[null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5e/Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5e/Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Befriend a Professor Step Version", "alt_text": "Befriend a Professor", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c8/Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c8/Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Ask a Professor for a Paper Extension Step", "alt_text": "Ask a Professor for a Paper Extension", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6d/Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6d/Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation Via Email Step Version", "alt_text": "Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation Via Email", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f4/Email-Teachers-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Email-Teachers-Step-6-Version-2.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f4/Email-Teachers-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Email-Teachers-Step-6-Version-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Email Teachers Step Version", "alt_text": "Email Teachers", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bb/Tell-Your-Teachers-You-Won%27t-Be-Here-over-Email-Step-19.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Tell-Your-Teachers-You-Won%27t-Be-Here-over-Email-Step-19.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bb/Tell-Your-Teachers-You-Won%27t-Be-Here-over-Email-Step-19.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Tell-Your-Teachers-You-Won%27t-Be-Here-over-Email-Step-19.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Tell Your Teachers You Won t Be Here over Email Step", "alt_text": "Tell Your Teachers You Won't Be Here over Email", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c6/Ask-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Through-Email-Step-10.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Through-Email-Step-10.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c6/Ask-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Through-Email-Step-10.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Ask-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Through-Email-Step-10.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Ask for a Letter of Recommendation Through Email Step", "alt_text": "Ask for a Letter of Recommendation Through Email", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6f/Deal-with-a-Demanding-Professor-Step-14.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Deal-with-a-Demanding-Professor-Step-14.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6f/Deal-with-a-Demanding-Professor-Step-14.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Deal-with-a-Demanding-Professor-Step-14.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Deal with a Demanding Professor Step", "alt_text": "Deal with a Demanding Professor", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9d/Relaxed-Woman-Talking.png/-crop-342-184-276px-Relaxed-Woman-Talking.png", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9d/Relaxed-Woman-Talking.png/-crop-342-184-276px-Relaxed-Woman-Talking.png", "formatted_filename": "crop px Relaxed Woman Talking", "alt_text": "Talk To Your Professor about Your Autism", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2c/Make-Money-Online-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Make-Money-Online-Step-3-Version-2.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2c/Make-Money-Online-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/-crop-342-184-245px-Make-Money-Online-Step-3-Version-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Make Money Online Step Version", "alt_text": "Work Effectively with an Online Tutor", "rendered_width": 342, "rendered_height": 184}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5e/Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5e/Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Befriend-a-Professor-Step-12-Version-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Befriend a Professor Step Version", "alt_text": "Befriend a Professor", "rendered_width": 127, "rendered_height": 140}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c8/Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c8/Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Ask-a-Professor-for-a-Paper-Extension-Step-10.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Ask a Professor for a Paper Extension Step", "alt_text": "Ask a Professor for a Paper Extension", "rendered_width": 127, "rendered_height": 140}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor", "unformatted_src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6d/Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg", "src": "https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6d/Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/-crop-127-140-127px-Ask-Your-Professor-for-a-Letter-of-Recommendation-Via-Email-Step-13-Version-3.jpg", "formatted_filename": "crop px Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation Via Email Step Version", "alt_text": "Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation Via Email", "rendered_width": 127, "rendered_height": 140}, null]


Staff Reviewed

How to Email a Professor

Five Parts:Making a Good First ImpressionCreating the Content of the EmailFinishing Up Your EmailSample Academic EmailsSample Personal EmailsCommunity Q&A

Writing an email to a professor takes a bit more thought than shooting an email to a friend or sending a text. Your education is the beginning of your professional career, and you should treat any interactions you have in a professional manner, including emailing. For instance, you should always use your academic account and open your email with a formal greeting. Treat the interaction as you would a formal business letter. Be concise, and remember, grammar counts!


Making a Good First Impression



What should you include in your email?

Creating the Content of the Email



Why should you include your class name and its meeting times in your email?

Finishing Up Your Email



What should you do when sending your email?

Sample Academic Emails Sample Email Professor Asking for Notes Sample Email Professor About a Question

Sample Personal Emails Sample Email Professor Asking for a Favor Sample Email Professor About Lunch



To email a professor, start with a formal salutation like "Dear Professor Jones" or "Hello Professor Jones." Then, briefly explain who you are by saying something like "I'm Mike Smith and I'm in your drawing 101 class on Mondays and Thursdays." Next, get straight to the point by stating why you're emailing. Remember to use a professional tone and language so your email doesn't sound too casual. When you're finished, end your email with "Sincerely" or "Best" followed by your full name.


 
Befriend a Professor 
Ask a Professor for a Paper Extension 
Get a Professor to Change Your Grade 
Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation Via Email 
Email Teachers 
Tell Your Teachers You Won't Be Here over Email 
Thank a Professor 
Ask for a Letter of Recommendation Through Email 
Find a PhD Advisor 
Contact Professors As a Grad School Applicant 
Deal with a Demanding Professor 
Talk To Your Professor about Your Autism 
Negotiate an Issue With Your Headteacher 
Work Effectively with an Online Tutor




Categories: Interacting with Academic Staff


Italiano: Scrivere un'Email a un Professore, Español: enviar un email a un profesor, Português: Enviar um Email Para um Professor, Deutsch: Einem Professor emailen, Français: écrire un mail à un professeur, 中文: 给教授发邮件, Русский: написать электронное письмо преподавателю, Bahasa Indonesia: Mengirim Surel kepada Profesor, Nederlands: Een docent mailen, Čeština: Jak napsat email profesorovi, العربية: مراسلة أستاذك عبر البريد الإلكتروني, हिन्दी: अपने प्रोफेसर को ईमेल करें, ไทย: เขียนอีเมลถึงอาจารย์, 한국어: 교수님께 이메일 보내는 방법, Tiếng Việt: Viết email cho giảng viên

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,287,645 times.
wikiHow Staff Editor

Views: 3,287,645
167 votes - 89%

K. Albulushi


"This article gave me very helpful tips about writing an e-mail to my professor."

Wisal Hameed

Sep 1

"It's helped me to communicate with the professor in a good way."

Nakeyia Clark


"It shows how to properly send a email to your professor, which is really helpful for maintaining professionalism. It's something we will need once we graduate."..." more

Shanice Bryan


"I like how they broke it down into a step-by-step procedure. With that being said, it gives the students a better understanding what is expected of them and how to approach their professor. Those are some useful tips to help us out in the long run."..." more

Lexi Navarro


"The most helpful thing in this article was that there were a lot of great tips, and many helpful steps. When I wrote this email to my professor she did not seem annoyed or bothered, and she answered rather quickly. Thanks."..." more

Rhonda Steele


"The overall article was very formative. I have been guilty many times of being informal when writing emails. I also have received informal emails from teachers. I will use this format in my future emails."..." more

M.P. Clark


"I want to direct my students to a good, thorough sites about email etiquette, and this article does the trick. Thanks for compiling it!"..." more

Sayed Latif Hashemi


"I really appreciate your information. Helped me with how to write a brief, excellent email. "

Ahlam Abdunabi


"The article gives me words that helped me to convey my request without being offended."

Nabila Irum


"All the instructions are very helpful. By using them we can email to anyone easily."

Sandy Probst


"It gave me guidelines on what I should be doing or not doing."

Sydney Castillo


"I've never known how to properly email a professor until now."

Sam K.


"It helped me figure out how I should lay out the email. "

Porya Amin


"Helped me write an email to my professor." 
"This is a really helpful article! "



"Very helpful, thank you so much!"

Mohammad Almadani


"It was so helpful. Thanks."

