References are one-to two-page letters provided by former teachers, lecturers and professional colleagues as part of the university admission process. They are used to highlight the student’s academic history and character that is used so universities are able to have a better insight of the student applying. These can be written by academics and professionals who have worked with you or know you personally such as managers, current or former colleagues, career advisers, advisers and so on. References cannot be written by yourself or include family members, friends or partners. Often universities will ask for letters of recommendation that are signed, headed and dated in the reference and are most likely not to accept references that come from non-professional email accounts such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. Most universities will ask for one to two references, while some universities like the University of Cambridge as well as other top world universities will ask for as many as of three. When starting the application process, you can contact someone asking them if they would be happy to provide you with a reference. Supplying the person with supporting information about you such as through a brief summary, transcripts, CV etc. will help the referee provide relevant information as part of your application. 

Here is a sample of a reference request:

Dear _____, I hope you are well. I am currently applying for ______ and was hoping you could provide a reference for me. As my current/former ______ and with your permission, I believe you could improve my chances of obtaining an offer from ______ I have attached my relevant documents for your reference. Please let me know if you need any other information from me.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.  Sincerely,  _______

If you have any doubts about pursuing higher education or if you’re wondering if getting a degree is the right decision for you, we’ve written an article covering the benefits students can sustain throughout their life after earning a degree.

Boost career prospects 

Earning a degree allows you to prepare for a specialised career in your industry. You will enjoy higher-quality jobs than non-graduates and can open up more rewarding possibilities. Degrees are always in demand and employers are always looking for candidates with the advanced skills they require.

Earn more 

Degrees allow you to secure higher roles when applying for a job, so you are likely to make more money over the course of your career. Figures in 2018 have been shown to state that graduates earn £10,000 more than non-graduates with higher employment rates. 

Improve your skills

Going to university and taking on new responsibilities will allow you to develop your communication, multi-tasking, budgeting and critical thinking and time management skills. Preparing for academic research, essays and exams improves your efficiency in communication and problem-solving. Living independently and juggling a part-time job with studies allows you to make better judgements of your time and enhance multitasking abilities. These are transferable skills you will have gained from university and will be able to apply in real life; your personal development will help you grow as a person and get ready for post-graduation adult life. 

Degrees are worth it 

Degrees act as an important form of investment and tend to offer better job security. A YouGov poll showed that 86% of students were satisfied with the quality of their university course. Non-economic gains include being happier and healthier overall with higher reports of wellbeing 

Have you come across the term ‘pre-masters’? The programme is a popular course designed for international students who want to pursue graduate study, but do not meet entry requirements. These courses will help prepare you for postgraduate study and increase your research skills, subject-specific knowledge, study skills and academic writing abilities. You will usually need to have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with a pass and a minimum IELTS score of 5.5. There are often many pre-masters routes and each university or education group will have their own named subject pathways. For example, these can include, but are not limited to: 

• ‘Business and Management’

• ‘Business and Social Sciences’

• ‘Engineering and Sciences’

• ‘Law and Social Sciences’ 

Many different universities and education groups offer these programmes and upon successful completion of the course, students can progress onto their chosen master’s programme at their institution.