LOR Format for UK: Guidelines and Tips for Crafting an Impressive LOR

A Letter of Recommendation is one of the most important parts of your application to a UK university, whether you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate program. It gives the admission committee an insight into you as a student, what distinguishes your passion and dedication from others. In the specific case of the UK, the letter of recommendation is usually written by a professional in the field you are applying for or an academic associate with considerable expertise who can speak with credibility about the skills you possess in your chosen subject/field. Remember most UK universities, unlike US universities, are concerned solely about the applicant’s ability to perform well in their desired field and the passion that motivates them and interests them in the field, not extracurriculars unrelated to the chosen field. So, the LOR is a crucial part of the application for UK universities as it can offer proof of academic excellence in highly motivated applicants. Here are some guidelines and tips for crafting an impressive LOR for the UK and some general information about the format required.

Undergraduate LOR

How to choose a Referee

First things first, for the UCAS application for bachelors, you are going to need someone to recommend you. Pick someone who knows your academic trajectory and can speak with authority about relevant projects or skills you have showcased with respect to the subject you are applying for. Your recommender will also provide predicted grades for any pending qualifications/courses you need to send. The following options are typically the ones universities expect students to choose

1. In a current or recent school or college, your tutor, teacher or principal
2. If you left education years ago, pick a voluntary advisor,supervisor or employer

It’s important for the person recommending you to be a professional. It CANNOT under any circumstances be any friend, member of family or partner. If you send a LOR by someone with whom you have a personal relationship with, your application might get cancelled.

Only one letter of reference is required for the UCAS undergraduate application, so choose wisely.

Reference Format

The reference letter must be submitted in the reference section of the UCAS application by your recommender. If you are writing a reference letter for a student that is submitting an independent application (not through a school or college), then UCAS will send you an email with a password that will allow you to access their application and submit the letter.

Typically, it’s written in English and the recommender may include the student’s predicted grades if required. For the UCAS reference letter, there is a 4000 character limit, taking time to concisely write the letter is needed. It also helps to do some research on the programs your student is applying for so that you can speak more appropriately and tastefully about their choices. Additionally, it’s best not to mention a specific university in the UCAS reference letter, as the same letter goes to all the 5 universities your student has chosen.

While each university will have different expectations from the letter of reference, generally speaking, universities not only want to hear about  a student’s past achievements in the letter but also about the student’s future potential. It’s important to sound enthusiastic about your student’s abilities, but also be honest.

The reference letter is not just a ticket to university that you can offer every student. It’s a credible recommendation that tells the university that your student would be able to keep up with the college’s coursework. Writing an over-the-top reference letter that exaggerates your student’s capabilities would only hurt the student in the long run as they may struggle later at university. Here are some things you can include in the letter

• It’s helpful if the reference letter includes details about the student’s career goals, what they have done towards achieving them and how the particular degree/course is needed to fulfil the said goals.
• Any particular achievements and skills the students may possess that is connected to the field they are applying for
• Mention of any  work experience or extracurriculars (like projects) related to the subject they want to study will also help add an extra layer to their application
• Any instances where the student has displayed their motivation and hard work to prepare for undergraduate study. Some project beyond school that they may have undertaken that shows the depth of their passion.

The best way you can get all this information and talk authentically about all these aspects of your student’s profile is to talk to your student. Even if the student has distinguished themselves already and you are convinced they deserve your recommendation, in a large group of students, it’s important to acquaint yourself with the specific nuances of each student’s application so that you can speak in detail about the student and their goals.

Additionally, it always helps to read their personal statement so you can know more about their choices and then help back some of their claims up with the authority you bring as their teacher. Another couple of tips to keep in mind are

Show don’t tell

Talk through examples of what your student has done, backing your claims about the student’s excellence or ability instead of just saying empty praises.

Don’t repeat what’s already there on the application.

Instead, you can expand on specific examples already discussed and add your personal observations of the student that cannot be found in any other part of the applications

Don’t cut corners

Due to the strict character limit and the fact that you may write reference letters for several students, it’s important to plan each reference letter properly so that it doesn’t feel rushed. The letter should not be surface letter, but deeply explore the potential of each student

Discuss mitigating circumstances

If there’s any illness, disability or event that has affected your student’s performance or any other aspect of their application, it’s important for you to mention that in the reference letter. If it’s a personal circumstance, though, it’s always best to check with the student first if it’s alright to mention it. With a disability, there is no obligation to disclose them and be cautious as some students might not want to reveal it in their application. However, you can help such students by informing them about the numerous disability provisions UK universities offer and see if they are more comfortable with the discussion of their circumstances then. It’s sometimes also prudent to mention that a student is the first in their family to go university as that tells the university that the student may not have received a lot of advice or sometimes even encouragement from any one else like parents on their application. Explaining the specificities of your student’s individual case can help acquaint the university with the student’s achievements within the context of their life.

Also read Top 20 IB Schools In The UK

Postgraduate LOR

For graduate programs in the UK like Masters of Science, Masters of Art or Masters of Engineering degree, there are typically two LORs that most top universities require. Depending on the course, the LORs required could be academic and/or professional. If it’s an MBA program, then at least 1 professional LOR and at most two references are required by universities usually. However, it depends from university to university. For example, while Oxford MBA requires two academic/professional LORs, Cambridge requires just one LOR from the student’s supervisor. A professional LOR is different from an academic one in that it requires information like an applicant’s ability to work in a team, leadership skills and willingness to try new things (these are specific to an MBA LOR).

If it’s a MS (Master of Science) LOR, then this format is recommended

1. Introductory paragraph about who you are — your college, company, etc and your relationship with the student
2. Body paragraph 1 Discuss your student’s best quality
3. Body paragraph 2 Discuss another quality
4. Body paragraph 3 Discuss another quality
5. Conclusion summarises all the qualities and ends on an encouraging note.

Generally, LORs for postgraduate programs may have more specific requirements and guidelines depending on the field and degree. So check the programs your student is  applying for beforehand. However, the format given for MS could work for other LORs as well with a few modifications.

Best of luck on writing the LORs for your student!