UK JET Programme

2026/8/27

References

Applicants must have two character reference letters submitted by referees to their online application. These letters should be written specifically to the JET Programme Office, addressing your suitability to take part in the Programme. Please be aware that this is a confidential document, and should not be seen or accessed by anyone other than the referee and UK JET Office. Doing so will invalidate the reference letter.

What makes a good reference?
Any information regarding your character, personal interests, extra-curricular activities, academic ability or work ethic is particularly welcome. While you have the choice to choose the appropriate referees for your application, these referees should be people that have known you in a work or academic environment. They should be able to comment well on your professional and personal attributes and ideally show how you would be an appropriate candidate for the JET Programme. Please note that references from close friends or relatives will not be accepted.

Criteria (show this to your referees)

References must be typed on headed paper as a PDF document, and less than 5000KB/5MB. (If headed paper is unavailable, your referee should acknowledge this within the letter and provide their full contact details.)

Your referees must provide their names, titles, contact info, and an email address that is preferably an official work email address.
They must also state their relationship to you and how long they have known you.
Both references should be written in English.
Each referee must sign their letter by hand (they may sign the printed document and take a photo/scan the letter and upload this, or alternatively they may sign the document using the pen feature on Adobe - typed signatures are not acceptable).

Guidelines for Graduates

Graduates are advised to provide ONE of the following options:

One academic reference from your former university tutor/lecturer AND one professional reference from your current or former employer
Two professional references, each from either a current or former employer.

If neither of these options is possible, 2 academic references may instead be provided.

Guidelines for Final-year Students

Final-year students are advised to provide ONE of the following options:

One academic reference from your university tutor/lecturer AND one professional reference from your current or former employer
Two academic references from your university tutors/lecturers

If neither of these options is possible, 2 professional references may instead be provided.

Submission

Nominate your referees inside using the two files inside the 00_Referee_Contacts folder. In each file, enter your full name, your referee's name, title, position/job title, organisation and email address. Every field marked * is required. Once you have completed the form, select YES in the confirmation cell to submit. If any field has been left blank, you will receive an email stating the invitation to provide a reference cannot be sent.

Each referee is sent their own invitation to a private folder, in which they upload their reference. The reference is confidential: you cannot see or open your referees' folders, and they cannot see your application.

Please tell your referees:

to expect an email from application-ukjet@ld.mofa.go.jp, and to check their junk/spam folder;
your application number (for example JET2027-0123), so that they can confirm they are writing for the right applicant;
that they will be asked to sign in with the email address the invitation was sent to. They do not need a Microsoft account. A one-time sign-in code is emailed to them.