- What should your scholarship cover letter include?
- What can you write in the introduction of your scholarship cover letter?
- What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for a scholarship award?
- How to write a scholarship cover letter closing
Take the next step in your academic career with our detailed guide on how to compose an effective scholarship cover letter. Get expert advice on how to best present your academic achievements and position yourself as the most deserving scholarship recipient.
If you’re at a point in your academic career where you’re applying for a scholarship to continue your studies, you may be asked to submit a cover letter with your resume or CV. This cover letter can be a great way to highlight your key achievements and education. It can also clearly and concisely demonstrate why you’re the best candidate for the award and how it will benefit your future career.
Just as with creating your CV, an effective cover letter requires a clear structure so that the reader can easily glean what makes you a top candidate.
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding scholarship cover letter example, we’ll examine how to create a cover letter that can help get you the scholarship, including:
What your scholarship cover letter should include
What you can write in the introduction of the cover letter
What information to give in the body of the cover letter
How to write a cover letter closing
What should your scholarship cover letter include?
Much like your academic CV, your cover letter should be formatted so that the reader can easily scan and find the information they need. But your cover letter isn’t just a summation of your CV; it has its own content and structure. This begins with a header that includes your contact information and the name and location of the institution awarding the scholarship. Then, you’ll greet your reader. We go more in-depth about the header and greeting in our article on how to address a cover letter. The remaining sections of your scholarship cover letter should be the introduction, a body, and a closing, which we’ll discuss next in this guide.
What can you write in the introduction of your scholarship cover letter?
The main objective of the introduction is to pique the interest of the reader by placing a spotlight on your most impressive accomplishments or skills. Let them know right away that you are a serious candidate worthy of the scholarship.
You can start by expressing your desire to be awarded the scholarship. After that, you’ll want to back up your interest with solid reasons for why you deserve it, such as your teaching record, curriculum design, or original research and writing. Your main goal is for your reader to understand your qualifications, accomplishments, and enthusiasm for the scholarship and how it would not only enhance your studies, but also benefit the awarding institution.
Dear Ms Thompson
Please consider my curriculum vitae for the [Scholarship Title] scholarship. My PhD in Criminal Justice, university-level teaching and tutoring experience, and dynamic communication skills are certain to make me a viable candidate for this opportunity.
What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for a scholarship award?
The body of the scholarship cover letter is where you elaborate on your qualifications, your academic accomplishments, and your unique selling points (USPs).
A good way to do this is to answer these three questions:
Why you? Expand a bit on your background, achievements, and academic work. Spotlight your work in the scholarship area and how it would help benefit your studies. When possible, incorporate quantifiable achievements into describing your experiences. For example, did you have influence on any course curricula? Work with senior faculty to make improvements to your area of study? Publish any significant papers? Entities who award scholarships want to know that the recipient is going to contribute to their field of study. The cover letter is your chance to show how you’ll do just that.
Why here? Why are you applying for this scholarship? Will this award allow you to focus on a particular area of study? Do you admire this organization or institution? Does their academic department have a similar focus or goals to yours? Establish why you are applying for this scholarship from this specific organization.
Why now? Why would this scholarship benefit you at this point in your career? Will it help you finish your degree? Are you looking to move into a professorship? Briefly lay out your goals, your academic path, and how your work has prepared you to receive this scholarship at this point in time. Don’t be shy. If you want this scholarship and believe you deserve it, say so. Just be sure you can back it up.
If you need more information on how to craft the body of your cover letter, check out our article on what to write in a cover letter body.
- Tailor each cover letter for each scholarship you apply for.
- Clearly define your accomplishments. This is not the time to be vague.
- Share your goals and how this scholarship will help you reach them.
- Remember to thank the awarding body.
- Proofread your letter carefully.
- Use cliches or too much jargon.
- Simply cut and paste information from your CV.
- Embellish or exaggerate your achievements.
- Focus too much on any personal or financial hardships you’ve faced.
Highlights of my background and qualifications include:
Teaching Probation & Parole in the Court System and Criminal Courts as an Assistant Professor with ITT Technical Institute.
Tutoring and instructing students in academic writing skills while completing my master’s degree at Temple University.
Designing course curricula, developing lesson plans, and creating unique assignments to engage students and achieve positive educational outcomes.
Working in collaboration with senior faculty and peers to influence program direction, recommend future courses, and facilitate overall enhancements.
Conducting original research, analyzing findings, and writing manuscripts, including Prison Growth and the American Corrections System (Temple University; 2024).
My deep interest in criminal justice and criminology drive me to remain abreast of new developments in this critical field of study. By applying proven teaching methodologies and effectively presenting information to diverse student populations, I am able to convey complex, often ambiguous topics with high levels of success. Furthermore, I am eager to leverage my expertise to craft new courses that incorporate emerging research findings and represent multiple perspectives.
How to write a scholarship cover letter closing
Use the final lines of your scholarship cover letter to inspire the reader to contact you and further consider your candidacy. Keep the closing brief—one to two sentences at most—and convey that you appreciate their time and consideration.
Remember, this portion isn’t merely niceties; it’s one last opportunity to reinforce why you're deserving of this scholarship.
Connect your achievements to the scope of the scholarship. Reiterate how your work would benefit from the scholarship: “Thank you for your time and attention. I am confident that my academic research and education in [field of study] make me a worthy recipient of this scholarship."
Include a call to action (CTA). Inspire the reader to take your scholarship application to the next phase: “I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss my qualifications more in-depth.”
Closing a cover letter can be easy with the right information. Learn more here about how to close a cover letter.
Should you need further information, I am available by phone or email. In the meanwhile, I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Susan Myers, PhD
If you need some cover letter inspiration, check out career.io’s expert-crafted cover letter templates to help you create an effective cover letter quickly and easily.
