LOR

The recommender must mention at least three qualities of the applicant and then provide a suitable example for each quality to convince the admissions committee. Mentioning a lot of qualities without substantiating them with examples will not sound strong/ convincing.

The LOR format for UK is no different from those for US or any other country. The LOR should be one page or approximately 500 words in length. The font and size should be consistent and readable, for instance, Times New Roman 11 or 12 point size. The LOR can be academic or professional, showcasing the eligibility of the candidate.

The recommender must establish his association with the candidate right in the beginning of the LOR and later discuss at least three qualities of the applicant and provide suitable examples to back his claims.

PhD LORs are written for aspirants who wish to pursue a doctorate degree, to elaborate about their aptitude and experiences that make them suitable for the course. Through such an LOR, recommenders discuss the applicant's achievements, accolades and aptitude, as seen by them during their association with the applicant. They can also share specific examples or instances of research, projects or assignments during their association, where they witnessed positive academic traits in the applicant.

Ideally, the PhD LOR length should be within 1-2 pages. It should only have 5-6 paragraphs where the recommender can talk about their relevant academic, professional or research experiences with the applicant. As evident through any recommendation letter PhD sample online, it should be a compact document that justifies an applicant's eligibility, capability and suitability for the PhD program.

 3–4 well-substantiated traits are ideal, as per most expert LOR guidelines. The key to an effective LOR is to include the traits which are relevant to the programme you are applying for. A letter of recommendation, which is full of traits, but without detailed explanation or specific instances justifying those traits, will not create a good impression. As per the guidelines for writing LOR, a letter should focus on mainly three to f our traits, which can be substantiated with examples.