Yes, if you are applying to university through UCAS and you link your application to Academy Online Learning (AOLL), we will automatically act as your referee. This is part of the full support we offer to our students as they prepare for university entry.

Your tutor will provide a professional academic reference that reflects your performance on the Access to Higher Education Diploma, your engagement with your studies, and your predicted grades. Our team ensures that your reference accurately supports your application and highlights your strengths and suitability for your chosen degree course.

Using AOLL as your referee offers a straightforward and efficient process, as we are a UCAS registered centre. It ensures that your reference and predicted grades are submitted correctly and in line with UCAS deadlines.

If you would prefer to use a different referee — for example, an employer or a previous academic tutor — you will need to apply independently through UCAS. This means you will not link your application to AOLL and will manually input the details of your chosen referee when completing your UCAS application.

It is important to plan ahead if you wish to nominate an alternative referee, to ensure they are prepared to provide a reference promptly when requested by UCAS.

Whichever option you choose, Academy Online Learning is here to support your journey to university every step of the way.