Reference requests
We provide academic references and verification of student achievements.
You can request a reference by:
- emailing an Information Point directly
- completing the online consent form (current students only)
- completing a declaration of consent including the student's signature, either by email attachment or posted to an Information Point.
Explicit consent is required from the student for all reference requests.
Timings
Verification letters can take between five to ten working days.
Academic references can take up to 28 working days.
Debt notice
We will not be able to provide any documentation to the student or to a third party if the student is in debt to the University.
Academic verification
An academic verification is a confirmation letter (or email) from the University confirming the dates of attendance and award achieved for a student.
This guidance applies if you are a current student or have graduated from the University within the last 42 days.
There are three forms of verification available:
- Student status letter printed from MYUWE
- Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) – this contains your dates of attendance, name of award and final classification, but must be downloaded within 42 days of graduating
- Notification of Credit Assessment and Marks
Where the above information is not sufficient, please refer to the Academic status letters for information about other kinds of letters that are available.
If you are a previous student who no longer has access to the online letters and documents (graduated more than 42 days before the date of the request), see other types of certificates for more information on verification letters.
If you need a replacement award certificate, certificate of credit or duplicate copies, please see certificates.
Employers should email an Information Point to request verification, providing they have written consent from the student.
The information required is:
- full name of student
- date of birth
- name of award
- dates of attendance/completion
- written consent from the student (students are able to email an Information Point direct providing their consent).
Please note that due to the number of verification requests received we do not normally complete forms sent to us as email attachments.
You will receive an email confirming the student's:
- attendance dates
- degree
- grade achieved
- conferment date.
We will not be able to provide a verification if:
- we do not have written consent from the student
- the student is in debt to the University.
Academic references
You should email the relevant academic directly to request the reference. For past students, it is good practice to include some details of your time at the University to remind them of who you are.
For nursing and education students, references are provided by your personal tutor. Where the tutor is not known, these should be requested by emailing hsw.sps@uwe.ac.uk for nursing and edu.sps@uwe.ac.uk for education.
If you do not receive a response within two weeks of your initial request, you should first contact the tutor again. If no response is received, you can use the UWE Bristol courses database to find the current programme leader and ask for assistance.
If you still do not receive a response, please contact an Information Point who will be able to provide you with a verification letter in lieu of a reference.
Next steps
Your tutor will provide a reference to the employer/company concerned. They will let you know that this has been done.
Requesting a copy of your reference
The tutor may be happy for you to have a copy of your reference, however, this is down to their discretion.
Obtaining an academic reference
Current students
Your tutor (or Academic Personal Tutor if applicable) should provide the reference. You should contact them direct by email (all current staff can be found via the UWE Bristol Telephone Directory.
If you do not know who your personal tutor is, you should contact the programme leader, or speak to a Student Support Adviser.
Previous students (graduated within five years)
In the first instance, students should contact their personal tutor as above.
If you are unable to locate the academic from whom you wish to request a reference, please complete our online enquiry form.
Previous students (graduated more than five years ago)
UWE Bristol cannot provide academic references for students who graduated more than five years ago. However, we are able to provide you with a verification letter. Find out more about other types of certificates.
Employers
Employers should ensure that the student contacts their tutor directly using the 'Information for students' guidance, otherwise it is standard practice to provide a verification letter or email to employers as detailed under 'Academic verification'.
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Certificates
Advice about replacements and certified true copies of award certificates, and duplicate certificates of credit (transcripts).
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