How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter: Five Samples

How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter: Five Samples

When applying for a scholarship, your motivation letter is what makes you stand out from the competition. In addition to helping us obtain academic and professional practice scholarships, a strong motivation letter has also helped us land jobs at major corporations. We now want to go over all the things you need to consider when writing a scholarship motivation letter. Here, we’ll show you how to create your own template so you may submit applications to more calls and improve your chances of receiving international scholarships.

Your academic accomplishments should be mentioned in your scholarship motivation letter. It ought to clarify: What makes you the best applicant? How do your expertise and skills benefit the nation or university? You should demonstrate your enthusiasm to learn and share fresh information.

Note: This does not imply that merely having an eye-catching and unambiguous motivation letter will suffice to win the scholarship, or that academic achievement, experience, and recognition are irrelevant. You are the ideal candidate for the scholarship because of your accomplishments and abilities, and the motivation letter supports your success as stated.

Also Check How to Write a Scholarship-Related Academic CV (10 Examples)

Prior to writing your scholarship motivation letter

Look into the university and the nation you wish to visit and study in. What kind of person is the scholarship provider or the school seeking? Examine the About, Our Culture, and Philosophy sections of its official page, among others, and do an analysis of the organization. Do they place greater importance on teamwork or leadership? Do they care about the environment and social responsibility? What function does ethics serve? Or are they more concerned with figures and tangible outcomes?

In addition to helping you tailor your motivation letter to the institution’s goals, this study will assist you determine whether this opportunity aligns with your own.

Strategy 1: Examine the institutions’ mission and vision while examining faculty profiles. Make use of synonyms for the terms they mention in the letter of motivation.

Strategy 2: Examine the portion containing the testimonials of the institution’s staff members or students, whether or not they are scholars. They occasionally have official videos, and their comments can also help you assess whether you enjoy the program and adjust your motivation letter accordingly.

Also Check How to Get Your Scholarship Application Ready: 5 Crucial Pointers for Success

How can one compose an effective letter of inspiration for a scholarship?

It’s time to produce a compelling scholarship motivation letter now that you have completed the necessary analysis. The following elements must be included in the motivation letter:

(1) Header and title:

Title: “Motivation letter for [scholarship you are applying for]”

Header:

• Complete name
• Address + postal code
• Phone
• Email
• Social media and Skype are optional
• Header position: upper left is fine, but I suggest higher right.

(2) Overview:
Introduce yourself formally and then get right to the point by outlining the purpose of the letter. “I want to use this to apply for the scholarship that was published in…” Additionally, include a brief explanation of your motivation for applying for this scholarship and what inspired you about the program. This allows you to write succinctly about your positive experiences with the organization and/or nation where you are applying for a scholarship. Finally, don’t forget to briefly describe your goal and how it connects to the program’s goals. For instance: “I’ve been searching for a global experience for And I have faith that the institution’s study program X will be beneficial to me.

(3) Who are you?

You should include the following in the second paragraph of your motivation letter:

• Your academic accomplishments.
• What makes you the best applicant?

Advice: Regardless of your accomplishments, make sure to document them in a way that highlights their importance to the organization or nation to which you are applying.

(4) What role do you play?

How do your skills and abilities benefit the institution or nation, even though you truly desire to learn and travel? For example, “increase my colleagues’ knowledge of my country, participate in sports or art activities, etc.”

(5) Show beforehand that you are aware of the institution and/or nation you are addressing:

Although you touched on it in the opening, you need to elaborate on your motivation in greater detail now. Based on earlier studies: What makes the program so important to you? How will the nation’s and the institution’s research initiatives and facilities aid you in achieving your objectives?

(6) Concluding remarks: Show that you truly desire to accomplish this; both you and I know it! Demonstrate your willingness to learn and share fresh information. Words like “I am highly motivated by…” are used here. “It would be a privilege and the start of a journey full of…” etc.

