Scholarship Recommendation Letters: What Applicants Should Provide

A scholarship recommendation letter is only as useful as the information your referee receives. Even a lecturer, teacher, employer or supervisor who knows you well may struggle to write a detailed letter if you provide only the scholarship name and a deadline.

Before asking for a recommendation, prepare a clear information pack. It should help the referee understand the opportunity, remember your work and explain why you are a suitable candidate. This is especially important when applying from Nigeria or applying to an international university, where the referee may need to follow a specific online submission process.

Choose the right referee first

The strongest referee is not necessarily the person with the most impressive job title. Choose someone who has directly observed your academic work, leadership, research, employment or community contribution.

Suitable referees may include:

• A lecturer who taught or supervised you in a relevant subject.
• A project supervisor who can discuss your research, writing or problem-solving skills.
• An employer or manager who has observed your performance and responsibility.
• A school principal, department head or academic adviser who knows your progress.
• A recognised community or programme supervisor who can describe your contribution.

Avoid choosing someone who barely knows you simply because they are famous or senior. A detailed letter with specific examples is usually more helpful than a general letter from an influential person who cannot discuss your abilities.

What to send your referee

Send the information in one organised email or document. Your goal is to reduce the amount of searching and guesswork the referee must do.

1. The scholarship information

Provide the official name of the scholarship, the university or organisation offering it, the relevant course or level of study, the application deadline and the official application link.

Also explain what the recommendation must cover. Some applications ask for an assessment of academic ability, while others focus on leadership, financial need, research potential, public service or career goals. If there are word limits, questions or required forms, copy them accurately into your information pack.

Do not rely on a social-media post or forwarded message alone. Confirm the opportunity through the official scholarship provider or university website, particularly if the application involves money, personal documents or an overseas institution.

2. Your current CV or résumé

Your CV helps the referee confirm dates, roles and achievements. It should normally include your education, work experience, projects, relevant skills, awards, volunteering and leadership activities.

Keep it accurate and easy to scan. Do not add achievements that you cannot explain or prove. If you have limited formal work experience, include relevant academic projects, student organisation roles, community activities, internships or digital work.

3. Your personal statement or study plan

Share your draft personal statement, motivation letter or study plan, even if it is unfinished. It shows the referee what you are trying to communicate about your background, interests and future plans.

Highlight the parts you would like the letter to support. For example, if your application explains how technology can improve access to education in Nigeria, your referee can describe a project, class performance or activity that demonstrates your interest in that area.

4. A short achievement brief

Prepare a one-page summary of your most relevant accomplishments. For each item, include what you did, your role, the result and what it demonstrates.

Instead of writing, “I was a good team member,” give useful detail such as:

“During our final-year research project, I coordinated the data collection schedule, helped resolve disagreements within the group and presented the findings to the department.”

Your referee should use their own honest judgment and wording. The purpose of your brief is to refresh their memory, not to provide a letter that they must copy.

5. Your goals and reasons for applying

Explain what you want to study, why the subject matters to you and how the opportunity fits your longer-term plans. Include the skills or knowledge you hope to gain and the problem you hope to help solve.

Keep this explanation specific. “I want to help my country” is broad. A clearer explanation might connect your intended field to a defined interest, such as improving digital access for small businesses, supporting public health education or developing safer online services.

6. Submission instructions

Tell the referee exactly how the recommendation will be submitted. The process may involve an online form, a secure link, an email from an institutional address or a sealed physical document.

Include:

• The final submission deadline, including the time zone if stated.
• The applicant name and application number, if available.
• The referee’s exact task or form link.
• Any file type, word limit or naming requirement.
• The contact details or support page for the official provider.

Never ask a referee to share their password, verification code or private account details with you. If the system sends them a confidential link, allow them to submit the letter directly.

Give enough notice

Ask well before the deadline. A recommendation letter requires more than typing a few paragraphs: the referee may need to check records, remember specific examples, complete an online form and respond to follow-up questions.

When making the request, ask whether the person is comfortable providing a strong recommendation. This gives them an opportunity to decline rather than submit a vague or delayed letter.

Send a polite reminder when the deadline is approaching, but do not send repeated urgent messages every few hours. If the referee has not agreed to write the letter, do not list them as a recommender without permission.

Help the referee write a specific letter

A useful recommendation normally answers four questions:

1. How does the referee know the applicant?
2. What has the applicant done well?
3. What evidence shows the applicant’s character, skills or potential?
4. Why is the applicant a suitable candidate for this particular opportunity?

Your information pack should make these answers easier. Identify two or three qualities that matter to the scholarship and give examples that demonstrate them. Relevant qualities might include persistence, independent thinking, research ability, communication, leadership, integrity or service to others.

Do not ask the referee to exaggerate, invent achievements or describe experiences they did not observe. Scholarship committees may compare the recommendation with your application, academic records and interview answers.

Common mistakes applicants make

• Sending only the deadline: The referee does not know the scholarship’s criteria or your reasons for applying.
• Choosing a distant referee: A senior person may not have enough direct knowledge to write specifically.
• Using one generic request: Different scholarships may value different experiences, so the referee needs the details of each application.
• Waiting until the final week: Delays, internet problems or workload can prevent timely submission.
• Writing the letter yourself for signature: This can undermine the credibility of the recommendation and may breach application rules.
• Ignoring confidentiality: Some systems require the recommendation to remain confidential. Follow the provider’s instructions.
• Paying an unofficial person for a recommendation: Be cautious of anyone promising a guaranteed scholarship or a fabricated reference.

A simple recommendation request structure

Your email can be brief and respectful:

Dear [Name],

I am applying for [official scholarship name] to study [programme] at [institution]. Because you taught/supervised/worked with me during [context], I would be grateful if you would consider providing a strong recommendation. The deadline is [date], and the submission process is [brief explanation].

I have attached my CV, personal statement, achievement summary and the official scholarship details. Please let me know if you need any additional information or would prefer not to write the recommendation.

Thank you for considering my request.

After submission, thank the referee and update them about the outcome when appropriate. A thoughtful thank-you is useful even if the application is unsuccessful.

What matters most

A strong recommendation letter depends on three things: the right person, relevant evidence and enough time. Give your referee accurate information about the scholarship, your goals, your achievements and the submission process, while allowing them to write independently.

Before sending your request, check every deadline and requirement on the official scholarship or university website. Good preparation cannot guarantee an award, but it can help your referee present a clearer, more credible picture of what you can contribute.