What will you be doing over the Easter break? >>

Request for 4th Reference

I’ve been seeing a couple of people who have been asked by the admissions office to submit a 4th professional reference, especially those with more work experience and have submitted only academic references.

I’m applying for a Humanities DPhil with 6-7 years of work experience but only provided academic references. I haven’t told my current work place and don’t want to tell them yet, so I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to ask for a reference months before quitting.

Has anyone else been asked to provide a 4th? And if so, for which subject? Any insight into how likely this scenario is?