what is the difference between motivation letter and personal statement

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6 minutes read

Understanding the Difference Between a Motivation Letter and Personal Statement

Dirghayu Kaushik

30 August 2024

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• Introduction

Navigating through college admissions and scholarship applications can be a challenging journey, especially when it comes to articulating your aspirations and qualifications.

Two critical elements in this process are the personal statement and motivation letter. Although they may seem similar, understanding their distinct purposes and crafting them effectively can significantly influence the success of your application.

This comprehensive guide aims to demystify these documents, providing insights and tips on how to effectively articulate your story and ambitions.

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• The Essence of a Personal Statement

Crafting Your Narrative

A personal statement is your canvas to paint a picture of who you are beyond grades and test scores. It is an opportunity to narrate your journey, highlighting personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

This document should reflect your personality, values, and the driving forces behind your aspirations. To begin, brainstorm key moments in your life that have shaped your identity and perspective.

These could include pivotal experiences, influential relationships, or significant achievements. The goal is to provide the admissions committee with a holistic view of your character and potential.

Beyond Academics: Showcasing Personal Growth

While academic achievements are important, a personal statement should also delve into personal growth and development. Reflect on how your experiences have cultivated resilience, empathy, creativity, or leadership skills.

These attributes are invaluable in an academic setting and demonstrate your readiness to contribute to a university community.

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• Decoding the Motivation Letter

Aligning with Academic and Career Goals

The motivation letter, often referred to as a statement of purpose or SOP , is a more targeted document. It’s your platform to articulate why you are drawn to a specific program or opportunity.

This letter should align your academic background, research interests, and career objectives with the offerings and ethos of the program you are applying to.

In this letter, specificity is key. Discuss particular courses, faculty members, or research opportunities within the program that resonate with your interests.

Explain how these align with your long-term goals and how your previous experiences have laid the foundation for your future pursuits.

Demonstrating Research and Professional Aspirations

Your motivation letter should also reflect your understanding of the field or industry you wish to enter. Discuss current trends, challenges, and innovations, and how you aspire to contribute to the field.

This not only shows your passion and knowledge but also your potential to make meaningful contributions.

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• The Art of Personalization in Application Documents

Tailoring Your Story to Each Application

One key aspect of writing effective personal statements and motivation letters is personalization. Each application should be crafted with the specific institution and program in mind.

Research the university’s values, mission, and what they look for in a candidate. This research will guide you in tailoring your narrative to resonate with the admissions committee.

Reflecting Institutional Values and Culture

Your documents should reflect an understanding of the institution’s culture and values. For instance, if a university is known for its commitment to community service, highlight your involvement in similar activities.

This demonstrates not only your alignment with the university’s values but also your ability to contribute to its community.

• Addressing Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

In your journey towards academic and professional success, addressing challenges and overcoming obstacles is crucial. Here’s how to effectively incorporate these elements into your personal statement or motivation letter:

• Identify Key Challenges: Begin by identifying the significant challenges you’ve faced. These could be personal, academic, or professional obstacles that have had a profound impact on your journey. It’s important to choose challenges that have contributed meaningfully to your growth and development.
• Describe the Obstacle Clearly: Provide a clear and concise description of the obstacle. This helps the reader understand the context and the gravity of the challenge you faced. Be specific about the nature of the obstacle, whether it was a personal hardship, an academic setback, or a professional hurdle.
• Emphasize Your Response: Focus on how you responded to the challenge. Describe the actions you took to overcome the obstacle. This might include seeking help, developing new strategies, or pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. The goal is to highlight your resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Reflect on Personal Growth: Discuss the personal growth that resulted from overcoming these challenges. This could be in the form of newfound resilience, improved problem-solving skills, increased empathy, or a better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Connect to Your Goals: Make a clear connection between the challenges you’ve overcome and your academic or career goals. Explain how these experiences have prepared you for the future challenges you might face in the program or career you are pursuing.
• Showcase Development of Skills: If applicable, highlight any skills or knowledge you gained as a result of overcoming these obstacles. For example, overcoming a personal challenge might have improved your communication skills, while overcoming an academic challenge might have enhanced your research or analytical abilities.
• Demonstrate Your Resilience: Use your experiences to demonstrate your resilience. Show the admission committee that you are capable of bouncing back from setbacks and that you have the tenacity to persevere in the face of adversity.
• Inspire with Optimism: Convey a sense of optimism and a positive outlook. Even when discussing challenges, it’s important to maintain a tone that is hopeful and forward-looking. This shows that you are not deterred by difficulties but are instead motivated by them.
• Avoid Over-Dramatization: While it’s important to be honest about the challenges you’ve faced, avoid over-dramatizing them. Stick to the facts and focus on the positive outcomes and lessons learned rather than dwelling excessively on the negative aspects.
• End with a Forward-Looking Statement: Conclude this section by looking towards the future. Discuss how these experiences have equipped you to handle future challenges and how they have influenced your career or academic aspirations.

By effectively addressing challenges and obstacles in your personal statement or motivation letter, you not only showcase your resilience and growth but also demonstrate your preparedness for the rigors of higher education or the professional world.

Remember, it’s not just about the challenges themselves, but how you’ve overcome them and what you’ve learned in the process that counts.

Balancing Personal Anecdotes and Professional Aspirations

The interplay of the personal and professional.

In both your personal statement and motivation letter, there’s a delicate balance to be struck between personal anecdotes and professional aspirations.

While personal stories provide a glimpse into your character, they should also tie back to your academic and career goals.

Connecting Personal Experiences to Future Goals

Link your personal experiences to your future goals. For instance, if you’re applying to a medical program, a personal story about a healthcare challenge in your family could be connected to your aspiration to improve healthcare systems.

This creates a cohesive narrative that underscores the continuity between your past experiences and future objectives.

For your Astronomy personal statement, click here

Concluding with Impact: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Crafting a memorable conclusion.

The conclusion of your personal statement or motivation letter is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression. Reinforce your enthusiasm for the program and your readiness to take on the challenges it presents.

Express your eagerness to contribute to the university community and your confidence in your ability to succeed.

The Future Vision

End with a forward-looking statement. Share your vision for how the program will shape your future and how you, in turn, plan to contribute to your field.

A strong conclusion not only reiterates your fit for the program but also leaves the reader with a clear understanding of your aspirations and potential impact.

Crafting a compelling personal statement and motivation letter is a critical step in the journey toward academic and professional advancement. These documents are more than mere formalities; they are reflections of your personality, aspirations, and potential.

By understanding their distinct purposes and effectively articulating your story and goals, you can enhance the impact of your application and move closer to achieving your academic and career objectives.

Remember, each document is a unique opportunity to showcase different facets of your journey and how they align with your future aspirations.

With careful thought and a clear strategy, you can create powerful narratives that resonate with admissions committees and pave your way to success.

What is the main difference between a personal statement and a motivation letter?

A personal statement is a broader document that describes your overall personality, experiences, and goals, while a motivation letter is more focused on how a specific program or opportunity aligns with your academic and professional aspirations.

Can the same document be used as both a personal statement and a motivation letter?

While there might be some overlap in content, it’s important to tailor each document to its specific purpose. A personal statement should be more about you as an individual, whereas a motivation letter should be closely aligned with the specific program or opportunity.

How long should these documents be?

Both documents should be concise and to the point. Typically, they should not exceed one page, ensuring clarity and focus on the most relevant aspects.

What should be included in a motivation letter?

Your motivation letter should include your specific academic and professional interests, how they align with the program you’re applying to, and how your past experiences have prepared you for this next step.

Is it necessary to include personal anecdotes in a personal statement?

Yes, personal anecdotes can be very effective in a personal statement as they provide a more intimate glimpse into your life, making your application more memorable.

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Table of Contents

• • Introduction
• • The Essence of a Personal Statement
• • Decoding the Motivation Letter
• • The Art of Personalization in Application Documents
• • Addressing Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
• • Conclusion

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Cover Letter vs Personal Statement [With Examples]

When it comes to applying for a job or a graduate program, you may come across two common requirements: a cover letter and a personal statement. While they may seem similar, there are key differences between the two that every applicant should be aware of. In this article, we'll explore what a personal statement and a cover letter are, when they are used, their similarities and differences, and provide examples of each.

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a brief essay that highlights your skills, experiences, and goals. It is usually required for graduate school applications, but it can also be requested by employers. The purpose of a personal statement is to demonstrate your fit for a program or a position by showcasing your unique qualifications and motivations.

A personal statement should be well-crafted and tailored to the specific program or position you are applying for. It should showcase your strengths and demonstrate your passion for your field. Your personal statement should also highlight any relevant experiences, such as research projects or internships, that have prepared you for the program or position you are applying for.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It is a formal letter that introduces you to a potential employer and explains why you are interested in the job and how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for the position.

A cover letter should be personalized for each job application and should not simply restate your resume. It should highlight your skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job, and explain how you will add value to the organization. A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants and can increase your chances of getting an interview.

When is Each Used?

A personal statement is typically used for graduate school applications, while a cover letter is used for job applications. However, there may be some overlap in certain situations, such as when applying for a job in academia or research, where a personal statement may be requested instead of a cover letter.

Similarities

Both a personal statement and a cover letter are used to showcase your qualifications and explain why you are a good fit for a program or a position. They are both formal documents that require careful attention to detail and should be tailored to the specific program or position you are applying for.

