How to find good references for PhD
by PhD Admissions Team of Road to Abroad
How to find good references for PhD: Graduate school programs typically require two or three references as part of your application package. Some course-based professional programs will require one academic reference and one professional reference. Each program sets its own criteria for reference letters, so be sure to check its requirements.
It is important to identify these potential references at least one month in advance of applying to graduate programs.
Types of Referees
Academic references should be permanent professors on the university’s faculty. Professional references are individuals you worked with (such as a former employer) who can write positively on your relevant work experience.
Selecting your Referees
Your referees will write letters speaking to your academic performance or work experience and your ability to do well in graduate school. You will want to make yourself well known to your potential referee so that they can provide as detailed a letter as possible.
When selecting an academic reference, pick smaller, more recent courses where you interacted regularly with the professor or course instructor. Lab sessions or seminar classes are ideal, because they allow you ample time for face-to-face interactions with the course instructor.
If you’re returning to school after a long absence you should try to re-acquaint yourself with previous course instructors. Be sure to re-establish contact early on and keep up a steady correspondence to remind them who you are. If possible, try to send them any copies of assignments/tests they have marked to jog their memory.
Try to re-establish contact with your former department/program. They will have records of your attendance and staff may be able to help you re-establish contact with former professors, especially if they have retired or are no longer working in the same department.
When selecting a professional refer, pick somebody who is much senior than you and has interacted with you on a regular basis. The person should be willing to write you a detailed letter emphasizing on your problem solving skills, research abilities, communication skills, work discipline, ability to fulfil commitments and so on.
Making contact
A crucial part of securing references is to ask them specifically if they could write “a strong reference letter” for you. They will tell you if they cannot write a strong letter (for whatever reason), and if this is the case then you are far better off to move on and pick a different referee.
When contacting your referees, include a note that gives the following information:
- The purpose of the reference
- The rationale for pursuing your studies and your expected goals
- Your key skills and talents that relate to these goals
- The procedure for submission of the letter: A link will be sent to each writer’s email to fill out a reference form online
Include your updated curriculum vitae, transcripts and any parts of your application you have written (study proposal, writing sample, for example).
Follow-up
Don’t be shy. Ask for a personal meeting or phone call during which you can answer any questions the referee may have. A good reference letter will:
- Emphasize your strengths.
- Provide specific anecdotes of things you have done that make you stand out.
- Address your potential as a graduate student.
- Be concise and clear by providing context though specifics. Superlatives without support are meaningless.
Thank your referees
You should thank the referee for taking the time to submit a reference, regardless if you are successful or not.
Congratulations to our student Anisha for receiving offer letter for fully-funded PhD position at Leuphana University, Germany.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
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Congratulations to our student Isha for receiving interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at LSM PhD Program, LMU, Germany.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
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Congratulations to our student Vishwajeet for receiving interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at University of Cambridge, UK.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student Nandini Pant for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at Mainz, Germany.
The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Life Science Graduate Program is one of the most prestigious PhD programs in the world and in EU. It involves all the major universities of Zurich like ETH, University of Zurich, etc.
The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded MA Offer at Washington State University in USA for fully-funded Masters in Criminal Justice and Criminogy. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 2 years
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at Leuphana University in Germany for fully-funded PhD in Statistics. His tuition fee will be paid by the program and he will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 4 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congrats to our student for getting PhD offer letter from University of East London in the UK.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship to him.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position in Dresden, Germany. The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD in Purdue University, University of Southern California, University of British Columbia and Alberta University for PhD in Chemical Engineering.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarships #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinUSA #phdinUK
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD at Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana University, USA for PhD in Toxicology.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student. She got fully-funded PhD at HBRS PhD Program in Molecular Medicine (Biology) in Germany.
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at Hanover Biomedical Research School in Germany for fully-funded PhD in Molecular Medicine (Biology). Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD at Hanover Germany - Hanover Biomedical Research program (HBRS) for PhD in Molecular Medicine.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial of our student who got selected for fully-funded PhD at University of Bath for SAMBa PhD Program.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student Swati Gupta. She got fully-funded PhD at UMass Amherst (photo frosted on student request).
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
Congratulations to our student Shruti Verma for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at University of Florida in the USA for fully-funded PhD in Chemistry. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student Swati Gupta for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at University of Massachusetts Amherst in the USA for fully-funded PhD in Chemistry. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 6 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of Shefali Kulkarni who got selected for fully-funded PhD at University of Southern California.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student Shefali Kulkarni. She got fully-funded PhD position at University of Southern California in the USA.
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
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*Much of the above information has been adapted from “Writing a Letter of Recommendation.” By Laura Bonetta, Ph.D. Addendum to “Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty”, copyright 2006 by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Burroughs Welcome Fund
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I am really confused about this. I have 5 people who can give me a reference. Who should i give preference to?
Hi Deven, you should read the above blog carefully as it will help you make a decision. In short, one referee should the professor who supervised your master’s thesis, 2nd should be the supervisor of bachelor’s thesis. If this person is not available then choose a professor who taught you in masters. One reference can be taken from employer or internship supervisor. Also, keep in mind, that the person should be able to give 5-10 references as you will be applying for multiple positions. He/ she should think highly of you and be ready o say nice things about you… Read more »
Are academic references essential?
Yes, academic references are essential requirement for PhD applications abroad.