Request Letter - Course Information

The question

How to approach this formal letter question

A formal letter goes to someone you do not know, such as a manager or a council. Use a polite, impersonal tone and cover every bullet point.

1. Open with "Dear Sir or Madam," and state your purpose in the first sentence.
2. Give one paragraph per bullet point with specific details.
3. Avoid contractions and slang; use polite requests (I would be grateful if...).
4. Close with "Yours faithfully," and your name.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Opening: 'Dear Sir or Madam', then say you are writing to enquire about the short course and where you found the details.
2. Paragraph 2: explain why you want to take the course, linking it to a specific gap in your studies or career.
3. Paragraph 3: ask the questions about course content and duration, one question per sentence.
4. Paragraph 4: ask about accommodation and fees, and request a written breakdown of costs.
5. Closing: thank them, ask for a reply by a stated date, and sign off 'Yours faithfully'.

Points to cover

• Motivation: a skill you need for your degree or job, such as academic writing or business English, that this course addresses directly.
• Content: ask which topics are covered in each week and whether there is a final assessment or certificate.
• Duration: ask whether the course runs for six or twelve weeks, the start date, and the number of contact hours per week.
• Accommodation: ask whether rooms are on campus, whether meals are included, and whether the college can recommend shared housing nearby.
• Fees: ask for tuition, registration and materials costs separately, and whether scholarships or payment plans exist for international students.

Useful vocabulary

• I am writing to enquire about: I am writing to enquire about the short course in urban planning advertised on your website.
• I would be grateful if you could: I would be grateful if you could send me a full course outline.
• duration: What is the duration of the programme, and how many contact hours are involved each week?
• tuition fees: Could you confirm the tuition fees and whether they include course materials?
• on-campus accommodation: Is on-campus accommodation available to students who attend short courses?
• a full breakdown of: Please provide a full breakdown of the costs involved.
• enrol on: I would like to enrol on the course if it starts in September.
• in addition to: In addition to the course fee, could you tell me whether there are registration charges?
• I look forward to hearing from you: Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Common mistakes

• Asking about fees and accommodation in one sentence, so that one of the two questions is missed.
• Writing 'Dear Sir or Madam' and then closing with 'Yours sincerely', which breaks the formal convention.
• Giving a vague reason such as 'it looks interesting' instead of a link to your studies or career.
• Using contractions such as 'I'd' or 'don't', which are not appropriate in a formal request.
• Writing questions as bare notes, for example 'course length?', rather than full polite questions.

Examiner tip: Give each bullet its own paragraph and ask precise questions, so the admissions office can answer every point without writing back for more detail.