cover letter for scholarships examples

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How to Write a Scholarship Cover Letter

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency.Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement.Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Scholarship cover letters might seem intimidating, but they should not deter you from applying for scholarships. Sometimes, students are intimidated because they don’t know how to write a scholarship cover letter. The following guide includes a thorough description of what you should address in the letter and how to format it.

First, let’s talk about the most fundamental question: what’s the ultimate goal of the cover letter?

Goals of a scholarship cover letter

Create a personal appeal by letting your voice come through.

Most scholarship applications largely consist of forms and checklists, but cover letters are a great opportunity for the reader to hear you make your case in your own voice. While you should still maintain a formal tone, you should not be afraid to write personably.

Emphasize the importance of your accomplishments

Resumes and application forms are great opportunities to describe your duties at past positions you’ve held, but a cover letter is a great opportunity to go one step further.

Describe the skills developed in your past positions

Think about how past learning experiences helped shape your ambitions. For example, if you had an internship in the office of a local government official, you could use your cover letter to describe how your experiences helped hone your organizational skills and shape your sense of civic duty. 

• Share what you hope to pursue and build upon

How will you work towards your future goals and build upon your past experiences? Scholarship readers want to award their funds to students with a strong sense of ambition and an exciting future. Emphasize that you have big plans for the future, and how you will use the scholarship to accomplish them.

Highlight circumstances not addressed in the scholarship application

For example, if you have community service experience, but there was not a question in the application that allowed you to mention that, a cover letter is a great place to bring it up. This may not be specifically relevant to the scholarship, but speaks to your character and can help put you ahead of the crowd.

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Differences between a scholarship cover letter and a scholarship essay

Scholarship essays and cover letters have a lot in common:

• They are both opportunities to write about your future ambitions and show how you have reflected on your past experiences.
• Both allow you to make a personal appeal to your reader, and to bring up relevant information that was left out of the rest of the application. 

However, while there is a lot of overlap between scholarship cover letters and scholarship essays, there are a few key differences:

• Scholarship essays are written in response to a prompt, but scholarship cover letters do not have an explicit prompt. For students who are used to prompts, this can be a stumbling block.
• One way to help overcome this open-endedness is to imagine the prompt as: “ Tell me about yourself and why you would be a good fit for this scholarship. ” Remember, the goal of a scholarship cover letter is to introduce yourself and to make a compelling case for your candidacy while highlighting assets not showcased in the rest of your application.
• Another key difference is in formatting; there are specific formatting rules for a scholarship cover letter, which we will cover below. 

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay

Formatting tips

While everyone’s cover letter is different and some scholarships may have specific requirements, here are a few general formatting tips to make your cover letter a success:

• Cover letters should be 1 page long, and it can be beneficial to break them down into small paragraphs to help the reader digest them more easily.
• They should also include a header with the date, your name and address, as well as your email and/or phone number.
• After the header, skip a line, and write the date.
• Skip another line, and include the name and title of the person you are addressing the letter to, and the address of the organization if available.

Some scholarships will list the name that the letter should be addressed. If you can’t find the name easily, try doing a bit of research to see if you can find the name of the person who will be reading your application. This can help put you ahead of your competition by showing that you did some additional research.

If you can’t find a name, you can skip that part of the header and write: “Dear selection committee” in your introduction. Here is an example header for someone who was able to find the name of their application reader:

James Wright 580 Chase Ln New Meadows, ID 83654 [email protected]

March 12, 2024

Ms. Carol Smith Better Business Bureau 12639 W Explorer Dr Boise, ID 83713

Dear Ms. Smith,

I am writing… ____________________________________________________________

Good luck writing your scholarship cover letter!  Be sure to apply to all the scholarships you qualify for. Remember, there are scholarships for all demographics, including for women , high school seniors , and Black students.  Some scholarships require essays and applications, but others are no-essay or easy to apply for scholarships . Remember, Scholarships360 is here to provide valuable resources and access to scholarships for students!

