A number of students requesting a number of reference letters. What to do? I teach two medium size groups (~100 each), supervise BSc and MSc dissertations, and have ~35 tutees. When applications to postgraduate programmes open, I tend to receive a number of requests for reference letters due to a combination of several students asking me to write letters for them, and them applying to a number of places (usually 30+ students × 5+ programmes), so I need to spend quite some time writing and submitting reference letters.
Are there any guidelines in terms of how many reference letters lecturers in UK should write per year?
Your director says &quot;As many as you can&quot; - in my philosophy these would be those where I think the letter would easily help and, as such, easily written.

Create a spreadsheet with comments, and evaluations, possibly link collections if that's easier than to search through mail.

Use automated template generation for the reference letter outline, possibly electronically added signature, and write short, crisp paragraphs on what impressed you about the student. One, at most two paragraphs are perfectly enough if you have something good to say. It's like feedback for an essay. &quot;This student performed well because they ..., were able to ... and showed skilful handling of ... Whatever is relevant, give facts and a brief evaluation, this is perfectly fine.

Any awards, just mention them.

End on a standardized positive note. This is not a tenure reference. If you have to write many references, you cannot spend much time on refined formulations.

Group the references together for the same website/uni and fire them off.

For very strong students, usually it is possible (and pleasurable) to write more, as you will know more about what they have done. They can be treated in a more individualized fashion.


References for weak students, on the other hand, are very difficult to write, and so they will burn a lot more of your time if you want them to help at all; this will be like squeezing blood from a stone. I do not recommend doing that, unless you have some simple and strong thing to say about them and you wish to do so.
Although it's not up to you to decide whether they should proceed with a graduate education or not, if you yourself do not think they should continue, it is in your right to choose not to be part of the process in that case.