cover letter for phd position in physics

• Resume Writing
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter
• Remote Work
• Famous Resumes
• Try Kickresume

Cover Letter for PhD Application: Guide for Writing One & Example From a Real PhD Student

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated March 27, 2023 9 min read

When applying for a PhD research position, you usually need to submit certain documents, including an academic CV and a cover letter for PhD application .

A PhD cover letter, also referred to as an academic cover letter, should be carefully crafted, well-formatted, and contain specific sections.

We'll show you how to do exactly that, along with a sample of an academic cover letter from a real person admitted to a PhD program at Lyon University in France.

And if you're not sure how to go about writing your PhD CV, check out this article: CV for PhD Application: How to Write One Like a True Scholar (+CV Example) .

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is an academic cover letter?

What to include in a cover letter for phd application, how to write a cover letter for phd application, how to format an academic cover letter, phd cover letter sample.

An academic cover letter is a document that PhD candidates submit alongside their academic CV when applying for a PhD. 

Essentially, it's a cover letter for a PhD application.

It's not exactly the same as your regular business cover letter. Nor is it the same as a personal statement or a motivation letter .

The purpose of a cover letter for PhD application is to explain to the reader, who's likely a researcher or a professor, what you can contribute to their institution and/or field.

Moreover, in a PhD application cover letter, you should explain why you're a good match for the research position on the program.

Differences between academic cover letter and business cover letter

Both these documents serve different purposes and people use them in different settings:

• Academic cover letter is used when applying for positions in academia — most often for a PhD. More emphasis should be on education, research background and scholarly accomplishments. Moreover, it should explain what your contribution to the institution or field could be. It should also point the reader to your academic CV.
• Regular (business) cover letter is normally used when applying for any kind of job . Hence, more emphasis should be on skills and past experience while being tailored to a specific job position. You should also explain why you're a good fit for the position at the given company. It should point the reader to your resume.

There are also other documents people often mistake for an academic cover letter. These include:

• Motivation letter is especially relevant for fresh graduates when applying to a university, a non-profit organization, or voluntary work. A motivation letter focuses more on your interests and motives for applying.
• Personal statement. Also used in an academic setting. It's always written by an applicant, often a prospective student, applying to college, university, or graduate school. You explain why you've chosen a particular course and why you'd be good at it. Other names include a statement of purpose or a letter of intent .

Like every cover letter, an academic one also needs to include specific elements and content sections. These are:

• Header. Here, provide your contact information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email in the header of the document.
• Formal salutation. In an official letter like this one, you should address the reader in a professional and formal way. If you know who'll be reading your cover letter, go with Dear Dr. [Surname] or Dear Professor [Surname] . If you don't, go with Dear Sir/Madam .
• The specific PhD program or position. Clearly state in your letter which research position you're applying for or the name of the PhD program. A cover letter is usually read before a CV, so you need to make sure everything is clear.
• Your motivation. Explain why you're interested in the specific PhD position — it's one of the key elements you should include.
• Your academic background. Now, we don't mean you should list in detail every single university course you ever took. Instead, focus on the most relevant course for the PhD and describe in detail what you learned, any projects you worked on, why it was interesting (and optionally, what knowledge gap you identified). In this way, you also show a certain level of understanding of the field.
• Your ambition. Briefly mention what your ambitions, intentions, and plans are regarding your contribution to the field when securing your PhD position. How is your research going to enrich the field? How will the institution benefit from it?
• Conclusion. Keep the conclusion short. Contrary to a regular cover letter ending , there's no place for reiterating everything here. Simply thank the reader for your consideration and prompt them to read your academic CV.
• Formal sign-off. Just pick from the usual: Sincerely, Respectfully, Regards... Then throw in your full name in the following line.

And that's all you need to include!

Now, let's take a look at how to write your cover letter step-by-step.

Applying for a PhD will be a lot less stressful if you follow these tips on how to write a cover letter for a research position:

Consider researching the background of the organization, department, ongoing research projects, and their past and current projects. All that before you start writing your cover letter. Knowing these things will help you tailor your letter to the specific PhD opening.

Before you actually start writing, try to sit down and take a moment to think first. Assess how your past experiences helped you prepare for the PhD position and scribble down those that are most relevant and significant for the specific program. These include any research experiences, research projects, courses, or internships.

In the first few sentences of your letter, you need to convey some basic information about yourself and what specific position you're applying for. The opening should also state firmly why you're a strong candidate for the position/program, by using a persuasive and convincing wording. Here's an example: "As an MChem Chemistry graduate with a narrow focus on the sustainable synthesis of biologically active molecules from the University of Dundee, I am excited to apply to a "Synthesis Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Using Enzymes" PhD programme at an institution with such a strong foundation and numerous research groups in this field."

This is the place where you may explore more extensively on the educational journey that brought you here. Set the foundation for demonstrating how your Master's degree and research experience seamlessly translate into the next phase — the PhD program. Emphasize how your thesis contributes to the field's body of knowledge. Mention any other publications that support your thesis. And, if you can, identify any knowledge gaps or topics that can be explored further.

This paragraph provides the opportunity to neatly tie in together everything the reader has learned about you so far. You can show how your previous experience, coupled with what you'll learn during the PhD program, will come together to produce something novel to enrich the field. First, identify the courses or topics within the PhD program that interest you the most and how they relate to you developing your research further. Second, introduce your future research aspirations and goals. Third, point out how this future work will enrich the field and what will the intellectual merit be.

When ending your PhD cover letter, briefly refer your reader to your academic CV and encourage them to examine all of the remaining projects, courses, publications, or references . Finally, thank the reader for their time and consideration and let them know you look forward to hearing from them. Sign off.

Put the letter in a drawer and don't think about it for a day or two. Then, when you read it again, you'll have a fresh pair of eyes to see the cover letter in a new light. Maybe you decide some things are redundant, or you think of something that's more relevant. Or you know, find a typo here and there.

Just like an academic cover letter needs to contain certain content components, the formatting should also align with the structural expectations for this type of document.

How long should a cover letter be? How to finish a cover letter? And what about the cover letter font and spacing?

Here's a recommended academic cover letter format:

• Length. While STEM PhD candidates should aim for half a page to one page, humanities candidates can do 1–2 pages.
• Font. Use one of the classics: Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial. Just no Comic Sans, we beg you. Keep the size between 10–12 points. Also remember to keep the text clean — no underlining, no bolding, and no color. However, you can use italics if appropriate.
• Spacing. Cover letter spacing isn't complicated. Just single-space your text, make sure there's a space between each paragraph, and leave a space between the concluding paragraph and your formal sign-off.
• Margins. The only rule here is that the margins on your cover letter should match those on your CV.
• Consistence with your CV. Your academic cover letter should match your academic CV in all formatting aspects — including the cover letter font and spacing. For example, Kickresume lets you choose a matching template for your CV and your cover letter, so no need to worry about this.

If the institution provided any instructions for formatting your academic cover letter, don’t get creative and follow their guidelines.

Finally, to help you tie everything we talked about together, here's a cover letter sample from a real person admitted to a PhD program at Lyon University in France.

