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As students gear up for the UK university application cycle for the 2026 entry, they must familiarize themselves with the UCAS system and personal statement. This year brings significant changes to the format of the personal statement, which applicants should be aware of in order to present their best selves to prospective universities.

Traditionally, the personal statement has been a single, longer piece of writing, limited to 4,000 characters (including spaces). However, for those applying in 2026, the format will shift to three questions:

• 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 useful?

Each answer must contain a minimum of 350 characters, while the overall character limit remains at 4,000 characters.

So what does this change mean to applicants? The three questions provide a clearer framework for students, which can aid them in organizing their thoughts and ensure that they address the key elements that universities look for in candidates.

In previous years, although the personal statement did not have a specific format, admissions officers highlighted the importance of understanding applicants' motivations for their chosen subjects and assessing their readiness based on academic rigor and experiences. These areas align well with the new structured format. Thus, it remains essential for applicants to proactively build their profiles related to the subject, such as attending summer courses, internships, competitions, or doing further readings.

With the personal statement now divided into three parts, it is also important to strategically plan the content for each section. For instance, if an applicant finds that they have a strong motivation for their chosen course (Question 1) but lack significant experiences outside of school (Question 3), they should consider potential activities to showcase their strengths.

Based on our past experience, Hong Kong students often plan ahead and look for related experiences. However, articulating how their current studies have prepared them for their chosen course (Question 2) may be a challenge. To address this, students can review their course content to identify key topics of interest or engage in longer research projects, such as the IB extended essay, in their chosen fields to demonstrate their academic vigor and research skills.

As the 2026 application cycle approaches, students must be mindful of the changes to the personal statement and plan strategically ahead. For those seeking guidance, our consultants are here to support throughout the application process.