If you're planning to apply to a UK uni for the 2026 autumn intake, you may already have heard about a shift in how applications are structured and reviewed. That's right - the personal statement.
The main thing to know about this change is that it is intended to make your life easier! So, we are off a positive start. Read on to discover exactly what the changes will be, when they will come into effect, and what this will mean for you as an applicant.
𝌡 What's changing?
For previous intakes, including 2025, applicants were required to write one free-form personal statement of up to 4,000 characters, which would be received by all five of their UCAS course choices as part of the application.
From the 2026 application cycle onwards, UCAS is replacing this with a structured series of short questions, designed to make the process:
Less stressful
Easier to structure
More focused on what universities actually want to know
🎳 What will the new questions be?
As of now, UCAS has proposed the following three key questions, but its important to note that the final list may change slightly. Each question will have a character limit:
✅ Question 1: Why do you want to study this course?
Be prepared to include;
Your motivations for choosing this particular course, above all others: from personal interest or a love of the subject, to someone or something that has inspired you. What has really driven you to choose this course above all others?
What you already know about the subject: Rest assured that this doesn't have to be an exhaustive inventory of your knowledge on the topic! Was there a book, podcast, event speaker, or lecture series that sparked your interest? Your chosen uni will want to see that you have done some research and familiarised yourself enough that you know that this is a subject you'll enjoy, and therefore thrive at studying.
Your future goals, and how your chosen course might get you there: What do you want to achieve after university? You might not have a chosen career resolute in your mind, and that's fine, but you should explain how you will use this course to get you closer to your plans for the future.
✅ Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
Consider including;
Your previous studies and/or training, and how they relate to the course you've chosen: You might highlight your studies at school or college, or even a short university course - any form of formal education counts. You should keep things relevant and recent - what has prepared you for this course?
Your relevant and transferable skills: What makes you a great choice for this course? What are you good at that you see being a great fit - whether that's problem-solving, collaborating as part of a team, or analysing data. Are there any subjects you've studied previously, or any specific modules, that you excelled at and that made you realise that this is the course for you?
Your educational achievements: The university you're applying to will see your grades separately, so you don't need to take up space re-hashing these. Instead, talk about any educational accomplishments outside of your grades: maybe you were a school ambassador, won a competition, were chosen for a certain initiative, took the lead in a school performance, or led a team for a successful project.
✅ Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This is your chance to really zone in on what it is about you that could make you a perfect fit for this course, and fill in the gaps for someone reading your application - on what makes you you. Write about;
Work experience, employment or voluntary work: Focus on skills and experiences that are relevant or useful for your chosen course - take a step back and consider skillsets you might not even realise you're developing. For example, if you have a weekend job waiting tables at a local restaurant, you're developing skills in managing conflicting priorities, public engagement, and even perhaps conflict resolution!
Personal life experiences or responsibilities: Perhaps you care for a family member, or there's a personal experience that you've had to overcome. Rather than listing examples - narrow in on what you've learned from these experiences, and what you have gained that could be transferable to your course, such as resilience, or remaining calm under pressure.
Hobbies, extracurricular, or outreach activities: What do you love doing outside of the classroom - whether its playing a sport, reading, crafting, D&D, gardening - how would your hobbies and interests contribute to you being a great student? Definitely mention any community work or summer schools that you participate in, too.
Achievements and accomplishments outside of education: Any potitionsof responsibility would be of interest to your chosen university - captain of a team or club, an achievement in music, sport, writing, art, or anything else you enjoy, or a qualification outside your studies - you might have completed a certification in British Sign Language (BSL), taken active bystander training, or worked towards a short online course in coding in your spare time.
Note: If you're post school and applying as a mature student, use this question to reflect on what you have been dong since you left school, and the skills and attributes this has equipped you with.
✏️ These questions are designed to give universities the insight they need, without expecting you to figure out how to structure everything yourself.
💡 Why Is This Change a Good Thing?
Clearer guidance – You’ll know exactly what to write about.
Less pressure to “sound impressive” – It’s about substance, not style.
Fairer for all students – Helps level the playing field, especially for those without lots of support.
📅 When Does This Start?
If you’re applying to start university in autumn 2026, you’ll use the new system. That means:
You’ll likely be submitting your application through UCAS between September 2025 and January 2026.
If you're starting Year 13 (or equivalent) in September 2025, this change applies to you.
🧠 How Can You Prepare?
Even though the format is changing, the core idea is the same: universities want to understand why you're applying and how you're ready for the transition to higher education.
Here’s what you can start doing now:
📚 Explore your chosen subject in and beyond school; read relevant books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, maybe even attend local university lectures, conferences, or seminars.
✍️ Keep notes on what you’ve learned and how it connects to the course.
🧪 Reflect on school projects, independent work, EPQs, or anything else that shows your curiosity about your chosen subject.
💬 Think about times you've solved problems, worked in teams, or overcome setbacks - perhaps in your A Level classes or working groups.
🗣️ Get comfortable writing short, focused answers; it’s like prepping for interview questions in written form.
🙋 Final Thought
This change is designed to support you, not to trip you up! All you need to do is focus on being honest, reflective, and specific in your answers.
Don’t worry about writing the “perfect” answers. Focus on telling the truth about what matters to you and why you’re ready to take the next step.