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Academic references (again!)

Hi,

When applying for a taught MSc do you think it matters if my academic references are from lecturers as opposed to Professors or Senior Lecturers? My problem is that the only academic referees that know me well are lecturers. Has anyone here been successfully accepted into a taught masters programme with referees that were not professors?

Regards,

sabatier

Reply 1

Tamurlane

Yes, of course they have. Much better to have a personalised reference from a lecturer who knows you well than a vague commendation from an eminent professor.

I don't know if someone suggested this on your other thread, but it is a (very) good idea to send the referee some of your recent work, a CV, and a personal statement for when they come to write your reference. Having a chat with them face-to-face about postgrad options will also help them remember you.

Reply 2

The Boosh

17

^^^^^

utter tosh. a reference from a head of a department is worth far more. phd scholarship applications achieve loooooooooaaaaaads of marks from a referee that has never met you but can comment on the quality of your application.

ignore tamurlane.

Reply 3

ChemistBoy

16

Absolutely, the fact that a referee is willing to give you a reference at all means they know you well enough. Having top class names as referees is impressive and also means that the person looking at those references is more likely to respect the opinion expressed in the reference. I'm not saying that you won't get accepted for a masters, but as tesco say, every little helps.

Reply 4

Angelil

19

To an extent I agree. I asked my Latin teacher (a part-time member of staff who's not a professor/lecturer) to write one of my references as I was applying for linguistics. However, he asked me if it would be OK for him to write it with my personal tutor (a professor of ancient literatures) and have him sign it instead as he felt a reference signed by a professor of ancient literatures would have more clout than it would from him.
So to an extent I can see your point.

Reply 5

Tamurlane

Why even bother arguing the point? A personalised reference from a lecturer who can comment on your attitude and ability, with reference to specific projects and pieces of work you've completed, is worth far more than a vague reference from a professor who doesn't even know you. Referees who don't know you but can comment on the quality of your PhD proposal have their place too - but please note that it might be an idea to read the original post and see that this is an application for a taught MSc. I like the idea of a countersigned reference above.

Reply 6

ChemistBoy

16

Tamurlane

Why even bother arguing the point? A personalised reference from a lecturer who can comment on your attitude and ability, with reference to specific projects and pieces of work you've completed, is worth far more than a vague reference from a professor who doesn't even know you. Referees who don't know you but can comment on the quality of your PhD proposal have their place too - but please note that it might be an idea to read the original post and see that this is an application for a taught MSc. I like the idea of a countersigned reference above.

I'm afraid I don't agree, I'd take 3 lines of recommendation from an FRS over a page of stuff from someone I don't know.

Reply 7

the_alba

12

I know a man who, after completing his PhD here, applied for a job at a Canadian university and asked his second supervisor (a highly esteemed professor and Fellow of the British Academy) for a reference. She told him straight: I'll give you a reference, but it won't be a good one (she thought he was an annoying little upstart with no brains). He thought the unbelievably stupid thing that no matter what she said about him, the fact that the reference was from her would impress the panel so much it wouldn't matter. So she told them what she thought and of course he didn't get the job. What an eedjit.

Reply 8

Angelil

19

Tamurlane

Why even bother arguing the point? A personalised reference from a lecturer who can comment on your attitude and ability, with reference to specific projects and pieces of work you've completed, is worth far more than a vague reference from a professor who doesn't even know you. Referees who don't know you but can comment on the quality of your PhD proposal have their place too - but please note that it might be an idea to read the original post and see that this is an application for a taught MSc. I like the idea of a countersigned reference above.

Someone's getting a little bit aggressive, aren't they?
If you look at my sig, you'll see that I am also referring to a taught MA.

Reply 9

Eubacterium

13

sabatier

Hi,

When applying for a taught MSc do you think it matters if my academic references are from lecturers as opposed to Professors or Senior Lecturers? My problem is that the only academic referees that know me well are lecturers. Has anyone here been successfully accepted into a taught masters programme with referees that were not professors?

Regards,

sabatier

Lecturers who know you well are the best referees because they can be most trusted. It doesn't matter if they're not professors.

Reply 10

The Boosh

17

it matters in academic circles. when applying for research council funding, points are made on the quality of the references and points are awarded to the credibility of the person who is writing the reference. the referee doesn't have to know you or be from your university. the status of the academic matters.

Reply 11

apotoftea

19

The Boosh

it matters in academic circles. when applying for research council funding, points are made on the quality of the references and points are awarded to the credibility of the person who is writing the reference. the referee doesn't have to know you or be from your university. the status of the academic matters.

For future reference, can you use (he will be when I ask) retired professors but he'll still be carrying on his duties etc at the IHR

Saying that - he's hated in some historical circles, so might not be the best idea