{"id":286712,"date":"2025-09-17T15:18:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T14:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edgehill.ac.uk\/?p=286712"},"modified":"2026-03-09T05:06:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T05:06:45","slug":"supporting-your-student-to-write-their-personal-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edgehill.ac.uk\/news\/2025\/09\/supporting-your-student-to-write-their-personal-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting your student to write their personal statement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n \n \n Supporting your student to write their personal statement A guide for parents & supporters<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve previously supported a student with their application to study at university, you may remember the personal statement. The part of the application process that often takes the longest to complete. Well, the personal statement is changing for applicants who are applying to join university in 2026 (and beyond).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to find out what\u2019s changed and how you can best support your young person as they complete their application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s changed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the past, the personal statement was a free-form piece of writing where applicants had the freedom to write about anything. Tasked with writing 4,000 characters (approximately a side or two of A4 paper), applicants often found it tricky to get started as there was no set structure to follow. Now with the new format, applicants will be faced with three questions. The 4,000-character limit remains, but your student will now be able to take a more structured approach to writing their statement. And the new format aims to reduce confusion so that students can really make themselves stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to include<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your student will be asked three questions:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n 1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?<\/span>\n