A motivation letter for scholarship, also known as a personal statement or statement of purpose, is an essential part of a scholarship application. However, writing a motivation letter for scholarship can be intimidating, especially if you are still determining what to include or how to structure it. But don’t worry! In this article, Opportunities Circle will explain everything you need to know while writing a letter of motivation for scholarship to increase your chances of winning international scholarships.
It is your chance to explain to the scholarship committee why you are a good fit for their program and why you deserve to be selected. So first, let’s start by understanding the purpose of a motivation letter for scholarship. Why do scholarship committees ask for this type of letter? The purpose of a scholarship motivation letter is to give the scholarship committee a sense of who you are as a person and what drives you. It’s an opportunity for you to share your story, goals, and motivation for pursuing higher education in the field of your interest. A well-written motivation letter can help the committee understand why you are a good fit for scholarship program and why you deserve to be selected.
Things to Remember When Writing a Motivation Letter for Scholarship
1. Start by understanding the scholarship program
Before you write your motivational letter for scholarship, it is important to understand the scholarship program and its requirements. Make sure you know the deadline, the eligibility criteria, and any other specific requirements that the scholarship committee is looking for. This will help you write your motivation letter for the specific scholarship program and show that you are a good fit. Furthermore, review the aim and vision of the university or host body and analyze profiles of faculty members.
2. Brainstorm before writing
Your motivation letter should have a clear and concise idea about your goals and motivations for pursuing higher education. This could be “Why I want to study computer science” or “How I plan to use my degree to make a difference in my community.” Brainstorm the topic that reflects your passions and interests and can help the scholarship committee understand why you are a good fit for their program. Moreover, students can check testimonies and success stories. They usually share their journey and guide that can help write a winning letter of motivation.
3. Use a professional and formal tone
A motivation letter for scholarship is a formal document, so it’s essential to use a professional and formal tone. Avoid using slang or colloquial language, and proofread your letter for spelling and grammar errors. Use proper punctuation and avoid using contractions.
4. Keep it concise and to the point
A motivation letter should be concise and to the point. Aim for around 500-700 words, and make sure to stay focused on the topic you have chosen. Avoid repeating information or going off on tangents. However, you must check the word count requirements and write accordingly.
5. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points
To make your motivation letter more effective, use concrete examples to illustrate your points. This could be a specific experience or project you worked on that demonstrates your passions and interests.
How to write a winning Motivation Letter for Scholarship?
You must be thinking about how to write motivation letter for scholarship. Don’t worry. We are here to help you. Start your motivation letter for the scholarship with an introduction that grabs the attention of the scholarship committee. This could be a quote, a question, or a statement about your goals and motivation for pursuing higher education in a specific field.
The body of your motivation letter for the scholarship should consist of multiple paragraphs that expand the information provided in the introduction and explain why you are a good fit for the scholarship program. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points. For example, if you want to add about your leadership skills, do not write long paragraphs on leadership; instead, share examples about any project or event you led and demonstrated leadership skills.
After the analysis, it is time to write a winning motivation letter for the scholarship. The letter of motivation must be structured as follow:
1. Title and Header
The position of the header must be on the top left; however, it can be placed on the right side too. You must add a title: “Letter of motivation for [name of scholarship where you want to apply].”
Then write the header; it must include the following:
- Applicant’s full name
- Applicant’s address and postal code
- The phone number
Providing skype id and social network links are optional.
2. Introduction
Start the motivation letter with formal greetings, get to the point, and write the purpose of this letter. For example, “Through this scholarship, I want to …..” You must briefly answer: why you want to apply for this XYZ scholarship and what motivates you to apply for the program. In the next paragraph, you must concisely explain what attracted you to study in that institution or country offering the scholarship. The next step includes writing about your objective and how it relates to the program’s mission to which you are applying. For example: “I am looking for an international experience for XYZ purpose… I am sure that this program in this institution can help me achieve my …. goal.”
3. Explain Who are you?
This is the second part of the motivation letter for scholarship; it must contain details about your academic achievements and why you think you are an ideal candidate. You must mention all your accomplishments, no matter what. It will demonstrate the value you will bring to the institute and your contribution to society.
4. How would you contribute?
In this section, you must explain by examples how your skills and abilities will contribute to the university and country you are applying to. You can place things like exchange cultural values and knowledge with colleagues, and participate in sports, cultural or art activities and events.
