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Write a motivation letter

A motivation letter is the most important document in an applicant's application. How to write it? Look for examples, ideas, recommendations, as well as common mistakes in the article.

Admission committees are simply piled with documents of honor students, competition champions and other remarkable students. Everyone writes how good he is and how eager he is to study in this particular institution. But how to choose among thousands of profiles just a few dozen of those who are really worthy to study there?

In this article, we look at the world of admission through the eyes of those who make this decision. And we will tell you in detail how to write the one motivation letter (also called the statement of purpose ) that will break through this insurmountable barrier.

Examples of motivation letters

It is harder than it seems.

" It is possible to redeem yourself (in certain cases) or to kill your chances of admission with the personal statement. " — Ruth Miller, Former Director of Graduate Admissions to The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (Princeton University).

A motivation letter through the eyes of the heads of faculties and the admission committee is the most important document in the application of the student. The rest of the papers will not be able to tell much about your personality unlike a motivation letter. In a few hundred words you need to fit your interests and achievements along with your hopes and dreams. Yes, it’s not easy... But it’s worth doing, because it is right here where you have a chance to turn the tides and show your uniqueness, even with sub-par language skills and not so outstanding achievements.

Let's try to figure out how to write a perfect motivation letter. After all, your future depends on it.

What does the admission committee expect?

The answer is quite obvious. The selection committee wants to find out who is hiding behind a mountain of similar documents that end up on their hands.

Motivation letter should create a vivid idea of ​​personality. What describes you as a person? Ambition? Sense of humor? Self-awareness? Imagination? Sociability? This is what you have to find out during the preparation of the motivation letter.

Here are some citations of the representatives of leading American universities confirming this idea:

• “ The most important thing [for me to do] is communicate what we’re not looking for, which is to say that there is no magic formula for admission, there are no right answers .” — Bob Alig, Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania).
• “ Applicants make a mistake when they try to write something they think will please the committee. When they try to anticipate what that might be, they run a great danger of going astray. ” — Albert R. Turnbull, Associate Dean for Admissions and Placement University of Virginia School of Law.
• “ We look for honesty (as far as we can discern it), simplicity, straightforwardness .” — Dr. Andrew G. Frantz, Chairman, Committee on Admissions College of Physicians and Surgeons (Columbia University).
• “ You want to come alive off the page and write the story that only you can write .” — Linda Meehan, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, Columbia Business School.

An interesting short story written in a vibrant, dynamic language is the main requirement that experts insist on. Through a motivation letter, professors want to find out what goals future students are pursuing, what they want to achieve in life, how they can be useful to their university and society as a whole. The main thing is not to overdo it: avoid wordiness, deceit and floridness in the text. No need to send a letter that is bizarre and hard to follow — you need to be yourself, but try to express your thoughts vividly, since you can not use gestures and facial expressions.

More precise recommendations were made by Vince Gotera, professor of English Language and Literature, University of Northern Iowa. In his opinion, the motivation letter should show the applicant as a person:

• Passionately interested in the field. You can do this at the very beginning of the letter using the “hook”, which will be discussed in the following sections;
• Educated , which is obvious from the letter itself, its structure, expressiveness, logic, etc .;
• Well-trained academically, which can be demonstrated through the use of highly specialized terms to describe the achievements of the applicant, and by the achievements themselves;
• Able to cope with the curriculum of the university and finish the program on time, which can be confirmed by prior experience in overcoming problems with performance;
• Ready for cooperation with professors and other students, in other words — collegial. This is not a priority, but developed soft skills will be an obvious plus;
• A potentially prominent representative of this university in the professional field, which can be deduced by the current success of the applicant, as well as by how the student speaks about the previous educational institution.

This is a lot of stuff to fit in a few hundred words, so it is worthwhile to approach each of the points sensibly. No need to describe them in the same order in which they are on the list of the university. Combine, move them, do everything to show yourself as an inventive person, and not a parrot following a line of Brazil nuts to crack.

Formats and structure of motivation letter

In general, most motivation essays can be divided into two categories — unstructured letters, and essays in the form of interviews (or short essay answers to specific questions). The latter are often written by the applicants of overseas MBA programs . In an unstructured essay, the candidate provides information about himself — his achievements, personal qualities, interests, experience, and future goals. Despite the name, in an unstructured essay it is also advisable to adhere to a specific structure, or format. For example:

Option 1: Yesterday — Today — Tomorrow

• I have the experience necessary to study at a university successfully;
• At the moment I want to get the knowledge for further development;
• Your program is ideal for these purposes since I can achieve ...

Option 2: I — You — We

• The description of my achievements, talents, interests;
• The chosen program fully corresponds with my ambitions;
• My potential in combination with your program will bear the following fruit ...

Option 3: What — Why — For what purpose

• What exactly I want to study;
• Why I want to study this particular specialty, why it is so important to me;
• The selected program will help me achieve my goals ...; I expect to receive...
• Introduction . What is my main point? What brought me to this program? ( The first paragraph should attract the attention of the reader. It can be a simple, funny or interesting anecdote from life, leading to the essence of motivation letter ).
• Why me? What significant knowledge and experience I already possess? What have I learned from this experience?
• Why here? How does my academic experience correlate with the faculty / field of study ? Is there a specific project I want to work on, or a specific teacher with whom I am eager to work?
• Why now? What are my short / long term goals? How will teaching on this program, at this time , at this university, help me in their implementation? What will I achieve with this knowledge?
• Conclusion. What is the reader meant to take away? How will they remember this personal statement in particular? ( Here you can create a ring composition by linking the conclusion with the initial thought and ending the essay with the thesis emphasizing the unique features of the applicant and the contribution that he or she will bring to the new learning environment ). [1]
• Describe an experience (either personal or professional) in which you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
• How would you want your professional achievements and contributions to be remembered after your death?
• Discuss an ethical dilemma you have faced and how you dealt with it.
• If you could have dinner with any three people (alive now or from another era), who would they be and what would you hope to learn from them?
• If you are unable to submit the minimum number of recommendation forms that we request, please give your reasons.
• Please explain anything in your application that does not accurately reflect your abilities or potential for successful graduate study.
• Discuss any unique aspect of your personal or professional background that may not be adequately presented elsewhere in this application.
• Describe a situation in which you were compelled to take a stand against the majority. How did this experience strengthen your understanding of leadership?

Tips for organizing the text of a motivation letter

• The requirements of a specific university . This is especially important for candidates who wish to apply for a master’s program. Some universities request not one, but two motivation letters for different master's programs. Others require you to send only handwritten versions of motivation letters, specifying even the color of the ink that should be used. You can find the exact instructions on the official website of the selected university.
• The introduction should start with some original statement or a fact from life in order to grab the attention of the reader and make him follow the whole story to the very end;
• The most interesting facts should be presented at the beginning of the letter, or at least in the first part since no one knows if a member of the admission committee will want to finish reading your letter.
• A logical and sequenced story : as you read through the letter, the character in it should develop as a person in all areas of his or her life.
• An easy-to-follow narrative. Divide the text into smaller paragraphs and try not to use long and flowery expressions along with complex grammatical constructions. This will help you to avoid unnecessary mistakes and confusing punctuation. Each paragraph should have its own small story with the beginning, climax, and end. The speech should be simple and clear, although it is acceptable (and even encouraged) to use highly specialized terms, provided that you understand what they actually mean.
• The conclusion should be a summary, briefly reviewing the information and expressing hope for further cooperation with the university. Reading the letter should leave a pleasant aftertaste, do not describe any negative events or criticize yourself.

Stages of writing a motivational essay

" If you are going to write a winning personal statement, you cannot do it in two or three hours; it requires a lot of thought ." — Faye Deal, Director of Admission, Stanford Law School.

A good essay cannot be written at the snap of a finger. That is why many experts advise starting preparing a few weeks, or even months, before the deadline.

For convenience, let us divide the process into three stages: preparatory, main and final.

Preparatory stage: study and reflection

" What I would love to have people do in preparing their essays is to do a great deal of self-assessment and reflection on their lives and on what’s important to them because the most important thing to us is to get a very candid and real sense of the person. " — Jill Fadule, Director of Admissions, Harvard Business School.

It is often difficult for people to start writing something personal about themselves that requires introspection. If you often face a fear of a blank slate, try the following tips [2] . Creative solutions will not take long.

Record all events that happen to you, be that new experiences or abilities. Never underestimate anything. You may think that a summer trip to Europe, a recently read book or your newly discovered talent as an artist is not so significant, but it is. The sooner you start doing this (several weeks, months), the better. At the same time, you should not immediately evaluate your experiences in terms of their usefulness. Keep this until the next stage.

Try creating an experimental sample of your essay . Imagine that you are taking a creative writing course, and your task is to write a couple of pages about an event from your life that has had a significant impact on you. This must be done so that after reading the essay in front of strangers, they feel as if they have known you for a very long time. It might feel like a rather stupid exercise, but as we heard from the statements of the members of the admission committee, they expect this approach from the applicant.

Brainstorming

Before you start writing, it is advisable to brainstorm ideas. Try to answer questions about yourself, your goals and features, while outlining as many variations as possible. Then select those that will serve as your guidelines in the process of writing your essay. Be honest and remember that the answers often lie beneath the surface.

• What is special, unique or impressive about me? What details of my life can help the admission committee to better understand and distinguish me from other candidates? ( Remember the history of the family, the significant achievements, the people or events that shaped you or influenced your goals ).
• When was the first time I showed interest in this professional field? What have I learned about it and about myself since? What contributed to the development of my interest and strengthened my confidence that I was ideally suited for this profession? What conclusions have I made?
• How did I find out about this profession/field/activity/area of ​​training? ( Perhaps it was in the classroom, at work, during a conversation with practitioners ).
• If I already had work experience, what did it teach me? ( Leadership, managerial skills, etc. ) How did work contribute to my personal growth?
• What are my career goals? ( Don’t be afraid to dream. It doesn’t matter whether everything goes according to plan or not, the main thing is to find what you really want to do, no matter how ordinary or extravagant your dream is ).
• Are there any though spots or discrepancies in my academic performance at the previous place of study that I should explain? ( For example, stable excellent grades but the average result of the entrance exam; a sharp improvement/decline in performance in one of the training periods ).
• Have I had to overcome unusual obstacles or difficulties in life? ( Health problems, financial, family difficulties, etc. ).
• What personal qualities can help me achieve success in the profession? ( For example, honesty, compassion, perseverance ). How can I confirm this?
• What skills do I have? ( Leadership, communicative, analytical, etc. ).
• What makes me different from other candidates? What will allow me to be better / stronger / more successful / more efficient in my chosen professional field?
• Why me? Why should my candidacy interest the selection committee?

An outside perspective

It is equally important when preparing a motivational letter to find someone who could share their perspective. If you could not immediately answer all the questions from the previous exercise or if you have doubts, seek help from professors, friends, colleagues, and just acquaintances whose opinion is valuable to you. You can send a small questionnaire by e-mail or ask to answer in a personal conversation.

