What Reviewers Look For in the Master's Motivation Letter — Dutch (Standard)

This rubric evaluates whether your letter gives a direct, evidence-based case for this specific program, university, and your decision to pursue graduate study now. It also looks for clear links among your academic preparation, future career or research direction, and the training you want from the program. A strong letter is organized, concise, precise, and written in a direct academic tone.

What We Check

Mistakes We Flag

Naming only the field, not the program

Saying you are interested in a field does not explain why you chose this particular master's program. State your reason for choosing the program early and name it directly.

Repeating your CV without explaining relevance

Courses, grades, job titles, and projects need interpretation. Explain what a specific experience taught you and how it prepares you for a demand of the program.

Keeping future plans too broad

A field or job title alone is not a clear direction. Describe a plausible role, sector, research question, or method, and explain how the program connects to it.

Giving generic reasons for the university or Netherlands

General claims about international study, English-taught programs, reputation, or rankings do not show an applicant-specific reason. Address the Netherlands and the institution separately, using concrete features and your own goals.

Using vague or inflated claims instead of evidence

Claims about motivation, skills, and achievements need a named project, outcome, metric, or other concrete example. Direct language is more credible than flattery, hedging, or emotional slogans.

References

Frequently Asked Questions