If you’re applying to university for 2026 entry, you may be aware that the format of personal statements is changing. We’re here to help you understand how to complete the personal statement and explain what’s expected from your application.
What’s changing?
Previously, a personal statement was one long piece of text. From 2026, personal statements will be split into three different questions. This is to help applicants understand what universities want to know, so you have more direction on what to include in your application.
What are the questions?
The three questions you’ll need to answer in your application are:
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Here you can cover what has motivated you to study your chosen subject, including what interests you about the topic and how it will help you achieve your future goals.
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This is your chance to show how the knowledge and skills you’ve gained from education will help you succeed at university. You can write about the studies you have completed that relate to your chosen course, the skills you have learnt in education and any relevant educational achievements.
Some examples could be a research project you found interesting or an assignment where you went above and beyond.
Top tip: Don’t waste space listing the subjects you’ve studied or your qualifications. These will be shown on your UCAS application, so focus on giving key examples of your work or achievements related to your chosen course.
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Use this section to talk about work experience, volunteering, hobbies or extracurricular activities or any achievements outside of school or college. Think about how these experiences have given you the skills to succeed in your course and at university or support your interest in the subject area.
How much can I write?
Each section has a minimum character count of 350, including spaces. You have a 4000-character count overall, including spaces. You don't have to use the same number of characters for each question, as long as you write a minimum of 350 characters you can write more for one question than you do for the others. Consider how your skills and experience align with the questions and plan your answers based on this.
Top tip: The universities you apply to will review all three sections at the same time, so you don’t need to repeat any information in different answers.
Get more information about personal statements for 2026 and beyond
