Most scholarship applications ask for one or more letters of recommendation. These letters come from people who know your work well, such as teachers, professors or employers. They tell the committee about your abilities and character from an outside point of view.
A strong recommendation letter can make your application stand out. A weak or generic one can hold it back, even if your grades are excellent.
This guide explains how to choose the right referee, how to ask, what a good letter includes, and a sample format that referees can adapt.
What Is a Recommendation Letter?
A recommendation letter, also called a reference letter or letter of support, is written by someone who can confirm your skills, achievements and potential. It supports the claims you make in your essay and CV.
Selection committees use these letters to answer questions like:
- Is this student as capable as their application says?
- How do they compare with other students the referee has taught or supervised?
- Are they responsible, motivated and honest?
- Are they likely to succeed in the programme and use the scholarship well?
Who Should Write Your Recommendation Letter?
Choose someone who knows you well and can give specific examples. A detailed letter from a teacher who taught you for two years is usually stronger than a short letter from a famous person who barely knows you.
Good choices include:
- A teacher or professor in your main subject
- A thesis or project supervisor
- An employer or internship manager
- A leader of a volunteer organisation you worked with
Avoid asking family members or friends. Their letters are not seen as objective.
Always check the scholarship rules. Some ask for one academic and one professional referee, or only academic referees.
How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
1. Ask Early
Give your referee at least three to four weeks before the deadline. Teachers and professors are busy, and a rushed letter is rarely a good one.
2. Ask Politely and Personally
Ask in person if you can, or send a short, polite email. Give them an easy way to say no if they are too busy.
3. Share Helpful Information
Make the referee’s job easy. Send them:
- The name of the scholarship and a link to its details
- The deadline and how to submit the letter
- Your CV or a list of achievements
- Your draft essay or statement of purpose
- A few points you hope they can mention, such as a project you did in their class
4. Send a Reminder
About a week before the deadline, send a short, friendly reminder.
5. Say Thank You
After the letter is submitted, thank your referee. Let them know the result later; they will appreciate it.
Study International shares more practical advice in its article on getting a scholarship letter of recommendation.
Sample Email to Request a Letter
Subject: Request for a recommendation letter – [Scholarship name]
Dear Professor Ahmed,
I hope you are well. I am applying for the [scholarship name] to study a master’s degree in public health, and the application asks for a letter of recommendation from an academic referee.
Since I completed my final-year research project under your supervision, I believe you know my work and abilities well. Would you be willing to write a letter for me?
The deadline is [date]. I have attached my CV, my draft statement of purpose and the scholarship guidelines. I am happy to meet if that would help.
Thank you very much for considering my request.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Your student ID or batch]
What a Strong Recommendation Letter Includes
- How the referee knows you: their role, how long and in what context.
- Specific strengths: academic ability, skills and personal qualities.
- Real examples: a project, achievement or moment that shows these strengths.
- Comparison: how you compare with other students, if the referee can say so honestly.
- Fit for the scholarship: why you are suited to this programme or award.
- Clear endorsement: a strong final statement of support.
- Contact details: so the committee can follow up.
The University of North Carolina Writing Center gives detailed advice for referees in its guide to letters of recommendation.
Sample Recommendation Letter Format
This sample is for illustration only. A real letter must be written and signed by the referee in their own words.
[University or school letterhead]
[Date]To the Scholarship Selection Committee,
I am pleased to recommend [student name] for the [scholarship name]. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of [subject] at [institution], and I have known [student name] for three years as their lecturer and final-year project supervisor.
[Student name] is one of the most capable students I have taught. In my course on [topic], they achieved one of the highest marks in a class of [number]. More importantly, they showed real curiosity and asked thoughtful questions that went beyond the syllabus.
For their final-year project, [student name] studied [project topic]. They designed the survey, collected data from [number] participants and analysed it with great care. When early results were unclear, they did not give up; they reviewed the method and improved it. The final report was clear, well organised and of a standard I would expect from a master’s student.
Beyond academics, [student name] is responsible and respected by classmates. They led the department’s study support group and helped junior students prepare for exams.
I am confident that [student name] will succeed in the [programme] and make good use of this scholarship. I recommend them without reservation.
Please contact me if you need any further information.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name, title]
[Department, institution]
[Email and phone]
Should You Write Your Own Recommendation Letter?
Sometimes a busy referee asks the student to write a draft. Be careful. Many scholarship providers expect letters to be written independently by the referee, and some ask referees to confirm this. If your referee asks for help, the safest approach is to give them a list of facts and examples rather than writing the letter for them.
Purdue OWL also offers tips for educators writing letters for students, which you can share with your referee.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Asking someone who does not know them well.
- Asking too close to the deadline.
- Not sharing the scholarship details or their CV.
- Forgetting to check that the letter was submitted.
- Not thanking the referee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recommendation letters do I need for a scholarship?
Usually one to three. Always check the specific scholarship instructions.
How long should a recommendation letter be?
Most are about one page, or 300 to 600 words. Some online forms set their own limit.
Can I see my recommendation letter?
Many systems keep letters confidential, and committees often trust confidential letters more. Some referees may still share a copy if they choose.
Conclusion
A strong recommendation letter comes from someone who knows you well and can give real examples. Choose your referee carefully, ask early, share helpful information and always say thank you.
To find scholarships worth applying for, read our guides to scholarships for high school students, scholarships for first-generation students, and how to apply for grants and scholarships.
