Have you been asked to write a recommendation letter for your student, colleague or friend? Read this article on scholarship recommendation letter samples for tips on how to write a scholarship recommendation letter.
Writing a scholarship recommendation letter is an honorable task. However, it can be challenging if you haven’t written one before.
If you’re like most people who don’t know how to write a scholarship recommendation letter, we can assure you that you’re reading the right article. In this article, we’ll teach you how to write a scholarship recommendation letter and provide a template and provide a sample you can download to edit while you write.
What is a scholarship recommendation letter?
A scholarship recommendation letter is a formal document that prospective or current students can use to apply for academic funding from an organization, individual or university. It is usually written on the scholarship applicant's behalf to vouch for their character, skills, performance or academic capabilities.
The letter is submitted alongside other important documents like transcripts, and an official ID, to show support for a student's scholarship application.
A scholarship recommendation letter is a very important part of a student's scholarship application. It requires good English skill, honesty, integrity and adequate knowledge about the applicant's character or academic performances.
While requirements differ depending on the scholarship, your main aim is to construct the letter in a way that will convince the reviewer that the student is a suitable candidate for the scholarship.
Types of Scholarship Recommendation Letter
There are different types of scholarship recommendation letters. They include;
- Academic recommendation letters.
- Employment recommendation letters.
- Character Recommendation letters.
- Scholarship-Specific Recommendation Letter
Academic Recommendation Letters
This is the most common type of scholarship recommendation letter.
The academic recommendation letter is presented on behalf of a student applying to a university, college or academic institution for an undergraduate or graduate degree.
A student is required to submit between two to three recommendation letters which can be written by anyone who has taught them professionally, usually their professor or lecturer.
Examples of an academic recommendation letter for scholarship includes;
- Recommendation letter for bachelor's school
- Recommendation letter for phd
- Recommendation letter for a fellowship program
Employment recommendation letters
The employment recommendation letter can be written by the applicant's current or former boss, coworker or supervisor. This letter focuses on the applicant's work ethic, responsibility, skills, and how they contribute to the workplace.
We recommend that you choose someone who professionally outranks you because their recommendation tends to carry more weight than your regular coworker. Examples of an employment recommendation letter for scholarship includes;
- Recommendation letter for former employee
- General recommendation letter
Character or Personal recommendation letters.
The character recommendation letter can be written by a friend or family of the applicant. It usually carries a more intimate and personal tone.
In this letter, the person is expected to describe the applicant's personality and attest to their character. Examples of a character recommendation letter for scholarship includes;
- Scholarship recommendation letter from friend
- Scholarship recommendation letter from parent
Scholarship-Specific Recommendation Letter
Some scholarships may require a recommendation letter that aligns specifically with the values or criteria of the scholarship. This letter is tailored to show how the applicant fits the scholarship’s goals, whether it’s for academic excellence, leadership, diversity, or other specific qualities.
Examples:
- Scholarship recommendation letter for women in science.
Structure of a Scholarship Recommendation Letter
A scholarship is an excellent way for students to finance their education. To apply for one, students need to submit several documents, and a recommendation letter is often one of the most crucial parts of the application. A strong letter of recommendation can help a student stand out and move closer to achieving their educational goals.
If you ever find yourself asked to write a recommendation letter for a scholarship applicant, it’s important to follow the correct format. A well-structured letter can make a big difference in how the applicant is perceived.
Here’s the structure of a recommendation letter;
1. Header
Start with your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address, which should be placed at the top-right corner of the letter. Below your contact details, include the date you’re writing the letter.
2. Recipient Information
Ask the applicant for the details of the person or organization receiving the letter. Write this information in the top-left corner of the letter, right below the date.
3. Salutation
Start the letter with a formal greeting. If you know the name of the person who will be reading the letter, address them directly, such as "Dear Mr. Johnson."
If you don’t have a specific name, use a general salutation like “Dear Scholarship Committee” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
4. Introduction
In the introduction, briefly introduce yourself, including how you know the applicant and how long you’ve known them. In one or two sentences, express your strong support for the student’s application for the scholarship.
5.Body Paragraphs
The body of the letter typically consists of 2-3 paragraphs where you provide important details about the applicant. This is where you explain why the student deserves the scholarship.
Focus on specific examples that highlight the applicant’s skills, qualifications, and personal values. It’s important to relate your comments to the scholarship’s criteria, such as academic excellence, leadership, or community involvement.
5a. Academic Qualifications
Depending on the type of recommendation letter you're writing, discussing the applicant's academic qualifications is very important.
It shows that the applicant is professionally qualified for the scholarship. Mention their GPA, awards, certification and accomplishments that will impress the recipient.
5b. Work Experience
If applicable, highlight any relevant work experience, such as internships or volunteer work.
Mention how these experiences have prepared the applicant for the scholarship and future success.
6. Conclusion
There's usually a closing paragraph, then a conclusion.
Thank the reader for considering the applicant, and briefly summarize the student’s strengths and why they’re a good fit for the scholarship.
End with a professional sign-off, such as "Sincerely," followed by your name.
Example:
“Yours Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]”.
By following this structure, you’ll be able to write a letter of recommendation that effectively supports the applicant and enhances their chances of receiving the scholarship.
Scholarship Recommendation Letter Format
Here are some basic formatting rules to follow when writing a scholarship recommendation letter.
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Fonts: Use Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial
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Font size: between 10 and 12 points for readability.
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Margin: Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.( this is the default for most word documents)
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Spacing: Use single-spacing within paragraphs and double-spacing between paragraphs.
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Tone: your scholarship application letter should have a formal tone.
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Alignment: Left Align your texts.
