phd letter of motivation examples

• Graduate School

How to Write a PhD Motivation Letter with Samples and Expert Tips

Reading over some PhD motivation letter samples will give you an idea of how to make yours a strong, central component of your application to get into grad school . In addition to your grad school CV , a PhD motivation letter is a chance for you to demonstrate objectively why you are an excellent candidate for the faculty to which you are applying. Unlike a personal statement, a PhD motivation letter is distinct in its unique focus on your academic and research background with little mention of your personal story. This article will take you through the significance of the PhD motivation letter, describe what makes a stellar motivation letter, and provide examples. 

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Article Contents 11 min read

Do you need to write a phd motivation letter .

Yes, you must write a PhD motivation letter. It is mandatory for most, if not all, PhD programs, regardless of your field of study. Disciplines ranging from arts and humanities to physics and computer science all consider motivation letters (aka “statement of purpose” in some countries) a major component of your application.

Of course, you will also have to fulfill the other documentation requirements, like submitting your transcripts, CV, personal statement, and letters of recommendation, but a motivation letter has a specific intent: to summarize your academic achievements up to the present and what you plan to achieve in the future at this particular school.

The faculty who ultimately consider your application look for how you and your PhD topic match with the mission and values of their program. Personal details and other motivations are best left to your personal statement or letter of intent because the motivation letter is strictly an academic summary.

A great PhD motivation letter should highlight how and why you are prepared for the rigors of PhD-level work. It should include the details of your academic career that have propelled you further into your field of study, like an inspiring professor or undergraduate course that sparked interest in your field.

The following list will provide more insights, but you should remember that whatever you write must be backed up by a concrete, real-world demonstration. It is not enough to say, “I am interested in XYZ because of XYZ.” You must include specific events in your undergraduate and graduate studies where you excelled.

If you are applying for a PhD, that in itself suggests you have a bevy of academic and extracurricular experience to glean from, be it co-authoring a published paper, your time as a TA, or some type of academic recognition. Many stand-out motivation letters single out specific instances when you showed an outsized passion for your studies.

Dos and Don’ts in a PhD Motivation Letter

1. Gain Skills and Experiences

The track to obtaining a PhD degree is a long one, which is why anyone who wants to become a PhD should commit early on to what it entails. All PhD candidates must have both an undergraduate and a master's degree to even apply, so that means structuring your studies around those requirements.

You should gain as much experience in your field, learn new skills related to your studies (a new language, for example, or technical skills), and participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible. Gathering the necessary skills and experiences to enter a PhD program should be the first step, since they are a reflection of your commitment.

2. Start Writing Early

You should begin drafting your PhD motivation letter at least a few months before the deadline. Because it is one of the most important parts of your application, you want to give yourself time to refine it. Refining means going through multiple drafts, soliciting and receiving feedback from other candidates, getting professional grad school application help, and making changes as you go along.

3. Consider Your Audience

The people who will read your motivation letter are renowned academics who have devoted their lives to one particular subject. Your letter needs to reflect your respect not only for them, but for the field of study that you both share. You should write with genuine verve when talking about your topic. Remind them of why they committed so full-heartedly to their career by demonstrating how enthralled you are with your studies.

4. Use Active Voice

You should put “you” in your story. Avoid using the passive voice and hiding behind your achievements as if they spoke for themselves. The admissions committee members want to read about how you approached your studies and learn about your insights into the future of your field of interest. They do not want a cold recitation of your CV but a spirited defense or explanation of what you value most about your topic.

1. Don’t Forget About the Formatting

PhD admission requirements differ between the many programs out there, so be cognizant of how they ask you to format your paper. If the requirements state a two-page limit, then write two pages. The same goes for other criteria like font size, paragraph spacing, and word length. A rambling, incoherent letter is the last thing you want to submit, so make sure to keep it within the guidelines.

2. Don’t Include Personal Stories

A personal statement is the place for formative stories from the past, not your motivation letter. You can include personal thoughts and opinions about your field of study, even unfavorable ones, to show you have a unique perspective, but steer clear of using personal elements like early childhood experiences or anything unrelated to your program.

3. Don’t Ramble

Keep in mind that your writing and organizational skills are also on display when you submit your motivation letter, along with everything else about you (grades, college letter of intent , transcripts). Again, remember who you are writing for: professors with years of experience researching and writing. They, more than anyone, know what good writing looks like, so be concise and clear in your writing.

4. Don’t Shy Away from Failures

The collected experience of those reading your essay guarantees that they know a thing or two about failure. Whether it was an unpublished paper, or a failed experiment, showing your determination in the face of adversity paints a complete picture of who you are as a researcher and academic.

But, again, setbacks in your personal life should not be mentioned. Limit your story to problems you encountered during your undergrad, graduate, or research fellowships and how you sought to overcome them. Mention a class or subject you struggled with or a drop in your grades and how you improved them.

Structure of Your PhD Motivation Letter

The structure of a great motivation letter is easy to follow because its focus is so narrow. The body of your letter should only mention highlights from your academic career, in a very specific chronology starting with your undergrad and progressing from there. But the structure should also cover three main points:

You can adjust the structure based on the requirements of the PhD program you are applying to, but it should cover the reasons you want to commit yourself to this program, what you plan on achieving, and how you have prepared yourself to accomplish those goals. If you already went to grad school, then you can rework your college statement of purpose to use as a template.

PhD Motivation Letter Sample #1

Dear Members of the PhD Selection Committee,

My name is David White, and I am writing to you to express my interest in pursuing a PhD in the Migration Studies program at X University. I recently completed a Master of Ethnography at Y University with an emphasis on the cultural exchange between migrant communities and their adopted homelands viewed through the lens of shared trauma and memory.

In the media, migration is often described as a “crisis,” a designation that has always made me bristle. I assert that migration is one of the most fundamental aspects of our species, yet it has been flagrantly mislabeled to serve the political and socioeconomic interests of a few.

My research is centered around the ways that migrants form new identities based on their experiences. Conversely, I have also explored how an innate identity based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation impacts a migrant’s journey and how those markers expose them to further exploitation or, at the other end, fortify their resolve and inspire perseverance in the face of tremendous odds.

The need for further investigation into identity and the interplay of migration and culture came into focus for me during my second-year undergrad Political Science degree at XYZ University. I was influenced by the work of writers like Franz Fanon and Edward Said, who questioned the foundations of a post-colonial identity and whether it was ever possible for colonized people to form an identity separate from their colonizers. I took an anthropology course, The Nature of Humans, that impacted me greatly. It prompted a Cartesian examination of my own beliefs around identity, as it firmly associated the emergence of human societies with factors such as migration, evolution, adaptability, and diversity.

During my time as a graduate student, I secured a place on a research project headed by Prof. Mohamed Al-Nasseri, a diaspora studies expert. Professor Al-Nasseri's thesis was that policymakers were ignoring the psychological profiles of migrants when assessing their material needs and financial assistance levels.

Our four-person investigative team liaised with a local, non-profit resettlement agency who connected us with volunteer migrant families based in University Town. Under the supervision of Professor Al-Nasseri, we formulated a questionnaire based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-V for traumatic events, while taking into account the newly revised definitions.

Mindful of the possible triggering effect our questions could have, we invited a peer, fellow survivor/migrant, and, in some cases, a religious leader before we conducted the interviews or to sit-in on our interviews.

During the interviews, I felt both inspired and indignant. I maintained my composure and objectivity, but the fire within raged. Unfortunately, our findings were inconclusive and what we discovered in our interviews did not wholly support Dr. Al-Nasseri’s thesis. But the experience and motivation I took from the project were enough to fuel my desire to explore the topic of identity formation in migrant communities who have undergone severe trauma.

The Migration Studies program at your institution will provide what I consider the perfect research and support network to further my investigation of these topics. I have followed the work of the esteemed Dr. Ellerman whose research into the treatment of post-traumatic stress has informed the direction of my own research. Dr. Ellerman has opened new pathways for thinking about trauma that I wish to incorporate into my thesis project when the time comes.

Until then, I am grateful for the opportunity to apply to this institution and am ready to discuss my future with you should my candidacy prove successful.

David White

My name is Melanie Hicks, and I am writing this letter to fulfill the admission requirements of the Visual Arts PhD Program at Z University. I have already submitted my audiovisual portfolio, CV, and transcripts, along with three letters of recommendation from, respectively, my master’s degree supervisor, Dr. Dana Redmond, my thesis supervisor, Dr. Allan Lee, and my research colleague, Mark Fowler.

I would like to take this opportunity to expand further on the conceptual themes I have focused on in my artistic output over the past decade, contextualize the pieces I have submitted, and elaborate on the goals I have should my application to this program be successful.

My artistic career, from very early on, has been defined by modes of observation, the interplay of observation and reflection between subjects and objects within a sociopolitical realm, and the harnessing of Blackness as a form of radical self-interpretation – all of it couched within the media of still and moving images.

During my undergrad as a Fine Arts student at X University, I was lucky enough to be showcased at the Kepler Gallery for my series, Painted Faces, a collection of photographs I took while working as a freelance photographer for an independent newspaper in Chicago. My focus in that series was the effort and preparation female congregants of an all-Black church put into readying themselves for Sunday services.

After my undergrad, I traveled to Boston to volunteer in local after-school programs with children from minority backgrounds who had an interest in photography. All of them had grown up with easy access to a phone capable of taking crisp, digital images and had never taken film photographs, so it fell to me to show them how to develop prints in a darkroom.

As part of my portfolio, I have submitted photos I took during that time, along with selections from my Painted Faces series. I never constructed a specific narrative with the photos I took during my volunteer work, but they were informed by the social realist photographers and photojournalists who captured the Civil Rights Movement by participating in protests and documenting the unrest.

Gordon Parks is a major influence and part of the reason I am pursuing my PhD studies at this institution. Prof. Alys is a foremost expert on Parks’ work and curated the Parks Retrospective at the Local Museum. Parks himself said that the subject was always more important than the photographer, and I agreed with that statement for a long time, until I began reading Arthur Danto and his artist-centered philosophy of art. While many disagree with Danto’s definition of art as an elitist utopia, I would argue that he opens the gates to everyone, and that anyone can gain entry to the “artworld.”

There is no better exemplar, I think, of the democratization of the “artworld” first posited by Danto than Basquiat, who was not only “allowed” access to the “artworld” but redefined it, in his indomitable way. Basquiat’s quality of outsider-turned-insider and Danto’s liberating of the parameters of what defined art are central themes of my project to understand whether “outsider” artists still exist, given how new technologies and platforms have pushed Danto’s definitions beyond their logical boundaries, if not obliterated them completely.

I hope this program can help me refine my project while matching my urgency to further expand the definition of art and artists to be more inclusive of not only racial minorities, but non-binary and trans people, who are at the forefront of questioning the validity of assigned identities through the curation of their very genders or lack thereof.

I am grateful to this esteemed panel for considering my application, and I would like to close by expressing my profound admiration for the achievements in art, art theory, and the philosophy of art each of you has contributed to a long, continuing train of thought.

I would be honored to accept a place beside you as a PhD candidate.

Melanie Hicks

Motivation letters are used in areas other than academia, but a PhD motivation letter is different for several reasons. Regardless of your particular field of research, the letter should include important points about your academic achievements, research interests, and why you want to continue your research at the faculty to which you are applying.

Even though PhD motivation letters tend to be short – between 500 and 700 words – their length is often the most vexing thing about them. Because students have a hard time condensing their years of study and research into a few words, we hope this article will help you focus your writing and give you insight into what to include.

No, they are not the same. A motivation letter has many different applications but is primarily a summary of your academic and professional achievements. A personal statement is an essay explaining your personal reasons for wanting to enter a specific profession or academic institution.

You should focus only on concrete, real-world examples of how you performed, learned, or grew as the result of an event in your trajectory toward a PhD and how you plan on contributing something new to your field of study. You should also make sure to have enough material, in the form of experience or academic goals, to write a compelling letter.

PhD motivation letters are important because they let prospective PhD candidates distill their background and experience succinctly, so that selection committees can more easily judge their character, commitment, and potential. 

Some people do find it challenging to write a letter about themselves without rambling or sounding incoherent. But if you prepare ahead of time, think honestly about your answer, and write several drafts, you should be able to write an above-average letter. If you are still struggling you can also get application help from professionals. 

Programs tend to ask for either a one or two-page letter, between 700 and 900 words. 

You can talk about anything that has do to with your past work to get to the PhD level, including aspects of your academic career, internships, independent or supervised research, fieldwork in a specific context, and any work experience you have related to your field of study. 

You should not mention any personal motivations for wanting to pursue a PhD. You can write about your intrinsic motivations to become a doctor of philosophy in your personal statement, if you are asked to submit one with your application. 

PhD programs around the world have various entry requirements that differ among schools. Some institutions ask for a motivation letter, while others ask for a personal statement or letter of recommendation and letter of intent, which has elements of a motivation letter but is not the same. 

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How to Write a PhD Motivation Letter

• Applying to a PhD

A PhD motivation letter is a document that describes your personal motivation and competence for a particular research project. It is usually submitted together with your academic CV to provide admissions staff with more information about you as an individual, to help them decide whether or not you are the ideal candidate for a research project.

A motivation letter has many similarities to a cover letter and a personal statement, and institutions will not ask you to submit all of these. However, it is a unique document and you should treat it as such. In the context of supporting a PhD application, the difference is nuanced; all three documents outline your suitability for PhD study. However, compared to a cover letter and personal statement, a motivation letter places more emphasis on your motivation for wanting to pursue the particular PhD position you are applying for.

