A motivation letter for Scholarship is an important aspect of the application process for a Master’s degree, a Ph.D degree or even a bachelor’s degree (in some cases) at overseas universities. But what is a motivation letter? What is the ideal way to compose it? And what is the big deal about it, anyway?
Content
Motivation letter
What is the ideal length of a motivation letter for scholarship?
Methods for Writing a Motivational Letter
How to write a cover letter for scholarship?
Tips for writing a perfect cover letter + good covering letter examples
Motivation letter
A Motivation Letter for Scholarship, also known as a cover letter or personal essay or application letter, is a letter that explains why you are a perfect candidate for a job or a scholarship by citing instances of your interests and accomplishments. When you apply for a job or a scholarship, it’s normally tied to your resume.
Note: Some people tend to consider that a cover letter differs from a motivation letter in that it provides particular instances of how your work experience and talents match the position you’re applying for. In contrast, a motivation on letter focuses more on your personality, hobbies, and reasons for applying. A cover letter is an effective way to attract an employer’s attention (when applying for a job) while a motivation letter is written in order to be accepted at an educational institution, academic program, or non-profit organization as a volunteer.
A well-written motivation letter for scholarship may make your chances of getting into your selected Master’s /Ph.D program. So it is most likely the most personalized document of a student’s application. As a result, writing an original motivation letter is a task that should not be underestimated.
What is the ideal length of a motivation letter for scholarship?
The length of a motivation letter for scholarship is usually not regulated. It can’t, however, be too long or too short. The goal is to present briefly the best arguments. It’s also not a good idea to overlook minor things. Small details can sometimes make a big difference. The most important educational achievements, information of your resume, talents, and long-term ambitions must all be included in the motivation letter. Motivation letters should generally be between 500 and 1000 words long.
Methods for Writing a Motivation Letter for Scholarship:
A motivation letter is often structured in one of two ways.
Writing a motivation letter the classic way:
A letter of motivation for scholarship should be divided into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion, according to the traditional method. Using the traditional method isn’t a terrible idea. If you wish to compose the letter’s body like a tale, you can utilize it. As a result, the reading flow is not broken. The letter must include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, regardless of the approach you use.
Writing a motivation letter the modern way:
Another option for writing a motivation letter is to utilize 5-7 paragraphs, with the body separated into 3-4 paragraphs. It is entirely up to you to decide. However, breaking out the body into several paragraphs is advantageous and vital because it makes the letter easier to read as well as each one emphasizes a distinct point. For these reasons, we are demonstrating how to write a cover letter the modern way:
How to write a cover letter for scholarship?
Title + header:
The title of the letter can be: “Letter of Motivation for [scholarship you are applying to]”.
The header must include: Full name – Address and zip code – Phone number – e-mail address – Skype and social networks accounts (optional).
Introduction
Begin with a formal greeting and then go right to the point by mentioning the purpose of the letter. “Through this, I would want to… apply for the scholarship… published in… motivation letter for scholarship” Also, please respond to the following questions: why are you applying for this scholarship, and what encouraged you to participate in the program? You will be able to write succinctly about what you enjoy about the school and/or nation to which you are applying for a scholarship in this manner. Finally, be sure to include your goal and how it ties to the goals of the school to which you’re applying. “… I’ve been yearning for an international experience for…,” for example. And I am confident that the institution’s study program X will be of use to me…. “
Important details about who you are exactly
This is the second paragraph of the Motivation Letter for Scholarship. It should include the following:
– Your academic accomplishments.
– Why are you a good candidate for the scholarship?
Whatever accomplishments you have, write them down in a way that indicates how valuable they are to the institution to which you are applying.
How you can participate
How do your skills and abilities contribute to the institution or country, just as you wish to learn and travel? You can write something like “improve my colleagues’ knowledge of my country, engage in artistic activities or sports, etc.”
More Details of Your Motivation Letter for Scholarship
You need to elaborate on your motivation here. According to previous studies: Why is the program so important to you? How can the institution’s and country’s research programs and facilities assist you in achieving your objectives?
