Contact us: - Middlesex University

16 Guide to higher education
How to get extra help
We offer a number of personal statement
related services – talks, workshops and drop
in surgeries whereby we read your students’
personal statements and give them feedback in
a 20 minute one to one. If you’re interested in
booking any of these, just contact the team.
Interviews
If students are invited to interview for their
course, questions will be based on their
personal statement which will have been read
closely. For that reason, do caution students
not to include anything which they might be
uncomfortable talking about with a stranger.
How to get extra help
We offer a number of personal statement
related services – talks, workshops and drop
in surgeries whereby we read your students’
personal statements and give them feedback
in a 20 minute one to one. If you’re interested
in booking any of these, just contact the team.
Reference writing
Your students’ success is not just dependent
on predicted grades and personal statements.
A positive, personalised reference from you can
make all the difference. It is definitely one of
the best ways to help your students stand out.
So what do admissions staff want from a
reference?
• To gain knowledge of the applicant’s
academic performance and ability.
• To develop a better understanding of how a
candidate is likely to progress.
• To understand why the candidate is suited
for the course they’ve applied for.
• To learn about the skills the student has and
their personal development.
• To understand cases where a candidate’s
performance may have been affected due to
unforeseen circumstances or health related
issues.
How to write a reference
References should be word processed and
not exceed 4,000 characters or 47 lines. All
content should be accurate and honest. It’s a
good idea for a tutor to go through the student’s
application and personal statement beforehand,
so that they understand the student’s career
aims and applications. It shouldn’t repeat
information elsewhere on the form or be
geared towards a particular institution.
You’ll need to mention:
• The size and type of institution the student
is currently enrolled at.
• The number of registered students.
• The number/percentage of students
progressing onto further education.
• The student’s punctuality and
attendance record.
• The student’s attitude to study and
their peers.
It’s a good idea for tutors to hold onto all
references they write in case they’re needed
again. You should also be aware that under
the Data Protection Act, applicants are
able to request a copy of their reference
and any personal information that higher
education institutions may hold about them.
How to get extra help
Our team can provide reference writing
workshops for tutors. These are a great
opportunity to benefit from university
insight and brush up on your skills.
Contact us to make arrangements.