Academic cover letters are more common in UK universities, while motivation letters are more common abroad.

A motivation letter can play a key part in the application process . It allows the admission committee to review a group of PhD applicants with similar academic backgrounds and select the ideal candidate based on their motivations for applying.

For admission staff, academic qualifications alone are not enough to indicate whether a student will be successful in their doctorate. In this sense, a motivational letter will allow them to judge your passion for the field of study, commitment to research and suitability for the programme, all of which better enables them to evaluate your potential.

How Should I Structure My Motivation Letter?

A strong motivation letter for PhD applications will include:

• A concise introduction stating which programme you are applying for,
• Your academic background and professional work experience,
• Any key skills you possess and what makes you the ideal candidate,
• Your interest and motivation for applying,
• Concluding remarks and thanks.

This is a simplistic breakdown of what can be a very complicated document.

However, writing to the above structure will ensure you keep your letter of motivation concise and relevant to the position you are applying for. Remember, the aim of your letter is to show your enthusiasm and that you’re committed and well suited for the programme.

To help you write a motivation letter for a PhD application, we have outlined what to include in the start, main body, and closing sections.

How to Start a Motivation Letter

Introduction: Start with a brief introduction in which you clearly state your intention to apply for a particular programme. Think of this as describing what the document is to a stranger.

Education: State what you have studied and where. Your higher education will be your most important educational experience, so focus on this. Highlight any relevant modules you undertook as part of your studies that are relevant to the programme you are applying for. You should also mention how your studies have influenced your decision to pursue a PhD project, especially if it is in the same field you are currently applying to.

Work experience: Next summarise your professional work experience. Remember, you will likely be asked to submit your academic CV along with your motivation letter, so keep this section brief to avoid any unnecessary repetition. Include any other relevant experiences, such as teaching roles, non-academic experience, or charity work which demonstrates skills or shows your suitability for the research project and in becoming a PhD student.

Key skills: Outline your key skills. Remember the admissions committee is considering your suitability for the specific programme you are applying for, so mention skills relevant to the PhD course.

Motivation for applying: Show your enthusiasm and passion for the subject, and describe your long-term aspirations. Start with how you first became interested in the field, and how your interest has grown since. You should also mention anything else you have done which helps demonstrate your interest in your proposed research topic, for example:

• Have you attended any workshops or seminars?
• Do you have any research experience?
• Have you taught yourself any aspects of the subject?
• Have you read any literature within the research area?

Finally, describe what has convinced you to dedicate the next 3-4 years (assuming you are to study full time) of your life to research.

How to End a Motivation Letter

Concluding the motivation letter is where most people struggle. Typically, people can easily describe their academic background and why they want to study, but convincing the reader they are the best candidate for the PhD programme is often more challenging.

The concluding remarks of your motivation letter should highlight the impacts of your proposed research, in particular: the new contributions it will make to your field, the benefits it will have on society and how it fits in with your aspirations.

With this, conclude with your career goals. For example, do you want to pursue an academic career or become a researcher for a private organisation? Doing so will show you have put a lot of thought into your decision.

Remember, admissions into a PhD degree is very competitive, and supervisors invest a lot of time into mentoring their students. Therefore, supervisors naturally favour those who show the most dedication. Your conclusion should remind the reader that you are not only passionate about the research project, but that the university will benefit from having you.

Finally, thank the reader for considering your application.

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Motivation Letter Format

There are some basic rules to follow when writing a successful motivation letter. These will mimic the standard format for report writing that the supervisor will be familiar with:

• Use a sans serif font (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman),
• Use a standard font size (e.g. 12pt) and black font colour,
• Keep your writing professional throughout and avoid the use of informal language,
• Write in the first person,
• Address your motivation letter to a named person such as the project supervisor, however, this could also be the person in charge of research admissions,
• Structure your letter into paragraphs using the guidance above, such as introduction, academic history, motivation for research, and concluding remarks.

How Long Should a Motivation Letter Be?

A good rule of thumb for PhD motivation letters is to keep it to around one side of A4. A little longer than one page is acceptable, but two pages is generally considered too long. This equates to approximately 400-600 words.

Things to Avoid when Writing Your Motivational Letter

Your motivational letter will only be one of the several documents you’ll be asked to submit as part of your PhD application. You will almost certainly be asked to submit an Academic CV as well. Therefore, be careful not to duplicate any of the information.

It is acceptable to repeat the key points, such as what and where you have studied. However, while your CV should outline your academic background, your motivation letter should bring context to it by explaining why you have studied what you have, and where you hope to go with it. The simplest way to do this is to refer to the information in your CV and explain how it has led you to become interested in research.

Don’t try to include everything. A motivation letter should be short, so focus on the information most relevant to the programme and which best illustrates your passion for it. Remember, the academic committee will need to be critical in order to do their jobs effectively , so they will likely interpret an unnecessarily long letter as in indication that you have poor written skills and cannot communicate effectively.

You must be able to back up all of your statements with evidence, so don’t fabricate experiences or overstate your skills. This isn’t only unethical but is likely to be picked up by your proposed PhD supervisor or the admissions committee.

Whilst it is good to show you have an understanding of the field, don’t try to impress the reader with excessive use of technical terms or abbreviations.

PhD Motivation Letter Samples – A Word of Caution

There are many templates and samples of motivation letters for PhDs available online. A word of caution regarding these – although they can prove to be a great source of inspiration, you should refrain from using them as a template for your own motivation letter.

While there are no rules against them, supervisors will likely have seen a similar letter submitted to them in the past. This will not only prevent your application from standing out, but it will also reflect poorly on you by suggesting that you have put minimal effort into your application.

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Cover Letter for PhD Application: Guide for Writing One & Example From a Real PhD Student

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated March 27, 2023 9 min read

When applying for a PhD research position, you usually need to submit certain documents, including an academic CV and a cover letter for PhD application .

A PhD cover letter, also referred to as an academic cover letter, should be carefully crafted, well-formatted, and contain specific sections.

We'll show you how to do exactly that, along with a sample of an academic cover letter from a real person admitted to a PhD program at Lyon University in France.

And if you're not sure how to go about writing your PhD CV, check out this article: CV for PhD Application: How to Write One Like a True Scholar (+CV Example) .

Table of Contents

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What is an academic cover letter?

What to include in a cover letter for phd application, how to write a cover letter for phd application, how to format an academic cover letter, phd cover letter sample.

An academic cover letter is a document that PhD candidates submit alongside their academic CV when applying for a PhD. 

Essentially, it's a cover letter for a PhD application.

It's not exactly the same as your regular business cover letter. Nor is it the same as a personal statement or a motivation letter .

The purpose of a cover letter for PhD application is to explain to the reader, who's likely a researcher or a professor, what you can contribute to their institution and/or field.

Moreover, in a PhD application cover letter, you should explain why you're a good match for the research position on the program.

Differences between academic cover letter and business cover letter

Both these documents serve different purposes and people use them in different settings:

• Academic cover letter is used when applying for positions in academia — most often for a PhD. More emphasis should be on education, research background and scholarly accomplishments. Moreover, it should explain what your contribution to the institution or field could be. It should also point the reader to your academic CV.
• Regular (business) cover letter is normally used when applying for any kind of job . Hence, more emphasis should be on skills and past experience while being tailored to a specific job position. You should also explain why you're a good fit for the position at the given company. It should point the reader to your resume.

There are also other documents people often mistake for an academic cover letter. These include:

• Motivation letter is especially relevant for fresh graduates when applying to a university, a non-profit organization, or voluntary work. A motivation letter focuses more on your interests and motives for applying.
• Personal statement. Also used in an academic setting. It's always written by an applicant, often a prospective student, applying to college, university, or graduate school. You explain why you've chosen a particular course and why you'd be good at it. Other names include a statement of purpose or a letter of intent .

Like every cover letter, an academic one also needs to include specific elements and content sections. These are:

• Header. Here, provide your contact information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email in the header of the document.
• Formal salutation. In an official letter like this one, you should address the reader in a professional and formal way. If you know who'll be reading your cover letter, go with Dear Dr. [Surname] or Dear Professor [Surname] . If you don't, go with Dear Sir/Madam .
• The specific PhD program or position. Clearly state in your letter which research position you're applying for or the name of the PhD program. A cover letter is usually read before a CV, so you need to make sure everything is clear.
• Your motivation. Explain why you're interested in the specific PhD position — it's one of the key elements you should include.
• Your academic background. Now, we don't mean you should list in detail every single university course you ever took. Instead, focus on the most relevant course for the PhD and describe in detail what you learned, any projects you worked on, why it was interesting (and optionally, what knowledge gap you identified). In this way, you also show a certain level of understanding of the field.
• Your ambition. Briefly mention what your ambitions, intentions, and plans are regarding your contribution to the field when securing your PhD position. How is your research going to enrich the field? How will the institution benefit from it?
• Conclusion. Keep the conclusion short. Contrary to a regular cover letter ending , there's no place for reiterating everything here. Simply thank the reader for your consideration and prompt them to read your academic CV.
• Formal sign-off. Just pick from the usual: Sincerely, Respectfully, Regards... Then throw in your full name in the following line.

And that's all you need to include!

Now, let's take a look at how to write your cover letter step-by-step.

Applying for a PhD will be a lot less stressful if you follow these tips on how to write a cover letter for a research position:

Consider researching the background of the organization, department, ongoing research projects, and their past and current projects. All that before you start writing your cover letter. Knowing these things will help you tailor your letter to the specific PhD opening.

Before you actually start writing, try to sit down and take a moment to think first. Assess how your past experiences helped you prepare for the PhD position and scribble down those that are most relevant and significant for the specific program. These include any research experiences, research projects, courses, or internships.

In the first few sentences of your letter, you need to convey some basic information about yourself and what specific position you're applying for. The opening should also state firmly why you're a strong candidate for the position/program, by using a persuasive and convincing wording. Here's an example: "As an MChem Chemistry graduate with a narrow focus on the sustainable synthesis of biologically active molecules from the University of Dundee, I am excited to apply to a "Synthesis Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Using Enzymes" PhD programme at an institution with such a strong foundation and numerous research groups in this field."

This is the place where you may explore more extensively on the educational journey that brought you here. Set the foundation for demonstrating how your Master's degree and research experience seamlessly translate into the next phase — the PhD program. Emphasize how your thesis contributes to the field's body of knowledge. Mention any other publications that support your thesis. And, if you can, identify any knowledge gaps or topics that can be explored further.

This paragraph provides the opportunity to neatly tie in together everything the reader has learned about you so far. You can show how your previous experience, coupled with what you'll learn during the PhD program, will come together to produce something novel to enrich the field. First, identify the courses or topics within the PhD program that interest you the most and how they relate to you developing your research further. Second, introduce your future research aspirations and goals. Third, point out how this future work will enrich the field and what will the intellectual merit be.

When ending your PhD cover letter, briefly refer your reader to your academic CV and encourage them to examine all of the remaining projects, courses, publications, or references . Finally, thank the reader for their time and consideration and let them know you look forward to hearing from them. Sign off.

Put the letter in a drawer and don't think about it for a day or two. Then, when you read it again, you'll have a fresh pair of eyes to see the cover letter in a new light. Maybe you decide some things are redundant, or you think of something that's more relevant. Or you know, find a typo here and there.

Just like an academic cover letter needs to contain certain content components, the formatting should also align with the structural expectations for this type of document.

How long should a cover letter be? How to finish a cover letter? And what about the cover letter font and spacing?

Here's a recommended academic cover letter format:

• Length. While STEM PhD candidates should aim for half a page to one page, humanities candidates can do 1–2 pages.
• Font. Use one of the classics: Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial. Just no Comic Sans, we beg you. Keep the size between 10–12 points. Also remember to keep the text clean — no underlining, no bolding, and no color. However, you can use italics if appropriate.
• Spacing. Cover letter spacing isn't complicated. Just single-space your text, make sure there's a space between each paragraph, and leave a space between the concluding paragraph and your formal sign-off.
• Margins. The only rule here is that the margins on your cover letter should match those on your CV.
• Consistence with your CV. Your academic cover letter should match your academic CV in all formatting aspects — including the cover letter font and spacing. For example, Kickresume lets you choose a matching template for your CV and your cover letter, so no need to worry about this.

If the institution provided any instructions for formatting your academic cover letter, don’t get creative and follow their guidelines.

Finally, to help you tie everything we talked about together, here's a cover letter sample from a real person admitted to a PhD program at Lyon University in France.

These things ensured Herrera's cover letter was successful:

• She clearly states her motivation in the opening. In the first two paragraphs, Herrera introduces herself and her motivation to apply for the given PhD program.
• She describes educational and research background thoroughly. The main body of the letter is dedicated to describing Herrera's educational background, research projects, internships, and skills acquired throughout the way.
• She presents research aspirations in the letter. Herrera writes: "I have a history of proven results and profound findings. Given opportunity, I’m confident in my abilities to earn similar ground-breaking results while being part of your team."

Even though this example lacks some of the key elements, such as mentioning the specific PhD program or identifying the topics within the PhD program that interest her the most, this PhD cover letter still managed to impress the University of Lyon.

Lyon University PhD Student Cover Letter Sample

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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How to Write a Successful PhD Motivation Letter

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What are phd motivation letters, understanding the key components of a phd motivation letter, initiating your phd motivation letter, do your research, aim for clarity and conciseness, connect your background and experience, show your research potential, demonstrate your connection to the program, be authentic, effective conclusion for your phd motivation letter, ideal length of a phd motivation letter, formatting the phd motivation letter, common mistakes to avoid in phd motivation letter writing, writing a successful phd motivation letter.

