In the modern world, education means a sizable investment. Not everyone is able to find enough funds to pursue their graduation and post-graduation. There are times when students have found their initial fees but need support going forward for specific training. This is where a fellowship comes in- it is similar to a scholarship and offers financial aid to students. Considering the importance of securing a fellowship, it is only sensible to write a fellowship thank you letter.
What is a fellowship thank you letter? When is it required?
A fellowship thank you letter is a letter written to a sponsor or donor for the contribution they made. It can also be written to a professor that played a key role in the student receiving the fellowship. Writing this document is important as it forms a great image of the student in the sponsor’s mind, putting them in a beneficial spot for the future. Moreover, it makes the sponsor feel appreciated for the work they do and confident in their choice.
The ideal time to write the fellowship thank you letter is after receiving the letter of confirmation for having received the fellowship. However, if you are thanking someone that helped you in the process, you can always thank them before you receive the offer.
Tips for writing a thank-you letter
Writing a letter, especially a fellowship thank you letter, takes practice and skills. It is important to follow certain rules when it comes to writing a thank-you letter. Given below are 8 such tips to keep in mind.
1. Be clear and concise
When writing a letter it is always advisable to be clear and concise. This is especially important when writing a letter to a fellowship sponsor. The way you have presented the letter will make or break your image in their minds. Therefore, avoid digression and poetic writing and opt for conciseness instead. The ideal length of a letter like this is upto 200 words.
2. Show what it means to you
Obviously, you applied for the fellowship program because getting it would have meant something to you. While you may have already expressed it in the application, it is a safe practice to include it in a fellowship thank you letter. Writing how the funding will help you will help the sponsor feel better about their choice.
3. Express sincerity and gratitude
Sincerely and gratitude is the next ingredient in this letter. Since you are writing a thank-you letter, it is obvious that you have to express your gratitude in the document. Now, don’t be shy to open up here; the more emotions you pour into your letter the more convincing you will be. Therefore, try to best explain your feelings in the letter.
4. Add details about your plans
What do you plan to do with the fellowship? You must have already answered this question in your fellowship application. However, it is safe to include it in your letter as well. State clearly what your plans are and what you aim to achieve from the fellowship. The key is in the right details- so don’t go overboard with what you include.
5. Use a business format
Every letter has a specific format. When writing a letter to your fellowship sponsor, the need to follow a format is high. A thank-you letter to a fellowship sponsor is a formal letter and requires you to follow a business format. This means using the right form of addressing and avoiding slang.
6. Do some research
Who are you writing to? Unless you are writing a thank-you letter to a professional for helping you through the application, you probably don’t know the recipient. Now, you may be tempted to go with the typical “To whomever concerned,” you create a better impression when you take the pain and find a name. Therefore, do some research on the foundation or program and find the person responsible for the award before writing the letter.
7. Fix the typos
None of us is always perfect when writing something and a few typos and grammatical errors are to be expected. However, in a letter, it doesn’t bode well to leave mistakes behind. Therefore, always make it a point to proofread whatever you write a few times and then have someone else do it for you. This thorough process ensures you are sending an error-free letter.
8. Write on your own
Finally and most importantly, don’t copy. Maybe you are writing a thank-you letter for the first time, but that’s no excuse for plagiarism. Your sponsor has likely received hundreds of such letters and can spot a copied document. Therefore, be smart and write the letter from scratch. You can always refer to the samples given in this article and elsewhere but make sure the end product is something you wrote by yourself.
Sample fellowship thank you letters
1. Thank you letter for fellowship (to the donor)
Anna S Beck
Universal EduTrust
2159 Oakwood Circle
Salem, SD 57058
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear Ms Beck,
I am Laura J Flores, a fellow applicant and an awardee of the Universal Edu Fellowship 2021. I just received the confirmation letter about being awarded the fellowship and I would like to express my sincere gratitude through this letter. Being eligible for this award means a lot to me, as it will allow me to continue pursuing my academic career.
With the funding you have provided me, I plan to cover the tuition expenses of my Marine Biology degree. After the completion of the degree, I wish to further my studies in the same field and make advancements in marine life research. The fellowship will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on multiple part-time jobs that take away from my study time.
Once again, I would like to thank you for this opportunity. I am thrilled to see where my life takes me now.
Yours sincerely,
Laura J Flores
2293 Andy Street
Salem, SD 57058
2. Thank you letter to a professor
James M Ewart
1767 New Street
Toledo, OR 97391
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for your assistance
Dear Professor Ewart,
I just got the news and thought you were the first person I should share this exciting development with; I got the Kent Excellence Fellowship award. I am thrilled and extremely grateful for having received this award, and the only person I can thank for this is you.
