A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a document written by someone who knows you academically or professionally, confirming your skills, character, and suitability for the program you are applying to. Most universities and colleges require one to three letters of recommendation as part of an international study abroad application.
Note: A Letter of Recommendation is sometimes called a Letter of Reference. Both terms refer to the same document. Whether one is required for your application — and how many — will be shown on the Application Requirements tab in your ApplyBoard profile.
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What Is a Letter of Recommendation?
A Letter of Recommendation is written by a manager, professor, teacher, or mentor who can speak to your academic ability, professional skills, work ethic, and personal character. It tells the admissions team who you are from someone else's perspective — and confirms that you would be a strong fit for the program.
Institutions may contact your referee directly by email or phone to verify the information in the letter. This is why it is important to choose someone who knows you well and can speak confidently on your behalf.
Who Can and Cannot Be a Reference?
Note: Choose someone who knows you well enough to give specific examples of your skills and character — not just confirm that they know you. A detailed, specific letter from a direct supervisor or professor is always stronger than a generic letter from a senior figure who had little contact with you.
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
Once you have chosen your references, speak with them personally first before sending a formal request. Give them enough context to write a strong, specific letter — and give them enough time to do it properly.
Your formal email request should include:
- Your resume or CV
- The name of the program and institution you are applying to
- A brief explanation of why you chose this program
- The submission deadline and any format requirements
- Instructions for how to submit the letter (directly to the institution or sent to you)
Tip! Ask for your letter of recommendation as early as possible — ideally four to six weeks before your application deadline. Professors and managers are often busy, and a rushed letter is rarely as strong as one written with time to reflect.
How to Format a Letter of Recommendation
Requirements vary by institution, but most letters of recommendation follow the same general structure. Share this with your referee so they know what to include.
Warning! An institution may reject a letter of recommendation if key information is missing — most commonly the date or the referee's signature. Always check the Application Requirements tab for any specific formatting requirements before your referee submits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most institutions ask for one to three letters of recommendation. The exact number required for your application will be shown on the Application Requirements tab in your ApplyBoard profile. If no number is specified, one strong letter is usually sufficient.
For university applications, the two terms are generally interchangeable — both refer to a letter written by someone who can speak to your academic or professional abilities. Some institutions use one term, some use the other. Check the Application Requirements tab for your specific program to confirm what is expected.
No — family members and close personal friends are not accepted as referees for university applications. Your referee must be someone who can objectively assess your academic or professional abilities, such as a professor, teacher, manager, or supervisor. Institutions may contact your referee directly to verify the letter.
No. A letter of recommendation must be written by your referee — not by you. Submitting a letter written by yourself and signed by someone else is considered academic fraud and can result in your application being rejected or your admission being withdrawn. You can share your resume, program details, and key achievements with your referee to help them write a strong letter — but the content and voice must be theirs.
Submission requirements vary by institution. Some ask for the letter to be sent directly from the referee to the institution by email. Others ask you to upload it to your ApplyBoard application. Check the Application Requirements tab for your specific program to confirm the correct submission method before your referee sends the letter.
The letter should be in English unless the institution specifies otherwise. If your referee writes in another language, a certified English translation must be provided alongside the original. Check the Application Requirements tab for any specific language requirements.
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