When you are applying to a PhD program, one of the requirements is likely to be a motivation letter. This letter is similar to a personal statement in which you will describe reasons why you want to pursue the degree and explain why you should be accepted into the program.

A well-written motivation letter for a PhD can easily become a deciding admissions factor. If you are competing against hundreds of applicants, your letter should help you stand out from the crowd.

No matter what your specialization is or the type of program you’ve chosen, you need to learn how to write a motivation letter for a PhD. Otherwise, your application may not look as persuasive as it could.

Let’s dive deeper into writing a successful motivation letter for your PhD studies.

PhD motivation letters are also known as statements of purpose or personal statements. While not all PhD programs require applicants to submit these letters, writing one can improve your chances of getting accepted.

A motivation letter gives you a priceless opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee and explain why you are the top candidate. In this letter, you won’t just express your motivation, list research interests, and show yourself in the best possible light. You will demonstrate your commitment to studies and your mastery of words.

While the admissions committee already knows all about your credentials, they want to get to know you as a person. In this letter, you will be showing your passion for getting a PhD in a specific niche.

Interestingly enough, the Ph.D. motivation letter isn’t just a way to conquer the committee members’ hearts. It’s an opportunity to look deeper into what you really want. By writing and reading this statement, you can gain unexpected insight into what’s best for your professional future.

The structure and content of a motivation letter aren’t always the same. Each university may have a list of requirements. So, you won’t be able to write one letter and use it for each program you apply to. However, you can create a framework that makes writing several letters easier.

Here is what a general PhD motivation letter should include:

• Introduction – a short introductory paragraph or two that catches the reader’s attention and explains what the letter will be about.
• Research interests – a list and a brief explanation of your research interests, specific research questions, and topics you plan to explore during your PhD  studies.
• Academic background – you can add a short summary of your academic background (degrees, coursework, research experience, publications)
• Motivation – this is the most important part of the letter. You need to be clear about your motivation for pursuing a PhD in general and the reasons why this program is the perfect fit for your needs. This section must reflect your passion and enthusiasm.
• Goals – briefly explain what your long-term career goals are and mention how obtaining a PhD  within this program can help you achieve them. Your ambition and commitment must shine through the words.

While the university may provide some requirements that can help you structure your motivation letter, the majority of it is your own creativity. Keep in mind that you aren’t just sharing cold facts but showcasing your personality.

In most cases, the introduction is the most important part of your PhD  motivation letter. While the committee is likely to read the entire letter anyway, if you don’t catch their attention immediately, they might simply skim through it.

Always begin with a compelling opening sentence. Consider using a thought-provoking statement or a curious question related to your potential field of study. For example, “My unwavering fascination with the intricate workings of the human brain is the power behind my passion for forensic psychology.”

Next state your purpose for writing the letter and your intention to apply for the specific program. Make sure to immediately highlight your enthusiasm, motivation, and genuine interest in pursuing the subject matter.

For example, “The opportunity to go further into the subject of forensic psychology and contribute to the advancements in the criminal landscape fills me with immense excitement and determination.”

How to Structure the Motivation Letter for PhD

Once you finish the introduction, you can go on to the body of the letter, which should include research interests, academic background, motivation, and goals. Here are a few important tips that can help you make the most out of this structure.

Understanding how to write a motivation letter for Ph.D. studies begins with in-depth research about the program. While you’ve probably done a lot of browsing online already, you’ve been mainly focusing on the way the program meets your needs.

Now, you need to do similar research from a different perspective. Ask yourself, “How do I meet the needs of the program?” The answer can help you make the right statements within your letter.

The admissions committee has to go through hundreds of documents and letters. A long letter with complex and confusing sentences is likely to cause frustration. This is exactly what you need to avoid.

Don’t include any unnecessary details or lengthy explanations. Just share the facts wrapped in positive emotions. If you manage to demonstrate your passion without boring the reader, you can stand out from the crowd.

Make sure to highlight all relevant academic, and especially, research experience. List and discuss projects or publications that demonstrate your knowledge. Talk about how the experience, whether professional or educational, has shaped your research interests. This is a great place to explain where your motivation comes from.

You need to demonstrate to the admissions committee your immense potential to excel in research. Here, you have to show that you possess the necessary critical thinking abilities and problem-solving solving skills. List research methodologies you have experience with.

Explain why this Ph.D. program is a good fit for your research goals. Discuss faculty members whose work aligns with your research (here is where your research will prove highly useful). Make sure to single out at least one unique opportunity that attracts you to the program. Show that you’ve done your homework and know exactly what you are applying for.

While it may be tempting to ask for assistance or use ChatGPT, outsourcing your motivation letter isn’t a good idea. An important part of the letter is demonstrating your own voice. You are the only one who can do it genuinely. Try to avoid any generic statements. Inject each sentence with passion and desire to achieve your educational goals.

The conclusion is the final impression you make on the reader. This is something they are likely to remember you by. Make sure to summarize the points you’ve made in the letter succinctly. This will serve as a reminder.

Next, talk about your goals for the future. Don’t try to share all of your educational and professional plans here. One strong goal is sufficient and easy to fit into a short conclusion.

Finally, express your gratitude to the program for the opportunity to apply and eagerness to hear from the committee soon.

Close the letter with “sincerely” or “best regards” and your full name. Don’t forget to provide your contact details.

The school of your choice is likely to define the length of your motivation letter for PhD. Usually, it’s between 500 and 1,000 words. However, even if the program doesn’t try to limit your writing, it doesn’t mean you have to go “all out.” The ideal letter should fit into one page. The font size shouldn’t be larger than 12 pt.

The font itself must be easy to read. Opt for Times New Roman or Arial. Avoid fancy fonts that can frustrate the reader.

Your motivation letter should contain several short paragraphs. Don’t make them longer than five lines. Otherwise, you could lose the reader’s attention.

Start your letter with “With whom it may concern.” Even if you know the names of the people on the admissions committee, you can never be sure which one of them will be reading the letter.

These common mistakes can hinder the quality of your letter:

• Grammatical and spelling errors
• Using generic or cliché statements
• Lack of clarity
• Overly lengthy explanations
• Failing to tailor the letter to the program’s requirements
• Lack of focus on the research interests and goals
• Failing to demonstrate genuine passion and enthusiasm
• Lack of understanding of the program
• Irrelevant or unnecessary information
• Poor organization of the letter

Many of these mistakes can easily be avoided by proofreading. Besides reading the letter several times yourself, ask someone else to do it. A fresh perspective or two can help you create a truly effective piece.

A PhD motivation letter is a wonderful opportunity to stand out from the crowd and get into the PhD program of your choice, even if you don’t meet the admissions requirements perfectly. It’s a chance to express your passion for studies and demonstrate your fit for the program.

Following a few simple formatting rules and keeping the letter authentic can help you achieve the desired admissions goals. Good luck!

PHD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of Business Process Management, Faculty of Market Technologies IOM

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How to Write a Powerful Motivation Letter for PhD Program

An effective motivation letter assists the admissions board in distinguishing exceptional students from the rest of the pack. A motivation letter for a Ph.D. program helps the admissions board get a better sense of you than they will from your application. Hence, the design of the letter, its tone, and the level of interest suggested in the letter serve a crucial role.  Your goal is to stand out from other applicants.

When applying for a Postdoc or a Ph.D. program, you need to write a research proposal and a motivation letter. A motivation letter is a must for Ph.D. candidates. The letter elaborates on why you are the perfect candidate. We are going to give you some tips and structures to use as you write the motivation letter for your Ph.D. application.

At the end of the post, we will provide you with a sample to help guide you for your own motivation letter.

How to Write a Brilliant Motivation Letter for a Ph.D. Application

A motivation letter is very similar to a personal statement and a cover letter . All three documents explain and highlight your suitability for Ph.D. study when you are applying for a Ph.D. program. Typically, a cover letter would be for a job.  A motivation letter serves to show why you want to be part of the Ph.D. program and why you are a good candidate for it.

A motivation letter serves a fundamental role in the application process. It enables the admission board to evaluate several Ph.D. applicants with identical academic credentials and choose the perfect candidate and understand their inspiration for applying.

For the admission committee, academic credentials alone aren’t sufficient to showcase whether a learner will succeed in their doctorate program. A motivational letter enables them to understand an applicant’s enthusiasm, commitment, and appropriateness to the program, which better allows them to assess your capabilities.

How Should I Structure My Motivation Letter for a PhD

An outstanding motivation letter for Ph.D. admission will entail:

• A concise introduction disclosing which Ph.D. program you seek
• Your professional experience and educational background
• Major skills, experiences, and interests that you have and what makes you an outstanding candidate
• What drove you to apply
• Final remarks and thanks.

This is the most straightforward itemization of a complex document.

The above framework will ensure that you keep your motivation letter for the Ph.D. brief and pertinent to the position you are seeking. Bear in mind that the letter’s purpose showcases your zeal and commitment and that you are well-suited for the program.

To simplify writing down a motivation letter for a Ph.D. application, we have defined what your introduction, main body, and closing segments should entail.

Starting Your Motivation Letter

Introduction: Open with a concise introduction where you openly declare your intention of applying for a given program. Picture it as explaining to a stranger what the document is all about.

Education: Describe what you studied and give the institution’s name, your program of study, and the research that you have done.

You want to provide the admissions team with an understanding of your course of study to date.  Ideally, you can include any research, including publications that you have been a part of.  This will show that you have the experience, interest, and tenacity needed for a Ph.D. program and the research that goes with it.

Work Experience: Condense your professional experience. Bear in mind that you will probably be requested to present your motivational letter alongside your academic résumé. Hence, you are advised to keep the section brief to eradicate potential redundancy. Make sure you include any other important experiences, such as charity work, teaching roles, or non-academic ones that showcase your skills and eligibility to become a Ph.D. scholar.

Key Skills: Highlight your major skills. Keep in mind that the admissions board considers your eligibility for the given program you are seeking; thus, state skills important to the Ph.D. program.

Motivation for Applying: Display your zeal for the program, the research involved, and why you want it.  Elaborate on your long-term ambitions. Begin by stating how that particular course caught your eyes and how your hunger to learn more about the topic has increased. Don’t forget to state all the other things you have done that showcase your curiosity in your suggested study topic, for instance:

• Are you an experienced researcher?
• Have you taken part in any seminars or workshops?
• Are you conversant with the research field?
• Are there any aspects of the topic which you have taught yourself?
• Why this research?

Lastly, paint a picture for the admission board to help them understand what convinced you to commit the next half a decade to the program.

How to Conclude a Motivation Letter

Many people struggle with how to end a motivation letter . Normally, people can account for their academic credentials and why they desire to become part of the program.

A good way to conclude is with a summary of why you are a great candidate and an offer to discuss your candidacy.  It’s a good idea to provide your contact details so that a reader has them available.

Remember, getting admitted into a Ph.D. program is extremely competitive, and professors put a lot of work into mentoring their learners. Professors are naturally inclined to favor those who demonstrate the highest level of dedication. The conclusion must remind the admissions board that you are not only committed to the course, but the institution will greatly benefit from having you on board.

And lastly, thank the board for taking into account your application.

Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Admission Format

It is important to follow some basic guidelines when writing a motivation letter. The format mimics the report writing formats, which the professors are conversant with:

• Use a sans serif font, for example, Arial or Times New Roman.  It should look professional.  Nothing fancy. 
• Utilize a black standard font size. A 12-point font should work.  This makes it easy to read without being too large.
• Adhere to professionalism all the way through and avoid the use of informal language or colloquialisms.
• Write in the first person.
• Address the motivation letter for Ph.D. to a named individual.  If in doubt, you can use the person in charge of admissions.

The Length of a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Admission

For Ph.D. motivation letters, the standard recommendation is to keep them to one page. These are busy people and they won’t spend a lot of time reading information. You want to make it as easy on them as possible. Keep your letter to one page, usually 3-5 paragraphs.

Tips for Writing a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Admission

Below, we’ve stated the greatest tips for effectively writing a Ph.D. Motivation Letter. You want to keep these in mind as you write, review and edit your motivation letter:

Compose the Motivational Letter using a Professional Tone

It is crucial to add information in a motivation letter for a Ph.D. application professionally. It is in your best interest to write a letter with the right font, style, and grammar. Plus, doing this raises your odds of getting accepted into the program. Professionalism serves a crucial role in directing a great insight into your personality and lets you get acceptance.

Be Specific, Truthful, and Show Results

Where you can, the most powerful message is to show specific accomplishments, responsibilities and results.  This is true for research, academic achievements, or work or volunteer achievements.  Showing results demonstrates that you understand the impact of your effort and that the program can expect results from your work. 

This can be a powerful message.

Make sure that you can back up any accomplishments or experiences that you highlight.  It’s great to show accomplishments but the last thing you want to do is to create doubt about your honesty or your application. 

If you lack prior experience in carrying out Ph.D. tasks, this is alright – you are not expected to understand everything before you kick start the program. Nonetheless, you have to prove in your motivation letter for a Ph.D. that you can carry out this work. To achieve this, we advise that you concentrate on the expertise you possess – for example, writing, presentation, data analysis, etc. Attempt to illustrate how you have deployed these abilities in the past to indicate that you are well-prepared for the Ph.D. program.

Show Personality

The motivation letter must remain professional. Hence, steer clear of jokes and sarcasm. At the same time, it can be much more interesting to read, and much more powerful to show who you are in your writing.

Discuss your Future Plans and Your Interest s

Showing your passion and interest in the field of study can really make a difference in your admission.  Professors want someone who is interested in the work and the research.  You want to show how your background, goals, and passions fit into the work that you will be doing.

