Template
Motivation letter planning sheet
Plan the argument before you write. Collect the evidence and programme specifics that make a letter credible.
Fill this in before drafting. A letter planned this way is easier to tailor, because the programme-specific parts are already researched.
The basics
- Programme and intake: ______________________
- Word or page limit (exact wording from the official page): ______________________
- Set questions or form, if any: ______________________
- Selection criteria the letter is scored against: ______________________
- Submission format: ______________________
My argument in three sentences
- What I want to be able to do after this programme:
- Why my background makes that a realistic goal:
- Why this programme, rather than any other, is the route:
Evidence from my background
| Claim I want to make | Evidence (course, project, job, result) | Where it appears in my CV |
|---|---|---|
Programme specifics (from the official site, not blogs)
| What | Detail | Why it matters to me |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory course(s) | ||
| Track or specialisation I prefer | ||
| Universities on my mobility path | ||
| Research group, lab or associated partner | ||
| Thesis or internship arrangement |
Outline
- Opening (2 to 3 sentences): goal and why this programme.
- Background (1 paragraph): strongest evidence.
- Why this programme (1 to 2 paragraphs): specifics from the table above.
- Why these countries and universities (short).
- Plans after graduation (short, specific).
- Close (1 to 2 sentences).
Before submitting
- Within the limit, counted as the programme counts.
- Correct programme name, track and universities throughout.
- Every claim supported by my CV or transcripts.
- Read by someone in my field and someone outside it.
- Final version saved as
Surname_PROGRAMME_Motivation.pdf.