Letter of motivation to Study abroad - Structure, Format, Do's and Don'ts

Letter of motivation - The letter of motivation is an important part of the study abroad process. The motivation letter is an important document you must include in your university applications. Most universities abroad require you to write a letter of motivation along with your SOP and LORS when you apply for a course. This letter needs to be well written as it will greatly increase your chances of getting admission in the course you wish to study abroad. Apart from university applications, you may need to write a motivation letter for a job or for an internship. It is important to know how to write a good letter of motivation in order to succeed in the purpose you are writing it for. Read on for more information on writing a good motivation letter.

Letter of motivation -Importance in university applications

The letter of motivation is usually one page long and should describe the reasons why you will be the perfect candidate for a particular course or program in the university. The motivation letter is important if you are applying for a scholarship to study abroad. You will be asked to attach this document with your resume. The motivation letter should act as a strong pitch for your application. Ideally the motivation letter should cover aspects about your resume, your achievements, and documents connected to the credentials you have mentioned in your resume.

The letter of motivation is significant for your university application even if you include a comprehensive resume in your application because universities will have to go through thousands of applications to select the candidates for a course. They would like to choose candidates with a true passion for the subject. This cannot be inferred from a resume or a cover letter. The letter of motivation is your chance to tell the admissions committee how passionate you are about the course you have applied for.

Letter of motivation- Difference between motivation letter and SOP

The motivation letter for university applications is often confused with the statement of purpose or the SOP. However, they are both different. While the SOP is intended to help the admissions committee get an insight into your academic and professional achievements and your goals, the letter of motivation is directly addressed to the admissions committee to explain goals and objectives for doing a course. The table below outlines the differences between a SOP and a motivation letter for a university.

Key differences between letter of motivation and SOP

Letter of motivation- Follow a structure

It is always better to follow a formal structure when you write a letter of motivation because this will help you give a proper format to what you want to say. Having a clear structure will make the motivation letter appealing to the reader. After all, your motive is to convince the professor or university to select you and having a clear structure for your motivation letter is the first step towards this.

• It is better to limit the letter of motivation to one page

• You can choose either a formal structure with three paragraphs which will include an introduction, main content and a conclusion or you can have 5 to 7 paragraphs where you will devote one paragraph to each of your achievements.

When writing your letter of motivation ensure that you follow these steps for a well-structured letter.

Have an outline: Before you start writing, ensure you have a clear outline where you will cover aspects such as your motives to study a particular course in a particular university. Include the qualities that you think make you an ideal fit for the course.

Pay attention to the introduction: After deciding on the structure, you need to write a brief self-introduction. It should get the reader’s attention immediately. You should also arouse interest in continuing to read your motivation letter. Be sure to include relevant details about your accomplishments, who/what was your source of inspiration, major projects you have undertaken, etc.

Expand on your outline: In the letter of motivation, expand on the points in your outline to write the motivation letter. By highlighting the skills you've acquired, you can explain why you're the perfect candidate. Try to use compelling and truthful facts to demonstrate your interest.

Include a conclusion: It is important to write a conclusion that summarises your goals and leaves a positive impression on your readers. You should also thank them for reviewing the application.

Proofreading: Finally, we recommend proofreading your cover letter to make it clear, concise, and professional. Check for spelling, grammar, or syntax errors.

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Letter of motivation- Format to follow

When writing your motivation letter for a college you should follow a format. These include aspects such as:

Salutation: If the professor's details are with you, you can write "Dear Sir or Madam" directly. If you only have the department/university information, start with "Dear Sir or Madam".

Introduction: The introduction should grab the reader's attention and emphasise the purpose of your writing. Briefly describe your career (academics) in 1-2 sentences, then state which course or program you would like to apply for and why.

Main content: You should explain why you chose a particular course and what motivates you to pursue it. Include facts that prove your profile matches the requirements for the course and provide relevant facts and figures about your achievements.

You should provide relevant information about your choice of subject and how you will achieve excellence in that course. You must maintain a persuasive tone when communicating your intentions about pursuing the course.

Conclusion: Summarise your goals, stating all the key points and including all the interests that make you want to apply for this degree. Also mention that if you are accepted into this program, how would you use this opportunity to make a contribution to the university.

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Letter of motivation- Dos and don'ts

• Avoid copying content for the motivation letter from the internet or other sources. Universities abroad have strict rules regarding plagiarism and copying could seriously jeopardise your application.

• Use clear language without any grammatical errors.

• Avoid the use of cliche words and phrases.

• Try using short and crisp sentences and follow a format.

• Avoid the inclusion of false information because you could be caught.

The letter of motivation is a crucial part of your application to universities abroad. A resume alone may not adequately convey your enthusiasm for being accepted into a particular program. That's because resumes don't give you the opportunity to write about what prompted you to pursue a particular program. This is where motivation letters come in, where you can explain your reasons for a particular course of study.