A Permission Letter to Study While Working is an official letter written by an employee to request that their employer allow them to study while working.
The letter should include which course you are enrolled in, the maximum number of hours that will be devoted to studying, what days or hours your study sessions will be held on, and the specific date that the letter is being issued.
All full-time or part-time employees who intend to study while working must write a permission letter to seek official approval from their employer before enrolling in a given course or making any study plans. Some employers have policies that forbid employees from studying while working; thus, failing to obtain official authorization to study while working from the employer may result in an employee being reprimanded or even fired.
An application for permission to study while working provides the employer with the chance to review your request, assess whether giving you time off to study will negatively affect their day-to-day business operations, and then decide whether they will allow you or not. The letter also gives the employer the chance to seriously review you as a possible future employee, as it goes into your permanent employment record.
Employers are also more likely to hire or promote an employee interested in advancing their career who has taken the initiative by applying and getting permission to study. Writing the letter is also viewed as an act of trust and honesty on the part of the employee; thus, the employer may be willing to grant them the permission they need, even if working while studying is against the employer’s policies.
Downloadable Templates
With a template, you are sure to include all the required information to convince your employer to grant your request, and your only task will be to customize the template as per your needs, and then print it out for use. Such professional templates are available to download for free below.
How to Write a Permission Letter
This letter is an official business correspondence that goes into an employee’s permanent employment record. The letter should be written professionally, and the language used should be straightforward. The tone used should also be polite and formal, and the entire document must be professionally formatted.
The following section provides a comprehensive guide on writing effective letters of permission to study while working:
Give details of the job position you hold
It is essential to include details about your current job position in the introductory paragraph. Briefly introduce yourself by stating your full name, adding your job title, mentioning the number of hours you work, and including the name of your respective department. This will help your employer understand the role you play in their company.
State your reason for writing the letter
After providing details about yourself and the job position you hold within the organization, provide a brief explanation of your reason for writing the letter. In this context, mention that you are seeking approval to enroll in a given educational program, then briefly state why you need to study while working.
Provide details of the course of study
A well-crafted letter must contain all the details relating to the course you are planning to take. This includes the institution’s name, address, mobile phone number, and contact personnel such as the department head or administrator; the course name; anticipated date of commencement of studies; duration of the course; fees; where it will be held; and the course schedule.
Providing details about your course of study in the letter is crucial because it is the essence of the letter. It is what the employer wants to read, and they may use this information to distinguish genuine requests from those that are not.
Explain your future plans
Use one or more paragraphs to describe your plans for managing work and studies during the period you will be studying. This is a crucial part of the letter because it gives the employer a clear picture of your long-term goals. Provide sufficient details about how you will divide time between studies, your workload, and necessary days off for studying or work.
While writing this section, you should demonstrate how you will achieve a balance between schoolwork and your current job duties and responsibilities to convince the management or your employer further to permit you to study. Besides, be sure to mention that your current hours of employment will not be affected by the additional time you intend to devote to your studies.
Describe your requirements
Your letter must also contain a discussion about the number of hours you will need for study, what days of the week you will be attending classes, the time, and the number of day-offs you will need to ensure you successfully meet and complete the requirements of your course.
Make sure that your requirements are reasonable, considering your current work commitments and level of attendance at work. If you need any financial assistance from your employer to complete your studies, consider describing it in this section and providing as much detail as possible.
To make the letter more convincing for the reader, consider explaining briefly how enrolling in the study program will benefit both you and the company in terms of employee performance and increased future job opportunities with the organization.
EXAMPLE
In your letter, mention that you are a valuable employee who can achieve even more in their current position with further education.
Thank your employer for their support
Showing gratitude to your employer for their support may seem like a small gesture, but it demonstrates your thankfulness and shows that you are mindful of the employer’s support. So, briefly thank your employer for their support, even though they may not approve your request. You may also include a statement about how you will continue to be an asset to the organization and how your studies can improve your performance as a top-level employee.
Provide your contact details for a follow-up
Conclude your letter by reiterating your reason for writing it, then provide your contact information to leave the door open for a follow-up or any feedback from your employer or the management.
EXAMPLE
You may provide your reliable email address or mobile phone number and politely ask the employer to contact you if they need any further information.
Afterward, use an appropriate sign-off, such as sincerely, yours truly, etc., to end the letter and then include your signature, printed name, job position, and employment status with the company.
Template and Samples for Permission Letter for Studying While Working
template
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email
Date
Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr. or Mrs. Last Name:
I am employed with your organization in the capacity of ____________ (capacity/job title). I drafted this letter to seek permission from you to pursue my ____________ (course of study). I know it is against the organizational employment policy to engage in any duty besides work.