Conclusion
Demonstrate your desire to learn and contribute new information. Words like “I am really driven by…” may be found here. “It would be an honor and the start of a long …” and so on.
Acknowledgments
Time is very precious, so you need to show appreciation to the reader by thanking him/her for giving you attention and make it clear that you would be really pleased to work with him/her. Finishing with “Cordial Greetings/Cordially” would be more than good.
The following image demonstrates a motivation letter sample.
Tips for writing a perfect cover letter + good covering letter examples :
Take the following tips into consideration while writing your cover letter:
Try showing instead of telling:
If you refer to a good motivation letter sample, you will notice that easily. This holds true for CVs as well as motivational letters. “I am a good leader,” versus “I led a group of my fellow students on a week-long climbing expedition, where we successfully…”, sounds a lot weaker. Avoid making remarks that are extremely vague, since this may cause the admissions committee to lose faith in your objectives. Also, avoid repeating yourself – if you’ve gone over something in detail in your CV, don’t go over it again in your motivational letter.
Be specific and do your research:
One of the most common issues throughout the application process is that candidates fail to sufficiently describe why they want to study the subject they have applied for. Remember that you must explain both your subject and your institution of choice. “Why Biology?” isn’t the only question; “Why Biology at this university?” is another. If you don’t know the answer to this question, read back through the University’s website and figure out what prompted you to take the next step and apply for your desired course.
Academic institutions frequently express their values, priorities, and vision in great detail. What is the motto of the institution you want to work for? Do they place a higher value on sports, the arts, or something else? Do they have a values statement? What are your thoughts on these issues? The most important question to consider in relation to these matters is why you want to go here in the first place. Incorporating your knowledge of these topics into your application or motivation letter for scholarship is a great way to show admissions tutors that you made an informed decision to study at their institution.
This research will not only assist you in tailoring your motivation letter to the needs of the institution. It will also help you decide whether or not this chance fits you well.
Imagine you are writing a story:
Stories have a magic effect on people. They enjoy taking them on a journey that culminates in a satisfying conclusion. A list of accomplishments or superlatives isn’t nearly as engaging as an epic tale that connects all you’ve done into a coherent account and justifies your decision to apply. Make sure your motivational letter has a defined beginning, middle, and finish, just like any other story. These should all flow logically from one another, leaving the reader with the impression that your chosen course and institution are a good fit for your skills, experience, and goals.
Avoid being boring when writing a motivation letter for scholarship:
This is, without a doubt, the most important aspect to consider when writing an application letter for scholarship: you must grab the reader’s attention. It’s considerably less likely that you’ll get a good response if you come off as uninteresting (or worse, bored) on paper.
Furthermore, the interest you describe must be personal and closely related to your motivations. Producing a dull, uninteresting page or two about hard effort and how engaged you are in your subject is of no value at all. This is precisely what every other applicant will write, and you’ll want to stand out for the most competitive courses. But the easiest way to achieve this is to be yourself rather than trying to be someone else. Mention how much you like juggling. Discuss how you felt when your father was laid off from his job. Begin with your oldest recollection.
Your hobbies, feelings, and viewpoints are unique. So, including them in your letter is a fantastic approach to set it apart from others and highlight your strengths. Write in a conversational tone that reflects how you would address your recipient if you were in the same room. Include unique information that can make your motivation letter stand out. Because the recipient might misunderstand humor, use a more serious tone.
Check the application letter for errors:
When writing an application letter for scholarship, you must make it more succinct and professional by proofreading it. Correct any grammar and spelling issues, as well as any awkward phrasing. To guarantee your motivation letter contains only unique information, edit material previously mentioned in your application form or CV.
It’s possible that you’ll have to proofread your motivation letter for scholarship numerous times to catch all of the weaknesses. If time allows, complete this step two days or more after drafting your motivation letter. Time away from work helps you see it more objectively. Ask a trustworthy friend or coworker to reread your motivation letter after you. That helps you ensure it has professional grammar and spelling. Then double-check that you have addressed your personal essay to the right institution. Don’t write a letter of motivation to a recipient whose title was intended for someone else. That would be really embarrassing and unprofessional.