Now, let’s look at the step-by-step guide on how to write a strong and effective letter:
How to Write a Scholarship Recommendation Letter
1. Review the Scholarship Requirements
Before you start drafting your scholarship recommendation letter, read the scholarship requirements carefully to understand the expectations of the scholarship committee from the scholarship applicants.
2. Begin with an Introductory Paragraph
Start with an introductory paragraph to explain your purpose and give the review committee the necessary background. In this paragraph, introduce the student, mention the scholarship, and describe your relationship with the student.
3. Describe the candidate in the context of the scholarship
After introducing both yourself and the candidate, explain why you believe they are a strong fit for the scholarship. This shows the scholarship committee that you understand the qualities they are seeking and have thoughtfully considered how the student meets those criteria.
4. Describe other achievements, qualities or skills
To show how much you know and support the candidate, you can list their other achievements, attributes and skills that will help the review committee understand your candidate better.
Only state qualities that are related/important to the scholarship requirements.
5. End with a Conclusion
Restate your full support for the scholarship applicant and briefly gloss over the reasons why your student is the best candidate and should be considered for the scholarship.
Then, invite the committee members to reach out to you if they would like to discuss the matter further.
6. Proofread Carefully
After completing your letter, read through it carefully, checking for any errors. You can use a spelling or grammar checker to improve spelling, grammar or readability.
Remember that you're representing the applicant to the review committee, and the quality of your letter may affect the applicant’s chances of getting a scholarship.
For this reason, it's pertinent to submit a polished letter free of grammatical or spelling errors.
7. Submit on time
It is important that you meet the submission deadline of a scholarship application to ensure that the review committee considers your letter alongside the candidate's other application.
Also, remember that the academic committee probably has hundreds of scholarship application letters to review, so keep the scholarship recommendation letter brief and to-the-point.
Scholarship recommendation letter sample
Dr. Jesse Evans
Lagos, Nigeria
+234 - 814 - XXX- XXXX.
12th December, 2024
Dangote Youths in Business,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Dear Admission Team,
It is with great pleasure that I write this recommendation letter to express my enthusiastic support of Ms. Tamara Davidson’s application for the Dangote Youths in Business Scholarship(DYBS). I have worked with Ms Tamara as her project supervisor and was previously her university professor for four years.
She is an impressive young woman with a strong desire to learn and a natural talent for turning ideas into action. I believe she is an excellent candidate for this opportunity.
Her passion and dedication for mastering the complexities of global business is commendable. On multiple occasions, I have witnessed her take on the most challenging challenges with her creativity, critical thinking and strong problem-solving skills.
Ms Tamara has always been a problem solver. From 2021 - 2023, she assumed the role of student union president and led the initiative which provided a new water system for the department of business analytics at the university of Lagos. She was awarded ‘best graduating student for the 2023/2024 set and I was given the honor to present the award to her.
Outside of her academic capabilities, I can say l without a doubt that Ms Tamara is a woman of discipline, patience and integrity. Her morals and professional conduct are unwavering and I know that she would become an invaluable asset to any university she joins.
Therefore, I'm honored to offer my support and recommendation for Tamara Davidson as a qualified candidate for the Dangote Youths in Business Scholarship.
I believe that she will exceed your expectations and I honestly cannot think of anyone more deserving of this scholarship.
Should you require any further information about Ms Tamara’s candidacy, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or +234 - 814 - XXX- XXXX. Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
Dr Jesse Evans.
Note: It might interest you to know that the above scholarship recommendation letter sample is downloadable. Click on scholarship recommendation letter for pdf to download the sample application letter for student scholarship.
Recommendation letter for scholarship pdf
Here, we provided 10 pdf scholarship recommendation letters samples for a range of scholarship programs. Download the one related to your program and use it to write your own letter.
It is important that you do not copy and paste word for word but use it as a guide to compose your own recommendation letter.
Recommendation letter for a phd scholarship
Looking for the best template for a phd scholarship, download the pdf link below.
Download scholarship recommendation letter for phd
Fellowship letter of recommendation
If you're looking for a good scholarship recommendation letter for fellowship, click the link below.
Download scholarship recommendation letter for fellowship
Recommendation letter for a masters scholarship
Recommendation letters for masters scholarship are needed for students who want to further their graduate education in a university or college. Download this sample below to write the best recommendation letter for masters scholarship.
Download scholarship recommendation letter for masters
Recommendation letter for bachelor scholarship
This is one of the best recommendation letter samples for bachelor scholarship.
Download scholarship recommendation letter for bachelor student
Scholarship Recommendation Letter from a Mentor
This letter is written by someone who has guided the applicant in an academic, professional, or personal capacity.
Download scholarship recommendation letter from a mentor
Letter of recommendation for scholarship from employer
If your employee asks you to write a recommendation letter on their behalf, this is an excellent sample to guide you.
Download scholarship recommendation letter from employer
Scholarship Recommendation Letter for Fulbright Scholarship
Download scholarship recommendation letter for fulbright scholarship
Recommendation letter for scholarship from professor
Download this reference letter for a scholarship from the professor and use it to write your own letter of recommendation.
Download scholarship recommendation letter from professor
Scholarship Recommendation Letter for Chevening Scholarship
This letter of recommendation is usually written by an employer, professor, or professional mentor. The body of the letter focuses on the applicant’s leadership, and professional achievements.
Download the Scholarship Recommendation Letter for Chevening Scholarship
Scholarship Recommendation Letter from Coach
This letter is for students applying for an athletic scholarship.
Download the Scholarship Recommendation letter from Coach
Conclusion
There are several types of scholarship recommendation letters, each serving a different purpose. Whether academic, personal, or work-related, the goal of the letter is to present the applicant as a strong candidate for the scholarship by highlighting their relevant strengths and achievements.
Each letter in this article is curated to help the scholarship committee understand the applicant beyond their application, increasing their chances of receiving their scholarship.