• What do you think should the admissions committee know about me?
• What seems to be the most unusual / unique / impressive about me?
• Do you know any events from my past that might be of interest to the admissions committee?
• Do I have special qualities / skills that make you think that I will succeed in studying and working in my chosen profession?

Main stage: writing a motivation letter

In the main section, we decided to provide some practical recommendations from the article How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose by the Professor of the University of Northern Iowa, Vince Gotera [3] .

The best advice from Vince Gotera

The Statement of Purpose required by grad schools is probably the hardest thing you will ever write. I would guess virtually all grad-school applicants, when they write their first draft of the statement of purpose, will get it wrong. Much of what you have learned about writing and also about how to present yourself will lead you astray. For example, here's an opening to a typical first draft:

" I am applying to the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at the University of Okoboji because I believe my writing will blossom at your program since it is a place where I will be challenged and I can hone my writing skills. "

How's that? It's clear, it's direct, and it "strokes" the MFA program, right? Wrong. All of it is obvious and extraneous.The admissions committee knows you are applying to their MFA program because everyone in the stacks of applications they are reading is applying for the same thing. The admissions committee will also know that your writing will "blossom" there since they feel they have a strong program. Of course you will be challenged — all undergrads going on to a grad program will be challenged, no matter how well-prepared they think they are. And of course the new grad student will "hone [her] writing skills" — isn't that the main purpose of the MFA program?

Let's assume the required length of this particular program's statement of purpose is 300 words. Well, with this opening you will have used up 15% of your space saying virtually nothing. 15%!

In fact, not only is this opening paragraph obvious, extraneous, and space-stealing, it's boring! Imagine who's reading this and where: five professors "locked" in a room with 500 applications. Do you think this opening paragraph will command their attention? Will they read the rest of this statement of purpose with an open mind that this applicant is the kind of student they want? Will they remember this application later? You be the judge.

"Hook", which demonstrates the applicant’s passion for the chosen subject.

For a successful motivational essay, you need the so-called "hook". For example, one student of the master's program in library science made an excellent “hook”. It looked something like this:

" When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and left me with something that changed my life: a library of 5,000 books. Some of my best days were spent arranging and reading her books. Since then, I have wanted to be a librarian ."

Everything is clear, it's direct, it's 45 words, and, most important, it tells the admissions committee about Susan's almost life-long passion not just for books but for taking care of books. When the committee starts to discuss their "best picks," don't you think they'll remember her as "the young woman who had her own library"? Of course they will, because having had their own library when they were eleven would probably be a cherished fantasy for each of them!

The connection of the chosen course with an event in life or extracurricular activities

A student named Jennifer wanted to get a master's degree in speech therapy. When asked why she chose this direction, Jennifer said she had taken a class in it for fun and really loved it. But during further discussion the girl remembered that her brother had problems with speech. This was a discovery to her. She had not entered the field with that connection in mind — at least not consciously. But there it was; Jennifer now had her hook.

You have the same task: to find this "hook", to understand why the choice fell on this particular direction, what benefit the applicant can bring with his work in the future, how this will affect him and the others. Find your own truth, and then choose a memorable way of expressing your thoughts.

Equally important for the commission will be your extracurricular activities and hobbies associated with the educational activities. For example, you want to enter the faculty of linguistics, you speak a foreign language at a decent level and help others to study it by organizing free courses.

Universities require a letter of motivation not only to learn about the performance and awards of the applicant, but also so that the applicants themselves really think carefully about why they generally take such a serious step in life as entering a university, and whether they truly desire this.

Is originality the key to success?

The average size of a motivation letter is 300 words, but for some applicants three dozen are enough to declare themselves. One such example is an essay by a student named Nigel, who said that he had written a three-sentence statement of purpose to get into Stanford:

" I want to teach English at the university level. To do this, I need a PhD. That is why I am applying ."

That was the whole thing. It definitely portrays Nigel as brash, risk-taking, no-nonsense, and even arrogant person. If this is how you want to portray yourself, then by all means do this. But you should also know that Nigel's statement of purpose is an all-or-nothing proposition. You can bet there will be members of probably any admissions committee who will find Nigel's statement of purpose offensive, even disrespectful. And they might not want such a student at their school, although there still remains a chance to get the approval of one of the professors.

Lively style

Try to make your paper-and-ink self come alive. Don't just say, "I used to work on an assembly line in a television factory, and one day I decided that I had to get out of there, so I went to college to save my own life ." How about this: " One Thursday, I had soldered the 112th green wire on the same place on the 112th TV remote, and I realized the solder fumes were rotting my brain. I decided college would be my salvation ." Both 35 words, but the latter is more likely to keep the admissions committee reading.

Explain the controversial moments of your academic past

If there are controversial moments in your academic past, tell about them so as not to lose the trust of the admissions committee. For example, in one of the semesters you had only Cs. In this case, it is worth writing a short paragraph about what caused this (emotional problems, life difficulties), then demonstrate how skillfully you were able to deal with this, and now your average score is quite high. Presenting such a situation under a favourable angle, you will make an impression of a determined person, able to face challenging situations and overcome difficulties in a timely manner.

Experience and internships

If you have already managed to work somewhere or took an internship, be sure to indicate this in a motivation letter. Pay particular attention to the details of employment that are directly related to the chosen profession. Consider how you can relate the work done and experience gained to the acceptance criteria.

Skills, abilities and achievements

Members of the selection committee are interested in your strengths: talents, skills, sports achievements, victories in school or university competitions, participation in scholarship programs and more. It’s not at all necessary that the achievements are too significant; it’s enough to tell in a motivational essay what you recall with pride and warmth in your heart, for example, you successfully passed exams at a music school, participated in various clubs (drawing, sports, dancing, etc.), or did volunteer and charity work. It is important to describe those moments that speak of you as a talented, versatile, and interesting person. At the same time, members of the selection committee are interested not in a dry list of skills and achievements (for this there is a CV, or resume), but your ability to reflect and draw conclusions from the experience gained.

Mentioning specific university professors

To begin with, describe the reason you chose this university. Then name one or two professors and what exactly attracts you to their program. Such an approach will introduce you as a person who "did his homework", who is so interested in the chosen direction that he laid the groundwork.

You do not just need to write their names, since anyone who uses the Internet (which is almost everyone) can do this. Mention something that will show respect for the work done by professors. Moreover, it is not necessary to choose the most famous of them, since it is likely that other potential students will do the same. It is better to opt for a lesser-known professor who really seems interesting to you.

The final stage: evaluation and editing of a motivation letter

" The best essays that I've read are from people who've said they’ve learned a lot about themselves through this application process. " — Sally O.Jaeger, Director of Admissions, The Amos Tuck Business School, Dartmouth College.

Before sending the final version, be sure to take the time to analyze the resulting essay: you should carefully review its contents, pay attention to the presentation style, the presence of grammatical and lexical errors. Usually even the obvious errors cannot be seen on the first or second reading, so ask a friend or senior colleague to check the motivation letter. Or just let it rest for a couple of days and then read it again to understand what needs to be fixed.

• Does my letter meet the formal requirements? ( Look at the questions initially posed, the required wordcount, and other requirements of the university ).
• Does it make the kind of impression that I would like to make on the committee? ( Refer to the list of qualities and skills that you made during the preparatory phase ).
• Are there any ambiguous phrases in my text, conflicting points?
• Did I learn something new, unusual about myself after writing a motivation letter?
• Is my story unique? Does it contain cliches and bland phrases that other candidates may include?
• Was I honest with myself?

Evaluation of the final result

Yes, we already said that it is worth getting an opinion from the outside, but this time you are asking questions not about yourself, but about what you got as a result. Ask professors or teachers about the format and style of writing that is most appropriate in a particular case. Along with the text, be sure to indicate the initial requirements that were presented to the letter of motivation.

• Did the opening paragraph draw your attention?
• In general, did you find the motivation letter interesting / well-structured / optimistic?
• In your opinion, is the essay an honest and sincere representation of me?
• Does it answer the questions posed?
• Is there anything important that I missed / should be added?
• Were there moments that seemed out of place to you?
• What conclusions did you draw about me after reading?
• Have you encountered any typos or errors in the text?
• In your opinion, will this letter set me apart from other candidates?
• Do you consider my desire to enter __ (university) __ on __ (specialty / specialization / program) __ justified?

Adjust the essay, taking into account the advice received. But do not think that this is where your work on the letter ends. An epiphany may strike you even after sending an essay to a university. This might end up being crucial information so it is wise to write it down in case you want to submit documents again for later deadlines.

• Letter structure, text organization;
• A “hook” that demonstrates your passion for the selected field;
• Achievements in the chosen direction;
• The logical connection of your motivation with your achievements;
• Special and additional courses in relevant disciplines;
• Extracurricular activities in the selected field;
• Publications and other professional achievements in the direction (reports, papers);
• Explanation of controversial issues in the academic past (if any);
• Arguments for choosing this university;
• Mentioning specific university professors whose work you are interested in;
• Features of the university program that attract you;
• Gathering advice from teachers or professors;
• Checking and adjusting material;
• Further refinement of the letter for subsequent deadlines.

Top 10 mistakes in writing a motivation letter

In order to spark the interest in the admissions committee, you should avoid the most common mistakes made by applicants.

• Repetition of the information that is already given in the academic resume . A motivation letter is a chance to show your personal qualities and desire to develop in the chosen academic field. Therefore, your past victories and achievements should not be the sole focus of your letter, try to look into the future.
• The dull beginning of the essay . Feel free to skip the lengthy introduction of yourself at the beginning of the letter. It would be much better to immediately describe a situation or circumstance that influenced your decision to study in this university. At the same time, try to avoid expressions such as “As a child, I was fond of,” “For as long as I can remember, I liked ...” and other cliched phrases. According to a UCAS study, every year they number in the thousands [5] .
• Writing a single essay for all universities . This approach is fundamentally wrong, because each university has its own advantages, which are worth highlighting in a motivation letter. Having thoroughly examined the site of the chosen university, you will be able to evaluate its contribution to the development of science.
• Faceless narration . Not every motivational letter is embedded in the memory of the members of the selection committee, and the reason lies in the presence of many superficial phrases and the lack of personality. A good essay stands out from the rest with the uniqueness, truthfulness and originality of the author's judgments.
• Unfunny jokes . In their practice, members of the selection committee meet a lot of comedians who want to be remembered for their sparkling sense of humor, but this approach is not always appropriate. The joke may seem harmless to the author of the letter, but members of the selection committee will not appreciate it and might call it offensive. Here you need to clearly understand that everyone has a different sense of humor, and in case of foreign universities — they also have a different worldview. Therefore, we advise you to exclude jokes, of course, if this is not subtle English humor.
• The desire to write as much as possible about yourself . For each topic, it is worth dedicating a single paragraph to reveal more details. Focus on the information that is not in the academic resume.
• Lack of spell checking and text editing . Before sending the letter, ask a teacher or another competent person to check your essay to avoid annoying typos and errors. Even the most interesting motivation letter might be put aside if members of the committee find mistakes in it.
• Writing an essay a few days before sending it . It is advisable to devote enough time to writing a motivation letter. Try to write several letters, then compare them and choose the best.
• Demonstration of other people's achievements . Never appropriate qualities and merits that are not really yours. Be yourself, disclose in your letter only your positive aspects, hobbies, hopes for the future, because in a personal interview, members of the commission may ask you about a fictional hobby or achievement, and then you will have to improvise...
• Lackluster representation of the topic . When writing a motivation letter, it is advisable to adhere to a certain structure of the text, i.e., to gradually explore each paragraph. Otherwise, instead of an ordered essay, you will get a messy gibberish, which will definitely not interest the admissions committee.

