Letter of Acceptance

(LoA)
By: Dina A. Alfarista, RN. MSc. ClinP.
Letter of Acceptance???

LoA or acceptance letter is a

written agreement to the terms
of admission offered by university

Two types:
1. Conditional LoA
(Transcript/Degree Cert,
Language, RecLet)
2. Unconditional LoA (None)
Steps to apply

 decide country of destination, university and program (Ranking lists: QS World

Ranking, etc.)
 start searching information on the university web (program, modules, area of
expertise, funding, etc.)
 or you can contact study advisors/study agents (legal agreement with universities)
 Check the deadline (ensure sufficient amount of time to apply)
 check the eligibility criteria (on program web) : minimum criteria to be
considered for enrollment)
 if eligible, check the program’s requirements. If Not eligible, try to find another
university or contact the admission staff)
 gather all documents needed and ask for recommendation from previous
supervisor/employer
 ready to apply.
Example of eligibility criteria
Admission requirements

• CV/ resume (follow the given format: Europass or Uni. template)

• Transcripts/degree certificate
• Personal statement
• Study plan (bachelor/master), research proposal (PhD)
• Reference/recommendation letters (Academics/Employers)
• Language Proficiency: IELTS/TOEFL IBT
• Other specific requirements (Writing Samples: PhD, GRE/GMAT,
Porto folio, enrollment tests, etc.)
 CV VS RESUME

A resume is a brief summary of your skills and experience over one or

two pages, a CV is more detailed and can stretch well beyond two pages.
A CV has a clear chronological order listing the whole career of the
individual whereas a resume's information can be shuffled around to
best suit the applicant. Format: UK EU (Europass), US (depends on each
univ)
 INCLUDE: Identity, Profile, Education Background, Work Experiences
(Teaching, Research, Volunteering), Certification/License,
Honours/Awards, Social Activities, and Other Skills.
Transcript, Degree, Reclet

 Upload Transcript and Degree Certificate on application portal

English Version (original translation or authorised Translator)
 Transcript: original or need Credential Evaluation (WES.org,
ECE.org)
 Recommendation:
1. Ask Supervisor/employers.
2. Send them your CV and some useful documents (research plan,
portofolio, etc.)
 Personal statement
Personal statement is a letter that supports your application to study
at a university or college. It is a chance for you to articulate why you
intended to study a particular course or subject, and what skills and
experience you possess that show your passion for your chosen field.
What information I should know…

• Look at course descriptions and identify the qualities, skills, and experience it
requires – you can use these to help you decide what to write about.
• Tell the reader why you’re applying – include your ambitions, as well as what
interests you about the subject, the course provider, and higher education.
• Think about what makes you suitable – this could be relevant experience, skills,
or achievements you’ve gained from education, work, or other activities.
• Include any clubs or societies you belong to – sporting, creative, or musical.
• Mention any relevant employment experience or volunteering you’ve done
• If you took part in a higher education taster course, placement, or summer
school, or something similar, include it.
If the university doesn't specify what type of
information to include, consider the following:
• Your background, your reasons for applying for a particular program and why you
deserve a place above other candidates - discuss your academic interests, career goals
and the university and department's reputation, and write about which aspects of the
course you find most appealing, such as modules or work experience opportunities. Show
that you're ready for the demands of postgraduate life by demonstrating your passion,
knowledge and experience.
• Your preparation - address how undergraduate study has prepared you for a postgraduate
course, mentioning your independent work (e.g. thesis) and topics that most interested
you.
• Evidence of your skillset - highlight relevant skills and knowledge that will enable you to
make an impact on the department, summarizing your abilities in core areas including IT,
numeracy, organization, communication, time management and critical thinking. You can
also cover any grades, awards, work placements, extra readings or conferences that you've
attended and how these have contributed to your readiness for Masters study.
• Your goals - explain your career aspirations and how the course will help you achieve them.
 A great personal statement shows five things

• Writing abilities – grammar, punctuation, organization, creativity, expression,

etc. (grammar check apps or proofreaders)
• The connections between your past education / experiences, present
activities, and future goals.
• Your philosophy of the field and why you are pursuing an opportunity in that
area.
• What makes you unique and how you can add to the diversity of the program.
• How you can be an asset to the University, now and in the future.
 Do and Don’t

do
• tell a story
• Respect word limit
• Brag about yourself
• Obey the rule of grammar
• Personalize your statement
• Get feedback (friends, experts)
• Give plenty time, don’t rush, redraft until you are happy

don't
• Write about sensitive topic
• restate your resume
• have someone else to write your personal statement
• write until the last minute
 Personal statement guideline example

Provide a comprehensive answer, not to exceed 500 words, to the following

question within the Rackham application under the section 'Personal
Statement': How have your background and life experiences, including
cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or
challenges, motivated your decision to pursue the Ph.D. at the University of
Michigan? Note that the personal statement should provide evidence that you
have researched the Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan.
 Writing Sample
The goal of a writing sample is to measure your ability to write professionally
and clearly.
Published Article, Graded Paper, Thesis, or Other Scholarly Papers (The first or
the sole author)
Research Proposal (Research-Based Mphil/PhD)

1. Title
2. Objectives/Aims of Study
3. Background/Introduction
4. Context of Literature
5. Research Methodology (Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods,
Meta-analysis, etc.)
6. Plan of Work/Time Schedule
7. Funding
8. Bibliography
Supervisory Agreement (Research-based)

Some universities may require this letter prior to applying

What to do?
1. Search for supervisor lists
2. Make sure you have the same interest with the supervisor
(his/her publications/research projects)
3. Contact him/her and don’t forget to attach CV, research
proposal, motivation letter. Or contact admission staff
4. Make correspondence and obtain the letter!
Summary

• Decide the program

• Gather detailed information about the program
• Check eligibility criteria and admission requirements
• Contact supervisor or admission staff if needed
• Contact recommender
• Start writing essays and proofread if needed (give yourself plenty of time)
• Fill the application form and pay the admission fee (if any)
• Let’s wait… and here we go… Letter of Acceptance!!!
Thank you…