Advice

Students hoping to apply to study in the UK for the 2026/2027 academic year need to know about the changes to the Ucas personal statement. 

In previous years, the personal statement has taken the form of a free-form essay – in which students write about the reasons for their choice of course. The structure and content are mostly left to the student to decide on, although it is recommended they stick to academic achievements rather than personal anecdotes. 

In the UK, the NHS is the system that residents use to access both physical and mental healthcare services. Most healthcare services are free at the point of use, but some procedures may require additional payment. The NHS stands for the National Health Service.

So how does the NHS work for international students in the UK? 

This guide explains how international students can access NHS services, what costs are involved and how to register with the NHS as an international student.

As we approach the end of the 2025 admissions cycle, you may still be undecided about your next steps. Every year, over a million students register for a Ucas account and yet 400,000 of those registered in the system never reach the stage of submitting an application. This shift reflects a broader trend: more students are delaying their decisions, reassessing their options, and using Clearing not as a fallback, but as a strategic route into higher education.

If you’re receiving your A-level results this year, you may have heard of clearing. This is the process students can go through if they don’t receive the grades they were expecting and miss out on their first and insurance places.  

Our guide to Ucas clearing explains what clearing is, how to apply for clearing and when, so you can use clearing to your advantage.

With A-level results day fast approaching (results are out on 14 August), students will be eager to find out whether they have secured their first (or second) choice of university.