Differences

The main difference between a personal statement and a cover letter is their purpose. A personal statement is meant to demonstrate your fit for a program and showcase your unique qualifications and motivations, while a cover letter is meant to introduce you to a potential employer and explain why you are interested in the job and how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for the position.

Another key difference is their length. A personal statement is typically longer than a cover letter and may be several pages, while a cover letter is usually one page or less.

Cover Letter Examples

Example 1: marketing coordinator cover letter.

Why this works: This cover letter is tailored to the specific job and company, highlighting the candidate's relevant experience and achievements. The tone is professional and enthusiastic, showing the candidate's passion for the industry and desire to contribute to the company's success.

Example 2: Sales Representative Cover Letter

Why this works: This cover letter focuses on the candidate's sales experience and achievements, emphasizing their ability to meet and exceed targets and build strong relationships with clients. The language is confident and persuasive, showing the candidate's ability to sell themselves and their skills.

Example 3: Human Resources Manager Cover Letter

Why this works: This cover letter highlights the candidate's extensive HR experience and achievements, showing their ability to lead and innovate in the field. The tone is professional and confident, demonstrating the candidate's ability to establish credibility and build relationships with stakeholders.

Example 4: Graphic Designer Cover Letter

Why this works: This cover letter showcases the candidate's design skills and experience, emphasizing their ability to create compelling visuals and drive user engagement. The tone is enthusiastic and passionate, conveying the candidate's love for design and eagerness to contribute to the company's creative vision.

Personal Statement Examples

Example 1: medical school personal statement.

Why this works: This personal statement is focused on the candidate's motivation and passion for medicine, demonstrating their commitment to the field and their desire to make a difference. The language is clear and concise, showing the candidate's ability to communicate their ideas effectively.

Example 2: Law School Personal Statement

Why this works: This personal statement is focused on the candidate's motivation and passion for law, demonstrating their commitment to social justice and their desire to use the law as a tool for positive change. The language is clear and persuasive, showing the candidate's ability to make a compelling argument.

Example 3: MBA Personal Statement

Why this works: This personal statement is focused on the candidate's professional experience and goals, demonstrating their commitment to business leadership and their desire to use the MBA program as a platform for growth and development. The language is clear and results-oriented, showing the candidate's ability to apply their skills and knowledge to real-world problems.

Example 4: Education Personal Statement

Why this works: This personal statement is focused on the candidate's experience and goals as an educator, showing their commitment to teaching, learning, and innovation. The language is clear and enthusiastic, demonstrating the candidate's ability to inspire and motivate both students and colleagues.

TopAdmit- Online Application Essay Editing

College admissions essay editing, statement of purpose, personal statement & study plan.

When applying to any school, whether it’s undergraduate or graduate, you will always be required to submit one or more written documents. The purpose of these documents is to allow the admissions committee to find out more about the students on a personal level. Looking at your test scores, credentials, class rank, and similar data is not enough. There are thousands of students applying from all over the world with a similar application to yours. Therefore, your writing is arguably more important than anything else you submit, as it gives you the chance to express what makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

However, different schools ask for different formats, and this tends to confuse students, which leads to off-topic writing. Writing off-topic, no matter how creative and special your story is, could lead to automatic filtering by the admissions committee because you have failed to read the requirements and deliver what they are asking for.

Let’s look at the differences individually.

Statement of Purpose (SOP) – Just by looking at the title, we should already know that this paper is focused on your purpose, or the reasons why you want to study a particular course/major at this university. Usually, schools will assign what they call “prompts,” which are focused questions which you need to answer in detail. Failure to answer the question automatically marks you as an unfit candidate. It is very important to direct your response to the particular questions at hand. Don’t go off topic and start talking in detail about your past achievements, hopes, or dreams. Effective SOP writing discusses your career plan and future goals. This must be well thought out, as it takes focus and determination to pursue a degree, especially if you are applying for a master’s or doctorate degree. The admissions committee wants to see how well organized and prepared you are. Your readers need to know that you are serious about the degree program. They do not want slackers; they want well-defined research interests. A well-written SOP formally expresses the candidate’s background (education, interests, credentials, etc.), but the candidate does not brag. The candidate explains in detail his or her desire to gain acceptance into the program of choice. Check out free Statement of Purpose essay samples here .

Personal Statement – The keyword “personal” already tells you how different this is from an SOP. Here is your chance to show off what you have accomplished in your academics, any major skills you have, and any extracurricular activities in which you have participated. In this paper, you have the chance to represent yourself to stand out from the other students; you have the freedom to talk about anything and everything in your life, as long as it is relevant to the program to which you are applying. A common mistake with this type of document is that some applicants have too much to say, and they do not know how to choose relevant details or transition fluidly from idea to idea. Jumping from one story to another in one paragraph will put off the admissions committee, so organize your thoughts in advance. Plan what you want to write and structure your essay logically. Most importantly, don’t lie! The best personal statements are straightforward, reflective, and honest, so don’t overthink the task. Just express yourself.

Study Plan – A study plan is just another way some schools around the world, particularly in Asia, refer to a personal statement/SOP. They are looking to learn about your personality, past achievements, present roles, and future goals. There may be a shorter word limit for a study plan or no limit at all, depending on each individual school’s guidelines. When you are reading through the requirements, pay special attention to what the school is asking for so that you can focus the essay accordingly. If you do research on how to write a study plan, notice that the term “study plan” can also refer to a planned schedule to help students prepare for tests and exams. For instance, some students make study plans or schedules to determine how many words per day they should review for the SAT, GRE, or TOEFL. However, this use of the term “study plan” is unrelated to the application essay, so make sure you do not confuse these two meanings. One way to avoid confusion is to read about personal statements and use those guidelines instead.

To simplify the differences, you can think of them this way. An SOP describes why you want to attend a university while offering some details about your fit for the program, whereas a personal statement or study plan is all about representing yourself, your skills and accomplishments, and why this university should choose you.

It is always useful to read other people’s work to get a sense of what good essays are. To assist you, TopAdmit provides you some college admissions essay samples written by counselors and editors hailing from prestigious schools including Harvard. This page contains personal statement samples, statement of purpose samples, and application essay samples for college. But please remember, these are for your reference only; it is not to your benefit to copy their style or concepts. It not only violates academic ethics and could lead to an automatic rejection by the admissions committee — the point of our service is to help you construct a unique essay — not one similar to other essays.

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Statement of Purpose (SoP) vs Personal Statement vs Letter of Motivation (LoM)

• December 3, 2020
• Study Abroad

Statement of Purpose (SOP), Personal Statement, and Letter of Motivation (or Letter of Intent) are the three things that people often struggle to differentiate between, or rather they just confuse one with another. No worries. We are here to put each one of them into their respective perspectives so as to give you a clear understanding SOP vs Personal Statement vs Letter of Motivation, and how one of them is different from the other.

SOP vs Personal Statement vs Letter of Motivation

Co-authored by Parinita Gupta

Statement of Purpose (SoP) vs Personal Statement

The majority of US and UK universities ask for a statement of purpose (aka SOP) or a Personal Statement. However, sometimes the US schools ask for both an SOP and a Personal Statement (popular for schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Michigan, etc.).

In simple words, the Statement of purpose defines what you want to do, in contradiction with the Personal statement which defines you and who you are as a person. Both of them have a unique role to play in the enrollment in the grad college program that you are applying for.

When it comes to a Statement of purpose vs a personal statement for grad/ug school, the two are very different yet very alike. While both of them cater to the same purpose of making the grad admission committee believe in you, each of them contains quite different information.

The statement of purpose lies on a little more of a formal end in contrast to a personal statement. A personal statement is rather less formal and focuses more on who you are as a person and a student.

A statement of purpose showcases your academic background and your skills relevant to the program you are applying for. It specifically lists your career goals and exactly what you are aiming for, maybe a year down the line or five. It lets the college know what your research and extra curriculum interests are and helps it decide whether you are a complete fit for the program that you are enrolling in or not.

A personal statement on the other hand highlights more on what motivates you personally, what truly drives you to pursue a grad/undergrad program, and brags about all the major accomplishments you have or any major challenges that you have faced along the way and have successfully overcome.

Here is an example, where applicants need to submit both SoP and Personal Statement:

Similar Objectives of SOP and Personal Statement

Even though a personal statement and Statement of purpose are completely different from each other, both of them essentially have the same overarching purpose, of making the admission committee believe that you are the best fit for their institution and the selected program and that you’ll be successful in completing the program with flying colors. Assuring them of the things mentioned above is your goal, bear that in mind.

What is the statement of purpose, and what is it used for?

The statement of purpose (SoP) is an integral part of your application for graduate admission and consideration for merit-based financial support.

It is used to understand your academic interests, and to evaluate your aptitude and preparation for graduate work, as well as your fit with the proposed program of study. It is also used to assess your ability to write coherent and convincing prose.

What to Write in a Statement of Purpose (SOP )?

• What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program? Describe your area(s) of interest, including any subfield(s) or interdisciplinary interests.  
• What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Have your experiences led to specific or tangible outcomes that would support your potential to contribute to this field (examples: performances, publications, presentations, awards or recognitions)?  
• What additional information about your past experience may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at the particular university? For example, you may wish to describe research, employment, teaching, service, artistic or international experiences through which you have developed skills in leadership, communication, project management, teamwork, or other areas.  
• Why is this graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals? If you are applying for a research master’s or doctoral program, we encourage you to indicate specific research interests and potential faculty mentors.  
• What are your plans for your career after earning this degree?

