UCAS - Your reference

Your reference

Your referee should know you well enough to write about you and to comment on your suitability for higher education

References are usually written by someone who knows you academically. Most references will talk about you from a teacher's or tutor's perspective: how you work and interact with other students and teachers, for example. Your reference does not have to be academic, but if you're studying or have recently left school or college, a reference from your school or college will be expected.

In this section...

Who should/shouldn't write the reference
Practical tips
Applying through a school/college/organisation
Applying as an individual
If no reference is needed

Who should write the reference?

Your referee should know you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.
If you're at school or college, or left recently, ask your principal, head teacher, teacher or tutor.
If you left school or college several years ago, ask your current or previous employer or in the case of voluntary work your supervisor.
If you've recently attended any training courses you could ask your training provider.

Who should not write the reference?

It is not permitted for family, friends, partners or ex-partners to write your reference. If we find this to be the case, your application may be cancelled.

A full written reference is required. The name and address of the referee is not sufficient, unless all your chosen universities and colleges have already agreed that no reference is required on your application. See the if no reference is needed advice below.

If you're in prison, your application must include a statement from the prison authorities, even if you're asking someone else to write your reference. The prison authority has to say whether you're suitable for a course of study, and whether you'll be able to accept a place for the start date chosen.

Your reference - practical tips

Your referee must write your reference in English (or it can be in Welsh if you're only applying to Welsh universities and colleges).

Most references will contain the following information:

their opinion of your suitability for a particular profession (eg you've demonstrated your dedication and calm nature for nursing)
your proposed career plan - if you have one - so make sure your referee is aware of your career ideas and any work experience
your performance in individual modules or course components: for example, if you were one mark from a higher grade, they may highlight this
anything that may have affected your academic work (eg an ongoing illness)
any other personal circumstances which may have affected, or will affect, your performance
any specific needs you may have, like a disability or learning difficulties, and how you cope with these at school or college.

Any health issues or disabilities can only be mentioned with your permission. If you have any issues that you would like the universities and colleges to be aware of when considering your application, these should be included in the reference rather than the personal statement, so discuss this with your referee.

Applying through a school, college or other organisation

You won't have access to your reference. This will be completed on your behalf by your centre.

Check that each section of your application is correct and mark them all as complete.
Pay for your application (if applicable) and send it online to your referee.
Your referee will check and approve your application.
Your referee will write the reference.
Your centre will approve the reference and send it to us.
We'll then process your application.

Applying as an individual

The reference section needs to be completed before you can send your application to us.

If you're applying independently but would like your reference to be written by a registered school, college or other organisation, you can request that the centre completes the reference for you in Apply. Go to the 'Options' section and click 'Ask a registered school, college or organisation to write your reference only'.

This means that the centre can write a reference for you but they won't be involved in the rest of your application. Once they have completed the reference, a red tick will be displayed next to 'Reference' section in the left-hand navigation.

If your referee is not at a registered centre, you will need to contact them to make sure they are willing to give you a reference by our online method and find out their telephone and email details so that we can contact them to request your reference. Enter their contact details in the reference section and click 'Ask referee to complete reference'.

We will send them an email with a link to our website and a password. Your referee can click on the help text links to read advice on what to include in the reference. If your referee still needs more help with providing a reference, ask them to watch the video below.

We check that they are still able to supply your reference and ask them to confirm their identity. If they decline to give you a reference for any reason we notify you. We notify you by email when the reference is complete and a red tick will be displayed next to the 'Reference' section in the left-hand navigation section. You can then complete and submit your application.

If no reference is needed

You need to provide details for a referee and a reference unless you have contacted all your universities and colleges and they have all agreed that no reference is required.

If you don't need a reference, please click the link on the Reference welcome page. This will display a warning before allowing you to proceed. If you confirm that you do not need a reference you can then mark the reference section as complete.