These things ensured Herrera's cover letter was successful:

• She clearly states her motivation in the opening. In the first two paragraphs, Herrera introduces herself and her motivation to apply for the given PhD program.
• She describes educational and research background thoroughly. The main body of the letter is dedicated to describing Herrera's educational background, research projects, internships, and skills acquired throughout the way.
• She presents research aspirations in the letter. Herrera writes: "I have a history of proven results and profound findings. Given opportunity, I’m confident in my abilities to earn similar ground-breaking results while being part of your team."

Even though this example lacks some of the key elements, such as mentioning the specific PhD program or identifying the topics within the PhD program that interest her the most, this PhD cover letter still managed to impress the University of Lyon.

Lyon University PhD Student Cover Letter Sample

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

Related Posts

Motivation letter vs cover letter: what are the key differences (+examples), how to write a cover letter using chatgpt in 7 steps (+prompt template).

• 11 min read

Share this article

Join our newsletter.

Every month, we’ll send you resume advice, job search tips, career hacks and more in pithy, bite-sized chunks. Sounds good?

PHD Application cover letter examples

As the highest postgraduate qualification you can achieve, it’s no wonder that most PhD programs require a cover letter as part of the application process.

So, if you’re hoping to complete your doctorate, you need to brush up on your writing skills and prove why you deserve a place in the program.

To help you do that, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide, complete with PhD cover letter examples to support your application.

CV templates 

PHD Application cover letter example 1

Build your CV now 

PHD Application cover letter example 2

PHD Application cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your PHD Application cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write a PHD Application cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your PHD Application cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *specialist field PHD Applicant* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your PHD Application cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your PHD Application cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

PHD Application cover letter templates

Copy and paste these PHD Application cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Dear Admissions Committee

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Ph.D. in Physics programme at the University of London. As a highly motivated and dedicated individual with a deep fascination with the fundamental principles of physics, I am eager to contribute my academic background and research experience to your faculty.

I hold an MSc in Physics from the University of Birmingham, where I achieved distinctions for quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and atomic & molecular physics. During this period, I was involved in evaluating quantum phenomena using computational methods, which honed my analytical skills and provided insights into the intricate nature of quantum systems. My passion for research has also led me to publish two peer-reviewed papers in reputable journals.

I am enthusiastic about continuing my journey in addressing challenges in the field of physics and have previously collaborated with renowned experts in securing £10M in funding to support projects, as well as improving experimental efficiency by 40% through implementing state-of-the-art quantum optics equipment. I have also delivered presentations to share research on condensed matter systems.

I am thrilled at the possibility of joining your institution. Thank you for considering me for the programme.

Kind regards

Matt Turner

I am writing to you concerning the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oxford. I possess a profound passion for advanced research and innovation in chemical engineering, with an eagerness to contribute my academic background and problem-solving abilities to your institution.

I hold an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London and had the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge projects alongside esteemed experts. We focused on sustainable practices in chemical manufacturing, as well as the efficient production, transformation, and transportation of various products. I helped design and conduct experiments to improve chemical operations and reduce environmental impacts, where my findings were published in two peer-reviewed journals.

Some key accomplishments during master’s studies include, obtaining research funding worth £2M to conduct experiments in catalysis and reaction engineering, and playing a role in improving industrial processes by 50%. In addition, I delivered five oral presentations at international conferences to share information on driving sustainable practices.

Thank you for considering my application, and I am available at your convenience for further discussions.

Sable Norris

Dear Members of the Graduate Admissions Committee

I am writing to express my interest in the Ph.D. programme in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. I possess a profound fascination for uncovering the mysteries of the past, and I am focused on contributing my academic background, fieldwork experience, and research skills to your institution.

I obtained a master’s degree in Archaeology from the University of Manchester, where I had the privilege of working closely with esteemed faculty and engaged in research that ignited my passion for understanding the Sumerian civilisation.

During my studies I conducted original research on the excavation and analysis of burial sites to shed light on their ancient practices and cultural beliefs, completing 95 excavation seasons, which was 30+ more than any other student, co-authoring two research papers published in reputable journals, and securing £500K from the UK government to conduct a 3-month research trip in the Middle East.

My experience coupled with advanced coursework in archaeological methodologies and artefact analysis have equipped me with the skills to excel in the programme. Thank you for considering my application.

Dominic Ferdinand

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a place on a PHD, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

• How to Write a Cover Letter for PhD Applications

Written by Chris Banyard

An PhD cover letter is one of the documents you may be required to submit as part of a PhD application . It should complement your academic CV and explain why you are applying. PhD cover letters offer you the chance to write with greater flexibility and personality than in other parts of the PhD application. This page will take you through what a PhD cover letter actually is and how to write one, along with some top tips on what to include (and what not to!).

Pick the right programme for you

There are lots of choices, let us help you to make the right one. Sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest advice and guidance from our team of experts.

On this page

What is a cover letter for a phd application.

A PhD cover letter is a counterpart to a CV submitted as part of an application for a PhD programme. It is a short essay addressed to a specific individual and written in prose. It should explain your PhD application in your own words, demonstrating what you can offer and why you should be selected.

What is an academic cover letter for?

There are several reasons why the PhD cover letter is important for university admission. It is an opportunity to:

• Clarify any gaps in the CV and explain certain aspects in further detail. This doesn't mean you should repeat information on your CV (the letter will probably be read in parallel). Rather, it’s a chance to expand on the story that the CV tells and demonstrate your knowledge.
• Further tailor your PhD application to the project specification. Here, you can address and match your skills and experiences to those asked for by the university or supervisor.
• Show professional communication skills and enthusiasm . These are important qualities for a postgraduate applicant, but they can be quite hard to show in a CV or application form. Here, you can write in your own words and present your research interests and passion.

Do I need a cover letter for a PhD application?

Many universities require an academic cover letter as part of the PhD application. It is therefore highly likely that you'll have to write at least one. If you're applying for multiple PhD projects then you will need to make sure you tailor your cover letter for each application.

Cover letters vs personal statements for a PhD application

Although there are similarities between a motivation or cover letter and a personal statement , they are different. A cover letter is more functional - it unites and presents your application. A personal statement is more useful for providing detail on your experience, interests and ambitions. If you are submitting both, you may need to keep this in mind and adjust the detail in each.

What if I don’t have research experience?

Although a PhD cover letter is a good place to expand on any research experience and publications you may have, as Bachelors or Masters students you will not be expected to have lots of this.

It’s more important to write with enthusiasm and show your commitment for research. Fortunately, the academic covering letter is an ideal place to show this!

What to include in a cover letter for a PhD application

The first thing you should include in your cover or motivation letter is a few introductory sentences . Outline who you are, what you are currently doing, whether it be a Masters or a job, and what PhD position you’re applying for. Make sure to include the PhD project reference number if one is provided in the description.

Next, you’re going to want to explain why you are applying for the PhD position. It’s a good idea to put your best, most compelling, or most relevant argument first. The earlier that you can make an impact, the more likely the addressee will read further.

Make sure you’re to the point and concise. An academic cover letter may be there to help illustrate your personality and passion but academics do not have the time to read elongated essays.

After detailing why you want to apply for the project, you need to explain why you’re eligible . Present you relevant skills and achievements in a brief and precise manner. Additionally, make sure to back up your claims with evidence.

An important tip is to demonstrate that you have done your research about the PhD project, supervisor and department. Be specific about why you would be a good fit for the this project in particular .

