The Letter of Motivation is almost always a novelty for Brazilian students since it is not part of the academic selection processes for undergraduate programs in Brazil. However, here in Germany, it is a widespread practice and an essential part of the application to universities that offer courses taught in English, whether for undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degrees.
Also known in English as a Motivational Letter, Statement Letter, or Personal Statement, the Letter of Motivation is an instrument for presenting your reasons for studying in Germany, telling about your characteristics and the reasons that encouraged you to apply for a study program in a particular institution. Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity to let the evaluators know about you above and beyond the official documents required during the application process. You should make your objectives and reasons for applying for a job straightforward in the letter.
But how to write a good Motivation Letter? Check out in this article the precious guidelines we have prepared to help you write yours.
Motivation Letter Script
To begin with, carefully read the text where the university explains what it expects from your letter of motivation. One of the main mistakes we notice in motivation letters from Brazilian students is giving non-requested information. Be objective. You can even address some unsolicited points, but you need to understand that the central point of the letter should be what is requested by the university. The evaluators will read numerous letters and prefer being complete and straight to the point.
Please educate yourself about the university, the curriculum, the professors, and their lines of research. Look for students who have completed the same process. Research!
Start the document by addressing the person, committee, or department that will evaluate your letter. If you don’t know the specific recipient, look on the university’s website. If you can’t find the information, write an e-mail asking for clarification. And if none of that works, using the classic “To Whom It May Concern” will do nicely in this case.
- First paragraph: Introduce yourself, tell about yourself! Mention the previous courses you have taken the number of semesters attended by academic degrees. It helps to write about your professional experience, technical knowledge, specific skills, foreign language proficiency, awards, and nominations. Then, add some information on volunteer work, hobbies, and anything to help the institution know you.
- Second paragraph: Explain why you chose Germany to study. What attracts you to Germany? What do you expect for your future in the country? Mention elements such as economic and political stability, the variety of professional opportunities for foreigners, the investment in your future in the country, or even how studying in Germany can help you build an international career. Finally, if you intend to return to Brazil after your course, explain how this experience can help you in your professional life in your own country.
- Third paragraph: Briefly explain why you decided on a particular city in Germany. What makes this city seem unique to you? Why do you think this city is the best choice for living, studying and maybe building a career?
- Fourth paragraph: Detail the reasons why the course you have selected will help you professionally, academically, and even personally. Why are you choosing this course? Is the study related to your interests or previous work or life experience? Be specific when referring to the university program selected. Don’t write generalities. If you are applying, for example, for an Anthropology program, you don’t need to say that you love the subject. That is obvious. But if you have read a book or seen a film that sparked your interest in the field, you can mention it and tell how your experience with Anthropology developed from there. In this way, you can be objective and simultaneously specific when speaking of an experience that is all your own.
- Fifth paragraph: Now it’s time to explain the reasons why you picked the university in question. What attracts you to the institution? What makes it different from other institutions in Germany? When writing the fourth and fifth paragraphs, be careful not to copy text from the institution’s websites. Instead, write about the program and the university in your own words.
- Sixth paragraph: Conclude by summarising everything you wrote in the other previous sections, and finish with an argument about the importance of embarking on this journey.
Germanics Tips
- Organize ahead of time, and don’t wait until the deadline to write your Motivation Letter.
- If you apply to several universities, be careful when tailoring your letter. Evaluators hate to receive letters that look like they were written generically for several universities without any adherence to the reality of the specific program.
- Make it look good! Watch out for spelling and style errors, especially since you are writing in a foreign language. If you are not confident translating the letter, do not hesitate to use the services of a translator.
- If you need to use Google Translator or DeepL, use a specific English proofreader, such as Grammarly. Try to have the final proofreading of your letter done by a native English speaker.
- Be objective and realistic about yourself. Talk about your value, but don’t praise yourself too much. The worst mistakes you can make in writing a Motivation Letter are over-the-top self-promotion and wishful thinking.
Write a text that contains between 300 and 550 words, using a basic font such as Arial or Times New Roman, with a size between 11 and 13 pts. Paragraphs should not be too long or too short. Keep an average length between them.
- When writing the letter, do not drift into vague ideas. Less is more!
- End the letter with a paragraph summarising the essential points, thank the addressee, and say goodbye. And don’t forget to put your phone number and e-mail address, date, and sign at the end.
- Ask friends to read your letter and welcome their criticism. Then, rewrite as many times as necessary.
Be creative, follow your heart and be genuine!
As a Germanics student, you will receive extra support to revise your Motivation Letter and ensure a successful application! So talk to us and find out how we can help you get into a German university.