How to ask a lecturer for a recommendation letter (and get a strong one)
Who to ask, when to ask, what to send them and how official letterheads and signatures work for Nigerian scholarship applications.
Providia Editorial · Updated 29 September 2026 · 5 min read
Who to ask
Choose someone who knows your work well over someone with a big title who barely knows you. For academic scholarships, a lecturer who taught you in a core course or supervised your project is ideal. For leadership awards, a supervisor from a job, internship or volunteer role works well.
When and how to ask
- Ask at least three to four weeks before the deadline, in person if you can
- Tell them the scholarship, the deadline and how the letter is submitted (portal link, email or sealed envelope)
- Send a one-page brag sheet: what they taught you, two moments they saw first-hand, and what the scholarship values
- Offer a short draft if they ask for one, and let them edit it freely
- Send a polite reminder a week before the deadline, and a thank-you afterwards
Letterheads, signatures and stamps
Many Nigerian and international scholarships expect the letter on the referee's institutional letterhead, signed, and sometimes stamped by the department. Check the scholarship's instructions: some portals send the referee their own upload link, in which case you never see the letter.
Open now: masters and phd scholarships
Adelaide University Signature Research Theme Scholarships 2027
Adelaide University's 2027 research scholarship round for PhD and MPhil starters: living stipend plus full tuition waiver, open to international applicants.
World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (YPP) 2027
Two-year salaried leadership programme at the World Bank Group with three rotations, including a country office. For master's holders with 2–6 years' experience.
AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship Programme 2027
Funded three-month research visit to the University of Johannesburg in late 2027 for PhD students at African universities working on innovation and development.
Wege Prize 2027 – Circular Economy Design Competition
Global design competition for five-student, cross-discipline university teams building circular-economy solutions. Top prize $30,000; free to enter.
Questions
Can I write my own recommendation letter?
Only if your referee asks you to prepare a draft, and they must read, edit, approve and sign it themselves. Submitting a letter your referee hasn't approved is dishonest and can get you disqualified.