You should also detail clear understanding of the potential research impact the PhD project could have, and your enthusiasm for it. But, make sure your passion is routed in some research. Just discovering the unknown or novel may not be a compelling reason to research your subject.

Overall, the academic cover letter should show a clear identity and personality, while remaining professional. You need to demonstrate why you are a better and more interesting candidate than other applicants for a PhD.

What to avoid in a cover letter for a PhD application

The academic cover letter will accompany the CV , and therefore should not repeat anything on it. You should refer to information but not reiterate it.

You should also avoid listing all of your achievements, experience etc. It is better to focus on the best aspects of your PhD application.

There should be no statements presented without evidence. A PhD supervisor will see through this straight away.

Also, an ideal motivation letter should avoid offering too much information. This includes technical information, jargon and abbreviations. Focus on being clear and concise instead.

Lastly, you should avoid any vagueness, arrogance, or negativity. And make sure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes.

Formatting a cover letter for a PhD application

The formatting rules for an academic covering letter are very similar to those for a CV. Ensure there is correct spelling and grammar throughout, use consistent and clear font, and get the tone right – this should be enthusiastic and assertive without arrogance.

How long should a cover letter be?

The cover/motivation letter for a PhD application should be approximately one A4 page in length, or around 500 words. If necessary, it can be a little longer but should not be longer than two pages.

Organisation

An academic cover letter should have a beginning, middle and end.

The introduction should explain who you are, what you are applying for and how you started this application (i.e. where you heard about the PhD project, or if you have previously met the supervisor). You can also give a brief background about yourself and your research interests.

The main body should cover your skills and achievements as a counterpart to the CV. This should present your convincing argument as to why you should be accepted for a PhD position. You can also present your ideas for your future research.

Finally, the conclusion should explain why you want to study the PhD project and why you are a perfect fit. It should summarise your application as a whole. It can end with a respectful request to take the application further, such as an interview.

Who should a PhD cover letter be addressed to?

A cover letter should be addressed to a named person i.e. “Dear Professor Smith”. For a PhD application, this will usually be the PhD supervisor, but may be a specific person in charge of recruitment.

If you are still unsure who to address the cover letter to, it should be directed to the Head of Department.

Check that you have the correct title for the addressee.

How to end an academic cover letter?

Because the cover letter should be addressed to a named individual, it should be signed off with either “Yours sincerely” or “Kind regards”. Prior to this, it may be worth adding a polite prompt to reply, such as “I look forward to hearing from you”.

Still searching for a Phd?

Browse PhD listings and filter by topic, location, funding and more.

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

You may also like....

We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Getting ready to apply for a PhD? Our guides explain research proposals, references and entry tests for doctoral programmes.

Understand what a successful PhD research proposal needs to include and how to go about writing one for your project application.

Our guide explains how to contact a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your proposal or ideas with them before applying.

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

• Writing an Academic Cover Letter for a PhD Application
• Applying to a PhD
• The aim of an  academic cover letter  is to convince the supervisor that you are a strong candidate for the PhD position on offer.
• Your cover letter should be  half a page to a full page  in length; it should be concise and to the point.
• Your PhD cover letter should include your  personal details , the position you’re applying for, your  motivation  for applying, what you know about the project, what  relevant experience  you have and what makes you suited for the position.

The two documents crucial to get right when  applying to a PhD  are your CV and covering letter.

In this article, we’ll set out the core guidelines you should follow to create an effective academic cover letter.

What Is An Academic Cover Letter?

An academic cover letter is a written document that accompanies your CV and application form when applying for a PhD.

It’s different from a CV as instead of being a structured summary of your skills and experience, it is a summary of why you believe you are suited for a particular PhD programme. As a result, all academic covering letters should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for and addressed to the supervisor who is overseeing the project. They also shouldn’t repeat what is already stated in your CV, but rather expand on the details most related to the position you are applying to.

Note:  An academic cover letter is sometimes referred to as a PhD application letter, but never a motivation letter. The latter is different in that it concerns the reasons as to why you want to undertake research, while a cover letter focuses on demonstrating your suitability for a programme. This is an important distinction to note.

What Is the Purpose of An Academic Cover Letter?

The aim of an academic cover letter is to convince the PhD supervisor that you are the perfect candidate for the PhD project.

Academic cover letters should complement your CV and sell you as a person – will your potential supervisor be excited to work with you after having read your cover letter?

What Should I Include in My Academic Cover Letter?

You should demonstrate that you have the skills which make you suited for research. It is essential that you recognise these skills in you and that you use them to promote yourself.

1. Your Personal Details

Include your name, address, email address and phone number in the top right corner of the letter. This is so the supervisor can reach you should they have questions or require any further information.

2. The Position You’re Applying For

Help the supervisor establish exactly which PhD position you are applying for as there may be several positions being advertised at one time. If they provide a reference number as part of the project description, it would be a good idea to include it in brackets.

3. Why You’re Interested in The Position

Use this section to explain your motivations for applying to the specific PhD and where your research interests stem from. Is it related to the dissertation you produced as part of your final year undergraduate dissertation, etc?

Whatever your motivation for applying to the PhD, make sure that your enthusiasm comes across clearly. The supervisor will appreciate how great a role self-drive plays in completing PhD projects and you will want to convince them you have the level of drive required to be successful.

4. What You Understand About the Project

Besides explaining your motivations for undertaking the project, show that you possess a basic understanding of it. In doing so, make sure you reinforce each point with some level of evidence; avoid making general statements or talking loosely around the research subject. This will show the PhD supervisor that you’ve taken the time to research the background to the project.

5. What Relevant Experience You Have

In this section, briefly discuss your academic background and any relevant experience you have within the field of research. Don’t worry if you have little experience in this area as this will be the case for most applicants. If this the case, then use this section to explain how you will be committed to the PhD research project. If you have experience in conducting research, explain what your role was, the analytical methods you used and any other aspects of your work which may be relevant. Similarly, discuss any teaching experience if you happen to have it.

6. Closing Statement

Keep this short and concise. Thank the supervisor for taking the time to read your application and let them know that you’re looking forward to hearing from them.

How Long Should My Academic Cover Letter Be?

Your academic cover letter should be between half a page to one full page .

To keep it effective, make it as concise as possible and only discuss points which are either relevant to the project or the aspect of being a doctoral research student. This may feel difficult to do, especially if you have much you want to include, but keep in mind that your cover letter can also be used as evidence of your communication skills, more specifically, whether you can convey important information in a clear and logical manner. As this will be a key skill of any research candidate, the prospective supervisor will take it into account when evaluating your capabilities.

How to Format an Academic Cover Letter for A PhD Application

Your cover letter should be written in paragraph format, with bullet points only reserved for situations where a list would improve clarity. This is because a cover letter is one of the few places where you are expected to show your personality, so using too many bullet points will diminish your ability to do this. The best way to approach writing your application letter is to see it as a very short personal essay.

Use a common font like Times New Roman or Calibri, and if possible, avoid the use of highlighting, underlining and tables as they become too distracting. Keep your font size between 10 to 12 points and your margins to at least 0.5 inches around all edges. Try to match the font size, type, line spacing and margin size to your academic CV for neat and consistent presentation.

Your cover letter should be addressed to the PhD supervisor, starting with a “Dear [academic title] [surname]”, for example, “Dear Professor Williams”.

