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UK university admissions body announces three new questions to come into use from next year
Ucas, the body that oversees student admissions to UK universities, has announced details of the three ‘structured questions’ that will replace the old essay-style personal statement in university applications.
The new format, which will be implemented from next year for those starting their course in 2026, is intended to stem a decline in the number of disadvantaged students applying to university.
Ucas said its research suggested that four out of five applicants find the current personal statement difficult to complete without support, adding that the new questions aim to ensure students from all backgrounds “better understand the key information universities and colleges want to know about them when making admissions decisions”.
The three questions are:
- 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 change is the second in what Ucas describes as a “series of initiatives” designed to address concerns that progress has started to stall on encouraging disadvantaged students to apply for university. It follows the decision last month to waive the application fee for applicants who are eligible for free school meals.
Ucas said the questions were chosen following “extensive research, testing and validation with students, teachers and advisers, and universities and colleges”.
“My aim at Ucas is to make sure that the doors of opportunity stay open for as many students as possible so that they can benefit from a university education and find the right course that they will succeed in,” said chief executive Jo Saxton.
Stubborn gap
Confirmation of the changes was accompanied by a data release from Ucas, which showed that the gap in application rate between the most and least disadvantaged students remains “stubbornly persistent”.
In England, the application rate from the most disadvantaged backgrounds has declined by 0.4 percentage points to 25.4 per cent, while the application rate for the most advantaged has marginally increased by 0.1 percentage points to 60.7 per cent.
In Wales, the application rate of those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds has decreased to 20.7 per cent, down 1.3 percentage points, while rates for the most advantaged also fell 2.6 percentage points to 49.7 per cent.
In Northern Ireland the application rate from the most disadvantaged fell 0.6 percentage points to 33.3 per cent, whereas the rate for the most advantaged was up 0.1 percentage points to 66.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, Scotland has seen its application rate for those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds increase 0.8 percentage points to 20.7 per cent, but this has been outstripped by an increase in applications among the most advantaged, up 1.1 percentage points to 50.2 per cent.
“Today’s figures show that while positive progress has been made, there is still much to do,” Saxton said. “The changes to the personal statement, along with our recent fee waiver for students in receipt of free school meals, are all part of Ucas’ contribution to the sector-wide effort to ensure more people from disadvantaged backgrounds can benefit from the life-changing opportunity of higher education.”