LOR Sample for MS in Engineering - Tips, Example & Format

The applicants who are applying for MS degrees usually seek SOP samples as per the specializations. Although you can easily find LOR samples for MS in Civil Engineering, sample LOR for MS in Chemical Engineering, LOR samples for MS in Electrical Engineering, or even LOR samples for MS in Mechanical Engineering, it is crucial to understand the format of a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) before customizing it as per specific specialization. Usually, for an MS LOR, applicants should cover a specific set of skills such as research ability, teamwork qualities and analytical abilities. The traits which are mentioned in the MS LOR should justify applicant’s eligibility for a particular specialization.

What is a Letter of Recommendation (LOR)?

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a formal letter written by someone who can talk about your academic or work performance. It’s one of the most important documents for students who want to go abroad for MS, MBA, or other degrees.

You usually need 2–3 LORs, and they can be of two types:

• Academic LOR – from teachers or professors
• Professional LOR – from your employer or internship mentor (if you’ve worked)

Academic LOR

For MS in Engineering, the applicant will mostly be required to submit an academic LOR. This is provided by a professor/teacher from the last college the student attended. The academic LOR demonstrates their accomplishments and academic excellence. Typically, universities ask applicants to provide two or three such letters.

Professional LOR

A professional LOR is a letter provided by your employer, verifying your skills in a professional environment. For MS in Engineering programs, professional LORs are required by few universities. In such cases, only one professional LOR is required along with two academic LORs. A professional LOR must be taken from your immediate supervisor or a manager who has observed your work and can provide a letter for the same.

MS in Engineering LOR

An MS LOR, applicants should cover a specific set of skills such as research ability, teamwork qualities and analytical abilities. An MBA LOR must highlight qualities like leadership and decision-making. Similarly, certain personal and professional attributes should be highlighted per course or subject. For instance, for MS in CS LOR the following qualities should be highlighted:

• Projects where the applicants used their technical expertise
• What all programming languages they are experts in
• Coding skills and where did they showcase them
• Knowledge of different applications
• Any application developed/created

Points to Remember for LOR for MS Engineering

For applicants of Engineering courses, various qualities can be mentioned as per the subject. Some examples are:

Furthermore, depending on the subject, the student can highlight various key points in the profile as per the table given above. However, this is for reference only and there can be more attributes and points added to this as per your experiences. Some additional aspects which can be covered are:

• Areas of specialization – Design, Materials, Thermal, and Fluid Power
• Process optimization was worked on
• Projects worked on to demonstrate coding skills
• Industry knowledge and expertise
• Team management capabilities
• Learning from previous experience/project, and where or how was it applied to a current situation

LOR sample for MS Engineering

Note: The following is an academic LOR sample for MS Mechanical Engineering. You are advised to not copy the content as it is only for reference purpose.

“I am delighted to support the candidature of ABC for the MS Mechanical Engineering program at your reputed institution. As the (designation) at (department) in (college/university), I have known him/her over the last XXX years. I taught his/her batch the subjects of ______________ in the _____________ semesters, respectively. Apart from this, I also had the opportunity to supervise his/her laboratory work related to these subjects. During our interaction, at a personal and academic level, I was instantly struck by his/her dedication and commitment to academics.

ABC has always been an active participant in class discussions while consistently performing well in the courses as well. He/she has been regular with his/her assignment/project/coursework submissions and managed to meet the deadlines while staying focused and interested in practical applications of the field. His/her endeavour of relating lectures in class with regular applications strengthened his/her foundation greatly which was evident in all practical sessions. Specifically, during the ______ Lab, I had given the task of _____________. While most students were struggling to complete it, he/she referred to the class notes and finished the task within the time limit. Thus, his/her knowledge of subjects like ___________ is thorough and extensive.

Presently, ABC is working on his/her final year project tiled XXXXX which is based on ___________. As the project guide, I have been in constant touch with him/her and her group of ___team members. The aim of the project is to _________. I am confident that with the kind of progress they are making, they will be soon ready with the _____________. Another important thing to notice here is his/her timework skills. Not only can ABC easily work with his/her teammates but also guide them along the way.

Excelling in academics is not the only feather in his/her cap. ABC is quite an active participant in event like _____________. He/she has performed/participated in inter-college events such as _____________ and won many accolades. One specific event, where I was the teacher in-charge, I observed his/her good sportsman spirit.

Lastly, I feel that his/her strong grasp of (name subjects) will hold him/her in good stead throughout his/her professional life. Thus, I wholeheartedly support ABC's decision of pursuing higher studies at your esteemed institution and learn from the best. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Yours sincerely,

Full Name of the Recommender

Designation-Department

College/University, City

Contact Number:

Email ID:

Points to Remember for LOR for MS Engineering

• Ensure that all your relevant skills and abilities are highlighted.
• The recommender should state why you are well-suited for the program, vouching for your credibility.
• Choose your recommender wisely as an LOR from a person who does not know you well can do more harm than good.
• Take time to communicate with your potential recommender.
• The applicant should be careful not to submit an LOR that has been copied from the Internet. That is against the law and it lowers your chances of acceptance.
• The LOR should not be prepared by friends or family on your behalf.
• Grammatical errors should be strictly avoided.
• Ensure that you include all the material in your LOR; ignoring any crucial detail might cause you to fall behind.