2025/26 UK G5 Universities - Oxbridge Expert Analyses Personal Statement Writing Tips

Date and Time:
11 September 2024
7:30 pm- 8:30 pm
Location:
Zoom Virtual Meeting
Event Ended
  • What are the requirements of a Personal Statement for G5 universities such as Oxford and Cambridge? 
  • How can students enhance their chances of admission through their Personal Statements?
  • What are the new rules to pay attention to regarding the 2026 UCAS reforms to the Personal Statement requirements?

When applying to UK G5 universities, every student must prepare a Personal Statement. However, in just a few hundred words, students have to demonstrate their abilities while also expressing their knowledge and determination of the subject they are applying for. This document will determine the impression of the admissions officers on the student and is crucial to the application’s success!

A reminder for everyone – students interested in studying at Oxford or Cambridge in 2025 must submit their applications by October 15, which means they do not have much time to complete an impressive Personal Statement. With less than two months left before the application deadline, make sure to get well prepared on your Personal Statement preparation.

2026 UCAS Reform – Personal Statement Requirements

If you're planning to study in September 2026, you should be aware that UCAS will reform the format of the Personal Statement. Instead of a free-form essay, applicants will be asked to answer three questions. How can you answer these questions effectively? What are the expectations from the universities?  This webinar will reveal all the details to you.

In this webinar, James, an Ascent Prep Admissions Research Analyst and Cambridge graduate, will analyse important considerations and preparation strategies for writing a Personal Statement. He will share outstanding examples so that you can avoid common mistakes. Additionally, he will break down the new rules and requirements for the 2026 Personal Statement, allowing you to prepare in advance and secure a place in your favourite university!

Seminar Highlights

  • An introduction to the application process for G5 universities in the UK
  • Analyse the factors affecting the success rate of the application
  • Key points to consider when writing a Personal Statement, including common mistakes
  • Sharing examples of outstanding Personal Statements
  • New requirements for the 2026 Personal Statement
  • How to prepare Personal Statement strategically to increase the chance of admission?

Target Audience

  • Students and their parents who are interested in applying to Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial and UCL in 2025 or 2026.
  • Students who are interested in applying for competitive programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Law.


Oxford and Cambridge are considered "Dream schools" for students worldwide, renowned for their top rankings, elite tutors and alumni networks. However, admission requirements for Oxbridge are extremely stringent. In addition to excellent results in public examinations and admission tests, the interview performance is essential as well.

Increase your admission chance! How to prepare for an Oxbridge interview?

Oxbridge interviews are more challenging and competitive than other UK universities, candidates who secure an interview opportunity being exceptionally strong and well prepared for the information about the subject. In order to stand out among the applicants, learning interview techniques for UK universities from expert with an Oxbridge background, sharing expectations for student performance and interview tips.

Seminar Highlights

  • The importance of interviews performance
  • Preparing for Oxford and Cambridge interviews: including the formats and questions, answering techniques etc.
  • Interview preparation resources: Helps students become more familiar with interview questions, encouraging practice during the summer at home

Seminar Audience

  • Students / parents who intend to apply to University of Oxford / University of Cambridge
  • Students / parents who intend to apply to UK University

Seminar Details

  • Date: 11 September, 2024 (Wednesday)
  • Hong Kong Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm 
  • Location: Zoom Webinar 

Speakers

  • Ascent Prep Admissions Research Analyst and Cambridge Graduate - James
  • Ascent Prep Senior Education Consultant - Maisie Ng
Event Ended
2025/26 UK G5 Universities - Oxbridge Expert Analyses Personal Statement Writing Tips
Event Form General Form

活動時間:

2024年9月11日(三) 7:30pm-8:30pm

Individual lessons or Forming a group

Contact us to book a lesson! Students of similar ability are welcome to join us as a group and enjoy a moderate price!
Latest Events & Workshops

2026 How to build up Oxbridge Mindset?

26 February 2025
Zoom Virtual Meeting
Ascent Prep資深教育顧問Maisie將聯同牛劍專家向大家講解如何培養牛劍思維、解釋這種思維如何讓申請事半功倍。當天亦會分享面試、入學試,甚至是 UCAS Personal Statement 改革後等的注意事項,告訴你申請流程的每一步,幫助學生們更好地規劃時間。機會難得,立即報名!
medicine

2026 Admission Guide to UK Medical School

13 February 2025
Zoom Virtual Meeting
Gaining admission to medical school not only requires high academic achievements but also necessitates the completion of three critical application procedures: a Personal Statement, the UCAT admission test, and an interview. For applicants in 2026, it is especially important to complete the UCAT between July and September of 2025 and to submit the UCAS application along with the Personal Statement by October. Early preparation will undoubtedly provide a competitive edge in this rigorous process! Important Reforms: Personal Statement & UCAT Medical Admissions Test UCAS has announced a reform in the format of the Personal Statement for 2026. Instead of a free-form essay, applicants will be asked to answer three questions. How can you answer these questions effectively? What are the expectations from the universities?  This webinar will reveal all the details to you. In addition to this change, it is important to note that there will be significant changes to the UCAT content. The Abstract Reasoning section will be withdrawn, and the exam time for each section will differ from previous years. Will the scoring criteria be affected? These questions will be addressed in detail during this webinar […]

Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!

