Letters of Recommendation Around the World: A Country-by-Country Guide for Global Applicants

If you’ve started looking into letters of recommendation for college applications, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that the rules aren’t the same everywhere.

For students applying internationally, that can make things confusing. In some countries, recommendation letters are a central part of the admissions process. In others, they’re barely considered, or not required at all. So if you’re a global college applicant applying to multiple countries, it’s important to understand how expectations shift depending on where you’re applying.

In the United States, letters of recommendation play a major role in what’s often called a holistic admissions process. Most colleges ask for one to three letters, usually two from teachers and one from a guidance counselor. These letters are meant to give insight beyond grades and test scores. Admissions officers want to understand how you think, how you engage in class, and what kind of student and person you are. You can check out our blog post about US letters of Recommendation at our sister site, Thompson College Consulting.

The United Kingdom takes a much more standardized approach. Instead of multiple letters, applicants submit a single reference through UCAS. This is usually written by a teacher or school counselor and focuses primarily on academic performance, predicted exam results, and subject-specific strengths. Predicted grades are an important component of the UK college application which requires the referee to estimate exam results in different subjects for students. Universities use this to offer students conditional or unconditional offers based on academic performance. Compared to the US, it tends to be more structured and less personal. 

In Canada, the role of recommendation letters depends on the university and the program. Many schools, especially larger public universities, rely mainly on grades for admission decisions. However, more competitive programs, particularly in areas like business or engineering, may still request one or two references. Scholarship applications are also more likely to require them, which is why the answer to whether Canadian universities require recommendation letters is often not straightforward.

Australia and New Zealand are relatively simple by comparison. For most undergraduate programs, letters of recommendation are not required at all. Admissions decisions are based primarily on academic results. That said, there are exceptions, particularly for scholarships or specialized programs, where references may still be part of the process.

Across Europe, the picture is more mixed. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and France generally do not place much emphasis on letters of recommendation for undergraduate admissions. However, selective programs or international tracks may still ask for them. When they are required, they tend to be shorter and more academically focused, without the detailed storytelling that is common in U.S. applications.

In Asia, particularly in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, and some international programs in Japan, you’ll often see a blend of different systems. Some universities follow a more holistic model and ask for one or two recommendation letters, while others lean more heavily on academic metrics. Expectations can vary not just by country, but by institution and program.

What all of this means is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to college recommendation letters when you’re applying internationally. Requirements can differ significantly, even between schools in the same country. It’s important to check each university carefully, choose recommenders who understand the context of where you’re applying, and give them enough background if they’re writing for a system they may not be familiar with.

For some universities, a strong letter of recommendation can make a meaningful difference. For others, it may not factor into the decision at all. Understanding that distinction is what allows you to focus your time and effort where it actually matters, and ultimately build a stronger international college application.

We help students and their guidance counselors navigate the nuances between application requirements for each university in a variety of different countries. Sign up today to speak to an admissions specialist now!