entry), the format of the personal statement has changed. If you're applying from now on, you need to understand what’s different so you can write the best personal statement you can!
The limit of 4,000 characters remains but now applicants are
required to answer three structured questions instead of writing one long free-text essay.
The new questions are:
1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
These three questions are here to help you plan your answers and include everything universities and colleges want to see, so you can make your application as strong as possible. Each answer needs to be at least 350 characters long, and you’ll see this marked on each question box. There’s also a character counter to help you stay within the 4,000-character limit (including spaces).
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This section is your chance to show your enthusiasm and understanding of your chosen subject, and to explain why it’s the right choice for you and your future goals. You could include:
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Your motivation – what inspired you to study this subject, such as a role model, experience, or lifelong interest.
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Your knowledge and interests – what you’ve learned about the subject through research, reading, or super-curricular activities that show curiosity beyond the classroom.
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Your future plans – how the course fits with your career ambitions or personal goals.
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Personal experiences – life events, people, or media that influenced your decision, and what qualities you have (or are developing) to succeed in this field.
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This section is your chance to highlight skills and knowledge you’ve gained through your education so far.
You could include:
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How your studies link to your chosen course
Talk about subjects, modules, or training that relate to what you want to study — whether that’s from school, college or online course. -
Skills that make you a strong candidate
Explain what transferable or subject-specific skills you’ve developed and how they’ll help you succeed such as skills in critical thinking, essay writing or fieldwork. -
Academic achievements
You don’t need to repeat your grades here — but mention any accomplishments like winning a competition, captaining a team, or taking on a leadership or creative role.
You can also include things in this section like: Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) work
Private lessons or qualifications (e.g. music, drama, dance or sports)
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This is your opportunity to share any activities or experiences outside of your formal education that show why you’re a great fit for your chosen course.
You could include:
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Work experience, employment, or volunteering
Whether it’s in-person experience, virtual placements through platforms like Springpod, or volunteering at school or in the community - focus on what you learned and explain how it relates to your chosen subject or career goals. -
Personal experiences or responsibilities
If you’ve overcome a challenge or taken on responsibilities such as caring for a family member, explain how these experiences helped you build valuable qualities like resilience, empathy, or time management. -
Achievements outside of education
Highlight your hobbies and extra-curricular activities- leadership roles, creative accomplishments or qualifications you’ve earned independently, such as captaining a team, performing in music, dance or drama, or completing specialist training. -
Activities after leaving education
If you’re no longer in full-time study, describe what you’ve been doing since—like working, volunteering, or pursuing additional learning—and how these experiences have prepared you for your chosen course.
You can also include examples here such as:
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Listening to podcasts, watching TED Talks or documentaries
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Awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh.
One-to-One Personal Statement Guidance
I offer one-to-one support sessions designed to help you plan, draft, and refine your personal statement with confidence. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to redraft an existing version, I will guide you through each section, helping you showcase your skills, experiences, and motivation in the best possible way. Each 30-minute session (£30) is tailored to your needs, giving you clear, practical advice to make your application stand out to universities and colleges.
Get in touch to find out more or click the link below to be directed to the booking page.