A great way to do this is to show why you are passionate about the research. Perhaps it means something to you personally or it’s a way that you can make a difference. Maybe you are just fascinated by the topic. Passion goes a long way if it’s genuine.

Check Your Spelling and Grammar

You are applying for an academic position.  You want a letter that doesn’t have any grammatical or spelling mistakes.  Even minor mistakes can make an admissions officer question your candidacy. Of course, use a spell checker. For something this important, a more robust spelling and grammar checker like Grammarly can be invaluable.

Additional Resources

We offer an editable version of the sample motivation letter for PhD program. You can download that here . It works with both Word and Google Docs and can help get you started on your own letter. 

If you need help writing your motivation letter, there is experienced help out there to help you.  Fiverr is a great resource for finding someone to help you write your motivation letter for your Ph.D. program.  There are a number of great freelancers there with experience writing motivational letters.  There are also freelancers on Fiverr who can help you with your research proposal. We’ve written a guide to help you get started using Fiverr.

If you decide that’s a good route for you, we’ve put together a guide to help you find the right freelancer for your needs.  They will help you get the motivation letter you need for that Ph.D. program.

Another great resource is Grammarly .  Grammarly is a spell-checking and grammar-checking tool that goes beyond anything you will find in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.  It will help you find misused words and common grammar mistakes.  That’s the free version!

The paid version of Grammarly is much richer and an amazing resource if you aren’t a natural writer or applying in a language that isn’t your primary language.  Grammarly will help you strike the right tone for your letter.  It points out grammar and stylistic problems and will often suggest improvements for your writing.  It’s a great resource for you when writing something as important as a motivation letter or application. 

A Sample Motivation Letter for a Ph.D. Program Application

Below is a sample motivation letter you can use to get started. Remember that this is to give you some ideas and the proper formatting. Do not use this letter or even change it for your information. It’s here to give you some ideas, but you must write your letter. You can download an editable version of this letter here .

Thank you and Good Luck!!!!

You can also download an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version of the Motivation letter for Ph. D.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can my future plans and interests make a difference in a motivation letter for a ph.d..

Attitude is often as important as aptitude. Showing your passion for the area of research or having a personal tie can make a big difference in your selection.

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• Motivation Letter for University, College & School With Example

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How to Write an Engineering Motivation Letter for a PhD

Read a summary or generate practice questions using the INOMICS AI tool

Ok, so the time has come to write your engineering PhD motivation letter. The cursor is blinking on the blank page. Your mind races. What do I write? How do I start? How do I phrase it? It can be a challenge, especially for us engineers who may not enjoy the written word as much as other academics do. But competition for some PhD places can be fierce, especially at good universities. Getting the motivation letter right is one of the most important parts of your application, so don't leave it until the last minute.

Check out our PhD program listings here

Basic Structure and Style

The first thing to realise is there's a big difference between the PhD motivation letter you should write for universities in North America and European universities. Typically, American universities expect to hear more about your general life, whereas European ones prefer to keep things mainly focused on your academic and work achievements. As a general rule of thumb:

• America – 70% life skills, accomplishments, 30% academic/practical/work
• Europe – 30% life skills, accomplishments, 70% academic/practical/work

Your letter should follow a standard formal letter format and should:

• be no more than 500 words (approx. one typed page of A4)
• be written in a clear font such as Arial or Calibri
• have a font size of 11 or 12
• consist of short easy-to-read and understand paragraphs
• use sub-headings and bullet points to break up the text
• be polite and formal, but not too wordy

Readability is a key factor in writing a successful motivation letter. Even though you're addressing academics, it's best to keep the language as simple as possible. Remember, this is a letter, not an essay. The professors may have to read dozens of these letters and want to find out about you as easily as possible, without having to wade through waffle, clichés or pompous-sounding sentences. Microsoft Word has a handy built-in readability checker (based on the Flesch-Kincaid test) and you want the "reading ease" score to be between 60 and 70 points to hit the right spot.

The structure

A recommended overall structure for the letter is as follows:

• A brief (1 or 2 sentences) introduction
• Your motivation for applying to do a PhD (personal statement)
• Your academic achievements and relevant life experiences
• The impact you hope to make with your research
• Your future career plans

Before we move on to looking at the actual content of your letter, just a quick note that should really go without saying – stick to the facts. Never be tempted to make things up or "embroider the truth". It's not only unethical but if you're accepted on the course and your dishonesty is revealed at a later date, you could waste all that time and effort, not to mention your reputation will be in tatters. It's not worth it.

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Content of the engineering motivation letter, don't underestimate practical experience.

Let's face it, engineering is a hands-on subject, no matter which branch you specialise in. The single biggest mistake that graduates make when applying for an engineering PhD, is focussing entirely on their academic achievements and neglecting any practical or "in-the-field" experience. Make a list of any relevant work experience, field trips, projects, etc. Anything that had an engineering element to it can be included. A good tip is to go back as far as possible. Joined a robotics club in secondary school? Write it down. Helped a neighbour build their house extension? Write it down. Had a summer job with a construction company? You get the picture. Even if you decide not to use half of it, listing all of these things out will give you some ideas of relevant skills you can mention.

Be specific

Another mistake people commonly make is to list their skills without providing any evidence, or just generally making vague statements. Don't simply state: “I work well in a team”. Give an example: “During my time at XYZ Construction Ltd, I worked closely with various team members to plan and build a gherkin-shaped tower block”. Don't say: “I enjoyed my Environmental Engineering undergraduate degree”. Be very specific about what you enjoyed: “As part of my degree course, I studied the spread and effect of subsoil pollution, which I found really interesting. So interesting in fact, that I spent my summer working for a soil remediation company.”

Show a bit of personality

It's ok to add a bit of character to the letter. Avoid jokes and sarcasm, but you can phrase things in a way that adds some sparkle. Include some "insider" references that only a fellow engineer would understand, for example. A great way to get your letter to stand out from the crowd is to highlight how your personality has helped you to overcome difficulties or achieve things related to engineering. A good example of this could be if you have worked on any relevant community or voluntary projects.

Show them that you're perfectly suited to the rigours of a PhD

A PhD is very different from undergraduate and postgraduate studies and requires different skills . You need to be self-motivated, disciplined, industrious, resourceful and focussed. Try to think of events in your life that demonstrate these qualities and make sure to mention them.

Talk about your plans

Towards the end of your letter, make sure you mention what your long-term plans are. This shows that you are focused on engineering as a career and that you’ll work hard to achieve results. Talk about any relevant work experience you’ve had to date – paid or unpaid. Also, mention any engineering societies or institutions that you’re a member of or plan to join.

Gentle Persuasion Techniques

We're not going to go in-depth into the psychology of persuasion here, but there are some little-known copywriting (i.e. advertising) "secrets" that you can employ to influence them to accept you. First of all, come up with a concrete idea of what they are looking for in a student. Once you have this fixed in your mind, include a sentence or two that shows you understand this and that you're the person they've been waiting for. For example, if you think they're looking for somebody creative with good design skills and also demonstrates people skills, you could include something like this in your introduction: “You're looking for a high-calibre student with a keen interest in design. During my undergraduate studies, I took part in several extracurricular design projects which involved coordinating and working with a small team of engineers.”

Another copywriting "trick" is to use powerful verbs to inspire or evoke an emotional response – think Nike’s slogan "Just Do It". We’re not suggesting you include a cheesy slogan, but try to use powerful verbs such as:

• I made sure…
• I focused...
• I endeavoured…
• I innovated...

Also, if you remember your school English lessons, they may have mentioned passive and active voice. Make sure that the majority of your phrases use the active voice. Here’s an example:

• Passive voice: “I was able to make a difference.”
• Active voice: “I made a difference.”

Finally, try to end with an upbeat message. In advertising, this is known as a call to action – a rousing final pitch that encourages the person to take a specific action. In a motivation letter, it’s a good idea to summarise the key things that make you suitable for the course, then close with something like: “Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information and I look forward to your response.”

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How to Write a Motivation Letter for PhD Programs?

• Updated on  
• Apr 25, 2023

A successful motivation letter allows the admission committee of any institution to select students of excellent academic backgrounds. While applying for Ph.D. programs, a student has to submit a motivation letter that states why they wish to embark on that particular position and how appropriate they are to be studying in the chosen program. Ph.D. applications are not classified as any other random sample application. There are processes without which your chances of getting in may be reduced. For some institutions, academic qualifications are not enough to indicate whether a candidate is suitable for a Ph.D. In this sense, a Motivation Letter for Phd Programs are the perfect insight into who you really are. 

This Blog Includes:

How should you structure your motivation letter for ph.d., avoid false statements, be specific , include your skills and work experience , write in a professional manner , top things to be included in a motivation letter for ph.d. programs , sample of motivation letter for ph.d. programs , top ph.d. programs.

Ph.D. Scholarships in India

To write a strong motivation letter for Ph.D. applications you must include:

• A concise introduction that must state the program you are applying for,
• All about your academic background as well as professional work experience,
• You can include skills you possess that make you the ideal candidate,
• Your motivation and interest in applying for the program,
• Concluding remarks with thanks.

Tips for Writing a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs 

Here are the best tips for acing your writing a motivation letter for Ph.D.:

While writing a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs, candidates often forget to add necessary things in the letter. It is important to know that without adding important information the application wouldn’t stand out. For instance, candidates tend to write, “I work well with other people or I am good at working under pressure.” Well, this is not how you write in a motivation letter as you should provide some real examples like, “My leadership skills were demonstrated when I had to lead a group of colleagues during my internship, which required intensive marketing management ability.”

Avoid being vague and imprecise while writing a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs. Be specific while putting information in the letter. For example, If you describe it as “My marketing days were very interesting in my undergraduate days”, it would be inappropriate to fit it into a motivation letter. It depicts a very informal manner of writing a letter. You should include specific details about the courses you took as an undergraduate student such as, what made you choose them and what you learned from them. 

In a motivation letter, it is essential to add the skills you possess and the work experience you have. A Ph.D. is more than a continuation of your previous academic endeavors, it is a real educational test, and education is more than obtaining degrees. A Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs become impressive when you write about the skills and experiences you possess over the years which are strong enough to make you a qualified Ph.D. candidate. You can flourish your research and analytical skills in a motivation letter. 

It is equally important to add information in a Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs professionally. It is in your own best interest to submit the motivation letter with an appropriate font, writing style, and professional grammar. This will ensure your chances of getting accepted into a Ph.D. program. Professionalism plays a vital role in sending a good insight into your personality and helps you gain acceptance. 

Benefits of Pursuing a Ph.D. after MBA

A Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs share similarities with a cover letter and a personal statement. All three documents describe your suitability for a Ph.D. program. However, as compared to a personal statement and cover letter, a motivation letter gives more precision to your motivation for wanting to pursue a Ph.D. 

• An introduction to the Ph.D. program: Begin with a brief introduction in clear terms that why you are applying for a particular Ph.D. program. Think of it as you telling it to a stranger. 
• A summary of your academic background: Focus on your educational background and state what you have studied here and where. It is important to highlight extra curriculums that were a part of your studies. Mention what made you interested in a Ph.D. program, especially if you are applying in the same field. In addition, summarize your professional work experience and include any relevant work experiences such as teaching roles, or charity work. 
• Reason to pursue a Ph.D.: Describe your long-term aspirations, and show your enthusiasm and passion for pursuing a Ph.D. program. You can also mention what made you interested in this field. You can also demonstrate your interest in proposed research topics such as the seminars you attended, research experience, and aspects of the subjects, and finally, specify what has convinced you to devote 3-4 years of your life to the research field. 
• The significant effect of your research on society and career goals: At the of your motivation letter, add a few sentences on the research’s impact on your life and the experience as a whole. It should conclude the new contributions it will make to your field, and how it benefits society and fits in with your aspirations. In addition, state your career goals, for example, do you want to become a researcher or pursue an academic career? This will enable the reader to judge you based on how passionate you are about pursuing a Ph.D. program. 

• Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship
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Ans: A motivation letter for the Ph.D. program should be 400-600 words.

Ans: Start with the introduction about yourself and the intent. Describe your experiences in the body of the letter.

Ans: A motivation letter is the exact same as a statement of purpose. You might hear colleges and companies use one or more of these letters.

This was all about Motivation Letters for Ph.D. Programs. We hope you find this insightful. Are you interested in making your career in Ph.D. abroad? Reach out to our Leverage Edu experts on 1800 57 2000 and we will help you in finding the best university.

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Motivation Letter for Ph.D.

Updated on 30 october, 2023.

upGrad Abroad Team

Upgrad abroad editorial team.

A motivation letter for Ph.D. is crucial since it is a way to convey the candidate’s personality, motivations, interests, and commitment to the admissions authorities. It is a vital part of the Ph.D. application process and should not be neglected. 

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Table of Contents

• Format of a Motivation Letter for Ph.D.

Tips for Writing a Successful Motivation Letter for Ph.D. Programs

Ph.d. motivation letter sample, format of a motivation letter for ph.d. .

There is no fixed format for a motivation letter for Ph.D. applications. However, here are some points that you must keep in mind. 

• Introduction- This should mention your purpose and the program being applied for. 
• Main Body- This should contain a summary of your educational background, your reasons for doing your PhD, and the importance of your research work. It should also include information on your future goals. 
• Conclusion- Sign off by reiterating your admission goals while thanking the admissions authorities for their time and consideration. 