What is a Personal Statement and what is it used for?

The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at a particular school. It will also be used to consider candidates for specific scholarship or fellowship schemes.

What to Include in a Personal Statement?

• Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey? If so, how? Have any of these experiences provided a unique perspective(s) that you would contribute to your program, field, or profession?  
• Describe the challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education. What motivated you to persist, and how did you overcome them? What is the evidence of your persistence, progress, or success?  
• How have your life experiences and educational background informed your understanding of the barriers facing groups that are underrepresented in higher education?  
• How have you been actively engaged (e.g., through participation, employment, service, teaching, or other activities) in programs or activities focused on increasing participation by groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education?  
• How do you intend to engage in scholarly discourse, research, teaching, creative efforts, and/or community engagement during your graduate program that has the potential to advance diversity and equal opportunity in higher education?  
• How do you see yourself contributing to diversity in your profession after you earn your advanced degree at a particular university?

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Tips for Writing SoP and Personal Statement for a Single Application

Since a statement of purpose (SOP) is different from a personal statement , your approach toward each statement in these essays also has to be different.

To quickly summarize, here are a few things to keep in mind while writing a statement of purpose (SOP):

• Take your future goals into consideration
• Research well about the program and the faculties
• Explain how both of these two points mentioned above are a good match
• Emphasize your accomplishments and all the challenges which you’ve overcome

And, here are a few things to keep in mind before writing a Personal statement:

• Make it sound like you’re telling a story
• Emphasize more what your personal motivations are
• Explain in detail your weaknesses and the challenges that you’ve overcome.

Finally, keep these things in mind for either of these essays:

• Use specific details
• Edit and proofread
• Be authentic

Statement of Purpose (SoP) vs Letter of Motivation

On the other hand, one might get confused between a Statement of purpose and a Letter of Motivation. Generally, European universities (Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, etc.) ask for a letter of motivation.

So, there’s a fine line between both of them. Letter of motivation vitally focuses on the future aspects, and your career goals, specifically how your presence in the college/ grad program is going to affect you, your skills, or any professional work or internship experience that you have.

However, a statement of purpose, apart from focusing on all of these things mentioned above, in a LOM, also allows you to focus on, or rather brag about your past qualifications, grades, internships, work experience, volunteering experience, and other activities. A statement of purpose must explain how you are in your academic field of study, how your choice of subject affects you, and how your previous experiences have influenced your career choices, etc.

Even though a statement of purpose (SOP) and a Letter of motivation are used interchangeably, an SOP is more of something to write to an employer while applying for a job whereas a letter of motivation is something more of an application letter to write to a university or a college when applying. It’s pretty common to find universities, colleges, and employers to use these 3 terms interchangeably, you may also find them referring to LOM (letter of motivation) as a personal statement, but a letter of motivation is not alike a personal statement or statement of purpose (SOP).

How is a Letter of Motivation Different from SoP or Personal Statement?

The difference lies in the fact that how long each of these letters is supposed to be and what intention it serves. Generally, personal statements tend to get more personal, and in-depth with the candidate’s personal life, enigmas, strengths, weaknesses, etc., and even past achievements and failures, whereas letters of motivation have personal elements to it.

However, LOMs are much more focused on the applicant’s future plans and aspirations. A letter of motivation, allows the candidates to refer to their past achievements only as proof of their commitment to their future aspirations.

Before you start writing your letter of motivation, make sure that you have enough time to complete it. Important and crucial letters such as this one cannot be written in a hurry.

Therefore, make sure that you reserve some time beforehand. Also, make sure that you research well your university and its program in-depth and what their requirements and expectations are from their future pupils.

Knowing a little more about their main activities, projects, personal philosophy, and interests will help you figure out what the letter should contain and how you can frame your letter in a way that can make you look like a perfect fit for their institution.

Related Articles:

How to Write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for Graduate School (MS/MBA)?

How to Write an MS SOP for Ivy League Schools?

What do Admission Officers and Universities Look for in SOP and Personal Statements?

About Parinita Gupta:

Parinita is a full-time banking professional. Additionally, she is also a passionate blogger and digital marketer.

She mostly writes about the Banking & Finance, Technology, and FinTech sector. But, she also enjoys writing on other topics as well.  You can follow her on  Twitter .

References: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 .

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Motivation Letter / Statement of Purpose

Learn how to persuade the admissions team at the university to give you a place by using your personal statement.

• Types of content that should be included in your motivation letter
• How to format a personal statement for university
• 5 Tips to make your personal statement more interesting
• Mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement
• Samples of university personal statements
• Difference between personal statement, cover letter and motivation letter

A Guide For Writing an Effective Personal Statement For University Admissions

When making your applications to your universities and colleges of choice, writing your academic personal statement is the first opportunity that you have to show your personality, to get across what motivates you, and ultimately to clarify why the admissions staff at your chosen university should accept you on the course you want.

Here you will find recommendations and advice on structure, content, as well as what mistakes to avoid when creating your personal statement for university or college.

Keep in mind that if you are applying to UK universities through UCAS you can only write one statement even if you apply to five different courses. 

Types of Content That Should Be Included in Your Motivation Letter

Most probably you know that you would be an excellent addition to any university, but we often freeze when we’re put in a situation where we have to explain the reason why. Writing about ourselves is not something most of us do under normal circumstances, so getting some practice before you sit down to write your first draft of your personal statement can help you organise the topics you want to speak about in your mind.  

Below you will find two planning tables to help you quickly and easily clarify what kind of skills and information about yourself you should include in your motivation letter for university.

Consider sharing some information about how you arrived at this point in your academic life. What exactly makes you passionate about the course you’re applying for compared to any other course?  

What challenges have you faced and overcome? This doesn’t have to be a dramatic example, but you can feel free to describe experiences such as conquering your fear of public speaking, being the only person in your family to go to university, and other ordinary situations. This is your chance to show off some of your virtues, such as how determined and hard-working you are when you have a goal.  

Motivation Letter Content Planning Table

Using this table you can start to create a vision for what you want to speak about, and what story you want to tell the reader.

Around two thirds of your personal statement should consist of the information that you use to answer these questions, and to do that you have to be aware of the character limit that has been established for your statement. In the case of UCAS’ personal statement, this is set at 4,000 characters (between 570 and 1000 words). 

The remaining third of the personal statement should be about yourself and why you believe you’re a good fit for the course that you are applying for, with this being focused on what would make you a valuable addition to the university. You should only include information that directly supports your case for studying at your chosen university , rather than talking about the dreams that you’ve had since you were a small child. The golden rule is that the more recent the information, the better , because Admissions Selectors want to know about the person you are today. 

Filling out the table below and having it with you as you write your personal statement can help you remember to include the qualities that you possess.

Brainstorming For Skills to Include in a Personal Statement

As always, all information that you choose to include should build upon the narrative of why the university should select you for the specific course you are applying for . This can be easy to forget while you’re expanding on your talking points.

Even though there are no rules written in stone about how to write a successful university application, you now have the information you need to get started with creating a unique and impactful personal statement that demonstrates to your chosen university why you should be accepted as a student.

Writing a personal statement that truly manages to make the author stand out from the crowd is a process that can take days or even weeks to finalise, while you get feedback from your teachers, friends and family. For this reason, start drafting your personal statement today and you’ll see that all you have to do is be yourself and present yourself in a way that is honest, authentic and enthusiastic. 

Hopefully, your mind is buzzing with ideas of what you’d like to speak about in your motivation letter – just make sure you follow the etiquette of how to present everything before you get started!

How to Format a Personal Statement For University

One of the main decisions you need to make about how to present your statement is how many paragraphs should be used. While there are no absolute rules about what admission staff will like, it is generally accepted that between five and seven paragraphs with a maximum of 500 words is the best approach . The reason for this is that you have to touch on a variety of topics, and separating them in this way allows you to organise them logically and make your point effectively.

You should speak in the past-tense when sharing your story of how you got to where you are today as a student and individual. Towards the end of your personal statement, you can change to the present-tense to give the reader a sense of narrative and purpose.

For example:

• “During my work experience placement, I had the opportunity to…”
• “From time to time, I volunteer as…”

Again, although there are no rules with how you should write, there are some formats that are reliable and have survived the test of time. One example of a format that helps applicants write clear and concise statements is the following template:

• Start by explaining why you have chosen this course , and very briefly let them know a little about your background. Keep it simple!
• Demonstrate to the reader what you know about the subject by mentioning current developments or important research topics, and how they impact areas of society in a broader way. Universities are not just looking for people who can keep up with the news, but people who show vision and enthusiasm. Be sure to check out the downloadable prospectus that your preferred universities offer, to make sure you have really understood what is being offered.
• Now is the time to speak about any extracurricular activities or experiences outside of academia that are relevant to the course you are applying for. If your experiences don’t directly relate to the subject, you can try to explain how the skills that you developed during these experiences will be meaningful in the context of your university course. With that said, be careful not to exaggerate here, as you may later have to answer questions about anything you include.
• Conclude your statement in a professional and formal tone by thanking the reader for their time, and expressing your eagerness to start university in the near future.

What to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Personal Statement

The way you write your personal statement gives the admissions committee an instant impression of how much care and attention you are capable of while producing an important piece of work, and for that reason we want to give the best first impression possible.

It’s important to remember that the university is not trying to trick you when they ask you to tell them about yourself . They don’t know you, and they would like to know more about what you do with your time, and where you would like to go in life. 

