The motivation letter is the university representatives’ first introduction to you. By reading it, they learn a great deal about you: your motivation to study, your interest in the chosen field and study program, your personality traits, talents, strengths, and ambitions.

Foreign universities value students as individuals and accept them as full members of their community. That’s why they are particularly interested in what you can contribute to this community, and what qualities and talents you can bring to enrich its life. The first impression is extremely important, so dedicate plenty of time and effort to your motivation letter, and you will surely achieve the desired results. It is the most representative document among all those submitted to universities.

*Important! Not all universities require a motivation letter. Does your chosen university require one?

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Writing a motivation letter?

Yes and no

Here’s a short guide on what you should and shouldn’t do when writing a motivation letter.

How to write a motivation letter?

Getting ready to write a motivation letter but not sure what and how to write? Here are some key tips that can help you when thinking about how to create a strong motivation letter.

• It is essential to understand what a motivation letter is.It is a text where you present your skills and motivation needed to be admitted to your chosen study program. Keep this in mind while preparing your letter – ideally, throughout the entire writing process. Your motivation letter should include the following points:

  • Personal motivation for choosing the specific field of study (why do you want to study this particular program?);

  • Your current qualifications and experiences gained so far that are valuable for the chosen program (why are you a suitable candidate?);

  • If you plan to connect your future with the chosen field, be sure to share your goals and ambitions in the motivation letter.

• The key to success is being specific. Avoid abstract phrases—choose a concrete field of study, specific skills, personal qualities, and future plans.
• Explain why you are interested in the chosen university, study program, profession, or even the country. There are countless options, but you chose this one—prove to the admissions officers that you know what and why you chose it. If you decide to write about why you picked a particular university, avoid overpraising it. Many candidates do this, but empty flattery makes no impression. Instead, stand out by giving honest and well-structured arguments to justify your choice.
• Show your knowledge in the chosen field. It doesn’t matter whether you want to study law, business management, accounting, or the arts—every field has its own specifics. Universities don’t expect incoming students to already be experts; you are there to learn. However, showing genuine interest, awareness, and realistic expectations about the studies will give you a big advantage.
• Talk about your activities—perhaps you attend clubs, volunteer, pursue hobbies, belong to associations, or already have work experience. Ideally, your activities should connect to your chosen program, but even if they don’t, mentioning them helps reveal your interests and motivation to be an active member of the community. It also allows you to highlight valuable and unique qualities you’ve developed through these activities.
• Discuss your interests, even if they are not related to your studies. This demonstrates that you are a versatile person with passions beyond your chosen field—something that adds value to the university community.
• Admissions officers highly value candidates who know what they want and confidently pursue their goals. That’s why it’s important to write about your future plans and ambitions. Universities abroad are not just places to study—they exist to help people achieve their aspirations. If you share your ambitions, the university is more likely to see you as someone worth supporting.
• It’s also a good idea to mention your language skills. If your English is not perfect, don’t lie, because the truth will come out. Instead, explain what steps you are taking to improve and show determination to learn. Remember: for most international students, English is not their native language. Perfect knowledge is not expected, but willingness to improve and courage to face the challenge is essential.
• Would you like me to also shorten this text into a more practical checklist version (Do’s & Don’ts style), so it’s easier for future students to follow?

The topics and tips mentioned above are general guidelines, but that doesn’t mean you have to cover every single one of them. Each motivation letter is unique and reflects the writer’s individual strengths and experiences. That’s why it’s best to choose only the points that feel most relevant and meaningful to you, based on your own background.

Our suggestions are designed to guide you in the right direction and help you better understand what universities expect from a motivation letter. The goal is to make the writing process less stressful and help you focus on presenting your best self :)

Also, keep in mind that while you can mention a wide variety of hobbies and activities in your motivation letter, what really matters is not just what you mention, but how you present it. Simply listing activities or stating a hobby is not enough — you need to describe them clearly and convincingly, showing how they have been valuable to you and how they will help you in your studies or future career. It’s much better to highlight just a few activities and explain them in detail — what you gained from them, what skills you developed, and how they connect to your goals — rather than listing many things without any explanation. Universities value focus and purpose. They don’t just want to see that you’ve been active; they also want to know that you understand the benefits of those activities and how they shaped you.

For example:

Instead of simply writing:

"I like volunteering."

You could expand it into something like:

"I volunteer at a local animal shelter twice a week, where I help with daily care, fundraising events, and community outreach. This has taught me responsibility, teamwork, and how to communicate with people from different backgrounds. It also strengthened my interest in working for a cause I believe in, which I hope to continue during my studies abroad."

Virtual tool

We suggest visiting a supporting virtual tool, which will also help you write a strong motivation letter. In this system, you can find an informative video that explains what makes a good motivation letter, what makes a weak one, and what kind of information university representatives expect from you.

Technical tips

Before you start writing your motivation letter, pay attention to the technical requirements that must be met:

• The motivation letter should be between 1,300 and 4,000 characters (including spaces). Ideally, your final version should be at least 3,500 characters long.
• If you plan to study in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, or Sweden, you can prepare separate motivation letters for each study program that interests you.
• Make sure your motivation letter is unique and do not copy other texts. Universities check the authenticity of documents, and if plagiarism is detected, your application will be rejected and other institutions will also be informed.