Expert Tips for Writing a Letter of Recommendation for UK Admission

A UK letter of recommendation for international students is one requirement for Ghanaian students who wish to go to school in the UK. You must have a written LOR which is part of your admission requirements.

In this article, we will look at sample UK letters of recommendation for Ghana students, how to write a letter of recommendation for UK universities as a Ghanaian student, and some writing tips you need to write a winning letter.

Yes, you can study at the university of your choice when you fulfill all the requirements given.

Come along with me on this ride to get clarity on how to write your LOR.

Keep Learning: UK Admission Requirements for Ghanaians

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

The letter of recommendation for the UK is usually written by the applicant’s professional or academic acquaintance to assess and describe the applicant’s qualifications and skills concerning the job they did or the educational training they have received.

A Letter of recommendation or LOR is written to authenticate a candidate’s work, skills, and various academic and professional virtues relevant to their field.

It is addressed to an admission officer at an educational institution for recommendation to the specific field of study abroad. It is usually written by a teacher, professor, or previous employer.

It is between 400 and 500 words long. Some details that must be in a UK letter of recommendation are:

• How long you’ve known the person.
• The kind of relationship you have with them.

Letters of recommendation for university are usually expected to be typewritten on company letterhead.

University Requirements for UK – Letter of recommendation

A letter of recommendation to any UK university is a major requirement. You can’t apply to any school without it. It is a vital part of your admission process.

If you want to study in a UK university as a Ghanaian, you need a UK letter of recommendation.

Letter of Recommendation – Points To Include

To write a winning reference letter for UK universities, It should highlight the strengths, and skills of the applicant with relevant instances and describe the events when these were witnessed.

It should include the following points:

• Brief introduction of the referee and his/her relationship with the applicant
• Some instances like discussions and coursework could be picked to describe support or highlight the mentioned attributes.
• Include previous study or work experience.
• Recommender’s assessment of the applicant’s interests and capabilities to study in the chosen field.
• Achievements and progress of students in school/college or firm.
• Candidate’s contribution to community or voluntary services.

Letter of Recommendation – The Recommender

As a student or scholarship applicant, it is important to request a recommendation letter from a teacher, mentor, supervisor, or manager.

This letter provides important insight for the university admission committee, allowing them to learn more about you and your abilities.

Your recommender should be someone who knows you academically and can share supporting information relevant to the courses you’re applying for, along with any predicted grades for qualifications you’re studying now.

This letter is meant to vouch for your qualifications and character.

Writing Tips for Letter of Recommendation

Writing a strong letter of recommendation for UK universities for a Ghanaian student must include the following tips:

1.  Introduce yourself

It’s usually a good idea to introduce yourself in the first few lines of the letter.

2. Focus on one or two qualities

Pick one or two qualities that you feel make the candidate a good fit for the position.

3. Quantify the strengths

If possible, try to quantify the candidate’s strengths or rank them with other applicants or colleagues.

4. Discuss their potential

Include in the letter why you believe the candidate would excel in the chosen course of study.

5. Be enthusiastic

Your goal is to help the candidate stand out from the other applicants for the college program they are applying for. Express your enthusiasm for how ideal you believe they would be.

6. Use active voice

Write using active voice instead of passive voice for a more powerful letter of recommendation.

7. Include your contact information

Provide a way for the potential employer or admissions office to contact you for further information or with any questions they may have about the candidate.

8. Proofread

It’s important to take the time to proofread the letter thoroughly to avoid typos and grammatical errors. You may even want to read the letter aloud so your eyes don’t skim over words and overlook possible errors.

9. Use the right format and length

Write your letter using standard font and print size, usually Times New Roman 12-point for printed letters or Arial 11-point font for electronically submitted letters.

Sample and Format of Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

Below is a sample for a master’s recommendation letter.

(Official Referee’s company or institution Letterhead)

(Name of referee)

(Position of referee)

(Mailing address/contact address of referee)

(Name of desired recipient(s))

(Mailing address of desired recipient)

(Position of desired recipient)(Today’s date)

Dear (Admissions Committee/ Dean of Admissions),

My name is (referee name), a senior lecturer at (Name of University), and the Head of the Mechanical Workshop Practices Unit at the same university. I am honored to recommend (applicant’s name) for the Master’s Program at your university. I have known (applicant’s name) for the past five years teaching him courses in Fluid Mechanics, Naval Architecture, and Assembling Drawing. I have also supervised his mechanical workshop work for the last two subjects. Throughout his period with us, I have interacted with (applicant’s name) on an academic and personal level, and without mincing words; I can say that his excellence and commitment in whatever he does is unprecedented.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to teach such a sharp, inquisitive, and brilliant young man. In the past years, although being a talented student in the mechanical areas already, I have noticed how his interest has peaked in physics, maths, and mechanical ideas while his high aptitude for maths and science and curious nature have urged him to study and understand engineering concepts and ideas way above his level.

