How to write a scholarship application letter

A scholarship letter has one job: to show the committee that you deserve the support and that you will use it well. It should be honest, specific and short enough to read in a minute.

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What to include

  • The scholarship and the provider, named correctly, and who you are: your course, your school and your year.
  • Your results: your CGPA or class, your WASSCE grades if they ask for them, and any awards.
  • What you do outside class: leadership, clubs, volunteering or work, with one clear example.
  • Your circumstances, only if the scholarship asks about need. Keep it short, honest and factual, and attach the proof they ask for.
  • What you will do with the support, and how it will help others.
  • A list of what you have enclosed (CV, transcript, referee letters), a thank-you and your contact details.

Tips that make it stronger

  • Name the scholarship and the provider, so it is clear the letter was written for them.
  • Follow the advert exactly: the length, the documents and the deadline.
  • Pick two or three strong achievements and explain them, instead of listing everything.
  • Ask a lecturer or a friend to read it before you send it.
  • Keep it to one page.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Sending the same letter to every scholarship.
  • Listing duties instead of what you achieved.
  • Spelling the committee's name or the scholarship wrongly.
  • Writing more than one page.

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