How much notice should I give when asking a lecturer to be my referee?

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I graduated a year ago and would like to apply for some PhDs. I was planning on asking my old university tutor and my dissertation supervisor to be my referees.

I am just wondering how much notice would be appropriate? Several PhDs I have identified have deadlines in the next few weeks - is that too short a notice? I don't mind not applying to them if it would put my lecturers out. I imagine they are both quite swamped trying to prepare for the next academic year.

Thank you

I don't mind not applying to them if it would put my lecturers out.

Worst excuse ever!

You know you need to be much more hard headed than this, don't you?

Are you not applying to your own institution? Even if not, it would be usual to have had some conversation with your previous supervisors about PhD possibilities. I would email today to arrange a phone call/screen meeting. They will be busy right now but should be willing to find time for this.

My partners a lecturer and he first need notice for a reference obviously you couldn't Evie the him to turn it round in a day but he first specify a time frame, maybe a week for them to find the time to do it?

Sorry doesn't need not first need

@PerditaProvokesEnmity

I don't mind not applying to them if it would put my lecturers out.

Worst excuse ever!

You know you need to be much more hard headed than this, don't you?

Are you not applying to your own institution? Even if not, it would be usual to have had some conversation with your previous supervisors about PhD possibilities. I would email today to arrange a phone call/screen meeting. They will be busy right now but should be willing to find time for this.

Sorry I didn't properly elaborate. There are two with deadlines that are quite soon (one is a week, one is two weeks). They are within my research area but not perfectly aligned with what I wish to study. Those are the two I was referring to when I said I didn't mind not applying to them if the deadline is too tight. The one I am really interested in has a much later deadline of August.

No I am not applying to my own institution. I'm in the sciences so will be applying to projects which have already secured funding.

I'd (and have) write a reference for a student within a few days in an emergency - I've also had referees do it for me, and I understand that sometimes you only notice an opportunity or make a decision later than is ideal! Generally two weeks notice is preferred wherever possible (it gives me time to find a good time for it in my schedule).

I would recommend writing to your potential referees now about the more imminent ones though - a week is doable, but if you dither and leave it until they've got two days then that will be rather more problematic. They can also always tell you if they haven't got time when there's a more limited timeframe - but if you find this out too late you won't have time to ask someone else.

To write a reference for a student the first time takes longer - I have to look up that person's grades / project and compose a nice letter.

Once I have done a letter once, I can normally recycle the same for the next 3 or 4 phd applications. I just tweak the address and a bit about their plans as needed.

So ask for the 1st reference with a week to go (more if possible) and then don't feel guilty about asking for more references after that.

And do send reminders - often for references, I need a student to remind me 2 or 3 times to do it before the deadline, and I'd much rather get the reminders than forget and leave the poor student stuck.

I would give them a heads up that you will be applying to several places as soon as possible. Then for each application let them know it’s coming and the deadline for their response. I would want at least week. Don’t be the person who was desperately trying to reach me because the reference request was coming to me on the deadline day. Luckily Friday deadlines usually mean mid-morning on Monday is fine. Send a CV with your email and some details of how the lecturer might remember you. Some universities just want a reference letter, as a PP said, once you have written one it’s easy to adapt for others. Some universities have absolutely ridiculous reference forms, especially US ones with multiple questions asking for long opinions on every aspect of the candidate. There are very few students I can write multiple 500 word essays on about their aptitudes and weaknesses. However my feeble responses never seems to have a negative effect.

Several PhDs I have identified have deadlines in the next few weeks - is that too short a notice?

I'd be fine with a couple of weeks' notice. I always want a copy of an up-to-date CV, and a draft of the application, so I can make the best possible case for the applicant.

A couple of weeks is fine with me too.

Thank you everyone for your replies, it has been really helpful.

I get students to send me a full CV and personal statement so o never need to look things up.
And they won't be asked to give a reference straight away.
However unless the PhD funding is for a specific project, you would usually contact your potential supervisor to work up a project proposal which can take quite a while.