Masters cover letter example

Counting kindergarten, you’ve probably spent at least 19 years getting your master’s degree. Now it’s worth spending 15 minutes to learn how to write an outstanding master’s cover letter. 

This writing guide and its adaptable master’s cover letter examples will cover most of what you need to know to showcase your postgraduate degree, including:

• Is it master’s, masters, Master’s, Masters or Master?
• The best format for a master’s cover letter
• The six elements of a winning master’s cover letter
• Common mistakes to avoid

Resume.io is a leading global provider of occupation-specific job-search advice. For more writing and formatting tips, take some time to review our 125+ cover letter examples and writing guides.

Mastering how to write ‘master’s’

Despite their advanced education, many people with master’s degrees are unsure how to say so in writing. Styles are all over the map on this, but most expert sources (including the Associated Press stylebook) offer the following rules:

• As a general rule, “master’s degree” and “bachelor’s degree” should be written with lowercase letters and an apostrophe. So “masters degree” (with no apostrophe) is always wrong, and most experts would say “Master’s Degree” (capitalized) is also always wrong.
• However, when spelling out the full degree (like “Master of Science in Mathematics”), all the larger words should be capitalized. But note that the word “Master” is not a possessive, so don’t write “Master’s of Science in Mathematics.”
• In general, capitalize the field of study only when using the full, formal name of the degree, as in “Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering.” But if you use the word “degree,” the words should be lowercase, as in “master’s degree in public administration.”

Best format for a master’s cover letter

Proper formatting for a cover letter involves issues of structure, design and layout. First, be aware that in almost all cases, your cover letter should be one page only. In rare cases, a two-page cover letter may be considered acceptable, but it’s risky. In most cases, you’ll need to trim the fat from your letter so that it fits onto that first page.

Every cover letter should contain six essential components:

• Header
• Greeting
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Sign-off and signature

Also, the final product needs to be visually appealing, so you need to pay attention to formatting issues like appropriate cover letter fonts, font sizes, margins and use of white space. Your letter should also strive for visual balance, meaning the elements are evenly distributed on the page. For more formatting tips, take a look at our comprehensive guide to cover letter writing.

Here is a master’s cover letter example you can use as a guide to create your own. 

Cover letter header: How to reach you

The cover letter header, which used to be called a letterhead, should include your name, occupation, address, phone number and email. It may also include a link to a website that highlights your professional achievements, such as a LinkedIn page.

The header should be attractively designed, making your letter look great at a glance. The header gives you an opportunity for stylish design and creative use of typography, layout and color. 

Cover letter greeting: Make it personal

“To Whom It May Concern” is never an acceptable cover letter greeting. Always try to find out the name of the hiring manager who is processing applications for the job you’re seeking. Address this person by last name, preceded by a “Mr.,” “Ms.” or “Dr.” 

Job listings often don’t tell you the person you should be writing to, but it’s worth doing some legwork to find out. If online sleuthing can’t answer this question, consider calling the company and just asking. If this information is simply unavailable, then you’ll need to use a more generic greeting like “Dear [Company Name] Hiring Manager.” 

Here is the greeting from our master’s cover letter sample:

Cover letter introduction: Hook your reader

The cover letter introduction should use original, compelling language to make a strong opening statement about your qualifications for the job you’re seeking. Avoid cliches, bland language and “fluff” that sounds fancy but says nothing.

The introduction should generally lead with your greatest strength, which may be your years of job experience. But if you’ve spent all your time lately in school obtaining your master’s degree, that may be your best hook. See the introduction of our cover letter sample here:

Cover letter middle part (body): Details, please

The middle part of your cover letter, known as the body, must cover the bases of your primary job qualifications. Again, this may be about your job-related experience, it may be about your educational credentials, or it may focus on your special skills.

Be specific, telling the reader about your main achievements on the job, your exceptional GPA or any certifications you hold in your field. See the cover letter example below.

Conclusion and sign-off: A call to action

The cover letter conclusion, your final paragraph, may serve as a wrap-up and a thank you, but it should also include a call to action. You want the reader to do something as a result of your letter and not just lay it aside. 

Tell the recruiter that you look forward to a reply, and you’re always reachable at the contact info provided. You might want to say you’d be delighted to schedule an interview, in person or remotely, or you would welcome even an informal phone call. 

You want to project confidence and competence, without sounding arrogant or presumptuous. Find the right tone, one that makes you sound eager but not desperate. And remember that you want to come across as likeable. Nobody wants to hire someone they don’t like.

End with a sign-off like “Sincerely,” “All my best” or another appropriate close. Then add a space below that and type your full name. See our master’s cover letter sample below.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Typos, misspelled words, bad grammar and other writing mistakes are often cited as the No. 1 reason that cover letters and resumes are rejected.
• Do not mass-mail the same cover letter to multiple employers. Customize each letter for each job you’re seeking.
• An ugly, poorly designed cover letter will turn off hiring managers at a glance.

Key takeaways

1. In case you’ve been wondering, the correct spelling is “master’s degree.”
2. Make sure to create an attractive header to house your contact details.
3. Focus on creating an energetic and effective introduction since many hiring managers make a decision about whether to continue reading after just the first sentence.
4. Check out our master’s cover letter example for more ideas on creating a great page layout.

For more tips to craft a great application, review some of our related education cover letter examples:

• Graduate cover letter example
• Student cover letter example
• University cover letter sample
• Teacher cover letter sample
• Scholarship cover letter sample

Best of luck in putting your master’s degree to good use!