Etiquette regarding asking academics for references?

[xoblossom]

I just graduated from my master's and will be applying for some PhDs soon. I need to have two academic references so was going to ask my undergraduate supervisor and master's supervisor.

I was wondering what is the etiquette for asking for a reference? Furthermore, there are several PhDs I wish to apply for, is there a limit of how many I should apply for? I don't want their inboxes to be inundated with requests for references for me.

Thank you

When I applied for a phd I asked the very same academics for my references. I asked my ma supervisor in person and emailed my undergraduate one. Just a nice email. I’m thinking of applying for some PhDs. Please could you act as a reference. If you have a good relationship with them it is even better to have a conversation about the programmes you are applying for. They can help you narrow it down to what’s going to work for you and where you have the best chances.

Yes ask politely and send them all the info they need in one well organised message - deadlines, links, your cv, statement etc - so they don't have to chase you or look things up. Once they've written one for you it's not a big deal to produce more unless they're for very different things and writing refs for ex students is part of the job.

This is part of our job! So, yes, just a polite email asking if you can name them as a reference and it is very useful to send along your CV and any other application materials, like statements of purpose. Let people know what you're applying for, when the deadlines are, and whether they'll receive an automatic request (this appears pretty common now - so far everything I've done this semester was this way) or if they need to send the reference on their own.

You should apply to all the positions you want - just let your references know what to expect.

And really much better if you can give people appropriate notice. (says the person currently awaiting the automatic request for a reference due over holidays that I just learned about yesterday and I'm away after today...) Although if it is VERY long notice (like over a month), it is also perfectly acceptable to send a reminder email sometime shorty before the deadline repeating the CV/other info at hand, in case it fell to the bottom of someone's pile.

Ask well beyond the deadline and include the deadline in the information. Make it very clear what they are supposed to do, e.g. write and send a reference to a specific address or wait to be contacted or whatever. Give a very brief description of what you are applying for, e.g. if PhD where, who you want to work with, what you want to work on.

Email, in plenty of time. It's part of our job, but we are also very busy so do it in good time, and make it as easy as possible for us - it takes me around 3 hours to write a good reference letter which indicates the candidate'sspecific qualities, abilities, and achievements - it's most of a morning's work, so we need notice, and clarity.

• Email in good time

*Indicate what is required: is it a letter of recommendation to be sent to the institution? Is it an online reference? Will it require a record of your course work marks etc? and so on.

• To whom does your referee need to send the letter? Is it to a website (give the URL); is it to a general applications/admissions portal: give the email address; is it to a named person: give details of name, title & email address.

• I find it useful to have some information about the PhD proposal, so I can comment on the applicant's background, achievement, and ability in that area of scholarship.

• Do not expect a reference at the last minute: at least a week's notice is the absolute minimum.

Good luck!

Thank you all for the replies. The projects I will be applying to are predetermined as I am in the sciences where you apply to specific projects that have already received funding.