Completing the Referee section of the online application form.

For most postgraduate taught courses only one reference is required; all research courses require two references. There are some exceptions and the following taught courses require you to provide 2 references: MSc Diamond Science and Technology (MSc leading to PhD), MSc in Mathematics of Systems (MSc leading to PhD), MSc in Statistics and the MSc in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing.

When you complete the online application form, you will be asked to provide details about your referee(s) and an email address which we will use to contact them. The email will include instructions to supply your reference. In the referee section, 'position' refers to their job title, or other summary of the capacity in which you know this referee. The referee address should be their employment address.

To provide details for one referee only in the online application form, please enter ‘N/A’ or ‘X’ in the mandatory fields of the second referee section to progress to the next page.

It is your responsibility to ensure that references are supplied. Please contact your referees before you submit your application to let them know to expect a reference request from Warwick. Your nominated referees will not be sent a reference request email until your application has been submitted, any application assessment fee payment due has been paid and your application has been fully processed onto our system.

Posting your references

Alternatively, if you have not supplied email addresses for your referees, or, if your referees prefer not to use the online facility, you must contact them to arrange for your references to be sent to the University by post at the address below. When requesting a hard copy reference you must complete a reference form and provide this to your referee(s) to include with your reference. References should be signed originals, and on letter-headed paper.

Postgraduate Admissions Service
Student Recruitment, Outreach and Admissions Service
University House
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 8UW

Visiting Research Students

If you are applying as a visiting research student, only one reference is required and it needs to be from your current research supervisor. To provide details for one referee only in the online application form, please enter ‘N/A’ or ‘X’ in the mandatory fields of the second referee section to progress to the next page.

Acceptable type of references

• If you have been in higher education (full time) within the last 2 years then we require academic references from teachers in higher education (lecturers, seminar leaders or personal tutors) who have direct knowledge of your academic work. If you have undertaken postgraduate study (full time or part time) we will normally require one of the academic references to be from your most recent postgraduate study.
• If you have been in higher education (part time) within the last 2 years then we require at least one academic reference from teachers in higher education (lecturers, seminar leaders or personal tutors) who have direct knowledge of your academic work. If you are applying for a research course the second reference can be either an academic reference or an employment reference from your current or most recent line manager/ supervisor or employer.
• If you have not been in higher education within the last 2 years you may nominate referee(s) with knowledge of your current or most recent employment activity to act as your referees. Referees should be your supervisors/ line managers who oversee your work. Alternatively, you may supply academic references where possible.
• We cannot accept references from work colleagues, relatives, friends, or teachers of below degree level studies (A level, GCSE Level etc.). If you are having difficulties nominating suitable referees (for example, if you have been self-employed for a considerable period), please get in touch with PG Admissions team for further advice.