Hopefully, you now know what it takes to write a successful cover letter for a PhD application. While a strong cover letter will go a long way to helping you stand out, you will need to learn how to create an equally strong CV if you really want your application form to excel. To this effect, we recommend you next read our step-by-step guide for creating effective academic CVs .

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

• Membership Benefits
• Free Professional Society Memberships
• Joint Memberships
• Renew Membership
• Manage Profile
• Chapters Activities
• Chapter Reports
• E-Newletters
• Logos and Branding
• Social Media
• SPS Colloquium Series
• Update Chapter
• Society News
• Sigma Pi Sigma
• SPS Information Handbook
• National Office
• Position and Duties
• 2022 SPS Council Election Results
• 2023 SPS Council Election Results
• Council Meetings
• Listing of Sigma Pi Sigma Chapters With Installation Dates
• Listing of Society of Physics Students with Installation Dates
• SPS Statements
• Constitution and Bylaws
• Operations Handbook
• Code of Conduct
• Privacy Policy
• Support SPS
• SPS 101: Learn about SPS
• Program Details
• 2024interns
• Intern Blogs
• Alumni Update Form
• Online Application
• Congressional Visits Day
• Outreach demonstrations
• Science Outreach Catalyst Kits (SOCKs)
• Physics Jeopardy
• Entrepreneurship Outreach
• Discovering and Creating Knowledge
• Alumni Engagement Program
• Publications
• Online Resources
• Remote Learning Resources
• Building Inclusive Chapters
• Chapter Self Assessment
• AWIS Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award
• Aysen Tunca
• Future Teacher
• Herbert Levy Memorial
• Jocelyn Bell Burnell Outstanding Leadership Scholarship
• LLNL Scholarship
• Mary Beth Monroe
• Marian H. Rose Research Scholarship
• Peggy Dixon Two-Year
• SSAI Academic
• SSAI Underrepresented Student
• TEAM-UP Together
• Outstanding Undergraduate Research
• Outstanding Chapter Advisor
• Outstanding Laboratory Development
• Outstanding Service
• Research Reporter Award
• Travel Awards
• Poster Awards
• Reporter Awards
• Blake Lilly Prize
• SPS Service
• Food for Hungry Physics and Astronomy Students
• Future Faces of Physics
• Marsh White Outreach
• Chapter Research
• Outstanding Chapters
• Award & Program Deadlines
• Access the Awards System
• Additional Opportunities
• Student Experiences
• Hosting a Zone Meeting
• Zone Meeting Funding
• 2023-24 Zone Meetings
• 2022-23 Zone Meetings
• Physics and Astronomy Congress
• Tips for Research Presentations
• Submit Meeting Information
• Graduate School Diversity Open House Programs
• 2022 Guide to Graduate School
• GradSchoolShopper.com
• Career Resources
• Pion Portal Resources
• Careers Toolbox
• Internships & Summer Research
• Full time positions
• Issue Archive
• About the Observer
• e-Newsletter
• SPS Mailers
• Journal of Undergraduate Reports in Physics and Astronomy (JURPA)
• Sigma Pi Sigma Induction Center
• Awards & Programs

You are here

Words of advice on applying to physics phd programs, share this:.

Professional Development - Tips to Build Your Career

Q&A with Professor Robert Riehn, Associate Director of Graduate Programs, Department of Physics, North Carolina State University

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

The biggest recommendation I give students is to show us (the graduate committee) your strengths through a narrative. Many students have a wide variety of strengths, and it is hard to provide such a diverse group with a prompt that effectively encompasses this range of strengths.

Good letters provide a compelling narrative and highlight the applicant in a unique way. Students have diverse interests when applying to graduate school, and so you have to explain to us why you believe you will be a good researcher and why you are well suited for a challenging program. Many students provide a narrative of how they decided to go to graduate school. If you do this, know that we are looking for the ability to present this as a path with reasoned steps.

The strongest essays prove that the applicant is a suitable student, a good researcher, and that our school is a good fit for them. It’s important to state why you’re interested in our institution and relate your interests to our program. From the cover letter we can also judge how well you write, which is very important to us since writing is a large part of completing a PhD.

If students have done research, should they discuss that?

Research is a very important part of being a graduate student. If a student has a research background, we look for an explanation of that research, the findings, and the student’s contribution to the field of research. We expect that all strong applicants identify who they would want to work with within the program, why they want to work with those specific groups, and why they believe they are specifically suited to that work. Make sure that your letter has this piece and that it fits into the broader narrative. Additionally, if you have overcome significant hurdles in your life, provide a description of how you approached and overcame these hurdles. How people overcome hurdles tells the committee a lot about how they will address challenges as a researcher.

How does a student stand out as an applicant?

Achievements. Students often lower the impact of their application by writing about things they did but not identifying why their contribution to the field is unique and why their work is significant. When you write your story, your narrative, in terms of achievements and with context, that is the strongest indication that you can write and that you are aware of where you stand in the world.

What’s changed from last year to this year, in a pandemic research world?

I am speculating, as we are beginning the process now, but there is increased uncertainty in the level of preparation. When a committee examines applications, they are looking at two different things:

1) Proven successes – Using completed courses and research experience, the committee looks to see if the student will be able to complete the class work, join a research group, and complete the work required to graduate.

2) Potential to excel – Using the student’s research experience, time management skills, resilience, and demonstrated planning skills, we try to judge whether someone will succeed in research and make outstanding contributions to their field. There are many things that go into being a researcher, and the committee will look for students who put their heart into a project or an activity that mattered to them. Many of the best graduate students didn’t have access to the best academic resources as undergraduates. We seek to identify such applicants and give them the opportunity to develop their full potential.

Because of the uncertainty in how courses were conducted this spring, the grades of applicants will be harder to interpret. This means that committees will have to look at other measures of students’ potential for graduate study. I am afraid that some schools may weigh the reputation of the undergraduate institution or their experience with previous students from that school more heavily. We will look for students that will put their hearts into their programs and who have excelled given the current environment. At the end of the day, we want students who are self-motivated, have a passion for their research, and will succeed in the program—even if their last semesters were challenging because of the pandemic.

In their applications, how can students address their academic preparation during the pandemic?

If asked, I recommend that you briefly explain how courses were conducted in the spring and fall of 2020. Was the transition smooth or rough? Where you can, highlight achievements that continued through the spring and beyond. Students can also comment on how they transitioned to computational or more theoretical work over the past year, if applicable. Explaining how the pandemic shaped choices in research direction and opportunities may be important when you discuss your target research area, since many students that wanted to do experimental research were forced to change their short-term plans when labs closed. If you were involved in other activities and leadership opportunities, we want to know about that too.

How many labs should a student mention they want to work with in their application?

I suggest mentioning three people. Research groups are often 3–5 students per faculty member, but in many fields there are multiple professors and researchers working on overlapping projects. It’s totally possible that a specific group does not have space for you in a given year but that there is space in a different group in the field that collaborates with your first choice. If you identify three faculty members, you usually can find a research home, even if it is not with the one person you identified first in your application. Interestingly, about 50% of students decide to join a PhD adviser they didn’t foresee working with when they started the program. This typically happens when students arrive on campus, take classes, and discover a new field of research that lights a fire for them. I recommend listing not too many potential advisers, and if you can’t decide on who to list, it’s best to be honest about it. Authenticity is an important aspect of an application—write what you mean.