Analysis of motivation letters

We have collected several interesting excerpts from the motivation letters of real students in two versions: the original and edited by UniPage specialists.

* Spelling and punctuation of the authors are preserved in their original form.

Ideas for writing a motivation letter for various specialties

In addition to general recommendations that apply to almost any motivation letter, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of a future specialty. We tried to collect tips for you in several areas of preparation. This section, of course, does not provide comprehensive recommendations, but can be a source of inspiration and ideas [6] .

• Politics . First of all, note that politics as an academic discipline is not just the current political agenda covered by the media. The ambitious plans to become a prime minister or president would look somewhat superficial and are unlikely to set you apart from other candidates. Try to dig deeper into your chosen course to understand what exactly attracts you to it. What topics of political debate do you like? What books and ideas fit your understanding of the profession? Of course, the selection committee will be interested to learn about how you came into contact with the world of politics, in what activities you participated, but the ideological filling of your essay will come to the fore.
• Philosophy . Applicants to programs related to philosophy are advised to have some prior theoretical training. Describe your reading experience. You may also have attended lectures on philosophical topics outside of class. Do not be afraid to express your own opinion on issues of morality, free will, and consciousness. The best way to show the level of your readiness for studying philosophy is the ability to think rationally, deeply analyze problems and argue your case, which should be reflected in the entire content of the motivation letter.
• Sociology . Your task is to demonstrate awareness of social issues and, ideally, a desire to help the social perception of a diverse and rapidly changing world. Think and personally formulate your interest in studying the relationship between a person and the society.
• Geography is a fairly large-scale discipline, which includes many types of activities and research areas. You can mention your travel experience, but at the same time, it is worthwhile for the members of the selection committee to specify your scientific interests: geographical information systems, individual regions, tropical savannahs or coastal zones, tourism, geopolitics, etc. If the course you are applying for already has a specialization, for example, migration or marine ecology, refer to actual scientific discussions on this topic or to your own practical experience (you may have made notes during one of your trips and came up with the conclusion...).
• History . Describe which historical periods, topics or trends attract you and why, what books you have read or maybe historical places you visited have influenced you, made you love history. At the same time, do not limit yourself to the banal “I fell in love with history when my dad took me to the castle on a tour” or “I think that history is important for understanding the world in which we live.” Try to identify the reasons, give specific examples. You may recall a powerful documentary or a discussion with your grandfather about World War II. Give evidence that you or any other modern person interacts with history in one way or another. For example, you play in a band, looking for inspiration in the music of the early 20th century performers. If you wish, you can even reflect on the fundamental issues of historical science, such as whether there is the only right and truthful way of displaying historical events.
• Economics . Think about the unique characteristics of a local, national, regional, or global economy that you can highlight. Show understanding of economic and mathematical principles and concepts, but avoid retelling. Your task is to communicate something new, describe how these principles can be applied in the modern world in general and in everyday activities. A typical economics applicant will indicate that he is subscribed to The Economist , The Financial Times, or Frakonomics , thinking that this is a very original idea. Well, it is not. Better choose a couple events or questions and analyze their implications.
• Psychology . Many applicants focus solely on the practical part of psychology — helping people, and neglect the importance of scientific theory, statistics and experiments, which often repels the admissions office. You are not required to retell the work of Sigmund Freud — it can be thematic books, magazines, websites or even podcasts that you found out of a love of psychology. If you have a personal story that brought you to the program, you can share it, but you should not spend a whole page on autobiography, describing every little detail of your mental condition. If you do not have any experience in the professional field, examples from your life will come to the rescue. For example, you can analyze the observations from your previous place of work or your participation in volunteer and other extracurricular activities.
• Social work . In most cases, a social worker is not limited to helping only one group of the population, so it is worth showing your involvement with the problems of various layers of society. In your essay, remember the moments when you supported someone, be it in nursing homes, youth clubs, Sunday children’s groups, kindergartens, mentoring programs, or anti-bullying campaigns. Perhaps you had the opportunity to talk with a social worker and you have your own thoughts on the matter. Remember that the letter should carry the value of non-discriminatory behavior and awareness of the consequences of social inequality.
• Teacher training and education . Tell us about your experience of studying or working in an educational environment. What, in your opinion, is the role of the teacher? What challenges do they face? What strategies of motivation and involvement do they use in the classroom? Describe the skills or qualities of the teacher that you think are of the utmost importance. Does any of them match with yours? Do not forget to explain why you chose the profession of a teacher, a specific age group of students and subject specialization. At the same time, avoid cliches like “I love children”, “I was born (a) to teach”, “Since childhood I (dreamed) to become a teacher”, etc.
• Literary study . Obviously, in literature, as in no other direction, the admission committee will be especially sensitive to the language content of your letter. However, you are not required to imitate Tolstoy’s skill. Abstract philosophical statements, sentences stretched over the entire paragraph, elaborate syntactic constructions or overly complex vocabulary — none of these is the winning tactic. Indicate the works of the writers you like, which areas of literature you are particularly interested in. Be careful when choosing the most popular or well-known book from the school curriculum, but at the same time do not pick some strange poem or an eccentric writer for the sole reason of making an impression on an admission committee. What matters here is not what you have on the bookshelf, but whether you can demonstrate creativity, thoughtfulness, and critical thinking. At the same time, you can also appeal to broader cultural interests — theatrical productions, journalistic texts, etc. Of course, all this should be connected with the chosen course — the tale about Cinderella, that you read when you were 6, is unlikely to interest the commission.
• Linguistics, modern languages . When writing a letter, take into account the specifics of the course you are applying to. If the focus is shifted towards applied linguistics, tell about the methods of learning languages ​​that turned out to be the most effective for you. For specialties related to intercultural communication, note what opportunities for immersion in culture you used. It is not a single experience that is important, but the process of developing your interest, and the degree of involvement. If you have been abroad — what thoughts do you have about the culture, history, politics of the country you visited? If you spent a semester as an exchange student — were there any difficulties and how did you cope with the language barrier? If you watched an English film — are there any major differences from French movies that cover the same themes (for bilingual programs)?
• Media studies and journalism . Decide in advance what you want to do — conduct media research, create your own media content, or combine both activities. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of media in the modern world, its social and cultural impact. You can even select a movie, TV series, game, website, indicating what features of their production, distribution and analysis you would like to master on the program. In case of practical journalism, it should be clear from your letter that you know about the work of a journalist, correspondent. Be sure to follow the main stories that are circulating in the media at the time to confirm your awareness if necessary. You can reflect on the difference in coverage of events and its objectivity. Although the admission committee insists on having work experience, do not be discouraged if you have none. A personal blog or school newspaper can sometimes teach more than a news agency. You can refer to your publications in a motivation letter, as well as send them along with the application documents.
• Biology . Remember how you came into contact with biology in real life. Perhaps it was a camping trip or a visit to the university’s laboratory. Make sure to specify the areas of biology that interest you the most: the cellular structure, human physiology, the environment, or the science of living organisms in general. Do not mix biology with medical specialties, thereby showing lack of motivation in this area.
• Environmental science . Show your knowledge of the subject and describe what attracts you to it — its interdisciplinary nature (research approach) or the possibility of a comprehensive theoretical and practical training. Think about the current environmental issues and what impact they have on you personally. What new ways to deal with them can you offer?
• Chemistry . Many applicants try to demonstrate their knowledge by describing a particular theory or by bringing unsystematic observations on a subject that do not intersect with their real interests. Most often this is what the experts from the admissions committee know as well. Instead, try focusing on one or two examples of applying chemistry knowledge in real life. This may be a case at work, a lecture you attended or a documentary you watched — the main thing is to show that your interests go beyond the classroom. Do not forget to describe how you imagine the learning process itself (why are you sure that you will not get bored for 3-4 years of lectures and chemical experiments in the laboratory?) And your career goals.
• Art and design . Name the artists or designers that you admire, reflect on the exhibitions or art galleries that you recently visited and which influenced your own work. Of course, it is important for members of the admission committee to understand your view on contemporary art, but it is much more important to see the uniqueness of your practical experience. Remember that a motivation letter is a kind of addition to the portfolio: you can refer to specific pieces you submitted, projects, explain what they represent.
• Photography . Describe how you interact with visual art, what forms your professional interest (photographers, exhibitions, magazines and even websites), but do not limit yourself to the sphere of photography alone — perhaps you are also inspired by artists or writers. Do not forget to turn to your own work: the admissions committee appreciates the applicants who can tell what is hidden behind the objects in the picture, what methods the creator used to convey his idea of ​​how he left the comfort zone. At the same time, be careful indicating your narrow specialization (for example, fashion photography), if you submit documents for a course with a general curriculum — this may reduce the chances of admission.
• Performing arts . It would seem that motivation letters for such creative specialties, such as performing arts , should demonstrate the greatest degree of creativity. However, it is here that the most cliches can be found: “I am a natural born dancer”, “on stage I become a different person”, “music is my life”, “music is a universal language”, etc. Talking about your practical experience, it is worth remembering that your desire and ability to perform and play are good, but not enough for the university level. You need to understand what kind of professional development the degree can give you. The admission committee expects analytical skills, the ability to think critically, to interpret certain dance, theater, and musical works.
• Dance . According to experts, the experience the student has in areas related to the movement, be it sports, martial arts or even a circus is very important. The main thing is to show how this led to the chosen program. Remember, in which dance groups you participated as an artist or organizer, what lessons you learned.
• Drama . Write a letter knowing the program you are applying for, the alleged ratio of theory to practice is especially important. Think what areas are interesting to study: the work of directors, artists, designers, editors, theater troupes.
• Music . Music is the basis for a number of programs: from creation technologies to stage performance, from composing lyrics to writing journalistic reviews, from pop to opera. Be prepared to justify your passion for a particular area, not music in general.
• Architecture . Given that architecture belongs to creative professions, many admissions committees insist the applicants present themselves and their motivation creatively. For others it is important to hear what specific buildings, structures you like. However, avoid the dry listing of tourist attractions — look for reasons. Indicate the architects whose work you admire, their signature style, and your opinion about them.
• Construction , Building . Remember that each program is unique: if you apply for “Architectural Technologies”, you should not say that you want to become an architect, because it means that you do not know the difference and take this program as a backup option.
• Planning . Explore the social, economic, and political aspects of urban planning, its relationship with design, and environmental factors. Find out what problems professional designers are dealing with, what ethical and practical challenges of this profession, you may have to face personally.
• Physics . The main requirement is to demonstrate a genuine interest in science and technology. You can tell about how diligently you studied a particular issue of physics, what literature you found particularly interesting. But do not just say “I read “ A Brief History of Time ”(by the way, a fairly typical choice of the applicants). It is better to express your opinion on an urgent problem, for example, whether it is necessary to build more nuclear power plants. The most striking may be the part of the letter in which you talk about your own discovery, or even invention. Perhaps you built a rocket launcher out of a water bottle, and then realized that it was operating under Newton’s second and third laws. Similar stories really stand out.
• Maths . Reading math books that are not in the curriculum, participating in math clubs, winning competitions, solving non-standard math problems. Try to remember the moments that brought you closer to choosing a future profession. Perhaps you participated and won in mathematical competitions. Which area of ​​mathematical science is closer to you? Algebra, geometry, statistics or something else?
• Computer science . Judging by the statements of the members of admission committees, letters with a story about the purchase of the first computer at the age of three did not age very well. Be unique. Express your point of view regarding a professional issue that has been a point of contention for you, for example, data privacy (consider the profile of the course you have chosen). Since computer science is closely related to mathematics, experience in both areas can make a difference. In addition to reading relevant literature, indicate whether you have been involved in programming projects. You may have written one simple program, but even this may be enough to show your involvement in the subject. Avoid general statements like “I am excited about artificial intelligence” or “You cannot do without a computer in the modern world” if you cannot explore them in a new and interesting way.
• Engineering . Describe the work experience, project, or training course associated with the selected course. What was so interesting about them? What caused you some difficulties? If you haven’t had the chance to try yourself in a specialized field, focus on something that helped you develop your technical abilities and soft skills. However, do not go as far as talking about how you liked to play Legos or that the first word you spoke was “hydraulics”. Better remember your recent experience. Even if you just like to disassemble and repair items, watch their internal structure, include this in your essay.
• Law . Any experience related to the activities of lawyers can be significant, be that actually working in a law office, a mini-internship, volunteering in the department of citizen counseling or just attending a court session. At school or university, you could have participated in debates or even been the organizer of your own debate club. Show that you have or are doing everything you can to develop the skills that are important for a lawyer — public speaking, persuasion, attention to detail. Mentioning certain events, show your interest in the analysis of their legal component.
• Medicine . In medicine, practical experience is especially valuable. However, it is obvious that not everyone is able to observe the work of a doctor before admission (such a practice is known as shadowing a doctor ). You can show interest in the profession by indicating the experience of caring for patients, mentioning some real situation that happened in the hospital (the doctor helped the unconscious patient, how the staff quickly manages even the most unusual incidents, etc.), including from the side of the patient (maybe once you were helped). At the same time, it is important to mention not so much the knowledge of medical techniques (which most likely you could not get by just observing), but your own understanding of the profession of a doctor, as well as ethical issues related to it. So, one of the representatives of the admission committee said in an interview that they are looking for candidates who not only want to help people, but also are really interested in improving the healthcare system and the wellbeing of society, and are not afraid to talk about death.
• Dentistry . Perhaps the most popular and highly paid medical specialty. Of course, this may serve as a motivation for choosing the profession of a dentist, but ideally, the selection committee expects you to have a higher goal that is significant for society. In any case, always be honest with yourself. As in the case of general medicine, practical experience is valued here, which is not limited to medical practice alone (just observing how the doctor applied the filling is already an experience if you can tell what you learned from this). It will not be superfluous to mention a hobby that requires fine motor skills (modeling, playing a musical instrument), which will confirm good hand-eye coordination and attention to detail — important qualities for a future dentist.
• Nursing . Describe your experience with the healthcare industry as a practitioner or observer. However, you do not need to spend valuable space on a general explanation of what the nurse is responsible for (rest assured the admissions committee knows this). You will demonstrate a greater understanding of the future profession if you reflect on what you personally thought was unusual, interesting, and special in nursing practice. Depending on the course you have chosen, consider what challenges you may encounter when working with people suffering from mental health conditions (mental health nursing), children (child nursing), adults and elderly people (adult and elderly nursing), etc.
• Business and management . In this field, the selection committee wants to see a future innovator, an entrepreneur who is able to effectively communicate information. The structure and organization of a motivation letter is especially important here (otherwise how can you organize yourself if you cannot organize your letter). Express your own point of view on topical business issues: for example, why this or that company went bankrupt, which factors contributed to the revival of a brand. Present yourself as an initiative person who is able to identify and solve real business problems. You may have personal observations related to consumer market behavior, management styles, or marketing campaigns.
• Marketing . Demonstrate an understanding of the marketing industry, how it changes depending on the needs of society, what role marketing plays in the functioning of business operations. Describe the situation when you were directly involved in the marketing processes. At the same time, it is important to show not the extent of the impact, but how this experience benefited you, even if the project as a whole turned out to be unsuccessful. Therefore, school or university initiatives also matter if you can properly sell them. You can mention the statistics that you read in reliable sources or a meeting with a successful businessman (of course, indicating that the conclusions were made by you).
• Finance, accounting . In addition to general requirements, it is worth showing your interest and ability to quantitatively analyze business related issues. It is worth giving specific examples of how you applied mathematical skills to the analysis of business cases. By analogy with the previously mentioned fields, any experience counts: from an internship in a large financial company to a simple conversation with an accountant, from your own business to a student part-time job in a retail clothing store. What conclusions could you draw from this or that activity?
• How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose by Vince Gotera;
• Personal statements by Fulbright Commission;
• How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement by Mark Alan Stewart;
• Personal statements: subject guides by Which? University;
• How to write a personal statement for a UK university by Kathryn Abell;
• 10 things to put in your personal statement by Alan Bullock;
• UCAS' personal statement tool by UCAS;
• The dos and don'ts of writing a personal statement for languages by Abby Young-Powell;
• Motivationsschreiben fürs Studium: Infos, Tipps & Muster für eine erfolgreiche Bewerbung ;
• How to start a personal statement: the killer opening by Alan Bullock;
• How to Write a Personal Statement by EssayEdge;
• Things to avoid in your postgrad personal statement by Charlotte King;
• Writing the Personal Statement by Berkeley Graduate Division;
• Cover Letter & Personal Statement by Cornell College.