Focus on common themes that your courses of interest share, and avoid including the specific course or university names in order to keep it general . Those students who are applying through UCAS can find information on important deadlines here .

With everything in the right place in your motivation letter, the next task is to learn how to make your motivation letter as interesting as possible, as well as avoid some of the common pitfalls and mistakes.

5 Tips to Make Your Personal Statement More Interesting

Maybe you already know what type of content you want to include in your personal statement, and you just need a little help with how to structure everything. The following suggestions are a good place to start:

• An introduction that immediately stands out from other applicants. It’s important to appreciate that the people who read university applications have seen a lot of the same thing, so this is your chance to be different and grab the reader’s attention. This does not mean trying to be as unorthodox as possible, but just show your personality and don’t try to impress the reader.

• What your goals are and how the selected course will help you achieve them . To make sure that you give university tutors the impression that you fully understand what their courses are about, you should do some of your own research by reading the university’s prospectus. These can usually be downloaded from their official website, and often include external links intended to help the applicant understand the approach of a particular course.
• Why you have a passion for your chosen subject. Throughout your application, you should show how passionate you are about the subject in question. Was there an event in your life that made you pursue the path that you’re on? Let them know about it! 
• Show ways that you have immersed yourself in the subject outside of the classroom. Admission tutors are looking for evidence that your interest in your subject continues even when your classes are finished for the day. A simple but effective way to speak about this is highlighting the books you have read on the subject, or workshops and seminars you have attended in your own time. 
• Your participation in clubs or societies . This does not need to be strictly related to the courses you are applying for, as admission committees value your intellectual and creative ability to relate your experiences to your subject of choice.

Consider focusing on topics such as public speaking, staying organised, and the discipline and perseverance required to excel in a sport. Speaking about your experiences in this way will communicate that you are a person that pursues their goals earnestly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement is a process that can take time, and it would be a shame to commit the simple and avoidable mistakes that some students make. In this list you’ll find some of the most common errors when it comes to personal statements. 

• Avoid using your application as a chance to show how many sophisticated words you know . This is likely to be distracting from the overall point of what you’re trying to convey.
• UCAS and other organisations all use software designed to detect plagiarism , which easily detects when applicants use parts of their colleagues’ personal statements. Writing your own application is important, because you can be asked unexpected questions later during your interview.
• Related to the previous point: always tell the truth!
• Try to resist the temptation to procrastinate with getting started on your statement , as this is another common mistake that applicants make. This will be a process of writing multiple drafts, and getting your friends and family to proofread for you, and these things can take longer than you expect to get done.
• Humour and quotes are usually inappropriate . This doesn’t mean that you have to take an overly serious tone, but you simply never know whether the member of staff reading your personal statement shares your sense of humour. In the case of quotes, this is considered a cliché writing technique by most admissions officers, and if you do choose to use one then there should be a clear reason to justify it.

In the next section you will find some explanations from tutors at Oxford, Greenwich and Bangor University on their typical reasons why they might reject an application.

There are many potential reasons why admission staff might consider that an applicant isn’t suitable for the requested course, and the following are some of the points of view that tutors expressed when asked to describe their usual reasons for rejecting a personal statement: “I work at Bangor University, and I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been reading personal statements and I see a sentence mentioning the name of a completely different university or course than the one the student is applying for. This makes a bad impression because it shows that the student hasn’t really planned their application properly, and this qualifies as an instant rejection for me.”

“Something I personally find off putting in their personal statement for Media Studies is when the student talks too much about their Dad who owns a radio station, or their Auntie who is a journalist. Not only is this irrelevant for us, but it gives the impression that the applicant is trying to look good based on the achievements of their family . I only want to know about the applicant and what motivates them.”

From these professionals’ perspectives we can see that a light, authentic and concise style is preferred . Even with their helpful points of view, you can benefit from checking out some visual examples of university personal statements.

Samples of University Personal Statements

Examining a diverse variety of university personal statements can help you get a sense of which tone and style you would like to use in your own statement , as well as the opportunity to observe some of the shortcomings or mistakes that have been made by others so that you can avoid making them yourself.

Below you can find two examples of personal statements from students, and a brief summary of their strengths and weaknesses. Also you can check out this enlightening two minute video from a Dartmouth Former Admissions Reader to learn what admissions officers look for in college applications.

Personal statement from a biochemistry student :

“When I was eleven years old, my father was involved in a road accident with a lorry. His injuries were quite serious, and he was only able to recover after receiving a blood transfusion. Ever since then, I’ve had the goal of working in transfusion science myself, to do for other families what those professionals did for mine. As I’ve had the privilege of knowing what I wanted to do with my life from an early age, I’ve been able to do extensive research into the skill set that these kinds of scientists must have. I consider myself an efficient and focused person, which are critical attributes when it comes to being responsible for patients’ lives. I feel that I am academically prepared to take the next step on this career path due to my deliberate A-level choices in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Maths.

Due to studying both biology and chemistry, I’ve been able to develop laboratory skills that will serve as a good foundation for more advanced techniques at the university level. Maths has improved my ability to interpret numerical information logically, while Psychology has given me the chance to improve my writing skills.

During my time at school, I have always taken on positions of additional responsibility. I was elected as the form captain twice, and also Head Girl in my last year. This position was a challenge, because it was my job to represent my school at important events, but it was this challenge which sharpened my public speaking skills. I’ve received prizes for both biology and maths, and I was also awarded the Stubbs Cup, which I consider one of my main achievements.

In my spare time I go for long walks in the countryside with my two dogs, which are energetic huskies. Taking care of all their needs by myself requires discipline, since they are such a demanding breed. I also use this time to socialise with other people who are out with their animals, as I love to meet new faces. One of the reasons I’m excited about university is for the chance to meet so many new people.

Apart from that I also like to lift weights in the gym, because I find that keeping healthy makes me more motivated for other areas of my life. The gym I attend has a service that looks after clients’ children while they work out, and I recently started working there because I love working with children. In order to work here, I had to earn my first aid certificate.

I think that a career as a biomedical scientist would be an enriching and satisfying career for me because it’s a job that both improves and saves lives. Taking the next step to university has been my main aspiration for a long time, and I look forward to the challenges that it will bring.”

Personal statement from a drama student :

“From an early age I have always been fascinated by the stage. For me it’s much more than entertainment, as I believe that a well-produced drama production can make an emotional impact on an audience. My main involvement with the craft has been through acting, however I’m also very interested in learning other aspects of theatre such as lighting and set design in a university setting.

For my GCSE Drama final production, a group of us produced a play based on a short story by A.L. Kennedy. Because there were only six of us in the group, we shared a lot of responsibility. I played one of the main characters and was also in charge of obtaining the props we needed. These tasks were enjoyable but the most challenging part of the production was to adapt the story for the stage, and produce a script as close to the original story as possible. This was a demanding but enjoyable job and really opened my eyes to the complexity of adapting stories to the stage. 

As well as Theatre Studies, my other AS-levels are in English Literature, Sociology, and Biology. In English Literature we have just completed a module on plays in which we studied Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Shakespear’s Henry V. I go to the theatre as often as I can, and have seen many amateur and professional productions. My favourite playwright is Willy Russell. I think all his plays provide an interesting social commentary, and successfully blend comedy and tragedy. I have seen many musicals, but Blood Brothers is by far my favourite; I have now seen it four times! I am looking forward to discovering more playwrights while at university. 

My interest in drama and the theatre takes up a lot of my social life. I have taken part in all my school’s productions and am also involved in a local drama group ‘The Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Operatic Club’ –  BBLOC for short. Every year we hold a major production, the most recent being Oh What a Lovely War. I value the experience of being part of this group as I get to work with people of all different ages. I also have a part-time job in a local Beefeater restaurant. This job has taught me the value of being able to work as part of a team, and I think helps me improve my performance within BBLOC and at school, as good teamwork is crucial to a successful production. I am looking forward to joining a drama society at university, and also possibly a film society, as cinema and film are another of my passions. I feel I have a lot to contribute to university life and hope you will consider me for a place at your university.”

If you have made it this far then you now have a plan of attack for how to make an outstanding motivation letter – well done! Click here for tips on how to structure a strong academic CV and how to request notable letters of recommendation .

Frequently Asked Questions About Motivation Letters

What is the difference between a personal statement and a motivation letter.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but if we want to get specific about it then in reality a motivation letter invites the writer to speak about the academic or work position they are applying for will be a crucial step in their career or personal development.

A personal statement’s content is more likely to be oriented in the past, describing the activities and achievements that have brought you to where you are today. 

In other words, very similar information appears on both documents, but the story that you’re expected to tell with that information is where the difference lies.

What is the difference between a cover letter and a motivation letter?

A cover letter is usually used in the context of applying for a job position, with the intention of demonstrating how the experiences that you’ve had and the skills you’ve developed make you the perfect candidate.

Motivation letters are generally used for describing to the reader where you want to go in the future, and how that would become a real possibility by becoming a part of their organisation.

What should I write in a motivation letter?

The answer to this depends on what type of organisation you want to apply to, because the content and style can change significantly depending on the context. Just a few different scenarios that would change the delivery of your motivation letter might include:

• Student exchange programmes
• Internship positions
• Scholarships
• Job selection processes
• Undergraduate education
• Graduate education

The post above is intended to help anybody drafting their motivation letter in an academic context .

