A recommendation letter helps university representatives see how others perceive you.
A university is both a community and an academic institution, so when admitting a new student, it is very important to know what qualities they have and how they participate in community life – this is exactly the type of information that should be included in a recommendation letter.
*Important! A recommendation letter is NOT required when applying for bachelor’s studies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. It is mandatory, however, when applying for master’s studies.
Here are some short tips on what should be included in a recommendation letter and what should be avoided.
If you want to receive a detailed recommendation letter guide with writing examples by email, register on the kastu.lt system and you will get it together with your registration confirmation. |
Who should write the recommendation letter?
Ideally, the recommendation letter should be written by someone who knows you from an academic perspective, such as a teacher or lecturer. However, you may include more than one recommendation (up to three), so you can also ask for one from an employer or a leader of an organization you are part of. Friends or family members cannot write your recommendation, as it needs to reflect a neutral perspective based on academic or professional relationships, not personal ones. The person writing the recommendation should know you well enough as a member of an academic (or other) community to describe how you fulfill your responsibilities, how you interact with peers and supervisors, and how you contribute overall.
Practical tips
The recommendation must be written in English, and it should also include the contact details of the person providing it.
Here are some aspects that should be mentioned in the recommendation letter:
- An opinion on your readiness and suitability for the chosen field of study (showing your interests related to the subject, activities, etc.)
- Your future prospects – it is very helpful if the person writing the recommendation knows your future plans and ambitions, but even if not, they can mention the potential they see in you and which qualities they believe will help you succeed
- Information about how you complete your tasks and assignments – for example, that you are responsible, meet deadlines, achieve good grades or other recognitions
- Information about any factors that may affect your academic performance, such as frequent illness or being very active in sports, which might cause you to miss classes – the university should be aware of this. If you manage such circumstances well and still meet deadlines and keep up with your peers, this is worth mentioning too
- Information about any special needs (if applicable) and how these have been addressed at your current school or university
- Information about your health condition can be included only with your consent. However, if it might affect your academic performance or participation, it is recommended to mention it.
If you want someone to write you a recommendation letter, it is very important that they are well informed. Take the time to talk to them: explain why you need the recommendation, clearly state which program you are applying to, so that the recommender knows who they are recommending you to and can tailor the letter more effectively. You can also show them a few examples of recommendation letters that you like (these can be found online or in the instructions you receive after registering with the Kastu system).
In a recommendation letter, quality is far more important than quantity. It is better to highlight a few of your positive qualities that are described in detail and convincingly, showing how they will benefit your future studies or career, rather than listing many traits without any explanation, context, or supporting examples.