(7) Recognition and dismissal:

Once more, as time is of the essence, we must express our gratitude to the reader for their time and let them know that we look forward to working with them. It is more than acceptable to end with “Cordially” or “Cordial Greetings.”

Please also check The best way to get a scholarship?

Template for a Scholarship Motivation Letter
Although I understand that you wish to submit multiple scholarship applications, you are not required to compose a unique motivation letter for each one. Create a template that enables you to modify the material according to the particular circumstance. But how is this accomplished? You already have a template that you may modify to make your motivation letter match the scholarship you wish to apply for after completing the seven steps in the previous section. But I’ve included a form for a motivation letter below.

Advice for Composing an Outstanding Scholarship Motivation Letter

Structured: It will be quite difficult for the examiners to read the rest of the letter if your ideas are unclear and the writing does not flow naturally. Determine your strengths and use the program you are applying to to demonstrate them in a clear and concise manner. Compose sentences that are compelling and goal-oriented.

Clear: Simple to read, steer clear of jargon, and divide paragraphs according to the topics you discuss.

Brief: You don’t need to go beyond one page if you are clear. Actually, the motivation letter frequently needs to fulfill this prerequisite. Otherwise, a page and a half is plenty. Keep in mind that time is the most valuable resource available to everyone, including the people reviewing your application.

PDF: Unless otherwise noted, you must save and deliver it as a PDF document even when you write it in Word.

Formal: Although the letter should be formal, you shouldn’t use words you can’t even pronounce; instead, be realistic and authentic.

Deadline: Don’t forget the application deadline and don’t pass up this life-changing opportunity.

Review: Don’t forget to fix your writing and spelling. If you’re not very good at that, a good friend or member of your family can aid you. Since school, my spelling has been awful, but I’ve had to change the batteries.

The right title Additionally, confirm that it is directed to the appropriate person. For my efforts, I sent a letter of inspiration to a corporation with the title addressed to someone else. I am currently looking for work. Haha! That should not have happened to you; it is extremely unprofessional and embarrassing.

Language: Use the language, writing, and translation correctly if you are applying in a different language.

Typical Errors to Avoid in Scholarship Motivation Letter Writing
The most crucial document for obtaining a scholarship abroad is, as we already know, the motivation letter. Additionally, getting a job or even volunteering is made easier with a well-written motivation letter.

The scholarship motivation letter, however, is more than just stating your aspirations to pursue new chances; it also argues why you should be considered rather than one of the other highly qualified applicants.

(1) More facts and fewer words
Expressing your wish to visit or study in a particular nation is simple, but explaining why they should pick you is more challenging. Many of us aspire to travel, broaden our worldview, learn foreign languages, and enhance our quality of life; however, in practice, what must you do to earn that honor?

Phrases like “my dream has always been xyz” and “my accomplishments have been” are starting to give way to “I believe I am the best candidate because” and/or “my work is characterized by.” Keep in mind that the one who correctly exhibits their deservingness of the award will receive it, not the one who wants it the most.

(2) Take Charge and Show Off Your In-Depth Knowledge

I don’t imply that your wishes aren’t taken into consideration in the paragraph above. To the degree that you demonstrate that you understand what you want and why you deserve it, they are significant. As an illustration, I would like to present to you a passage from a scholarship motivation letter that I recently received and would like to edit:

“The wide range of skills that the program offers, the caliber of the faculty, and the internship program are what really drew me in; these elements will enable me to take advantage of various opportunities when I’m looking for work.”

The applicant is sticking to the fundamentals here. Since knowledge equals motivation, underlined words can be explained to show ownership and subject-matter expertise. Another option is:

The opportunity to specialize in lighting and sound, together with the teaching staff’s esteemed faculty, are what really drew me to the Modern Art program. The chance to interact directly with exhibitions in one of the world’s modern art capitals through the professional practices provided during the final semester is another reason I favor this program.

Another way I suggest demonstrating knowledge is to substitute phrases like “I believe” with “I know” or “I’m certain that.”

