A compelling motivation letter is what sets you apart when applying for a scholarship. A strong motivation letter has not only helped us win scholarships (academic and professional) but has also helped us land jobs at top companies. Now, we'd like to guide you through everything you need to consider when writing a motivation letter for a scholarship. We'll teach you how to create your own letter so you can apply for multiple scholarships and increase your chances of winning one abroad.

Your letter of motivation for a scholarship should include your academic

achievements and explain: Why are you the ideal candidate? How do your skills and abilities contribute to serving the university or the nation? You must demonstrate your desire to learn and contribute new knowledge.

Note: This does not mean that academic performance, experience, and recognition are unimportant, or that simply having a compelling and clear motivational letter is enough to secure the scholarship. Your achievements and skills make you the ideal candidate, and a motivational letter will help you excel, as explained.

Before writing a motivation letter for a scholarship

Thoroughly research the institution and country you wish to study in. What qualities does the institution or scholarship provider seek? Browse its official website, review sections like "About Us," "Our Culture," and "Our Philosophy," and analyze the organization. Does it prioritize leadership or teamwork? Is it socially responsible and environmentally conscious? What role does ethics play? Or does it focus more on tangible results and figures?

This research will not only help you craft your motivation letter in accordance with the organization's interests, but it will also help you determine whether this opportunity aligns with your interests.

The first strategy: Review the institution's mission and vision and analyze faculty members' profiles. Use synonyms for the words they used in their motivation letter.

The second strategy: Look at the testimonials section for current students (whether they received scholarships or not) or staff members. They may have official videos, and what they say can help you analyze the program and see if it's right for you, then write your motivation letter accordingly.

How to write a successful motivational letter to get a scholarship?

After completing the necessary analysis, it's time to write a successful motivational letter for a scholarship application. The motivational letter should include the following points:

(1) Title and heading:

Title: "A motivational letter for the [scholarship you are applying for]"

the address:

• full name
• Address + Postal Code
• phone
• Email
• Optional: Skype and social media networks
• Title placement: I recommend the top right corner, but the top left corner can also be used.

(2) Introduction:

Begin with a formal greeting and briefly state the reason for writing this letter. For example: "I would like to apply for a scholarship offered at [Institution Name]." Also, briefly answer why you are applying for this scholarship and what motivated you to join the program. This way, you can briefly write about the aspects you admire about the institution and/or country where you are applying. Finally, don't forget to state your goals and how they relate to the goals of the program you are applying to. For example: "...I have been seeking an international experience in [Field of Study] and I am confident that Study X at this institution will help me..."

(3) Who are you?

This is the second paragraph of the motivation letter, where you should write:

• Your academic achievements.
• Why are you the ideal candidate?

Tip: Regardless of the type of achievements you have made, write them in a way that shows the value you add to the organization or country you are applying to.

(4) How do you contribute?

Just as you are very keen to learn and travel, how do your skills and abilities contribute to serving the university or the country? You could mention things like "increasing my colleagues' knowledge of my country, participating in sports or arts activities, etc."

(5) Prove beforehand that you know who you are addressing (the institution and/or the state):

I mentioned that in the introduction, but here you need to provide more details about your motivations. Based on your previous research, why is this program so important to you? How do the research projects, the institution's facilities, and the country help you achieve your goals?

(6) Last words:

You and I know you really want to do this; prove it! Show your desire to learn and contribute new knowledge. You can use phrases like, "I'm very excited about...", "It would be an honor and the beginning of a journey full of...", and so on.

(7) Acknowledgments and terminations:

Again, time is precious, so we must thank the reader for their interest and assure them that we look forward to working with them. Concluding with "Sincerely" or "Your warmest regards" is very kind.

Tips for writing a great motivational letter for a scholarship

Structuring your message: If your ideas aren't clear and your message isn't smooth and logical, it will be difficult for examiners to finish reading it. Identify your strengths and demonstrate them in a tangible and consistent way with the program you're applying to. Write persuasive and purposeful sentences.

Clear: easy to read, avoid complicated words, and separate paragraphs into sections that you talk about.

In short: If you're clear, you don't need to exceed one page. In fact, this is often a requirement for a cover letter. If not, one and a half pages is sufficient... Remember, time is the most valuable resource we all have, even those reviewing your application.

PDF file: Even though you are writing it in Word, you must save and submit it as a PDF file  , unless otherwise stated.

Formal: The message should be formal, but that doesn't mean you should write words you can't even pronounce; be practical, be yourself.

Review: Don't forget to correct your spelling and writing. A family member or close friend can help you with this if you're not good at writing... My spelling has been terrible since school, but I had to put the batteries aside.

Correct address: Also, make sure you're addressing the letter to the right person... I'm looking for a job; in return for my efforts, I sent a cover letter to one company addressed to another. Hahaha! That's really embarrassing and unprofessional, and it shouldn't happen to you.

Language: If the application is submitted in another language, make sure that the language, writing, and translation are used correctly.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a motivational letter for a scholarship application

As we know, a letter of motivation is the most important document for obtaining a scholarship abroad. Furthermore, a well-written letter of motivation can facilitate job applications and even volunteer opportunities.