Find out what our customers say ...
Jessie C.
Desire Subject Physiotherapy
Programme Medicine and Allied Health Professions Admissions Preparation Course
Hours Attended 20

From a young age, Jessie was passionate about sports, especially football and competitive jump roping. An injury during a jump roping competition that required physical therapy piqued her interest in the profession. Jessie chose Biology and Chemistry as her subjects, and her predicted DSE scores met the entry requirements. However, she had doubts about her suitability due to her petite stature and introverted nature, fearing these could be obstacles to becoming a physical therapist. Despite Jessie's excellent grades, her father was also concerned about her career choice, worrying that Jessie was blindly following a trend without truly considering her interests and abilities, as choosing this field would mean committing to a career as a physical therapist.

Our education consultant recommended the shadowing program by Ascent Prep, the only official preparation program recognized by AEAS, offering students clinical internship experiences and professional mentorship. Seeing it as an opportunity to resolve her doubts and increase her chances of being admitted to higher-ranking universities, her father enrolled her in the program.

During the shadowing process, she gained in-depth knowledge of a physical therapist's daily duties, including assessing patients, developing treatment plans, and guiding patients through rehabilitation exercises. Though challenging, she found the work meaningful. Throughout this period, Jessie had the opportunity to ask many questions, particularly about her concerns. After completing the shadowing program, her determination to become a physical therapist was strengthened.

When preparing her personal statement, Jessie tried writing it herself but felt it lacked persuasiveness. With her tutor's guidance, she realized many areas needed improvement. The tutor helped her reorganize her experiences volunteering in physical therapy, highlighting her passion and dedication to the field. During interview training, she learned how to showcase her strengths and effectively answer the interviewer's questions. For example, Ascent Prep tutors taught students how to answer common situational questions, such as:

  • What do you think are the basic professional ethics for a physical therapist?
  • How do you view the relationship between physical therapists and their patients?
  • How would you handle conflicts of interest with patients?

Ascent Prep tutors prepared students for these ethical questions and situational challenges to test their problem-solving abilities, such as:

  • How would you deal with a patient unwilling to cooperate with treatment?
  • How would you respond to an emergency during treatment?
  • How do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals?

Ultimately, with Ascent Prep's assistance, Jessie was accepted into the Physical Therapy program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and also received offers from the University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, Brunel University, and the University of Salford in the UK. Among these options, she chose the University of Birmingham and was awarded a scholarship for her outstanding performance.

This journey highlights the value of Ascent Prep, offering practical clinical experiences and professional guidance, enabling students to not only improve academically but also to find their direction in their future career paths.

Read MoreRead Less
Sophie F.
Desire Subject Architecture
Programme Portfolio Guidance
Hours Attended 10

Sophie is a high school student from Hong Kong who has been passionate about architecture since she was young. She excelled academically and actively participated in various architecture-related activities, such as architectural model competitions and visits. However, as the time for further education approached, Sophie began to feel somewhat lost, due to her very high standards for herself. She knew that to gain admission into architecture programs at prestigious universities like Cambridge or UCL, she needed not only excellent academic grades but also well-rounded abilities and creativity.

By chance, Sophie attended a lecture by Ascent Prep, where the instructors shared their experiences in helping students gain admission to top universities. Ascent Prep introduced her to a mentor who was studying architecture at Cambridge. The mentorship and classes were designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and encouraged Sophie to think critically about the core of architectural studies, enriching her personal statement with diverse elements. In these classes, Sophie learned about architectural history, theory, and design. Her tutor explained complex concepts in an engaging way, making it easy for Sophie to understand.

For instance, during a mock interview, Sophie encountered a challenging question: "What do you think are the professional ethics of an architect?" She had never considered this question before, but with her tutor's guidance, she was able to articulate a well-thought-out answer, boosting her confidence for the actual interview.

The art portfolio is a critical component of university applications, and Sophie's tutor helped her create a portfolio that was both deep and creative. The tutor meticulously guided her through the selection and arrangement of her works, covering her academic research, practical experience, and personal interests. Under the tutor's guidance, Sophie revised her portfolio multiple times, resulting in an impressive collection of work.

Sophie's efforts were rewarded when she was accepted into the Architecture program at the University of Cambridge. Her portfolio showcased her unique understanding of architecture, including a sustainable design proposal that received high praise from her tutor. Moreover, Sophie performed excellently in her university interviews, demonstrating her academic abilities and personal charm.

Sophie's success story is a testament to the effectiveness of the Ascent Prep program, which is dedicated to helping students realize their potential and achieve success in their educational pursuits.

Read MoreRead Less
Andy M.
Desire Subject AEAS
Programme Official AEAS Test Preparation Course
Hours Attended 30

Andy attended a local Hong Kong secondary school. Despite having average grades at school, he has always been afraid of English, to the point of hesitating to speak it. Andy is a typical slow starter; when under pressure, he easily feels overwhelmed. This became even more evident after he took the AEAS test unprepared, resulting in scores far below expectations. The AEAS report recommended Andy to undertake an English course for 20-30 weeks, and the substantial cost of attending a 30-week language course in Australia, including tuition, accommodation, and student insurance, caused considerable concern for his parents. Not only were they considering the dual factors of time and finances, but they also hoped that Andy could have more opportunities to apply to his desired schools. That's when they found us, the only official preparatory course institution recognized by AEAS. In the 1-on-1 courses at Ascent Prep, students receive meticulous instruction from teachers and consultants, improving their English skills and gradually overcoming their fear of English. To the parents' surprise, the child performed excellently in the AEAS test. By achieving good results in Hong Kong, the AEAS report reduced the required language class from 30 weeks to just 4 weeks before entering mainstream schools in Australia. This not only saved money but also allowed the child to integrate into the Australian mainstream education system sooner.

Read MoreRead Less
Member of Beacon Group
Top crossarrow-right