UCAS has a number of components which it recommends secondary schools include when submitting a reference in support of a student’s university application. What are the essential components of a UCAS reference? So what are the essential components for every UCAS reference, and how can you ensure you’re portraying your students in the best possible way? sound familiar? It's identical to the limit your students have to stick to with their personal statements). Even trickier can be fitting all your school has to say in just 4,000 characters (or 47 lines. With the reference being such a vital component of a student’s UCAS application, there’s an understandable pressure on teachers and counsellors to get it right – especially when you have multiple students and you want to ensure that everyone gets an equal share of your time. Much like students, teaching and guidance staff will have to prepare and write a reference within a given time frame. Universities cite the UCAS reference as a deciding factor which affects whether a student gains a place on their chosen course or not it could also have an impact on whether a university offers a student a conditional or unconditional place. It’s the only part of the UCAS application which the student won’t have any control over.
The UCAS reference sits alongside a student’s personal statement as an essential component of a UK university application.