What if a student is hesitant to apply because they can’t visit the school in person?

Apply! We waive the application fee for domestic students so that there is no financial barrier, and I believe there is a growing number of departments that take the same path. Without a fee, an application is only a few extra hours of effort. Learn as much as you can online, and see if the research at that school excites you. In your essay, be as specific as you can about your interests and why the school is a good fit for you. If a school is interested in your application, they will give you all the information that you request to convince you to join them.

Is there any advice you think all students should have?

Contact the graduate program if you have any questions at all. If you are not clear on something—required grades, tests, or groups you could work with—contact the program. If you don’t have all of the required preparation, some schools will work with you on a way of completing the coursework necessary to succeed. If you have a transcript from a well-known school, admissions staff will be able to judge your transcript easily. If your transcript is from a less well-known school, ask the graduate program if there is anything that they are interested in seeing, such as a textbook list or syllabi. If you are a mathematician or a computer scientist or an engineer and you discovered your passion for physics late, departments can still work with you. If you are worried about your application, ask the program what they would like to know about you. Programs want applications that help them understand you at a deep level.

Many professors are willing to start a conversation with you before applying. They may be able to tell you the kinds of skills that they are currently looking for and whether you may be a good match. You could find a research adviser even before joining the graduate program. Be sure you do your homework before writing that first email—the more you know, the better your email, the more likely you are to engage the professor in a conversation.

More from this department

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Cover Letter for PhD Application

I have to write a cover letter for a PhD application (in theoretical physics).

I didn't find any useful sample about this. Does anyone have any suggestion?

Moreover, I have to write a research statement. I don't know how I can write them in different ways.

• application
• application-cover-letter

• Which country?.. –  neuranna Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 15:17
• 2 Your cover letter should be about you, not some dork that you found his / her letter on the net... –  Solar Mike Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 15:32
• @neuranna Europe, in particular Germany. –  Immanuel Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 22:41

Several different templates are available on the net, it depends only on your taste!

I would like only one thing: write it in LaTeX . If you are not familiar with LaTeX or you don't feel comfortable with it, Theoretical Physics is not for you. Obviously I'm joking, but not completely...

Anyway, without too much efforts, on the net I found in particular this template that is really suitable for many purposes (actually, with some modifications, is the one I use for my letters):

As you can see this is very sober but direct and clear.

If otherwise you fell very comfortable with typing in TeX, I suggest you to try to emulate some template in LibreOffice downloadable on the net. In particular I recommend this one, in particular the one at page 23, but many others are really nice.

Therefore, I would like to quote also this answer from SE Academia that partially answer your question. In particular I stress the importance of these sentences:

What is unavoidable to write Make your cover letter personal, remarkable (i.e., stands out from other cover letters), specific to you and specific to the position at hand. Be enthusiastic. Be specific. Show that you've put thought into the position and why you are applying. Relate your specific skill sets and previous experience to the programme you are applying for. Relate the content of specific aspects of your CV to the programme: "During my masters, I enjoyed working on the topic of A, which relates to your programme [in this way]" "I worked three summers at company B, where I gained experience in topic C ..." "I visited your university in March last year and was impressed by ..." "I read paper entitled 'D' published by your group at 'E' and was interested in ..." "I recently published a paper 'F', which I believe compliments work by 'G' in your department on 'H' ..."

Good luck for your application!

• Then you will not have problems at all... Actually the answer had also an image about the template but since I don't have enough reputation that was hidden... –  Erik Pillon Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 23:08
• @ErikPillon You seem to have embedded the image incorrectly (you entered it as a link). I've edited your answer to display the image as I believe you desired. –  Stella Biderman Commented Feb 13, 2018 at 1:09
• @StellaBiderman absolutely! Thank you a lot! Actually was not my fault... I couldn't embed properly the image because I hadn't enough reputation points... enyway, thank you so much! –  Erik Pillon Commented Feb 16, 2018 at 23:14
• @ErikPillon Interesting. I didn’t realize that was a limitation of low-rep users. Anyways, it’s an excellent answers. –  Stella Biderman Commented Feb 18, 2018 at 15:15

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged phd application application-cover-letter ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• If the Hom-space of finite length modules is generated by single elements, must the elements be conjugate?
• What prevents a browser from saving and tracking passwords entered to a site?
• How can judicial independence be jeopardised by politicians' criticism?
• Can stockfish provide analysis with non-standard pieces like knooks?
• Is there a nonlinear resistor with a zero or infinite differential resistance?
• How can I typeset \sim-like arrow?
• What does "seeing from one end of the world to the other" mean?
• Can I endow the following 3-manifold with a hyperbolic metric?
• Dutch Public Transportation Electronic Payment Options
• Do the amplitude and frequency of gravitational waves emitted by binary stars change as the stars get closer together?
• Can you give me an example of an implicit use of Godel's Completeness Theorem, say for example in group theory?
• Book or novel about an intelligent monolith from space that crashes into a mountain
• What is the difference between a "Complaint for Civil Protection Order" and a "Motion for Civil Protection Order"?
• Does Vexing Bauble counter taxed 0 mana spells?
• Has the US said why electing judges is bad in Mexico but good in the US?
• Why are complex coordinates outlawed in physics?
• What explanations can be offered for the extreme see-sawing in Montana's senate race polling?
• Motion of the COM of 2-body system
• Can Shatter damage Manifest Mind?
• "TSA regulations state that travellers are allowed one personal item and one carry on"?
• AM-GM inequality (but equality cannot be attained)
• Where to donate foreign-language academic books?
• Does the order of ingredients while cooking matter to an extent that it changes the overall taste of the food?
• In Top, *how* do conjugate homorphisms of groups induce homotopies of classifying maps?

Careers and Employability Service

• Exploring your skills and career options
• Online courses
• Work experience
• Academic careers
• Careers outside academia
• Sources of vacancies

Cover letters

• Application forms
• Assessment centres
• Careers advice
• Research staff
• Email this Page
• Log in to MyCareer

Most employers will require a cover or covering letter as part of your application. It is typically sent alongside your CV.

Your cover letter should complement and build on the content in your CV, rather than simply repeating the same content in more detail.

This page provides all the information you'll need to build a strong cover letter ready for your next application.

Book an appointment on MyCareer

Format of a cover letter

Your cover letter is an opportunity to expand on your experiences and skills beyond what you can include in a CV, as well as conveying your personal motivations and suitability for working in the role you're applying for.

Length and style

The letter is usually short, not exceeding one A4 page, although this can be two pages if applying for some academic jobs. It is typically expected that cover letters will be written in a business-style format, however some employers will specify an alternative format such as a supporting statement or similar.  Make sure you have checked all requirements before getting started.

The tone of writing

Your tone should be professional, clear and a true reflection of you. Make sure you check your grammar and spelling, and ask a colleague or careers adviser to provide you with feedback before you apply. It's important to be concise, otherwise you risk losing the employer's attention.

Which fonts to use

It's widely advised to use a clear font such as Calibri, with a font size of 11 or 12. You should use the same font for both your CV and your cover letter, to make sure your application looks professional and consistent.

