1.1 Writing a motivation letter
Read the text and make a summary of it.
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.
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.
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.
Some
general recommendations:
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.
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!