Cover Letter for a Scholarship: Example & Writing Guide

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When you apply for a scholarship, selection committees often require you to submit a cover letter outlining why you’re a great candidate for the award. Use this sample cover letter and writing guide to pitch yourself persuasively.

A scholarship cover letter is a self-introduction letter that complements your scholarship application, academic records, and recommendation letters. It should cover your background, goals, and interests, and explain how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals.

Scholarship committees get plenty of applicants with great grades, numerous extracurricular achievements, and high SAT scores. So you need to make your application stand out in order to get noticed.

Use our tips and examples below to write a scholarship letter that shows you’re dedicated to your studies and are serious about getting the most out of a college education.

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Scholarship cover letter example

Here’s a strong scholarship cover letter example that you can use to inspire your own scholarship cover letter:

An example of a cover letter for scholarship — This applicant cleverly uses bullet points to make their most impressive achievements stand out.

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How to structure your scholarship letter

Selling yourself to a committee you’ve never met can be daunting. If you’re having trouble knowing where to start or how to write your cover letter, start by making an outline.

Knowing how to format your cover letter is the first step. A cover letter’s basic structure can be broken down into five main components:

Personal information
Salutation and opening paragraph
Body paragraph(s)
Closing paragraph (call to action)
Sign-off

You can also make the process easier for yourself by starting with a professional cover letter template.

Like every piece of writing, your scholarship letter should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. The template below outlines the purpose for each paragraph and what it should include:

Your Name
[Your phone number] [Your email address] [Your mailing address]

[Date]
[Scholarship organization name]

[Organization address]

[Organization phone number]

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Recipient’s name] / [Scholarship Committee],

Start with an opening paragraph that uses an attention-grabbing hook or personal anecdote to introduce who you are, your relevant experience, and why you are interested in applying. If writing multiple cover letters, take care to customize this paragraph to target a specific scholarship.

Next, highlight your academic accomplishments as well as any related skills and experience. Explain what makes you deserving of this particular scholarship. To bolster your case, structure your response around three core questions: Why you? (your unique achievements), Why here? (your alignment with the organization), and Why now? (how this funding fits your current career path).

End with a closing paragraph that restates your interest in the scholarship and why you should be a recipient. Include a call to action to inspire the committee to reach out to you – by saying you’d love the opportunity to schedule a call or a meeting, for instance.

[Sincerely / Best / Best regards],

[Your name]

Tips for writing a scholarship application cover letter

Here are some tips for writing a compelling cover letter for a scholarship:

Be concise

While scholarship committees want insight into your life and motivations, that doesn’t mean they want your whole life story. Your scholarship application cover letter should be focused and to the point.

To help keep your writing focused, here are the main points that you should address in your scholarship cover letter:

Give the scholarship committee an overview of who you are.
Demonstrate your qualifications and why you deserve the scholarship.
Convey your interest and enthusiasm for the scholarship.
State your long term goals and how you intend to use the scholarship.

Customize each scholarship application letter

Scholarship committees read hundreds of cover letters, and generic cover letters stand out immediately. Here’s how to set yours apart:

Address the specific scholarship: Use your introductory paragraph to explain why you’re a strong fit for that particular award.
Tailor your body paragraphs: Adjust each application to target the scholarship’s priorities, even if that means only minor changes.
Research the organization: Identify the sponsoring organization’s core values and mission, then highlight skills and characteristics that align with their goals.
Match their priorities: Some organizations focus on academic performance, while others emphasize financial need or special circumstances.

If you need a little help tailoring your cover letter, try using a cover letter generator that can quickly help you change and adjust your writing to target specific skills.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some follow-up questions you might have about writing your scholarship cover letter.

How is a scholarship cover letter different from a scholarship essay?

Scholarship cover letters and scholarship essays are actually quite similar. Both aim to secure funding, but they have slightly different requirements.

A scholarship essay responds to a specific prompt from the committee. A scholarship cover letter has no set prompt, which can trip up students used to structured instructions.

If the open-ended format feels daunting, imagine a hidden prompt: “Tell me about yourself and why you’re a good fit for this scholarship.”

The essay dives deep into a specific experience or value. The cover letter provides context for your entire application, connecting your academic history, personal background, and future goals into one cohesive narrative. Think of it as a high-level summary that bridges your resume and essay.

What are some good storytelling hooks I can use to open my scholarship cover letter?

Here are three ideas for storytelling hooks you can use to write your scholarship cover letter.

1. Open with a specific experience that sparked your passion:

The first time a therapist helped me reframe something I’d believed about myself for years, I realized language could be as precise and powerful as any scalpel.

2. Lead with an unexpected approach or opinion you have of the subject:

Most people read literature to escape reality — I read it to finally understand mine.

3. Ask a meaningful question that shows your curiosity.

Why do two people live through the same experience and construct completely different meanings from it? That question has followed me into every course I’ve taken.

What are some achievements that will help me show my unique value as an applicant?

Your value comes from what makes you different from other applicants. Here are some ideas:

A research project or paper where you found something interesting
Creative work you shared publicly, like writing, art, or performance
Leading a club or cause where something actually changed because of you
An award or honor that was hard to earn
A skill or language you taught yourself outside of school

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Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in International Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan), he helps job seekers translate their experience into employer-ready applications for global job markets.

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