Being clear

It's important to be clear about your motivations and suitability for the role, and avoid being vague or using clichés.

Your skills and abilities are unique to you, so your cover letter needs to reflect this. Consider your cover letter to be the equivalent of an 'elevator pitch' where you have a short amount of time to explain why they should hire you.

Matching your values

You should use your cover letter to demonstrate how your personal motivations and career values align with the role and the employer, and be specific about the reasons you are a good match.

If there's something in particular about the employer values or activities that you resonate with, make it clear in your application. This will demonstrate to the employer that you have taken the time to understand the role, and that you haven't just sent the same application to multiple companies.

Sending your cover letter

When you've finished your CV and cover letter, you are usually required to send your application by email. Ensure that you have saved each file as a PDF document so that the formatting won't change when the employer opens the files.

The job advert should provide an email address to submit your application to. You should address your email to that person, write a very concise email stating that you have attached your CV and cover letter for consideration for the advertised job vacancy.

If the job advert provides a job reference number, include this in the email so that the employer can easily locate your application. If this has not been provided, use the title of the role instead.

What to include in your cover letter

The purpose of a cover letter is to briefly introduce yourself and express your motivation and suitability for the role in three or four short paragraphs. It is therefore important to make sure you carefully consider the information you include in each paragraph striking the right balance between being concise and being thorough.

Consider the guidance in this section to help you decide what to write about in each paragraph.

The start of the letter

Your details.

At the start of the letter, include your personal contact details and include the date, in the same way you might start a business letter. If you have the employer's name and contact details, you should address them at the beginning of the letter.

Addressing the letter

If you have not been provided with the name of the contact information or if the application is speculative, you can use LinkedIn or the company's website to find a suitable addressee. This could be the head of the department you are applying to, or the head of human resources.

If you have the job reference number, it can be good practice to include this at the beginning of the letter so that it reaches the right person within the organisation more quickly.

The opening paragraph

Begin the letter with a polite introduction to yourself and the purpose of the letter. You should be clear about the role you are making an application for, and if appropriate, let them know where you found the role advertised, for example, on their website or a job vacancy listing website.

The suitability paragraph

This paragraph is where you should describe the reasons why you are a suitable candidate for the job.

Try not to duplicate the information you've included in your CV but expand on the key skills, experiences or activities in more detail.

It's important to make sure that you choose examples which align with the requirements of the role, to demonstrate that you have a relevant skillset, even if these examples are not from your most recent experience.

It is within this paragraph that you demonstrate to the employer the ways in which you would be an asset to their team rather than explaining what attracts you to the role.

The company or organisation paragraph

You should use this paragraph to explain what attracts you to the company or organisation that you are applying to. It's important that you take the time to research the company or organisation and understand their core values, their main competitors, their most recent projects, their position in the market, and so on.

Be specific about your reasons

You should be so specific that the application would not make sense if it was sent to a similar company, otherwise they might assume that you have been vague due to a lack of research.

If you're not sure where to find information about them, start by looking through their website, as well as exploring their social media presence and checking if they've been in the news.

Find out more about researching a company or organisation .

The concluding paragraph

In this paragraph you will need to concisely summarise the above information and emphasise your suitability to the role and the employer.

Complete the letter by thanking the employer for considering your application, and mentioning that you look forward from hearing back from them. Avoid clichés, and keep this section concise.

Cover letters for academic jobs

Much of the advice for cover letters is the same regardless of the role you're applying for, but there are a few differences if you're applying for an academic job rather than a role outside academia.

Academic cover letters are usually allowed to be longer than for those outside academia. You should always check the application requirements on the job advert in case they've set their own requirements, but it is standard to require two sides of A4 for academic jobs.

Shifting the focus

For academic job applications, it's usually more important to focus on what you have to offer the institution you're applying to, rather than what you would like to gain from working there.

You should still describe what draws you to the institution or department, but there should be a greater emphasis on your skillset and what makes you an ideal candidate.

Being specific

When applying to academic jobs, you can be more specific about your research skills than when you're applying to jobs outside academia.

If there's a particular methodology or skillset that is required for the role and you have experience with this, make sure to provide detail so that the employer can see that you are a suitable candidate.

Teaching and research

You should try to mirror the job description in terms of the ratio of teaching to research. For example, if the job description seems to be 50:50 teaching and research, you should aim to have half of your cover letter focusing on teaching and half on research.

If the role is heavily focused on research or on research, make sure that the majority of your cover letter mirrors this.

The teaching and research statements

Additionally, you will usually be required to submit teaching and research statements as part of your application to an academic job. Read through our advice on teaching and research statements  under the section: specific application advice for academic jobs.

Cover letters for jobs outside academia

Most advice on this page applies to both academic and non-academic jobs, but there are a few specific things to keep in mind if you're making an application outside of academia.

Transferable skills

When writing about your skills it's important to focus on transferable skills rather than going into too much detail about your methodology, or using jargon which is specific to your research area.

Unless your role has been advertised to require those specific research techniques, the employer will be more interested in how your skills can be translated to match their requirements.

Making sure you value your experience

It's important to remember that your postgraduate research degree is a job, and you will have gained experience throughout your research which will be highly valuable to an employer.

Make sure you don't downplay your experience and your abilities by viewing it only as a course.

The employer

For jobs outside academia, the process of researching your employer and explaining why you're interested in working for them is more important than it would be for academic jobs.

The employer will want to make sure you understand how their organisation operates within the industry they're in, and what challenges they have faced and the achievements they have made.

Find out more about researching the employer and sector thoroughly.

Covering letters for roles outside the UK with FREE access to GoinGlobal

If you are considering or are in the process of applying to a job abroad, the format of the covering letter could be different to the above advice. GoinGlobal is an international careers information resource providing advice on applying for jobs including covering letters in 42 countries.

UoN students and graduates can access GoinGlobal free of charge by logging into MyCareer

Go to GoinGlobal for advice on applying for jobs abroad

Frequently asked questions

Cover letters can be difficult to write, so it can be tempting to use AI to help out. However, your cover letter should be a true reflection of you as a professional, and the information included should be specific to you.

Additionally, many employers now use AI checkers to filter through applications. It is therefore not advised to rely on AI for your cover letter.

University of Nottingham Portland Building, Level D University Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 3680 fax: +44 (0) 115 951 3679 email: [email protected]

Legal information

• Terms and conditions
• Posting rules
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Charity gateway
• Cookie policy

Connect with the University of Nottingham through social media and our blogs .

• Career Development Curriculum
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
• Instruction Team
• Mission and Vision
• Career Mentors (EIRs)
• Internships
• Fellowships/NEBOs
• Candid Career+
• Additional Resources
• For Alumnae/i
• Why Dominican?
• Recruit With Us
• Post a Job or Internship
• Become A Partner
• For Faculty & Staff

How To Write a Physics Major Cover Letter (With Tips)

• Share This: Share How To Write a Physics Major Cover Letter (With Tips) on Facebook Share How To Write a Physics Major Cover Letter (With Tips) on LinkedIn Share How To Write a Physics Major Cover Letter (With Tips) on X

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated July 1, 2022 | Published November 23, 2021

Writing a cover letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself to potential employers. Before you graduate with a physics degree, it can be helpful to learn how to communicate your qualifications so you can show hiring managers you’re an ideal fit for your desired career.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/physics-major-cover-letter

Motivation letter samples and templates

Sample of Motivation Letter for PhD in Physics: Crafting a Compelling Application

Writing a compelling motivation letter is an essential step when applying for a PhD program in physics. This letter serves as a platform to express your passion for the subject, outline your research interests, and showcase your qualifications to the admissions committee. Crafting an effective motivation letter requires careful thought, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of what makes you a strong candidate for the program. In this article, we will provide you with valuable insights and a sample of a motivation letter for a PhD in physics to guide you through the process.