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The article covers only the general principles of writing a motivation letter. In order to account for all the subtleties, you can seek professional help from UniPage. Based on the many years of experience, we will edit your motivation letter: we will cover your strengths and add depth to your essay, check grammar, improve the presentation style, help you to avoid generic writing and make your application truly memorable. You can find examples of our work in the "Analysis of motivational letters" section. Moreover, not only we can improve your motivation letter, but also take upon ourselves the handling of a full package of application documents, thereby saving you from the unnecessary paperwork hassle.

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Write an Impressive Motivation Letter

November 13, 2018

Introduction.

Writing the perfect Motivation Letter , whether it’s for a job application, scholarship or University admission , can be challenging.

That’s why I created this, as sort of a reference guide, for you to use when wondering, “ How do I write the perfect motivational letter? ” Please refer back to this guide for the best tips and advice when writing your professional motivation letter .

[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” class=”” width=””]Motivation Letter Writing for CSC Scholarships[/box]

• How to write Motivation Letter for CSC Scholarship?
• Letter of Interest

What is the Motivation Letter?

The letter of motivation is your introductory one-page document attached to your resume . A motivation letter is considered as a 20 seconds read which introduces you to the recruiters and convince them to look further into your documents for consideration of a job or scholarship or admission.

It’s important to keep your motivation letter within one page (unless requirements state otherwise).  Recruiters, university admission officials, and managers only spend about 20 seconds to assess each motivation letter on an average.

With only 20 seconds to impress, you must keep your motivation letter short and direct. There are templates that can be found and used to help you write your motivation letter   for scholarship/Job but remember that recruiters/managers want to know that their job/company is of high importance to you.

Therefore, use caution when using guides or motivation letter templates , these give off the impression that you copy and pasted the same letter to multiple entries/openings.

Your motivational letter is your only chance to show skills you’ve got what it takes to be accepted for a job or to be awarded a scholarship.

The  motivational letter is your only chance to prove yourself. You need to highlight your strengths, present yourself as a highly motivated and capable applicant.

A professional Motivation letter must include the following 7 things:

• Your name and contact details (best way to get a hold of you)
• The name of the company or University you are applying to and its address
• Dear Sir/Madam (directly address the person/manager/hiring director if it’s known)
• The body of the paper
• Signature (signed with a pen, not typed format)

How to write a Motivation Letter?

There are 2 ways in which you can structure the content in your motivational letter:

• You can write it with three paragraphs (an introduction, a body, and a conclusion)
• You can write up to seven paragraphs, each around 3 sentences, that contain clear and concise information regarding the position you are applying for.

Whether you chose the first structure, or the second structure mentioned above, you will use the same 3 steps to focus and direct your letter.  Using these 3 steps will increase your chances of getting an interview.

Step #1: Identify, what an ideal candidate be like as their criteria

As I mentioned earlier, it is important to make the recruiter, company or admission office feel highly important.

Research the company or position you are applying to. Find out why they need the position filled.  What problem or issue is the company facing?

What are they trying to fix by having the position filled? Knowing this information allows you to express your awareness of their problem, gaining the recruiter’s and any reader’s attention immediately.

Step #2: Offer the solution

No matter what challenge you discover they are having, the answer to their problem is always the same.  And that answer is and must be YOU .

Elaborating on why you are the solution to their current problem is the most effective way to be selected or awarded for the position.

State all of the relevant information you can think of – your skills, your achievements, and all of the education you’ve had – that tells them you’re the right candidate.

Tell them what they would be gaining by hiring you and what they would be missing out on if they don’t.

Step #3: Close with confidence

Up to this point, you’ve shown passion and hard work. Now, you need to end your motivational letter in confidence. Close with something similar to this:

“I know I could be of great help to your company/department. When can I start?”

Motivation Letter Writing Tips

1. the introduction.

As the famous saying goes, you don’t get two chances to make a first impression. This is why writing a great introduction to your motivation letter is important.

You should use the first paragraph of the motivation letter to introduce yourself to the recipient. It’s best to address the recipient by name, if possible because this will make your letter feel more personal and the recipient is more likely to pay attention to it.

The key to writing a successful introduction is to encourage the recipient to keep reading and stick around for the end. Therefore, you should mention some of your achievements.

2. Be Professional

While you are encouraged to add a personal touch to the motivational letter, you should remember that this is a professional writer.

And a very important one that determines your future. This is not a quick e-mail back to an old friend, signed with your first name. This writing requires a business format.

3. Do Your Research

Research the university you’re interested in. What are the core values of the university?  What is its mission and vision statement?

What’s their graduation rate? If you’re writing a motivational letter for entrance into a certain program, then research that program in depth.

After you’ve researched, incorporate some of the information you found into your motivational letter.  Showing that you’ve put the time in to do some research is impressive and it goes a long way in the acceptance process.

4. Promote Yourself

Sit down with a pen and notepad and try to come up with a list of things that make you unique. Why should you be accepted?

What makes you stand out? How are you different from everyone else? It’s crucial that you mention you’re a fast learner and a hard worker.

Tell them about your great work ethics. Say that you’re a positive and upbeat person. Go ahead and let them know the last time you helped out in the community or did some volunteer work.

The Admission’s Board is reading and filtering through hundreds, or maybe even thousands of these letters, so you want them to read everything they can about you before moving on to the next letter.

5. Outline First

Before writing your first draft, create a detailed outline for your motivational letter to follow. Include the research section (mentioned above) and the list that makes you unique (also mentioned above), but also include answers to important questions that are specific to your motivational letter.

The questions listed below are the most commonly used and answered when writing a motivational letter.

A  Motivation Letter outline  includes the following questions while writing a draft:

• Who are you and what are you applying for?
• Why did you choose this University/degree/program?
• How did you hear about this University/degree/program?
• Why should you be accepted/considered to this University and/or program?
• What makes you a good candidate?
• What life experiences have prepared you for this University/degree/program?
• What work experiences have prepared you for this University /degree/program?
• What qualities do you have? What skills or qualifications do you have?

6. Stretch It Out

After writing your first Motivation Letter Draft , get up and stretch. Make a pot of coffee. Turn on some music and forget about writing for a minute. The purpose of this is to re-direct your mind and let it recalibrate.

A good rule of thumb is to break for a couple of minutes, every thirty minutes to an hour of working.  Not giving your mind a much-needed break is just setting yourself up for writer’s block.

7. Proofread It

I can’t stress enough how important proofreading is. You should try and implement proofreading in any official document that you write, especially a motivation letter that is going to play an important role in helping you get successfully accepted into the scholarship program that you always dreamed about.

Proofreading your motivation letter will make it look concise and professional. The recipient is more than likely going to be annoyed if he/she notices grammar mistakes and here is where proofreading comes in to save the day.

A useful tip here is to ask a trusted friend or colleague to proofread the motivation letter because they will have an easier time spotting mistakes because they weren’t the ones who wrote it.

8. Do Not Force Humor

Even though it may seem like a good idea to try and write a funny joke in your motivation letter because it’s going to bring a smile on the recipient’s face, this is not a good idea.

The whole purpose of a motivation letter is to be professional and to show the recipient what makes you stand out from all the other applicants.

Trying to be humorous in your motivation letter can go bad because you can never know how well the recipient will react to the jokes.

People don’t find funny the same things and this is why it’s always best to be professional and stick to the point.

Instead of forcing humor, you should try and keep things positive and interesting all throughout the letter so that the recipient is hooked.

9. Spruce It Up

Nobody gets the first rough draft perfect, think again. Look over your rough draft multiple times.  Once you’re truly satisfied, make sure it looks professional.

What font and size are you using?  Is it easy to read? Make sure the font is a universal used font, like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial.

Don’t write in a size smaller than 12. Does your letter fit on one page? Having your motivational letter as one page (unless requirements state otherwise) is extremely important.

It makes reading your letter easier.  And having more than one page makes your letter seem and feel overwhelming to applicant readers.

We scholarship fellow mentors always recommend you to write Motivation letter or letter of interest by yourself but for some students who still face stumbling blocks in writing it can use below Motivational Letter Template:

The Example of Motivational Letter

Example of Motivation Letter for Scholarship

My name is ________. The aim of this letter is to request an opportunity regarding a Ph.D. in the field of solar thermal technology more specifically solar cooling/refrigeration and heating. I had my B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila, Pakistan and M.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Science & Technology, Rawalpindi Pakistan. My master’s thesis work is completed and I have a final defense at the end of next month. To add a genuine contribution of knowledge in the field of Mechanical Engineering & add something to what has previously been known on the subject, I really want to conduct research work at doctorate level in the field of solar thermal technology (Solar Heating & Cooling) which may include areas like heat transfer, refrigeration & air-conditioning, solar thermal systems, Power Plants, internal combustion engines, etc. My M.Sc Thesis title is “Modeling & analysis of solar-assisted adsorption cooling system”. This work is concerned with the study of two configurations of a solar-assisted adsorption cooling system to meet the cooling load of 46kW for an office building located at Islamabad. In configuration-I, return water from adsorption chiller always flows towards a hot water storage tank which is connected to the solar collector. In configuration-II, return water from adsorption chiller may become isolated from the collector-storage tank loop if the water temperature in the storage tank is less than the required temperature i.e. (85C°). Since adsorption chiller can be driven by a low-grade heat at a lower temperature range 50-85 C°, therefore, Flat plate collector and/or Evacuated tube collector can be used. The two system configurations were modeled and analyzed in TRNSYS. Parametric analysis was then carried out to investigate the optimum collector tilt angle, least collector area for a maximum solar fraction, fractional primary energy savings, and solar collector thermal efficiency. Therefore, I have acquired a respectable level of understanding in the field of solar cooling and heating systems. Absence of even a single solar thermal cooling system here in Pakistan to conduct practical research and hence the availability of very few people who truly understand the implementation of this technology from a practical point of view, the power crisis in Pakistan since 2005 which demands implementation of the energy-efficient solar thermal cooling system are few reasons which really motivated me to continue my doctorate level research in this area. That was the thirst for practical exposure to this technology which motivated me to conduct research at Technical University Ilmenau. Presently I am applying for DAAD Ph.D. Research Grant and if being nominated for this scholarship scheme DAAD will sponsor my Ph.D. For this, I have to arrange an acceptance letter from the German Professor and get admission to a university/research institute. I look forward to committed research where I can not only use my academic knowledge to achieve my research goals but also make original scientific contributions to my area of interest and to mankind in general. I will, therefore, be grateful to your Research group if you can give me admission in my above-mentioned research area. Sincerely, your Name ________________

More Examples of Motivation letter  can be download from the link below:

Download: Motivation Letter sample

10 thoughts on “Write an Impressive Motivation Letter”

My name is Teweldebrhan Abraha Reda and I am working in Working in Wolaita sodo University as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. I have being actively involved in different academic and administrative positions staring from the beginning. Therefore, I want to pursue my PhD degree in Psychology from one of your university if there is an opportunity.

Regards, Teweldebrhan Abraha Assistant Professor of Psychology Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia Dean School of Education and Behavioral Sciences Department of Psychology

We are just a scholarships sharing website. Please see our CSC Scholarship section to find a relevant university for your PhD program and apply as per its scholarship methodology. 🙂

I am pursuing PhD degree on peoples awareness of environmental Impacts to a river basin in Bangladesh without any scholarship. How can collect a scholarship to proceed my degree successfully.

You may consider applying for CSC Scholarship or for YLP Japan Scholarship .

Dear Sir Me Riaz Ahmed I am doing Master in Energy and Environment Engineering and I want to pursue PhD in Environmental Engineering field so kindly can you provide me some templates and guide me about that

• Pingback: APPLY NOW: FULLY FUNDED DAAD SCHOLARSHIP 2019 FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN GERMANY - Scholarship Portal

Very useful info. Thanks!

I wanna write a motivational letter and a study plan to a university in China for enrollment ( scholarship)

Hello, my name is James Ladu Modi Asuk Gwate, a graduate at the Catholic University of South Sudan Juba, an affiliate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Nairobi Kenya. I did Economics and Business Administration (EBA), and on the 4th of October 2013, I was awarded a bachelor degree in Economics. Currently, I am working as Director for Documentation and Follow-Up in Terekeka State Government in South Sudan. Well, I am privileged to find the opportunity of studying in Germany through the DAAD Scholarship program for 2019- 2020. However, I am finding difficulties in attaching my school documents to Leipzig University. What can I do then?

Thanks this was really helpful.

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WRITE A SUCCESSFUL MOTIVATION LETTER FOR YOUR MASTER’S

By Alexandru Giurca CONTRIBUTOR  ( Opinions expressed by YOH contributors are their own. )

An important part of the application process for a  Master’s degree at an international university  is the motivation letter (or cover letter) you are required to write. But how to write the best motivation letter? And why is it so important, anyway? 

A well-written letter can be a decisive factor in ensuring you a place in your desired Master’s programme. It is probably the most personalized document of your application. Therefore, writing an original motivation letter for your Master’s is a task that should not be taken lightly.

This article focuses on a few key points drawn from personal experiences, that proved effective in my case, and will hopefully be useful in helping you write a good cover letter. But first, what is a motivation letter, anyway?

What is a motivation letter for university application?

The motivation letter is a way for you to explain why you would be a good fit for the Master’s degree and the university you are applying for. It’s an opportunity for you to describe in a personal way your motivation to apply and the experience you have that led you to this decision. The way you will write your motivation letter may make the difference between being accepted or rejected, especially for universities with high application standards.

Writing a motivation letter is not just a formality. Admission committees take the cover letter very seriously, as it reflects the applicant’s commitment and intentions. The quality of your letter attests your character, goals and ambitions. By requiring a motivation letter, the Master’s recruiting committee offers you the chance to prove yourself with a short document in which you are supposed to give some relevant and interesting insights about yourself.

Writing a motivation letter for admission at university can prove to be sometimes tricky and challenging for some applicants, who often find themselves wondering how the letter should look like, what it should contain, and how to convince coordinators that they are the right ones to be chosen for the programme. Prospective students may also be confused by the different ways in which a motivation letter is called. So, it’s good to know to identify the different types of letters out there, so you write a motivation letter and not something else, by mistake.

What’s the difference between a motivation letter, statement of purpose, cover letter and personal statement?

While the motivation letter and cover letter are used interchangeably, usually, the cover letter refers to a letter you would write to an employer when applying for a job. The motivation letter usually refers to an application letter you would write when applying for a university. 

The statement of purpose is the exact same thing as a motivation letter. It’s basically just a fancier way of saying the same thing. It’s likely you might find universities and employers referring to these letters in one or more of the ways mentioned above.

You might also find motivation letters for university applications being called personal statement letters. But a motivation letter is not the same as a personal statement. The difference is in how long the letter is supposed to be and its intention. Usually, personal statements are more personal and refer to the past, while motivation letters have personal elements, but are focused on future plans. With a motivation letter you refer to past achievements only as proof of your commitment towards your future goals.  

Here’s more information about  what is a personal statement  and more about the  differences between motivation letter and personal statement letter . 

Before you write your motivation letter

First, because the motivation letter is such an important document in your application, you should make sure you start writing it early and reserve enough time to complete it. This is not an essay you rush into a couple of days.

Before you start writing your application motivation letter, it is best you find out as much as possible about the university that is offering the Master’s programme and about the programme itself. Usually, the universities’ website is pretty clear and informative about its requirements, expectations and about what qualifications and qualities they hope their candidates have. You can also try  to search for the university’s profile on Mastersportal  and find all the information you need in one place.

Knowing a little bit about their requirements, about their main projects, activities, personal philosophy and interests will help you get an idea of what your motivation letter should contain. Relating to the main activities and interests of the university will definitely help start a positive cooperation.

How to start your motivational letter

First, address the letter to a person if you know who will read it. Otherwise, just start with “Dear Sir or Madam”.

When starting your motivation letter make sure to grab the reader’s attention from the opening paragraph and tell them exactly what they need to know from the very beginning. It’s a good idea to state in short what programme you want to apply to and why. You can develop more on the “why” in the rest of the letter.