You can check out a Ph.D. motivation letter sample PDF for more insights. Here are a few tips that can be of immense help: 

• Make genuine statements about your application and documents. 
• Be specific and avoid vague or abstract statements. 
• Discuss your research experience, professional experience, skill sets, and academic credentials. 
• Maintain a professional tone throughout the motivation letter without being casual or too personal. 

A motivation letter for a Ph.D. sample will help you get a better idea. 

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To Whom It May Concern, 

I am writing this letter to express my interest in applying for the Ph.D. project available in the (group name) under the project (project name) at the (institution name). I graduated with a master’s degree in civil engineering in (year) from the (institution name) in (location, city, country).

I have been drawn to 3D modeling and simulation technologies since my undergraduate years, which gave me a solid foundation in the subject. I learned the basic concepts of structural analysis, CAD, mechanics , and programming and data structures simultaneously. My master’s program helped me enhance these skill sets further, giving me an in-depth glimpse of building materials, earthquake engineering, construction management , using technologies for 3D modeling, and more such areas. 

I have also been associated with a research project at the institution, successfully enabling VR/AR-enabled digital walkthroughs for buildings. This was the inception of my interest in deploying artificial and augmented reality, virtual reality, and 3D simulation for building digital counterparts of physical environments, applying this knowledge to real estate projects, infrastructural projects, and other ventures which are mainstays in the world of civil engineering. It naturally prompted me to apply for the Ph.D. position at your institution, which has an enviable track record in terms of global rankings, research opportunities, infrastructure, partnerships with leading research firms, and reputed faculty. 

I believe my foundational knowledge of these core concepts and research experiences will contribute towards making me a good fit for the doctoral program at your institution. I am aware of the perseverance and commitment expected of doctoral students pursuing research in this intellectually stimulating yet challenging arena of study. I will do my best to meet the high standards of your institution on this count. It is a great opportunity to demonstrate my skill sets while acquiring invaluable knowledge and research exposure if I am chosen for your Ph.D. program. I remain at your disposal for any additional information. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely, 

How do I start a motivational letter for my PhD?

You should begin by talking about the program you are applying for and mentioning your purpose explicitly. You should also briefly introduce yourself, i.e., your last qualification and so on. You can then move on to the main body and discuss the reasons for choosing the course, institution, research interests, and other aspects.

How do I write a letter of Ph.D. request?

You should include details without going overboard and demonstrate your research approach, outlook, and methods. Justify these methods while ensuring they are viable. Also, mention whether any ethical aspects are connected to your field of research and how you wish to address them.

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Writing A Scientific Motivation Letter: How to write a research motivation letter for PhD, Postdoc, or any position.

Writing a Motivation Letter for a Ph.D., Postdoc, or any Research position can be reasonably challenging, but we need to put extra effort into it, which cannot be avoided.

You need to give proper attention to this part (motivation letter for ph.d., postdoc, or any research positions) like other preparation. knowing some significant ideas and approaches can help you in this process..

A motivation letter helps the admissions board/professor compare outstanding students and impressive ones. With this help, they can prosper in choosing worthy research students. Still, admission boards will surely think of this as the classification to significantly find a suitable candidate for his research group. Showing you are preferred depending on what you write, however much more on just how you design, particularly the tone you use and the level of interest you receive in your writing that matters.

• A motivation letter is a document where you express your expert capability and the personal impulse to examine a particular study area at a specific college/research group.
• A motivation letter is a possibility you have to impress the selection panel.
• To procure the listing of candidates, selection panels regularly use motivation letters.
• The candidates thought finest are ultimately chosen for the program.
• The success of your application mainly trusts by the motivation letter.
• The motivation letter can be much likened to an Individual statement.
• It is just as crucial to stay clear of being humble while writing your Motivation Letter.
• It seems like something that would be written to a friend instead of a penfriend.
• It’s not a cover letter and requires giving reasonable circumstances in which it’S a Motivation letter.
• You need to give proper attention to this part (Motivated Letter for Ph.D., Postdoc, or any Research positions) like other preparation.
• Knowing some significant ideas and approaches can help you in this process.
• Give your statements much attention to pushing your statements as much as possible to suit your situation.
• Try not to claim something that you wouldn’t have tried to do if you were a different person or had a different job.
• Try to be honest about your experiences and how you would like to use them to your advantage.
• You can also include teaching and research experience, work outside an academic field, and even volunteering, given that all matters in terms of the abilities and expertise you gained.
• You should also include the info regarding your previous scholastic and professional experience, as well as your work outside of the academic field.
• There is a demand to recognize if you’re qualified to do a research/degree position while writing an application.
• Hence, the motivation letter is the perfect insight into what you genuinely are and anticipate doing it justice.
• It can be effortless to confuse while writing a Motivated Letter and neglects that motivation can not be completed without the necessary proof to back it up.
• Yet what requires to go in this, and what tone is suitable for it?
• To give you some suggestions, today, we’re sharing all about motivation letters, so you can see what your motivation letter needs to include or correct.
• It’s a good idea to write a motivation letter because a person or some individuals must be required to write it because they have to know some individuals or some people have to have to do it themselves.
• The best way to start is by writing a short intro defining the program you want to get into and why you would be appropriate for studying there.
• This defines why you wish to embark on that position and why it is appropriate for you to study there.
• It also defines just how your scholastic, as. Your professional achievements make you a beneficial candidate for the Ph.D. degree/Research position you are related to.
• It should be written to make it easy for people to read it and understand what you are trying to say.
• It must be written with a sense of humor and be clear that you are not trying to make a point that you think is important to make to the person you are applying to.
• You must be clear of making spurious cases, and you should be clear about the reasons you are doing it.

The motivation letter is the possibility you have to impress the selection panel. To procure the listing of candidates, selection panels regularly use motivation letters. The candidates thought finest are ultimately chosen for the program. The motivation letter is the most substantial part of your application. The success of your application is mainly trusted by the motivation letter.

Any Motivation Letter should consist of a short intro defining the program you would like to get.

Stay clear of making spurious cases, demonstrate how much ability or work experience you have, be specific, the main message of the letter-, closing of the motivation letter, q- key things to bear in mind when you write the motivation letter, q- what are a couple of points for writing an excellent motivation letter for a ph.d., q- exactly how should i structure my motivation letter, q- how to end a motivation letter., q- what key points should i include within my ph.d. motivation letter, q- what not to include when writing a scholarship motivation letter, q- why motivation letter require, and how much important it is, q- how long should a phd motivation letter be, q- should i write various motivation letters when looking for several research programs, q- what are the best motivation letter, q- what is the difference between the lom – letter of motivation and the sop statement of purpose, q- how to start a motivation letter., q- what’s the difference between a cover letter and a motivation letter, sample – motivation letter.

The motivation letter (likewise known as “declaration of objective”) is a document where you express your expert capability and personal impulse regarding picking to examine a particular study area at a specific college/research group.

A motivation letter can be much likened to an Individual statement.

When you apply for a Ph.D./Postdoc and some research position, you must write a research proposal and a Motivation Letter. Especially, a motivation letter is more required for Ph.D. candidates. This defines why you wish to embark on that position and why you would be appropriate for studying there. Yet what needs to go in this, and what tone is suitable for it? To give you some suggestions, today, we’re sharing all about motivation letters, so you can see what your motivation letter needs to include or correct.

First, state a clear objective of your future task and the reasons for picking this individual Ph.D. program.

Provide the info regarding your previous scholastic and professional experience. You can also include teaching and research experience, work outside an academic field, and even volunteering, given that all matters in terms of the abilities and expertise you gained. All your experiences must, in some way, attach to your picked Ph.D. program, as you would need to define just how your scholastic and professional achievements make you a beneficial candidate for the Ph.D. degree/Research position you are related to.

Your applications are not just sorted out in the same way as any other random application. There are processes involved without which your chances of getting in may be reduced.

There is a demand to recognize if you’re qualified to do a research/degree position while writing an application. Hence, the motivation letter is the perfect insight into what you genuinely are and anticipate doing it justice.

It is relatively easy to confuse while writing a Motivation Letter and neglects that motivation can not be completed without the necessary proof to back it up.

Nobody’s interested in exactly how incredible you are until there is no backup proof of it. Yet, there would not be any motivation without the proper evidence to back it up.

For Example, it is very typical to see people create; “I work well with other people, or I am a specialist at working under pressure.” Well, it is not a cover letter; it’s a Motivation Letter, and also you required to give reasonable circumstances such as; “my leadership ability was demonstrated when I needed to be in charge of a group of coworkers during my teaching fellowship, which needed intense pushing management abilities.”

Give much attention to your statements.

Try As Much As Feasible to Be Certain

It is just as really crucial to stay clear of being humble while writing your Motivation Letter. You’re required to write a motivation letter because someone or some individuals have to know; otherwise, you wouldn’t have to try one.

Claiming that your previous days were extremely intriguing is unclear to suit a Motivation Letter. It seems like something that must instead be written to a penfriend. It would be best if you were more specific about the programs you took as a previous study, why you enjoy them, and what you learned from them.

While writing a motivational letter, it is essential to include just how much ability and working experience briefly. A Ph.D. has to do with more than just a sequel to your previous academic endeavors; it is an actual test of education and learning, and also, teaching and knowledge are more than just having degrees.

They will be interested in the abilities and work experience you have collected over the years, strong enough skills to make you qualified for a Ph.D. That research, data analysis, etc., abilities you thought you’d never have to show off, well, I believe this would be a perfect chance to talk about them.

Steps for writing research motivation letter

• 1. The first step to writing a good motivation letter is to read the job ad carefully
• 2. The second step is to try to understand the researchers and the kind of research they do
• 3. The third step is to carefully read a previous motivation letter and try to understand why the letter was successful
• 4. The fourth step is to make sure that you address the letter to the right people
• 5. The fifth step is to explain why you choose to apply to this position and this lab
• 6. The sixth step is to explain how your research interests align with the research of the lab
• 7. The seventh step is to explain how your previous research background relates to the position
• 8. The eighth step is to explain why you are applying for that position

It is equally essential that you are incredibly professional while creating a motivation letter for a Ph.D. or any research position application. It will remain in your very own best interest to guarantee that you offer your Motivation Letter with expert grammar, font, and the proper writing design in which you prefer to choose to be approved.

Your professionalism and trust send an excellent message about your personality and would certainly go a long way into helping you get accepted .

– What has encouraged you to do a Ph.D. (or other position where you are applying)?

Based on the history details you give, you will undoubtedly determine 3 or 4 key aspects that inspire you to do a Ph.D.

The present research study shows that Ph.D. applicants may be encouraged by several aspects such as:

• Determination to improve potential as a candidate;
• Enthusiasm for research study as well as mentor;
• The desires to find out new points.

You require to describe what inspires you and what you want to accomplish due to your research studies.

If you published academic journals, you must mention that and provide information or evidence about your published work.

State a few of your native qualities on how they could be considered helpful for your study subject and your field of study in general.

In the closing of your Motivation Letter, include a couple of sentences on your research’s impact on your life, research location, and experience generally. This will certainly aid you in showing the value of your research study in the context of a bigger photo. Mostly, demonstrate how the research community and college can benefit from having you as a pupil.

You should also mention that you understand that Ph.D. programs draw in several prospective and affordable candidates.

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FAQ about motivation letter

• Essential details you must emphasize throughout your Motivation Letter are your intellectual interest in the Ph.D. course/Research position and the area you intend to study, and the research study experience you have had so far. Bear in mind to maintain an expert and sharp tone, yet at the same time, declare and also enthusiastic.
• Prevent adhering to things in your writing.
• The motivation Letter needs to consist of a brief intro specifying the program you want to apply to.
• Clearly, you should not consist of false evidence, accomplishments and should not attempt to make any overstatement or use pompous allegories.
• Normally, a Motivation Letter ought not to be longer than one page.
• Show your level of interest rate and what you have actually done so far to display that desire. They do not desire some geek with Terrabytes of expertise as well as formulas.
• Truthfully state the reason that you want the seat, highlight your desire in the topic.
• State the reasons and circumstances from your life, which will show that you have a genuine need.
• A motivation letter ‘s significance is that the admissions committee can compare excellent trainees and exceptional trainees. They will both succeed in ending up being valuable study students. Yet, admission committees will consider the latter category to contribute to the college’s research study area.
• Confirming you are exceptional does not always depend on what you write, but extra on just how you compose, particularly the tone you use and the degree of enthusiasm you present in your writing.

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A strong motivation letter for Ph.D./Research applications will certainly include:

• A concise intro stating which program you are applying for
• Your scholastic history as well as expert work experience
• Any vital skills you have and what makes you the perfect prospect
• These attributes must display in the best possible way in your motivation letter without seeming flat. Otherwise, it will be considered insufficient!

