How to Write Motivation Letter for University Admissions [Sample Template]
Most European universities require a motivation letter as a prerequisite for admission. Writing a convincing motivation letter for university admission to study for Masters or Ph.D. programme can be challenging. However, this guide on how to write a motivation letter for University admission with sample templates will be of immense help.
Contents
What is the Motivation Letter
A motivation letter also known as a letter of motivation or personal statement, or statement of purpose or cover letter is a short piece of a written document where you describe your professional competence and personal motivation about choosing to study a particular course at a particular university.
Your letter of motivation is the most personalized and important document you can write to send to a university during the admission application process. The motivation letter will make the difference between getting admission and getting rejected at the university you are sending your application to.
Writing a motivation letter for university admission can prove sometimes tricky and challenging for some applicants. Most often find themselves wondering how the letter should look like, what its content should be, and how to convince the university that you are the right person for the chosen programme.
A university motivation letter for a master’s or Ph.D. program is around 450 to 1000 words long and requires you to state your academic interests, why you have chosen that program, and what your plans are after graduation.
Format for Motivation Letter for University Admissions
Your motivation letter should be grammatically sound and concise. Apart from that, follow the format below to write your letter of motivation.
Length: A motivation letter for a university is usually around 450 to 1000 words long, and between 1 to 1 1/2 pages.
Structure of a Letter of Motivation: The letter is structured into three main parts; introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Others: Recommended fonts for motivation letter are Time New Roman, Arial, Tahoma, Helvetic, Bookman.
The Content of a Motivation Letter
The sole purpose of your motivation letter should be to make it clear that you are qualified for your chosen programme of study. You can do that by including the following;
- Study Background – state your academic performances, involvement in student clubs, unions and organizations.
- Experience with the subject area – acquired skills and knowledge, relevant professional practice and particular achievements.
- Interest in your chosen Masters or P.hD. and university – a personal reason for applying and knowing about the history and reputation of the study programme and institution.
In other words, you have to focus on some facts and figures and evade unnecessary information with no clear and exact connection to your study choice.
READ ALSO: How to Write Scholarship Motivation Letter.
How to Write A Motivation Letter for University Admission
To boost your chances, your letter of motivation must stand out from the crowd. You can do this by simply preparing your own and unique style and design.
Your contents also have to be unique and plagiarism free. Avoid copying contents from the internet, use it only as a guide in writing your own motivation letter.
There are basically three main parts in writing a winning motivation letter for university admission. They are introduction, body, and conclusion. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to write a letter of motivation for university admission abroad.
Introduction
Start your introduction in a chronological manner i.e. the past, present and future of your study choice.
This is an introductory sample of motivation letter that you may want to consider.
My name is [Name], my interest in the field of Business Administration started to grow after a short but fruitful internship back when I was at the age of 16. I learned about the…”
The Body
The body of your letter of motivation is the most important aspect of your letter. The way you compose it determine whether you will be offered admission or not. Keep in mind that it’s an official letter and you have to write in an official tone.
This is a sample of the body of a motivation letter that you may want to consider.
Bachelor study: here you can highlight your achievements as an undergraduate student and share more about your academic success and experiences.
“While at university I had a very balanced curriculum with intense practical modules. This allowed me to participate in a national leadership project which I eventually won. [Here you can insert some more information about the project]. I would like to continue in this direction together with you.”
Work experience: it is relevant to include details about any internships or jobs which you might have had during your previous study. There is no shame in skipping this part if you have nothing to write about but it is worth checking if your application requires any particular practical experience.
“In addition to being a successful full-time student at university, I had the opportunity to apply some theory to practice at a local bank. On a schedule of 20 hours each week, I was responsible for customer and small company payments as Junior Cashier.”
Reasons for your choice: one of the key moments in your motivation letter is the accurate argumentation for choosing a specific university and course.
“I am particularly impressed by the rich reputation and high ranking of the university altogether with the excellent outlook of the bilingual MBA programme including a semester abroad. Moreover, I believe that your close collaboration with real-world businesses and industry-oriented study will give me a competitive advantage for my future professional experience.”
Conclusion
Try to state your desire to be offered admission to the university. Your conclusion paragraph should also be written with a polite way for the admission board’s effort and consideration before you close and sign your letter.
“Thank you for your consideration. I hope that my application will have a positive outcome as I look forward to your answer”.
Best regards,
Your Name”
Sample of Motivation Letter for University Admission
Sample copies of the scholarship motivation letter can be downloaded via the PDF below.
- Motivation Letter for University Sample-1 (.PDF).
- Sample University Motivation Letter Sample-2 (.PDF).
- Motivation Letter for University Sample-3 (.PDF).
Final Thoughts on How to Motivation Letter for University
Pay close attention to grammar and spelling, mistakes will put your application into a bad light. Proofread your letter of motivation. Ask friends or colleagues to comment on it. Finally, we hope the sample letters of motivation inspires you to put up a convincing motivation letter for university admission.
