Ask a Professor for a Recommendation Letter

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The short answer

Ask at least three or four weeks before the deadline, and make it easy to say yes. Say what the letter is for, the deadline, and how to submit it, and offer your resume and a short summary of your work with them. The template is written that way.

Which letter?

For a master's, a job or a scholarship that needs a letter from a teacher.

Professor's name

Your name

Course, branch and semester

Roll or register number

College name

Program and university you are applying to

How the professor knows you

Remind them of something specific they will remember.

Deadline for the letter

Give at least three weeks.

Your letter

Subject

Letter

Dear [professor's name],

I hope you are well. I am [your name], a student of [course, branch and semester] (roll number [roll number]) at [college name]. [how the professor knows you.]

I am applying for [program and university], and I would be honoured if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. I believe you know my work and my effort well enough to speak about them.

The deadline for the letter is [deadline]. I will send you my resume, my statement of purpose and a short list of the points you may like to mention, so that writing it takes you as little time as possible. If you are too busy or do not feel you can write a strong letter, I completely understand.

Thank you very much for your time and for everything you have taught me.

Yours sincerely,
[your name]
[course, branch and semester]
Roll number: [roll number]

152 words · 842 characters

Still to fill in: [your name], [professor's name], [course, branch and semester], [roll number], [college name], [how the professor knows you.], [program and university], [deadline]. Fill the boxes above, or replace the brackets after you copy it.

Copy the letter onto paper in your own handwriting, or paste it into an email to your college. Adjust any line so it is true for you, and attach the documents the letter mentions. Your details stay in your browser.

Everything runs in your browser. What you type is not sent anywhere.

How to: Ask a Professor for a Recommendation Letter

1Fill in your name, the professor's name and the purpose of the letter.
2Add the deadline and how the letter must be submitted.
3Copy the message and send it by email, with your resume attached.
4Follow up once, politely, a week before the deadline.

At a glance

Ask: Three to four weeks before the deadline
Give: Your resume, the deadline and the submission steps
Choose: A teacher who knows your work well

Frequently asked questions

What if the professor says no?

Accept it kindly. A teacher who feels unable to write a strong letter is doing you a favour, and you can ask someone else.

Should I offer to draft the letter myself?

Do not offer to write it. Offer a summary of your work, achievements and plans so that the professor can write in their own words.

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Ask a Professor for a Recommendation Letter

Your letter

How to: Ask a Professor for a Recommendation Letter

At a glance

Frequently asked questions

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