• Binding up the motivation letter is where most people battle. Usually, individuals can easily describe their academic background and why they intend to research, yet persuading the reader they are the most effective prospect for the research program is typically more difficult.
• The ending remarks of your motivation letter should highlight the influences of your suggested study, particularly: the brand-new contributions it will certainly make to your area, the benefits it will certainly carry society, and exactly how it harmonizes your goals.
• With this, wrap up your professional objectives. For instance, do you want to go after an academic job or end up being a scientist or a private organization? Doing so will certainly reveal you have placed a great deal of belief into your choice.
• Admissions into a Ph.D. degree or Research position are extremely competitive, and supervisors spend a great deal of time mentoring their students. As a result, supervisors naturally favor those that reveal the most dedication. Your verdict ought to remind the viewers that you are not just passionate about the study task but that the university will benefit from having you. 
• There are no rules for what to include within your Ph.D. motivation letter, yet, extensively speaking, your entry needs to include references to the following.
• You are what your personality is and what collections you apart from various other prospective Ph.D. candidates. Your motivation letter needs to be a sales tool that must make any committee choose you to join their team. 
• Your skills and achievements (together with any evidence to corroborate your claims).
• Your study into academic institutions’ details (why you intend to attend that specific institution and what makes it a good fit for you). 
• The motivation letter must attach your academic and expert future strategies with the scholarship you are making an application for.
• It should offer the viewers an understanding that you are truly thinking about researching a specific field. Also, your choice is not only beneficial for you, however likewise for the scholarship resource.
• It develops reasons why you deserve it more prominent than other candidates.
• Usually, a Motivation Letter ought not to be longer than one page. The key to success is a clear structure, passion for your research study subject, and capacity to show your research’s value and effect.
• Information and declarations you must keep in the motivation letter.
• You should not include false facts and success and not try to make any overstatements or use pompous metaphors. The team from the admission board will continuously determine if a motivation letter is real or phony.
• Prevent saying phrases like: “my childhood years desire, “I am highly inspired to research X,” “my biggest ambition is to pursue scientific study at the highest degree,” “I have always been captivated by the clinical research study.”
• Attempt not to applaud the college excessively, as well as don’t shut your letter with the expression, “It would be an honor to be confessed to this college.”
• Attempt not to commend the university too much and don’t shut your letter with the expression “It would certainly be an honor to be confessed to this college.” Secret things to bear in mind when you write the motivation letter Important information you must worry about throughout your motivation letter are your intellectual passion for the Ph.D. program and the area you intend to research—the study experience you have had so far.
• It does not need to be individual in such a way that makes you show up non-serious, instead focus on your intellectual individuality. Take care not to delight a whole lot in your deficit side; constantly concentrate on your stamina and why you are the university’s appropriate person.

A motivation letter is an essential part of your Ph.D. application. The program committee uses this letter to decide whether you should be admitted to the doctoral program. You, the applicant write the letter, and it should describe why you want to go to graduate school, why you want to pursue a particular Ph.D. program, and why you should be accepted. In the introduction, the author should state the letter’s purpose and why the committee should care about it. The opening is typically a brief paragraph or two in which the applicant explains how they believe their background, training, and professional experiences are well-suited to the proposed program. As a letter of motivation, it should not be like an autobiography.

• A motivation letter can play a crucial part in the application process. It permits the admission committee to assess a team of Ph.D. candidates with similar scholastic backgrounds and also pick the optimal candidate based upon their inspirations for applying.
• Academic credentials alone are inadequate for the admission team to indicate whether students will succeed in their doctorate. In this feeling, a motivational letter will permit them to judge your enthusiasm for the field, dedication to study, and also suitability for the program, every one of which far better enables them to evaluate your possibility.
• There is a need to know if you’re truly certified to do a Ph.D. or other research position while composing an application to a research group/college. Hence, the motivation letter is the ideal understanding right into that you truly are, and they expect you to do it justice. 
• It’s the most personalized and important document you can develop to send to a university during the application process. The motivation letter will commonly make the largest difference between obtaining admission and getting denied at the university you’re sending your application to.

A great rule of thumb for a Ph.D. motivation letter is to keep it around one side of A4. A little longer than one page is acceptable; however, two pages are typically considered long. This is associated with around 500-1000 words.

A Ph.D. motivation letter is a short essay that you write to show admissions officers that you are passionate and committed to pursuing your Ph.D. The length of this essay should be appropriately matched to your statement. Although the two papers will not be identical, they should complement each other in size and content. A Ph.D. motivation letter should be between 500 to 1000 words.

Construct a bridge between the intended level course and the scholarship you are looking for.

• Yes, you should change the motivation letter according to the research group or program. But the core content about you should be the same; always don’t try to change core details.
• You can modify research interests, particular expertise, and letter format according to the position.

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• In the letter, you can create appropriate and captivating details on your own, confirming to the admission team that you are the right candidate to be picked to engage in their program. 
• These qualities should receive the best possible method of your motivation letter. Otherwise, it will certainly be considered insufficient!
• The motivation letter needs to link your academic and expert future strategies with the scholarship you are getting.
• It needs to offer the visitor an understanding that you are actually interested in studying a particular field.
• Your option is not only valuable for you but also for the scholarship source. It shows up reasons that you deserve it more than other candidates.
• A motivation letter has many similarities to a cover letter and an individual statement, and organizations will certainly not ask you to send each one of these. Nonetheless, it is a one-of-a-kind record, and you must manage it, therefore. In the context of supporting a Ph.D. application, the difference is nuanced; all three files detail your viability for the Ph.D. research study.
• Nonetheless, compared to a cover letter and individual declaration, a motivation letter puts even more focus on your motivation to seek the particular Ph.D. position you are getting.
• For a Ph.D. application, what is the difference between a letter of inspiration and a declaration of purpose?

Introduction: Begin with a brief intro to clearly state your intention to apply for a particular program. Think of this as explaining your record/score to a stranger.

Education and learning: State what you have researched as well as where. Your higher education will be your most important academic experience, so focus on this. Highlight any relevant components you took on as part of your research studies that pertain to the program you are applying for. You must also point out exactly how your research has affected your decision to pursue a Ph.D. task, especially if it remains in the same area you are presently putting on.

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• Both are pretty comparable in regards to the framework but have various objectives. The motivation letter is generally on education; for that reason, there are various motivation letterS.
• For example, you might need a motivation letter for a scholarship, a motivation letter for college admission, etc. At the same time, the cover letter is used primarily to make an application for jobs.
• Academic cover letters are a lot more typical in UK colleges, while motivation letters are extra usual abroad.
• This letter is meant to come as a free product to your Curriculum Vitae, where you display your certifications. You support the Curriculum Vitae by providing extra factors and experiences that make your certifications deserving of a motivation letter. Therefore, the motivation letter is a bit extra personal interaction between you and the other party, at the very least for its provided method.
• The motivation letter is the 3rd essential file in your application behind your level and your grades from the previous education and learning to a specific level. Naturally, when using at a University, there are numerous students with the same certifications and qualities as you. The only point that helps the admission board strain the best candidates is by looking at your motivation letter.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, your letter is a great opportunity to show off your research skills and knowledge of the field. Don’t just say the same things you would in your cover letter. Instead, use this space to show your knowledge of the topic and your enthusiasm for the field. Remember to use the first person and be personal, however, don’t be too informal. Remember, you’re talking to a professor as a peer, not as a friend.

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Sample Motivation Letter For Your Economics PhD Application

Read a summary or generate practice questions using the INOMICS AI tool

When you apply for an economics  PhD , you will need to write not just a research proposal but also a letter of motivation. This letter describes why you wish to undertake a PhD and why you would be well-suited to researching your proposed topic. But what needs to go in this letter, and what tone is appropriate for it?

To give you some ideas, INOMICS is sharing a sample economics letter of motivation, as well as offering advice on how to write your own, so you can maximize your chances of getting accepted. If you plan to start your PhD application this autumn, you can download our free guide " How to successfully apply to a PhD in Economics ".

It should be noted that a European-style motivation letter focuses on academic background and research history, avoiding too much personal information. The US-style personal statement, on the other hand, is much more 'life experience' based. Here, we focus on the European style.

1. What to include in a motivation letter

There are a number of essentials you should include in your motivation letter when applying for your PhD. The introduction should (perhaps obviously) clearly state which economics program you are applying for. This will lead nicely into the next section, which should contain your reasons for wanting to do a PhD and specifically why you wish to do the program for which you've applied.

It is important to show what impact your proposed research will have on the industry, including perhaps the gaps in the literature/research that currently exist and how your research fills these in. Following on from this, your own academic background should be explained, including any academic achievements or awards you may have garnered aside from your degrees. Finally, your future career plans, and how your PhD and research proposal will help you achieve them, could be your closing statement of the motivation letter.

2. Be specific

One bad habit that many people have when writing their motivation letter is being too vague. Saying that you enjoyed your economics undergraduate course or that you find economics interesting is too vague to be meaningful. After all, it can already be assumed that you enjoyed studying economics or you wouldn't be applying for a PhD.

Instead, try to be more specific: mention which particular courses or topics appealed to you most, what you learned from them, and why you want to learn more about them. This is also a good way to mention your research areas of interest and how they will benefit the field.

3. Give concrete examples

Another common mistake is to make claims without giving any evidence to back those claims up. For example, you'll often see people say 'I work well independently' or 'I am highly organized and good at managing all of my assignments'. Without demonstrating how these things are true, there is no reason for the hiring committee to give weight to your self-assessment.

For better results, give concrete examples of your claims in action, such as 'My high level of organization was demonstrated when I completed my economics undergraduate courses while also working a part-time job, which required excellent time management skills' or 'In my second year, I successfully organized an undergraduate conference with 50 attendees.'

4. Show your personality

It is important to be professional in your motivation letter, so the letter should not contain jokes, sarcasm, or irrelevant personal information. However, you also needn't be dull and impersonal. You can and should allow your personality to shine through in your letter, and show how you are different from other candidates.

Maybe you have strong opinions about a particular topic in economics, or perhaps you have taken an unconventional career path. In these cases, you needn't hide your individuality. Show how your background gives you a unique perspective on your subject's issues and your approach to academic work. Remember, the point of the motivation letter is not to show how similar you are to an imagined perfect candidate – it's to show off your unique personal approach and how you could be a great PhD student.

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5. Focus on skills

An adjustment issue that some people have in during a PhD program is the gulf in requirements between an undergraduate or Master's course and a PhD. In an undergraduate or Master's course, you have to attend classes, complete assignments, and perform well in assessments. In a PhD, you will often have to come up with your own research questions, choose the best methodology to answer those questions, and motivate and organize yourself to complete your work.

If you don't have direct experience with doing these PhD tasks, that's okay – you won't be expected to know everything before you even start the PhD. However, you do want to show in your motivation letter that you have the capacity to perform this kind of work. In order to do this, you should focus on the skills that you have – such as data analysis, writing, research, presentation, and so on. Try to give examples of how you have used these skills in the past to show that you're ready for the challenge of a PhD now.

6. Talk about your future plans

Something that hiring committees like to see is that you are interested in working in your chosen field in the future. This means that you need to talk about what your post-PhD plans are if you want to be accepted. For most people applying for a PhD, the interest will be in doing a postdoc once they have completed the PhD. Other people may know that they want to work in industry, or for an NGO or for the government.

Any of these answers is fine, but the committee will want to see that you have thought about your long-term career. Do mention your long-term plans near the end of your motivation letter to show that you are serious about a career in your chosen field.

7. Sample motivation letter for an economics PhD

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my interest in pursuing a PhD in economics at Imperial College London.

I am particularly keen to apply for the doctoral program in the economics department at Imperial as its research interests are an excellent match for my academic background. I studied Business Management for my BA at Kingston University and during this time I developed a particular interest in the relationship between government policies affecting small businesses and economic outcomes country-wide. Furthering this interest, my BA thesis, which was supervised by Prof. Helen Smith, used statistical techniques to analyse the rate of growth of small businesses before and after new legislation regarding wages was put into place. My aim was not only to consider the ethical arguments regarding minimum wages and small businesses, but also to find evidence about whether policies encouraged or discouraged the growth of small businesses.

After completing my BA, I undertook an MSc in economics at University College London. From this course I gained deeper knowledge of statistics and modelling, which I made use of in my thesis project – an investigation into how the number of people employed by a small business affects the ability of that business to weather changes in wage laws. My aim throughout this project was to gather more evidence on the effect of new wage laws on the long-term stability of small businesses.

I now wish to continue my academic career with a PhD in economics, and I cannot imagine a better place to study this than the business school at Imperial. I admire the economics department’s commitment to both fairness and to accuracy, and I wish to further my work on minimum wage increases and small businesses in a way that respects both the dignity of workers and the needs of business owners. I particularly wish to work with Dr. Jane Brown, whose work on small business ethics has been a great source of inspiration for me.

This research has the potential to contribute to the theoretical models of small business growth in economics, but it also can contribute real-world value to policymakers and small business owners. As small businesses are often touted as the counterbalance in the move towards large multinational corporations due to globalisation, greater understanding of how to support these small businesses, and how to help them grow, will only become more valuable in the future.

Owing to my extensive knowledge of small business and wage laws, and my experience with statistical analyses and modelling, I am confident that I can complete the research project which I have proposed to a high standard. While both my previous thesis projects were on a smaller scale, I have recently been volunteering as a research assistant in a co-operative project focussing on cultural differences in small business creation, which has given me experience on large-scale projects too. This experience has helped me to plan out the time for my PhD realistically and confidently.

After completing the PhD, I plan to either pursue a postdoc placement within academic economics, or to work as a consultant for small business associations and policymakers. I believe that with my knowledge and experience in this increasingly important field, I can make important contributions to both the Imperial Business School and wider discipline of economics. I hope to be considered for this position.

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Motivational Letter Writing Guide + Examples for 2024

You’re about to apply for the job opportunity of your dreams.

You’ve worked hard, and you can’t wait to take the next step in your career.

All that’s left for you to do is write a motivational letter.

But writing a motivational letter can be nerve-wracking.

Two hours and three coffees in, you’ve scrolled through your Facebook newsfeed (twice), watched one episode of the last season of Game of Thrones, sent angry tweets to its creators, and donated for the knee surgery of two dogs. 

You go back to your open Word doc, and all you’ve managed to write is, “This program seems like fun” or “I’ll totally be a great fit for your organization.”

Don’t worry! We’re here to help.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• How to Write a Motivational Letter, Step-by-Step
• A Great Example of a Motivational Letter
• Useful Motivational Letter Tips

What Is a Motivational Letter?