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However, a motivation letter for a scholarship should not only state your desire for new opportunities, but also advocate for the idea of ​​why it should be you specifically and not one of the other highly qualified candidates.

(1) Fewer words, more facts

It's easy to express a desire to travel or study in a particular country, but it's difficult to articulate the underlying reasons. Many of us want to travel, broaden our horizons, improve our language skills, and raise our standard of living, but what we must truly do is make ourselves worthy of this opportunity.

It begins by replacing phrases like "My dream has always been this and that" with phrases like "My achievements have been this and that..." or "I consider myself the ideal candidate because..." or "My work is characterized by..." Remember, the award is not given to whoever wants it the most, but to whoever proves their worthiness of it.

(2) Take responsibility and demonstrate deep knowledge

I don't mean to imply in the previous paragraph that your wishes were disregarded. Rather, they are important insofar as they demonstrate that you clearly know what you want and why you deserve it. As an example, I'd like to share an excerpt from a recent scholarship motivation letter I received for your review:

"What particularly attracted me to the program was the wide range of skills that can be developed, the quality of the faculty and the internship program; all these aspects will make it possible to have different opportunities when employed..."

Here, the applicant focuses on the fundamentals. Underlined words can be explained to demonstrate mastery and understanding of the subject, as knowledge is a motivator. Another alternative is:

What particularly attracted me to the Modern Art program was the opportunity to specialize in lighting and sound, as well as the internationally renowned faculty. Another reason I prefer this program is the chance to engage directly with galleries in one of the world's modern art capitals through the practical workshops offered in the final semester.

Another of my tips for demonstrating knowledge is to replace words like "I think" with "I know" or "I'm sure that...".

(3) What matters most is what you will do for them.

Your motivation shouldn't be limited to simply feeling comfortable in a developed country. Scholarship providers expect you to be genuinely interested in the program and the positive impact you'll have with your learning. In other words, they don't care if you feel safe, happy, wealthy, or healthy in the host country. What matters to them is how you'll give back to the community with this investment. Don't worry! They're not after money. Focus on your contribution to cultural exchange, what you can teach other students or professors, extracurricular activities you can participate in, and other collaborative projects you're considering.

Tip: If the scholarship requires you to return to your home country upon completion of the program, you should state how you will apply what you intend to learn.

(4) Rules are rules

Finally, keep your motivation letter concise and clear, focusing solely on what they require. If they ask for one page, submit one. Please don't expect the scholarship provider to waive any of the motivation letter requirements. If they require an IELTS score of 7, it's 7, not 6.5. The same applies to documented work experience: two years equals 24 months, not 22.5. It's better to demonstrate your merit for the scholarship than to try to convince them that you worked hard but couldn't meet all the other requirements. If you don't meet all the requirements, give yourself time; new application deadlines and scholarship opportunities are always available.

Sample motivation letter for a scholarship

I know you want to apply for several scholarships, but you don't need to write a different motivation letter for each application. Create a template that allows you to tailor the content to each specific case. How do you do that? Once you've completed the seven steps mentioned in the previous section, you'll have a ready-made template that you can modify to suit the motivation letter for each scholarship you're applying for. I've provided a sample template below.

Elvoyager.com has compiled motivational letters for scholarship applications from top universities worldwide. We hope this list will help you write an effective and compelling motivational letter to secure a scholarship.

sample

February 21, 2020

Ms. Lisa Wiedemann,
Recruitment Coordinator,
Great Strategic Consulting,
200 Shellfish Boulevard, Suite 199
, San Francisco, CA 94080

Dear Mrs. Widman:

I am writing to express my interest in a position as an associate at Great Strategies, a strategic consulting firm. I am a Master of Arts student at Harvard Graduate School, majoring in Information Technology. I have a strong technical background, a keen interest in business, and a passion for strategy. My areas of focus and interest range from quantitative analysis to project management. I have maintained a 3.95 GPA through a well-balanced program that is not only analytical and technical but also fosters leadership and teamwork skills. I am very impressed with Great Strategies' approach to strategic consulting, particularly in the areas of business development and innovation. I believe my academic background, business knowledge, and industry experience have equipped me to succeed as an associate.

Before attending Harvard, I worked as a technology specialist, focusing primarily on solving strategic problems related to improving technology processes. I gained strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills while working for Fortune 500 companies. My experience generating innovative ideas and strategies for process improvement has deepened my understanding of the complex challenges companies face in their daily operations. Furthermore, my practical experience has given me a profound understanding of the importance of effective team dynamics in today's multidisciplinary business environment.

So far, my experience as an IT specialist has been incredibly productive and rewarding. However, it is strategic consulting that allows me to fully utilize my analytical and creative problem-solving skills. I firmly believe that consulting is a field that will force me to look at problems not only from the client's perspective, but also from the market's, best practices', and creative thinking perspectives.

I am seeking an interview with a leading strategic consulting firm for an assistant position. My resume is attached. You can contact me by email at jacob.mclean@post.harvard.edu or by phone at (617) 555-3456. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for your time and attention.

sincerely,

Jacob A. McLean

Now it's your turn!

I hope these tips and examples help you create a compelling motivational letter for scholarship applications and win. If you have other tips that have worked for you, please share them with us in the comments section.

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Thank you for reading, and I wish you success in everything!