How to Contact a referee for your UCAS

A reference is a written recommendation from a teacher, adviser or professional who knows you in an academic context. They should be someone who can talk about your work ethic, interaction with other students and your suitability for higher education. This forms one part of your application, considered alongside your predicted grades, current qualifications and personal statement. Most schools will have policies already in place for writing references, but it is helpful to provide your referees with useful information that they can include.

The reference is about:

Your post-16 academic performance and potential for success in higher education.

Suitability for your chosen subject and career path.

Attitude, motivation, aptitude and enthusiasm.

Achievements, awards and super-curricular activities.

School contextual information (e.g. widening participation engagement, significant staff changes, damage to buildings).

Mitigating factors with your permission (i.e. serious illness or adverse personal circumstances).

In most schools, your form tutor, or someone who provides oversight for all your studies, will write your reference, with input from your subject teachers.

We’ve produced an email template for you, which you can use to contact your referee!

Subject: UCAS Reference

Dear ,

I am applying to XXX to study XXX and was wondering whether you would be happy to write my reference?

Details about what the reference should include can be found here: www.ucas.com/advisers/references/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-references

Primarily, I am applying to this course because XXX. I am particularly looking forward to the XXX part of the course, and have watched/read XXX to broaden my understanding.

I have noted down a few things that I feel would be worth mentioning.

● Achieved XXX in the XXX competition

● Attended the XXX masterclass, which inspired me to read XXX

● Organised work experience with XXX, which gave me an insight into XXX

(IF APPLICABLE) As you may be aware, between XXX and XXX, my exams and/or studies were disrupted due to . I feel this is something that should be considered by admissions tutors.

Many thanks for your time. Please let me know if you need any more information.

Kind regards,

We hope you now know how to approach your referees. For further information, check out these useful links.

1) www.ucas.com/advisers/references/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-references

2) www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/how-get-ucas-undergraduate-reference

3) www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/webteam/shared/undergraduate/documents/teachersresourcespresentations/writingaUCASreference-hintsandtips.pdf

Summary

1. The reference forms one part of the UCAS application

2. Most UK schools will already have policies in place to manage reference writing, but if in doubt, check with your school form tutor / head of year.

3. It is helpful to provide your referees with useful information