Motivation letter

Your motivation letter should cover these points:

• Your personal motivation for choosing this field of study (why do you want to study this particular program?);
• Your current qualifications and relevant experience, which show that you are a suitable candidate for the chosen program;
• Your goals for the future – if you plan to build your future in this field, be sure to write about them in the letter.

The key to success is being specific. Avoid vague phrases – name the exact field of study, skills, character traits and plans.

Explain why you are interested in this university, this study program, working in this field or studying in this country. There are endless places to study, but you picked this one – show the university that you know what you chose and why.

Never praise the university too much – most candidates do it, but empty praise makes no impression. If you want to stand out, give sincere and constructive arguments for your choice.

Show what you already know about the chosen field. The university doesn't expect new students to be experts – that's what studying is for. But show that you don't just want to work in this field – you are also genuinely interested in it and know what to expect during your studies. That's a big plus.

Tell the university what you do – maybe you take part in after-school clubs, volunteer, belong to organizations or associations, or even have work experience. Ideally, the activity is related to your chosen study program: then you can explain how it will help you in your studies and in building your career.

Even if an activity is not related to what you plan to study, you don't have to leave it out – it shows your interests, your wish to be an active member of the community, and the qualities it helped you develop. Interests that have nothing to do with your studies show that you are a well-rounded person with something to offer beyond your chosen field.

It's not only what you say but how you say it: simply listing activities is not enough. Pick a few activities and explain exactly what they gave you – that works much better than a long list with no detail. Universities value focus – they need to know that you understand what your activities give you.

For example, instead of simply writing:

“I enjoy badminton.”

Explain why you do this activity and what it gives you:

“I play badminton in both singles and doubles matches. Doubles matches require good teamwork, an ability to support your partner, to devise a game plan but be able to adapt it as required, and fast reactions. I enjoy the social side of the club that I play in and take responsibility for organizing the social activities and fundraising events. This gives me an opportunity to develop my organizational and planning skills. Fitting in all these activities while keeping up with my academic studies demands good time management, and I think I do that very well.”

Universities are impressed by people who know what they want and work toward it with confidence. So write about your future plans and ambitions. Universities exist to help people reach their goals – write about yours, and the university will definitely be interested.

It's a good idea to mention your language skills. If your English isn't perfect, don't lie – the truth will come out anyway. Describe what you do to improve your English and show that you are ready to learn. For many students in international programs, English is not their first language. Perfect English is not required – what matters is showing that you are not afraid to study in English.

The topics above are general guidelines: you don't have to cover everything suggested. Choose what is relevant to you and fits your personal experience – the tips are there to point you in the right direction.

Before you start writing, check the technical requirements your letter must meet:

• Length – from 1,300 to 4,000 characters with spaces. Ideally, the final version of your letter has at least 3,500 characters.
• Separate letters – if you plan to study in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium or Sweden, you can prepare a separate motivation letter for each study program you are interested in.
• Originality – make sure your letter is your own work and don't copy other texts. Universities check whether documents are genuine: if your letter turns out to be copied from another text, the university may reject your application or take other action under its rules.

These are general recommendations. If your university or study program asks for something different, follow its rules.

• Show your best English. Don't let spelling mistakes give the reader a negative impression.
• Show that you know your strengths and can express your ideas clearly. Be specific, and use words and sentences that both you and your reader understand.
• Show enthusiasm! Your letter should be full of positive energy – let the reader feel how much you want to go abroad and learn more about your chosen subject.
• Be ready to write more than one draft before you have your final version.
• Ask people close to you for their opinion.
• Break your text into paragraphs – a well-organized letter is easier to read and looks more professional.
• Show, don't just describe. Give examples that show how you think or what you do. Ask yourself: what did this activity teach me? How did team sports teach me to work with other people? How did a book I read change the way I see things?

• Don't make things up, don't lie and don't twist the truth – all of this is easy to check in an interview. University staff may ask you to say more about the things you mention in your letter.
• Don't trust spell-checkers alone. Check the spelling, grammar and punctuation yourself and ask others for help.
• Don't leave the writing until the last minute. When you rush, you miss important details – and a letter written in a hurry is easy to spot.
• Avoid arrogance. Be confident about what you did, but never boast.
• Don't overload the letter with unnecessary information – choose a few of your best examples and develop them.
• Don't use words that are too complicated – write the way you normally speak, using English words you know.

It depends on the university – not all of them require a motivation letter. Check the tables on this page to see whether your chosen university needs one. You will also see the exact list of documents in your application form – the list depends on the country, university and study program you choose.

The recommended length is 1,300 to 4,000 characters with spaces. Ideally, the final version has at least 3,500 characters – this shows that you gave the letter enough attention. Always check the requirements of the specific university or study program too – if they say otherwise, follow them.

You can use artificial intelligence to organize your ideas or check your language. But you must write the final letter yourself, and it must meet the university's requirements. Universities check whether documents are genuine, so text that is copied or written by someone else can be a reason to reject an application. Ready-made texts and templates don't work either – universities value a personal and sincere letter.

If you plan to study in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium or Sweden, you can prepare a separate motivation letter for each study program you are interested in. A separate letter written for a specific program always looks more convincing than a general text.

Register on kastu.eu. You get detailed writing instructions with examples by e-mail, together with your registration confirmation.

Besides the motivation letter, you may need other documents to apply. Your application form shows the exact list of documents for the country, university and study program you choose. Read more about all application documents on the required documents page.