Motivation Letter Generator and Template

A motivation letter, sometimes called a letter of motivation or statement of motivation, is the document that answers one question: why do you want this, and why are you a good match? Universities in many countries ask for one with master's and PhD applications, scholarship and bursary programs ask for one to compare candidates with similar grades, and volunteer programs and some employers ask for one when they care more about commitment than about experience.

Unlike a cover letter, which proves you can do a job, a motivation letter proves you will make good use of an opportunity. The reader wants to see a clear goal, a believable origin for it, evidence you have already acted on it, and a link between the program and the next step in your plans.

The template follows the structure most committees expect, in four short paragraphs:

• Opening: the program you are applying for and the goal it connects to. Lead with the goal, not with your name; your name is already in the heading.
• Origin and evidence: the experience that started your interest and what you have done since. A concrete story is more convincing than adjectives such as "passionate".
• Fit: why this organization, and what you would contribute and hope to learn. Committees look for applicants who will give something back to the cohort, not only take.
• Close: thank the reader and offer to discuss your motivation further.

Always check the program's own instructions first. If a university sets a word limit, specific questions or a different name for the document, follow those instructions over any template, including this one.

For a university or master's program

Name the program exactly as the university does, mention a course, module, lab or teaching approach that drew you to it, and link it to your long-term goal. Your relevant experience can be a thesis, a research assistant role, or work in the field.

For a scholarship or bursary

Scholarship committees often fund people who will have an impact after graduating. Make your long-term goal concrete, and show the link between the funding and what it will make possible. If the scholarship has a stated mission, mention it in the "why this organization" field.

For a job or internship

When an employer asks for a motivation letter rather than a cover letter, they usually want to understand your reasons for choosing the field. Keep the structure, and use the company and the role in the program fields. For a traditional job application, the application letter may be the better fit.

• Repeating your CV. The committee has your CV. Use the letter to explain the reasons behind it.
• Generic praise. "Your prestigious university" fits every university. Name something that only this one offers.
• A goal that is too vague. "Make a difference" is not a goal. "Improve access to clean water in rural communities" is.
• Sending the same letter everywhere. Your saved details stay in the tool, so a new version for another program means changing the program, the organization and the reason for interest.
• Ignoring the word limit. The templates are short, so you have room to add a sentence or two, but stay inside any limit the program sets.

This example uses the friendly tone, which suits a personal story, with the sample answers from the fields. The applicant is fictional; the structure is the part to copy.