How do you end an email to a professor?

Thank them, then use a polite closing like "Thank you," "Best regards," or "Sincerely," followed by your full name, course and section.

How do I email my professor that I am sick?

Send a short note before class with the course in the subject line. Say you're sick and will miss class, and ask what you should do to catch up. You don't need to share medical details.

Should I call my professor "Dr." or "Professor"?

Use whatever they use on the syllabus. If you're not sure, "Professor" plus their last name is a safe choice.

How long should I wait for a reply?

Give it about two school days, longer over weekends and exam periods, then send a short, polite follow-up as a reply to your first email.

How do I email a high school teacher?

The same way, a little less formally: "Dear Ms. Allen," then your name and class period, your question, and "Thank you," with your name.

How to email a professor (with templates)

Professors get a lot of email. A clear subject line, the right greeting and a short, specific message make yours easy to answer. Here is the format, plus templates for the emails students send most.

By David Ray · Updated October 30, 2026 · 6 min read · How we research

Quick answer

Use your school email. Put the course and the topic in the subject ("BIO 101: absence on Oct 3"). Start with "Dear Professor Allen," and say who you are and which class you're in. Ask your question in two or three sentences. End with "Thank you," then your full name, course and section. Check the syllabus first in case the answer is there.

Before you write

Check the syllabus and the course site. Many questions about due dates, late work and grading are answered there. The University of Massachusetts Boston writing center advises checking the syllabus first, and if you still can't find the answer, saying that you looked.
Use your school email account. It's easier to identify you, and some professors only answer school addresses.
Think about office hours. Long or personal questions are often better in person.

The format, part by part

Subject line

Include the course code and the reason. UMass Boston's advice is to keep it "simple but specific." Examples:

BIO 101 (Sec. 2): Absence on Oct 3 ENG 220: Extension request for Essay 2 PSY 300: Question about the midterm format Recommendation letter request – Jordan Lee

Greeting

Use "Dear" or "Hello" with their title and last name. Purdue's advising office says "Professor" plus the last name "is almost always a safe bet" if you're not sure of their title. Use "Dr." if they have a doctorate and use it. Use the name they asked students to use in class or on the syllabus.

Good: Dear Professor Allen, or Hello Dr. Allen,
Avoid: "Hey," "Hi there," first names unless invited, and "Mrs." or "Mr." for a professor.

For a high school or middle school teacher, "Dear Ms. Allen," or "Dear Mr. Allen," is standard.

Who you are

One line: your name, the course, and the section or meeting time. A professor may teach 200 students across several classes.

Your request

Say what you need in the first two sentences. Give the key details (dates, assignment names) and stop. Use a short list if you have more than one question.

How to end an email to a professor

Thank them, then sign off with a polite closing and your full name. Purdue suggests "Best regards," "Sincerely," or "Thank you". Add your course and section, and your student ID if your school uses them:

Thank you, Jordan Lee BIO 101, Section 2 (MWF 10 a.m.) Student ID 204518

More options are in our list of professional sign-offs. Skip "Cheers," "Thx," and emojis.

Template: emailing a professor that you are sick

Send it before class if you can. You don't have to share medical details; "I'm sick" is enough. Check the syllabus for whether you need a doctor's note.

Subject: BIO 101 (Sec. 2): Absence today, Oct 3 Dear Professor Allen, I'm Jordan Lee from your Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10 a.m. section. I'm sick and won't be able to attend class today. I'll get the notes from a classmate and review Chapter 6. Is there anything else I should do to catch up, such as an in-class activity I can make up? Thank you for understanding, Jordan Lee BIO 101, Section 2

If you'll miss a test or deadline, say so directly and ask what the options are: "I'm scheduled to take the quiz today. What's the best way for me to make it up?"

Template: asking for an extension

Ask before the deadline, give a short reason, and propose a new date.

Subject: ENG 220: Extension request for Essay 2 Dear Professor Martinez, I'm Jordan Lee from your Tuesday/Thursday 2 p.m. class. I've had a family emergency this week and I'm behind on Essay 2, due Friday, Oct 10. Would it be possible to submit it by Monday, Oct 13? I've finished my outline and about half the draft, and I can share that now if it helps. Thank you for considering this, Jordan Lee ENG 220, Section 4

Template: a question about the class

Subject: PSY 300: Question about the midterm format Dear Dr. Okafor, I'm Jordan Lee from your PSY 300 lecture (Section 1). I checked the syllabus and the course page but couldn't find whether the midterm on Oct 20 will include short-answer questions or only multiple choice. Could you let me know? Thank you. Best regards, Jordan Lee PSY 300, Section 1

Template: asking for a recommendation letter

Ask at least three to four weeks before the deadline. Make it easy to say yes or no, and offer the details they'll need.

Subject: Recommendation letter request – Jordan Lee Dear Professor Allen, I took your BIO 101 and BIO 210 classes in 2025 and earned an A in both. I'm applying to the summer research program at the University of Florida, and I'd be grateful if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. The deadline is November 15. If you're able to, I'll send my résumé, a draft of my personal statement and the submission link. I completely understand if you're not able to this time. Thank you for considering it. Sincerely, Jordan Lee jordan.lee@school.edu

Template: following up when there's no reply

Give it two school days (longer on weekends and during exams). Then reply to your first email so the history stays together.

Subject: Re: PSY 300: Question about the midterm format Dear Dr. Okafor, I wanted to follow up on my question below about the midterm format. I know this is a busy week. If it's easier, I can stop by your office hours on Thursday. Thank you, Jordan Lee

For more on timing and wording, see our guide to the follow-up email.

Quick checklist before you send

Course code and topic in the subject line?
Professor's title and name spelled right?
Your name, course and section in the first line?
Request clear in the first two sentences?
No slang, all-lowercase, or text-message abbreviations?
Full name in your sign-off?

Questions people ask

How do you end an email to a professor?: Thank them, then use a polite closing like "Thank you," "Best regards," or "Sincerely," followed by your full name, course and section.
How do I email my professor that I am sick?: Send a short note before class with the course in the subject line. Say you're sick and will miss class, and ask what you should do to catch up. You don't need to share medical details.
Should I call my professor "Dr." or "Professor"?: Use whatever they use on the syllabus. If you're not sure, "Professor" plus their last name is a safe choice.
How long should I wait for a reply?: Give it about two school days, longer over weekends and exam periods, then send a short, polite follow-up as a reply to your first email.
How do I email a high school teacher?: The same way, a little less formally: "Dear Ms. Allen," then your name and class period, your question, and "Thank you," with your name.

Sources checked