The end of the UCAS Personal Statement: what comes next?
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The Current System
In January 2023, UCAS announced that traditional Personal Statements will soon be removed from the university application process in the UK.
Since 1993, UCAS has required university applicants in the UK to submit a 4,000-character Personal Statement during the application process. Since then, the Personal Statement has been the centrepiece upon which university admissions teams have made decisions as to the shortlisting of candidates for their chosen undergraduate courses.
However, it has been confirmed by UCAS that this process will be changing. In this article, we summarise these upcoming changes, as well as how this will impact the nature of the service we offer.
When will the changes take place?
Changes to the Personal Statement were initially announced for 2024. However, after consultation with stakeholders in the education sector, UCAS have announced that they plan to introduce the changes in 2025, for 2026 entry. Personal Statements will, therefore, still be in place for the current 2024/5 admissions cycle.
The changes: what we know so far
In place of the Personal Statement, the structure of which can be largely determined by the candidate, UCAS have announced that students will be asked to respond to structured questions focusing on three key areas:
Motivation for the course - why do you want to study these courses?
Preparedness for the course - how has your learning so far helped you to be ready to succeed on these courses?
Preparation through other experience - what else have you done to help you prepare, and why are these experiences useful?
The advantages of the new system
Structural changes inevitably require a period of adjustment. There are, however, a number of advantages that, we anticipate, will derive from the new system.
Firstly, the focus on thematic questions will help to structure the candidate’s preparation for university application. The question on ‘Preparedness through other experience’ is useful in getting the prospective applicant thinking about what super-curricular activities they can be engaging in prior to applying. Someone applying for English Literature, for example, might want to think about what Fiction and Non-Fiction books they will be reading in their spare time. Someone applying for Economics might consider reading relevant publications to sharpen their insight, such as the Economist or the Financial Times. Someone applying for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) course can browse the MOOCs available for their subject, as well as relevant work experience opportunities.
Secondly, the new format simplifies the process of writing. The requirement to justify motivation for studying any chosen course in a discrete response removes the need to craft an elaborate ‘hook’ to engage the reader in the application. The focus shifts from literary flair to openness and honesty. University admissions teams are looking for genuine interest in their subject, and the new format serves to calibrate the applicant’s response in this direction.
What we can do to support you
Chapkin Edwards are market leaders in university consultation. Our University Placement service helps aspiring students maximise their chances of entry into leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. From university choice, through submission of written work and interview practice, we are on hand to help with every step of the application process. Our team of Oxbridge-educated consultants will work through each of the three thematic questions with your child in depth, offering expert advice and ensuring that, no less than with the Personal Statement, they are able to write a UCAS application that truly stands out.