How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter for Scholarships

Most scholarship applications ask for two or three recommendation letters (also called reference letters). Committees read hundreds of them, and the weak ones all sound the same: "She is hardworking and intelligent." A strong letter can lift an average application, and a weak one can sink a strong one.

The good news: you have more control over your letters than you think. This guide shows you how to choose the right referees, what to give them, and how to make sure their letters arrive on time.

What a recommendation letter is for

The committee already has your transcript and CV. The letter tells them what those documents can't:

How you compare with other students the referee has taught or supervised
Specific examples of your skills: a project, a piece of research, a problem you solved
Your character: reliability, leadership, how you work with others
Why you'll succeed in the programme you're applying for

A good letter is specific, honest and enthusiastic. A weak letter is short, vague and could describe anyone.

Step 1: Choose the right referees

Pick people who know your work well, not just people with big titles. A lecturer who supervised your final-year project will write a far better letter than a famous professor who barely remembers your name.

Best choices for master's and PhD scholarships:

Your project or thesis supervisor
A lecturer whose course you did very well in, especially one related to your planned study
A research supervisor from an internship or research assistant role

Good choices for professionals:

Your current or recent manager, who can speak about your work, leadership and impact
A supervisor from a volunteer or community project you led

Check the rules first. Many scholarships require at least one academic referee. Others prefer people who know you professionally. Read the requirements before you ask anyone.

Avoid: family members, friends, religious leaders (unless the scholarship asks for a character reference), and anyone who doesn't really know your work.

Step 2: Ask early and ask properly

Ask your referees at least four to six weeks before the deadline. Lecturers are busy, and many write letters for dozens of students in the same season.

How to ask:

Ask in person or by a polite email. Don't just send a link and hope.
Ask clearly: "Would you be able to write a strong recommendation letter for my application to [scholarship] for a master's in [subject]?" The word strong gives them a chance to say no if they can't support you well. A lukewarm letter is worse than none.
Tell them the deadline and how the letter will be submitted (online portal, email, or sealed envelope).

Step 3: Give them a "recommendation pack"

This is the most important step, and most applicants skip it. Make it easy for your referee to write a detailed letter. Send them one short document with:

The scholarship name, link and deadline
The programme and university you're applying to
Your CV
Your draft personal statement or motivation letter, so their letter supports the same story
Three to five reminders of what you did with them, for example:
- "I scored 78% in your Research Methods course, the highest in the class."
- "For my final-year project on solar irrigation, I built and tested a prototype in two farming communities."
- "I led the departmental study group that helped 20 students prepare for exams."
What the scholarship values, for example leadership, research potential or commitment to your home country

Referees aren't being lazy when they forget details. They simply have many students. Your reminders give them the specific examples that make a letter stand out.

What a strong letter includes

You won't usually see the final letter, but it helps to know what a strong one contains. Share this with your referee if they ask:

How they know you: their role, how long, and in what context
A comparison: "She is in the top 5% of the 200 students I have taught in the past five years."
Two or three specific examples of your abilities, with details and results
Your personal qualities: reliability, initiative, teamwork, integrity
Why you suit this programme and scholarship
A clear, confident recommendation: "I recommend him without reservation."
Their contact details, on official letterhead and signed, if submitted as a document

A strong letter is usually one page, sometimes up to two for PhD applications.

What if your referee asks you to write it?

This happens often, especially in Nigeria and other African countries. Be careful. Many scholarships and universities say the letter must be written by the referee, and a letter you wrote yourself can be treated as misconduct and disqualify you.

If your referee asks you to draft it:

Offer a recommendation pack instead (see Step 3), with all the facts they need to write it themselves.
If they insist, check the scholarship's rules first. Some forbid it outright.
Never submit a letter on someone's behalf through their email or the portal. The letter must come from the referee.

After you ask

Send a polite reminder about one week before the deadline.
Check the portal to confirm their letter has been submitted, if it allows you to.
Say thank you. Then tell them the result, win or lose. Referees remember the students who follow up, and you may need them again.

Common mistakes to avoid

Asking two days before the deadline
Choosing a famous name who doesn't know you
Giving your referee no information about the scholarship
Using the same referee for two different subjects without telling them
Forgetting that some portals send the request to the referee only after you enter their email. Do this early.

Quick checklist

[ ] I've checked how many referees are needed and what type (academic or professional)
[ ] I've chosen referees who know my work well
[ ] I've asked them at least 4–6 weeks before the deadline
[ ] I've sent each one a recommendation pack
[ ] I've entered their details in the application portal
[ ] I've sent a reminder one week before the deadline
[ ] I've thanked them, and I'll tell them the result

A strong recommendation letter isn't luck. It's preparation. Choose well, ask early, and give your referees what they need to speak up for you.

Looking for scholarships to apply for? Browse all opportunities, or read our guides on writing a motivation letter and writing a research proposal.