ucas scraps personal statements for university applicants

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Ucas scraps personal statements for university hopefuls

Social mobility experts said personal statements were “barometers of middle-class privilege”

A video message could soon replace the personal statement, the university admissions body said as it announced it was scrapping the written essay.

Candidates have a blank space on university application forms which they can fill with up to 4,000 characters. Ucas said that from 2024 they will instead respond to questions that will guide them to support their application in the right way.

Social mobility experts have campaigned for change and said personal statements were “barometers of middle-class privilege” because wealthier teenagers had tailored help. Numerous companies offer their services and private school sixth forms have specialists to help pupils.

Ucas is making the changes after a consultation with 1,200 students, 170 teachers and more than 100 universities and colleges. It said this paved

News | Education

UCAS ditching personal statement for university entry

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ( Ucas ) will no longer require students to write a personal statement when applying for university .

The change comes amid claims that the personal statements favour middle-class students who may have better access to “high-quality advice and guidance”, according to Ucas.

The 4,000-character essay will be scrapped and replaced with a series of questions about the higher education course they are applying for.

Ucas announced in February 2022 that it was considering changes to university applications.

At the time, Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, said “I have always felt that personal statements in their current form favour the most advantaged students.

“So I’m pleased that Ucas have confirmed that reform of the personal statement is in their plans so that personal statements work to the benefit of all students.”

Ucas consulted with 1,200 students, 170 teachers, and more than 100 universities and colleges before making the reforms, as reported by The Times.

According to Ucas , although 72 per cent of respondents surveyed felt positive about the personal statement, 79 per cent agreed that writing the statement is difficult to complete without support, and 83 per cent said they found the process of writing a personal statement stressful.

The structured questions aim to “bring focus and clarity for students, reducing the need for support”.

Students will be asked questions about their motivations for studying courses, what they have done to prepare, and any extenuating circumstances.

Kim Eccleston, head of strategy and reform at Ucas, said in a Higher Education Policy Institute blog post: “We believe this will create a more supportive framework, which in turn will help guide students through their responses by removing the guesswork, as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants when it comes to offer-making.”

The changes to the admission process will be introduced no earlier than 2024 for students applying to begin university in 2025.

And in the future, Ucas said that it would consider moving away from written text to multimedia submissions.

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UCAS Personal Statements Are Changing in 2025

Last Updated: 16th January 2023

Author: Matthew Amalfitano-Stroud

It was announced by UCAS in January of 2023 that traditional Personal Statements will 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, which would then be accessed by university admissions teams to assist in the shortlisting process.

However, it has been confirmed by UCAS that this process will be changing as soon as 2025. Here, we dissect the announcement, discuss what we currently know about this change and explain how this could affect your university application. Let’s begin:

In short, this is what you need to know:

UCAS Personal Statements are being replaced by a multi-question survey that gives applicants the chance to explain various aspects of their application.
This change could be implemented as early as the 2025 admissions cycle for 2026 Entry in the UK.
This will affect all applicants, both home and internationals, looking to attend a UK university in 2026 and beyond.
Students will need to learn how to take on these new questions rather than traditional Personal Statement writing.
Teachers will need to be prepared to do research on this new system and provide support for students in order to maximise their chances of success.
We at UniAdmissions are keeping a very close eye on the situation and will update this guide as new information surfaces. We will also ensure that our support systems are up-to-date and effective at helping students through these changes.

What are Personal Statements Being Replaced with?

With the announcement that the current system for UCAS Personal Statements will be getting replaced, it is only natural to be asking what will be replacing it. Thankfully, we have already been given some idea of what to expect.

Unlike the other major shake-up to the 2024 admission process, the removal of various admissions tests including the BMAT , the official announcement has provided us with an explanation of what UCAS is seeking to implement instead of traditional Personal Statements.

Put simply, the current format of providing a 4,000-character piece of writing will be replaced with a series of specific questions which applicants must answer. These questions will still allow you to write your answers out, but you will be answering set questions instead of having to plan and structure a full statement from scratch.

The specifics of this system have not been announced yet, including the number of questions and the character limits. We also don’t know what the questions will be yet as they are still being developed. However, we do know the key areas that these questions will focus on (all points are taken directly from the UCAS report):

Motivation for Course – Why do you want to study these courses?
Preparedness for Course – How has your learning so far helped you to be ready to succeed on these courses?
Preparation through other experiences – What else have you done to help you prepare, and why are these experiences useful?
Extenuating circumstances – Is there anything that the universities and colleges need to know about, to help them put your achievements and experiences so far into context?
Preparedness for study – What have you done to prepare yourself for student life?
Preferred Learning Styles – Which learning and assessment styles best suit you – how do your courses choices match that?

Of course, this is all subject to change as UCAS is still actively working with universities to determine what they want most from applicants. However, it seems that they are aiming to cover the same ground as traditional Personal Statements while also allowing applicants to discuss more personal factors such as motivation, preference and extenuating circumstances.

At UniAdmissions, we ensure all of our students receive the most up-to-date support.

At UniAdmissions, we’re working tirelessly to ensure that our tutors, curriculum and resources are ready to get our students through these changes. You can join them today and ensure you get the support you need to make it through the 2024 admissions cycle .

Discover our Oxbridge Premium Programmes below and find out how you can enrol and triple your chances of success .

When Are UCAS Personal Statements Being Replaced?

The initial announcement stated that these reforms to the Personal Statement system will be introduced in the 2024 admissions cycle for 2025 entry. However, UCAS have since gone back on this and delayed the change to as early as 2025 (for 2026 Entry). However, this change could also occur the following year for 2027 Entry.

