Getting asked to write a scholarship recommendation letter is a huge privilege but can also be daunting if you've never written one. The purpose of a letter of recommendation for a scholarship is to formally explain why the applicant is a good fit for the scholarship.

The letter gives an insight into the applicant's character, skills and eligibility.

If you want to write a recommendation letter that will make a student's application stand out of the thousands of application submissions, there are a few guidelines you need to follow.

In this article, we'll teach you how to write a letter of recommendation and also provide samples of some of the best recommendation letters for different scholarships.

 

What is a scholarship recommendation letter?

A scholarship recommendation letter is a formal letter written on a scholarship applicant's behalf to vouch for their character, skills, performance, or academic capabilities. The letter is usually 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 an important part of a student's scholarship application. It requires good English skills, honesty, integrity and adequate knowledge about the applicant's character or academic performance.

When you're writing a letter of recommendation on behalf of an applicant, 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 program or initiative. 

 

Types of Scholarship Recommendation Letter

There are different types of scholarship recommendation letters. They include;

1. Academic recommendation letters.

2. Employment recommendation letters.

3. Character recommendation letters.

 

Academic Recommendation Letters

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 include;

1. Recommendation letter for bachelor's school

2. Recommendation letter for phd

3. 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.

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 include;

1. Recommendation letter for former employee

2. General recommendation letter 

 

Character 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 include;

1. Scholarship recommendation letter from friend

2. Scholarship recommendation letter from parent

 

Format for letter of recommendation for scholarship

A scholarship is a great way for students to fund their education. To qualify for a scholarship, there are certain documents you must submit and a letter of recommendation is one of the most important ones. 

A well-written recommendation letter pushes the student one step closer to achieving their education goals. 

So, if you're ever presented with the opportunity to write a letter of recommendation for a scholarship applicant, it is imperative that you know the correct format to follow.

Here, we'll show you how to write a recommendation letter that will make the student's application shine above others.

Without further ado, let's get to it.

A scholarship letter of recommendation is typically a page long and divided into 4 different parts including a header, recipient information, salutation, introduction, body paragraphs, academic qualifications, work experience and a conclusion.

 

1. Header

Write your name, email, address and phone number in the header which should be located on the top right of the letter. Next is the date you wrote the letter which should be written below your contact information.

 

2. Recipient's Information

Ask the applicant for the full details of the scholarship recommendation letter recipient and write it on the top left corner of your letter, directly below the date.

 

3. Salutation 

Begin your recommendation letter with a formal salutation like “Dear Name”. If you've been given the name of the individual that would review the letter, it would be best to address the letter directly to them e.g “Dear Mr Johnson”

If there's no specific name, it's best to either address it to the scholarship organization or to simply use a generic salutation to show your respect e.g “Dear Academic Committee” or “To whom it may concern”

 

4. Introduction 

Here, introduce yourself(recommender), the person you're recommending, your relationship with the applicant and how long you've known them. In one or two lines, you can also express your full support for the applicant's scholarship application.

 

5. Body Paragraphs

After your introduction, you can have like 2 paragraphs which make up most of the letter body.

In the paragraphs, you are expected to provide valuable insight about the applicant as well as why you believe that the applicant should be considered for the scholarship. 

Ensure you provide specific examples that demonstrate the applicant's strongest qualities, qualifications, goals, values and character.

It is very important that you focus on the skills and qualifications that are relevant to the scholarship's mission or requirements. 

 

6. 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.

 

7. Work Experience

Here, you highlight relevant work experiences that add value to the scholarship application. You can mention internships or volunteering work that the applicant has participated in.

 

8. Conclusion

There's usually a closing paragraph, then a conclusion. In the closing paragraph, thank the recruiter for considering the applicant in a few lines. You can also summarize the key points that emphasize the applicant's strengths and value.

After the closing paragraph, you conclude the letter by writing;

“Yours Sincerely, 

[Your Full Name]”.

 

Note: A letter of scholarship typically follows the same format. however, you may be required to follow a specific format depending on the institution you're applying to.

Check with the scholarship body or their list of requirements if there is a guideline or format you're expected to follow.

 

Guidelines for writing a scholarship recommendation letter

Here are some basic formatting rules to follow when writing a scholarship recommendation letter.

1. Check for grammatical errors and typos.

2. Choose a regular font like Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, or Roboto. These fonts are formal and easy on the eyes. 

3. Font sizes should range between 10 - 12pt so your letter is legible enough to read.

4. Maintain a 1-inch margin gap on all sides of the letter so there's enough white space. The presence of the white space makes your letter easy to read.

5. Choose left alignment at all times. 

6. Ensure that your scholarship recommendation letter is not longer than 1 page. This is a very important rule to follow when writing a letter of recommendation. 

 

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 example

 

Katherine Johnson

No 6, Wuse II, Abuja

[email protected] 

+234 - 905 - XXX- XXXX.

