You should note that it is your responsibility to supply suitable references in support of your application. For the majority of applicants this means two academic references from university tutors who know your work well. You should check individual programme pages and our rules and exceptions| for full information. Applications will not be considered without suitable references. Please be aware that if you are reinstating your application from one year to the next, you must use option 2, as your application will not go through the external online system again.
Option 1: Request references online
When you apply online you can use the system to request references. Subsequently you can log in to your online application| to send a reminder to your referees, or delete or add a new referee from step 3 of the application. Click on "Resend Registration Email" to send your referee a reminder after checking the email address entered is correct. Note, you will only be able to submit two references online; if you wish to submit additional references see option 2 below.
Option 2: Request references to be submitted by post, fax or email
If you are reinstating from one year to the next, applying by post, or if you do not wish to use the online system you can forward either the word template for academic referees| or the template for professional referees |and ask your referee to send a hard copy of the reference to our usual address| or to Graduate.References@lse.ac.uk| from an academic or professional email address. Please use this option if
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you want to add additional references,
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have sent the wrong type of reference by mistake,
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have already used up your two slots on the online reference form,
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your referee is having technical problems with the online reference form
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you have applied with a paper application.
FAQ's about references can be found on our online enquiries system
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Copy and paste this text into an email to your referee to submit a quick request.
Dear ………………………
I am applying for a graduate programme at the LSE <<insert the name of the programme (s) here, it is also useful to briefly mention why you are applying for this programme>> Please see the information below for further instructions on how you can submit a reference on my behalf. The LSE operates a rolling admissions policy, applications are considered only when all requested items, included references, are received for my application.
You can download the Word version of the academic reference form| or professional reference form| and submit it directly to the LSE via Graduate.References@lse.ac.uk |quoting my name and applicant ID number << insert your ID number if you know it>> You should submit this from your academic or professional email account to avoid having to submit a duplicate hard copy if I receive an offer of admission. If you do not have an academic or professional email account you should print this reference on the official headed paper of your institution or company, sign it and post it to the address shown on the form.
Please let me know when the reference has been submitted.