How to Write a Financial Hardship Letter for a Scholarship (with Sample)
Use this sample financial hardship letter for a scholarship as a template for your formal hardship letter.
Last updated on December 2, 2023
When a person requires a scholarship to attend college, he or she must include a financial hardship letter along with the application for the scholarship.
While most of the information about the candidate will be in the application form, the letter will give the scholarship selection committee better insight into the candidate’s financial situation. This may be just what is required to tip the committee in the candidates favor.
Before writing the letter, the candidate should research the terms and conditions of the scholarship for which they are applying to learn if there are any guidelines for sending a financial hardship letter.
It is always important to follow the guidelines, as this will show the committee that the candidate is serious and professional when making his or her request.
Special Circumstances
The hardship letter gives the candidate the chance to explain any special circumstances that have contributed to his or her financial hardship. However, the letter should not have a complaining or self-pitying tone.
While most of the information about the candidate will be in the application form, the letter will give the scholarship selection committee better insight into the candidate’s financial situation. This may be just what is required to tip the committee in the candidates favor.
Before writing the letter, the candidate should research the terms and conditions of the scholarship for which they are applying to learn if there are any guidelines for sending a financial hardship letter.
It is always important to follow the guidelines, as this will show the committee that the candidate is serious and professional when making his or her request.
Special Circumstances
The hardship letter gives the candidate the chance to explain any special circumstances that have contributed to his or her financial hardship. However, the letter should not have a complaining or self-pitying tone.
Some of the most common reasons are:
- Unemployment
- Death in the family
- Physical disability
- Unexpected medical expenses
The letter is an opportunity for the candidate to describe his or her academic merit. They can list their grades, awards or honors as well as any extracurricular activities in which they participate. To give evidence of their grades, a copy of their official transcript may be included.
The candidate should give details about the program of study they plan to pursue and explain their career objectives and future goals. The committee may think twice about blocking aid for a person who is working to achieve future goals.
Give Specific Details
The hardship should not appear vague. Supporting documents should be included to give specific details. To support their claim of financial hardship, the candidate should include their W-2 form or tax return depending on the type of hardship they have.
They may also want to include their bank statements for the past six months. It is important for the candidate to be truthful about his or her financial situation. Any misleading statements can be interpreted as fraud and could negatively affect their chances of getting the financial aid they seek.
Proofread the Letter
The letter should be written in a professional business-letter style. Just because the candidate is a student, does not mean he or she should use a casual tone.
The scholarship selection committee will be more impressed with a formal, professional letter. The letter should not contain any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. If necessary, the candidate should ask someone he or she trusts to proofread the letter.
Below is a sample financial hardship letter for a scholarship. Any documents enclosed with the letter should be copies. No original documents should be sent. The letter may be included with a scholarship application form or may be sent separately to the scholarship selection committee head.
If it is sent separately, it should be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested, so the candidate is sure the letter was received. If the candidate does not know the name of the selection committee head, he or she should find out and address the letter to that person.
Give Specific Details
The hardship should not appear vague. Supporting documents should be included to give specific details. To support their claim of financial hardship, the candidate should include their W-2 form or tax return depending on the type of hardship they have.
They may also want to include their bank statements for the past six months. It is important for the candidate to be truthful about his or her financial situation. Any misleading statements can be interpreted as fraud and could negatively affect their chances of getting the financial aid they seek.
Proofread the Letter
The letter should be written in a professional business-letter style. Just because the candidate is a student, does not mean he or she should use a casual tone.
The scholarship selection committee will be more impressed with a formal, professional letter. The letter should not contain any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. If necessary, the candidate should ask someone he or she trusts to proofread the letter.
Below is a sample financial hardship letter for a scholarship. Any documents enclosed with the letter should be copies. No original documents should be sent. The letter may be included with a scholarship application form or may be sent separately to the scholarship selection committee head.
If it is sent separately, it should be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested, so the candidate is sure the letter was received. If the candidate does not know the name of the selection committee head, he or she should find out and address the letter to that person.
Sample Financial Hardship Letter for Scholarship
Name of Candidate
Address of Candidate
City, State, Zip Code
DATE
Name of Head of Scholarship Selection Committee
Name of Scholarship
Address of Head of Committee
City, State, Zip Code
RE: Financial hardship letter
Dear Name of Head of Committee:
This letter is intended to inform you about my extreme financial hardship in the hope it will further my chances of receiving a scholarship to complete my education at Name of Institution.
My mother died when I was 10 years old, and my father has worked hard to pay for my college education for the first two years. He has recently had an accident at work that left him paralyzed from the waist down and unable to continue his job.
He receives worker compensation for his injury but is unable to continue to pay for my college tuition and books. I live at home with him.
I am hoping for a career as a microbiologist, and have received excellent grades so far in all of my courses. I have included a copy of my transcripts for my first two years.
When I graduate with a BSc in biology, I plan to do my best to receive top grades in order to have a good chance for a scholarship to attend graduate school to focus my studies on microbiology.
I have also enclosed my father’s medical records and his bank statement for the past six months.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my application. If you require any further information, I can be reached at Phone Number or at email address.
Sincerely,
Signature of Candidate
Printed Name of Candidate
List of Enclosures: Bank Statements, Medical Records, College Transcripts
By Andre Bradley
Interesting Finds
Name of Candidate
Address of Candidate
City, State, Zip Code
DATE
Name of Head of Scholarship Selection Committee
Name of Scholarship
Address of Head of Committee
City, State, Zip Code
RE: Financial hardship letter
Dear Name of Head of Committee:
This letter is intended to inform you about my extreme financial hardship in the hope it will further my chances of receiving a scholarship to complete my education at Name of Institution.
My mother died when I was 10 years old, and my father has worked hard to pay for my college education for the first two years. He has recently had an accident at work that left him paralyzed from the waist down and unable to continue his job.
He receives worker compensation for his injury but is unable to continue to pay for my college tuition and books. I live at home with him.
I am hoping for a career as a microbiologist, and have received excellent grades so far in all of my courses. I have included a copy of my transcripts for my first two years.
When I graduate with a BSc in biology, I plan to do my best to receive top grades in order to have a good chance for a scholarship to attend graduate school to focus my studies on microbiology.
I have also enclosed my father’s medical records and his bank statement for the past six months.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my application. If you require any further information, I can be reached at Phone Number or at email address.
Sincerely,
Signature of Candidate
Printed Name of Candidate
List of Enclosures: Bank Statements, Medical Records, College Transcripts
By Andre Bradley
Interesting Finds