How to Get Strong Recommendation Letters for Scholarships

Recommendation letters are the only part of your application that someone else writes about you. That is why selection panels trust them. A detailed, enthusiastic letter can lift an average application, while a short, generic one can weaken an excellent profile. The good news is that you can influence the quality of your letters.

Who should you ask?

• People who know your work closely: a thesis supervisor, a professor whose course you excelled in, or a manager who saw your results.
• People relevant to the scholarship: academic referees for research degrees, professional referees for leadership awards such as Chevening.
• People who can give examples: a referee who can describe a specific project is better than a senior name who barely knows you.

A good combination is one academic and one professional referee, unless the scholarship states otherwise.

When to ask

Ask at least four to six weeks before the deadline. Professors receive many requests during application season, so earlier is better. If you are applying to several scholarships, ask once and share a list of all deadlines.

How to ask

Ask in person or by video call if possible, then follow up by email. A simple request:

Dear Professor [Name],

I am applying for the [Scholarship Name] to study [Programme] at [University], starting [Month Year]. Because I completed my final-year project under your supervision, I believe you know my research skills better than anyone.

Would you be willing to write a strong recommendation letter for me? The deadline is [Date]. I have attached my CV, draft statement of purpose and a short summary of the points that may be helpful.

Thank you very much for considering my request.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

What makes a letter strong?

• It explains how and for how long the referee knows you.
• It gives concrete examples of your skills and character.
• It compares you with peers, for example “in the top 5% of students I have taught”.
• It supports the same story as your essays.
• It is written on official letterhead, signed and dated.

If your referee asks you to draft the letter

This is common in some countries. Write honestly and factually, include specific examples, and let the referee edit freely. Never forge a signature or submit a letter on someone’s behalf without permission.

Common mistakes

• Asking too late
• Choosing a referee only for their title
• Giving no information about the scholarship
• Using the same generic letter for very different scholarships

For a complete document list, see our scholarship application checklist.

Academic or professional referee: which one do you need?

Read the scholarship’s rules first, because some schemes say exactly who they want. If the rules are open, use this guide:

• Recent graduate: at least one teacher or supervisor who taught you in a small class or guided your project.
• Two or more years of work: one academic referee and one line manager is a balanced pair.
• Research degrees: your thesis or project supervisor matters most, because the panel wants to know how you do research.

Some forms set their own rule. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship form, for example, asks for referees who can comment on your ability to benefit from the scholarship and says one of them must be your current employer, if you have one.

How many letters do scholarships ask for?

These numbers come from official pages we checked in October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you ask anyone.

A message you can send to a referee

Subject: Request for a recommendation letter - [scholarship name], deadline [date]

Dear Professor [Name],

I hope you are well. I was your student in [course, year] and completed [project or thesis] under your supervision.

I am applying for [scholarship] to study [programme] at [university]. The scholarship looks for [two or three qualities from the official page]. Because you saw my work on [specific task], I would be grateful if you could write a recommendation letter for me.

The deadline is [date]. The letter is submitted by [online link sent to your e-mail / signed PDF / official form]. I have attached my CV, transcript, draft statement and a short note on the work I did in your course.

If you are not able to write it, I fully understand. Please let me know so I can make other arrangements.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,
[Name, roll number, phone]

The information pack to attach

• Your CV and transcript
• Your draft statement of purpose, so the letter and the statement tell the same story
• The scholarship link and a few lines on what it looks for
• The deadline and the exact way to submit
• Three or four points you hope the letter can cover, each with evidence: the course, your grade or rank, the project and its result

A referee who has these five things can write a detailed letter in one sitting. A referee who has only your name will write three general lines.

How submission usually works

There are three common systems. In the first, you enter the referee’s e-mail and the system sends them a private link. In the second, the referee gives you a signed PDF and you upload it. In the third, the scholarship has its own form or questions. For link systems, register your referees early, use their official e-mail addresses and ask them to check the spam folder. Many portals do not accept letters sent after the deadline.

If your referee is busy, has moved, or you graduated years ago

• Busy: ask six to eight weeks ahead and offer a short meeting or call to answer questions.
• Left the university: they can still write. They should state their old and new positions, and use a professional e-mail address.
• You graduated long ago: remind them with your roll number, the year, your photo and a copy of the work you did for them.
• No teacher knows you well: choose the one who graded your largest project and send a strong information pack.

A follow-up timeline

1. Six to eight weeks before the deadline: ask, and get a clear yes.
2. Four weeks before: send the information pack and the submission method.
3. Two weeks before: send one polite reminder with the deadline in the subject line.
4. Three days before: check the portal status. If the letter is missing, call or visit.
5. After submission: thank them, and tell them the result later. You may need them again next year.

Weak letter and strong letter: see the difference

Weak: "Ayesha was a good student in my class. She is hardworking and punctual. I recommend her for any scholarship." This could describe anyone, and it gives the panel nothing to check.

Strong: "I taught Ayesha in two courses and supervised her final-year project. She ranked third in a class of 85. For her project she collected water samples from twelve villages and built the testing method herself when our lab kit failed. She presented the results to the district health office." This letter gives a rank, a comparison group and a real example. Your information pack is what makes the second kind of letter possible.

Should you waive your right to read the letter?

Some application forms, mainly for US universities, ask whether you waive your right to see the letter. Panels usually trust confidential letters more, because the referee can write freely. If you chose your referees carefully, waiving is the normal choice.

Frequently asked questions

Can a relative or family friend write my letter?

No. Referees must know your academic or professional work, and panels reject letters from relatives.

Can I use the same letter for several scholarships?

A general letter works when you upload a PDF yourself. Many scholarships use their own link or form, so the referee must submit separately for each one. Tell your referees how many applications you plan.

Does the letter have to be in English?

Usually yes, or it must come with a certified translation. Check the rules of each scholarship.

How recent should a letter be?

It should be written for the current application round, with a date, a signature and the referee’s contact details.

What comes next?

Use our scholarship application checklist to see which other documents you still need.