Have a look at good covering letter examples:
A motivation letter sample is very important to get new ideas. Especially if your goal of the letter is a motivation letter for scholarship.
The more you read good covering letter examples the more you know how to write a cover letter professionally.
Despite the importance of the content, you must consider coordination and design. Due to that, it would be great to take the following into account when writing an application letter for scholarship:
- professional letter font with a font size of 12 pt.
- letter spacing of 1 on all sides of the page.
- good letter layout in order to portray professionalism.
- professional letter file title in order to enable recruiters to locate your motivation letter quickly.
- appropriate letter design that shows what you seek as well as your own personality.
- Unless otherwise stated, save and deliver your cover letter as a PDF document, even if you wrote it in Word.
Motivation Letter for Scholarship Sample
“Dear ___
I graduated from Kampala Medical University in Uganda in 2019 and am writing to apply for a Master of Public Health (MPH) at Imperial College London because I feel that preventing disease is preferable to treating it. Governments can save money and improve citizen well-being by implementing preventative measures and boosting health. As a result, public health is critical because it protects the nation.
I recognized after reading the course description that it combines epidemiology, biostatistics, and health research methodologies with public health abilities. As a result, I believe it is appropriate for me since I am interested in honing my research abilities in preparation for a future in public health. I’d like to further my knowledge in this sector and work toward a future job that allows me to be creative and helpful to those with little means who are trying to better their health.
I spent six years in Uganda studying public medicine and public health. The program included classes in the following areas:
Environmental health, biostatistics, health concepts, communicable and noncommunicable disease research methods, primary health care, epidemiology, health information systems, occupational health, school health, and health economy and management are some of the topics covered in this course. As part of my training, I conducted a residency in the Nairobi State Hospital during my last year of study. In addition, during my second year of study, I took primary health care as a distinct course.
I spent six years in Uganda studying public medicine and public health. Environmental health, biostatistics, health concepts, communicable and noncommunicable disease research methods, primary health care, epidemiology, health information systems, occupational health, school health, and health economy and management were among the topics addressed in the program. As part of my training, I conducted a residency in the Nairobi State Hospital during my last year of study. In addition, during my second year of study, I took primary health care as a distinct course.
I was also engaged in extracurricular activities as a student, and I went to a lot of medical and scientific seminars. During the summer of 2017, I also worked as a communicable disease control consultant in south Mauritania in response to a Malaria epidemic.
I am a hardworking guy who is eager to take on a leadership role and who has a strong capacity for continuous learning and study. I am a really outgoing, open, and kind individual. I adore meeting new people and being in the company of folks from various ethnic backgrounds. That gives me a lot of pleasure. I am also a creative person who enjoys reading and playing the piano in my spare time. I am fluent in English, Swahili, and a smattering of Spanish.
I would want to study in the United Kingdom because it is home to some of the world’s most prominent colleges and offers cultural, racial, and ethnic variety, allowing us to learn from one another. Following completion of my master’s program, I plan to continue my studies and seek a PhD degree at a top institution.
I am certain that Imperial College London’s Master of Public Health program will give me the information and skills I require for my future career. I am also certain that I will give it my all to achieve in this program.
Thank you for taking the time to examine my request, and I eagerly await your response.“
Summary
A distinctive letter of motivation is one of the basic criteria for admission to scholarships, so care must be taken to write it in the optimal format. It should be succinct, logically sequenced, written in an interesting style, addressed precisely to the person concerned, and conform to the necessary formatting criteria. There are 2 ways to write a motivation letter: the classic way and the modern way. We recommend you use the latter one because breaking out the body into several paragraphs makes the letter easier to read, as each paragraph emphasizes a distinct point. We also recommend you proofread your cover letter after finishing it to ensure it is free of errors and everything is in the right place..
It is not a big thing to know how to write a cover letter or a motivation letter for a scholarship. The big deal is to learn how to make it amazingly special. That is why we recommend you refer to more good cover letter examples. Google can be of great help with this.
And if you are looking for more tips to win scholarships, why don’t you check How To Get a Scholarship!
