How to write a compelling university student cover letter

You’ve made it to the university of your choice, working hard to keep your grades up and earn the degree of your dreams. As you approach graduation, you may find yourself in need of a well-written cover letter to use for applying to internships, jobs, and many other key opportunities in your chosen field.

In this guide, we discuss the five key elements that any university student should include on a cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:

Creating a visually appealing header for your university cover letter
Researching employers to craft a personalized cover letter
Writing a compelling introduction as a university student
Showcasing your best skills and accomplishments as a university student
Completing your university student cover letter with a strong conclusion

1. How to create a visually appealing header for your university cover letter

To begin writing your university student cover letter, your first key step is to create a header.

A cover letter header serves two main purposes: to introduce you to the employer and to give your cover letter an appealing visual structure.

Within your header, you should include:

Your name and professional title (if you do not have a professional title yet, you can use the title of the job you are applying for and add “Student” at the end)
Your professional contact information
The name of the company or organization you are applying to

Here is an example of a well-formatted university student cover letter header

Mason Wilds, Hospitality Management Student
(123) 456-7890 | masonwilds@email.com | linkedin.com/in/mason-wilds

To: Hilton Head Hotels
1234 Street Address
New York, NY

2. How to personalize your university student cover letter

One crucial step to take before beginning to write the body text of your cover letter is to research the employer beforehand. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about them and uncover key details about the company that you can reference throughout your cover letter.

Important information to look for during your research includes:

Major projects, partnerships, or programs the company is involved in
The company’s goals, values, and requirements for staff
The person at the company responsible for hiring and reviewing applications

Using the third piece of information, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name. This lets them know immediately the effort you have put into researching and tailoring your cover letter for them specifically.

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings

Dear Mr. John Applewood,
Dear Hiring Manager John Applewood,
Dear Mr. John Applewood & the Hiring Department,

3. How to write a compelling introduction as a university student

Next up, you need to begin the body text of your cover letter with a compelling introduction.

To write a strong introduction as a university student, make sure to include:

A brief overview of your academic experience (most students will have minimal professional experience, making academic experience highly important to describe in a cover letter)
Your specialized area of expertise (such as the degree you are working toward)
A concise statement on why you are a great fit for the position

Here is an example of a great introduction from a university student’s cover letter

Dear Hiring Manager John Applewood,

I am a junior at the University of South Carolina, with two semesters left to complete my degree in Business and Hospitality Management. As I approach my final year of school, I am seeking an internship opportunity with a major hotel chain to hone my hospitality skills and build industry connections. Having earned a spot on my university’s Dean’s List for three consecutive years, I will bring an exceptional work ethic and commitment to excellent service to this position.

4. How to showcase your best skills and accomplishments as a university student

Once your introduction is written and you are satisfied with it, you can move on to writing the remaining body paragraphs of your university student cover letter.

In these body paragraphs, your main goal is to showcase your top skills or accomplishments that are relevant to the job you are applying for. As well as describing these qualifications, you can also use the research you did earlier to reference specific needs of the company and how your skills meet those needs.

Here are 6 examples of skills to describe in a university student cover letter

Communication (always describe your style of communication)
Collaboration and teamwork
Leadership
Critical thinking
Time management
Responsibility

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a cover letter

As a student at the University of South Carolina, I have served as an Orientation Leader for two years, helping to bring new undergraduate students into the fold and get comfortable in their new surroundings. I recently earned the position of Head Orientation Leader thanks to my overwhelming positive reviews from new students I have mentored. Of the 300+ students I have worked with, 95% gave me a five out of five-star rating at the end of their Orientations.

5. How to complete your university student cover letter with a strong conclusion

The last step to writing your university student cover letter is to craft a strong conclusion. In this conclusion, you should include:

The best times and days of the week to contact you
When you are anticipating a response from the employer
When you plan to follow up with the employer
A formal sign-off

Here is an example of a strong conclusion from a university student's cover letter

I am honored to be considered for this position and hope to hear from you within the next week regarding this opportunity. You may best reach me at (123) 456-7890 on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. As I am excited to learn more about this opportunity, I do plan to follow up next Monday morning if I have not heard back about this position.

Many Thanks,

[Applicant Name]

Published on March 6, 2023

Julia Gergelova

Resume Writer

Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as The Business of Business. She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.