LOR Sample for Germany: LOR Requirements for Top German Universities

Letters of Recommendation (LOR) are important part of the application process for German universities. They serve as an important doc to validate your qualifications and character. These LORs are mostly required by institutions during their admissions. Make sure that you follow all the LOR related guideline.

A LOR Sample for Germany helps students understand how to prepare a strong Letter of Recommendation for German universities. A LOR is an important admission document for students applying for bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD courses in Germany. It is written by a professor, teacher, project guide, or employer who knows the applicant well.

Students searching for a sample LOR for Germany can use it to understand the correct format, writing style, and important points to include. A good LOR should mention the applicant’s subject knowledge, learning ability, project work, communication skills, teamwork, discipline, and interest in the chosen field. It should also include real examples of academic work, research, internships, or professional achievements.

German universities prefer honest and detailed recommendation letters. The LOR should clearly explain why the student is suitable for the selected course and how their past academic or work experience matches the course requirements. It should not include copied lines, false achievements, or very general statements.

This guide will help you understand the LOR format for Germany, who should write the letter, what details to include, and how to use a LOR sample to prepare a better application.

What is an LOR for German Universities?

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for Germany is a formal document (usually 400-600 words) provided by an academic professor or professional supervisor. Unlike US universities that focus on extracurriculars, German universities use the LOR to validate your technical competency, research aptitude, and ECTS-equivalent academic rigor. It must be issued on official institutional letterhead with a signature and stamp to be considered valid for the 2026/2027 intake.

The first paragraph of your LOR contains information about the recommender and their relationship with the applicant. Then it includes the details about the applicant's academic abilities, personal qualities, achievements, and potential contributions to the program. The letter must be submitted on official letterhead. Language should be either English or German.

Things to be Included in an LOR for German University Applications

Here are some points that should be covered in your LORs, be it an LOR for MS in Germany or an LOR for MPhil in Germany.

• Academic achievement of the applicant
• Applicant's participation in team exercises
• Difference or impact created by the applicant or his/her ideas.
• Interest in the subject/field
• Reaction to setbacks or criticisms
• Ability to face challenges or dire circumstances
• Ability to analyse, take quick decisions, or overcome situations
• Involvement in other activities/contribution towards society/social causes
• Achievements (professional or academic)
• Innovative and creative ability, Leadership and/or team skills
• Communication and presentation skills.

For other courses as well, check with the university requirements for LORs, as it differs. German universities may ask for signed LORs in the form of PDFs or ask for your recommender’s email address and send a mail with the LOR form or the link to a questionnaire or a few direct questions. These questions need to be addressed directly by the recommenders.

Academic LOR Format for MS in Germany

Most public universities in Germany, such as TU9 institutions, require at least one academic LOR from a professor who taught you a core technical subject.

Letter of Recommendation for Masters in Germany: Sample LOR

LORs may not be an essential requirement for the application process for all programmes in German universities. However, applicants are encouraged to submit them as it strengthens their profile, especially where practical experience is a must. Universities prefer academic LORs for course-based programmes. Professional LORs are required for programmes for which applicants must have some prerequisite work experience like business courses, and practical and research-based programmes. Let us have a look at a sample LOR for a German university.

“As, in the ____________ department at, , I am happy to write this letter for Mr. ABC. It is a pleasure to recommend him for the XXX graduate programme at your esteemed university. I have had the pleasure to know and work with him for the past _____ years. ABC first worked with me as an undergraduate intern in the _________ department at this organisation. 

Following this internship, I was fortunate to keep a track of ABC’s career so that, when the opportunity arose, I was able to recruit him to his current position as in the ____________ department here. The same characteristics, namely __________ and ___________, to name a couple, which convinced me to hire him, are also why I am happy to provide him with an endorsement for his graduate study.

While ABC is a relatively new member at our department, as measured by tenure, he quickly established himself as a go-to person in the ________ domain by helping others. Once such example is when he was approached for a _________________ assignment. ABC’s knowledge and expertise came to light during a client meeting for _________. He was able to demonstrate skills like ____________ and ____________, and turn the meeting in our favour.

Apart from this, ABC’s broad range of interests speaks well of his potential as a researcher, especially in bringing a wide range of theories to the research at hand. I witnessed this during _______________.

With full confidence in ABC’s abilities, I am sure that he will prove to be an asset to your department just as he has been to our firm. His intelligence, commitment, and diligence, together make him an ideal candidate for this course. Hence, I wholeheartedly recommend ABC for your esteemed institution. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Yours faithfully,

Full name of the recommender

Designation, Department

Institution/Company Name, City

Contact No:

Email ID:

Institution website:”

LOR for Germany: LOR Requirements for Top German Universities

Now that you have a fair idea of how to draft an academic LOR for German universities, let us take a look at some general LOR requirements for Top German Universities:

TU Munich: TU Munich accepts academic LORs from college professors for graduate programmes. It needs to be written in English. and should include the following points:

• How long has the recommender known the applicant?
• How would the recommender rank the applicant in comparison to other students?
• Is the applicant among the top 5%, 10%, or 20% of his class?

TU Munich (TUM) LOR Protocol

• Language: Must be in English or German.
• Ranking: The recommender must explicitly state if the student is in the top 5%, 10%, or 20% of the cohort.
• Digital Submission: TUM often uses an internal portal where the recommender uploads the PDF directly after receiving an email trigger.

RWTH Aachen University: Applicants need to submit two LORs to most of the programmes at RWTH Aachen University. These can be either academic or professional LORs or a mix of both.

LOR Sample for Germany FAQs