UniAdmissions contacted UCAS directly to confirm if a date had been set for the implementation of the new Personal Statement format. The representative stated the following:

The current discussion around the Personal Statement changes are to improve the application process for all applicants. At the moment the earliest this change would take place is in the 2026 application cycle. There won't be any changes this year. UCAS Representative

It’s worth mentioning that these plans have been in place for a fair amount of time, with discussions of reforming the application process starting in April 2021. However, this change still won’t be implemented for another year, so applicants applying for 2025 (and potentially 2026) Entry will still need to submit a traditional Personal Statement.

Why Are UCAS Personal Statements Being Removed?

The announcement of these reforms was made on January 12th 2023 via a blog post on the official HEPI website. This post highlights the amendments being made to the Personal Statement process and the research that was conducted to influence this change.

Interestingly, the data quoted in this post states that the majority of applicants surveyed were happy with the current Personal Statement process, with 72% feeling positive about it. However, the same survey indicated that 83% of applicants found the process stressful and 79% felt unable to complete theirs without support. This is the data that most likely influenced the changes.

The post’s writer, Kim Eccleston, states that they are aiming to provide better support for both applicants and universities, creating “a more supportive framework” that allows applicants to write about what the universities need to know in a less restrictive way. It is also stated in a more detailed outline of the announcement that both students and teachers preferred the use of specific questions instead of free-form writing.

However, a previous post released in November 2022 provides even more insight into the reasoning behind this decision. Based on data featured in HEPI Debate Paper 31 , various industry professionals had commented on the challenges facing applicants of certain background when it comes to the current style of Personal Statement.

Within the quotes featured here, the traditional UCAS Personal Statement was described as “ambiguous” , “unfair” and “barometers of middle-class privilege” . These comments may potentially be in reference to the current importance of work experience, which can be difficult to obtain without connections in certain industries, as well as additional experiences which may not be available to all applicants.

Therefore, this new system should presumably reduce the barriers for disadvantaged applicants by shifting focus to each individual’s own interest and abilities within their chosen subjects.

Other Changes being Made by UCAS

Personal Statements are only one of five key areas being altered by UCAS, as highlighted in the blog post. This is certainly the most significant action taking place, but other changes to the application process include:

Academic references are being reformed, moving from a free-text approach to a set of three questions, similar to the Personal Statement reforms.
The 'Entry Grade Report' will be created, which allows applicants to see grade profiles that have been accepted for courses over a five year period.
A 'Course Recommendation Tool' is being created to provide applicants with personalised suggestions for courses based on their current grades and preferences.
A 'Fair Access Programme' is being created to encourage widening access and participation.

Overall, it seems these changes all have the same intent; to level the playing field and make university applications more achievable for everyone.

How will this affect my university application?

As previously stated, if you are applying to university this year for 2025 Entry, you will not be affected by these reforms and will need to submit a traditional Personal Statement to UCAS like previous years.

For applicants applying for 2026/27 Entry and beyond, your application will follow this new process, meaning you won’t have to submit a full Personal Statement but will instead need to answer a series of questions relating to your application and abilities for your chosen course.

When hearing that the whole process will be changing, this typically instils a feeling of dread as you’ll be treading new ground that no one else has experienced before. However, it’s important to understand that UCAS states these changes are being made for the benefit of both the applicants and the universities.

As we’ve already discussed, a key part of the reason this change is being implemented is that a high percentage of applicants found writing a traditional Personal Statement stressful, which is counterintuitive to what UCAS is trying to achieve. By providing applicants with a strong framework, in the form of specific questions, this new process should allow more applicants to provide better quality statements for universities.

This change is also set to be particularly beneficial to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as the process will allow them to better express their ability regardless of any areas that may be lacking due to factors out of their control. Essentially, the new process should allow more people to stand a better chance of making a good impression despite limitations.

How Can I Start Preparing?

If you’re starting your preparations early, the main barrier you’ll face at this stage of preparation is not knowing what the questions will be, as they have yet to be announced. There are no resources available currently that cover this system, so you’re going to have to be independent with your preparation here.

Since we have a rough outline of what the questions to focus on, you should still be able to practice your responses. Although they won’t be as relevant any more, it would still be helpful to check out Personal Statement guides and examples as these can help you pin down the language and writing style you use.

With all this information now available to us, you should be able to get a sense of what to do for your application in the coming years. The initial introduction of this system in 2024 will act as a test of its effectiveness, so elements could be changed in the years following. However, the important thing is that you understand how things are changing from the current system and how you can make the most of the new system.

If you are applying for university in 2023 for 2024 Entry, you will need to make sure you’re ready to write your Personal Statement. Thankfully, UniAdmissions have plenty of resources to help you through it, including our Ultimate UCAS Personal Statement Guide and our collection of successful Oxbridge Personal Statements .

If you’re looking for more in-depth support that covers the whole application process for Medicine, Law and Oxbridge courses, them find out how you can enrol in one of our Premium Programmes .

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Ucas personal statements are changing: here’s what you need to know.

Personal statements are set to become a thing of the past. The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has introduced a new process for university applications.

Personal statements are set to become a thing of the past. The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has introduced a new process for university applications from 2025, meaning that the process will change in 2024 ready for 2025 entrants.

Personal statements have always been an essential part of the university application process. However, UCAS has decided to scrap personal statements in their traditional form. They will now be replaced by a new three-question structure.

If you are preparing to apply for university right now, then you don’t need to worry too much. This new structure isn’t coming into play until 2025, when students are applying for 2026 entry.

What is the new application process?

The new application process differs from the original university application process. Initially, university students were required to write a personal statement, which would be uploaded to UCAS Hub . Universities would then read the personal statement as part of your original university application and make their offers from there.

