If you are a student of mine thinking of asking me for a letter of reference (for jobs, further studies, fellowships, PhD programme, etc.), please note the following guidelines:

 

1. It is generally in your interest to ask me to write a letter for you only if you are confident that I can write you a strong letter. At the very least, this means that you should have taken courses with me in which I have been able to get to know your work first hand, and that you have done well in these courses. I normally know best students who I supervise for their master’s thesis.

 

2. If you are requesting a letter for pursuing further studies (e.g. a PhD programme), you should normally have earned more than 85/100 in your courses with me.

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3. You should give me at least two weeks notice to prepare your letter. The exception is if I have previously written a letter for you, which I will have on file, and the letter does not require major updating.

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4. If I agree to write you a letter, you must send me the following items by email your CV, the motivation letter for the place you are applying, an explanation of why you think I am the best person to write a reference letter for you.

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