Hi all,

I am just finishing as a part time and distance learning student. I want to apply for PhD's and also studentships but how do people gather these people to do what could be realistically 5+ references for difference institutions? Its difficult to ask for references with my study pace because there is no one that knows you as such and with so many lecturers too. Also where there is a change of staff. I don't know what to do! Part of me thinks okay I've got the MSc but is it worth finding away to do a course campus based to get a couple lectures prepared to do these references.

Any help i'd be really grateful.

Thank you K.

1. Need two referees,
2. They are the same for all five institutions.
3. They will give you references: they are as you say academic not personal, so they don't 'need to know you.'
4. As long as you have satisfactoraliiy completed you should get a reference/s.
5. It would be MADNESS to do a whole new course just for the sake of getting them!!!

Good advice thank you however many institutions ask that the referee send their reference directly usually via some online thing. and when it comes to studentships a standard reference isn't enough to win the award. Its so frustrating! :-(

No it's the same thing. THEY WILL BE USED TO THAT. Tell them what it is for. Just that you're not. ASK (email) if they will be a ref, they will reply (email) to agree, and you won't need to worry from then on wth anything except actually getting to the stage of needing the reference... i.e., getting accepted somewhere! Good luck. This will not guarantee the award, but it will guarantee you 'worry' about the right things!!!