What should an academic reference include?

An academic reference should include the student's name, course and dates of study; an assessment of their academic performance and how they compare to peers; comments on their personal qualities such as work ethic, critical thinking and teamwork; and a clear recommendation.

Can a student see their academic reference?

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, academic references given in confidence are exempt from subject access requests made to the referee. However, the student may obtain the reference by making a subject access request to the institution that received it.

Is a UCAS reference the same as an academic reference?

A UCAS reference is a specific type of academic reference submitted as part of a UCAS undergraduate application. It follows UCAS guidelines and must be provided by a teacher or adviser at the applicant's school or college. This template can be adapted for UCAS use.

Can I decline to write an academic reference?

There is no legal obligation to provide an academic reference. However, if you do not feel able to provide a positive reference, it is good practice to tell the student so they can find an alternative referee. Do not refuse on discriminatory grounds.

How specific should the academic performance section be?

The more specific, the better. Where possible, mention actual grades or marks, class ranking, notable pieces of work, and how the student compares to others in their cohort. Vague or generic statements carry less weight.

Can I provide an academic reference for a student I taught several years ago?

Yes, but you should make clear when you taught the student and acknowledge that your knowledge may not reflect their current abilities. The more recent your knowledge of the student, the more weight the reference will carry.

Academic Reference Letter Template

An academic reference letter is a formal document written by a teacher, lecturer, tutor or professor to support a student's application for further education, employment or a scholarship.

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referee

Referee's Full Name*

Referee's Title / Position*

Institution / School Name*

Institution Address*

student

Student's Full Name*

Course / Programme of Study*

Date Studies Commenced*

Date of Completion (or expected)*

assessment

Academic Performance*

Personal Qualities*

Recommendation*

Details

Date of Letter*

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[refereeName] [refereeTitle] [institution] [institutionAddress] [todayDate] To Whom It May Concern ACADEMIC REFERENCE — [studentName] I am writing to provide an academic reference for [studentName], who has been a student on the [courseName] programme at [institution] from [studyStartDate] to [studyEndDate]. I have taught and supervised [studentName] in my capacity as [refereeTitle], and I am well placed to comment on their academic abilities and personal qualities. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE [academicPerformance] PERSONAL QUALITIES [personalQualities] RECOMMENDATION [recommendation] Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information regarding [studentName]. Yours faithfully, ____________________________ [refereeName] [refereeTitle] [institution]

Important Notes

Legal Disclaimer

Academic references given in confidence are exempt from subject access requests made to the referee under the Data Protection Act 2018 (Schedule 2, Part 4, paragraph 24) and UK GDPR. However, the recipient institution may be required to disclose the reference to the student under a separate subject access request. All statements should be honest and fair. The Equality Act 2010 applies to academic references — the referee must not discriminate on the basis of a protected characteristic. For UCAS references, institutions should follow UCAS guidelines and ensure the reference is an honest and objective assessment.

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For complex legal matters, we recommend consulting a qualified solicitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Templates

Employer Reference Letter Character Reference Letter Personal Reference Letter Reference Request Letter