UCAS application process changes for 2026 undergrads

Hot off the press, UCAS are revising their admissions process for 2026 undergrads.

The 4,000 character personal statement is to be abolished and instead 3 set questions will be asked for you to write about. The new application process will ask you:

1. Why do you want to study the course?

2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course?

3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education and why are these experiences helpful?

This is huge. If you are opting to do some travelling anyway on a gap year or straight after school in the summer holidays before uni - now more than ever it is so important to make your gap year experiences worthwhile and productive (as well as epic).

By doing one of our programmes you can use it to fuel your answer to each question on the new admissions process, and we've been saying it for years - a Leap programme is for life. Our programmes have always been carefully curated to weave in culture, contribution and challenge with the core goal being to enhance your gap year experience (be more than just a hostel hopper), and to give you the life skills necessary to propel you in life well after your programme has finished with us.

Our programmes will give you the personal development skills as well as practical skills that will really aid your application and make you stand out showing commitment and wider learning.

Here is how our programmes support your application to university:

Personal skills

If you saw last week’s blog you will know all about personal development and how we shape you on your gap year programme with us. Some examples are:

• Social skills: Meeting team of Leapers you have never met before
• Confidence: You will tackle challenges and learn to problem-solve
• Perspective: You will have a more rounded outlook on life and see the bigger picture
• Resilience: Not everything goes right all the time while travelling, you will be tested
• Team work: You will find yourself working as a team in order to achieve great things
  

Practical skills

It’s not just the personal skills you will acquire, but practical skills too. A huge part of your UCAS application. Here’s how we help with practical skills beyond the classroom:

• Study a language: we've got your covered with our Central and South American programmes in Costa Rica, Colombia and Peru.
• Needs hands on practical skills in your field: ie if you want to study marine biology, our Kenya programme is a must. (Question 3 of UCAS nailed)
  
• Develop your passion: We get you experiencing your interest or chosen subject in the real world outside your textbooks which will really help foster your passion for it (which will really help with UCAS question 1)
• Speak to experts: On your programme you will come across multiple experts in their fields, from conservationists, to NGO founders to small business owners. Speaking with them will inspire you and help discover more about your subject should you wish.
  

We are thrilled that UCAS have recognized that it is all about life beyond the classroom, there are so many other aspects that doing a Leap programme brings to the table that will support your application process and enhance your life.

Whether you travel before uni in the summer holidays or when in your first year summer break while at University. Our programmes will go a long way to assisting your application.

Get browsing our team programmes and drop me a message here to see how we can help you get the ball rolling.

FAQs

How long are your programmes? They range from 3-4 weeks with the aim of encouraging you to do onward travel afterwards now that you are travel savvy.

How old are your Leapers? 18-21. All in the same boat.

I want to study Geography, which programme is best? Pick somewhere with differing terrain such as Colombia for treks and contrasting landscapes. Or Peru for Machu Picchu.