Is there a single standard format every university uses for a PhD recommendation letter?

No, PhD recommendation letters do not follow a single universal format. Each university, and often each department within it, sets its own specific prompts and requirements for what a recommender should cover.

Examples of Format Differences

Why This Matters for Your Recommenders

Since formats differ by university and department, a generic template your recommender used for a previous application may not fit your target program's requirements. Sharing the exact prompts or form fields for each university helps your recommender tailor their letter correctly.

My Advice

Send each recommender the specific instructions or online form link for every university you are applying to, rather than assuming one letter can be reused everywhere. This small step prevents a mismatched or incomplete submission that could hurt an otherwise strong application.