Craig Plunkett

Fabiola López Marín

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Academic Personal Statement Guide + Examples for 2024

You have a bright future ahead of you in academia and you’ve already found the program of your dreams.

The only problem? 

You have to write an impressive academic personal statement that sets you apart from a sea of applicants.

We know that writing about yourself might not come naturally. And when the academic program you have your sights set on is on the line, it doesn’t make it any easier.

But there’s no need to worry!

We’ve prepared this guide to help you write your academic personal statement and secure your spot in your program of choice.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What Is An Academic Personal Statement?
• 7 Steps to Writing the Best Academic Personal Statement
• An Example of a Stellar Academic Personal Statement

Let’s dive in.

You’ll need an academic CV alongside your personal statement. Create one with ease with Novorésumé !

What Is an Academic Personal Statement?

A personal statement is an essential part of the academic application process.

Much like a motivation letter , your academic personal statement serves to demonstrate why you’re the right candidate for the course and sell yourself as a capable student.

Your goal is to show the admissions committee that they’ll benefit from having you in their university as much as you’ll benefit from joining the program.

Academic Vs CV Personal Statement

The term ‘personal statement’ can mean different things depending on your field.

In the world of job hunting, a personal statement usually refers to a few sentences that go at the top of your CV . This paragraph is meant to convey your top skills, relevant experiences, and professional goals to a hiring manager from the get-go and increase your chances of getting an interview.

However, in the world of academia, a personal statement refers to a more in-depth description of you as a candidate. 

In a nutshell, an academic personal statement shows the admissions committee your academic achievements so far, as well as what motivated you to apply and pursue this position.

Personal statements are also often required when applying for certain jobs, much like writing a cover letter . If you’re looking at a position as a faculty member in a university or other academic institution, for example, you might be asked to provide an academic personal statement.

7 Steps to Write an Academic Personal Statement

Preparation is the key to success and this is exactly where our guide comes in handy.

So just follow these steps and you’re sure to secure your spot:

#1. Read the Brief (Carefully!)

Academic personal statements aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all piece of writing. 

Typically, every institution has its specific requirements on what candidates should include in their academic personal statement.

To make sure you’re on the right track with your academic personal statement, read the brief carefully. Consider taking notes and highlighting important points from your program’s brief as you go through it.

Pay attention to any specific question the university wants you to answer. If you don’t address everything the admissions board expects, your personal statement will look sloppy and you’ll be considered an inattentive candidate.

Be sure to re-read the brief after you’ve finished writing your academic personal statement, too. This way you can make sure you’ve answered everything adequately and you’ll have the opportunity to correct any slips.

#2. Research the Program

Make sure you do your homework on the academic program you’re applying to.

You can’t write a good academic personal statement without research, let alone a great one. Much like researching your employer , taking the time to learn more about your desired school and personalizing your application can make a huge difference.

For example, you can dive into how your values align with that of the school you’re applying to, and how your experience and interests relate to specific things about the program. The more you focus on how you’re the right fit for this specific position, in this specific program – the better.

Carefully read through the school and program’s official pages since everything you would need to know is probably on the school’s official website. You can also ask current and former students for help but remember that whatever they say should never replace official information when crafting your academic personal statement.

#3. Plan Your Statement

An academic personal statement is meant to explain your academic interests and shouldn’t contain irrelevant details about your personal life.

Focus on why you want to study the course you’ve chosen and provide any information about your achievements so far.

Ask yourself the following questions to get the ball rolling on what to write:

• Why do you want to study (or work) in this program? How will it benefit you?
• How do your skills match the position?
• What makes you stand out from other applicants?
• What are your exact career aspirations?
• How can you and your work benefit the institution you’re applying to?
• If you changed fields, how did you decide to apply in this direction?
• What insight can you bring thanks to your different experiences?
• How will this change of field help your future career?

Write down your answer to these questions in the first draft of your academic personal statement.

#4. Look at Example Statements

Don’t hesitate to read other people’s academic personal statements online. They’re a great source of inspiration and can help get rid of any remaining writer’s block.

If you’re struggling to understand how to meet the language and formatting requirements for your academic personal statement, seeing actual examples is the best way to learn.

But be careful – don’t copy any lines you read, no matter how impressive you think they are. 

Most universities run every academic personal statement through intensive plagiarism checking, and even a paraphrased sentence could lead to your application being rejected for plagiarism.

So pay more attention to the overall structure of the academic personal statements you read, rather than copying the exact wording.

#5. Structure the Contents

There should be a cohesive argument that your entire essay follows. Each sentence and paragraph should complement and build on the one that comes before it.

The structure of your personal statement should include:

An intriguing introduction to you as a candidate

The introductory paragraph should grab the admission committee’s attention and keep them engaged.

Here you should be sure to avoid cliches like saying how you’ve “always dreamt” of graduating from this university or of studying this exact program. Instead, give an example of what really influenced you to pursue this dream.

Here’s an example:

• I’ve always loved reading and since I was a child, it’s been my dream to graduate from Oxford University and contribute to the world of literary analysis. That’s why I spent the past year volunteering at my local writers’ society and giving constructive feedback during workshops and book discussions.
• It wasn’t until I failed my first essay assignment in secondary school that I realized the depth that lies beneath each sentence in a given text. I began to delve into the rich layers of literary texts and the intricacies of literary analysis became my passion. Although initially challenging, the depth of understanding that this field offers about human emotions, cultural contexts, and narrative structures enthralled me. I found myself questioning the narrative structures and character motivations that I had previously taken for granted, and I was eager to understand how the subtle and often overlooked elements within a text could have a profound impact on its overall interpretation. This need to fundamentally understand a given author’s work has stayed with me since and led me to pursue literary analysis as a postgraduate student.

An engaging body

The main part of your academic personal statement should detail your interests, experience, and knowledge, and how they make you suitable for the position.

This is where you should expand on your motivation and use the following tips:

• Why this university? Provide strong reasons for your choice, related to your future career or the institution’s reputation.
• Mention your relevant studies and experience. This includes projects, dissertations, essays, or work experience.
• Give evidence of key skills you have, such as research, critical thinking, communication, and time management, and explain how you can contribute to the department with them.
• Say what makes you unique as a candidate and provide an example.
• Explain who have been the main influences who put you on this path and why they’ve influenced you.
• Mention other relevant experiences, such as memberships in clubs related to the subject, awards you might have won, or impressive papers you’ve written.
• Talk about your career aspirations and how the program ties into your goal of achieving them.

Depending on the guidelines of the specific university, you could also divide your academic personal statement’s body with subheadings, such as:

• Academic background
• Research interests
• Methodological approaches
• Research experience
• Personal experience
• Extracurricular activities 
• Relevant skills
• Career aspirations

A logical conclusion

Your academic personal statement needs a conclusion that ends on an enthusiastic note.

Make sure the conclusion reiterates the main points from the body of your text.

Your relevant accomplishments and desire to attend this specific program should be clear to any reader.

#6. Pay Attention to the Language

When writing the first draft of your academic personal statement, pay attention to the language and tone you’re using.

An academic personal statement is also a formal text, so your writing should reflect that. Colloquialisms aren’t appropriate, as they would take away from the well-mannered impression you want to give the admissions committee.

However, you also want your personal statement to be straightforward and avoid any complex jargon from your field of study.

For example, your opening sentence shouldn’t be overly complicated. You should communicate everything as clearly as possible, and be inclusive to those outside of your field of study since they might be on the admissions board that’s reading your academic personal statement.

Make sure that the tone throughout your text is positive and conveys your enthusiasm for the program. Your academic personal statement should show the admissions committee that you really want to be there, and why that’s beneficial to everyone involved.

#7. Proofread Your Statement

This step probably isn’t surprising to you but it’s worth paying attention to.

Your academic personal statement is a very formal document and it should be spotless. 

So, make sure it adheres to academic writing conventions . For example, contractions like “I’m” instead of “I am” are informal, and should be avoided.

Mistakes like these are very common when writing about yourself, particularly when you’re used to describing yourself in informal environments.

Carefully proofread your academic personal statement, then run it through a grammar checker like Grammarly or Quillbot, then proofread it again.

The tiniest grammar mistake or typo could make the admissions board reject your application.

Academic Personal Statement Example

Ever since my first encounter with the enchanting worlds spun by Flaubert, Balzac, and Proust, my intellectual pursuits have gravitated toward French literature. With an undergraduate degree focused on French Language and Literature, I have been fortunate to explore my passions both theoretically and empirically, embedding them within broader themes of cultural theory and comparative literature. It is with great excitement that I apply for the postgraduate research position in the French Literature program at Kent University, with the aim of contributing novel scholarly perspectives to this captivating field.

Academic Background and Research Interests

During my undergraduate studies, I delved deeply into the realms of 19th-century Realism and Naturalism. My senior thesis, which examined the dialectics of morality and social structures in Balzac's "La Comédie Humaine," was not merely an academic exercise; it served as a crucible where my theoretical understandings were rigorously tested. This research experience intensified my interest in the complex interplay between literature and societal norms, a theme I am eager to further explore in my postgraduate work.

Methodological Approaches

My academic approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary. I strongly believe that literature should not be studied in a vacuum; rather, it should be contextualized within historical, sociological, and psychological paradigms. During a semester abroad in Paris, I took courses in cultural anthropology and French history, an enriching experience that complemented my literature-focused studies. This holistic approach will enable me to contribute a multifaceted perspective to the research endeavors at Kent University.

Previous Research and Scholarly Engagements

My scholarly activities have also extended beyond the classroom. Last summer, I participated in an international conference on French Literature and Post-Colonial Theory, presenting a paper on the depictions of colonial landscapes in Dumas' adventure novels. The opportunity to engage with academics from various disciplines provided me with fresh insights and underscored the importance of collaborative research. Further, I've had the honor of having a review article published in the Sheffield Journal of Contemporary Literary Explorations, where I critiqued a groundbreaking new translation of Verne's works.

Extracurricular Contributions and Skills

In addition to my academic achievements, I have sought to enrich my department’s intellectual community. I served as the editor of our departmental journal and organized a series of seminars featuring guest speakers from the worlds of academia and publishing. My strong organizational skills, combined with proficiency in both written and spoken French and English, make me a versatile candidate capable of adding value to the French Literature program’s broader objectives.

To summarize, my deep-rooted passion for French literature, fortified by rigorous academic training and interdisciplinary methodologies, makes me an ideal candidate for the postgraduate research position in your esteemed program. The prospect of contributing to academic discourse at Kent University is an opportunity I find deeply compelling. I am especially excited about the potential for collaborative research and interdisciplinary inquiries, which aligns perfectly with my academic philosophy. I am fully committed to leveraging my skills, experiences, and enthusiasm to make a substantive scholarly contribution to the study of French Literature. Thank you for considering my application; I am keenly looking forward to the possibility of furthering my academic journey in this vibrant intellectual community.

FAQs on Academic Personal Statements

If you’re wondering anything else about academic personal statements, check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions related to them here:

#1. How do you start a personal statement for an academic job?

Applying for an academic job is different from applying for a position as a student. First, you need to establish your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role immediately.

Start by explaining your current status, for example, as a postdoctoral researcher or an experienced member of the faculty, and specify the position you are applying for. Then follow up with your research interests or personal philosophy towards teaching.

You can add a personal anecdote or compelling fact that summarizes your academic journey so far, or your passion for the field. After that, your academic personal statement can go deeper into the qualifications from your academic CV and how you’re a great fit for the position.

#2. How do I introduce myself in an academic personal statement?

The introduction of your academic personal statement is the key to grabbing the attention of the admissions committee.

Start by stating the field or subject that interests you, and why. You can share a specific personal anecdote or observation that led you to this academic pursuit and set the stage for the detailed explanation in your main body.

The goal of your introduction is to give the reader a sense of who you are, what drives you, and why you would be a valuable addition to their department.

#3. Is an academic personal statement like an essay?

Yes, an academic personal statement can be considered a type of essay.

Both essays and academic personal statements are structured forms of writing that are meant to deliver a coherent argument and are divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion. They provide supporting evidence to prove the point and maintain a logical flow to guide the reader to the final conclusion.

However, essays tend to be objective and explore a specific topic or question in depth. Academic personal statements use similar techniques but they present the candidate’s qualifications, experiences, and aspirations in a way that’s meant to persuade the admissions committee.

#4. How long is an academic personal statement?

Typically, an academic personal statement is between 500 and 1000 words long.

The exact length of the text varies depending on the university and program you’re applying to. You should always check the specific requirements for your desired program, and stick to the guidelines you find.

However, if the university you’re applying to doesn’t specify a word count, you should aim for one to two pages.

#5. What do I avoid in an academic personal statement?

Since your personal statement is a crucial part of your academic application, it’s important to avoid any common mistakes.

Make sure the content of your academic personal statement isn’t too generic. Its goal is to give insight into you as an individual, beyond what can be read in your CV . 

You should also avoid cramming too many points in your text. Your academic personal statement should follow a logical flow, and focus on the relevance of what you’re sharing about yourself and how it relates to the academic program you’re pursuing.

Key Takeaways

And that concludes our guide to writing an academic personal statement!

We hope you feel more confident when crafting your application for that academic program or faculty position you have your sights set on.

Now let’s recap what we talked about so far:

• Academic personal statements are very different from CV personal statements. While CV personal statements are brief paragraphs at the top of the page, an academic personal statement is an in-depth text that details why you’re interested in a given position, and what makes you a good candidate.
• The guidelines on academic personal statements vary according to the institution you’re applying to. Read the brief very carefully, and pay attention to what it says about word count and questions your personal statement should answer. Any mistakes here could result in rejection.
• There are differences between applying for a postgraduate program and applying for a faculty position. But in both cases, you should research the exact place you want to apply to and adjust your application accordingly to match the institution’s values.
• Always proofread your academic personal statement before sending it, even if you’re sure there are no errors.

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What’s the Difference Between a Motivation Letter and a Cover Letter

If you’re thinking about applying to college or a new job and want to quickly show how motivated you are, you might looking for the best way to get that done. 

Don’t worry, that’s normal, but you need a solution. 

After all, when planning to apply for something, it’s essential to make a great first impression . 

That’s why many applicants send in a cover letter or a motivation letter . 

However, you might be wondering if there’s any difference at all between a motivation and a cover letter, and which one is better for the job you want to land ?

In this article, we’ll explain:

• Cover letter and motivation letter differences
• Benefits of each type of letter
• When to use one letter or the other

Once you understand which is best to include with your application, use our AI-powered resume builder to easily win over employers. 

Keep reading to find out the best way to show off your career goals to employers.

Motivation vs. Cover Letter: Key Differences

Employers want to find and hire applicants who are highly motivated as it leads to a number of benefits for the company such as guaranteeing a great company culture and keeping the employee long term.

However, choosing between a cover letter or writing a motivation letter will depend on the type of program or company .

That’s because each letter focuses on different aspects of your qualifications and experience.

Take a look at the differences between the 2 types of letters :

Motivation Letter

• Centers on personal goals and passion for the field and is more personal and reflective, while discussing long-term aspirations.

Cover Letter

• Highlights professional skills and job suitability and is used for professional positions as it showcases relevant achievements and qualifications.

By picking the letter that best fits the position you want , you’ll guarantee that the hiring manager notices your best qualifications and goals. 

Cover Letter vs. Motivation Letter: When to Use Them

There are a number of unique motivation letter and cover letter differences and strengths. 

This means it’s critical to understand when to use those strengths , or you’ll end up explaining information that isn’t important. 

For example, when applying for college or graduate school programs , you should use a motivation letter as it will help you show your passion for your field of study. 

Here are other examples of when to use a motivational letter:

• Scholarship applications . Share how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals.
• Internships : Explain how you want to learn from experienced employees, especially in fields where your academic knowledge is essential.
• Volunteer positions : Mention your commitment and reasons for volunteering to an NGO or other organization that you would like to work with.

When to Write a Cover Letter

Cover letters focus more on your professional qualifications , so they should be used when sending your application to a company or business. 

Here are some specific examples: 

• When applying to a job : Use your cover letter to connect your experience and skills to the job’s requirements.
• Changing careers : Explain how your existing skills can transfer to the new role in your cover letter.

Even if it’s optional to send in a cover letter with your application, you should do so anyway.  

It’s been proven that cover letters help candidates when applying for a position. 

Between 2017 and 2021, there has been an 18% growth in the importance of including a cover letter with an application. 

Cover Letter and Motivation Letter Differences in Format

Both cover letters and motivation letters differ a bit when it comes to their format. One is a bit longer, while the other is a bit more formal. 

However, each letter will have an intro, body, and conclusion . 

Cover letter format

If you’re writing a cover letter, you’ll want to keep it to 1 page and keep the vocabulary formal. 

Your cover letter should cover the following in the different sections:

• Introduction : Briefly mention your current role or recent job and the position you’re applying for.
• Body : Mention your skills and achievements relevant to the job. Use examples to demonstrate your achievements and how they apply to the new role.
• Conclusion : Restate your interest in the position and invite the employer to review your resume or contact you for further discussion.

Here’s an example of a well written cover letter that mentions a candidate’s skills, accomplishments and more , so that you can better understand the format and style:

Dear [Employer’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Accountant position listed on [Where You Found the Job Posting]. With a strong background in accounting principles and a commitment to accuracy and detail, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name].

In my current role at [Your Current Company], I have successfully managed a diverse range of accounting tasks, including ledger operations, financial reporting, and budgeting. 

I am particularly proud of leading a project that streamlined our budgeting process, resulting in a 20% reduction in processing time.

I am eager to bring my expertise in financial management and my proactive approach to problem-solving to your team. 

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experience align with the needs of your team. I am available at your convenience for an interview and can be reached at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email].

[Your Name]

Motivation Letter Format

A motivation letter on the other hand can be a bit longer and more related to personal goals rather than professional ones. 

Here’s what the different sections should go over:

• Introduction : Start with a personal statement or story that reflects your passion for the field or program.
• Body : Discuss your personal journey, long-term goals, and why the program or opportunity excites you. Include relevant personal achievements as well.
• Conclusion : Summarize your ambitions and how the opportunity aligns with your goals, expressing your desire to contribute and learn.

Here’s how your motivation letter can be formatted to show you are the best candidate for an internship position .

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the [Specific Internship Position] at [Company/Organization Name]. My academic background in [Your Major/Field of Study] and my active involvement in [relevant clubs or activities] have fueled my interest in [specific aspect of the field or industry], making this internship an ideal opportunity for my professional growth.

During my studies at [Your University/College], I have developed [mention specific skills or knowledge relevant to the internship], which I am eager to apply in a practical setting

I am particularly attracted to this internship at [Company/Organization Name] because of your commitment to [mention something notable about the company or its values]. The chance to learn from and contribute to your team, especially in [mention a specific area or project of the company], is an exciting prospect for me.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background and enthusiasm make me a great fit for this internship.

When you write a cover letter or motivation letter, you’ll need to ensure your relevant qualifications and long-term goals shine . 

You can do that if you remember the following:

• Motivation letters should be written for internships, organizations, and academic programs.
• Cover letters are more professional and should accompany a job application.
• Motivation letters are a bit more personal. 

By using our handy cover letter builder , you can easily create a letter that will prove you are motivated and ready to take on your next challenge. 

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Letter of Motivation (LOM) vs Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator

Some institutions ask for a statement of purpose (SOP) and some prefer letters of motivation. Generally, the graduate courses have this requirement and the applicant has to write about his choice and what motivated him to make that choice about the course and the institution in this letter.

How is LOM different from SOP?

The immediate question that comes to any applicant’s mind is that what the difference between SOP and LOM is. Normally both the documents are written for the purpose of seeking admission to any foreign institution and tell about the candidate and his background and reasons for opting for the course.

These two documents may sound and seem similar but in reality, both of them have a distinguished purpose and convey different messages.

Institutions ask for a letter of motivation from graduate and doctorate students when they want to judge the ability of the applicant to craft a statement precisely for a specific purpose. The LOM reflects skills of understanding and shows the ability to be competent for advanced studies at a particular institution.

Why Universities ask for Letter of Motivation?

The sole purpose of the universities to ask for the LOM  is to see that the applicant can understand the specific instruction and deliver an articulated statement covering what is asked.

While going through advanced studies, students need to be extremely focused and need to understand precise and concise concepts to put in application. LOM is a reflection of that. If any applicant in not able to make out that thin line difference between the SOP and the LOM, the universities may deem the applicant unfit to enter the advanced study course.

LOM talks about how the applicant got into the course briefly and pays more focus to the gain that the student has already made by the studies and what else motivates him to enroll for the higher study in the same subject matter. This in other words means that what the student has to offer to the subject matter rather than what he will be taking from it.

The applicants should not misunderstand this as an unachievable task as if you are passionate about the subject, you would have a lot to offer may be by redefining the way things are said. Even that can be a great contribution.

Tips to Write Letter of Motivation

Brainstorm and think precisely what you are going to write in the LOM. Keep certain points in mind while drafting your letter.

• Prepare an outline getting answers to the questions like reasons for choosing the particular course.
• Your skills that helped you in studying that program and what skills you gained by studying the same.
• Any internship or voluntary or professional work done by you in the field or related field of the subject and what you gained from that.
• Do you have anything in mind that can make the subject more interesting or popular amongst others?  

Once you have prepared this outline, just expand the points. Keep in mind that the whole letter should be written with positive language.

Sample Of a Letter of Motivation

The Admission Officer

XXXX University

Dear Sir/Madam,

I take pleasure in submitting my application for studying Masters in engineering from your university. I have finished my bachelor's in Engineering after passing the qualifying course to get into the under-graduation degree as I did my secondary education in philosophy. I got a fascination for learning languages and spent one year learning Russian. This helped in getting a job in Military services as a translator. In my military service, I was handling radio services that required knowledge of science and engineering and started getting stifled in that job.

After this, I decided to enroll back at the college and studied STEM subjects to qualify for my major in Engineering and now I am aspiring to do higher studies in the same.

All this while I was told that we should be studying what we find easy as we can be good at that and not what seems difficult as we are not so good at it. While I was working and struggling I realized that what we find difficult is actually that subject matter which we need to learn as the rest is already known to us and comes easy.

With this motivation, I started studying engineering and now after having minute knowledge about this I would like to take this to the masses to make sure that students should not shy away from learning what seems difficult. A message on how you learn to learn requires to be substantiated with the brain functioning and the science and engineering that our body has can be translated by the physical and material engineering.  

I foresee myself to be an educator who is going to lead by example and shall not allow anyone to drive away students from studying what they can and they should rather than what they actually study because they are not finding it interesting.

The knowledge that I needed in my job and learned a part of it by practically struggling with it told me the importance of subject matter that is practical but seems uninteresting as the methods of teaching sometimes lack experiential learning in a fun way. Learning of a subject requires hands-on training according to the level of the child and the grade in which he is studying. By gaining the advanced knowledge of engineering I would like t break down teaching these subjects in a way that no one shall shy away from studying the same.

In view of this, it is extremely important for me to get my advanced study degree from an institute like you that believes in working with its students and taking them forward in their lives because, in turn, they can take the subject matter forward to the entire world; and I am a perfect fit to that.

Thanking you

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• Certificates and Other Documents /

How to Write a Motivation Letter?

• Updated on  
• Jan 13, 2024

Your resume represents your qualifications, achievements as well as strengths and weaknesses . Applying merely through a resume may reflect the general academic and professional information about you but it can also be seen as the lack of influential representation of the motivation and dedication you possess. This is where a Motivation Letter comes to the rescue as it is usually asked by academic institutions as well as organizations from the applicants. Through a motivational letter, you can convincingly transmit your passion, eagerness and diligence regarding how your dream course can enlighten your career path along with the benefits you wish to bring out to the institution or organization (whether as a student or an employee). Let’s explore how to write a motivational letter with the help of samples/examples for university, job application, internship and more!

This Blog Includes:

What is a letter of motivation/motivation letter , why do you need a motivation letter, what is the difference between a motivational letter and a cover letter, how to structure your motivation letter, motivation letter template/example, introduction, motivation letter example, dos and don’ts, sample motivation letter for university, sample motivation letter for internship, sample motivation letter for scholarship application, sample motivation letter for job application, sample motivation letter for job- 2, motivation letter for study abroad.

A motivation letter describes why you are a perfect candidate for a certain program/position. It is usually a one-page document that gets attached alongside your resume. Commonly there are 4 purposes for which one is required to draft it:

• For Admission: If you are applying to a university or college to get enrolled in an educational program for any level ( undergraduate or postgraduate ).
• For Training/Internship: If you want to get into a full-time internship with an organization.
• For Employment: When you want to apply for a job profile at an organisation.
• For Jobs in the Social Sector especially NGOs: Non-profit organisations generally demand motivation letters to analyse the interests and intentions of job aspirants.

Motivation letters are usually required during master’s and PhD level degrees as well as for all students planning to go for international degrees. Committees use motivation letters to determine whether you are a good fit for a programme or degree because university spots are scarce. Furthermore, university departments sponsor graduate research programs like master’s and PhDs, thus it is important to carefully assess if a prospective student’s research interests are a worthwhile use of their resources.

Must Read: How to Write An SOP?

Often students get confused between a cover letter and a motivational letter, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of a cover letter is to accentuate some specific information mentioned on your resume and align it with the job requirements as well as the company profile. To put it simply, a cover letter is more of an introductory letter to your resume to the hiring authority whereas a motivational letter is mainly utilised as how your interests, motivations and aspirations match the academic program you want to study or a job profile you want to apply for. All the elite organizations are in search of individuals who would prove to be an asset to the company. Thus, it should deliver your intent and excitement using the key feature as your motivation.   

Every document a university or recruiter asks for serves a special purpose. Often than not, candidates are confused between two such documents – A cover Letter and a Motivation Letter. A cover letter is a professional letter given to an employer/recruiter along with a resume or CV. Cover Letters are generally used by companies, employers and recruiters as opposed to motivation letters which are used by university admission offices, educational institutes and internships. Both letters are intended to inform the recruiter or educational officer of why you are the perfect candidate and allow candidates to explain at length their motivation, interests, hobbies, achievements and career/academic future.

Related Read: Cover Letter for Fresher

If you are targeting your dream institution or organization, fascinatingly presenting your motivation can be a total game-changer. Ideally, the motivation letter should be one 1 page only in which you have to introduce yourself, describe your qualifications and achievements and highlight your interests as per the course/position you are applying to. Knowing the structure of your letter is pivotal towards comprehending the key elements that you need to add. Generally, the structure of a motivation letter can be any of the following:

• Either you can opt for a traditional methodology of a 3-paragraph motivation letter wherein there will be an introductory paragraph, body of content and conclusion.
• You can also use the 5-7 paragraph structure. You can divide the body of the letter into pointers elucidating 1-3 sentence paragraphs. 

Coming to the discussion of choosing the format, if you want to go more factual and possess a varied number of achievements, you can select the 5-7 paragraph style through which you can individually emphasise each achievement by framing it into a single point. On the other hand, if you prefer the storytelling method you can choose the 3 paragraph format without giving many breaks to your letter.

Related Read: Career Objective For Internship

Format of a Letter of Motivation

Now that you know the two main structures you can choose from, let’s have a look at the major inclusions in the format of a motivation letter:

A crisp, engaging pitch about yourself explaining why you want to apply. Some mandatory mentions are:

• Personal details (Name, Address, Email, Profile, Work Experience if any)
• Write about the course, internship or job profile you are applying for and also mention why,
• Start by putting down the general reasons explaining why you are applying to the course, internship or job position. Afterwards, dive into the main body of it.

