It has been announced the once-crucial element of the UCAS application, the personal statement, will be removed in time for the 2024 admissions cycle.  

As a result of this change, we will see the short essay replaced with numerous short answer questions that are likely to question a student’s motivation for studying and how they are ready for this next level of study. UCAS hopes this change will work toward bridging the class gap created in the application process, in which middle-class teenagers often hold an advantage. 

As they continue to debate and refine which questions to use, UCAS seek to put a pupil’s ‘achievements into context.’ Professor Lee Elliot Major (the Social Mobility expert) at Exeter states that “No one should underestimate how important this reform will be in helping to level the playing field in university admissions.” Similarly, it is key to note that this change will also impact the teacher reference, which will be replaced with three structured questions to ‘encourage more objective comments.’ 

No one should underestimate how important this reform will be in helping to level the playing field in university admissions

Professor Lee Elliot Major

While in a survey conducted last year, UCAS found that 72 per cent responded positively to the statement, and a more significant 79 per cent agreed that writing a personal statement is a struggle without support. Only time will tell if these changes level the playing field for university admissions.