Personal statements for 2026 entry onwards
For students applying to university for 2026 entry, the personal statement format will be changing. Here, we'll cover what exactly is changing, why the changes are happening, and how you can prepare for the changes.
What is changing with personal statements?
Personal statements are changing from one longer piece of text to three separate sections, each with a different question to help shape the focus for students' answers. Each section will have a minimum character count of 350 characters, which is clearly labelled on the question boxes, along with an overall character counter, to ensure students know if they're on track. The new web page for submitting the personal statement will also feature helpful on-page guidance for each question.
The new questions are as follows:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
What isn't changing?
- The personal statement will still be 4000 characters in total; this includes spaces.
- The content of the personal statement will remain broadly the same - it will just be split across three sections rather than one longer piece of text. The expectation for what students need to cover within the personal statement is mostly unchanged from current guidance.
Resources for outreach teams
We've created resources and guidance for advisers, including slide decks, lesson plans and classroom resources, as well as student-facing support and subject-specific personal statement guides.
Training module
You can take a training module in UCAS' professional development platform. This module will help you get up to speed with the new layout, plus tips and a checklist to support the transition within your organisation.
Search for 'Personal statements: Changes for 2026'.