Applicant guide · 6 min · Reviewed 24 August 2026
How to choose and brief referees
Select referees who can give current, specific evidence about your readiness.Choose evidence over seniority
A referee who directly supervised your clinical judgement or research is often more useful than a distant senior name.
Brief them early
Share the role description, deadline, CV and the capabilities the programme appears to value.
Track the process
Confirm submission routes and dates respectfully. Never upload or sign a confidential reference on someone else’s behalf.