IELTS Formal Letter: Inquiry letter to university regarding scholarship application

The task

You are interested in applying for a scholarship program to study at a foreign university.

Write a letter to inquire about the course. In your letter:

→explain which course you are interested in
→say what you know about the university
→explain why you should receive the scholarship

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8194 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to express my keen interest in the Master of Environmental Science program at your institution, which I am eager to pursue through your international scholarship scheme.

Having researched your university extensively, I am particularly drawn to your reputation for pioneering climate research. The integration of practical field studies with theoretical modelling at your faculty is globally renowned, and I am impressed by the university’s commitment to sustainability, specifically the recent carbon-neutral initiatives implemented across your campus.

I believe I am an ideal candidate for this scholarship due to my strong academic background in ecology and my dedication to community-led conservation projects. During my undergraduate studies, I led a team that successfully restored local wetland habitats, demonstrating both leadership and a practical application of environmental science. Securing this funding would allow me to focus entirely on my research, enabling me to contribute meaningfully to your department’s ongoing projects.

I have attached my academic transcripts and a portfolio of my previous work for your consideration. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps in the selection process.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistently formal tone while addressing all three bullet points with specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a logical reason for the scholarship request, often settling for vague statements about wanting to study abroad rather than highlighting personal achievements.

→Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
→If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
→No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

keen interest
a strong desire or enthusiasm for something
pioneering
involving new ideas or methods for the first time
carbon-neutral
having no net release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere
undergraduate studies
the period of study before obtaining a first degree
meaningfully
in a way that is important or significant
selection process
the series of steps used to choose candidates

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

More application letters

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