A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference written by someone who has taught or managed you. UK master's applications usually ask for two; US graduate programmes ask for two or three; undergraduate UCAS applications need one, from your school. Universities read them to confirm what your transcripts and statement claim.
Who should write it
- Academic referees: a lecturer or professor who taught you in a relevant subject and knows your work. A head of department who never taught you is less useful than a lecturer who marked your dissertation.
- Professional referees: your line manager or a senior colleague who supervised your work, for applicants with experience. Essential for MBA applications.
- Avoid: family members, friends, politicians, religious leaders and anyone who cannot describe your work first hand.
What it must contain
- How the referee knows you, for how long and in what capacity.
- Specific evidence: a project, a grade, a piece of work, a responsibility you handled. "Hard-working and sincere" without an example is worth nothing.
- Comparison: where you rank among students or staff they have known, if they can say honestly.
- Suitability for the specific course and level, including English ability if relevant.
- A clear recommendation and the referee's contact details, position and institution on letterhead.
How to ask
Ask in person or by a proper email at least four weeks before the deadline. Send your referee a short brief: the course and university, the deadline, your CV, your statement of purpose, and a reminder of the work you did with them. Many referees will ask you to draft the letter; if so, write it honestly and in their voice, and expect them to edit it. Never sign a letter on someone's behalf. Universities verify references by email and phone, and a fabricated reference ends the application and can end the visa.
Academic reference example
I taught Ms Adaeze Okafor in two modules of the BSc Computer Science programme at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka: Data Structures and Algorithms (second year) and my final-year Machine Learning elective, and I supervised her final-year project.
In a cohort of 112 students she finished in the top five percent of both modules. Her project, a classifier for detecting counterfeit pharmaceutical packaging from smartphone photographs, was the strongest I supervised that year: she collected her own dataset of 2,400 images, documented her methodology carefully, and presented results with an honesty about limitations that I rarely see at undergraduate level. The project was awarded 78 percent.
She is a clear writer and speaker in English, which was the language of instruction throughout her degree, and she worked well in the group projects I set. I recommend her without reservation for your MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and I would be glad to answer any questions.
Why it works: it names modules, gives a ranking, describes one piece of work in detail with a mark, addresses English, and ends with a clear recommendation. It is specific enough to be checked.
Employer reference example
I have managed Mr Hamza Riaz for three years in my role as Regional Sales Director at a fast-moving consumer goods distributor in Lahore, where he is currently a Senior Account Executive responsible for a portfolio of 40 retail accounts.
Hamza took over an underperforming territory in 2024 and grew its revenue by 31 percent in 18 months, largely by building a simple data model of store-level sales that we have since adopted across the region. He is analytical, calm under pressure and one of the few people on my team who asks why before asking how. He presents to senior clients in English weekly.
I support his decision to pursue an MSc in Business Analytics. It is the natural next step for someone who has already taught himself the basics, and I expect him to return to a leadership role with us. I recommend him strongly.
Why it works: numbers, a specific achievement, a character observation with an example, and a statement about what happens after the degree.
Format and logistics
- On institutional letterhead, signed and dated, with an official email address for verification.
- One page, 300 to 500 words.
- Most universities now collect references through an online portal: you enter the referee's details, they receive a link. Warn your referee to expect it and check their spam folder.
- Keep a signed PDF copy for visa purposes.