5. Demonstrate how it will be helpful
A part of it is covered in the introduction, but here you must give detailed insight into your motivation. Furthermore, you must explain why does the program of study mean so much to you? How the program, research projects and facilities of the institute or country will help you to achieve your goals? And how this achievement will help your country to step forward toward sustainability.
6. Conclude well
You need to prove that you are a suitable candidate and badly need this opportunity; you are a good fit for it! Show the desire that you want to learn, contribute and use the knowledge. Phrases like “it would be an honor and the beginning of a road full of …” will be helpful.
Tips on Writing a Good Motivation Letter for Scholarship
Before you submit your motivation letter for scholarship, make sure to proofread and revise it carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and ensure that your letter is well-organized and easy to read.
When writing a motivation letter for a scholarship, you shall not extend it to more than 1 page. It is often necessary to meet this requirement. If the details are incomplete and need more space, a page and a half is enough. Once you write the letter and proofread it to omit any errors, save it in PDF format.
Another important thing is to ensure that the letter of motivation is addressed to whom it should be. Do not make the mistake of addressing one institution and sending it to the other. It is not only embarrassing but also unprofessional. This will have a bad impact on the selection committee.
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Motivation Letter for Scholarship
The motivation letter is a crucial document when it comes to applying for an international scholarship. However, the purpose of the motivation letter for a scholarship is not only about telling your desire to get an opportunity to study abroad but rather about defending the reason why it should be you and not other capable and competitive candidates.
1. State More Facts
It is difficult to put forward why the selection committee should select you when there are more capable and eligible candidates. A large number of students want to travel abroad for academic purpose, expand their horizons, and work for the improvement of their countries, but in reality, they do not know what to write to make themselves perfect candidates for the scholarship award.
Do not write phrases like “my dream from the start was to study in XYZ country” or “my achievements are”; instead, use words like I am an ideal candidate because of my work in a relevant field… Do not make the motivation letter too wordy and do not write long paragraphs; give examples to demonstrate that you are an ideal candidate.
2. Contributions
One mistake most students make while writing scholarship motivation letter is that they write about personal development, such as I wanted to study this course because I was always interested in this field, I want to pursue research in this country or XYZ institute is renowned worldwide. Instead, the scholarship providers expect applicants to share their interests and plan for positive impact and development on a greater scale and how the scholarship will help them achieve the greater good.
They want to know how applicants will use this opportunity and contribute during the scholarship duration, such as extracurricular activities, volunteer work, cultural exchange events and other activities and how they will contribute to the development and sustainability after returning to their country.
3. Provide What They Require
Finally, only provide what they asked for. If the requirement is 250 words, keep it under consideration. Furthermore, delivering a good motivation letter will not exempt other requirements. Moreover, you must start writing the letter of motivation early because there’s always a deadline.
Motivation Letter for Scholarship Template
Dear Scholarship Committee,
I am writing to express my genuine interest in the [Name of Scholarship] and to apply for this esteemed opportunity. As a [Your Major/Field of Study], I constantly seek ways to further my education and advance my career goals. I believe that the [Name of Scholarship] would provide me with the financial support I need to continue my studies and offer me the chance to be a part of a global community of like-minded individuals dedicated to making a positive impact in the world.
My passion for [Your Major/Field of Study] began at a young age and grew stronger. I have been fascinated by the way [Your Major/Field of Study] can be used to solve complex problems and improve the lives of others [explain how]. This passion has driven me to excel academically, and I am proud to have maintained a [Your GPA] GPA while also participating in numerous extracurricular activities and volunteering opportunities.
In addition to my academic achievements, I have gained knowledge and valuable experience through internships and part-time jobs in my field [add examples here to demonstrate your skills]. I have learned firsthand the importance of [your field], and I am eager to use these skills to make a positive impact in the world.
I am confident that the [Name of Scholarship] would provide me with the resources and support I need to continue pursuing my dreams and positively impact my community. I look forward to contributing to the [Name of Scholarship] community and making the most of this exciting opportunity.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
We hope this guide will help you write an effective motivation letter for a scholarship and that this motivation letter sample will be beneficial for you. If you are writing a personal statement, check the guide to write a personal statement before starting. Thanks for reading, wishing you success in securing your desired scholarship!
