UCAS Scrapping Personal Statements In A Bid To 'Level The Playing Field'

UCAS has announced it will be axing personal statements for UK university applicants in a bid to 'level the playing field' after 79 per cent of students previously surveyed revealed that they found writing their personal statement difficult to do without support.

The University and College Admissions Service said it has made the changes after data indicated university applications from students from disadvantaged backgrounds have started to stall.

The application rate for these students decreased by 0.4 percentage points in England in the past year, with the professor of social mobility at Exeter University, Lee Elliot Major, saying: “The love letter from a university applicant to their chosen university subject has increasingly become a barometer of middle-class privilege as so many personal statements are now co-created and polished by advisers, teachers and parents.”

“It is a significant step in making the university admissions system a little bit fairer for all applicants," he added.

The personal statement in its current form requires applicants to write up to 4,000 characters on why they wish to enrol on their chosen course, but has a particular emphasis on encouraging prospective students to wow admission teams by 'standing out from the crowd'.

For years, academic researchers have argued that this process can hinder students from a disadvantaged background who have had less opportunity to embark on extracurricular activities.

A 2013 comparative education review which analysed personal statements carried out by private/grammar school students versus comprehensive students revealed that private/grammar school pupils had access to many more work experience opportunities to discuss on their personal statements, as well as being able to refer to extracurricular activities with more social and cultural capital when compared to comprehensive pupils.

It also found that private school pupils were more likely to mention the name of their schools in their statements, evidently believing it put them at an advantage. And while it is not possible to conclude that these differences cost comprehensive school pupils a place at an elite university, the author writes that "despite being identically qualified the pupils in this study were twice as likely to enter HE if from private school."

More than a decade later, UCAS will be making changes to the university application process in an attempt to grant all students the same opportunity to impress admissions teams.

Dr Jo Saxton, chief executive of UCAS, said: “During my time in schools, I saw first-hand how the personal statement can help students really clarify and articulate their ambition, but also how challenging it can be for those with less support.

“The new approach with guided questions aims to give greater confidence to those students, as well as their teachers when advising on how to secure their dream course.”

From September 2025, students will instead be required to answer three questions 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 helpful?

The character count will remain the same.

If you're a prospective student getting ready to embark on the university application process, remember to check out our guides to help:

• How To Apply For Student Finance

• How To Save On Your Back To Uni Essentials

• How To Apply For Student Accommodation

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