How can I get letters of recommendation for a foreign university?

How do you obtain it and what should it contain?

Most foreign universities will require you to submit one to three letters of recommendationin your application file. This document can be used as a a real lever to support your application and increase your chances of admission.

So how do you go about getting a letter of recommendation? Who do I contact? What should it contain? Here are a fewtips for taking this compulsory step in your admission process.

Tip 1 – Don’t wait until the last minute

Your teachers have a busy schedule, and you usually have a deadline to meet. So keep one thing in mind: anticipate ! It’s best to plan ahead several weeks or even months in advance, so as to be sure ofget your letter of recommendation on time, even if you have to ask your teacher several times if necessary.

You should also take into account the fact that teachers give a limited number of recommendations, given the extra work involved. Ideally, you should be among the first to call on your teacher, otherwise your application could be rejected.

Tip 2 – Choose a teacher who knows you well

The letter of recommendation should provide the jury with information about your personality, your work, your participation, your involvement in the life of the class, your qualities… Only a teacher who knows you well and who has had you as a pupil for one (or even more) year(s) will be able to provide precise examples to illustrate your qualities. Turn to a teacher who appreciates you, in a subject in which you do well, and who can testify to your commitment, determination and seriousness.

Ideally, the teacher you choose should teach a subject close to the discipline that you’d like to study at university, or have a true understanding of your results in the subject(s) most closely related to it. For example, if you’re planning to study engineering, a letter of recommendation from a history teacher will carry less weight than one from a math or physics teacher. If your professor doesn’t speak English, don’t hesitate to ask him/her to write it in French as a first step. You can then have it translated by a translator or an English teacher.

Tip 3 – Look at the format required for the letter

Each university and country has its own specific requirements for letters of recommendation. So before you approach your referees, it’s important to spend some time studying the format required by your target universities.

Typically, this one-page document is drafted in four stages:

  • 1st stage : a letter of recommendation must first specify the role the teacher has played with the student, and possibly mention the number of years he or she has been the student’s teacher;
  • 2nd stage : Motivated, dynamic, serious, rigorous, conscientious, willing… This letter should list the student’s real skills and qualities to support his or her application to the jury. The vocabulary used should be precise and best describe the candidate’s profile, without exaggerating or minimizing his or her abilities;
  • 3rd stage: explain how the student represents added value for the university and invite the jury to accept his/her application;

4rt stage : the teacher suggests that the jury contact him/her if they wish to obtain further information about the student, and signs the document.

Tip 4 – Make a formal application

It’s not enough to pass a teacher in the corridor and ask for a letter of recommendation at the drop of a hat. It’s a good idea to make an appointment with your teacher in order to explain your project and motivations in person. Your teacher will probably appreciate this option more than a simple e-mail.

Before your appointment, be sure to think through your project in detail, and justify your choice of course and university.

You can use a written document to specify any elements you feel should be included in the letter. For example:

  • the subject of your TPE and the grade obtained, as well as other examples of group projects related to the target curriculum. This will demonstrate your ability to work in a group and to show initiative and leadership;
  • your results in subjects related to your target course of study so far, an indication of your ranking (especially if you are in the top third of the class) and your academic potential to succeed in a course of this type at university;
  • examples of individual work (essays, exams, presentations, etc.) that you have done particularly well, in order to demonstrate your ability to work independently and in a structured manner, and your analytical, reflective and writing skills;
  • examples of out-of-school projects to illustrate your intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness;
  • examples of your involvement in class and school life in a general way (class delegate, active member or president of a club or association…). This will show that you will also be very involved and active in the life of your future university;
  • examples of qualities to be highlighted for the program in question. To do this, spend some time on the curriculum page to identify the qualities or expressions that come up regularly when talking about the program’s students.

Don’t hesitate to be exhaustive in your document: the more precise and detailed the information you give your teacher, the easier it will be for him or her to write a personal and convincing letter.

Don’t forget to specify the deadline for writing the letter. It’s a good idea to ask your teacher to write it on a computer, so you can share and modify it more easily.

Tip 5 – Don’t forget to thank your teacher

Once you’ve submitted your application, don’t forget to thank your teacher and to keep them informed of the progress of your admission process. Here are the 10 key steps to a successful UCAS application and registration.

Please consult our article to help youstrengthen your application for foreign universities. .

Would you like to study abroad after high school? Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your project!