Under the new process, it will work differently. Under the new university admissions policy, you will no longer be required to write a detailed personal statement but will need to answer questions related to three key areas.

Current key themes are:

Motivation for course: Why do you want to study the course?
Preparedness for course: How has your learning thus far helped you to be prepared for your course?
Preparation through other experiences: What else have you done to help yourself prepare? How and why are these experiences so useful?
Extenuating circumstances: Is there anything the university needs to know about you? (optional)

These questions allow students to present themselves in their own words but with more structure. Teacher references will also change, allowing for more objective comments.

Depending on user feedback, these questions may change in the future.

Preparedness for study: What have you done to prepare yourself for student life?
Preferred learning styles: Which learning and assessment styles suit you best?

Following extensive consultation, UCAS scrapped the latter three. This is because UCAS discovered that the themes would be too difficult to universities that have different teaching and assessment styles. The extenuating circumstances question will have a different section to be answered, but not everyone will need to answer it.

When does this new process start?

This new process will be introduced in 2025 and take effect for 2026 applicants. Those applying to university for 2023, 2024 or 2025 will still need to write a personal statement for their application in the current format.

This means the new process will be coming in after January 2025 (October 2024, if you are applying to Oxbridge ).

A personalised tool will also launch later this year. This tool will provide applicants with entry-grade reports that will give students a range of the profiles accepted onto similar courses over a five-year period, using UCAS data.

Why is the process changing?

UCAS has decided to change the university application process based on student feedback. This process will now offer greater support for applicants from different academic backgrounds.

UCAS has recently published their own report on current applications, called the Future of Undergraduate Admissions report. This research discovered that, out of 13,000 polled students, as many as 83% found writing a personal statement to be too stressful, while a further 79% found the statement too difficult to write without appropriate support.

Personal statements were not unpopular, however. 72% of students found that personal statements were essential parts of the university application process. Personal statements allowed students to stand out as more than just application numbers and their grades. However, the question format s will allow students to continue to stand out from other applicants.

How are teacher references changing?

Teacher references are changing to allow teachers to make more objective comments regarding students. Students can pick current or former academic referees, such as teachers, tutors or head teachers; these referees will then write a full reference to their career goals, work experience and predicted grades.

This process is set to change slightly for 2026 applicants. Under the new system, the referee will instead answer three structured questions. In these questions, teachers will include a general statement about the student’s school or college, any extenuating circumstances that could affect the student’s exam performances and any other circumstances the teacher feels the university should be aware of.

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Admissions service also making changes to teacher references, and plans to release details of grade profiles that were accepted onto courses.

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The Ucas personal statement is to be replaced by a series of questions following concerns that it was too stressful for UK students.

The admissions service said it believes the change to the 4,000 character essay – which had previously been criticised for contributing to inequalities in higher education access – will create “a more supportive framework”.

Advocates of reform said the change will help “level the playing field” in university admissions.

The Future of Undergraduate Admissions report by Ucas also announced that academic references would become structured questions, and that students will be able to see a range of accepted entry grades for different courses to improve transparency.

A recent Ucas survey found that 83 per cent of students reported the process of writing a personal statement stressful, with 79 per cent saying it is difficult to complete without support.

Based on this feedback, Kim Eccleston, head of strategy and reform at Ucas, says the current format will be reframed into a series of questions focusing on six key areas: motivation for the course, preparedness for the course, preparation through other experiences, extenuating circumstances, preparedness for study, and preferred learning style.

“We believe this will create a more supportive framework which in turn will help guide students through their responses by removing the guesswork, as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants when it comes to offer-making”, she writes in a blog published by the Higher Education Policy Institute .

The questions are set to be introduced in 2024, for students entering higher education in 2025, while Ucas said it paved the way for further enhancements, such as moving to multimedia submissions.

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter , said the move to structured questions was “hugely positive”.

“No one should underestimate how important this reform will be in helping to level the playing field in university admissions,” he added.

“I’ve been calling for reform as statements currently add further advantage for middle class applicants who are often given help in filling in their submissions.”

Providers had told Ucas that the subjective nature of the academic reference section – typically filled out by an applicant’s form tutor or careers adviser – made it challenging to be used to compare applicants against each other.

As a result, it will be replaced with three structured questions – a mandatory general statement about the referee’s school, plus optional information sections on extenuating circumstances affecting the applicant’s performance.

Beginning with the 2024 entry cycle, Professor Elliot Major said it will enable more “objective and useful comments from teachers”.

“As we enter an era of increasing competition for the most selective university degree courses, we need more structured and transparent university admissions that are fair and fit for purpose for all,” he added.

In addition, entry grade reports will be available through the Ucas website, which will give a range of grade profiles that have been accepted onto courses over a five-year period.

It said that this personalised tool, which will launch this year, will prompt applicants to dig deeper into entry requirements and re-evaluate options that may have been considered out of reach.

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UCAS Scraps Personal Statement: What It Means for University Applications

A strong personal statement can help applicants stand out from the crowd and demonstrate their suitability for a particular program

The UCAS personal statement is an essential part of the university application process in the UK. It is a chance for prospective students to showcase their academic achievements, personal interests, and aspirations for the future. In 2023, the process of writing a personal statement remains a crucial step in applying to UK universities. However, recent changes to the UCAS system mean that there are some important considerations to keep in mind.

Firstly, it is important to note that the UCAS personal statement remains a requirement for most UK universities. The statement is an opportunity for applicants to express their passion for their chosen subject area and demonstrate why they would be a strong candidates for a particular course. The statement should be concise, well-written, and tailored to each university and course that the applicant is applying to.

However, one significant change to the UCAS system is the removal of the 'buzzword' limit. Previously, applicants were limited to using certain buzzwords such as 'passionate', 'enthusiastic', and 'driven' no more than three times in their personal statements. This restriction has been lifted, and applicants are now free to express themselves in their own words. This change allows for greater individuality and creativity in personal statements, while still encouraging applicants to be clear and concise.

Another change in the UCAS system is the introduction of a new 'grade calculator' feature. This feature allows applicants to input their predicted grades and see which universities they are eligible to apply to based on their grades. This tool can help applicants narrow down their choices and ensure they are applying to universities that are the right fit for their academic level.

Overall, while there have been some changes to the UCAS system, the personal statement remains an important part of the university application process in 2023. It is crucial that applicants take the time to research and tailor their personal statements to each university and course they are applying to. With the new changes in place, applicants have more freedom and resources to help them make informed choices about their university applications.

The End to UCAS Personal Statements

The new system will involve a series of questions that are tailored to each course that a student is applying for. These questions will focus on the knowledge, skills, and experiences that are relevant to the course, allowing students to showcase their suitability for a particular program in a more structured and focused way. This change is expected to reduce the need for additional support and guidance, providing a more level playing field for all applicants, regardless of their background.

Kim Eccleston , the head of strategy and reform at UCAS, said that the new system is intended to provide a more supportive framework for students. The structured questions will remove the guesswork from the application process and help students to identify and articulate the relevant knowledge, skills, and experiences that are required for their chosen course.

The decision to scrap the personal statement has been met with mixed reactions. Some have argued that the personal statement provides an opportunity for students to showcase their individuality and passion for their chosen subject area, and that the new system may lead to a more generic and formulaic approach to applications. However, others have welcomed the change, arguing that the personal statement can be a barrier for students who lack access to support and resources, and that the new system will create a more level playing field for all applicants.

Overall, the change to the university application process is a significant one, and it remains to be seen how it will be received by students, universities, and other stakeholders in the UK education system. However, the move towards a more structured and focused approach to applications is likely to provide a fairer and more supportive framework for all applicants, helping to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to pursue their academic aspirations.

What It Means for UCAS Applicants in 2023

While the personal statement will no longer be a part of the UCAS application process from 2024, it remains a crucial element of many university applications around the world. A strong personal statement can help applicants stand out from the crowd and demonstrate their suitability for a particular program.

If you are looking for guidance on how to write a compelling personal statement, there are many resources available online that can help. One great way to get started is to look at some sample personal statements to get a sense of what works and what doesn't. Many universities and colleges provide examples of successful personal statements on their websites, and these can be a great starting point for crafting your own statement.

It is also worth considering working with a professional writing service , to help you craft a strong personal statement . When building your personal statement, it is important to be clear about your goals and expectations for your personal statement. You should be prepared to provide detailed information about your academic background, relevant experiences, and aspirations for the future, as well as any specific requirements or guidelines provided by the university or program you are applying to.

Overall, whether you are looking for sample personal statements or professional writing assistance , there are many resources available to help you create a strong and compelling personal statement . By taking the time to craft a thoughtful and well-written statement, you can increase your chances of being accepted into the program of your choice and taking the first step towards achieving your academic and professional goals.

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Ucas to scrap personal statements for student applicants

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Admissions body pitches reforms to make admissions process fairer

Students will no longer have to write an essay-style personal statement in their Ucas applications, after the admissions body announced an overhaul to the process.

Ucas said in a report published 12 January, Future of Undergraduate Admissions, that students would answer a series of questions about their reasons for choosing a course instead of writing a personal statement.

There have been concerns that the personal statements disadvantage students who do not have access to good guidance and support when writing the essays, which some feel could “widen the gap” between applicants.

The change comes after scrutiny from the Department for Education on the admissions process. The DfE carried out a consultation on whether to switch to a system of post-qualification admissions in 2021, although it ultimately decided not to continue with the changes.

Writing in a Higher Education Policy Institute blog on 12 January, Ucas head of strategy and reform Kim Eccleston said that “most students are in favour of personal statements” as it gives them the chance to “demonstrate achievements beyond their grades”.

But more than 80 per cent said they found the process of writing the statement stressful, and 79 per cent said the statement is difficult to complete with no support.

Eccleston said the replacement questions will prompt students to write about six areas, including their motivation and preparation for the course and for studying at a higher level, how other experiences have helped to prepare them for university, any extenuating circumstances and their preferred learning style.

Once the questions have been finalised, they will replace the personal statement from 2024-25.

The report also revealed that Ucas will introduce reports showing students the range of grades that have been accepted for their chosen course in the past, and it will replace the free text option for referees to comment on students with a series of questions.

It will try to offer students more personalised guidance on what their post-secondary options are, and will launch an Outreach Connection Service designed to help universities and employers in their efforts to improve access and participation.

Ucas consulted with 1,200 students, more than 170 teachers and advisers, 100 universities and colleges and government representatives when creating the report.

In her blog post, Eccleston stressed that “reform is an evolving process”, and she said that Ucas would “keep engaging with the sector to help us shape the delivery of these reforms”—particularly the changes to the personal statement.

UCAS to scrap personal statement requirement for student applicants

T he Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has said that students will no longer be required to write a personal statement when applying for higher education.

In a report titled Future of Undergraduate Admissions , which was published on 12 January, UCAS said that students would now answer a series of questions about their reasons for choosing a particular course.

Once the questions have been finalised, they will replace the statement from 2024-25.

It detailed concerns that support for students writing personal statements was “not universal”, and that it favoured privileged students. As a result, UCAS wrote that the personal statement has been criticised “as a mechanism to ‘widen the gap’” between students.

