How to Write a Letter of Motivation with Samples

Letter of Motivation: As you are here, researching letters of motivation, then you must have completed about half of your application process for admission to your dream institution. We are here to assist you in understanding the basics of a Motivational Letter or Motivation Letter, required to complete your application.

At this point, you understand the application process, the various application requisites, and the guidelines set by your chosen universities. Apart from the financial documents, Letters of Recommendation (LORs), and Resume/ CV, the universities must have asked for a write-up as an SOP or Letter of Motivation or a Motivational Letter. Most universities demand a Statement of Purpose (SOP)/ Personal Statement, while Essays are usually asked for UG or MBA courses. However, essays are also demanded while applying to particular scholarships such as the Charpak Scholarship, government scholarships (like GOI-IES), or college-specific scholarships such as the HAN Holland Scholarship, Trinity Dublin Scholarships, and many others. However, some universities may request a Letter of Motivation instead of an SOP.

The purpose of a resume is not to discuss your academic journey, accomplishments, learnings, passion, goals, and research interests. But, when a university is asking for a motivational letter, this means that you have an opportunity to showcase your experiences, skills, and dedication towards the academic program. A motivation letter for the university acts as a ground or a base for your application, or interviews, which plays a major role in the selection of your profile. You can increase your chance of acceptance for the university’s program through an impactful letter of motivation.

What is a Letter of Motivation or a Motivation Letter?

A Letter of Motivation or Motivational letter offers additional context and information about the application. It is frequently included with job applications, university/college admissions, and scholarship applications. This one-page document comprises an applicant’s background, reasons for applying to a particular academic program, and what they wish to contribute to the university/college if chosen. Before diving in, we must understand the terminologies often used with a motivational letter or letter of motivation. Let us understand the differences between a motivation letter, an SOP, a letter of intent, and a cover letter.

Difference between a Letter of Motivation and an SOP:

It is important to grasp the differences between an SOP and a motivation letter for a university. An SOP is a formal document that helps the Ad Com understand your professional and academic life. Discuss your professional journey, professional and academic projects, and achievements, along with your future objectives and motivation. This information should not be repeated, and must not be there in other documents like your resume.

In contrast, a motivational letter is sent to the Ad Com or the concerned faculty member, where your goals, motivations, inspirations, and passions are clearly expressed. A statement of purpose is written like an essay, following a logical flow, and it is not sent to a particular individual. A motivation letter is always addressed to a professor or department under whose guidance you wish to study. This document directly contacts you with the professor/department; hence, you should always aim to highlight points that make you stand out from the crowd, especially in case of PhD aspirants. The points given below will help you understand the differences between an SOP and a Letter of Motivation:

Difference between a Letter of Motivation and a Cover Letter

A letter of motivation focuses on your objectives and academic reasons to pursue a particular university program. It goes with applications for scholarships, study abroad chances, or other opportunities where the selection committee wants to learn more about you. Your motivational letter should highlight your excitement and drive for the position you are looking for as well as how your objectives mesh with those of the university’s program. Whereas, a cover letter often goes with a job application and introduces the applicant to the hiring manager or employer. It contains details on your credentials, experience, and abilities pertinent to the position you are applying for.

Difference between a Motivational Letter and a Letter of Intent

Students are often confused between a Motivational Letter and a Letter of Intent. While a letter of motivation is for your admission purpose, on the other hand, also commonly known as a Visa Letter, a Letter of Intent is for visa purposes. Both have very different formats and objectives so do not interchange them. Moreover, when we talk of the business world, a letter of intent is frequently used for official and commercial purposes, wherein, it describes the aims, objectives, and expectations concerning a particular opportunity such as a business deal. In conclusion, whereas a letter of intent is more concerned with detailing the conditions and objectives of a proposed business opportunity, a letter of motivation is more concerned with the applicant’s traits and fit for a particular university’s program.

How to Write a Letter of Motivation?

