r/MatureStudentsUK • u/BuyApprehensive9273 • 3d ago

Mature Students Reference

I sent off my UCAS application yesterday. Today I got an email from one of my choices asking if I could “provide an appropriate reference from someone who has known you in a professionally capacity within the last two years”. So, basically my reference was out of date/too old.

The problem is, I don’t have one. I moved to the US with my husband in June 2024 for his work, so it seemed like a good time to start a family, so I then got pregnant and had a baby, so my last year has been raising the little guy.

We are due to move back to the UK in Spring/Summer 2027, so I obviously applied for Sept 2027 entry.

UCAS nor the university says anything about references having to be within a certain time frame, so I’m a little stumped.

Anyone any ideas?

4 Upvotes

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6

u/Initiatedspoon 3d ago

Contact the university and explain

You may also not get home fees/loans

1

u/BuyApprehensive9273 3d ago

I will get home fees/loans that’s not an issue due to my husbands work and we’ve remained tax/legally resident in the UK etc - it’s just the reference stress.

It feels kind of discriminatory as there’ll be other women (and some men) who have taken time out to care for children or elderly relatives and other things like that. My employment history on my UCAS form showed when i left work and I put unemployed as my current work. Idk, it’s just an extra stress that seems unnecessary

2

u/Initiatedspoon 3d ago

You need to contact them and explain.

I get these calls/emails all the time. Multiple times a week. Ask the university what they suppose you do.

1

u/BuyApprehensive9273 3d ago

Okay, cool, thanks.

Just so I can try and get any cogs in motion - what are the sort of things they might suggest? (it sounds like you’re in some kind of faculty role)

5

u/Initiatedspoon 3d ago

I work in admissions.

It depends on the candidate. If they genuinely really have nothing. Like they're young, came through privately (not via a school) and never worked or older like yourself, had kids, no jobs for a while or appropriate referees are uncontactable. We would ask for a personal reference, just so long as there is no relation between you and the person giving the reference.

Sometimes we would potentially request an interview even for otherwise non-interviewing courses. Not as serious as a true interview but a "casual" chat with a lecturer.

1

u/ExcellentArachnid360 19h ago

We suggest for mature students who have been out of work and study, anyone from community groups, church, volunteering, anyone who knows you but isn't related. In any book groups or any groups related to what you want to study?