The
New UCAS 2026 Format changes the personal statement from one continuous piece of writing into three structured questions. Applicants are asked why they want to study their chosen course, how their qualifications and studies have prepared them, and what they have done outside education to prepare. The overall limit remains 4,000 characters including spaces, with a minimum of 350 characters for each answer.
For students preparing applications under the new format, Personal Statement Experts can provide guidance on planning and reviewing their responses. Although the statement is divided into three questions, UCAS confirms that admissions teams will consider the answers together, so applicants should avoid unnecessary repetition and focus on relevant, specific examples throughout.
