Writing an email to your professor is a daunting task. You have to write a letter that is formal, yet friendly. You can’t be too informal or too formal. Your email should be clear and concise. It should also include all the information your professor needs to know about your request.
Here are some important tips to guide you in writing and sending your email.
- Be clear and concise.
- Your email should be easy to read and understand. Don’t use complicated words or write in long sentences. Short paragraphs are best because they make it easier for your professor to scan the letter and find what they need.
- Don’t ask for multiple things at once. Be specific.
- Be professional, but friendly. Don’t use slang or casual language when communicating with a professor. Stay on topic. Focus your email on a single issue – the one you’re requesting help with.
- Give your professor all the information he/she needs to understand what you’re asking for and how it relates to her area of expertise. For example, if you need an extension on an assignment because of illness, explain why (an illness in your family) and when this happened (two weeks ago).
- Proofread your letter before sending it. It can be hard to catch mistakes in emails, so make sure you read over your email carefully before pressing send. Check for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization. You don’t want your professor thinking that you can’t even spell their name correctly!
- Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”
Here are 19 email-ready templates to use in your next email, depending on the situation:
Email Template 1: How To Write An Email to a Professor for Applying for a course.
Hello, Professor [professor name],
I’m writing to inquire about the possibility of applying to your course. I’m very excited to take the course, and I’m sure it will be a great experience for me!
If you would like more information on the course, or if you have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me at [email address].
Thanks so much,
Email Template 2: Thanks for considering my application for joining a course.
Dear Professor [name],
Thank you for considering me for [Specific course]. I am excited to take the next step toward the fulfillment of my lifelong goal to become a nurse. I look forward to hearing from you!
Email Template 3: How To Write An Email to a Professor for Permission to take a class
Dear Professor [name],
I am writing to ask you to consider my request for permission to take your class. I am very excited about the opportunity, and I believe that this is a course that will be beneficial to me. I have taken many classes in the past, and I believe that this one will be different because it will focus more on practical applications of the material than other classes I have taken.
I would be grateful if you could permit me to enroll in your class, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Thank you for your time,
Email Template 4: Joining a course
Dear Professor
I am interested in taking your class this semester. I was wondering if you would accept me into the course. If so, do you have any recommendations for study materials or techniques that I could use to prepare? Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Email Template 5 : Rejoining the next class
Dear Professor,
I wanted to thank you for your time and guidance in class today. I felt like you helped me understand the material, and I feel like my understanding of the subject has improved significantly since taking your class. I’m looking forward to getting back into it this quarter!
Thanks again,
Email Template 6: Let’s meet and discuss.
Dear Professor [name],
I am writing to ask you if you would be available to meet with me on Thursday, May 20th at 2:30 pm. I have been informed that there is a class session that day that I am eligible for and will be able to attend.
I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you in person so that we can discuss my potential participation in the class session.
If your schedule allows for it, please let me know when and where we should meet so that we can set up an appointment. If you would prefer not to meet in person, but prefer to have this conversation over the phone or by email instead, please let me know as well.
Thank you!
Email Template 7: How To Write An Email to a Professor to discuss and get feedback about a paper.
Dear Professor [name],
Thank you for the opportunity to submit my essay for your course. While I appreciate the time you’ve taken to read it, I’m afraid that it does not meet the requirements of this course.
If there is any way that we can work together on a solution that fits my needs, please let me know. Otherwise, I will be happy to take your feedback and consider other options.
Email Template 8: Let’s work together on a project.
Dear Professor [first name]
I am a student at [school name] and I am writing to you about a project that I would like to work on with you. I am interested in learning more about the role of [subject] in your research, specifically about the following question: “How do you define success?”
I appreciate any time that you can give me, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
or
Hello, Professor!
I’m writing to you to express my interest in working on a research project with you. I would like to know if there is any way we could work together on this project. If so, what time frame would be best for me?
I am currently a Ph.D. student in [Department], where I am studying [academic topic] under the direction of Dr. [name], and I have been publishing in peer-reviewed journals since 2013 (see below).
