Motivation Letter Template for Master’s Scholarships (With Full Example)

A motivation letter explains why you want this programme or scholarship, why you are a strong candidate and what you will do with it. European universities, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus and many other funders ask for one. It is usually one to two pages and more personal than a CV, but more focused than a life story.

The five-paragraph structure

1. Introduction: who you are, what you are applying for and your main goal.
2. Academic background: the studies and results that prepared you.
3. Experience: work, research or volunteering that shows your skills and motivation.
4. Why this programme: specific reasons the programme and country fit your goals.
5. Future plans and closing: how you will use the degree and a confident closing line.

Copy-paste template

[Your Name]
[Address] | [Email] | [Phone]
[Date]

To the Selection Committee,
[Programme / Scholarship Name]
[University / Organisation]

Dear Members of the Selection Committee,

I am writing to apply for the [Scholarship Name] to pursue the [Master's Programme] at [University]. With a background in [field] and [x] years of experience in [area], my goal is to [one clear sentence describing your professional goal].

I completed my [degree] at [university] with a [CGPA/grade], ranking [position, if strong]. Courses such as [course 1] and [course 2] gave me a strong foundation in [skills], and my thesis on [topic] taught me to [method or skill]. [Optional: an award or achievement.]

As a [role] at [organisation], I [main responsibility]. In particular, I [specific achievement with numbers]. This experience showed me that [problem you observed], and that solving it requires deeper knowledge of [area the programme teaches].

The [programme] is the ideal next step for me because of [specific module or specialisation], [research group, lab or professor] and [practical element such as internship, fieldwork or mobility]. [Country] is a leader in [field], and studying there will allow me to [benefit].

After graduating, I plan to return to [country/sector] as a [role] at [type of organisation], where I will [concrete impact]. In the long term, I aim to [long-term goal]. This scholarship would make that path possible, and I am committed to contributing actively to the programme and its community.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss it further.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Signature, if required]

Full example (shortened)

Dear Members of the Selection Committee,

I am applying for the DAAD EPOS scholarship to pursue the MSc in Water Resources Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. As a civil engineer with three years of experience managing irrigation projects in Punjab, my goal is to design climate-resilient water distribution systems for smallholder farmers.

I graduated with a CGPA of 3.71/4.00, ranking fifth in a class of 120. My thesis analysed canal water losses in two districts and proposed lining options that reduced estimated losses by 18%.

At the provincial irrigation department, I coordinated the rehabilitation of 42 km of canals serving 6,000 farmers. Seeing how drought years wiped out these gains convinced me that I need advanced skills in hydrological modelling and integrated water management.

The programme’s modules in hydrological modelling and groundwater management, together with its strong links to applied research, match exactly the expertise my region lacks.

After graduating, I will return to the irrigation department to lead the design of a pilot drought-management system, with the aim of scaling it across the province.

Tips that make a difference

• Tailor every letter. Mention the programme by name and at least two specific features.
• Show, don’t tell. Replace adjectives such as “hard-working” with evidence.
• Keep it focused: usually one to two pages, unless a word limit is given.
• Use a professional tone with short paragraphs.
• Proofread carefully and check that the university name is correct in every version.

What the reader wants to learn

A selection panel reads a motivation letter to answer three questions. Why this field? Why this programme, in this country? And why you: what have you done already, and what will you do with the degree? If your letter answers all three with evidence, it is doing its job. If it only says that you are hardworking and passionate, it is not.

Length and format

Follow the rules of each scholarship, because they differ. DAAD’s EPOS programme allows a motivation letter of two pages at most. Stipendium Hungaricum asks for at least one page, typed in Times New Roman 12-point. If no rule is given, one page of about 400 to 600 words is a safe length. Use a normal font, clear paragraphs, and add the date and your name if the scholarship asks for a signed letter.

Before you write: answer five questions

1. What exact problem or topic do you want to work on?
2. Which two experiences prove that you are serious about it?
3. What can this programme give you that your current studies or job cannot?
4. What will you do in the first two years after you return or graduate?
5. Who benefits from that work, besides you?

Write one or two lines for each. These notes become your letter. If you cannot answer question three, read the programme’s website again before you start.

Strong and weak sentences

How to open and how to close

Open with your purpose, not with your name or a quotation. For example: "I am applying for the MSc in Public Health because, in three years as a vaccinator in rural Sindh, I saw that we collect data that no one is trained to use."

Close with what you will do and a polite final line: "I plan to return to the provincial health department and build its first data unit. Thank you for considering my application." Do not end by begging, and do not promise things you cannot control.

Connect your letter to the scholarship’s aims

Each scholarship funds people for a reason, and the reason is written on its website. Development-focused awards, such as DAAD EPOS and the Commonwealth Scholarships, want to see how your studies will help your home country. Leadership awards want examples of you leading and influencing others. Use the scholarship’s own key words once or twice, and support each one with an example from your life.

Applying to more than one course with one letter

Some schemes let you apply to several courses with a single letter. DAAD EPOS, for example, allows up to three courses, and the letter should explain why you chose each course and in which order of priority. In that case, give each course two or three sentences of its own. Do not write one general paragraph that fits all of them.

Who do you address it to?

If you know the name of the programme coordinator, use it: "Dear Dr Schmidt". If not, "Dear Selection Committee" or "Dear Admissions Committee" is correct. Avoid "Dear Sir" and "To whom it may concern".

Editing checklist

• The first paragraph says what you want to study and why.
• Every claim about you has an example or a number.
• At least two sentences could only be written about this programme.
• Your plan after the degree names a role, a place and who benefits.
• The length, font and file format follow the rules.
• The university and scholarship names are correct in this version.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the same motivation letter for several scholarships?

You can reuse your story and your examples. Rewrite the parts about the programme, the country and the scholarship’s aims each time.

Should I mention my financial situation?

Only if the scholarship considers financial need or asks about it. Some awards are for students who could not otherwise afford to study abroad. In that case, state the facts in two or three sentences.

How do I handle low grades?

Explain briefly and honestly, then show what you have done since: later grades, work results or a project.

In which language should I write?

Write in the language of the programme unless the instructions say otherwise.

Do I need to sign the letter?

If the instructions ask for a signed letter, add the date and your signature, by hand or as a scanned image, and save the file as a PDF. If nothing is said, your typed name at the end is enough.

What other documents should match my letter?

Your CV and references should tell the same story. See our academic CV template and the full application checklist.

Not sure whether you need a motivation letter or a statement of purpose? Read personal statement vs SOP vs motivation letter.