A motivational letter, sometimes also called a letter of motivation, is a formal letter that you might have to submit when applying for an educational program or a job. Its goal is to show the hiring manager or admissions officer why you’re the perfect candidate for the position.

Motivational letters are typically submitted alongside your CV or resume . Unlike a cover letter, which gives practical examples of how your skills and experience match the opening, a motivational letter focuses more on your personality, interests, and motivation to apply.

When Do You Need a Motivational Letter?

A motivational letter is usually required when an organization wants to gauge your enthusiasm, cultural fit, and motivations for a particular opportunity.

There are a few situations when you might need to submit a motivational letter, such as:

• You’re applying for an educational program.
• You’re applying to work at a non-profit organization or mission-driven company.
• You’re applying for an internship in a competitive field.
• You’re applying for a volunteer position at a charity or non-government organization.
• You’re applying for a grant, fellowship, or some sort of scholarship .

No matter the situation, a motivational letter serves to express your distinct driving forces and convey your enthusiasm for that specific role, program, or opportunity. That’s why, done right, a motivational letter can convince the reader to go through your application in detail.

However, if the specific position doesn’t explicitly require a motivational letter or other written statement, you might be better off learning how to write a cover letter instead. Cover letters can be a great addition to your application and help you stand out from other candidates who are only relying on their resumes.

How to Write a Motivational Letter

Now that you know what a motivational letter is, it’s time to write your own.

Just follow the steps we’ve outlined, and you’ll be done in no time:

#1. Address Your Letter Appropriately

Your motivational letter should include a header with all the necessary contact details.

For starters, this means you should include your contact information , such as your full name, email address, phone number, and any other details that might be necessary for your application.

Additionally, you should include your intended audience’s contact details. Depending on where and what you’re applying for, this might be either a hiring manager or an admissions officer.

To establish a connection with the reader, include a personalized greeting instead of the generic “To Whom It May Concern.” To do that, you have to find out who the hiring manager or admissions officer is.

Start by doing a bit of research. Review the job listing, the program’s official page, or the application instructions. If you can’t find their name there, check the organization’s website and look for a staff directory.

Once you have their name, address your motivational letter professionally . We recommend using an identifier followed by their last name. But if you’re not sure about their title or gender, you can just use their full name, too. For example:

• Dear Mr. Smith,
• Dear Dr. Singh,
• Dear Cameron Smith,

Just avoid informal greetings like "Hey, John!" – your motivational letter is still meant to be a formal document.

#2. Stick to the Program Requirements

Writing a captivating motivational letter is all about showing the hiring manager or admissions officer how you meet the requirements for the position.

To help get the ball rolling as you start drafting your motivational letter, ask yourself: 

• What kind of applicants are usually admitted to the program? 
• How do you fulfill the requirements?

First, you need to know the exact program requirements and explain how your background and strengths align with the outlined criteria.

Comb through the details the organization has provided about the ideal skills, experiences, qualifications, or personal qualities they’re looking for in a candidate. Maybe they want someone proficient in data analysis , or they’re prioritizing candidates who are passionate about the industry.

Just remember –  you don’t have to highlight how you meet all the listed requirements if your application already includes a detailed academic CV . Just identify the top three to five requirements and give concrete examples of how you meet each.

Here’s an example:

Requirement: Minimum 2 years of volunteer experience

“I was a medical volunteer in Namibia for three years. It’s one of my most fulfilling adventures and transformative experiences so far since I am passionate about helping others. I believe it broadened my horizons and made me more resilient.”

#3. Align with Their Values

Your motivational letter should explain what drives you and show the reader how you share their organization’s values.

Take time to thoroughly research the organization , its culture, objectives, and driving forces. Find what resonates with your own beliefs and goals and mention it in your motivational letter.

But don’t just randomly sprinkle keywords into your letter. Instead, thoughtfully use your passion to build a narrative that shows how your values align with the institution’s mission. 

Be sure to give concrete examples. For instance, if the company values sustainability, you might want to share an anecdotal example, such as:

Values: Sustainability, Climate Action, Nature Conservation

I have a deep passion for nature conservation, and I have volunteered extensively with environmental organizations, especially in restoring local wetland habitats. I also practice eco-friendly habits in my professional life by advocating for reducing workplace waste and single-use plastics.

#4. Express Genuine Interest

Above all, your motivational letter should demonstrate that you really want to be there.

That said, there is a fine line between pleading and showing intelligent interest while also selling yourself. Generic statements can come across as insincere and unmotivated. Instead, write about what really attracted you to the opportunity.

Be as specific as possible and express your passion without necessarily begging them for a chance. For example:

• I would love to live in Aberdeen because I’m fascinated by Highlander culture, and I’m excited to dive into the city’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant community dedicated to the arts, music, and preserving Scottish traditions.
• It is my dream to be part of the Environmental Science Master's program because of its cutting-edge research in sustainable energy solutions and marine conservation efforts, which align with my passion for protecting our planet's ecosystems.

Specific examples and details show you've invested time learning about the organization, which helps your genuine passion shine through your motivational letter.

#5. Personalize It

While showcasing how you meet requirements is crucial, don't be afraid to let some of your personality and voice shine through.

Use descriptive adjectives to paint a fuller picture of who you are beyond just your credentials. Are you an endlessly curious, lifelong learner? A creative problem-solver? Passionate about how technological advancements can be used to increase sustainability?

Let your distinct character and values shine through to make your motivational letter more memorable and help differentiate you from other applicants. This can convey important soft skills and give the reader a glimpse of the person behind the qualifications.

Just make sure you’re still presenting a polished bit of personality and keeping it relevant to the opportunity. For example, if you’re applying for an MA in mathematics, don’t mention your passion for historical re-enactment.

Are you applying for an academic program? Learn how to write an academic personal statement here.

#6. Don’t Just Recap Your CV

Using your motivational letter to simply summarize your CV is a wasted opportunity. If the application requires a motivational letter, they’re looking to get to know you beyond the required stats and qualifications. 

The person reading your motivational letter is looking for the context around your motivations, passions, and aspirations. So, instead of just listing credentials, expand on the driving forces behind your experiences and decisions.

If you’re applying for a master's program, for example, mention your relevant undergraduate coursework, but also explain what sparked your interest in this specialization and why this path is personally meaningful. So, if you’re a History undergrad, elaborate on how volunteering at the archaeology museum made you pursue a graduate degree in Museum Studies and Curatorship.

Here’s a practical example of how that might look:

As a History undergraduate, my passion for preserving and sharing our cultural narratives was sparked by a semester-long museum internship. Working alongside curators as they brought ancient artifacts and stories to life through compelling exhibits opened my eyes to the vital role museums play in education and connecting communities to their roots.

This experience solidified my drive to pursue museum studies at the graduate level, where I can develop professional expertise in responsible collection stewardship, thoughtful exhibition development, and engaging public programming that keeps our shared histories vibrant and accessible for all.

Getting your documents ready for that application? Learn how to write a resume with our detailed guide.

#7. Convey Your Ambitions

Your motivational letter should express your ambitions and aspirations just as much as your relevant achievements . Admissions committees and employers who ask for motivational letters want to clearly understand both your goals and how this opportunity aligns with them.

Share your vision for how you plan to apply the knowledge, essential skills, or experience you'll gain. If it's a job, explain how it will prepare you for further career growth and impact in that field. For an academic program, discuss how you aim to contribute to cutting-edge research or become a leader and mentor.

Don't be afraid to think big - motivated candidates often have big goals of driving innovation, making a difference, or pushing boundaries in their discipline. Just make sure your aspirations are realistic and show that you have a plan and are truly invested in this path for the long term.

Here’s an example of how you can convey your ambitions in your motivational letter:

My long-term goal is to become a leader in sustainable urban design and planning that seamlessly integrates green infrastructure into the built environment. This master's program will equip me with the interdisciplinary skills to develop eco-friendly architectural solutions and climate-resilient city policies that prioritize environmental conservation alongside economic growth and social equity.

#8. Don’t Lie

One of the biggest mistakes you could make while writing your motivational letter is lying.

If you write anything remotely false, the reader will likely sense it. When you lie, you’re likely to unconsciously exaggerate your feelings and ideas. If you tell a fake story or inflate your excitement or achievements, you won’t get anywhere.

Your dishonesty is likely to be exposed and severely damage your credibility, leading to an immediate rejection.

Honesty and integrity are essential to writing an effective motivational letter. The goal of this document is to truly reflect who you are, why you’re the best match for this opportunity, and what you hope to achieve.

Don’t worry if you think your life so far just isn’t impressive enough to write a captivating story. No matter where you’re coming from, you can show the reader your unique perspective, personal growth, and unwavering determination to pursue your passions.

#9. Use a Motivational Letter Template

If you want your motivational letter to make a striking first impression, presentation matters.

A basic black-and-white document from a text editor will hardly stand out. Instead, try one of our professionally designed motivational letter templates for an attention-grabbing solution!

Novoresume offers modern, eye-catching templates that can give your motivational letter a polished look. You can even use the resume builder to match your motivational letter to one of our sleek resume templates for a coherent application.

Save precious time on formatting and create a visually flawless application in no time!

How to Structure a Motivational Letter

You’ve got the gist of how to write a motivational letter down, but it’s just as important to know how to structure it.

If your motivational letter is a messy, haphazard series of unrelated paragraphs, it simply won’t make the cut. You need your motivational letter to tell a coherent story, and this is where the structure comes in.

The whole process will probably require a few drafts until you get to the perfect, polished motivational letter. You might have to move around paragraphs or sentences until you have the ideal story that compliments your application, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time.

Let’s look at what each motivational letter looks like and includes:

#1. Contact Details

Start by adding all the relevant contact information at the top of your motivational letter.

Here’s what to include:

• Full Name. Place your first and last name at the top of the page.
• Professional Title. Match your professional title to the specific position you're aiming for. E.g.: if you’re applying for a Ph.D., write “Ph.D. candidate”.
• Email Address. Include a professional and straightforward email address. We recommend sticking to something that combines your first and last name.
• Phone Number. Include your phone number and add the dialing code in front if you’re applying overseas.
• Location. Adding your city and state/country is more than enough.
• Relevant Links. Optionally, you can include links to any relevant websites or social media profiles, such as a portfolio, a blog, a LinkedIn profile , etc.

Then, add the contact information of the admissions officer or hiring manager reading your motivational letter, such as:

• Organization’s Name. Start with the name of the organization to which you're sending your application.
• Recipient’s Name. If possible, find the name of the exact person who's going to be viewing your application, such as the hiring manager or the admissions officer for the department you're interested in. Check the organization’s website to get a head start.
• Recipient’s Title. Always address the reader professionally. For example, if they’re a professor or doctor in their field, use the appropriate identifier.
• Location. Provide the exact address of the organization you’re applying to. Include the city, state, country, and street number, and even specify the building if necessary.

#2. Introduction

Begin your motivational letter with a strong introduction.

The first few sentences need to be attention-grabbing – do this through a short, engaging pitch about yourself and why you are applying.

Here’s what you can include:

• A summary of who you are and what you do.
• Details about what you’re applying for and where.
• A prelude to the bulk of your motivational letter.

Remember - this part only needs to include the general reasons behind your application, since you’ll have the opportunity to make a deep dive later on in the body of your motivational letter.

Let’s look at an example of what your introduction could look like:

Dear Dr. Octavio,

My name is Jane Doe, and I would like to express my interest in applying for the Ph.D. Robotics program at Columbia University. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a robotics engineer and contributing to advancement in the field, and I believe that a Ph.D. in Robotics from this university would set me miles ahead of reaching my goal.

The body of your motivational letter is where you get to really sell yourself.

It’s also where the bulk of your text is going to be, so it determines your motivational letter as a whole.

There are two things you should keep in mind when writing this section of your motivational letter: the paragraph structure and the paragraph contents.

Generally, there are two main paragraph-based structures for your motivational letter.

First is the classic, three-main-paragraph structure, where each paragraph accounts for your introduction, body, and conclusion. If you’re using a storytelling approach for your motivational letter, we recommend sticking to this one.

However, if you want to be more factual and to the point, we recommend trying the seven-paragraph structure. It divides the main body of your motivational letter into smaller paragraphs according to your main points, where each discusses a specific achievement, experience, or aspiration.

Use the body of your motivational letter to mention the stories behind your achievements, essential skills , and passion for whatever you’re applying for.

This is the right place to be as detailed and factual as possible. Give concrete examples of what motivated you to apply for this position, and show how that directly relates to what the organization is looking for in a candidate.

Here are some sentences you can paraphrase and use to help you write the body of your motivational letter:

• My passion for [field] started when [experience] . 
• I want to [join this organization] because [ motivation] . 
• I have been part of [relevant organization or field] for [amount of time] . It’s the best thing for me because [reason] .
• I remember once when I [experience] , which made me realize that I [gained interest in the specific field] .
• [Organization or program] resonates with me because [specific reason] .
• What distinguishes me from my peers is [something you’re proud of] .

Let’s look at a brief example of how this is put into practice.

I developed my passion for digital marketing during my internship at XYZ Inc. Working for a small startup allowed me to gain surface-level experience in most digital marketing channels. Now, I would like to deep-dive and gain advanced know-how by attending the Buffalo College Marketing program.

#4. Conclusion

After finishing the body of your motivational letter, it’s time to wrap it up and send it in.

Use this section to briefly summarize your main points and remind the reader why you’d be a great fit for the organization or program you’re interested in.