Key Takeaways

• Create personal appeal by letting your unique voice come through
• Emphasize the importance of your accomplishments and describe the skills learned in your past positions
• Highlight circumstances not addressed in your scholarship application
• Be mindful of any specific requirements when crafting your cover letter

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Scholarship cover letter example

Introduction of a scholarship cover letter

Scholarship cover letter body.

Scholarships are not just about paying down tuition costs. Many of the organizations, clubs, and community members who offer them are interested in getting to know their scholarship recipients and following them through their educational journey. 

While job applicants usually have the benefit of an accompanying resume, a student might not have the advantage of a lengthy work history. So, in this case, your cover letter often weighs more than your resume when it comes time to distribute the funds.

A scholarship may even lead to new connections, mentorship opportunities, internships and post-graduation job offers. In other words, a knock-out cover letter is worth the effort.

Scholarship full text-only cover letter example

Dear Professor Huddleston,

As I approach the dissertation year of my MA in Arabic at the UCLA Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC), I am writing to inquire about participating in the annual fellowship program. Much of my work has been based at the university, but the demands of my dissertation entail a significant amount of travel and expense.

I have been self-funding my current studies with part-time interpreting and translation work. I do not come from a privileged background and my parents give all that they can, but the costs of a dissertation that involves interpreting and observing at over 40 international conferences in one year are monumental. My dissertation on the “Cultural Considerations in English-Arabic Simultaneous Translation” seeks to provide a new perspective on what lies behind the language, but it cannot be written from inside a library.

I have already contributed much to my UCLA faculty, including curating the Persian section of the Language Materials Project and running events for the Near Eastern business community in Los Angeles. I worked on the Arabic section of a successful translation app and have published a number of well-reviewed academic papers on Arabic linguistics.

My career aim is to become an interpreter at the United Nations in New York. I have a month’s work experience lined up there at the end of this academic year and see it as the perfect start for my dissertation year. I want to bring the 300 million Arabic speakers that bit closer to the rest of the world. That can only happen with a thoughtful interpretation of both their words and their cultural background.

The fellowship would allow me access to the leading experts in the field and I would have an opportunity to practice my specialty at the most important events. I would welcome a meeting to discuss my application in more detail and hope for your assistance in this matter.

Simon Travers

Sections of a scholarship cover letter

Before an organization will cut you a check, they want to be sure that you’re a motivated, engaged, and forward-thinking student who is worth the investment. 

Structure the scholarship cover letter in such a way that leaves them with no doubt.

It is likely that you have a lot to say—choose the right messages in the right areas:

• Cover letter header . Include your contact details—full name, email, mobile, and maybe LinkedIn account. Including your pronouns is also a valid choice that many candidates are following.
• Greeting . A scholarship application is a request, usually of someone in a more senior position than yourself. You’ll want to take a respectful tone without seeming too formal, thus “ Dear ” is usually the best option.
• Introduction . Your introduction is the first chance for the scholarship committee members to get to know you. When applying for a scholarship, it’s important to get this initial paragraph right. You want to come across as respectful, but also enthusiastic and passionate about the field or program you’re entering.
• Body .  Start off by explaining your goals or what you plan to do with the education or funding you receive. Remember, each sentence should add evidence to the argument that you are the best candidate for this financial investment.
• Conclusion . Ending on a positive note is important, but there’s one more thing you can do to seal the deal. A call to action invites the committee to contact you and shows that you are enthusiastic about their support.
• Signature . End the cover letter with a professional goodbye.

Every section of your cover letter should fit together to further your narrative. Tailor the cover letter to the nature of the scholarship on offer. Analyze the scholarship documents carefully. What is a fit for your situation?

Brevity is key. A one-page cover letter is more than enough for a scholarship application.

