Friend lied on his personal statement... advice?

Unfortunately, universities and UCAS take lying about qualifications very seriously, so it's unlikely that everything will just be ok. As he's applying for music, this is more serious than if he were applying for another subject- and I believe music applicants are often asked for proof of the grades they've achieved.

Has he listed his music grades on the UCAS form or just mentioned them in his PS? Grades 6-8 give UCAS points, so if he's mentioned taking grade 8 in his PS, but not in his qualifications as pending, then the university might suspect something is up. If he's listed qualifications he doesn't hold elsewhere on his form this is fraud, and is very likely to result in offers being withdrawn. If universities can prove the applicant applied fraudulently, the place can be withdrawn at any time, including after enrollment.

If he has only mentioned this in his PS, then it's possible the university will skim over it- but it's unlikely they won't notice this for a music degree. If they contact him to confirm his qualifications, he definately shouldn't lie.

I would suggest that it would be best for him to own up (or at least say that he made a typing error if it's just on the PS). He won't know if he's gotten away with it until enrollment, or possibly even afterwards- this will eat away at him for months, and it is likely he will lose his place anyway. He will have to take the consequences, but at least he will know where he stands for next year.

What's he planning to do if they give him grade 8 as a condition of his offer?

It is. UCAS doesn't have the right to ban someone for 3 years. Universities can reject but a silly mistake and that? Too harsh.

I agree with everyone else on him needing to do the exams because they'll probably ask. Though i have to add that whatever happens is hes fault.

Won't they know he's lying anyway when they see the date on the certificate and realise that he did the exam after he applied?

Well UCAS obviously does have the right considering she was​ banned and had to go to Europe for Uni instead.

Better off without UCAS then.

Not really. To be fair, the amount of times we were given talks about not plagiarising and lying on our PS and she completely disregarded them.

even if he gets the certificate, if the uni's ask to see them they'll know he's lied because he'll know the date on them is later than his application

But three years? People make mistakes. If she didn't go to Europe, that could have been her future postponed for 3 years!

So, my friend told a lie on his personal statement and is really, really worried about it now. He was in tears yesterday. He has applied for a music degree at Kings, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Goldsmiths and Bristol. Everything, he says, on his personal statement is absolutely correct and the guy really loves his subject. However, he stated that he had already achieved his grade 5 theory and grade 5 piratical in piano when, in reality, he has only achieved grade 4 piratical in piano and is just about to sit his grade 5 theory. He also said that he is preparing for his grade 8 exam and intents to sit it before starting university, but in actually fact he's going to sit his grade 5. I play grade 8 piano though and he's better than me, so I can say with all honesty that he plays at grade 8 standard. He doesn't have an account but I want to tell him it'll be okay. Can anything happen? He has offers from Kings and Newcastle, but Edinburgh is his first choice.

It is. UCAS doesn't have the right to ban someone for 3 years. Universities can reject but a silly mistake and that? Too harsh.

I looked at my ABRSM Theory of Music certificate and it listed only the year.

Even then. You right your PS and do UCAS in 2013 and if he did it now he's certificate would say 2014...

But if he's only planning to go for a grade eight, I don't think universities will treat that claim very seriously. It's not a promise whatsoever, and won't be a problem unless that turns out to be one of the conditions. Also, it would make no sense for him to list it anywhere else because he hasn't even applied for a G8 in this case. It makes sense to just say it in his PS like any mention of a career goal or a future study goal.

Oh hmm that's right. But you can argue that you meant you have applied and was going to take it before universities consider you (so just getting a bit ahead of yourself).

And with minor things like this, I don't think the admin staff would really notice. Obviously that depends on luck.

Music qualifications for a music degree are not necessarily minor considereations.

Deliberarely lying on the PS is very frowned on, and in this instance could be considered fraud by the universities and UCAS as it is in relation to relevant qualifications for the course.

I suppose so, but I'm not convinced that someone who is lying in their PS will behave sensibly in other ways.

Also, if he has listed contradicting information in his qualifications section and his PS, this may flag it as something a university might keep an eye on. I'm pretty sure OP said he claimed to have grade 5 already when actually he doesn't.

I am not saying it is an impossibility to get away with, just that if you don't get away with it, the consequences can be a lot more serious than just a slapped wrist from UCAS. Apparently he is already stressed/worried- so it is up to the person who has commited the offense to decide if they can live with that stress and worry for the next 6-7 months and if they could deal with the consequences if they are found out.

Even then. You write your PS and do UCAS in 2013 and if he did it now he's certificate would say 2014...

Technically deadline is in 2014, so by getting that certificate before university asks for it he could quite easily talk out of the situation...

No amount of talking could change the fact that the lied.