How do I write a motivation letter for a PhD in physics?

When writing a motivation letter for a PhD in physics, it’s important to follow a structured approach that highlights your academic achievements, research experiences, and future goals. Here are some key steps to consider:

• Introduction: Begin your letter with a captivating opening that grabs the reader’s attention and introduces yourself. State your purpose clearly and concisely, expressing your interest in pursuing a PhD in physics at the specific institution.
• Research interests: Elaborate on your research interests within the field of physics. Discuss any specific areas or sub-disciplines that you are passionate about and explain how they align with the department’s expertise and ongoing research.
• Academic background: Highlight your academic achievements, such as your undergraduate and/or master’s degree in physics or related disciplines. Showcase any relevant coursework, projects, or research experiences that demonstrate your aptitude and proficiency in the subject.
• Research experience: Detail any research experiences you have had, including internships, research assistantships, or independent projects. Emphasize the skills you acquired, methodologies used, and the impact of your work. Connect your experiences to your future research goals and how they have shaped your passion for further study.
• Future goals and aspirations: Discuss your long-term career goals and how pursuing a PhD in physics aligns with those aspirations. Explain how the program will contribute to your personal and professional growth, and how it will enable you to make a meaningful impact in the field.
• Fit with the program: Demonstrate your familiarity with the specific PhD program and the department’s strengths. Discuss the faculty members whose research aligns with your interests and highlight any potential collaborations or resources that attract you to the program.

Sample motivation letter for PhD in Physics

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

Graduate Admissions Committee Department of Physics Princeton University [Princeton, NJ ZIP Code]

Dear Members of the Graduate Admissions Committee,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Physics at Princeton University. With great admiration for Princeton’s rich scientific legacy, renowned faculty, and cutting-edge research opportunities, I am eager to contribute to the vibrant academic community and pursue my research aspirations at your esteemed institution.

Throughout my academic journey, I have cultivated a deep passion for understanding the fundamental principles that govern our universe. My undergraduate studies in Physics at [University Name] have equipped me with a solid foundation in theoretical and experimental physics, honing my analytical and problem-solving skills. Engaging in coursework such as quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and electromagnetism has fostered my intellectual curiosity and allowed me to appreciate the elegance and complexity of the physical world.

Driven by a desire to explore the frontiers of knowledge, I have actively sought research experiences to expand my understanding of physics beyond the classroom. As a research assistant in the Department of Physics at [University/Institution], I collaborated with a team of esteemed professors on a project focused on quantum information processing. This experience exposed me to cutting-edge research methodologies, sophisticated experimental setups, and advanced data analysis techniques. It further solidified my passion for pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration and deepened my appreciation for the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of physics research.

My research interests lie at the intersection of condensed matter physics and quantum computing. I am particularly fascinated by the emergent phenomena in quantum materials and their potential applications in quantum information science. Princeton University’s expertise in condensed matter physics, quantum field theory, and quantum information processing aligns perfectly with my research aspirations. I am particularly drawn to the groundbreaking work of Professor [Faculty Name] in the field of topological insulators, which has significantly influenced my research interests.

Princeton’s commitment to fostering a stimulating and inclusive academic environment also resonates deeply with me. I am eager to engage in discussions and collaborations with fellow passionate physicists, to contribute to the vibrant research community, and to benefit from the intellectual exchanges that Princeton offers. The prospect of being part of a community that encourages interdisciplinary collaborations and promotes groundbreaking discoveries fills me with excitement and a strong sense of belonging.

In conclusion, I believe that Princeton University’s PhD program in Physics is the ideal platform for me to further cultivate my passion for physics and make meaningful contributions to the field. I am confident that my strong academic background, research experiences, and unwavering commitment to scientific inquiry make me a suitable candidate for your esteemed program. Given the opportunity, I am eager to immerse myself in Princeton’s vibrant academic community, collaborate with distinguished faculty, and pursue innovative research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge.

Thank you for considering my application. I would be honored to be part of Princeton University’s physics community and contribute to its rich scientific heritage. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and to contribute to the ongoing pursuit of scientific excellence at Princeton University.

[Your Name]

Writing a motivation letter for a PhD in physics requires a combination of passion, clarity, and strategic planning. By showcasing your academic achievements, research experiences, and future goals, you can effectively convey your motivation and qualifications to the admissions committee. Remember to personalize your letter for each institution and demonstrate a genuine connection between your research interests and the program’s offerings. With careful thought and attention to detail, you can craft a compelling motivation letter that sets you apart and increases your chances of securing a position in a PhD program in physics.

Author Admin

cover letter - theoretical physics

7+ Expert Motivational Letter For PHD In Physics [Free Templates]

A motivational letter is one of the essential documents required when applying for a PhD program in Physics. It is a letter that provides an opportunity for candidates to showcase their passion, research interests, and academic achievements. Writing a motivational letter can be a daunting task, but it is an excellent opportunity to stand out from the crowd and increase the chances of acceptance.

For candidates pursuing a PhD in Physics, the motivation to advance their knowledge and research in this field is often driven by a curiosity to understand the fundamental principles of nature. Physics is a subject that explores the mysteries of the universe and offers endless possibilities for research and discovery. A strong motivational letter can demonstrate the candidate’s passion for physics and their drive to make a contribution to the scientific community.

In this blog post, we will explore the essential elements of a motivational letter for a PhD in Physics. From outlining your research interests to highlighting your academic achievements, we will provide you with valuable tips and insights to help you craft a compelling letter that showcases your potential as a PhD candidate. So, if you’re looking to take your knowledge and expertise in Physics to the next level, keep reading!

Key Components of a Strong Motivational Letter for PHD In Physics

When crafting a strong motivational letter for a PhD in Physics, here are some key components to consider:

• Introduction: Start with a brief introduction about yourself, your educational background, and your interest in Physics.
• Research Interests. Clearly state your research interests and explain how they align with the research interests. Of the department or the professor you wish to work with.
• Academic Achievements. Highlight your academic achievements such as your GPA, academic awards, publications, research experience, and any relevant coursework or projects.
• Work Experience: Discuss any relevant work experience that demonstrates your ability to work independently, collaboratively, and solve problems.
• Goals and Aspirations: Explain your career goals and how a PhD in Physics fits into those goals. Discuss your aspirations and what you hope to achieve through your research.
• Why this program: Discuss why you have chosen this particular program and how it can help you achieve your goals.
• Fit with the program: Emphasize your fit with the program by highlighting your alignment with the department’s research strengths, courses offered, and facilities.
• Conclusion: Summarize your strengths and explain why you would be a good fit for the program. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to join the program and conduct research in Physics.

Remember to proofread and edit your letter for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and ensure that it is well-organized and easy to read.