Analysis by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) in November last year found that writing a statement is an “unnecessary burden” on disadvantaged students, and it said that the 4,000-character essay was a factor “contributing to inequalities in higher education access”.

The personal statement will be replaced by a series of questions covering six key areas: motivation for the course, preparedness for the course, preparation through other experiences, extenuating circumstances, preparedness for study, and preferred learning style.

UCAS said that it hopes that the questions will “bring focus and clarity for students” and “reduce the need for support”.

The report found that 83% of students find the process of writing a personal statement to be stressful , and 79% believe that the statement is difficult to complete without institutional or external support.

UCAS consulted with 1,200 students, more than 170 teachers and advisers, 100 universities and colleges, and government representatives when creating the report.

In February 2022, UCAS announced that it was considering making changes to the application process.

Michelle Donelan, the Universities Minister at the time, said: “I have always felt that personal statements in their current form favour the most advantaged students.

“So I’m pleased that UCAS have confirmed that reform of the personal statement is in their plans so that personal statements work to the benefit of all students.”

The report also revealed that academic references are to be replaced with three structured questions for referees to answer, in order to make it easier to compare applicants against each other.

Ucas scraps personal statements for university applicants

A video message could soon replace the personal statement, the university admissions body said as it announced it was scrapping the written essay.

Ucas is making the changes after a consultation with 1,200 students, 170 teachers and more than 100 universities and colleges.

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Ucas looking at replacing free form university personal statements with series of questions to boost fairness

Ucas is looking at a more 'structured' approach to university personal statements to balance out the unfairness of middle class students receiving extra support from parents, teachers and tutors.

File photo dated 16/07/08 of university graduates, as the quality of online teaching and "blended learning" at universities is set to be reviewed, over fears that students' poor experiences of online learning during the pandemic may have undermined the potential of mixing face-to-face lectures with online study. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday March 17, 2022. The Office for Students has launched a review to explore how universities are delivering blended learning, which will aim to give students and applicants information on whether the elements of their courses taught online are of a high enough quality. See PA story EDUCATION Universities. Photo credit should read: Chris Ison/PA Wire

Ucas is looking at replacing open-ended university personal statements with a series of questions to level the playing field between applicants, i can reveal.

The planned shake-up by the university admissions body follows concerns that the current system gives an advantage to middle class students, who often receive support from parents, teachers and tutors when crafting their statements.

Currently, students from across the UK applying for university courses via Ucas complete a 4,000-character personal statement.

The process is designed to allow students to sell themselves to admissions tutors by conveying their suitability for their chosen course.

Last month, the higher education minister Michelle Donelan said she believed that “personal statements in their current form favour the most advantaged students and do a disservice to those whose strengths are better tested through other means” . Ms Donelan said that the UK Government was working with Ucas to “reform” the process.

Now, i can reveal that Ucas is looking at a more “structured” approach where applicants would be prompted to talk about certain things.

Clare Marchant, the chief executive of Ucas, said: “Personal statements are a key part of over two million applications each year for students to say why they are a good fit for their chosen course. Many employers will also ask for a form of personal statement when applying for an apprenticeship.”

Ms Marchant said that when Ucas asked students for their views, they made clear they valued “the opportunity the personal statement gives them to express their ambition, skills and experiences”.

But she went on: “We want to simplify the process though, offer greater guidance, and help students from all backgrounds have an equal level of support”.

“We are working with students, teachers, and admissions professionals in universities and colleges to consider what changes might improve both the supporting tools and the statement itself.

“Along with more support, we will consider moving away from the current free text box personal statement to a more structured statement with focused questions to help guide students more explicitly.”

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Ms Marchant said it would be “critical” to get a “balance between free text and structure” because “we do not want to limit opportunity for people to personalise their statement”.

“It is also important to remember that the personal statement is only one of a variety of pieces of evidence that admissions teams look at when considering a student’s application,” she added.

The news was welcomed as a “step in the right direction” by Lee Elliot Major , a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, who has called for personal statements to be reformed or scrapped altogether.

Professor Elliot Major said that university admissions had to be seen from the perspective of a “candidate who comes to this who doesn’t have all that experience from their parents, teachers and tutors – is it fair for them?”.

“We still need to do a lot of work to make it fair for applicants that don’t have all that knowledge you need to navigate this quite complex admissions system that we have.”

Reforming the process could help reduce plagiarism and cases where students effectively enlist an adult to write their statement, he said.

“The idea of structured questions means there’s less room for manipulation, gaming and indeed cheating in this process.”

UCAS Scraps The Personal Statement: Farewell To An Old Friend

Posted by Naomi | Jan 16, 2023 | | 0 -->

The past few years have represented significant upheaval for anyone involved in education.

For students, that has meant teacher assessment for grades, and heavily disrupted exam periods, not to mention the bulk of their tuition taking place online. Particularly badly affected were the students for whom access to higher education might already have represented a skewed and uneven playing field.

For those students – and in fact, for all university applicants – the news that the 4000 character/47 line UCAS personal statement will be radically overhauled for 2024 entrants onwards has been generally welcomed by students, teachers and universities.

The personal statement has always presented difficulties for students who might be academically able, but who are yet to find their own personal voice.

It has been worse still for those without access – financially or logistically – to the extracurricular activities that stuff the personal statements of their peers. Often from families where they might be the first to go on to degree level study, filling those 47 lines with information about why they are suitable can seem an impossible hurdle.

Other groups who have traditionally had difficulties with the statement are neurodiverse students who might require educational support. The kind of free and personal writing required can seem particularly difficult for students who respond best to structure and clear questions.

The personal statement has naturally favoured those whose families can either advise from personal experience, or who can afford coaching or editing services for the personal statement as well as additional academic support. For those who look to acquire knowledge rather than musical, scouting or volunteer achievements, it can seem to them as if they have nothing to say.

The Universities UK Fair Admissions Code of Practice has found that the statement in its current form is incompatible with its aims to level the playing field for all applicants.

No matter how able the student, over 80% of drafted statements failed to supply opinions backed up by evidence on the student’s chosen academic topics. At least 35% failed to organise their statement with any coherence or effectiveness at all (the skills required for the personal statement tend not to be acquired until the second or even third year of university study).

Grammatical skill also seemed to depart, even amongst the students that would normally score highly in this area. In other words, even those who might be expected to fare well, fared less well than they might think. In an academic year where time is precious – either for study or necessary recreation – an application necessity which can take the time equivalent of a working week to complete is ripe for change.

How were the changes to the UCAS appication process decided?

Ucas consulted with 1,200 students, 170 teachers, and more than 100 universities and colleges before making the reforms, as reported by The Times.

According to UCAS, although 72% of respondents surveyed felt positive about the personal statement, 79% agreed that writing the statement is difficult to complete without support, and 83% said they found the process of writing a personal statement stressful.

The structured questions aim to “bring focus and clarity for students, reducing the need for support”. Kim Eccleston, Head of Strategy and Reform at UCAS, said: “We believe this will create a more supportive framework, which in turn will help guide students through their responses by removing the guesswork, as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants when it comes to offer-making.”

What will replace the personal statement?

The personal statement won’t disappear altogether, and nor should it – getting a flavour of the person behind the student is important to admissions officers. Indeed, this is why Studential was set up in the first place - to support students with this exercise and make sure they present themselves in the best possible light to prospective universities .

However, a series of structured questions which require shorter responses, and which by their nature will guide the applicant to a more relevant and revealing demonstration of their suitability for a course of academic study, will help both student and selection panel.

The questions will be about the course the student has applied for, so should present a more equal platform. UCAS have stated that the areas these questions might cover include:

Motivation for the course
How prepared you are for the course academically
How any experiences might have prepared you for a degree
Extentuating circumstances
Preferred learning style.

In addition, teachers will receive more guidance on how to write references for students, and several university entrance exams will be scrapped, including those for medicine, engineering, natural sciences and mathematical skills. However, some institutions will maintain the BMAT (medicine) element, so it’s worth checking first.

However, as students find their way back through the disruption of post-pandemic fallout, the introduction of structure into one more area of their academic life can only be welcome.

About The Author

Naomi Lofts

Going through school and applying to university myself in 2002, I know how difficult it can be to make the right choices regarding your academic journey, especially when you're uncertain of where you want to be in the future.

Student Underground was created to provide reassurance to those students currently going through this period, as well as an outlet for sharing extra, up-to-date advice on a range of further and higher education topics.

These include choosing GCSEs and A levels, filling out the UCAS application form, taking a gap year, postgraduate study options, starting a business and more.

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UCAS scraps personal statements

In an attempt to reform university and college admission procedures, UCAS has announced it will scrap the 4,000-character personal statement that all students had to write. Instead, applicants will answer a series of short questions from the 2024 admissions cycle.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is making several changes to its admissions process from the 2024 cycle. Scrapping personal statements is one of the most significant changes.

UCAS announced in a report published 12 January, Future of Undergraduate Admissions, that students would answer a series of questions about their reasons for choosing a course instead of writing a personal statement.

The change comes after concerns that personal statements disadvantage students who do not have access to guidance and support when writing the essays, which some feel could “widen the gap” between applicants.

Whilst making the decision, UCAS consulted with 1,200 students, 170 teachers, and more than 100 universities and colleges, as reported by The Times.

The introduction of the structured questions aim to “bring focus and clarity for students, reducing the need for support”.

Kim Eccleston, Head of Strategy and Reform at UCAS, said: “We believe this will create a more supportive framework, which in turn will help guide students through their responses by removing the guesswork, as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants when it comes to offer-making.”

What changes can we expect from the 2024/25 admissions cycle?

The 4,000-character personal statement essay will be scrapped and replaced with a series of questions about the higher education course a student is applying for
Several university admissions exams, including ENGAA (engineering) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests, will be discontinued

So far there is some speculation on what format of testing will replace the exams that are being scrapped.

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Changes to the UCAS Personal Statement in 2024

This month has brought the news that, as of 2024, UCAS is no longer going to require applicants to write a personal statement when applying for university.

Please note this information is outdated; for more information please see our latest blog post here.

For years, the ucas personal statement has been a thorn in the side of applicants to uk universities everywhere - requiring students to spend the best part of several months reading, planning, and writing their magnum opus to impress their chosen universities. this month has brought the news that, as of 2024, ucas is no longer going to require applicants to write a personal statement when applying for university. in this blog, we’re going to take you through why this change is happening, how the personal statement’s going to be replaced, and how this is likely to affect you as an applicant..

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Why the change?

This change has been made in light of arguments by some that the existing personal statement system affords an advantage to more privileged students who have greater access to expert guidance and advice. with students from a greater variety of backgrounds attending university at a higher and higher rate every year, ucas have felt the need to reform the application process with the aim of widening access for all students, irrespective of their knowledge regarding the application process or whether they know someone who has made a successful application before. as reported by the times, ucas consulted with 1,200 students, 170 teachers, and over 100 universities and colleges before making these reforms, meaning that the new system is designed with not just universities but also applicants in mind, hopefully meaning that it suits the students applying as much as fitting the universities’ requirements., what is replacing the personal statement, as of 2024, rather than having an open response box in which to fill in their own, self-constructed personal statement of 4,000 characters, students will instead be asked to respond to a series of structured questions which focus on six 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, extenuating circumstances - is there anything that the universities and colleges need to know about, to help them put your achievements and experiences so far into context, preparedness for study - what have you done to prepare yourself for student life, preferred learning styles - which learning and assessment style best suit you, and how do your course choices match that, what does this mean for my application, in real terms, this shouldn’t change your personal statement process too much - in essence, the new system effectively de-constructs your personal statement so that it’s clearer what you should reflect upon and how to structure your answers. most of these questions focus around topics that you’re likely to be answering in your personal statement anyway, so there’s no need to go and completely scrap everything you’ve been thinking of already, private consultation.