24th April, 2024

 

Techstars Admissions Team,

Techteam Foundation

Abuja, Nigeria.

 

Dear Techstars Admission Team,

My name is Katherine Johnson and it is with great honor that I write this recommendation letter to express my enthusiastic support of Ms. Florence Olaniyan's application for the Techstars scholarship within your organization. Ms. Florence and I have been colleagues for over six years at Nexgen Technological Industry.

During our time together, I have been privileged to watch her grow into a tenacious go-getter who always strives to be a better version of herself.

Her passion and dedication for mastering the complexities of technology is commendable. On multiple occasions, I have watched her take on the most challenging challenges with her creativity, critical thinking and sharp problem-solving skills. She has successfully mitigated damages and potential security breaches to the companies software and data, ensuring that operations continue as usual without any disruptions or delay.

Ms Florence has won many leadership awards. From 2021 - 2023, she was voted staff of the year by team members in the company. This is further proof of the love and respect that everyone has for her. 

Outside of her technical capabilities, I can say l without a doubt that Ms Florence 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 organization she joins.

I give my full support for her application to the scholarship and I hope you consider Florence Olaniyan for this great opportunity. 

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 Florence’s candidacy, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or +234 - 905 - XXX- XXXX. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

[Your Name]”

 

Recommendation letter for scholarship pdf

If you've never written a scholarship recommendation letter, you might find it a little challenging. 

Recommendation letters generally have the same format but some may need a little changes here and there.

To make it easier for you, we have provided pdf recommendation letters templates 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. However, you can use it as a guide to compose your own recommendation letter.

 

Letter of recommendation template for scholarship

Here are 20 of our favorite recommendation letter pdf templates. 

Recommendation letter for a phd scholarship

Looking for the best template for a phd scholarship, download the pdf link

 

Fellowship letter of recommendation

Fellowship letter of recommendation for scholarship must be well written and follow the correct LOR format to give the applicant a better chance of winning. If you're looking for a good sample fellowship letter of recommendation template to follow, click this link.

 

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. We have created a sample for you to follow. You can download and edit it in a way that suits the applicant's application. Download a copy of the pdf.

 

Recommendation letter for bachelor scholarship

This is one of the best formswift letter of recommendation for bachelor scholarship templates. Download the pdf

 

Letter of recommendation for scholarship from employer

For employers looking to write recommendation letters for their young employees, this is an excellent sample to guide you. Download the pdf here

 

Scholarship recommendation letter from friend

This type of LOR is usually written by a person or individual who can intimately describe the applicant's character without bias. download the pdf

 

Employer scholarship recommendation letter

This is a great employer letter of recommendation template for scholarship. Download the pdf

 

Daad scholarship recommendation letter

This Daad scholarship recommendation letter will make your application stand out and convince the review committee that you are one of the best candidates for the scholarship. Download the pdf

 

Church scholarship recommendation letter

Need a church recommendation letter for scholarship pdf, click this link.

 

Recommendation letter for gks scholarship

The Global Korean Scholarship aka GKS reference letter for scholarship is an excellent way for financially disadvantaged students to finance their education in Korea. This is a sample we have put in a free scholarship recommendation letter template for you to download. 

 

Recommendation letter for student scholarship from teacher

The best recommendation letter for student scholarship from a teacher you'll see on the internet is right here for you. Download this letter of recommendation for student scholarship now!

 

Reference letter for scholarship from professor

Download this reference letter for scholarship from professor on your personal computer and use it when writing a letter of recommendation for a scholarship.

 

Reference letter sample for chevening scholarship

Chevening scholarships are great for students who want to study abroad and it usually requires one or two short recommendation letter for scholarship. Below is a scholarship recommendation letter example you can use to write yours. Download the pdf

 

Sample letter of recommendation for scholarship from mentor

The best personal letter of recommendation for scholarship from a mentor is available for you. Download the template

 

Sample letter of recommendation for scholarship from parent

Are you a parent writing a sample letter of recommendation for scholarship for your child? Are you confused on where to begin?

Download this template for a well written sample recommendation letter for student scholarship that will convince the recruiter to choose your child.

 

Sample letter of recommendation for scholarship from coach

Sample letter of recommendation template for student scholarship from coach provides further insight into a student's athletic personality and character as well as academics. Download this sample letter here

 

Sample letter of recommendation for nursing scholarship

Download this sample letter of recommendation for nursing scholarship

 

Sample letter of recommendation for an athletic scholarship

Here is a really good sample letter of recommendation for an athletic scholarship.

 

Scholarship recommendation letter for a student

Use this letter to secure your scholarship in any institution of your choice. Download the pdf here

 

Music scholarship reference letter

This music scholarship reference letter sample will offer you a seat in any music scholarship you apply to. Download the pdf here

 

Conclusion 

These are some of the best scholarship recommendation letters that the internet has to offer. Download any of the pdf's and use it to write your own recommendation letter. Good luck on your scholarship application.