Academic Cover Letter Sample – Are you a recent graduate and having difficulty making a cover letter? You are on a perfect site. In this article, we will give you an example of an academic cover letter and give you tips on how to write one.

We will tackle and understand what an academic cover letter is and see an example or a sample of it for your reference below. Always remember, sending your resume, along with your credentials, won’t be perfect without your impressive cover letter.

What is an Academic Cover Letter?

An academic cover letter, like any other cover letter, is a formal letter that covers your resume or any of your credentials. The only difference is that this letter is used for academic positions.

In this letter, you are like selling the best version of yourself. This includes your achievements, skills, expertise, and, more preferably, experience.

Why do we use academic cover letters?

We use academic cover letters to point out our strengths, knowledge, and expertise in a specific job. It is also to support our resume and other credentials.

Cover letters are important because they show off your professional and academic qualifications. It is like a rundown of your profile that helps you persuade the school or hiring managers to accept your application.

What to include in an academic cover letter?

Highlight your achievements and detail your experiences.
Include any certificates, expertise, and skills.

Tips in writing an academic cover letter

Personalize the letter or Be Specific.
– Make sure that when you write a cover letter, it is tailored to the specific school or job, and do not use generic language. Don’t forget to include your skills, strengths, and achievements. Mention your qualities that will give you an edge among other applicants.
Simplify
– Make your cover letter clear and concise. Don’t use complicated words, and use your best writing skills. A simple cover letter with no errors has the potential to get hired.
Omit Unnecessary details.
– Don’t include something that is not applicable to your letter. It’s better to leave your personal things and focus on your topic.
Take time.
– You don’t have to rush everything when writing your cover letter, as it’s not just a letter. Your career depends on this. Investigate the company or school to which you intend to apply.
Proofread
– It is important to re-read everything you wrote after writing the letter. After all, a letter with grammatical errors and typos will most certainly fail to get the job.

How to Write an Academic Cover Letter? Template

Time needed: 3 minutes.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing an cover letter.

Write the sender’s information

The first step in writing this cover letter is to write the name, address, and contact information of the sender at the top left corner of the letter.
Write the date

The second step is to write the date. It is placed below the sender’s information.
Write the receiver’s information

The third step is to write the name and position of the receiver as well as the school and address.
Write the salutation

The fourth step is to write the salutation. In writing the salutation, you may start with “Dear” (e.g., Dear Ms./Mr.), but if you want to be more formal, use the word “To“. It is more polite to write the full name of the person to whom the letter is addressed.
Write the body

The fifth step is to write the body of the letter. The body of the letter should include your credentials and experience. Then, write some closing remarks.
Close the letter with your signature

Lastly, write the closing part of the letter. Write a closing word and then your signature and name.

Feel free to download this cover letter below.

Download

Academic Cover Letter Examples

Below is an example of a cover letter that will help you with creating one.

Robin Applicant
123 Main Street, Anytown, CA 12345
555-555.5555
[email protected]

April 5, 2021

Dr. Sylvia Lee
Chair, English Department Search Committee
Acme College
123 Business Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28213

Dear Dr. Sylvia Lee,

I am writing to apply for the position of assistant professor of English with an emphasis in nineteenth-century American literature that you advertised in the MLA Job Information List. I am a Dean’s Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at XYZ University, currently revising the final chapter of my dissertation, and expecting to graduate in May I am confident that my teaching experience and my research interests make me an ideal candidate for your open position.

Over the past five years, I have taught a variety of English courses. I have taught a number of American literature survey courses, as well as writing courses, including technical writing and first-year writing. I have extensive experience working with ESL students, as well as students with a variety of learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dysgraphia, and disabilities like ADD and ADHD. I pride myself on creating a classroom environment that accommodates the needs of my students while still promoting a high level of critical thought and writing skills. Some of my most satisfying experiences as a teacher have come from helping struggling students to grasp difficult concepts, through a combination of individual conferences, class activities, and group discussion. I know I would thrive as a teacher in your college, due to your belief in small classroom size and individualized support for students.

Not only does my teaching experience suit the needs of your school and department, but my research interests also fit perfectly with your description of the ideal candidate. My dissertation project, “Ferns and Leaves: Nineteenth-Century Female Authorial Space,” examines the rise and development of American female authors in the 1840s and 1850s, with a particular focus on patterns of magazine publication. I argue that, rather than being submissive to the requirements of the editor or publisher, female authors, in fact, developed a more transparently reciprocal relationship between themselves and their readers than previously has been assumed. I apply recent print-culture and book-history theory to my readings of novels, magazine articles, letters, and diary entries by various female authors, with a particular focus on Sara Willis (known by her pseudonym Fanny Fern). I plan to develop my dissertation into a book manuscript and continue to research the role of female writers in antebellum magazine culture, with a particular focus on the rise and influence of female magazine editors on literary culture.

My research interests have both shaped and been shaped by my recent teaching experiences. Last spring, I developed and taught a course on the history of print culture in America. I combined readings on theory and literature that addressed issues of print with visits to local historical museums and archives. My students conducted in-depth studies on particular texts (magazines, newspapers, novels) for their final papers. I believe my interdisciplinary teaching style, particularly my emphasis on material culture, would fit in well with the interdisciplinary nature of your English department.

I am therefore confident that my teaching experience, my skill in working with ESL and LD students, and my research interests all make me an excellent candidate for the assistant professor of English position at ABC College. I have attached my curriculum vitae and the two requested sample publications. I would be happy to send you any additional materials such as letters of reference, teaching evaluations, and past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you at either the MLA or C19 conference, or anywhere else at your convenience. Thank you so much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Robin Applicant (hard copy letter)

Robin Applicant

Below is an example of a template for writing this kind of cover letter.

Date: Month Day, Year
Search Committee Chair’s First and Last Name, Graduate Degree
Full Department Name
Name of Institution
Department Address

Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Search Committee Chair’s last name and/or Search Committee Members:

Paragraph 1 [3-5 Sentences]: Identify the position you are applying for. Introduce yourself to the committee and your research interests. Connect your interests to the department and describe what makes you interested in becoming part of this departmental community.

Paragraph 2 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly discuss your teaching experience and pedagogical commitments. Provide examples of teaching strategies or an anecdote highlighting your teaching effectiveness. You may also want to introduce your philosophy on diversity in an academic setting.

Paragraph 3 [3-4 Sentences]: Provide a discussion of how you involved yourself with students or the broader university community outside of the traditional classroom setting. Discuss how those interactions influenced your teaching.

Paragraph 4 [2-3 Sentences]: Briefly explain your current research interests to date and how it relates to your teaching. State your research questions, methods, and key findings or arguments. Point out the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts of this future work.

Paragraph 5 [3-5 Sentences]: Highlight when and where your research was published and/or presented this work or any forthcoming publications. Mention any prestigious funding or awards. Introduce your future research plans and goals.

Paragraph 6 [2-3 Sentences]: Make a connection between your work and the department to which you are applying. Include how you will participate in the intellectual life of the department both inside and outside the classroom. Provide concrete examples of how you will be a hard-working and collaborative colleague.

Paragraph 7 [1-2 Sentences]: A thank you for the search committee’s time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Signature]

Your Name
Credentials and Position
Institution/Affiliation Name

Academic Cover Letter Sample With Writing Tips [Template]