Looking for Expert Advice on your application? Get a bespoke, honest appraisal of your chances of success and tips on how to improve from one of our Oxbridge experts with our Private Consultation.

Cambridge welcomes UCAS plan to scrap personal statements

Sam Lucy, Director of Admissions at the University, said the change will ‘mean that less well supported students can engage more effectively with the process’

by Nabiha Ahmed

This article is 1 year old

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Personal statements are to be replaced with a set of questions for university hopefuls, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) have announced this month.

The change will pave the way for bigger amendments to the application process such as multi-media submissions, says UCAS, with The Times reporting that video applications could be introduced.

Sam Lucy, Director of Admissions at the University, told Varsity that she welcomes the revisions, adding that “providing a more structured framework and better guidance to the expectations of universities will give Admissions Tutors more useful information, and will mean that less well supported students can engage more effectively with the process.”

The Future of Undergraduate Admissions report by UCAS, published on 12th January, detailed concerns over support for students writing personal statements being “not universal”. In the same report, UCAS acknowledged that the personal statement has been criticised “as a mechanism to ‘widen the gap’” between students.

UCAS hopes that the questions will “bring focus and clarity for students” and “reduce the need for support”.

The Future of Undergraduate Admissions report also revealed that 83% of students find the process of writing a personal statement stressful and 79% believe that the statement is difficult to complete without support.

Cambridge applications fall for second year in a row

These statistics are supported by a report by The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) from November, which found that the task is an “unnecessary burden” on disadvantaged students and accused the 4,000 character essay of “contributing to inequalities in higher education access”.

Academic references will also be replaced with three structured questions for referees to answer. This comes after schools told UCAS that the ambiguous nature of the academic reference section – usually completed by an applicant’s form tutor or careers advisor – made it challenging to compare applicants against each other.

Alongside these changes, UCAS will introduce ‘Entry Grade Reports’ for applicants. This personalised tool will display the range of grade profiles that have been accepted for entry to courses over a five-year period, aiming to help students evaluate their options and consider courses they previously may not have.

Aside from Entry Grade Reports, which launches this year, all changes are set to be introduced in the 2024 application cycle, for those applying for 2025 entry onwards.

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We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead.

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UCAS to Scrap Personal Statements

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has announced plans to remove a central part of the application process – the personal statement – and replace it with a series of questions for prospective students. According to UCAS, this change is the start of a broader series of reforms.

The Future of Undergraduate Admissions report, released by UCAS on Thursday 12 January, has revealed changes to the application process after 83% of applicants surveyed reported that the process of writing their personal statement – a free text opportunity for students to demonstrate their skill and passion for the courses they are applying to – was stress inducing.

Furthermore, 79% of those surveyed agreed that the statement was difficult to complete without support, leading some commentators to view the process as a “mechanism to widen the gap”.

As a replacement for the personal statement, UCAS have identified six key areas that admissions departments are interested in: motivation for course, preparedness for course, preparation through other experiences, extenuating circumstances, preparedness for study, and preferred learning styles. These areas will be formulated into targeted questions for students to answer, rather than the current, more generalised approach.

UCAS have confirmed that these areas will continue to be refined with the help of both applicants and education providers.

According to UCAS, both students and providers (both universities and colleges across the UK), have “identified a preference for structured questions that bring focus and clarity for students, reducing the need for support. This approach also supports comparability for providers.

Students who have completed the UCAS process in the past have reflected on how these changes would have been beneficial to their own university application experience.

“The personal statement was definitely the most troubling part of the UCAS process,” Luke, a second-year student, told The Saint.

“If [UCAS] had made it more structured, I would have had a lot less stress during the end of schooling”.

International students here at the University of St Andrews are also welcoming the change. “I found the personal statement difficult because it was nothing like what I had to do for applications in my own country,” Emily, a first-year international student, said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of tutors I found who had done UCAS before. We had regular meetings just to make sure my statement would be competitive. It added a lot of stress”.

The personal statement section is only the start for changes in the UCAS process; references and grade reporting are also being altered based on feedback provided by those involved.

UCAS have announced changes to the academic referee portion of the application, similar to changes being made within the personal statement section. Instead of a free text approach where referees are given the opportunity to promote their students’ prospects, referees are given “three structured questions” to answer, so that providers are more able to find information required for selections.

The three questions relate to the school or college of the applicant, extenuating circumstances that may affect the applicant’s performance, and a final section to provide any information that the referee “thinks that universities/colleges should be made aware of”.

‘Entry Grade Reports’ are also being built into the UCAS online platform. The feature will make it easier for students to locate courses where entry would be achievable based on their secondary school grades. According to the Future of Undergraduate Admissions Report, “these reports will give visibility of the range of grade profiles that have been accepted for entry to courses over a five-year period”.

UCAS are welcoming ongoing input from both students and providers on the proposed changes. Surveys and opportunities for input are available on the UCAS website.

The University of St Andrews declined to comment on the changes to the application process.

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It would be difficult for me to write such a personal statement. Quite recently, I asked https://residencypersonalstatements.net/ for help in writing one. And I think I still would.

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UCAS to Scrap Personal Statements from Next Year | This Week in Admissions News

The world of college admissions is ever-changing and for students with top university ambitions, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. This week, UCAS announced that it will be scrapping the long personal statement as part of its wider reforms to admissions testing, while Harvard Medical School pulled out of the US News rankings. Check back next week to see what’s new and noteworthy in university admissions!

Ucas to scrap personal statements from next year.

Applications to Cambridge are set to change from the 2024 admissions cycle as UCAS has announced they will be scrapping the personal statement. The 4,000-character essay will be scrapped and replaced with a series of questions about the higher education course a student is applying for. The change comes amid claims that the personal statements favour middle-class students who may have better access to “high-quality advice and guidance”, according to Ucas, the Evening Standard reported.

The structured questions aim to “bring focus and clarity for students, reducing the need for support”. Kim Eccleston, head of strategy and reform at Ucas, said: “We believe this will create a more supportive framework, which in turn will help guide students through their responses by removing the guesswork, as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants when it comes to offer-making.”

Cambridge had announced earlier in the year that they will be making some changes to their admissions testing as they were operationally unsustainable and “to deliver them affordably to students and higher education institutions.” The elite university has seen a drop in enrollment as well as applications over the last couple of years, owing to the Covid pandemic as well as an economic downturn in the UK.

Here are the changes we can expect in the UCAS from the 2024/25 admissions cycle:

The 4,000-character personal statement essay will be scrapped and replaced with a series of questions about the higher education course a student is applying for
Several university admissions exams, including BMAT (medicine), ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests, will be discontinued
The seven UK medical schools that use BMAT tests as part of their admissions process (Brighton and Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford) as well as medical and healthcare schools in other countries will put alternative arrangements in place

It should be interesting to see how the spread of AI will affect the college essay and personal statements. All of these changes are set to take effect from the 2024 admissions cycle - the 2023 cycle will continue as before.

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Personal statements for university students are ditched amid fears some applicants get unfair advantage

Under new plans, personal statements will be scrapped for university applicants
The 47-line essay was used to demonstrate achievements beyond grades
A questionnaire covering areas like preferred learning style will be used instead

By Connor Stringer For The Daily Mail

Published: 17:21 EDT, 12 January 2023 | Updated: 17:35 EDT, 12 January 2023

View comments

Personal statements for university applicants will be scrapped amid claims they give middle-class students an unfair advantage.

Under plans to ‘level the playing field’, the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) will drop the 47-line essay used to demonstrate achievements beyond grades.

Aspiring undergraduates will instead answer a questionnaire covering six key areas, including motivation for the course and preferred learning style. But critics have slammed the move as ‘dumbing down’, claiming it ‘insults’ those from lower-class backgrounds.

The 4,000-character personal statement is seen by some as a mechanism to ‘widen the gap’, with disadvantaged students unable to ‘shine in the same way their more advantaged peers can’, Ucas said.

Aspiring undergraduates will instead answer a questionnaire covering six key areas, including motivation for the course and preferred learning style (file image of university graduates)

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Some argue better-off students get more help from their families in writing the statement, while many private schools offer specialist assistance. But Chris McGovern, a former headteacher and education policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher, said the plan ‘lowers the bar in the name of inclusivity... demeaning the achievement of those who get in’.

He added: ‘It’s insulting to youngsters who may be from a poor background, but they’ve been well educated and want to show they can do it. It is making it easier by dumbing down. We want to make schools raise performance, not lower it.’ Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said a questionnaire makes it easier to make comparisons, but is ‘far less revealing than leaving it to the applicants to freely put their own cases’.

He added: ‘It could be that this administrative convenience is the reason it appeals to Ucas, but more likely it is pressure from the Government to narrow gaps. The proposed change bears down on those who can and gives a leg up to those who can’t without help.’

A Ucas survey of 2022 applicants found 72 per cent felt positive about the personal statement. But 83 per cent said writing a personal statement is stressful, with 79 per cent agreeing that the statement is difficult to complete without support.

Under plans to ‘level the playing field’, the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) will drop the 47-line essay used to demonstrate achievements beyond grades (file image of university graduates)

Ucas said written responses could, in future, be axed entirely and replaced with video submissions.

The changes are outlined in a report, Future of Undergraduate Admissions. ‘Feedback shows fears that students who do not have access to high quality advice will not be able to use the statement to shine in the same way more advantaged peers can,’ it read.

‘There are also concerns about the extent to which students understand how providers use personal statements in decision making.’

Kim Eccleston, head of strategy and reform at Ucas, said: ‘We believe this will create a more supportive framework... as well as capturing the information universities and colleges have told us they really need to know from applicants.’

The reforms will be introduced no earlier than 2024 for 2025 applicants.

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COMMENTS

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In January 2023, Ucas published plans to replace the current free-form personal statement with a series of questions. At that time, the admissions service had suggested the changes could be in place as early as 2024. But Ucas interim CEO Sander Kristel tells The Uni Guide the removal of the current personal statement requirement will now happen ...
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Seren Morris January 13, 2023. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ( Ucas) will no longer require students to write a personal statement when applying for university. The change comes ...
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It was announced by UCAS in January of 2023 that traditional Personal Statements will 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, which would then be accessed by university admissions ...
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Wednesday January 18 2023, 10:06am. Personal statements are to be replaced with a set of questions for university hopefuls, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) have announced this month. The change will pave the way for bigger amendments to the application process such as multi-media submissions, says UCAS, with The Times ...
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How to open your personal statement. Admissions Tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements so it's important to grab their attention right from the start. Remember, it can only be 4,000 characters, which is about two sides of A4. So, you'll need to use your words wisely to fit everything in.
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