You have known my financial struggles and deep interest in geology since the first semester of college. You have always found a way to help me out; first through getting me a lucrative part-time job and then with the fellowship application. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your continued support.
With this fund, I plan to take up those extra courses in geology that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Once again, thank you for all the kindness you have shown me,
Yours sincerely,
Joel D Kinder
1147 Turkey Pen Lane
Toledo, OR 97391
3. Thank you letter to a university
Clark Thomas
Student Aid Office,
University of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53202
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear sir,
I am Laura J Flores, a postgraduate student at the University of Milwaukee, majoring in Social Work. Earlier today, I received the confirmation for being awarded the University Milwaukee Fellowship. I am thrilled and grateful for this opportunity, for having been considered for this award.
I have always been passionate about social work and needed additional funding for a program that I have initiated in an area that I am working at currently. With this program, I aim to propagate literacy in impoverished families to enable them to find better living opportunities in the future. The funding from this award will help me better execute the project and improve the quality of education these kids receive.
Thus, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for awarding me this fellowship and helping me help those kids.
Yours sincerely,
Laura J Flores
138 Reeves Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
4. Thank you letter for a specialized fellowship
Veronica A Griffin,
Griffin Foundation
1793 Henery Street
AUGUSTA, KS 67010
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear Ms Griffin,
I am Charles E Jone, a fellow applicant and awardee for the Griffin Educator Excellence Fellowship 2021. This morning, I received the email that confirmed being selected for the award. I write this letter to express just how much this development means to me and my sincere gratitude for having been awarded.
I am a middle school teacher at August High School, where I came across several students who could only understand ASL. The need to learn ASL and teach the same to my students is what made me apply to your fellowship award. Therefore, winning the award means as much to me as it would to the kids dependent on ASL. I can finally fund the ASL course and upskill as a teacher to help my students better.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing me for this award.
Yours sincerely,
Charles E Jone
972 Parkway Street
AUGUSTA, KS 67010
5. Thank you letter for undergraduate fellowship
Lourdes J McBroom
Harper Foundation
2572 Stanton Hollow Road
Waltham, MA 02154
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear Mrs McBroom,
I am Laura J Flores, an undergraduate student at Waltham University. I was recently awarded the Harper Foundation Annual Fellowship. The fund from the fellowship will help me cover the tuition for my sophomore year and maybe even my junior year.
I come from a financially struggling family where no one has ever been able to attend college, making me the first one to do so. Thus, your generosity means much to me as I will get to pursue my studies without worrying about the funds.
Therefore, through this letter, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for choosing me for this ward. It will help me progress in my academic career and improve my family’s living conditions in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Laura J Flores
2438 Tenmile Road
Waltham, MA 02154
6. Thank you letter for a graduate fellowship
Richard D Bello
Universal Edu Trust
956 Heavner Court
Bohemia, NY 11716
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear sir,
I am Teresa M Elliot, an awardee of the Universal Edu Excellence Fellowship. I write this letter to express my sincere gratitude for having been chosen for this opportunity. I am thrilled to have received this financial aid, as it will help me progress academically.
I have pending student loans from my undergraduate and was quite hopeless about being able to fund my postgraduate studies. Your generosity has ensured that my dream of being a Marine Biologist will come true. With the funds you have awarded me, I can cover the expense of my first-year tuition fees and focus on saving up for the remaining fees.
Once again, I would like to thank you for choosing to award me this fellowship.
Yours sincerely,
Teresa M Elliott
1520 Westwood Avenue
Bohemia, NY 11716
7. Thank you letter for a medical fellowship
Jeffrey C Greer
Universal Medical Trust
2951 Liberty Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92805
01-11-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for the fellowship
Dear Mr Greer,
I, Laura J Flores, write this letter to express my gratitude for being awarded the Universal Medical Fellowship 2021. Being a practising paediatrician, I have always been passionate about making medical care as comfortable as possible for children. This passion eventually led to a growing interest in Pediatric Anesthesiology.
The training to be a Pediatric Anesthesiologist requires me to take a pause from my current work schedule, affecting the funding for studies. This fellowship will, thus, help me fund my specialization. Therefore, I would like to thank you again for considering me eligible for this opportunity. I promise to make the best of this award.
Yours sincerely,
Laura J Flores
1191 Thompson Street
Anaheim, CA 92805