Motivational Letter For PHD In Physics

Best motivational letter for phd in astrophysics, motivational letter for phd in atomic physics, motivational letter for phd in biophysics, top universities that offer phd in physics.

The importance of attending the best universities in the world for a PhD in Physics cannot be overstated. These universities provide students with access to world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and cutting-edge research opportunities. By attending one of these institutions, students are able to build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will serve them well throughout their careers.

Some of the top universities in the world for a PhD in Physics include:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• University of Cambridge
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• University of California, Berkeley
• ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Attending one of these universities can be a life-changing experience for students pursuing a PhD in Physics. With access to some of the brightest minds in the field and the latest technology, students can make significant contributions to the field of physics and pave the way for future generations of researchers.

Mistakes to Avoid in Writing a Motivational Letter for PHD In Physics

• Generic and clichéd content: Avoid using generic and clichéd phrases in your motivational letter. Instead, personalize your content and focus on your unique experiences and achievements.
• Failing to showcase your research experience: It’s essential to highlight your research experience, including publications, conference presentations, and research projects. This demonstrates your commitment and competence in the field.
• Poor structure and organization: Ensure that your motivational letter is well-structure and organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Neglecting to address the selection criteria: Address the selection criteria specified in the program you are applying for. This demonstrates your attention to detail and your motivation to be accept.
• Ignoring the importance of proofreading: Proofread your motivational letter carefully to avoid spelling and grammatical errors. A poorly written letter can create a negative impression and harm your chances of acceptance.
• Overusing jargon: Avoid using too much technical jargon. Your letter should be accessible to a broad audience, so ensure that you explain technical terms and concepts clearly.
• Not demonstrating your passion and motivation: Convey your passion and motivation for pursuing a PhD in Physics in your motivational letter. This demonstrates your commitment and enthusiasm for the field.
• Failing to personalize the letter: Customize your letter to the specific program you are applying for. Research the program and tailor your content to highlight how it aligns with your goals and experience.

In conclusion, a successful motivational letter for a PhD in Physics requires personalized content, a clear structure, attention to detail, and a demonstration of passion and motivation. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you create a strong and compelling letter.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, a well-crafted motivational letter is an essential element for successfully applying for a PhD program in Physics. It must showcase your research experience, skills, and passion for the field. Your letter must demonstrate that you have a clear research direction and that you are motivate to make a significant contribution to the field.

Moreover, the letter should emphasize the fit between your research interests and those of the department or professor you are applying to. Additionally, it is essential to highlight your academic achievements and research experience, as well as your leadership skills and communication abilities.

In conclusion, a well-written motivational letter is crucial to stand out from the competition and secure a spot in your desired PhD program in Physics. We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you on how to write an effective letter that will impress the admissions committee.

As we want to thank our readers for taking the time to read this article. We appreciate your feedback and encourage you to leave your comments and suggestions below. For more job description ideas, please visit our website.

You may also like

The benefits of a motivational letter: examples and....

Motivation Letter For PHD In Electrical Engineering:...

Motivation Letter For PHD In Environmental Sciences:...

Motivational Letter For PHD In Civil Engineering : 7+...

Motivational Letter For PHD In Mechanical Engineering...

Motivation Letter For PHD In Anthropology: 7+ [Free...

About the author.

Jessica William

Leave a comment x.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

FSU | Department of Physics

Department of Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

The Doctoral Program in Physics at Florida State University provides students with the skills and training to be fully active members of the world’s scientific community. A combination of coursework, teaching experience, and directed research provides our students with the knowledge and experience to work in academics, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations or industry. Our 150 graduate students have the opportunity to work under the supervision of over 60 renowned and diverse faculty members, who mentor our students throughout the program and beyond. Our program is proud to offer all of its admitted graduate students a funding package for a minimum of 5 years, whose value is increased by Tallahassee’s low cost of living.

Research Focus

Our research is anchored by strong national and international collaborations, and locally, by numerous interdisciplinary projects. The strength and variety of research topics offer our students numerous choices and flexibility in their selection of dissertation research, as well as in their future career and employment. Our faculty’s expertise resides in a wide variety of topics such as condensed matter, nuclear, high energy, atomic, biophysics, and astrophysics.

Stellar Facilities

FSU’s Physics Department offers unique experimental research facilities such as the John D. Fox Nuclear Accelerator Laboratory and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is the largest and highest powered magnet lab in the world.

For questions about the graduate program in general, broad questions about admissions, or the admissions process: Graduate Student Affairs, [email protected] .

For questions about research in the department of Physics: Volker Crede, [email protected] or Simon Capstick, [email protected] .

77 Chieftan Way Tallahassee, FL 32306-4350 Phone: (850) 644-2868 Fax: (850) 644-8630

Program Contacts

Connect with the department.

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

Physics Lecturer Cover Letter Sample

Get invited for more job interviews & find ideas for your cover letter with our free, easily editable Physics Lecturer cover letter sample. Use this cover letter sample for free or alter it with ease in our online cover letter maker.

Related resume guides and samples

How to build a professional agricultural science resume

How to craft an optimized chemist resume

Five essential steps to creating a formal scientist resume

Your guide to writing the perfect historian resume

How to write a great humanities scientist resume in 5 steps?

The ultimate guide to writing a medical researcher resume

How to write a compelling natural scientist resume

How to build a professional nature scientist resume

How to write a job-winning social scientist resume

Physics Lecturer Cover Letter Sample (Full Text Version)

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the open position as a Physics Lecturer. Currently, I am a part-time Physics Instructor at Sunnybank College, where I teach Condensed Matter and Materials Physics and Biophysics courses. In addition to my teaching experience, I am pursuing a Doctorate in Applied Physics and hold a Master's degree in Physics and Material Sciences.

I am dedicated to creating a dynamic learning environment for my students, and I pride myself on achieving a high pass rate in my classes. I am committed to continuous learning and professional development, regularly attending workshops, conferences, and courses to enhance my knowledge and skills.

With my doctorate studies nearing completion, I am seeking a full-time role where I can continue to deliver high-quality instruction to the next generation of physicists. I have attached my curriculum vitae for your review and consideration.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my qualifications and experience align with the needs of your institution.

Sincerely, Emma Wall

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Edit this sample using our resume builder.

Don’t struggle with your cover letter. artificial intelligence can write it for you..

Similar job positions

Nature Scientist Special Education Teacher Formal Scientist Medical Researcher / Scientist Historian School Counselor Social Scientist Youth Advisor Humanities Scientist Tutor Teacher Assistant Instructor

Related natural scientist resume samples

Related education cover letter samples

Let your resume do the work.

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

Get the Reddit app

An online community for discussing issues related to academia, faculty life, research, and institutional structures. This is NOT the place to ask questions about your homework, your particular school or professors, or to get admission advice! Survey posts must be approved by mods in advance, must include contact/IRB info, and must be specific to academia.

What is the ideal length of cover letters for PhD applications

Hi. I am applying to a PhD position in physics which requires a cover letter. I would like to know what is the ideal length for it. From my searches I found that most cover letters seem to be a page long including formatting. Is it a blunder for the cover letter to be 1.25 pages or 1.5 pages long? At what point will it be off putting to the selection committee? For a complete understanding, I am using "11 pt" font size in latex to write it.

Any advice is appreciated.

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue