UCAS’ New Personal Statement Guidelines

UCAS has introduced new guidelines for over 70 subject areas to support students applying to university in 2026. These updates provide a clearer structure for the Personal Statement, making it easier for applicants to showcase their skills, experience, and motivations.

Each subject guide includes:

• General information about the course

• Insights into what university staff are looking for

• Guiding questions to help you craft a strong Personal Statement

Key questions to consider:

• Why do you want to study this course?

• How have your qualifications and previous studies prepared you for it?

• What experiences outside of education have helped you develop relevant skills or insights?

What’s Changed?

Key differences in the new Personal Statement format:

• Instead of a freeform 4,000-character essay, students will now respond to structured prompts.

• There are six key questions to guide applicants in presenting their experiences and motivations.

• University expectations are now more clearly defined for each subject, helping students focus on what matters most.

• While academic achievements remain important, the new structure places equal emphasis on skills, experiences, and personal development.

• The process is now more guided, making it easier for students to showcase their suitability for a course.

Overall, we think the new, more guided, structure is a big improvement on the old one and allows applicants to focus more on their skills relevant to particular courses.

If you’d like expert guidance on writing a standout UCAS Personal Statement, get in touch! We offer a dedicated workshop covering everything you need to know.