Briefpapier des Lehrstuhls
Adresse der Zielfakultät
Adresse der Zielfakultät
Adresse der Zielfakultät
[Oder statt Adresse: “To Whom It May Concern”]
Ort, Datum
Letter of Recommendation for [Vorname Name]
Mr. [Vorname Name] is applying for admission to [Zielhochschule]1 in [Stadt] and has asked
me to write a letter of recommendation for him. I have mixed feelings in doing so, not
because he is not well qualified for admission to the [Zielfakultät] but because he is such a
promising student that I would prefer him to remain at [Hochschule]1 for a Master’s degree.
[Vorname Name] is in the last year of his undergraduate studies. Last semester, he took two
courses that I taught: [genauere Beschreibung der Lehrveranstaltungen in 2-3 Sätzen]. In his
comprehensive examination at the end of last year, he received either the best or the secondbest grade of his entire cohort. With his oral participation in class, [Vorname] continuously
contributed with very creative ideas. I could always rely on his excellent contributions. In this
regard, I would like to stress his conceptual skills and his ability to communicate with people
in order to integrate diverging positions. He is currently writing his Bachelor’s thesis, with me
as his supervisor, about [Thema der Bachelorarbeit] and it appears that he is on track to do an
extremely good job.
[Vorname Name] is a bright and hard-working student, who is quite demanding of himself
and has excellent analytical capabilities. Our program is highly demanding and very rigorous,
and the fact that he is doing so well puts him in a very elite category indeed. Were he to stay
with us, I would expect him to receive a first-rate Master’s degree and make an impact
internationally.
His qualifications form a solid and promising basis for an ambitious career in the field of
[Fachgebiet], particularly with respect to [Spezialisierung] matters. He can also be regarded as
It is important to note that some universities use ‚the‘ prior to their name, which should also appear in the text
here, e.g., the University of California, the University of Manchester. However, other universities do not need
‚the‘ prior to their name, e.g., Purdue University, Harvard University, Yale University, Birmingham City
University.
1
© 2010 Springer-Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg. Aus S. Horndasch (2010) Master nach Plan. Springer: Heidelberg Berlin
a talented academic and scholar in [Fachgebiet], since he presented excellent pieces of
academic work.
As for this writing, [Vorname] will have completed the requirements for the BA in
[Bezeichnung des Studienganges] by the end of next summer. Given his grades so far, I have
no doubt that he will graduate with an average of at least A, very likely A +. [Vorname] is not
only a highly qualified student, but he is also engaged in extra-curricular activities and has
been active in social work in an unusual quality and quantity. His command of the English
language is excellent. He is hard working, reliable, and responsible and has a pleasing
personality.
Knowing other students who have studied at your department, I can state with confidence that
he should be among the stars there and that it should serve as the launching pad for a brilliant
career in the academic sector. I am fully convinced that [Vorname] will be an enrichment to
your department and will leave an excellent impression. In fact, he seems the ideal young
academic with an unusual threefold combination of qualities:
1) a serious analyzer and a deep thinker with respect to [Fachgebiet]
2) a practical, managerial type of problem solver with respect to the challenges of
societal order
3) simply a nice and sympathetic person with respect to his environment, particularly to
his fellow students. Let me emphasize that my recommendation covers both the
professional and the personal aspects.
I endorse his application unreservedly and hope that he will be granted the chance to crown a
truly first class education by being allowed to participate in your Master’s program. I,
therefore, recommend him for admission to the Master’s program at [Zielstadt].
Please feel free to contact me, should you require further information.
Yours sincerely,
[Handschriftliche Unterschrift mit maschinengeschriebenem Namen, beruflicher Position und Lehrstuhlstempel /
Dienstsiegel]
© 2010 Springer-Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg. Aus S. Horndasch (2010) Master nach Plan. Springer: Heidelberg Berlin