You graduated six years ago. Your final-year supervisor has retired or moved abroad, and you can't remember the last time a lecturer knew your name. Now a scholarship form asks for referees, and the only people who really know your work are your manager, a client and a colleague. Can they do the job? Usually yes, if you choose carefully and brief them well.
This guide is for working graduates in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and the diaspora. It covers who to pick, who to avoid, how to fill gaps, and what to give each person so they can write something specific.
First, read what the scholarship actually asks for
Referee rules differ between programmes. Some want an academic and a professional referee. Some ask for work-based referees only. Some want a letter uploaded by you, while others send your referee a link and collect the reference directly. The number of referees, the format, and whether a personal email address is accepted all vary.
Do not rely on a blog, including this one, for those rules. Open the official guidance for your scholarship and write down the exact requirements before you contact anyone. For example, the Chevening scholarships page links to eligibility and application guidance at chevening.org/scholarships. Other funders have similar pages. If the guidance is unclear, email the scholarship office and ask. A short, polite question is normal.
What a referee is really for
A reference answers one question for the panel: is this person's account of themselves believable? Your statement says you led a project. A referee who saw it confirms it, adds detail, and says how you behaved under pressure.
That means the best referee is not the most senior person. It is the person who watched you work and can describe it. A department head who has never seen your output writes a vague letter. A team lead who reviewed your work weekly writes a sharp one.
Who can serve as a referee when you have no academic contact
Your current or most recent line manager
This is the default choice for most working applicants. Managers can speak to reliability, results and growth. The risk is time. If your manager is busy, read our guide on asking a busy boss for a strong recommendation letter.
A former manager or supervisor
If you don't want your employer to know you are applying, a past manager is often better. They can describe a full stretch of your work and you aren't putting your current job at risk. Confirm the scholarship accepts someone who no longer works at your organisation.
A client, partner or board member
For freelancers, consultants and small-business owners, a long-term client is a legitimate professional referee. So is a partner organisation you delivered a project with. Pick someone with an official job title and an organisational email address if possible.
A volunteer or NGO supervisor
If your strongest leadership evidence is community work, such as a youth programme, a church or mosque initiative, or an NGO role, the person who coordinated it can be a good referee. Choose someone who saw outcomes, not just someone with a grand title.
NYSC supervisors
Nigerian graduates sometimes forget this one. A place of primary assignment supervisor from your service year can describe your conduct and contribution, and it is a good option if your work history is short. It works best if you stayed in touch.
A former lecturer, even a distant one
If a lecturer did know your work, even years ago, they may still agree. Remind them of your course, your year, and a specific piece of work they marked or supervised. Dig out your project title and grade. Many lecturers write for former students, but expect to give them more background than a recent graduate would.
Who not to choose
- Relatives. Family members are almost never acceptable, and even where the rules don't say so, a panel won't treat the letter as independent.
- Friends with a big title. A politician or pastor who barely knows your work will not help. Vague praise reads as weak.
- Anyone who offers to "just write it" and send it to you to sign. If a form requires the referee to submit directly, you must not write or submit on their behalf or use an email address you control. That is impersonation and can disqualify you or cancel an award.
- Anyone who is lukewarm. If someone hesitates, thank them and ask someone else. Silence or reluctance now becomes a weak letter later.
A worked example (hypothetical)
Imagine Amaka, a 31-year-old graduate in Enugu. She finished her degree nine years ago and now works in a logistics firm. She is applying for a master's scholarship that asks for two references.
| Option | Strength | Risk | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current operations manager | Sees her weekly output; can speak to the route-planning project | Very busy; Amaka hasn't told the firm she is applying | Good, but only after a conversation |
| Former manager at her previous firm | Supervised her for three years; no conflict with current job | Left two years ago; may have forgotten details | Strong with a good briefing |
| Her old final-year supervisor | Knows her academic ability | Hasn't been in contact since graduation | Possible if she reconnects now |
| Her uncle, a retired permanent secretary | Senior title | Relative, has not seen her work | Avoid |
Amaka picks her former manager and her current manager. She also emails her old supervisor to reconnect, in case another scholarship asks for an academic reference. That costs her nothing and keeps the option open.
How to ask, step by step
- Ask early. Give at least four to six weeks before the deadline. Referees get sick, travel and lose power or data. Early asking gives room for all of that.
- Ask a yes-or-no question first. "Would you be comfortable writing a strong reference for me?" lets someone decline gracefully. The phrase "strong" matters.
- Send a briefing pack. Include the scholarship name, the deadline, the submission method, your CV, a draft of your statement, and three or four specific things you hope they can mention.
- Remind them of specific moments. For example: "the month-end reconciliation backlog we cleared in March" is far more useful than "my hard work."
- Explain the technical steps. If the portal emails them a link, tell them to watch their inbox and spam folder, and which address you registered.
- Follow up once, politely. A week before the deadline, a short message is fine. Offer to resend the link or the details.
- Say thank you, and report back. Tell them the result later, whichever way it goes.
Common mistakes
- Listing referees without asking. This is the quickest way to get a late or poor letter, and it is unfair to them.
- Using a free personal email for a professional referee when the form asks for an institutional address. Check the guidance.
- Giving every referee the same story. Each should cover a different side of you, such as technical skill, leadership or community impact, so the panel gets a fuller picture.
- Not matching the letters to your statement. If your statement says you want to work in health policy, your referee should know that.
- Forgetting a backup. Have a third person quietly ready in case someone drops out. Do not submit extra referees unless the form allows it.
If your situation is unusual
- Self-employed: use clients, a business mentor, or a supplier who has worked with you long term. Gather any written feedback you already hold.
- Your employer can't know: use a past manager, volunteer lead or client, and be honest in the form if it asks about your current employer.
- Your organisation has closed: a former director or senior colleague can write if they can describe the work, and you can explain the situation in a line.
- Referee has no reliable internet: ask early, offer to walk them through the portal by phone, and suggest they use a stable connection at their office or a business centre.
Next step
Open the guidance for your target scholarship today and copy out its referee rules. Then write the names of three possible referees, with one specific thing each saw you do. Send the first request this week, not the week before the deadline. If you are still choosing a scholarship, our list of scholarship deadlines closing soon shows where the time pressure is.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a referee who works abroad?
Usually yes, as long as they know your work and can receive the request by email. Check the time difference when you set deadlines.
Is one academic referee compulsory?
It depends on the scholarship. Some require it and some do not. Read the official guidance and, if it says nothing, ask the scholarship office.
Should I read my referee's letter?
Only if the process allows it. Many portals ask for confidential references. Do not ask to see it, and never edit it.
What if my referee says yes but never delivers?
That's why you ask early and follow up once. If the deadline is close and nothing has arrived, contact your backup and, if rules allow, tell the scholarship office about the problem.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 30 October 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Scholarship details, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm on the official website before applying, and never pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a scholarship.