Nonetheless, I have put in place solid measures to make up for the time that I will be away. I have already presented a plan that will see me alter my work periods to set aside ample time to pursue my studies.
The ____________ (institution applied for) asked me two things with regard to this issue. For one, they have requested that you send them an express written message directly. Then, they have also asked that you remit my annual fees (specify the exact amount) directly to them (account number).
You have to send the written letter within a fortnight from now. The other will come in later after I have already received my registration number.
Feel free to reach out to me for any clarification if need be. I sincerely hope that you won’t let me down.
Respectfully,
Signature (hard copy letter)
FirstName LastName
Sample letters
For those seeking a balance between career growth and educational pursuits, the ensuing sample letters are intended as formal requests to obtain permission for simultaneous work and study commitments.
Sample 01
Dear Mr. James Anderson,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally request your permission to pursue further studies while continuing my employment with Anderson Technologies. As a dedicated employee for the past three years, I have consistently sought ways to contribute positively to our team’s success. I believe that enrolling in a Master’s program in Software Engineering at Greenfield University will significantly enhance my skills and knowledge, directly benefiting our company’s technical team.
The course schedule is flexible and primarily online, ensuring that my work responsibilities will not be compromised. I have already devised a time management plan to balance my studies and work commitments effectively. I am confident that this advanced education will enable me to bring more innovative solutions and improved efficiency to our projects.
Thank you for considering my request. I am looking forward to a positive response and am happy to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Emily Carter
Anderson Technologies
Sample 02
Dear Ms. Laura Bennett,
I am writing to seek your approval to enroll in an evening MBA program at Cityscape Business School while maintaining my current position at Bennett Retail Inc. As the Assistant Manager for the last two years, I have always aimed to contribute substantially to our store’s growth and customer satisfaction.
The MBA program is designed for working professionals and will not interfere with my job responsibilities. It offers courses in the evenings and on weekends, aligning perfectly with my work schedule. By gaining deeper insights into business management, marketing strategies, and customer relations, I am confident that this academic pursuit will enhance my capabilities and directly benefit our store’s operations and sales.
I assure you of my commitment to managing my work and study schedules effectively without impacting my professional responsibilities. I am eager to discuss how this opportunity can be mutually beneficial and am available for any further discussion or clarification needed.
Thank you for considering my request. Your support in this endeavor would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Michael Thompson
Assistant Manager
Bennett Retail, Inc.
Anderson Technologies
If you are still having difficulty crafting an effective letter or simply want to save time and effort writing a letter from scratch, you can consider downloading free templates to help make your work easier and more convenient. The templates are usually pre-written following the accepted standard format, with fields for keying in the relevant details and a comprehensive guideline on the type of information to provide.
Analysis
The two letters seeking permission to study while working serve as useful examples of professional and effective communication due to several key technical aspects. Firstly, both letters begin with a respectful greeting, establishing a formal tone appropriate for workplace correspondence. The writers then introduce their requests clearly and concisely, demonstrating respect for the reader’s time.
A significant strength in these letters is the inclusion of relevant personal and professional context, such as the writer’s current position and tenure with the company, which adds credibility to their requests. Importantly, both writers anticipate potential concerns about their ability to balance work and study. They address this by outlining the flexible nature of their chosen programs and their commitment to maintaining work performance, showcasing proactive thinking and responsibility. Additionally, the letters are structured logically, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the request, making them easy to follow and understand.
The use of polite and appreciative language throughout the letters not only conveys respect but also helps in fostering goodwill. Lastly, the closing remarks are courteous, inviting further discussion and showing openness to addressing any questions or concerns, which is essential in maintaining open lines of communication. These features collectively make these letters useful for readers seeking to write similar requests in a professional setting.
Final Thoughts
If you are among the people who need to pursue higher education while still maintaining their source of income, be sure to craft a well-written and professionally formatted letter requesting your employer to allow you to study while working. Your letter must contain all the relevant details relating to your job position with the employer, the course of study you intend to take, your long-term plans for balancing work and school, and your requirements to complete the course successfully.
Your letter must also demonstrate your gratitude to your employer for their support, and it must be considerate of the employer’s needs and resources as well as your own. By taking into account all these essential tips and standard practices to write a permission letter to study while working, you are sure to convince your employer to grant you permission, sign up for your course, attend classes as per your course schedule, and focus on your studies without worrying about compromising your work in any way.
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