For Example, the introduction for a motivation letter for a PhD application at a university is given below:

Sometimes conveying your zeal to enter an academic program or an organization cannot be absolutely done by a resume as it restricts you to putting forward only the facts and figures instead of the inspirations and motivation that urged you to pursue it. This is where a motivation letter comes into view to ensure that your application should shine out from the hoard of other documents. Below mentioned are some quick tips and tricks to draft your motivation letter:

• While writing the letter, make sure you know the concerned person to whom you are applying. Research the name and designation of the concerned individual and address them accordingly.
• Gauge the requirements of the program/profile and explain how you are the right fit for it. 
• Mention how your beliefs and interests align with the organisation/university’s vision and mission

Are you planning to study abroad, have a look at our blog on Sponsorship Letter for Visa

A motivation letter is written for different purposes such as for internships, job applications, university etc. Now that you know about a motivation letter, you should learn about how to write one. The best way to write it is by creating a genuine letter.

This is the main body of the letter. Describe your achievements, academic and professional journey and career aspirations. Elaborate on your skills and passions elucidating your zeal for your chosen course or job profile. Keep it factual and concise. Most of the time, the made-up stories get easily caught by the professionals who examine a variety of letters every day. It is strongly advised to maintain precision in your story. To cite the authenticity of your qualifications, you can also use metrics. 

Have a quick example of a motivational letter at some major add ones:

• My passion for ____ began when ______.
• I aspire to _____ because ______.
• I have been a part of _____ for _____ months/years. It’s the best thing for me because of ______.
• I remember once when I______ which made me realize that I_____.
• _______ resonates with me because ______.
• What distinguishes me from my peers is _______. 

Motivation Letter Example: 

Finally, to conclude, you can wrap up your letter and read it thoroughly before sending it.  Here are some of the points to help you with the concluding paragraph of the Motivation letter.

• Summarize your major points: “ I believe that I would be an appropriate fit for the program because of _____ ”
• Mention your long term goals: “ I would be obliged to be a part of _____, as it would allow me to _____ ”
• Finally, pay regards to the reader with a ‘thank you’.

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Once you are familiarized with the structure and elements of a motivation letter, let’s provide you with a motivation letter examples and samples to help you understand the tone and style as well.

The best way to write a motivation letter is to write down all your ideas, experiences and achievements align them with your future career goals and then craft a creative and thoughtful essay to impress your employers or university admissions, officer.

A motivation letter is designed to help the employer gain insight into why you are the perfect candidate for the position. Following the proper structure, writing short sentences and talking about your experiences, skills, and education is essential for a motivation letter.

‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Best Regards’ or ‘Thank you for your time’ are perfect sentences to end a motivational letter.

You can begin a motivation letter with Dear Sir/Madam or if you are aware of the person you are addressing then you can mention their name and designation.

Related Articles

Thus, we hope that this blog has familiarized you with the key features of a motivation letter with the help of examples and samples for jobs, internships, universities and more! If you are planning to apply for an academic program abroad, our Leverage Edu experts are here to guide you throughout the admission process of your chosen university while also helping you craft impressive SOP and LOR s as well as motivation letters to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted and fulfil your dream to study abroad!

Team Leverage Edu

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How to write a Letter of Motivation?

On this page, what is a letter of motivation, why do you need a letter of motivation, the difference between a motivation letter and a personal statement, how to write a motivation letter, key takeaway.

Topics covered

• 16 April 2024

Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity to experience student life in a new environment. Whether you want to study for undergraduate or postgraduate courses abroad , university applications require a letter of motivation as a part of their admission process, or for awarding scholarships. Motivation letters will be read closely by admissions and scholarship communities , as they provide more information beyond academic achievement, such as commitment to, and interest in the degree or study abroad programme. Depending on what you are applying for, the content of a motivation letter will differ slightly, which we will go through in this article.

Motivation letters for studying abroad are an opportunity to express your commitment and enthusiasm towards a particular degree or programme . Although your educational background is an important part of the process, many admissions committees or research institutes want to consider your academic and personal interests as well. Motivation letters allow you to share your intentions and dedication to a programme, giving you an opportunity to stand out as an individual during the application process.

Motivation letters are typically required during master’s and PhD level degrees, as well as for international students studying abroad. As university places are limited, motivation letters are used by committees to evaluate whether you are the right fit for a programme or degree . Additionally, graduate research programmes, such as a master’s or PhD, are funded by university departments and therefore need to carefully consider whether a prospective student’s research interests are a worthwhile use of their resources. Therefore, letters of motivation for scholarships or for studying abroad are necessary in order to evaluate candidates based on non-academic metrics such as interests, experience, and ambition.

Although they sound similar, the difference between a motivation letter and a personal statement is their focus. A motivation letter is focused purely on the intention to study a particular degree, or how you fulfil the requirements of a scholarship, whereas a personal statement is a more general letter to "sell" yourself as a well-rounded individual to the university. Likewise, motivation letters are typically required for graduate programmes and scholarships, whereas personal statements are typically required for undergraduate programmes.

The content of a motivation letter will depend on the type of degree, academic discipline, or scholarship. Overall, the structure of a motivation letter for the study will include these parts:

1. Introduction

Start your motivation letter with an appropriate and formal greeting. If you have been provided with a name to address the motivation letter to, use it. Otherwise, you can address the letter with:

To the Admissions Committee,

To the Scholarship Committee,

To the Reviewers of [scholarship name],

Then, have a succinct paragraph introducing your background and how it led you to apply for a scholarship or to study abroad. As universities often have equal opportunity strategies to avoid discrimination and bias, the introduction paragraph does not need to contain your demographic information such as your age, ethnicity, or gender, unless it directly applies to the main content of your letter.

2. Body paragraphs

Use the majority of the word count of your motivation letter in your body paragraphs, where you can share your commitment, background and ambition in more detail. Make sure the paragraphs link nicely together, and that each paragraph contains only one well-discussed idea or theme. Some things you can consider discussing in body paragraphs include:

How your prior study piqued your interest in a particular research area

A particular university professor you would like to be advised by (for research degrees) and why

What makes the degree or university stand out compared to others

How your experiences (work, internships, previous study) have prepared you for more advanced study such as an MBA or master’s degree

How your personal or academic goals can be fulfilled by access to the university’s facilities

How do your experiences or background mean you personally fulfil the requirements of a scholarship

The main tip for writing the body of your motivational letter is to link how your personal experience, background or interests align with the universities’ research areas, or how you can achieve your goals through particular facilities, classes or scholarships provided by the university. Ultimately, university admissions committees want to accept students who have intrinsic motivation and interest in the university itself; so keep both you and the reader in mind when discussing your motivations.

Conclude by expressing gratitude to the committee for taking the time to read your motivation letter. Briefly summarise how you feel your background, ambition and experience make you an ideal candidate for a scholarship or programme.

As academic merit alone does not equate to motivation for studying abroad ; motivation letters for scholarships and degrees are a way for you to express how you fulfil the requirements, can provide value to the university, and declare your commitment to a degree or programme. Writing a formal, genuine letter of motivation that focuses on how your experience aligns with the university can help you clearly convey your intentions for studying abroad.

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Difference between "letter of motivation" and "research statement"

I am applying to a PhD position (theoretical physics, Austria) and the application asks for a letter of motivation, a CV, and a statement of research interests.

Given that I have no publications/employment, my CV is just a brief list of some grades, my skills relevant to the position, and a description of some of my coursework. My research statement describes my interests and experience in the field and gives more details about my research experience and its relevance to the PhD project.

So what is a letter of motivation supposed to contain that has not already been addressed by the other documents? I am not familiar with European academic requirements here.

Many thanks for any guidance.

• statement-of-purpose
• application-cover-letter

• 2 The distinctions you asked about in your question do not match the distinctions you asked about in your title. Your title mentions "statement of purpose", and this is nowhere mentioned in the body of your question. That said, my guess is that a "letter of motivation" is probably something non-technical (unlike your research statement) that might be similar to what in the U.S. is called a cover letter , but I'm sure there are others here who are much more knowledgeable about this than I am. –  Dave L Renfro Commented Feb 3, 2020 at 10:34
• @DaveLRenfro Sorry, that was a typo, the job advert mentioned a "research statement". Given this is for a PhD rather than an academic job, there is little technical I can say about my experience, which was why I was confused about the distinction. E.g. I have no publications, no conference presentations etc, and my statement is really just a description of why I like the subfield (plus a few details of about my dissertation). –  user366202 Commented Feb 3, 2020 at 12:26
• I didn't realize that you were applying to a program in which you work towards a PhD degree. For some reason I thought that "applying to a PhD position" meant you were applying for a job that requires a PhD, although I think the most reasonable reading of "applying to a PhD position" is exactly what you said in your comment. Anyway, this does sound a bit strange for applying to work towards a PhD degree. I guess you would be expected to discuss reasons for why you're interested in your field, what your future goals/hopes are, why this PhD program is a good fit for you, etc. –  Dave L Renfro Commented Feb 3, 2020 at 13:49
• @DaveLRenfro Indeed, in the end I emailed the professor who posted the advert and he said a similar thing (mentioning also that the cover letter should describe my technical knowledge and areas I am interested in). Which then begs the question of what should be in a research statement: perhaps European universities, given their longer Master's programmes, have higher expectations of research ability from their PhD students? If there are no more answers, I will probably just split my current statement in two, add some comments on why the university is a good fit, and hope for the best. –  user366202 Commented Feb 3, 2020 at 15:46
• You can search more answers here on what is expected for a research statement in Europe, but I just wanted to confirm your intuition that the research statement is a bit more like a research plan or proposal. –  Dawn Commented Feb 3, 2020 at 19:18

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