Make sure you make the letter sound personal from the beginning. Don’t make it too generic or use clichés. Does it sound like a real human being wrote it? Also, try engaging the reader. Spark their interest, while keeping the letter professional and not looking to shock them.

It can be a good idea to first start writing the body of the letter and write the intro once you have a clear idea about what the letter will contain. This will make it easier for your letter to make a point and have a logical structure.

How to write your motivation letter

Make sure you cover all the points below to craft a compelling motivation letter for your Master’s degree:

• Write down some of the main ideas you want to include, important points you would like to cover in your motivation letter and later build around them, then enrich their content. 
• Make your goal clear: provide a short preview of the rest of the letter
• Why do you think that the university and the Master’s programme are interesting and suitable for you?
• Focus on some of your strongest qualifications, past experiences (international experiences are always relevant) and qualities; organise the middle paragraphs in terms of the qualifications most relevant to the programme to the least, and you can also refer to your CV for more details.
• Don’t write too much. Most motivation letters are half a page long, and never longer than 1 page!
• You can choose between a 3-paragraph structure (intro, body, outro), or a 5-paragraph structure (where the body includes 3 separate paragraphs).
• Consider referring to sources of inspiration in your life – things that set you on your current path. But don’t force it, and don’t spend too much of the letter on it.
• Here’s where you may also consider not mentioning some of the less important stuff. This help with the focus of the letter and makes it easier to read.

How to end your motivation letter

Just summarize the main points you made and mention your main goal of the letter – to be accepted for the programme. Conclude by restating your interest and show appreciation for the chance to prove yourself in the letter (in some cases, you can ask for a personal interview). Maybe also mention again why you would be a valuable student for the programme. As usual, keep it to the point.

Don’t forget to write your name clearly and sign the letter.

Be personal and original

Give your readers some insight about you, as an individual. Remember this is a personal document in which you are expected to prove that you are different from the rest of the applicants and that your qualities, skills and qualifications make you suitable for participating in the Master’s programme.

Although it might be sometimes helpful to have other motivation letter examples, do not copy other letters you have seen and try to be original, as it will help a lot! Also, avoid bragging too much about yourself. You are not expected to present yourself as a superhero, but to be objective and realistic. Also, make sure not to sound desperate when writing your letter, or to try too much to be liked. This should be obvious: don’t include any false information in your letter! Admission committees read a lot of motivation letters and can easily spot these attempts.

Find Scholarship with Studyportals   

Be professional and consistent

Whether it is the way your motivation letter looks, the way it is organised and structured in paragraphs, the font size, the length of the letter, or the first paragraph, the first impression always counts!

Present your letter in a professional format, style, and grammar (e.g. use the same font, the same abbreviations throughout the letter, etc.). Check for any mistakes you can find. This step is very important because small details make the difference.

Don’t make your sentences too long, as this can make the letter more difficult to read. Also try using commonly used wording rather then complex, bombastic phrasing. 

Get feedback before submitting your motivation letter

It is always a good idea to ask your friends, a teacher or someone who has already done such an application for advice. Usually, you can get in touch with students who are already studying the Master’s programme you are applying for and they can give good advice.

All these key points can prove effective in helping you write a successful motivation letter, but, in the end, your personal touch and knowledge is what matters and makes the difference.

A good motivation letter will always be successful if the applicant is really interested and willing to get the desired place in the Master’s programme of his/her choice. What you really need is to trust yourself and try it. And, if you are not successful the first time, keep on trying, because you will make it!

Here are a few examples of motivation letters that were accepted by admission committees:

• Motivation letter for a Biomedical Engineering degree
• Motivation letter for a Tourism degree
• Motivation letter for a Computer Science degree
• Motivation letter for an Information Systems degree
• Motivation letter for an Optical Technology degree
• Motivation letter for an International MBA
• Motivation letter for a Food Safety degree
• Motivation letter for a History degree
• Motivation letter for a Political Science degree

Coronavirus and international studies

We know you might be worried about your study abroad plans, especially during these uncertain times. That’s why we’ve created an  informational Coronavirus page , which is updated weekly. Here, you can check out:

• How universities are responding
• What online courses are available
• Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) by other students like you

To offer feedback or suggest additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us on our social media channels:  Studyportals – Facebook ,  Studyportals – Instagram .

Alexandru Giurca Studied Forestry at the Transylvania University (Romania), the Georg August University Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Eastern Finland (Finland)

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• Applying For Scholarships

How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter in 2023

Jennifer Finetti Sep 26, 2022

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A scholarship motivation letter can make or break your application. This is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge before an in-person interview. Motivation letters are not required for every application. Yet when they are necessary, they are critical. In this guide, we will provide tips for writing a scholarship motivation letter.

What is a scholarship motivation letter?

A motivation letter is like a cover letter you may include with a job application and resume. The goal of the letter is to explain:

• Why you are a good candidate for the scholarship
• What you plan to do with the education you receive.

Review committees often use motivation letters to narrow down their pool of applicants. Then they assess the rest of the application from the candidates they like best.

Motivation letters are usually required for graduate-level scholarships. Sometimes, you may need to write one for specialty programs at a bachelor’s level too. If you have the option to include a motivation letter with your scholarship application, take it. This may be the only chance you have to wow the review committee.

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Motivation letter for scholarship applications – general guidelines

Usually, the application will not specify how long your motivation letter should be. You will need to use your best judgment to write a concise motivation letter. The letter should include:

• The most important elements of your resume
• Your education
• Your professional experiences and plans for the future.

Motivation letters are usually around 500-1,000 words. Split them into paragraphs for easy reading.

Tailor your motivation letter to fit the sholarship

Your motivation letter should link your future plans with the goals of the scholarship . How will you benefit from continued education in this field? How will you use this knowledge to support the mission of the scholarship provider?

Say that the scholarship is from an agency that supports wildlife preservation. Your letter should explain how you plan to apply your education towards a career in that field.

You also need to establish why you deserve this application more than other applicants. What specific experiences do you have now that set you apart from the rest? What specific plans do you have that will address a current issue in the world? Even if you currently have limited knowledge about the issue, use that to your advantage. Explain how you could thrive with more education and solve even more problems in the future.

The structure of a scholarship motivation letter

Scholarship motivation letters vary by award, but they usually consist of three elements:

• An introduction
• Three body paragraphs
• A conclusion

Your introduction should include your name, level of education and the degree program.

Your first body paragraph should include any work-related experience you have. This can include both paid and unpaid internships. You should show the growth of your career in chronological order. Finally, suggest where your career will go with continued education.

Your second body paragraph should explain what you hope to gain from your education. Think of which problems you aim to solve or uncover.

Your final body paragraph should explain your holistic plans for the future. Some ideas for inspiration:

• You can include extra education you plan to pursue after education.
• You can write about companies or agencies you’d like to work for after graduation.
• You can talk about programs or organizations you would like to develop.

Finally, your conclusion should re-emphasize why you are a good candidate for the scholarship.

What NOT to include when writing a scholarship motivation letter

Your scholarship motivation letter should be well-written with no grammar or spelling errors. Use a professional tone and advanced phrasing (no slang). Provide specific examples about your past, present and future. Stay away from vague generalizations. Vagueness suggests a lack of care or knowledge. Neither of  these are impressive to a scholarship review committee.

Some final tips

Writing a motivation letter for scholarship applications takes time and commitment. Plan what you will say in advance, and allow at least three days to write the letter, review it, step away from it and edit it. This extra time will provide the best chance of success with your application.

A Sample Scholarship Motivation Letter

Julie Moore 9876 Smith St. Stillwater, OK 74074The Scholarship Committee 123 Learning Rd. Suite 4A Oklahoma City, OK 73127

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Julie Moore and I am a third year student at Oklahoma State University. I am currently pursuing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree. My plan is to follow up with a one-year master’s degree after I graduate.

In high school, I worked extensively with my local Habitat for Humanity branch to help build homes for low income families. I learned about the construction process from the ground up, and I discovered the importance of function in architectural design. The homes we built during my four years as a volunteer were never extravagant. They served their purpose and became a beacon of hope for their owners.

My education has been focused on this mindset: function over form, stability over showmanship. I have enrolled in several classes that crossover to the Architectural Engineering major. My goal is to have a comprehensive view of how design meets structure. I have worked on three extra-credit residential design projects under the supervision of my architecture professors (Dr. X and Dr. Y). This helped speed up my research and education.

My goal is to become an architect to create accessible, affordable housing opportunities in underprivileged communities. Living in a college town, I have seen countless rental properties available. Yet there are few homes for sale that are affordable enough for college students and first-time buyers. This is the case in many towns throughout America, especially areas with a low standard of living. I want to create neighborhoods that include affordable starter homes. This would enable low and middle-class families to build equity, avoid excessive debt, and create financial stability for their futures.

This summer, I will intern with  LMNOP Architects. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to continue there as I further develop my skills. After working under acclaimed residential architects Suzan Craft and Peter Wood, I would like to open my own architectural firm focused on developing inexpensive, high-quality housing. I also would like to work with Habitat for Humanity again, this time as an architect instead of a general laborer. I believe firmly in their mission to build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can continue my schooling in architecture and design to bring accessible homes to those in need.

Sincerely, Julie Moore

• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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How to Write a Motivation Letter for Master’s Degree with Sample

Applying for a master’s degree program can be very competitive and involve several parts.  Even when not required, we recommend sending a motivation letter for master’s program. This is a letter, similar to a cover letter for a job application , that tells the reader your qualifications and other reasons that you make a great candidate for their program.

Your motivation letter is a key part of your application package. It’s the first thing that the admissions committee will read, and it can be what they’ll base their decision on.  Your motivation letter should give a strong impression of who you are and how your background, skills, experiences, and goals will benefit the program.  It also demonstrates a level of commitment and research because you took the time to write a strong, relevant motivation letter for the master’s program.

Preparing to Write Your Motivation Letter

To prepare to write your motivation letter, you want to understand the program, its requirements, and the course of study. Your goal is to show that you will be a great addition to their program.

Review the requirements for the program and the course of study.  Make a list of the traits and qualifications that are both required and preferred for the program.  If you know any or can find any on places like LinkedIn , newsletters, or more, you can include any traits that are common amongst current and past students.  One thing that is sure is that you will need to write and research in a particular area.

Often, a master’s program will require that you write a thesis on a topic related to your course of study.  The admissions committee will be looking to see if they think you can successfully do this and other projects in the program.  They will want to see evidence of diligence, commitment, and quality work.

Once you have that list, make a new list (you can use two columns on a piece of paper or spreadsheet if you want) of any accomplishments that satisfy the requirements for the program.  If you have any large research projects, papers, or similar these can be great additions.  They don’t necessarily need to be in school. They could be at your job, volunteer activities, or anywhere else.  It can be especially powerful if you can show that your project was able to drive some position change.  “I completed a study of how we staff our engineering department and was able to reduce headcount by 10% while also reducing absenteeism by 15% by changing the scheduling model that we used.  We saw employee satisfaction go up considerably in the same time period, even with less headcount.”  These may not be directly related to the course of study. They should that you can finish a big project and appreciate its results.

