UCAS has overhauled the personal statement section of university applications, replacing the old single essay with three targeted questions, in a bid to level the playing field for pupils without access to private tutoring or parental guidance. The reform, introduced a year ago, means applicants for September 2027 entry will be only the second cohort to use the new format, which aims to make clearer what universities are actually looking for.

The new questions ask why applicants want to study their chosen course, how their qualifications have prepared them, and what other experiences outside education are relevant. There remains an overall 4,000-character limit, with a minimum of 350 characters required per answer. Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, backed the changes, noting that 79 per cent of students had previously found the old-style statement hard to write without support; he says early feedback from teachers has been encouraging, though the full impact won't be clear until this cohort completes the process.