How to answer the new UCAS Personal Statement questions
Comprehensive guidance to drafting targeted and academic-focused answers to the new UCAS personal statement questions.
Applying to the competitive courses is demanding, and the personal statement remains a key component of the application process. For 2026 entry, significant changes have been introduced. Applicants must now respond to three focused questions, each with a minimum of 350 characters. This article offers a comprehensive guide to drafting a compelling personal statement, aligned with competitive universities’ expectations and the new requirements.
Understanding the 2025 Personal Statement Structure
The revised personal statement for 2025 is divided into three specific questions:
- Question 1: Why do you want to study this course/subject?
- Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course or subject?
- Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Each answer must be a minimum of 350 characters, offering candidates the opportunity to provide thoughtful, reflective, and well-structured responses. These responses are not always scored, but, be warned the more competitive the course the more likely they are to be read thoroughly—often by multiple academics as part of a holistic assessment process.
Key Principles for a Successful Personal Statement
- Maintain an Academic Focus: For Russell Group and similarly selective institutions, it is best practice to dedicate approximately 80% of your personal statement to academic content.
- Demonstrate Self-Reflection: Admissions tutors particularly value self-analysis and evidence of critical thinking about your motivations and preparedness.
- Answer the Questions: Ensure each response addresses the specific question, with relevant and detailed examples.
- Be Strategic with Content: Given the minimum character requirement, you may extend nuanced arguments or supporting details across questions if necessary, making effective use of the available space.
- Avoid Exaggeration: Any interviewer might test the authenticity of your personal statement. Exaggerations or unsupported claims will likely be scrutinised.
Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
The first question is foundational, allowing you to articulate your intellectual motivations and demonstrate genuine engagement with your chosen field.
What to Include
- Motivations for Studying the Course: Clearly state what attracts you to the subject, focusing on academic curiosity or specific intellectual challenges.
- Knowledge and Interest Supported by Evidence: Reference books, sites, articles, lectures, or projects you have engaged with, demonstrating depth of interest.
- Specific Activities: Mention seminars attended, academic competitions, independent research, or subject-relevant reading.
- Future Plans: Concisely outline how this course fits with your academic and career aspirations.
What to Avoid
- Describing how you first became interested in the subject (e.g., childhood anecdotes).
- Personal motivation without demonstrating genuine subject knowledge.
- Definitions or general information about the subject, or unrelated personal information.
Example Approach
Rather than stating, “I have always loved biology,” specify your fascination by referencing a particular research paper or a discovery that inspired further reading. Show evidence of curiosity and the steps you have taken to satisfy it. Focus on the intellectual journey, not a personal story.
Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you Prepare?
This section is your opportunity to link your academic profile and achievements directly to your preparedness for the course.
What to Include
- Subject Relevance: Discuss how your current studies relate to your target course. Reference particular modules, coursework, or research projects that deepened your understanding.
- Detail-Oriented Discussion: Delve into one or two topics that especially interested you, perhaps exploring an area beyond the curriculum or connecting concepts across subjects.
- Other Academic Achievements: Mention awards, scholarships, or competitions that demonstrate excellence or dedication in your subject area.
- Skills: Highlight academic skills such as critical analysis, research methodology, or problem-solving that are pertinent to your chosen subject.
What to Avoid
- A simple list of subjects studied.
- Repeating information from other parts of your application (e.g., exam results).
- Superficial connections (e.g., “I study mathematics and therefore want to study engineering”).
Example Approach
Rather than summarising all your subjects, focus on a project or topic that required you to think independently. For instance, describe how an essay on climate change in geography prompted you to research primary scientific sources, thus preparing you for in-depth study at an academic Russell Group university.
Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education and why are these experiences useful?
Competitive academic universities will expect you to draw clear, direct links between extracurricular experiences and your chosen course.
What to Include
- Work Experience or Volunteering: Detail specific responsibilities and, more importantly, what you learned that is relevant to your subject.
- Relevant Experiences: Include competitions, summer schools, mentoring, or relevant part-time work.
- Interests and Achievements: If you mention an activity (e.g., participating in a science club), explain how the skills or insights gained support your academic goals.
- Course Specificity: Always link your description back to the subject, highlighting transferable skills or knowledge gained.
What to Avoid
- Long, generic descriptions of extracurricular activities unrelated to the course.
- Information about activities that cannot be linked to your subject interest.
- Listing impressive placements without reflecting on what you learned— universities value analysis over opportunity.
Example Approach
Rather than stating, “I completed work experience at a law firm,” reflect on specific insights gained, such as exposure to legal research or ethical debates, and analyse their bearing on your understanding of the subject.
General Advice for 2025 Applicants
- Word Limit Strategy: Although each answer must meet a minimum character count, allow your ideas to flow naturally. If a particular topic requires elaboration one section can more much longer than the others.
- Accuracy and Honesty: All statements may be scrutinised at interview. Avoid exaggeration or including experiences you cannot discuss in detail.
- Relevance over Emotion: Focus on intellectual and academic reasons rather than personal narratives or emotive stories. For example, in applications for Medicine, describe scientific interests rather than citing illness or family circumstances as motivation.
- Holistic Review: Remember that competitive universities use multiple sources in the admissions process. Your personal statement is not the most heavily weighted component and is not formally scored, but it can be very carefully read when making final decisions….
Remember
Drafting a personal statement for a competitive university in 2025 requires an academic focus, self-reflection, and a clear demonstration of how your interests, studies, and experiences link directly to your chosen subject.
By following the structured approach outlined above, responding to each question with relevant evidence and analysis, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can craft a personal statement that strengthens your application to one of the world’s most competitive universities.
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