Not long ago, CBSE and ISC declared Class XII results along with various State Boards. The results mark the start of a new journey, and that is, preparing for undergraduate admissions.
Within the country, things remain pretty much the same for undergraduate applications. But when it comes to global undergraduate applications, there are some meaningful shifts.
Universities around the world are updating their admission processes in ways that could significantly impact your application strategy. These evolutions are designed to make the application process clearer and more effective for everyone.
Whether you’re eyeing prestigious Russell Group universities in Britain or top-tier colleges in the U.S., understanding these changes early will give you a real advantage.
In this article, we’ll walk you through what is changing in global undergraduate applications this year.
1. More UK Universities are Introducing Admission Tests
Big news for 2025 UK university applicants: new admissions tests are being introduced.
Many institutions are now requiring applicants to take the Undergraduate Admissions Test UK, or UAT-UK. These tests are computer-based and administered globally through Pearson VUE’s network of professional test centres.
The UAT-UK suite includes three main tests:
- Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA): This test is now required for a range of demanding mathematics, computing, and economics courses at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, and Warwick. It is also an optional, yet highly recommended, component for some courses at Durham, LSE, and Warwick. Notably, the TMUA is now replacing the ECAA for Economics applicants at Cambridge.
- Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT): This comprehensive test is set to replace Cambridge’s long-standing NSAA and ENGAA exams. It’s designed to consolidate engineering and science assessments. UCL has also adopted the ESAT for its Mechanical and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Courses. The ESAT covers core science subjects, including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (split into two parts), and Physics
- Test of Academic Reasoning for University Admission (TARA): A brand-new addition, TARA is a general aptitude, thinking, and reasoning test introduced by UCL for a wide variety of its courses. This test is designed to assess broader cognitive skills and includes sections on Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and a Writing Task. It is required for specific UCL courses such as Computer Science, Management Science, and Social Sciences
2. UCAS Has Updated Personal Statement Requirements
Perhaps one of the most talked-about changes in UK university applications is UCAS’s overhaul of the personal statement format.
After years of criticism that the traditional personal statement favoured students with access to extensive guidance and support, UCAS has introduced a more structured approach. The new format replaces the single 4,000-character statement with 3 specific questions that applicants must answer.
The overall character limit remains 4,000 characters, including spaces, which is the same as the previous format. However, each of the 3 new sections will have a minimum character count of 350. This new format means less emphasis on traditional introductions and conclusions, and more on providing direct, focused answers to the prompts.
UCAS is breaking down statements into specific questions so that students can better showcase their strengths and experience. Those three new questions are:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
- What other experiences outside of education have prepared you for this course, and why are they useful?
This focus on personalised support for applicants is a step toward inclusivity and fairness in admissions. UCAS found that the old, open-ended essay could be really tough for students who didn’t have extra help, potentially putting those from less-resourced backgrounds at a disadvantage. So, these updates aim to level the playing field.
Note, though, the new personal statement format will come into effect for students starting their studies in 2026. This means it applies to students applying from September 2025 onwards.
3. Standardised Testing Returns to Several U.S. Universities
Across the Atlantic, U.S. undergraduate admissions are also seeing some big changes. After a period of test-optional policies due to the pandemic, a noticeable number of universities are once again requiring SAT/ACT scores for 2025 entry.
It’s worth noting that this trend includes a number of very competitive universities. Many top institutions, including Ivy League schools like Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale, are back to requiring standardised test scores. Other notable universities like MIT, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and Georgetown are also on this list.
It doesn’t end there. Entire state university systems, including Florida and Georgia, are now asking for test scores again. Purdue University has also joined the group of institutions requiring tests.
Universities are bringing tests back for some pretty solid reasons. Research, including studies from Harvard faculty, suggests that standardised tests are actually great predictors of success, not just in college, but even beyond.
Another reason for this change comes from new analyses, like one from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Its findings suggest that making test scores optional might actually, and unintentionally, disadvantage students from high schools with fewer resources.
Some institutions also express concerns about grade inflation in high school transcripts, finding standardised tests to be a more reliable measure of academic ability.
MIT, for instance, has consistently required SAT or ACT scores. It believes they offer important insights into a student’s readiness for its demanding academic environment.
Besides language proficiency, Yale has adopted a ‘test-flexible’ policy. It accepts scores from the ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. So, students can submit scores that best represent their academic strengths.
4. Georgetown University Has Joined the Common Application
For decades, Georgetown maintained its own application system, requiring students to complete a separate application process that many found cumbersome and time-consuming.
But Georgetown University announced a significant change in March 2025. That is, it would be joining the Common Application.
The Common Application is an online platform that over 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities use. It streamlines the application process for more than a million students annually by bringing together their demographic information, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.
This change simplifies the application process considerably for students applying to multiple competitive universities. Previously, Georgetown applicants had to navigate a completely different application format, including unique essay requirements and submission procedures. Now, students can include Georgetown in their Common App list alongside other universities.
The university aims to reach a larger percentage of low-income students and other applicants who might not have otherwise considered applying to Georgetown due to the barrier of a separate application.
Despite this change to the application platform, Georgetown’s admissions standards will remain rigorous. The university will continue to require applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores. This simply means that while the Common App makes applying logistically easier for students, it doesn’t lower the academic standards for getting in.
It is important to understand the timeline for this change. The announcement occurred in March 2025. But Georgetown will begin accepting the Common Application in August 2026.
This means the Common App option will be available for students applying for the class entering in Fall 2027. So, students applying for 2025 or 2026 entry will still need to use Georgetown’s proprietary application system.
5. Advanced Placement Exams Go Digital
Get ready for a significant change with Advanced Placement (AP) exams in 2025.
Starting in May 2025, 28 AP exams will no longer be offered as traditional paper-based tests. Instead, these exams will be administered through the College Board’s Bluebook digital testing application.
The digital transition will occur in two formats:
- Fully Digital Exams: Sixteen AP exams will be entirely digital, meaning both multiple-choice and free-response questions will be completed on a device. Examples include AP African American Studies, Art History, Computer Science A, English Language & Literature, United States History, and World History: Modern
- Hybrid Digital Exams: Twelve subjects will adopt a hybrid model. For these, students will answer multiple-choice questions on the Bluebook app, but they will handwrite their free-response answers in a provided paper booklet. Hybrid exams include AP Biology, Calculus AB/BC, Chemistry, Macro/Microeconomics, Physics, Precalculus, and Statistics
A few AP exams, such as world language APs (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish Language and Literature), Music Theory, and Art & Design portfolio submissions, will continue in their traditional formats.
Despite the shift in format, the core elements of the AP exams will remain consistent. The content, number of sections, types of questions, and overall timing of the exams will not change. Existing calculator policies will also stay the same. Students will still be provided with scratch paper for planning their answers, even for fully digital tests.
The primary reasons for this digital transformation include enhancing security, streamlining the testing process, and offering a more student-friendly experience.
Embracing Change With Confidence
The 2025 global undergraduate application cycle is indeed bringing some notable changes.
While these updates might seem like a lot to take in, these shifts are mostly designed to increase fairness, flexibility, and clarity.
Staying informed is a powerful tool in this process, so make sure to regularly check the official admissions websites of the universities you’re eyeing.
And if you’re preparing for TMUA or AP placement exams, it would be wise to seek help from Prep7Edu. Our expert-led courses, realistic practice tests, and clear strategies are built to help you feel confident on exam day. In a time of big changes, having the right guidance can be your biggest advantage.
So, reach out to us today, and discover how personalised preparation can make all the difference in achieving your university goals.
