How to Write a Letter of Motivation for DAAD Scholarship?

Students who dream of pursuing their higher studies in Germany, especially with a scholarship, need to prepare an authentic, convincing, and competitive DAAD motivation letter. To draft a perfect DAAD motivation letter, it is important to understand that it is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your qualities and strengths.

DAAD motivation letter: A well-written, authentic, and convincing DAAD letter of motivation can be the key for students aspiring to pursue their higher studies in Germany, especially with a scholarship. Therefore, it is important to pay utmost attention to the content you put in your DAAD letter of motivation, as it may either make or break your chances of securing the scholarship. As DAAD (The German Academic Exchange Service) is an independent organization of German higher education institutions and the world’s largest funding organization, primarily for Master’s and PhD applicants, your DAAD scholarship letter of motivation should be able to make a statement and reflect your true potential.

The quality of your application is one of the crucial requirements, listed among other DAAD scholarship Germany requirements. The foremost one is the proof of your graduation to qualify for admission into a German institution. For this, you can refer to the database provided on admission requirements to check your eligibility to study in Germany, based on your qualifications. Apart from this, a top-notch DAAD Letter of Motivation (LOM) and higher education qualification, the other factors that should be considered are proof of financial resources, visa, residence permit, and health insurance.

Moreover, to draft a perfect DAAD letter of motivation, the applicant must understand that it is a chance to showcase the qualities and strengths that make them an ideal fit for the scholarship. When applicants have similar levels of qualification and scores, it is the DAAD motivation letter for scholarship that distinguishes your application and will give you an edge over others.

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What is a DAAD Motivation Letter?

A DAAD motivation letter (also called a Letter of Motivation or LOM) is a short essay where you write about:

• Why you want to study in Germany
• What program you want to study and why you chose it
• What are your future goals
• Why you need the DAAD scholarship

This letter is your chance to show your strengths, your passion, and your dreams. It is not just a copy of your resume — don’t repeat the same points.

DAAD Motivation Letter - Format 

In this section, the key points for writing a DAAD Motivation Letter have been discussed. 

• Going by the official website of DAAD, the applicants are expected to prepare the DAAD letter of motivation in a maximum of two A4-sized pages. Therefore, you must keep your DAAD letter of motivation exhaustive, yet selective; an approximate length of 1200 words will give you enough space to cover all the important areas.
• Given the importance of the document, you must start early and not delay it. Work on it gradually and keep improving. Proofread your document carefully to avoid any grammatical errors.
• Please note that your DAAD motivation letter is different from your resume. Therefore, avoid repeating the facts that are already stated in your resume.
• Students commonly make the mistake of referring to a sample DAAD letter of motivation for the DAAD scholarship. Samples are generic and may not be relevant to your profile; this may also result in plagiarism. Therefore, you must create a unique and authentic document that depicts your capabilities to succeed in your chosen program in Germany.

DAAD Motivation Letter Format (2025)

Follow this format while writing your motivation letter:

Write your letter in English or German, based on the course requirements.

How to Write the Motivation Letter for DAAD Scholarship?

In this section, you will learn how to write a motivation letter for the DAAD Scholarship, especially the content that goes into it. Follow the points listed below:

• The DAAD letter of motivation should reflect your potential and strengths that are relevant to your program first. Therefore, begin by discussing your academic background – the program that you have pursued, the courses you have studied, and the knowledge that you have gained, which will act as a support system during your higher education in Germany.
• Highlight your practical knowledge, including your internships and research work that you have done in your field of study. Explain what the objective was, and what you accomplished. Do mention if any of your research work was published and if you received any grants for your extraordinary achievements. These factors will add significantly to your profile.
• If you are a professional, especially in your field, then talk about your experiences, contributions, learning, and rewards in your DAAD motivation letter. Moreover, if you worked in a different sector, or there has been a shift in your academic or professional background, then you must justify your reasons for doing so – why did you make the shift, and how did it help you?
• The next part of the DAAD scholarship motivation letter shall focus on the reasons why you want to pursue a particular program. For this, you must specify the skills that you believe you lack and can develop through further studies. What are the concepts or key areas within your field where you wish to acquire expertise?
• Following it, state your reasons for selecting a particular university. Highlight the special features and facilities/opportunities by elaborating upon the curriculum, faculty members, ongoing research, or laboratories that interest you.
• Then, in your DAAD letter of motivation, you must discuss your goals. This is paramount to justify your ultimate reason to pursue this program. What do you plan to achieve in your career through this academic endeavour? You must focus on your short-term as well as long-term career plans; discuss whether they are research-oriented, industry-oriented, or about entrepreneurship.
• After including all the aforementioned aspects, you must go on to specify the reasons for applying for the scholarship. Being an essential element of your DAAD motivation letter, you must highlight the benefits you shall get from the scholarship. How will this financial aid assist you in achieving your academic, personal, and professional objectives?
• Finally, you can utilize the space to highlight a different aspect of your personality in your DAAD letter of motivation. This can include your extracurricular activities, like dance, drama, and music or your personal interests like community service. You must highlight the duration of your involvement, the efforts that you have made towards the activities, and what you have gained from them.

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Besides a DAAD scholarship motivation letter, you may also be required to submit a maximum of a five-page study plan, which will comprehensively explain the curriculum that you intend to study at your host university. With faith in your capabilities and an honest approach, you can definitely ace your DAAD motivation letter to accomplish your dream of studying in Germany. Candidates looking for assistance with university admissions can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.