How To Write A Scholarship Cover Letter In 7 Helpful Steps

A scholarship is a financial award an organisation, such as government institutions or universities, provides students to continue their education. When you are applying for financial scholarships, universities often require you to submit a cover letter explaining who you are as an academic individual. Learning about the elements to include in your letter may help you earn the award. In this article, we discuss how to write a scholarship cover letter, including listing the seven steps, providing a cover letter template, sharing an example of a completed letter and giving tips to help you create a well-written letter.

How To Write A Scholarship Cover Letter In 7 Steps?

Here is a list of steps you can follow to write a scholarship cover letter:

1. Review the scholarship qualifications

There are a variety of scholarships to apply for, and their organisations may have different expectations, requirements and preferences. It is essential to review the scholarship qualifications before you write your cover letter to ensure you are adhering to the right set of guidelines for each scholarship. Reviewing the scholarship's qualifications can help you ensure you are a strong candidate for the scholarship. This can also help you understand what elements to include in your application to help you capture the reviewing committee's attention.

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2. Write an introduction

Begin your cover letter by writing an introductory paragraph describing who you are and why you are interested in earning a scholarship from the designating organisation. You may discuss how receiving this funding may provide you with educational opportunities or how the organisation relates to your academic and professional commitments.

Include information about yourself, such as your school, major and the degree you are studying. Use the introductory paragraph to share your enthusiasm for your academic career and the subject you are studying. Showing your passion allows members of the reviewing committee to learn more about your personality and interests.

Related: How To Write an Introduction (With Tips and Examples)

3. Discuss internships or professional experience

In your first body paragraph, discuss your professional experiences or any internships you have completed. Highlight how they relate to the scholarship or your academic major. For example, if the scholarship is for students interested in entering the STEM field, you may discuss your experience as a laboratory intern. Review how this program allowed you to develop skills and gain knowledge related to earning a bachelor of science degree in biology.

Reviewing committees may look for candidates who commit to professional growth and development. Describing your work experience can help you demonstrate how you plan to continue challenging yourself and seeking learning opportunities related to your field.

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4. Describe your academic interests and goals

Use the next body paragraph to highlight your academic interests and goals. Typically, scholarships assist students with educational funding, so reviewing committees may favour candidates with educational aspirations and desires. This paragraph describes the degree you are interested in pursuing or discusses why a particular program or university may support your plans.

You may apply for a scholarship alongside your college acceptance application. Ask an academic institution for additional funding or apply for a scholarship from an external organisation. If you cannot achieve or qualify for particular educational goals because of a lack of finances, consider adding this to your scholarship cover letter and highlight the positive impact the funding can have on your education.

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5. Review your post-graduation aspirations

Discuss your post-graduation aspirations. Whether you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree, earning a professional licence or entering the workforce, explaining these goals can help the scholarship committee understand your plans. An organisation designating scholarships may view the funding as an investment in students and their futures, which may benefit you by highlighting the long-term impact of receiving financial assistance may have on your academic and professional career following graduation.

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6. Write a concluding paragraph

After completing your three body paragraphs, end your cover letter with a concluding paragraph summarising your goals and credentials. Additionally, use this section to thank the reviewing committee for their consideration and express your gratitude for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. Include your contact information again by offering it to the reviewing committee members if they choose to follow up about your application status or have questions about your materials.

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7. Proofread and revise

Once you have completed a draft of your scholarship cover letter, proofread the document for any spelling or grammar mistakes and make revisions when necessary. To do this, ask friends or family members to review your work and offer feedback about where to improve it. When you ensure your letter is error-free, universities and institutions may have a more favourable impression of you as an academic. Your cover letter makes your first impression before you meet with these professionals for an interview.

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Template Cover Letter For A Scholarship

Here is a template cover letter to help you write your own:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]

[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

[Date]

[Company name]

Dear [Hiring manager's first name] [Hiring manager's last name]

[Express excitement for the position, including the role title and the company name.] [Introduce yourself by explaining why you are applying for the job and how the job aligns with your career goals, and what interests you to the company.]

[Explain your relevant experience and qualifications without repeating what is in your resume.] [Highlight one to two relevant achievements with facts and data when possible.] [Explain why you may be a good fit for the company.] [Optional opportunity to address employment gaps or career transitions.]

[Express gratitude.] [Summarise qualification.] [Restate interest in the role.] [Call to action and availability and preferred contact method.]

[Complimentary close],

[Signature]

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Example Cover Letter For A Scholarship

Here is an example of a completed cover letter for a scholarship:

Kiara Shan, Bachelor's degree in communication

+91 5555 2389 | KiaraShan@email.com | Mumbai, Maharashtra

12 July 2022

North Canyon View Institute

Dear Diya Lal,

My name is Kiara Shan. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Willow School of Fine Arts last semester. I am seeking to pursue my Master of Arts in communication from North Canyon View Institute through your financial aid programme. My passion for understanding how individuals communicate with each other based on who they are around and their circumstances fascinates me, which is why I am seeking to continue my education at your institution. Your institution interests me based on the abundance of opportunities for students to pursue and broaden their perspectives.

During my time at the school, I was a member of the Fine Arts and Literary club to learn more about each subject area and to expand my network. I worked part-time at the campus library to help fund my education. In the summer of my second year, I accepted an internship at Golden Leaf Lake Marketing. There, I learned how to implement my communication studies under the supervision of my mentor. I learned how to use demographic information and other vital analytics to improve the company's marketing strategies.

I hope to continue pursuing my education at North Canyon View Institute, and receiving funding from the financial aid program may provide me with an opportunistic experience. Thank you, and I look forward to speaking with you about this scholarship opportunity. Please email me at KiaraShan@email.com or call me at +91 55552389 if you have additional questions regarding my application materials credentials.

Kind regards,

Kiara Shan

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Tips To Help You Write A Cover Letter For A Scholarship

Here are a few tips to consider as you are crafting your cover letter:

• Introduce new information. When writing a cover letter for a scholarship, you may likely submit other materials describing who you are as an academic. In your letter, focus on ideas and topics about yourself you have not shared in other documents with the organisation yet, such as a story about how you chose your subject area or career path.

• Create a template to personalise for each scholarship. If you are applying for several scholarships, you may find it saves you time to create a template to customise to each scholarship. For example, you may use a similar introduction and closing salutation for each letter and customise the body paragraphs per the organisation's guidelines.

• Quantify your accomplishments. In your letter, assessing your achievements can add validity to your claims. For example, including academic milestones is a way you can quantify your achievements.

• Coordinate your writing style and tone. Pay attention to each organisation's writing style guidelines and ensure you adhere to them. Writing with an organisation's style shows the professionals you pay attention to directions and follow them.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.