The Cranfield MBA Programme
Candidate business reference
To the applicant (please print)
Family name ...................................................................................................................................................
First name(s)..............................................................................
Date of birth ............................................
Programme applied for .............................................................
Date .......................................................
Please send this form together with self-addressed envelopes to your chosen referees.
To the referee
The person named above is applying for admission to the Cranfield School of Management’s MBA
programme. We greatly appreciate your help in assessing the suitability of the applicant and this reference
will be an important input into the admission process.
Cranfield School of Management is one of the world’s leading business schools. Our MBA programme is
focused on preparing students for senior general management roles and in this respect, considerable
emphasis is placed on personal development and leadership. Established in the early 1960’s, the Cranfield
MBA programme is very intensive and attracts older more experienced students. Consequently, it has
developed a style of teaching whereby the classroom environment involves considerable discussion and
debate. Given our objectives and teaching style, we are looking for students who meet the following criteria:

Qualifications – a good undergraduate degree and/or professional qualification and a balanced
GMAT score of at least 600 (or an equivalent score in the Cranfield admission tests). In exceptional
cases, a student can be admitted without prior formal qualifications

Experience – at least three years post-qualification work experience, though in practice, our
students have at least five years, and an employment record that demonstrates a process of
achievement

Motivation and ambition – an ability to work under pressure, a commitment to self-development
and evidence of productive teamwork
Any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and is for University use only.
Name of referee ..............................................................................................................................................
Organisation ...................................................................................................................................................
Position ...........................................................................................................................................................
When you have completed this form, please return it to the applicant in a sealed envelope or send it directly
to MBA Admissions, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, Bedford, MK43 0AL, telephone
+44(0)1234 754431, fax +44(0)1234 752439, email MBAadmissions@cranfield.ac.uk. If you choose to
email the reference, please send it from your work email account. Your help in dealing with this reference
promptly will be greatly appreciated. We will not normally invite the applicant to interview until we have
received this reference form.
Please describe in what capacity you know the applicant .............................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
How long have you known the applicant (years)? ..........................................................................................
Is the applicant still with your organisation? YES/NO
If not, when did he/she leave? .........................
Please briefly describe the applicant’s main strengths and any weaknesses.
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
Are you aware of any circumstances which might affect the applicant’s performance on an intensive and
demanding programme?
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
Please rank the applicant on the following scale where 1 is very poor and 5 is excellent.
Very poor
1
2
Average
3
4
Excellent
5
Not
known
Technical competence
Perseverance and motivation
Emotional maturity
Verbal communication
Ability to work with others
Potential as a manager
Overall assessment
Please provide a brief explanation of your ranking of the applicant’s potential as a manager.
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
Are there any other factors which you believe should be drawn to the attention of the Admissions
Committee in assessing the suitability of this candidate?
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................
Signed........................................................................................
Dated .....................................................
THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS REFERENCE FORM