Structure is pivotal in writing a good motivational letter. Please follow the five steps given below before drafting your motivational letter:

• Prepare a structure: First understand your reasons for applying to a university’s program. Be mindful whether your letter of motivation will be 3-4 paragraphs or 5-7 paragraphs.
• Write a good introduction: Once you decide about the structure of your motivation letter, write a captivating, and short introduction about yourself, which must engage the reader to dive further into your document. Do not forget to include your achievements, your source of inspiration, significant projects, and such like. Your introduction must cover the points given below:
  • Personal information
  • Inspiration, and motivation for applying for this program, or job opportunity
• Body Paragraphs: In your motivation letter all of the below pointers must be included:
  • Describe your reasons for applying to the particular academic program highlighting your career goals and the benefits you plan to derive from it.
  • Describe your goals for the university’s academic community, and how your past experiences are relevant for the particular program as part of your motivation letter.
• Write a conclusion: It is crucial to write a conclusion for your motivation letter that summarizes your goals and leaves a positive impression on the readers. You must also thank them for considering your application.
• Proofread: Finally, it is advised to proofread your letter of motivation, making it concise, brief, and to the point. Make sure there are no spelling, grammatical, or sentence-formation errors. You can take the help of an experienced person while finalizing your motivation letter.
• Be authentic: You need to be authentic and genuine in your motivation letter for university Anything that cannot be justified must not be included in the letter of motivation.

Letter of Motivation Format

Here is a motivation letter example for university applications. Please note that there are countless formats and samples of motivational letters, but they are drafted for professional usage. An academic motivational letter and a professional motivational letter are very different. The academic ones go to the university’s faculty as proof of interest in joining the university’s program. Whereas, the professional ones are attached to resumes/CVs, portraying eligibility for the job post.

Please find below the format for a motivation letter example for university applications:

Salutation: If the Professor’s details are given, you can write directly ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Madam’. If only department/ university details are given then start with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.

Introduction: Introduce yourself by painting a picture of your personality. Make sure you do not start the introduction like an essay on ‘Myself’ such as ‘I am XXXX, living in YYYY…’ or ‘My name is XXXX and I belong to YYYY country’. The first paragraph must be engrossing, highlighting the objective of the letter. Give a short review of your academic, and professional background, and then discuss the program you are applying for, and why. Make it crisp by stating your points, and giving a general overview.

Body 1: In the body of your letter of motivation, describe how you got interested in your particular field and went on to pursue undergraduate study. Furthermore, if applicable, mention the contribution of professional roles in growing your interest in the field. Ask yourself the following questions before writing the body of your motivational letter:

• What motivated you?
• How did your undergraduate course influence you?
• How did your work experience influence you?
• Is there anything beyond my academics and work experience that has influenced you to take up a particular course?
• Have you worked on any publications and research?

Body 2: Describe your reasons for choosing this course, or the university, such as a research project by the university that grabbed your interest. Mention how the reasons align with your future aspirations. Move on to explaining your academic qualifications, and professional experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the program.

Conclusion: Summarize your motivation letter for university applications by stressing your interest in the course and university; emphasize that you are the ideal candidate for the program.

Structure of Motivation Letter

To increase your chances of acceptance to your dream university, the presentation of your letter of motivation is most important. The motivation letter must be one page, and the structure can be either of the following:

• A traditional 3-paragraph motivation letter, where there will be an introductory paragraph, main body, and conclusion.
• A 5-7 paragraph letter wherein you can emphasize each achievement.

Mistakes to Avoid while Writing a Letter of Motivation

This is what you must abstain from in your motivation letter: 

• Do not copy content from the internet or any other source. Keep in mind that universities are very strict about plagiarism and since they deal with academic drafts daily, they can easily detect plagiarism.
• Do not use any clichéd words or sentences in your motivation letter.
• Language should be lucid with no grammatical mistakes. You should use good vocabulary; and avoid using heavy language; this sometimes fails to deliver a clear message.
• Use short sentences and maintain a proper format/ structure across your motivation letter.
• Neither should you brag nor should you sound desperate.
• Do not lie! Never forge details in any of your academic documents. It can lead to the blacklisting of your profile.

Letter of Motivation: Dos and Don’ts

The basic guidelines to follow before drafting your letter of motivation:

1) Do’s for Letter of Motivation

• Research:Spend some time learning about the university you are applying to, then modify your motivational letter Make it clear that you are genuinely interested in the opportunity or program they are offering.
• Experience and Skills: Make a connection between your prior experiences, abilities, and accomplishments and the position you are applying for. Stress how these experiences have helped you and made you a strong candidate.
• Be Specific: To back up your claims and assertions, give precise instances and proof. To prove your qualifications and accomplishments, use specific examples.
• Cultural Awareness: Be sure to show that you are open-minded and culturally knowledgeable if you are seeking to study abroad. Showcase your capacity for adjusting to new settings and interacting with various cultures.

