How to Write a Scholarship Application Letter
Are you looking for tips on how to write a scholarship application letter? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll provide you with some essential tips to help you craft a winning letter.
First and foremost, it’s important that your letter be clear, concise, and free of errors. Be sure to proofread your letter carefully before sending it off.
It’s also a good idea to personalize your letter as much as possible. In other words, don’t simply use a generic template – be sure to tailor your letter to fit the specific scholarship you’re applying for. You should also know there are some certain Thngs to keep in mind while applying for scholarship.
Winning a scholarship is the joy of every student especially when the student lacks funding for his/her education. At this moment, the student is joyous that his/her dream of pursuing that degree or course is finally coming to pass. But then, you should know how to write a scholarship application letter to let your sponsors know that you have accepted the financial award and appreciate them too.
How you write a scholarship application letter determines if the scholarship will be granted which is more reasons you should know how to write your application letter in a unique way that will catch the attention of the reader.
What is a scholarship application letter?
A scholarship application letter, also known as a thank you letter, is a letter sent to a scholarship awarding body or institution confirming that you accept the scholarship offered to you. Application for scholarship is way to seek and apply for scholarships.
Beneficiaries write this letter to indicate that they have decided to accept the offer of financial aid and to pursue their degree at the school of their choosing.
When should I write a scholarship application letter?
You might be wondering when the optimum moment is to write your sponsors a sincere application for scholarship. The optimum time to compose this letter is just after you receive an official letter informing you that you have been chosen as a financial help recipient.
After you’ve submitted your application for scholarship, don’t send a thank you note immediately. It is possible that you believe it will persuade the school or scholarship organization to consider you, but this is not the case. Before drafting a thank you letter, make sure you wait for the school or organization to consider and select you for the prize.
Writing a scholarship application letter or after sending application for scholarship or after receiving an award, on the other hand, is the best way to decide whether you are eligible.
How to Write a Scholarship Application Letter
If you want to write a compelling application scholarsgip letter for financial aid that an institution or organization granted you, there are certain steps you should take to write such a letter.
To write a heartfelt application for scholarship , follow the steps below:
Step 1: Type the letter
Write your thank you letter first on a piece of paper with a pen, read it over and over again, and then type it using a computer. Make sure that you use the proper format and phrases to express your gratitude.
While typing the letter, watch out for errors, paragraphing, and spacing.
Step 2: Ensure that the letter is addressed to the scholarship sponsor
While writing the thank you letter, ensure that you address the letter to the scholarship awarding school or organization.
You can address the letter by using Dear Scholarship Donor or Dear (name of the scholarship sponsor).
Step 3: State the scholarship you were given
In the body of the letter, state the name of the scholarship you were awarded in the same way you mentioned the name of your scholarship sponsor in the greeting.
The sponsors will be aware of the programmes that awarded you the financial ward if you indicate the name of the scholarship you were given. It will also demonstrate to the sponsor that you are committed.
Step 4: Mention the importance of the scholarship to you
During your scholarship application, you stated the reasons why you need the award. Well, you should equally mention the same reason again.
This time, you will tell the scholarship body how they have landed you on the path to achieving your career dreams.
Step 5: Let your letter show gratitude
Now that you have received the scholarship to study your dream course, make sure that the tone of your letter will show deep gratitude and joy.
Keep in mind that most scholarships are need-based, thus benefactors give financial aids to students that will appreciate the assistance.
So, while writing your thank you letter, pour out your heart to the sponsors.
Step 6: Show honesty in your letter
Make your thank you letter as sincere as possible while expressing gratitude. Do not try to be someone you’re not.
Keep in mind that getting a scholarship is quite difficult. So, convey your delight at receiving the scholarship letter.
Step 7: Proofread the letter
Once you are done typing the letter, make sure that your friend, teacher, or guidance counselor proofreads the letter before you send it out to the scholarship organization.
Giving it to someone else will help you detect if the letter conveys gratitude or not.
What should I add to a scholarship application letter?
While writing a compelling scholarship application letter, there are important pieces of information that your letter should convey to show that you understand the terms of the scholarship.
Therefore, the following are the details you should include in your thank you letter:
Your academic background and how it made you seek the scholarship.
How you plan to use the financial award to fund your choice of program and course.
Why you want to pursue your choice of program and course in a particular institution and how you will make good use of your sponsor’s financial award throughout the duration of your study.
How well you understood the terms of the scholarship and what you will do to meet the terms (if any).
In a situation that you are a bit confused, ask the scholarship body questions for more clarifications.
Format for a scholarship application letter
Every letter has a specific format in which it should be written. Remember that your scholarship application letter followed a format, and your application letter will follow the same pattern.
As you write your scholarship application letter, make sure to follow the structure we’ve provided below.
Step 1: Your Address
Start writing the letter by putting your address. This will help the receiver to know who the sender is and where it is coming from. Your address should appear
Step 2: Your Name
After writing your address, include your name. Remember that it will let the donor know who the letter is coming from. Ensure that you identify yourself.
Step 3: Receiver’s Address
This is very important in your scholarship thank you letter. It will enable the posting agency to know where the letter is going.
If you are sending the letter using the email address of the sponsor, you will not include the address of the receiver. Make sure that the receiver’s email address is correct before sending your letter via email.
Step 4: Receiver’s Name
When drafting your thank you note, don’t forget to include the name of the recipient (scholarship donor). If you don’t know the name of the sponsor, you can address the letter to the organization or institution.
This will make it easier for anyone receiving the letter on behalf of the sponsor to figure out who it is addressed to.
Step 5: Mention Your Name And The Scholarship You Received
As you are about to start the body of the letter, make a brief introduction of yourself. In the introduction, let the sponsor know that you are a beneficiary of their award. Endeavor to state the exact scholarship.
Afterward, tell the sponsor that you have received the scholarship and you are writing to express your application and gratitude for the financial award.
Step 6: Give a Brief Summary About How The Scholarship Has Helped You
While showing gratitude with all honesty, mention your reason(s) for applying for the financial aid and how the award has helped to set you on the path to achieving your career dream.
Here, you give a brief summary of your background, the reasons for your choice of program and course, and how the scholarship will help you achieve your career dream.
Step 7: Confirm Your Application Of The Scholarship
Do not complete the letter without confirming again that you have accepted the scholarship wholeheartedly. This will show the sponsors that you are set to begin your studies under the financial award.
Step 8: Conclusion
End the letter by thanking the sponsors and reiterating the scholarship’s requirements, as well as any other activities you may need to complete in order to honor your scholarship application.
If your sponsor is a school, they will include additional instructions in the scholarship letter, and you must respond by following those directions. As a result, make an effort to incorporate the directions into your conclusion.
To conclude this article, I would like to enligthen you that scholarship is a great opportunity to advance in your career. You might have the intension of studying abroad which is a very good one but most at times things dosn’t work out the way we plan. Nevertheless, you can study abroad when you apply for international scholarship with a well drafterd scholarship application letter. Many countries offer full funded scholarships for both international and African students. You can find the list of available scholarships HERE.