(3) What you will do for them is more important.
that the convenience of living in a sophisticated nation shouldn’t be the only factor in your motivations. Your genuine interest in the study program and the beneficial impact you will make with the knowledge you gain is expected by the study scholarship givers. To be clear, they don’t give a damn if you feel safer, happier, wealthier, or healthier in the nation that is giving the scholarship. They want to know how in hell you will repay their investment in you by giving back to society. Calm down! They have no desire for money. Consider the cultural exchange you will provide, the lessons you can impart to other students or teachers, the extracurricular activities you can support, and any other collaborative projects you have in mind.

Advice: It’s crucial to explain how you plan to use the knowledge you gain in your home country if the scholarship calls for you to return there after completing the course of study.

(4) The rules are the rules.
Lastly, just include what they ask of you and what the letter of motivation is. Send a sheet if they say to send one. Please don’t assume that the scholarship giver will waive some of the motivation letter criteria. IELTS band 7 is 7, not 6.5, if they ask for it. Similarly, two years of verified work experience is 24 months, not 22 and a half. It is lovely to demonstrate your merit for the scholarship, not to persuade them that despite your hard effort, you were unable to fulfill the other requirements. Give yourself time if you don’t meet all the requirements because scholarship possibilities and application dates change frequently.

Samples of Motivation Letters for Scholarships

A selection of sample motivation letters for scholarships from the best universities in the globe has been produced by ScholarshipRoar.com. We hope that this list will assist you in crafting a compelling and successful scholarship motivation letter.

• University of Washington Motivation Letter (Cover Letter) Guide and Samples
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Motivation Letter Samples
• University of Mississippi Cover Letter Tips and Sample
• UC Davis Motivation Letter Guide and Samples

Sample

February 21, 2020
Great Strategy Consulting Firm,
Ms. Liza Wideman,
Recruiting Coordinator,
200 Shell Fish Blvd., Suite 199,
San Francisco, CA 94080

To Ms. Wideman,

I am writing to Great Strategy Consulting Firm to show interest in an Associate position. I am a student at Harvard Extension School pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts degree with a focus on information technology. I have a good expertise in technology and am passionate about strategy and business. My interests and areas of focus range from project management to quantitative analysis. Through a well-rounded academic program that fosters leadership and teamwork skills in addition to being highly analytical and technical by nature, I have managed to maintain a 3.95 GPA. Great Strategy’s approach to strategy consulting, particularly in the practice areas of innovation and business development, has greatly impressed me. I think I have the qualifications required to succeed as an Associate thanks to my educational background, commercial acumen, and work experience.

I worked as a technology professional before attending Harvard, mostly addressing strategic problems pertaining to technology process development. While working for Fortune 500 organizations, I developed strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills. I have a deeper knowledge of the complex issues that businesses confront on a daily basis thanks to my experience coming up with creative ideas and methods to enhance procedures. Furthermore, I have a thorough understanding of the significance of having excellent team dynamics in the multidisciplinary corporate environment of today thanks to my job experiences.

My career as an IT specialist has been incredibly fulfilling and fruitful thus far. I can, however, fully utilize my analytical prowess and innovative problem-solving abilities through strategy consulting. Consulting, in my opinion, is a field that will compel me to consider issues not just from the perspective of the client but also from the perspectives of the market, industry best practices, and “think outside the box.”
I would be grateful for the chance to interview for the Associate post at Great Strategy Consulting Firm. For your review, kindly find my résumé enclosed. You can contact me via phone at (617) 555-3456 or by email at jacob.mclean@post.harvard.edu. I really forward speaking with you shortly.

I appreciate your thought and time.
Regards,
McLean, Jacob A.

It’s your turn now!
I sincerely hope that these pointers and illustrations will assist you in crafting a compelling motivation letter for a scholarship and in winning one. Please share any helpful hints you may have in the comments area.

I appreciate you reading, and I hope everything works out for you!