I have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, including students who are also immigrants or refugees, students who are English language learners, and students who have experienced trauma or social inequality as part of their lived experiences.
If you would like more information about this project or other aspects of it, please let me know and we can schedule an appointment for coffee or lunch at your convenience!
Email Template 9: How To Write An Email to a Professor to discuss a bad grade on an assignment
Hello, Professor!
I was very sorry to hear that you were not pleased with my [assignment]. I had worked very hard on it, and I thought it turned out quite well. However, if there is anything that you feel could be improved about it, please let me know so that I can fix those issues before submitting another one.
Thank you for all of your help this semester.
Email Template 10: Clarity on some feedback on a paper.
Hi [name],
I hope you’re doing well. I was hoping to get some feedback on my paper about [topic]. My professor said that it was very interesting, but he wanted me to clarify a few things with him before he could sign off on it.
What do you think? Are there any parts of the paper that you feel need clarification or further explanation? Is there anything you’d like me to add?
Thanks so much for your help!
Email Template 11: Applying for a position at a university.
Dear Professor [name],
I’m writing to you because I am interested in applying for the [position title] at your university. I am an undergraduate student at [university name] and I am currently majoring in [major]. I would love to learn more about how your courses will help me prepare for the job market, and I hope that you can meet with me in person to discuss this.
Please let me know if you can schedule a meeting, or if you prefer it, we can connect via phone or email instead.
Thank you for your time.
Email Template 12: A request to consider a paper for publication.
Dear Professor,
I am a senior in [school], and I wrote my [course] final paper for your class. I hope you will consider it for publication in the [journal]. The paper can be found here: [link to the paper].
I would like to know if you have any comments about my work, so please let me know what you think. I look forward to your response.
Thank you for your time.
Email Template 13: Learn more about your research.
Hello Professor,
I’m writing to you because I found your research interesting and would like to learn more about it. I have a few questions that I would like to discuss with you via email.
If this is not a good time for me to reach out, please let me know when would be best for us to talk.
Best regards,
Email Template 14: Learn more about your field of work.
Dear Professor,
I hope you’re doing well. I’m writing to ask you about a topic that’s been on my mind for quite some time.
I was recently reading about your work in [subject area]. It struck me as incredibly relevant to what I’m studying now, and I thought it might be useful for me to take a look at how it could be applied to my research. If you have any time left over the next few weeks, perhaps we could meet up and discuss some ideas.
Please let me what time works best. Thank you,
Email Template 15:How To Write An Email to a Professor to ask a question about an assignment.
Dear Professor [name],
I have a question about the assignment on [subject]. I was wondering if you would mind if I looked at your notes from class and asked some questions about the assignment. I think it will help me understand the material better, as well as help me improve my understanding.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Email Template 16: Email on Advice about approaching an assignment.
Hello, Professor [professor’s name]!
I was hoping you could help me with a problem I’m having with my [subject]. We’re working on a paper and I think we have the right idea, but I’m having trouble coming up with a way to express it in writing. Can you give me some advice on how to write the paper?
Thanks a lot!
Email Template 17: Absent for class.
Dear Professor,
I am writing to let you know that I will be absent from class this week. I was planning on taking a trip to the beach with my family, but unfortunately, my father is sick and can’t come along. I hope this doesn’t inconvenience you too much!
Best wishes,
Email Template 18: A thank you note.
Hello Professor,
I hope you’re doing well. I’m a student of yours, and I’ve been meaning to thank you for your course on [subject]. It’s been really interesting, and I think you’re an incredible instructor.
I just wanted to say that I appreciate the time and effort you put into teaching this course—it was one of my favourites.
Anyway, thanks again!
Email Template 19: How To Write An Email to a Professor for A follow-up email about an internship at the university.
Hello [professor’s name],
I was wondering if you could please let me know the status of my request for an internship at the university. I sent you an email a few days ago, but haven’t heard back yet.
Thank you!
