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New vs Old: The UCAS Personal Statement and what students need to know

I’ve spent the past eight years helping students craft their UCAS Personal Statements, and it’s still one of my favourite parts of the job. I never write statements for students — and never will — but once they’ve had a coaching session to work out which degree courses (and early career ideas) suit them best, we move into a planning session. That’s where we mind map the key content, unpick motivations and experiences, and shape everything into something meaningful and authentic.

What Was the Old UCAS Personal Statement Format?

Under the old system, the Personal Statement was essentially one long essay.
One page. 4,000 characters.
One chance to explain why you wanted to study a subject — sometimes a subject with slightly different names across your chosen universities — and persuade an admissions tutor that you were the right fit.

For many students, this was the stuff of nightmares.
“How do I structure it?”
“What do I say about myself?”
“How do I sell myself without sounding arrogant?”

Because the truth is: selling ourselves doesn’t come naturally to most of us.

But I’ve spent years reminding students that the Personal Statement is their moment to shine. Admissions tutors want evidence of genuine motivation — someone who will turn up, work hard, stay interested, achieve well and ultimately enhance the university’s outcomes. It’s not about perfection; it’s about authenticity, potential and commitment.

What’s Changed for 2025?

From 2025 onwards, the Personal Statement has been broken down into three structured questions. It still has the same 4,000-character limit, but is now divided into sections with a minimum of 350 characters each.

And essentially, it’s still asking the same things as before:

• Why do you want to study this subject?
• How have your current studies prepared you?
• What have you done beyond the classroom that shows interest, motivation or skill?

The intention is good — to make the process clearer and more inclusive, and for some students, the 3-part structure does make it easier. It breaks the task into smaller chunks, which can reduce anxiety and overwhelm.

My ‘pros and cons’ of the New Format

But if I’m honest, I still find it harder to “shoehorn” nuanced experiences into fixed boxes. The flow isn’t always as natural as in the old essay format, where students could build a narrative more organically. Some answers can feel a little disjointed simply because they’re forced into separate sections. 

That said, my approach hasn’t really changed at all. My Personal Statement help sheet — the one I’ve used for years — remains almost identical. Because whether it’s one long statement or three structured responses, the heart of the Personal Statement stays the same:
it’s about telling your story clearly, confidently and persuasively.

And that’s the part I enjoy the most - helping students understand what admissions tutors want to see, giving them a framework that makes sense, encouraging them to articulate their strengths and teaching them how to present themselves honestly and effectively.

And the best part?

So far, I’m confident I still have a 100% success rate ?

Whether I’m working with a nervous Year 12 student or a last-minute “I’ve left this too late” Upper Sixth student, it’s always a privilege to guide them through a process that feels daunting but ultimately helps them understand themselves better.

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