Need more inspiration? View our other related cover letter examples from this sector:

• University cover letter example
• Academic cover letter sample
• Adjunct professor cover letter example
• College cover letter sample
• Teacher cover letter example

For more cover letter advice, check out our guide on how to write a cover letter .

After designing the header and addressing the hiring manager , it is time to start formulating your arguments. Why do you deserve the scholarship over everyone else?

Thinking about how to start a cover letter is vital before you start writing. A charismatic opening that conveys character and personality is a good way to hit it off. 

You might choose to start with a tasteful personal anecdote or a bit of background information, but just remember that most of the other candidates are also students, probably in the same field or major as you. Show off what makes you stand apart! 

Don’t neglect to explain exactly the scholarship you are applying for if the organization offers more than one and tell why you are looking for funding. 

Dear Mrs. Hardy,

I am writing to apply for the English Literature Scholarship to support my educational journey. As a dedicated student with a 3.9 GPA, I have excelled academically while also teaching creative writing classes at local schools. My internship at a publishing house last summer awoke my interest in the industry. This scholarship will significantly alleviate my financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies and contributions to the community.

I need the money for the scholarship because I realize just how expensive university will be. I want to live my best life there and my studies will be affected if I am not able to balance them by having fun. I think that I will be a good investment because I will write good things about your department on social media.

Capture the reader’s attention with a snappy sentence that introduces yourself in an interesting and exciting way. Include facts and figures (including your GPA) where appropriate.

In the body of your cover letter, consider the following template:

• Think about the value that you add—how will you contribute to the academic department?
• Mention how you have collaborated on academic projects
• Come across as meticulous, curious, and ambitious
• Be sure to include plenty of motivation—university work is tough

First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience)

Committees often appreciate personal stories, but they should be related to your career or educational goals. Keep your sincere stories/statements concise so that the reader doesn’t lose the message. 

Make sure you are answering any questions asked in the application directions. Here are a few ideas that may work for you:

• Highlight your education . ​​Sharing your education thus far is a great way of showing the committee your journey and commitment to success.
• Talk about your subject . Share some of the work that you have done in your field. Sharing a link to your academic portfolio may be useful.
• Aligned with the mission . Align yourself with the mission of the scholarship. They will be looking for certain qualities with their scholars.

Check out the professors that you may be working with. What work have they done recently. How do their interests align with yours? What can you say in the cover letter that may pique their imagination?

Second body paragraph(s): Alignment with the organization 

Not every university works in the same way. Some are teaching-led, while others are more focused on research. 

Make sure that your scholarship cover letter reflects the educational priorities of the specific university department.

Call to action & conclusion: Finish off strong

Sum up your cover letter with a positive closing paragraph. Ending on a positive note is important, but there’s one more thing you can do to seal the deal. 

A call to action invites the committee to contact you and shows that you are enthusiastic about their support. Be hopeful but not presumptuous—you never quite know who you are up against.

Conclude by signing off with your name . Make sure that you include first name and surname. Don’t risk ruining your chances by being too casual.

How to write a scholarship cover letter with no experience 

Some students are afraid to apply for scholarships because they don’t believe they are impressive enough to beat out the other candidates. While it’s true that some scholarships can be very competitive (about 12 percent of all undergrads depend on this type of aid), there’s plenty of options that only require you to be yourself.

Consider these points:

• Highlight study skills . While you might not have secured a scholarship before, communication and interpersonal skills are always useful for effective study.
• Showcase accuracy and attention to detail . If you are a fast learner, you will cope with working in the demands of a leading academic department.
• Highlight achievements . If you are an academic high achiever, getting that first scholarship is eminently possible.

These points will help balance out the lack of direct experience in your cover letter .

Key takeaways

A scholarship cover letter highlights your relevant skills and experiences. A convincing cover letter can even be more important than your resume in this case.

Try our cover letter builder to experiment with the look for the letter. Keep it professional— don’t go overboard with colors and flashy designs.

Free professionally designed templates

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