Moreover, he has excelled greatly in his classes and even graduated with a GPA of 4.0, and he was ranked in the top 10% of his class. He is always punctual to classes and has always submitted his assignments and term papers before the stipulated deadlines. He also has my highest recommendation for admission to your engineering program as he has shown excellence in all that he is given to do, whether it’s participating in a group or designing an experimental project. His infinite curiosity and risk-taking abilities make me believe there will be no stopping his growth and achievements in college and career.

Lastly, (applicant’s name) engaged in a research internship to deepen his understanding of core mechanical engineering concepts. During this internship, he and his co-intern presented research findings on optimizing mechanical processes for nickel extraction to a chemical company. Their presentation and practical demonstrations secured additional resources from the management for further process enhancements. (applicant’s name) distinguished himself through his proactive attitude, continuously seeking opportunities to refine his skills and learn from his peers.

Although (applicant’s name) is an excellent leader and team player, he paid attention to every smallest detail in the pursuit of perfection and consequently ended up doing most of the work himself. This made him work for a longer duration and instilled a feeling of lack of trust among his team members. I gave him the advice to trust his team’s ingenuity and delegate their work. No sooner, he realised that even if everything was not perfect, the work was getting done swiftly and his team was also happy about their contribution.

I have spoken to (applicant’s name) in detail about his long-term goals and ambitions and I strongly believe that your university will be the best for him, as your university is bent on helping students explore their potential and ply new paths in innovations. I am also sure that the university will benefit from his ever-growing pool of knowledge and ideas; (applicant’s name) always brings new things to any unit.

I hope you will grant him this admission.

Sincerely,

(Name of Recommender)

(Job designation)

(Name of University)

LOR Format for UK: Undergraduate Admissions

Most UK universities process their undergraduate admissions through the UCAS portal. Your supplementary documents like a personal statement, recommendation letters, and resume, all are to be uploaded on the portal. Universities do not usually ask for additional references from undergraduate applicants.

Only one letter of recommendation is required and should ideally be provided by one of the following:

• School Teacher
• School Tutor
• Principal
• Head Teacher

LOR Format for UK: Graduate Admissions

Almost all of the top universities in the UK require two LORs for admission into graduate programs like Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Master of Engineering.

Depending upon the department and university, applicants will be required to provide academic and/or professional LOR.

Conclusion

One of the requirements you need as a Ghanaian student to study in the UK is a UK academic reference letter. It is so important that without it you won’t get admitted into the course of your choice.

This article has covered all you need to know about writing a winning LOR. If you can follow the guidelines, you are good to go.

But if you still need additional help on how to write a UK letter of recommendation for international students, submit your details below lets get you started.

Keep Learning: How to Study in UK from Ghana: A Step-by-Step Guide

FAQ

What is the format for a LOR in the UK?

Undergraduate applicants need just one LOR, while postgraduate applicants will require two either academic or professional. It should look like this:

A single-page document of roughly 400-500 words. The letter’s structure is broadly classified into 4 or 5 short paragraphs: introduction, body (2-3 paragraphs), and conclusion/summary.

How do I write a recommendation letter for a UK student?

One of the things you need to be armed with is a thorough knowledge of the applicant. His or her strengths, skills, and academic or professional qualifications.

What should be in a recommendation letter for university admission in the UK?

A UK letter of recommendation should contain the following:

• Introduction
• Include the referee’s contact information
• Signature
• A formal greeting
• Some context about your relationship
• Date
• Highlight personal qualities

Can we apply to UK universities without LOR?

No, you cannot apply without an LOR.

Keep Learning: 19 Top UK Universities with low tuition fees for Ghanaian students to apply

What does a good LOR look like?

It looks like this:

An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title) An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can fit into the application. A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements and a closing statement.

What is the starting line of a LOR?

It should start with an introduction of the referee.

How do you introduce yourself in a recommendation letter?

This is a sample of your introduction

My name is (referee name), a senior lecturer at (Name of University), and the Head of the Mechanical Workshop Practices Unit at the same university. I am honored to recommend (applicant’s name) for the Master’s Program at your university.

Can students write their letter of recommendation?

No, you can’t recommend yourself. The letter of recommendation for the UK is usually written by the applicant’s professional or academic acquaintance.

Can students read letters of recommendation?

Yes, you are free to read it but it is usually addressed to the admission committee.

Is there any specific format for LOR?

Just note that for undergraduates you need just an LOR but a postgraduate student needs 2 LORs.

What is the format for a letter of recommendation?

A LOR for Master’s courses is generally a single-page document of roughly 400-500 words. The letter’s structure is broadly classified into 4 or 5 short paragraphs: introduction, body (2-3 paragraphs), and conclusion.