2) Don’ts for Letter of Motivation

• Use of Generic Templates: Avoid using generic templates or clichéd phrases. Tailor-make your letter to the specific opportunity and make it unique to you.
• False Claims: Be honest and authentic in your letter. Avoid exaggerating your skills or experiences. Ad Coms value authenticity.
• Errors: Carefully proofread your letter and ensure that it is error-free.

Tips to Write a Motivation Letter for Study Abroad

Here are some tips to write a good letter of motivation for studying abroad:

• Introduction: Use an attention-grabbing introduction to draw the reader into your motivation letter. Think of relating a personal tale or an insightful statement to your desire to study abroad.
• Motivation: Explain why you desire to study abroad in clear terms. Give specific examples of why you made your decision, such as the chance to experience a new culture, get a global perspective, or pursue academic distinction in a particular area.
• Research: Show that you have done your homework on the destination countries, the college, and the program you are applying to. Talk about how these fit with your academic and personal objectives. Include detailed information on the program, faculty, surroundings, or other standout opportunities.
• Experiences: Showcase your prior accomplishments, both academic and extracurricular, that demonstrate your desire to pursue an international education. Put a focus on how these events have affected your knowledge, talents, and personal development. Make a connection between them and the program you are applying for and describe how they will help you succeed.
• Goals: Describe your academic and career goals, and how studying abroad will help you achieve them.
• Authenticity: Make sure your letter of motivation displays your distinct personality and writing style. Be authentic and speak from your perspective.

Sample Motivation Letter for University

_____ University

Admissions Committee

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing this letter to inform you about my interest in the M.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning programme at your prestigious university. I currently hold a B.Arch. degree from ____. Right now, I am working as an architect and interior designer for the past three years with ______. I have always been enthralled by the impact of urbanization in curating architectural masterpieces besides being aware of its social, economic and environmental impact. In an era where modernization is at the very core of every industry, I found that this university’s programme prepares professionally competent designers and architects that can improve the quality of towns and cities and address environmental issues at the same time.

Living in India has helped me understand the striking combination of modern towns and village areas, and how urbanisation has affected both of them. This further demands innovative solutions to handle environmental concerns and infrastructural development. Working as an architect with ____, I have handled various structural and interior design projects in the last two years and I want to enhance my skillsets as well as design knowledge by gaining international exposure.

Considering my education from ______ as well as work experience at ____, I am confident that I am a good fit for M.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning programme at ____. I aspire to contribute to the vibrant learning environment through my professional knowledge and experience of working in the Indian design space.

Enclosed with this letter are the necessary documents for admission. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely
________

Sample Motivation Letter for Scholarship

To Mr. _____

I am ____, and I am writing this to express my interest in a scholarship for the Bachelor of Science, Nursing program at the University of California. I have a passion to help people and I do not want my financial limitations to become a problem in pursuing my passion. I grew up in a low-income family with a single father who worked three jobs to provide for my sisters and me. My father taught me the value of working hard. Apart from this, his encouragement and determination toward my studies helped me get the best grades in my class.  

As my father worked long hours, I spent a lot of time taking care of my brother, who is suffering from cerebral palsy. The time I spent taking care of him helped me realize my passion for helping others. This event sparked my interest in nursing. This period taught me the human value of compassion and empathy. I feel my humble roots and strong work ethic will make me a well-qualified University ambassador. The positive career and research outcomes of the Nursing course, offered at your University, have grabbed my attention, and I strongly believe that a nursing degree from your University will give me a perfect environment that is conducive to my growth as a student and as a human being.

Thank you for reviewing my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon. You can contact me at _____ if you have any queries about my application.

Kind Regards

_____

If you want to write an impressive motivational letter, then start with making a rough draft first. Give it a good amount of time and you can even take the help of your peer, friends, professors or family members. Their feedback can help you in identifying your mistakes and gaps in content.

If you have any other queries regarding this, do drop us a comment below and we will get back to you! For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.