In contrast to the other significant changes to the 2024 admission process – such as the discontinuation of various admission tests like BMAT, UCAS has outlined their plan to replace traditional Personal Statements.

In summary, the current requirement of a 4,000-character essay will be supplanted by a series of particular questions that applicants must respond to. You’ll still write your answers, but the focus will be on answering targeted questions instead of having to outline and construct a comprehensive statement.

Details about this new system, like the number of questions and their character limits, have not yet been disclosed. The exact questions are also not confirmed, as they’re still under development. However, we do have some indication of the primary themes these questions will address (derived directly from the UCAS report):

• Motivation for Course – What’s your reason for choosing these courses?
• Preparedness for Course – How has your previous learning prepared you to excel in these courses?
• Preparation through Other Experiences – What additional activities have you undertaken to prepare, and why are these experiences beneficial?
• Extenuating Circumstances – Is there any context the universities should be aware of to better understand your achievements and experiences so far?
• Preparedness for Study – What measures have you taken to gear up for student life?
• Preferred Learning Styles – Which learning and assessment methods are best for you, and how do your course choices reflect that?