Then, mention your overarching career goal and how that aligns with their organization’s mission.

Finally, thank the reader for their time and sign off on your motivational letter. Here’s an example:

Therefore, I believe that my strong academic foundation in environmental studies and hands-on fieldwork experience are qualifications that position me to make outstanding contributions to your master's program. I believe that the knowledge I gain in the Sustainability and International Relations program will play a pivotal role in my mission of shaping innovative policies and scientific solutions to combat climate change and protect our planet's biodiversity for future generations.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to join UCLA in the fall semester.

George Maxton

How to Format a Motivational Letter

Always review your motivation letter carefully and stick to any stated requirements or guidelines for your application.

Organizations will sometimes include formatting specifications, like word count or page limits, or even questions they want you to answer in your motivational letter.

If you’re writing a motivational letter for an academic program, you can usually find this information on the admissions requirements webpage or within the provided application materials. 

For job applications, these details are usually listed on the job ad or in the company's job application portal.

Always follow these rules exactly as stated. Going off script could get your application immediately rejected since it shows you’re either not attentive or you’re not taking the opportunity seriously.

If, on the other hand, there aren’t any guidelines for your motivational letter, we recommend you follow these tips:

• Keep your motivational letter one page long.
• Use a clear structure with concise paragraphs to make your letter easy to skim.
• Choose a professional font like Lora or Roboto and make sure it’s sized 11-12 pt.
• Set your page margins to one inch on all sides so your page doesn’t look too cluttered or too empty.
• Include the date you wrote your motivational letter for an extra professional touch.
• Use powerful words and action verbs (“designed” and “conceptualized”) instead of cliched phrases (“helped with” and “managed”).
• Smoothly connect your thoughts through transition words.
• Proofread carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors.
• Include a professional closing line like "Sincerely" at the end of your text.
• Print your motivational letter out and sign it, or send it as a PDF to preserve your formatting.

Motivational Letter Example

Let’s look at an example of a great motivational letter for a Ph.D. program at Harvard University and go through just what this candidate does right:

The candidate’s letter to Harvard University’s Department of Political Science starts by addressing the person in charge of admissions for the Ph.D. program they’re interested in.

The general requirements for the Political Science program are:

• Being research inclined
• Having a demonstrated passion for politics
• Showing above-average performance during undergraduate studies 

The values of the university they’re applying to are integrity, education, respect, and accountability.

The candidate’s motivational letter is neatly divided into a total of five paragraphs, of which three make up the body of the text.

Here’s how they highlight their motivation:

• They know the history of the university and share the same values.
• They’re genuinely excited and passionate about the program and the school.
• They show what their qualifications are and how they’ll be a great fit for the program.
• They explain what they hope to achieve if they get the opportunity to study at Harvard.

Essentially, the candidate has listed all their qualifications through a personal story. After reading this letter, the admissions officer will feel like they know the candidate adequately, especially since they have communicated who they are by highlighting how they match everything the Ph.D. program is looking for in an applicant.

Need more inspiration? Check out our 60+ cover letter examples for different professions.

Key Takeaways

You’ve made it to the end of our guide!

Now, you know everything there is to know about motivational letters. We’re confident you’re a shoo-in for that position you have your sights set on!

But before we go, let’s quickly sum up what we’ve covered so far:

• A motivational letter is a formal document that’s usually required when applying for university admissions, a non-profit organization, or a volunteer position.
• Motivational letters are different from cover letters since they focus more on your interests, passions, and ambitions than on your skills and achievements.
• Generally, there are two ways to structure your motivational letter, depending on whether you want to tell a story or factually go through all the points that make you an ideal candidate.
• The introduction of your motivational letter should be brief and immediately grab the reader’s attention. Use it to tell them who you are and why you’re interested in applying for the specific opportunity.
• Always do your research on the specific program or organization. This can help you show genuine interest and convey your aspirations for the future in this field.
• Make your motivational letter stand out by using one of Novorésumé’s templates and giving the admissions officer or hiring manager a gorgeous first impression.

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Home » Professional Motivation Letter For PHD In Literature: 7 Examples

Professional Motivation Letter For PHD In Literature: 7 Examples

In the enchanting realm of academia, where words weave the fabric of knowledge, pursuing a Ph.D. in Literature beckons those hungry for intellectual adventure. Crafting a Motivation Letter For PHD In Literature for such a profound journey is an art, a dance of passion on the page.

Picture this – your words unlocking the gates to a world where literature breathes, and ideas transcend time. This blog post unveils the alchemy behind a stellar Motivation Letter for a Ph.D. in Literature, guiding you through the delicate tapestry of self-expression that not only captures the attention of admission committees but resonates with the soul of literary pursuit.

As we delve into the nuances of penning a compelling letter, remember, that this is your symphony, your ode to knowledge. Embrace the power of your narrative, intertwining personal experiences with the pulsating rhythm of your literary aspirations. Let this guide be your compass, steering you through the labyrinth of words, and igniting the passion that fuels your academic journey.

Now, armed with inspiration, dive into the crafting process, and let your Motivation Letter be the beacon that illuminates the path to your Ph.D. dreams. Are you ready to write your chapter in the book of literary excellence? Let’s embark on this voyage together – where words echo and dreams take flight.

Table of Contents

Key Components of a Strong Motivation Letter For PHD In Literature

• Introduction: Begin with a captivating opening, setting the tone for your literary journey. Capture attention swiftly.
• Personal Narrative: Weave your academic and personal story, showcasing a genuine passion for literature. Connect your journey to your academic pursuits.
• Research Interests: Clearly articulate your specific interests within literature. Define the areas you wish to explore, emphasizing their academic and societal relevance.
• Academic Achievements: Highlight your academic prowess, focusing on achievements directly relevant to your Ph.D. pursuit in literature.
• Future Contributions: Express how your research will contribute to the academic community and beyond. Showcase your commitment to advancing literary knowledge.
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Motivation Letter For Ph.D. in Literature:

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Motivation Letter for Ph.D. in Literature Philippines:

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Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Impactful Motivation Letter for Ph.D. in Literature:

Do’s:

• Authentic Storytelling: Craft a narrative that authentically reflects your journey, intertwining personal experiences with your passion for literature. Let your unique story resonate.
• Tailor to the Program: Customize your letter for the specific Ph.D. program, showcasing a deep understanding of the university’s strengths and how they align with your academic goals.
• Showcase Research Alignment: Clearly articulate how your research interests align with the faculty’s expertise and the university’s literary focus. Highlighting this alignment enhances your application’s strength.

Don’ts:

• Avoid Generic Language: Steer clear of cliches and generic phrases. Instead, use specific examples and language that genuinely reflects your personality and aspirations.
• Don’t Overwhelm with Details: While it’s crucial to highlight achievements, avoid overwhelming the reader with an exhaustive list. Focus on key accomplishments relevant to your Ph.D. pursuit.
• Don’t Underestimate Proofreading: Typos and grammatical errors can detract from your credibility. Thoroughly proofread your motivation letter to ensure flawless language and presentation.

Final Thoughts:

In the intricate dance of academia, Motivation Letter For PHD In Literature is the melody that resonates with decision-makers. It’s more than a document; it’s your literary signature, an earnest expression of passion and purpose. Throughout this guide, we’ve navigated the art of crafting a compelling Ph.D. in Literature motivation letter, unraveling the key components that transform words into an eloquent symphony of intent.

Remember, as you embark on this journey, the power lies not just in the technical prowess of your writing but in the authenticity of your narrative. Tailoring your letter to the specific program and showcasing the intersection of your skills and the university’s ethos elevates your application from the ordinary to the extraordinary. A well-crafted motivation letter, like a finely woven tapestry, captures attention, persuades decision-makers, and leaves an indelible mark that sets you apart in a sea of applicants.

So, as you pen down your aspirations, let each word echo with the resonance of your academic journey. Take this guide as a companion, a beacon that illuminates your path to success. Now, armed with insights and examples, it’s your turn to weave your story, craft your narrative, and step confidently into the realm of academic pursuits.

Revise your motivation letter with the wisdom gained here, and let the symphony of your aspirations reverberate, increasing your chances of not just landing a job but making an impact in the realm of literature. Your journey begins with the pen in your hand—write it boldly.

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How to Write a Motivation Letter for PhD, Postdoc, or Any Position: Sample Motivation Letter

A Successful motivation letter helps the admissions board or Professor to compare outstanding students and impressive ones. With help of  motivation letter, they can prosper in ending up choosing worthy research students. But Still, admission boards will surely think of this as the classification to significantly find a suitable candidate for his research group. Showing you are preferred depending on what you write, however much more on just how you design, particularly the tone you use and the level of interest you receive in your writing that matters a lot.

While applying for a Ph.D. or Postdoc or any research position, you will need to write a research proposal and a Motivation Letter. Especially, a motivation letter is more required for Ph.D. candidates. This defines why you wish to embark on that position and why you would be appropriate for studying there. Yet what requires to go in this, and what tone is suitable for it? To give you some suggestions, today, we’re sharing all about motivation letters, so you can see what your motivation letter needs to include or correct.

How to write a Postdoc Job Application or Email

How to write a phd motivation letter.

A motivation letter has many similarities to a cover letter and a personal statement, and institutions will not ask you to submit all of these. However, it is a unique document and you should treat it as such. In the context of supporting a PhD application, the difference is nuanced; all three documents outline your suitability for PhD study. However, compared to a cover letter and personal statement, a motivation letter places more emphasis on your motivation for wanting to pursue the particular PhD position you are applying for.

Academic cover letters are more common in UK universities, while motivation letters are more common abroad.

For admission staff, academic qualifications alone are not enough to indicate whether a student will be successful in their doctorate. In this sense, a motivational letter will allow them to judge your passion for the field of study, commitment to research and suitability for the programme, all of which better enables them to evaluate your potential.

Polite Follow-Up Email to Professor : When and How You should Write

Steps for writing research motivation letter.

1. The first step to writing a good motivation letter is to read the job ad carefully 2. The second step is to try to understand the researchers and the kind of research they do 3. The third step is to carefully read a previous motivation letter and try to understand why the letter was successful 4. The fourth step is to make sure that you address the letter to the right people 5. The fifth step is to explain why you choose to apply to this position and this lab. 6. The sixth step is to explain how your research interests align with the research of the lab 7. The seventh step is to explain how your previous research background relates to the position 8. The eighth step is to explain why you are applying for that position

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How to Start a Motivation Letter

Introduction: Start with a brief introduction in which you clearly state your intention to apply for a particular programme. Think of this as describing what the document is to a stranger.

Education: State what you have studied and where. Your higher education will be your most important educational experience, so focus on this. Highlight any relevant modules you undertook as part of your studies that are relevant to the programme you are applying for. You should also mention how your studies have influenced your decision to pursue a PhD project, especially if it is in the same field you are currently applying to.

Work experience: Next summarize your professional work experience. Remember, you will likely be asked to submit your academic CV along with your motivation letter, so keep this section brief to avoid any unnecessary repetition. Include any other relevant experiences, such as teaching roles, non-academic experience, or charity work which demonstrates skills or shows your suitability for the research project and in becoming a PhD student.

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How Write Main Body of Motivation

Key skills: Outline your key skills. Remember the admissions committee is considering your suitability for the specific programme you are applying for, so mention skills relevant to the PhD course.

Motivation for applying: Show your enthusiasm and passion for the subject, and describe your long-term aspirations. Start with how you first became interested in the field, and how your interest has grown since. You should also mention anything else you have done which helps demonstrate your interest in your proposed research topic, for example:

• Have you attended any workshops or seminars?
• Do you have any research experience?
• Have you taught yourself any aspects of the subject?
• Have you read any literature within the research area?
• Finally, describe what has convinced you to dedicate the next 3-4 years (assuming you are to study full time) of your life to research.

How to End a Motivation Letter

In the closing of your Motivation Letter, including a couple of sentences on your research’s impact on your life, research location, and experience generally. This will certainly aid you in showing the value of your research study in the context of a bigger photo. Mostly, demonstrate how the research community and also college can benefit from having you as a pupil.

Finally, thank the reader for considering your application.

Motivational letter for PhD, Postdoc, Scholarship etc.

It should be noted that a European-style motivation letter focuses on academic background and research history, avoiding too much personal information. The US-style personal statement, on the other hand, is much more ‘life experience’ based. Here, we focus on the European-style.

What is the Difference Between a Motivational Letter and Cover Letter?

Students frequently misunderstand the difference between a motivational letter and a cover letter. It’s crucial to remember that a cover letter’s objective is to highlight specific information from your CV and match it with the job criteria and company profile. To put it simply, a motivating letter is primarily used to highlight how your interests, goals, and objectives complement the academic program you want to study or a job profile you want to apply for, whereas a cover letter is more of an introduction to your resume to the hiring authority. Every one of the top firms is looking for someone who could be a valuable addition to their corporation. As a result, it must to convey your eagerness and intent while driving home the main point. 

Each document that a recruiter or university requests has a specific function. Most of the time, candidates are unsure of the difference between a motivation letter and a cover letter. A professional letter sent with a CV or resume to an employer or recruiter is called a cover letter. While motivation letters are utilized by internships, educational institutions, and university entrance offices, cover letters are typically used by businesses, employers, and recruiters. These letters provide candidates the opportunity to elaborate in detail about their motivation, interests, accomplishments, and career/academic future, as well as to tell the recruiter or educational officer why they are the ideal choice.

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This is outstanding website for PhD aspirants to prepare an ideal and promising motivation letter. You are requested to post an motivation letter for PhD in plant genetics. It would be grateful to me. I would appreciate your kindness.

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