Similarly, if you have other work that relates to the course of study, or a story about why you care about that course of study that can be impressive too.  “I was volunteering in my town restoring old ships.  It was then that I realized that each of these ships had a fascinating story of their own.  I quickly realized that I had a passion and interest in 18th-century colonial history and its impacts on our society today.”  These don’t show accomplishment, but they do show that you care about the subject.

Of course, things like grades or marks and your course of study can be interesting and good information. However, remember that they are going to get this from your school records.  It can be much more impactful to tell them why this matters and how this makes you a powerful candidate for their program.  You want to stand out and show why you are better than someone else who is applying.

We are going to use this next part to help us with the next part.

Writing the Motivation Letter for Your Master’s Program Application

Now that we have our list of accomplishments and qualifications, we can get to work writing.  We recommend a simple three-part structure.  We are going to present those three parts in the order they will be in your letter.  Sometimes, writers find that starting with the body helps, and then they go back and write the introduction and conclusion.  The body is the hardest part, at least normally, so you can reward yourself with the easier parts afterward.

Introduction

The introduction is a simple paragraph, usually only a few sentences. You want to introduce yourself, and why you’re writing, including the program.  You also want to include one or two sentences about why you make a great candidate.  You really don’t need any more than that.

The body of your motivation letter does most of the work.  You are going to use the work you did before and write 1-3 paragraphs about why you are a great candidate.  In an ideal letter, you include a story or impressive accomplishments that show that you are ready to do the work and research necessary to complete the program.

It can also be very powerful to show why you are passionate about the school, the program, or the course of study.  This shows that you are more likely to work hard and contribute to the program.

The last strategy that can be effective is to include a story about how this program can contribute to a bright future. You can talk about goals that you have and are passionate about and how this program can make them happen.

The school is looking to see that you are capable of doing the work they need, contributing to the field of study, and then later reflecting well on the program. You want to write about passions, goals, or accomplishments that demonstrate this.

Closeout your letter by thanking them for their time.  You can express how excited you are about the opportunity and that you are available to discuss your candidacy. You can include your email and phone number to make it easy to contact them.

Sounds easy right?  No, of course, it’s not, but it can be very effective. People like to be inspired. Ideally, your motivation letter will inspire them while showing your passion, commitment and capability.  That will help an admissions officer to want to accept you.

Things to Avoid When Writing Your Motivation Letter

Before we wrap things up, it’s worth mentioning a few things that candidates sometimes do that we see as mistakes or opportunities to improve.   The good news is that most of them are simple and obvious, but not everyone does them.  Doing this well is one more way you can shine in your motivation letter for your master’s program.

As you read through these, one big thing to keep in mind. The goal of your motivation letter is to show the admissions committees and officers that you are capable of and committed to doing the work necessary to complete your graduate education.  Nothing destroys that impression faster than sloppy work.

• Spelling – At a minimum, you want to use a spell checker. We all have them.  There is no excuse for having misspelled words. Unfortunately, for all of us, this doesn’t cover everything. You want to avoid incorrect homonyms and such as well.  Using words like “too” when you meant “to” does not inspire confidence.
• Grammar – The same can be said for grammar, though this is tougher.  For both spelling and grammar, we recommend using a tool like Grammarly .  Their free tool (you can pay too if you want) does a good job of pointing out common spelling and grammatical mistakes. It’s not perfect, but it does a good job of avoiding the largest issues.
• Using a Generic Addressee – You want to address the letter to someone.  This could be the admissions officer, the head of the admissions committee, even the dean of the program.  This makes the letter more personal and shows that you did some research.
• Sending the Same Letter Multiple Times – Odds are good that you are applying to more than one program.  That’s completely fine.  While the programs are probably similar, write a new letter and do the work for each one. Your accomplishments will stay your accomplishments but each program offers something slightly different and is looking for someone slightly different. Show them that you took the time to learn that.  They won’t know what you sent someone else, but it’s often more obvious than you think when the letter wasn’t true for them.
• Writing More than One Page – Yes, you will probably be writing a long, involved, and well-researched thesis.  This isn’t it.  Keep it to one page.  Most readers won’t go past that anyway.  Make it easy on them.
• Being Dishonest – Sometimes, an applicant feels like they need to create accomplishments to be competitive.  It’s not the case.  Of course, we all would love to cure cancer by the time we’re 18. We’ve all heard about teenagers speaking that the UN .  That’s amazing, but for most of us, that isn’t true. The admissions office knows that and you are more likely to get caught than to impress them.

The good news is that most of these are very easy to avoid, but please go through this list before you send your letter.

A Sample Motivation Letter for a Masters Degree Application

We’re including a sample letter to help give you the format and layout of your letter.  Please feel free to use this as a guide but do not send it.  Each of us has our own story and the reason that we would make a great candidate for something that we are applying for. This isn’t your story and it won’t help you get in.  Please do the work to write your own letter, but feel free to use this as a guide. We want you to get admitted, but with your story.

Good luck with your studies. We would love to hear how it goes.

Related posts:

• Writing a Powerful Motivation Letter For Study Abroad
• How to Write a Motivation Letter for Job Application with a Sample
• Motivation Letter for Students Samples
• Motivation Letter for High School with Sample

27 thoughts on “How to Write a Motivation Letter for Master’s Degree with Sample”

I want motivation letter for master of sciences, Epidemiology I hold bachelor degree in medicine and surgery M.B.B.S

dears, could you help me the steps I have to go through to write the motivation letter for Scholarship on development studies?

Need a motivation letter, cover letter, resume for PhD application

I need a motivation letter to follow a masters degree program in electrical engineering at NSNTU, Norway. could you pl. help

Hi,I need an example of a motivation letter and a recommendation letter

We don’t currently have any recommendation letters but if you look at the home page, there is a long list of motivation letters for various scenarios. Pick the one that best matches your needs. Then, copy it and use it as a starting point for what you need. Don’t use our letters, they’re intended to get you started. You want to use one that works for you and your needs. Good luck!

Hello, I need motivation letter to follow a masters degree in Applied Mathematics at University of Pretoria. Could you please help.?

Hi Judith. You can use the template on this page to get started. Copy that and then use the instructions on this page and here to tell your own story. Explain why you should be picked for their program and why you want it. The template is there to help get you started. Good luck on your program!

Dear sir!, I need the procedure how to write motivation letter please!, I hold my BSc degree in biilogy and I want to study masters program abroad

Excellent! On this page, you’ll find a sample motivation letter for your master’s. Use that and the general instructions from here to write a letter that tells your story and why they should pick you for their program. We are working on ways to let you download the sample letters to make it easier to get started. Good luck on your application!

Hello, thanks for your beautiful orientation, on the motivation letter. I am John Sahr Sellu from Sierra Leone. I have a Bachelors’s degree with honors in Pharmacy. I graduated from the college of medicine and allied health sciences, the University of Sierra Leone in 2020. Now I want to apply for a master’s degree in public health, specifically Epidemiology. So I please need your help in achieving this goal. Thanks.

Congratulations on your amazing achievements. We can use all the talent we can get in Epidemiology, so thank you. Unfortunately, we don’t have any templates for that program specifically. If you haven’t already, make sure to review our general guidance on How to Write a Motivation Letter . You can also use the template on this page to get started. Just like with any of our templates, don’t copy it exactly but use it as a guide to getting started on your own letter with your own story. Good luck!

Hello! I need a very professional motivation letter for my masters in finance/ international relations/management in France. My goal is to leave my country and I need to succeed in every admission step so i can achieve it. I really need your help! Thank you

Fantastic! I recommend that you take a look at the samples here and on our Motivation Letters for Study Abroad . Copy the samples there and follow the guidance to make sure that they know why you want the opportunity and why they should choose you. Good luck in your studies!

Hello, please I need a motivation letter to use and apply for Erasmus Mondus scholarship. Just a hint on the caption. I could make up the content.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources for customized support but Fiverr has some good freelancers that can help out. Make sure to interview them first. Gauge their writing skills and they should ask questions about your background before doing your letter. You might ask if they’re willing to share an anonymous sample to get an idea of their writing skills. This link (and the one before) will take you right to a search for motivation letter.

Freelancers change so we don’t tend to recommend anyone specific but if someone does a great job there please feel free to leave their name here for others.

Good luck on your studies!

Hello, could you please help, I need a motivational letter to follow masters degree in health system and services research program at Stellenbosch.

dear kindly help me with outline in writing the motivation letter for master’s degree program best regards Dr.Darison Andrew,MD

Hi Dr. Andrew,

The basic strategy is that you want to find out what they’re looking for and what experience, accomplishments, and goals you have that show you are an outstanding candidate (as best you can). Then, the easiest format is a three-part letter with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction simply highlights the program you’re applying for and maybe one or two sentences about why you’re a good candidate. Then, the body spends 2-3 paragraphs on why you’re a great candidate. You close it out by thanking them and suggesting/asking for/offering a meeting. I like to include my contact information there to make it easier for the reader. THe article has some more specifics.

Afternoon Sir/ Madam

My name is Zinhle L. Mokoena kindly help me with motivation letter for Masters degree. I wish to continue with my studies

Your assistance will be highly appreciated

Thank you Zinhle L. Mokoena

I encourage you to read this post and the others on the structure of a motivation letter. We don’t have resources to write it for you, or help you much beyond that.

Essentially, you want to write a letter in three parts: – Introduction – Body – Conclusion

In the introduction, you want to introduce yourself and the program that you are applying to, and maybe 1-2 sentences about why you’re a great candidate that is supported below.

You want to show how you are a great candidate in the body. I’m not completely clear on what you’re applying for but it looks to be research related. So, you probably want to show your academic background, any research you have done, and any publications you have. This section should be 1-3 paragraphs.

In the conclusion, summarize (in probably one sentence) how you are a good candidate. Offer a meeting or discussion to discuss further and maybe give an easy way to contact you like an email or phone number.

The whole letter should be no more than one page.

If you are applying in English and English isn’t your first language, you might want to look at Grammarly . For native English speakers, the free version is a powerful spell checker and basic grammar checker. However, for non-native English speakers (or weaker writers) it does a great job of highlighting phrasing opportunities. (The paid version only on that but it’s worth it even if only for a month or during the time you are applying). I’m a native English speaker and I use it. I don’t share that as an ad to give you a tool that might help.

If you’re not applying in English, I don’t have the same kinds of tools to recommend but make sure to spell-check and grammar check.

If you still have trouble, you can hire someone to help you write it. Fiverr is a good place for that. There are a lot of freelancers on their advertising motivation letter help. I don’t have any specific people to recommend, but we do have a guide to help you find someone to help. You can find that here .

Please i need a motivation letter for a master’s studies in Mechanical Engineering. Thank you.

Hi Abiodun,

If you are applying in English and English isn’t your first language, you might want to look at Grammarly. For native English speakers, the free version is a powerful spell checker and basic grammar checker. However, for non-native English speakers (or weaker writers) it does a great job of highlighting phrasing opportunities. (The paid version only on that but it’s worth it even if only for a month or during the time you are applying). I’m a native English speaker and I use it. I don’t share that as an ad to give you a tool that might help.

