How To Write Powerful Letter Of Recommendation For Masters – Is your student, mentee, or employee interested in pursuing their master’s degree abroad? A letter of recommendation for masters is one of the most important documents students must provide with their admission to the university.
Most colleges will require two or more academic reference letters for master’s students who wish to pursue a master’s program abroad. These letters supplement their application.
If you have been asked to write a lor for a master’s degree by someone close to you, there are some protocols you can follow to ensure that you provide the applicants as well as the university’s admission team with what they require.
One of these techniques is to provide information about the applicant’s character, achievements, or job experience, as well as to assist the admission committee in determining whether the applicant is a qualified
candidate for the program.
We’ve put together a full guide on how to write a solid letter of recommendation for a master’s degree in this article. We also included a sample lor for masters to give you a better understanding.
What Is A Letter Of Recommendation For Masters?
A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a written endorsement that summarizes an
applicant’s potentials and accomplishments who wishes to study at a specific university. It is an important component of the admissions process since it demonstrates the qualities that will determine if they are a suitable match for the school.
Schools want to see how well others speak about a student’s character and work ethics on an academic or professional level, rather than just their academic grade.
A graduation recommendation letter should be written by someone with more authority who has known the student
for a long time.
As a result, they can provide a credible assessment of their aptitude and ability to succeed in their studies. Most universities will need applicants to submit at least two or three letters of recommendation.
The greatest reference letters are written by a professor, employer, or research supervisor with whom the candidate has a positive relationship and who really supports their career objectives.
Tips For Writing A Successful Recommendation Letter
If you want to write a captivating recommendation letter that distinguishes the applicant you’re attesting for from
other applicants, keep the following factors in mind.
- Address The Name Of The School Correctly
If you’re writing multiple recommendation letters for the same applicant, make sure you don’t use the erroneous name or program. Check that you have the correct school name and details. Before you begin writing, it is a good idea to ask the student for essential information.
- Avoid Plagiarism
When drafting a recommendation letter for a university, plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
You should not simply copy and paste any letter of recommendation sample for masters from the internet and send it to the university. It could have an adverse
effect on the quality of your letter.
- Letters Should Not Have An Overly Dry Tone
Even though a recommendation letter is considered formal, it should not be written in a dry tone. You should compose a professional letter describing your own experiences with the candidate.
- Adapt The Recommendation Letter To Fit The Programme
When drafting a reference letter for a master’s degree, consider the program’s requirements and connect the student’s attributes and talents to them.
- Parts Of A Recommendation Letter For Masters Degree
A recommendation letter can impact a student’s prospects for admission. The letter should be concise, well-structured, and include pertinent information on the candidate’s skills and abilities, as well as specific examples when appropriate.
A recommendation letter for postgraduate courses has five fundamental elements; in most circumstances, your letter of reference should follow the structure below;
- Letterhead
This section comprises the letter’s author’s information, such as the date, complete name, title, University or Company name, address, city, and state zip code. It should be put in the top left corner of your master’s degree reference letter.
- Introduction
Following that, you will introduce the student and the program to which they are applying. In this line, you must introduce yourself and explain the nature of your relationship with the student, as well as how long you have known them. It should be a short paragraph of 2-4 sentences.
- Body
Here, you will make a compelling case for why you believe the student would be a valuable contribution to the university. Do so while emphasizing the student’s academic strengths, professional competence, and favorable characteristics.
This section is the primary body of the letter; it should contain straight forward phrases that relate the student’s talents, experience, and traits to the program’s requirements.
- Supportive examples
You must expound on the key attributes you covered previously by offering personal anecdotes related to the student’s professional development. In the reference letter for masters student, you are supposed to include particular instances or unique experiences that connect to your professional skills or knowledge. You should also discuss the student’s relevant soft talents.
- Conclusion
In this paragraph, write a powerful closing statement that reaffirms your recommendation. It is then followed by a handwritten signature with a preferred method of contact, usually a phone number and an email address, as well as your working hours.
What You Should NOT Include In Your Master’s Recommendation Letter
A letter of recommendation is an important document that determines a student’s admission to a master’s degree. It reiterates the talents and traits listed on their CV. It is critical that your letter of recommendation be error free.
Before submitting your letter of recommendation, make certain that you have properly read it and that it meets all the university’s standards.
The absence of a strong recommendation letter can jeopardize an applicant’s chances of making the final cut.
1. Relevant information
Make certain that your candidate provides you, the referee, with all the relevant documents and information to assist you in writing their recommendation letter for master’s admission.
They can also give you a masters reference letter sample to use. If you haven’t spoken with the applicant in a while, request the following information to help the process.
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
- Transcript (with your Grade point average)
- Inter-curricular/ volunteer activities
- Relevant professional experience
- Awards and career achievements
- Requirements for submitting LOR
- Graduate program application deadline
- Information about the program and school to which they are applying
It is not easy to write a nice recommendation letter. Allow adequate time for the recommender to compose the letter.
2. Avoid Exaggeration
You should avoid embellishing a candidate’s talents, traits, or experience, no matter how much you want to present a beautiful picture of the individual. The student committee is highly adept at obtaining these letters. They are capable of easily filtering out lies or information that is not contained in their paperwork.
3. Don’t Write A Very Brief Letter
A typical recommendation letter for master’s admission should be 400 to 600 words long. It should be simple to read and long enough to cover all pertinent information. Some colleges will supply a form for referees to use, which will include a word limit. You should be given all the student’s pertinent information and should ensure that you adhere to all the university’s standards.
A brief recommendation letter for a master’s student may give the impression that you, the recommender, do not know enough about the applicant.
4. Using the student’s CV or statement of purpose again
Your letter of recommendation should not be a rehash of the applicant’s resume or statement of purpose. A recommendation letter’s purpose is to provide a fresh perspective on a candidate’s abilities and traits. Without meeting the individual, it should provide a clear image of his or her personality.
5. Errors in spelling
Make sure to proofread your LOR several times before submitting it. The inclusion of spelling or grammatical faults in your reference may jeopardize its reliability.
6. Not composing a personalized LOR
One of the most common errors a candidate might do is to submit a reference letter sample for a master’s
program that was copied from the internet.
Although it may appear to be an easy way out, it is strictly prohibited and can jeopardize their prospects of admittance. A genuine LOR has a better probability than one copied from the internet.
Master’s Letter of Recommendation Format
While drafting your recommendation letter, consider the content format of your master’s degree letter of recommendation for master’s program.
The ideal master’s letter of reference should be organized into 4-5 paragraphs that explain the candidate’s academic
or professional qualifications, abilities, and characteristics.
It should be written in an approachable
but professional tone. The following is the letter of recommendation format for a master’s program:
- It shouldn’t be over a single page.
- It should include 400-600 words.
- It should include the referee’s contact information.
- Begin your letter with a salutation.
- Start with ‘To whom it may concern’.
- The letter should be typed on letter head and include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
