Applying for postgrad through UCAS

[Wesdly]

I'm in the middle of applying and a bit unsure about who to put down as a reference. I have done my degree through the open uni and haven't contacted a tutor in any of the 6 courses I've studied so I am not too keen to put one of them down.

Could I put my current manager in work down? She has no idea of my academic abilities although my work is directly relevant to the postgrad course and previous experience is a requirement.
Thanks

I think it's generally good to put down whoever can comment best on your course related abilities.. so your current manager would be a good bet.. Much better than getting someone who is a tutor but has no clue who you are!

I had a similar problem when I applied for my undergrad as a mature student. I studied all my a levels through distance learning and had no tutor or anyone to write me a reference.. I gave a work reference who knew about my abilities and what I had been studying.

Also is there a space somewhere (or on the end of a personal statement?) where you can mention to the institutions why you've picked them as a referee. Might be an idea as sometimes they like to know if it's not an academic one.

Hope that helps!

I've just started an MA at uni, i didn't have an academic reference either.

I studied for my degree sixteen years ago, with the OU so too long to ask for one.

Didn't seem to matter i put my work reference down, they wasn't even asked for one!

Seemed to get my place on my personal statement and interview alone :)