If you still have trouble, you can hire someone to help you write it. Fiverr is a good place for that. There are a lot of freelancers on their advertising motivation letter help. I don’t have any specific people to recommend, but we do have a guide to help you find someone to help. You can find that here.

Hi my name is Abraham, i need a motivational letter for MBA. Thanks Abraham

We don’t have the resources to actually write the letter for you. You can hire someone to help you write it. Fiverr is a good place for that. There are a lot of freelancers on their advertising motivation letter help. I don’t have any specific people to recommend, but we do have a guide to help you find someone to help. You can find that here .

To write it yourself, which is what we’re trying to help you do, we have a post on writing a Motivation Letter for an MBA . I encourage you to read this post and the others on the structure of a motivation letter.

If you’re not applying in English, I don’t have the same kinds of tools to recommend but make sure to spell-check and grammar check, we like Grammarly which has some great resources.

Hi Abraham,

Had some email problems so just replying again so that you get notified of my original response. Thank you.

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A Motivation Letter for Master’s Degree: How to Attain Success?

Tips and Strategies That Will Help You Submit a High-Quality Motivation Essay

How to write a motivation letter for master’s degree, free personal statement sample to check, academic motivation letter help.

A motivation letter for master’s degree is one of the most serious and decisive documents for students aiming to enroll on a specific studying program. When writing a motivation letter, you actually have to present yourself, namely your practical skills, your level of knowledge as well as hard and soft skills.  When it comes to the application process, a motivation letter is the most personalized document you will have to write.

A motivation letter for master’s degree is required since the admission committee can get to know more detailed information about you, particularly why exactly you demonstrate interest in a specific master’s program. As such, the admission committee will expect from you to provide relevant information about you along with your educational background and career aims you plan to achieve. In short, when you are writing a letter of motivation, you need to pinpoint to why you best suit for the grant or a position in a master’s educational program.

If you need to submit a motivation letter for university but you do not know how to write it, read the tips and strategies provided in the article below. Hopefully, they will be effective for you.

Investigate the educational establishment you want to enroll in or a specific master’s program

Before starting work on your motivational essay, it is recommended that you explore different details about the desired master’s program. Particularly, you need to explore information about the institutional affiliation itself as well as about the faculty and a specific major. As a rule, the most essential information can be found on the website of the educational establishment of your choice. For example, you can get to know details about the needed qualifications, expectations, requirements, and desired qualities that the program applicants should possess. If you are aware of the main activities and projects as well as interests and philosophy of the educational program, you will have a clear picture in your mind on how to structure your motivation letter. At the same time, you need to improve your English academic writing skills in order to be able to structure a coherent and logical paper. Therefore, think of enrolling on some online course in academic English writing or motivation letter writing whatsoever.

Identify the main points and aspects of your motivation essay

Before providing a motivation letter for master’s degree, make sure you practice free writing, particularly jot down any ideas that come to your mind when you think of applying for a scholarship or a master’s program in your chosen university. Take into account the following strategies:

• clarify your goal and provide a short overview of what you aim for;
• outline specific reasons why you find a specific educational establishment or a master’s program particularly suitable or interesting for you;
• Outline your qualifications, hard and soft skills, former experience, as well as educational background. When structuring the body paragraphs, make sure you discuss a single idea (a separate qualification or experience) from a separate body paragraph. Make sure you pinpoint to how your skills, abilities, and qualifications are relevant to the requirements of the chosen master’s program;
• Provide a conclusive paragraph where you restate the key points and express appreciation and your wish to be invited for an interview whatsoever.

Be original in writing

You need to express originality of your writing as well as provide some insights about you as an individual. Since a motivation essay is a personalized document, it is normal to include some specific facts about you that you find important and interesting to share with others. You need to emphasize how special you are and what makes you different from the rest of the master’s program applicants. Still, try to maintain objective writing and do not provide information that is not true.

Be consistent and professional in what you write

Keep in mind that first impression always counts, so be attentive when it comes to the way your organize and format your motivation essay. Be careful about the choice of font size and color, indentation, citations, the length of sentences, the use of transition, and the other aspects that impact the overall perception of the text. Make sure you check the text for grammar and punctuation mistakes as well as typos.

Ask someone for objective opinion and advice

It is always a great idea to ask your family members or friends to read your motivation letter and give a feedback on it. The very first thing you should ask them about is whether the text is comprehensible, clear, and easy to understand. Moreover, if you search for some professional or useful piece of advice, try asking the older students studying or finishing their master’s programs on how they personally coped with the assignment. In other case, if you face so many difficulties and challenges, buy a motivation letter from a trustworthy custom writing service.

Even if you use a motivation letter sample when working on your motivation essay, make sure you maintain clarity and originality of thought as well as remain original in your writing. Never copy others’ ideas and try to make your paper creative. It is important to consider specific guidelines and tips concerning the paper structure and organization but what really matters is your individual writing style and in-depth knowledge in what you write. On the whole, a motivation essay can be considered successful if the applicant is interested in the position and is willing to study and use the obtained experience for the better.

When you have the assignment to write a motivation letter for master’s degree, you need to clearly differentiate a motivation letter from a personal statement. So, the former provides the explanation on why you are the best applicant that has to be accepted for the program. As such, you need to provide details and deeply research the general academic environment and overall information about the program you apply for. Moreover, you need to provide qualifications and academic achievements you have achieved so far in the process of your study. The latter, on the other hand, deals more with presenting yourself as a person without focusing much on your achievements, experience, and qualifications. Here you may focus on providing some inspirational story revealing your best qualities and skills and describe yourself as a person, not as a professional.

On the whole, both documents (a motivation letter and a personal statement) serve the same purpose – they help to increase a student’s chances of getting enrolled on a specific studying program or getting a scholarship. Moreover, they help reveal valuable traits and qualities that are used for obtaining the desired experience.

If you want to get a good template for your writing, try analyzing a motivation letter sample:

• An opening paragraph

The opening paragraph and the opening sentence should clearly highlight the purpose of writing your motivation letter. Moreover, you need to provide a sentence or two introducing yourself and indicating why exactly you are interested in studying on a master’s program.

• Develop the main body paragraphs

The main idea of the body paragraphs is to sell yourself as a professional. Emphasize on your best achievements, experience, personal qualities, soft and hard skills, as well as language skills or computer skills if relevant. This information should be preferably included into the first two body paragraphs.

• Elaborate on the third body paragraph

The third body paragraph should express your understanding of the potential master’s program. You should have a clear vision how the program will assist you in obtaining your academic goals as well as how you will further use the obtained knowledge.

• Provide a final statement

When composing the final paragraph, make sure you re-emphasize on the major points again and also express your desire to be invited for an interview by the admission committee. You need to clearly pinpoint as to why you are worth being accepted for the studying program. You can also indicate how exactly you can be reached for an interview (depending on whether it should be help merely face-to-face, online or via telephone). Moreover, make sure you provide full personal and contact information about yourself (such as full name, phone number, Skype address, email address, etc.).

Hopefully, the information on effective motivation essay writing proved to be interesting for you. In case you encounter difficulties, please feel free to order papers from us. Do not hesitate and order from us right now. You will definitely get professional support.

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How to write an outstanding motivation letter for your Masters

Much like preparing your CV, Bachelor and language certificates, the motivation letter is an integral component of modern application requirements. And while it feels like it is more relatable to the world of jobs, reality shows that a large proportion of Masters admissions depend on the content of your motivation letter.

As challenging as it sounds, the preparation of this type of documentary can be enjoyable – especially if you think of it as a short but clear advertisement about yourself. Also, there is no real need to be a dab hand at writing either, but rather in possession of some good language and styling skills. Ready to become subject to marketing? Let’s dive in!

Step 1. Prepare a summary

Now, before actually starting to write your motivation letter, it is a very bright idea to summarise the main points that you will be focusing on. In many cases, this step also includes conducting thorough research based on the Masters study course and university you are applying for.

Hint: Check out the Masters Search if you like to find detailed information about your chosen Masters study programmes and universities in a matter of clicks!

After all, it is good to be familiar with the details regarding your potential future study; most importantly, the admission deadlines and requirements, language of instruction, period of studies, rewarded degree and last but not least, the course modules. Each piece of such information will help the reading person or committee understand that you are perfectly aware what you are applying for.

Of course, this is the stage when it is best to consider the personal information that you will be including. Focus on relevant facts and avoid copying from you CV – your previous Bachelor experience, professional background and personal goals and skills. Finally, it is worth preparing a brief story about a specific study project or work-related activity that presumably led to your decision to continue with a Masters in your specific area.

Step 2. Organisation and structure

With your summary completed, the next stage involves the actual organisation of the content for your motivation letter. And as easy as it sounds, there are many important rules that are often missed out, but also an absolute must for a writing prepared for readers within an academic circle.

For a truly outstanding motivation letter, there should be at least 3 separate parts – introduction, body and conclusion. These should be easily noticeable and at the same time structurally connected, which allows the reader to follow the set line of thought within a minimum length of at least 600 words for the entire motivation letter.

Next, check your styling and follow a simple guideline. One of the most preferable and recommended fonts for this sort writing is Times New Roman, with a size of 12 and spacing set at 1.5. Make sure that your text distribution is justified and search for any online tools that can inform you about the reading level and time. Best case scenario, your motivation letter ends up taking no more than 5 minutes to read while displaying advanced language skills – B2 or C1.

Step 3. Proceed with the writing process

During this final stage, the idea is to test out your writing capabilities and prepare an alpha version of your motivation letter. However, note this – your results do depend on productivity as well. Try capitalising on your most productive period of the day while being stimulated by your most suitable environment as well.

Are you up for some good examples prepared by the MASTER AND MORE editing team? Have a look below!

• For your introduction:

Before beginning with the formal addressing of “ Dear Sir or Madam ”, have a look at your title – it is worth having one. To avoid overcomplicating, simply add “Motivation Letter”.

“I am writing this motivation letter in relation to my Masters application at the [ your chosen university ] . As a Bachelor graduate in [ field of study ] coming from the respected [ your previous university ] , my latest goal is now to become a fellow colleague researching the exciting area of [ subject of your chosen study ] while further gaining experience at [ company where you are employed ] .”

• For your body:

Up next, there is the marketing component that we hinted in the beginning of this article. Here you have the best chance of proving that you are the perfect candidate for this Masters opportunity by switching between past and present experiences.

“During my Bachelor student years at [ your previous university ] I succeeded in thoroughly preparing for my chosen Masters study while developing excellent understanding of [ some previous example subjects ] . Furthermore, I managed to apply a great extent of theory to practice at my working position as a [ your job title ] . In combination with my analytical and multitasking skills, each of my given tasks and projects seemed more and more interesting, which further lit my interest in [ your chosen Masters study field ] .”

• For your conclusion:

And there we have it – the very end of the motivation letter. As a formality, there is no need to go crazy with any unreasonable amount of information or text. For the best results, stick to a strategy of implying that you are thankful and looking forward to a positive outcome.

“I am grateful for the given opportunity and time to review my motivation letter. In the upcoming time, I will look forward to your reply and hope for a positive reaction. Please inform me about a potential interview if there is a further need for information required.”

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