Who to Ask & What They Should Write
Table of Contents
How Chevening References Work
Chevening requires two references. Here's how the process works: you nominate your two referees during the application process by providing their names, positions, and email addresses. Your referees do not need to do anything before you submit your application.
After you submit your application, Chevening sends an automated email directly to each referee. That email contains a link to an online reference form. Your referees complete and submit their references through this form — they don't write a letter or send a PDF. Everything happens within the Chevening system.
Timeline
Your referees typically have about 1 week after the main application deadline to submit their references. This window is tight. Don't assume they'll have weeks to respond.
The reference form asks referees to rate you on specific criteria and provide written comments. It's structured, not free-form, so your referees need to be prepared for specific questions about your leadership, networking ability, and professional qualities.
Referee Strength Assessment
Select who you're planning to ask for each reference:
Family/friends are not acceptable referees and may disqualify your application.
A senior person who doesn't know your work is weaker than a direct supervisor. Specificity beats seniority.
Good combination! Make sure at least one is professional/work-related.
Who Should Be Your Referees?
Referee 1: Professional / Work-Related
At least one referee should be from your professional life. This means a current or recent employer, a supervisor, a client you've worked closely with, or a professional mentor who has directly observed your work. The key is that this person can speak specifically about your professional capabilities, leadership in the workplace, and how you interact with colleagues and stakeholders.
Referee 2: Academic or Professional
Your second referee can be academic (a university professor, thesis supervisor, or academic mentor) or another professional contact. If you've been out of university for more than 3-4 years, a second professional reference is usually stronger than an academic one. The professor who taught you in 2018 probably doesn't remember your work well enough to write a compelling reference in 2026.
Good Referee Choices
- ✓Current or recent direct supervisor who sees your daily work
- ✓A client or partner who can speak to your professional impact
- ✓A mentor who has guided your career development
- ✓A professor who supervised your thesis or major project
- ✓Someone who can give specific examples of your leadership
Bad Referee Choices
- ✗Family members (automatic disqualification)
- ✗Friends who happen to have impressive job titles
- ✗Someone very senior who doesn't actually know your work
- ✗A professor from years ago who barely remembers you
- ✗Anyone who is unreliable or hard to reach
What Makes a Strong Reference
Chevening references should address the four core criteria the scholarship evaluates: leadership, networking, career plan, and academic potential. A reference that just says "she is a good worker" or "he is reliable and hardworking" is essentially worthless. The reading committee has seen thousands of those and they add nothing.
Weak vs. Strong Reference Examples
Weak Reference
"She is a hardworking and dedicated employee who always meets her deadlines."
Strong Reference
"She led a team of 12 to deliver a regional health campaign that reached 50,000 people in three provinces. She personally secured partnerships with four local NGOs and negotiated government co-funding that doubled the project's budget."
The difference is obvious. Specific examples with numbers, outcomes, and context give the reading committee real evidence. They can see your leadership in action, your ability to build networks, and your professional impact. Generic praise tells them nothing they can use to rank you against other candidates.
A strong reference also speaks to your potential, not just your past. The best references include a sentence or two about where the referee sees you going and why a UK master's degree is the right next step for you. This corroborates what you've written in your career plan essay.
How to Brief Your Referees
Don't just ask someone to be your referee and then disappear. The best applicants actively prepare their referees. Here's exactly what to do:
Give Them Advance Notice (3–4 Weeks Minimum)
Ask your referees well before the deadline. Don't spring this on them the week applications close. They need time to think about what to write, and you need time to find a replacement if they decline or become unavailable.
Share Your Four Essays
This is the most important step. Send your referees your final essay drafts so they know what you've written about your leadership, networking, career plan, and UK study choices. This way, their reference can corroborate and reinforce your essays rather than contradict them. If your essay talks about leading a policy reform initiative but your referee mentions nothing about it, that's a missed opportunity.
Explain the Four Chevening Criteria
Most referees won't know what Chevening specifically evaluates. Tell them clearly: the scholarship assesses leadership and influence, networking and relationship building, a clear career plan, and academic and professional potential. Ask them to address as many of these as they genuinely can.
Send a Summary of Key Achievements
Even your biggest advocate won't remember every project you've worked on. Send them a brief summary — a few bullet points — of specific projects, outcomes, and achievements you'd like them to mention. Make it easy for them to write something concrete and detailed.
Follow Up 3–5 Days Before Their Deadline
A polite reminder is not pushy — it's necessary. Send a short message confirming the deadline and asking if they need anything else from you. People are busy. Even the most well-intentioned referee can forget.
Common Reference Mistakes
Choosing Referees Who Don't Respond on Time
This is the single most common reference failure, and it's entirely preventable. If your referee doesn't submit before the deadline, your application is incomplete. It doesn't matter how strong your essays are. Before you nominate anyone, have an honest conversation: "Can you guarantee you'll submit within one week of receiving the email?" If they hesitate, find someone else.
Picking Someone Too Senior Who Doesn't Know Your Work
A reference from a CEO or government minister sounds impressive, but if they can only write "he is a good employee," it's weaker than a reference from your direct supervisor who watched you lead a project from start to finish. Specificity beats seniority every time. The reading committee values detailed, personal references over high-ranking but hollow ones.
Both References from the Same Organization
Having both referees from the same workplace gives the committee a narrow view of who you are. Try to diversify: one from your current employer and one from a professional network, volunteer organization, or academic institution. This shows you have impact beyond a single workplace.
References That Contradict Your Essays
If your leadership essay talks about how you single-handedly led a project, but your referee says you were one of several team members, that's a credibility problem. This is exactly why you should share your essays with your referees. Alignment doesn't mean scripting their response — it means making sure they're highlighting the same experiences you are.
Not Following Up with Referees
You asked them. They said yes. You submitted your application. Then silence. That's a recipe for a missed deadline. Set a reminder to check in with your referees 3-5 days before they need to submit. A simple "just checking you received the email from Chevening" can save your entire application.
What If a Referee Doesn't Submit?
Critical: If either referee fails to submit their reference, your application is incomplete and will not be reviewed. Period.
It doesn't matter if you wrote the best essays in your country's applicant pool. No reference means no review. This is non-negotiable.
What You Can Do
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1
Always have a backup referee in mind. Before you even submit your application, identify a third person who could step in if one of your primary referees becomes unavailable.
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2
Monitor the situation closely. After you submit, check with your referees within 24-48 hours to confirm they received the email from Chevening. If they didn't, it may have gone to spam.
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3
Contact Chevening to change a referee. If your primary referee becomes unresponsive, contact Chevening's support team as soon as possible to request a referee change. Don't wait until the deadline has passed — act immediately when you sense a problem.
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4
Make it as easy as possible for your referee. Remind them that the reference form is online and typically takes 15-20 minutes. Send them the key points you'd like them to mention. Remove every possible barrier.
Bottom line: Your references are part of your application strategy, not an afterthought. Choose reliable people, prepare them thoroughly, and follow up consistently. The strongest essays in the world mean nothing if your referees don't submit on time.