A strong recommendation letter can genuinely make or break a scholarship application — it’s the outside voice that confirms what your CV and personal statement already claim about you. This guide covers scholarship recommendation letter tips: what to include, how to structure it, and a full template you or your referee can adapt directly.
What a Recommendation Letter Does
A letter of recommendation is written by someone who knows you — a teacher, employer, or mentor — introducing themselves, explaining their relationship to you, and making the case for why you’re a strong fit for the scholarship. Committees want a second, independent voice confirming what you’ve already presented in your application, adding real context your own documents can’t provide on their own.
Who Should Write It
Titles matter far less than genuine, firsthand experience with you. A dean’s name means little if they’ve never actually worked with you directly — a professor, thesis supervisor, direct manager, or close colleague who genuinely knows your work ethic and character makes a far stronger referee. It’s also completely normal for a busy referee to ask you to draft the letter for their review and signature — many scholarships, including Chevening, specifically require referees who know you professionally or academically, never a friend or family member, and expect the letter to speak directly to leadership and character, not just general praise.
Header Details That Matter More Than They Seem
Use a current date. Reusing an old, generic letter from a past application reads as careless — a fresh date signals the letter was genuinely written for this specific opportunity.
Add a clear subject line — “Letter of Recommendation” or “Academic Reference” — so the reader immediately understands what they’re looking at.
Address it to the actual reader, not “To Whom It May Concern.” Something like “Selection Committee, [Scholarship Name]” shows real intent and effort, rather than a copy-pasted letter reused across applications.
What a Strong Letter Should Include
Open with the reason for writing. State clearly and immediately who’s being recommended and for what — “I am writing to recommend [Name] for the [Scholarship Name]” sets the letter’s purpose without delay.
Explain the relationship. The referee should state their own role and exactly how they know the applicant — “As Senior Lecturer in International Relations at [University], I taught [Name] in my Global Politics class” gives real credibility a vague reference can’t.
Give real context about the work or programme. Briefly describing the actual demands of the course, project, or role helps a committee understand exactly what the applicant handled and how demanding it genuinely was.
Highlight specific qualities with evidence. This is the core of the letter — the referee should describe concrete academic, professional, or personal strengths, backed by something specific the applicant actually did, not just adjectives asserted in isolation.
Close with a clear, confident endorsement. A strong closing reinforces the recommendation directly, expressing genuine confidence the applicant will contribute meaningfully to the programme.
Offer to provide more information. A simple line offering follow-up contact adds real credibility and shows the referee stands behind what they’ve written.
Practical Ways to Get a Genuinely Strong Letter
Ask early — seriously. Give your referee at least a month before your deadline. Busy professors and supervisors need real time to write something thoughtful, not a rushed favour completed the night before it’s due.
Share your CV and motivation letter. Don’t assume a referee remembers every detail about you — giving them your updated materials helps them write something specific and aligned with your actual goals, rather than something generic.
Reconnecting after time apart is completely normal. If you’ve lost touch with a professor who knew you well, reach out first to reconnect genuinely — share what you’ve been doing since, ask for their advice, and re-establish the relationship before making your request. This isn’t a formality; it results in a genuinely stronger, more personal letter.
Formatting Details That Can Disqualify an Otherwise Strong Letter
Follow the scholarship’s specific instructions exactly — a required template, a requirement that the letter come from a specific type of referee, or a sealed-envelope submission requirement. Missing these can disqualify an application even when the letter’s content is genuinely excellent. Our guide on how to prepare your Chevening Scholarship application covers one real example of these exact submission rules in detail.
Match the language of instruction. If your programme is taught in English, the letter should generally be in English too. If that’s genuinely not possible, attach a certified translation rather than submitting an untranslated letter.
Keep it to 1 to 1.5 pages, in a standard professional font — Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri — at 12-point size with normal spacing and margins.
Use official letterhead where possible. A letter on institutional letterhead carries more weight than one on plain paper, since it visibly ties the recommendation to a real, verifiable institution.
Include full, verifiable contact information — the referee’s name, position, phone number, email, and mailing address — giving the committee a genuine way to follow up if needed.
Scholarship Recommendation Letter Template
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Institution/Company]
[Contact Information]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern,
It is my sincere pleasure to recommend [Applicant's Full Name] for
consideration for [Name of Scholarship or Program].
I am [Your Name], currently working as a [Your Job Title] at [Your
Institution or Company Name]. With over [X years] of experience in
[Your Field or Subject], I've had the opportunity to mentor many
bright individuals, and I can confidently say that [Applicant's
First Name] stands out as one of the most promising.
I had the pleasure of working with [Applicant's Name] in [Course/
Project/Job], where I observed their remarkable ability in [skill
or subject area]. From the beginning, [he/she/they] showed strong
initiative, a great learning attitude, and consistently delivered
work of high quality.
For example, [insert a short, specific example of leadership,
resilience, problem-solving, or another outstanding strength].
What sets [Applicant's Name] apart isn't just academic or technical
ability — it's [his/her/their] attitude: always positive, proactive,
and supportive of others. Whether working independently or as part
of a team, [he/she/they] has been dependable, respectful, and
thoughtful.
I believe [Applicant's Name] would be a valuable addition to your
[Scholarship Program / Academic Institution], and I recommend [him/
her/them] without hesitation.
If you require further details, feel free to contact me at [email/
phone number].
Warm regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Job Title, Institution/Organization]
An Illustrative Example (for Reference Only)
The example below is a fictional letter written purely to demonstrate the structure above in practice — it does not describe a real person.
June 2026
Undergraduate Scholars Committee [University Name]
To Whom It May Concern,
It is with great pleasure that I recommend [fictional student name] for admission into the Undergraduate Scholars Program.
I taught [them] in both Literature and English Language classes, and had the privilege of guiding [them] through a final-year honours literature project. [Their] curiosity, creative expression, and analytical insight consistently stood out in every assignment.
One highlight was an outstanding paper analysing symbolism in a major literary work — a piece demonstrating both advanced writing skill and genuine critical engagement with complex material.
Beyond academics, [they] showed real leadership — serving in a senior student leadership role, coordinating a major school event, and volunteering consistently with a literacy initiative in the community.
I have no doubt [they are] ready for the academic rigour this programme demands.
Sincerely, [referee name and title]
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a recommendation letter need to come from someone with an important title?
No. Genuine, firsthand knowledge of your work and character matters far more than a referee’s title. A supervisor or lecturer who knows you well writes a stronger letter than a senior figure who barely knows you.
How early should I ask someone to write my recommendation letter?
At least a month before your deadline. This gives a busy referee genuine time to write something thoughtful, rather than a rushed letter completed at the last minute.
Is it acceptable to draft the letter myself for my referee to review and sign?
Yes, this is genuinely common practice, especially when a busy referee asks for help. Just ensure the content reflects their honest view of you, and that they review and approve it fully before it’s submitted.
What happens if I don’t follow a scholarship’s specific formatting instructions for the letter?
It can disqualify your application entirely, even if the letter’s content is excellent. Always follow required templates, referee type, or submission format exactly as specified.
Should the recommendation letter be in English if my programme is taught in English?
Generally yes. If that’s not possible, attach a certified translation of the letter rather than submitting one in a language the committee may not be able to evaluate directly.
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I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.