Hi everybody,
Here is my motivation letter to apply for a student exchange program. I would really appreciate if somebody could have a look through it and give me some advice about the content of my letter. I’m not sure if I have to give more details about my education and work experience? (--> Additional to this letter I will send in my academic records and my CV.)
Thank you in advance for every comment,
Batou
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to apply for the *** at *** University in Tokyo.
I am currently studying Business and Economics at the University of ***. My major will be financial markets and international economics. I expect to graduate with a Masters Degree after the next two terms in spring 2007.
I am applying to this program because I would like to improve my skills with regard to establishing relations between different cultures. During my internship at *** I gained an insight into the business of improving relations with and acquiring potential clients from Middle East. I learned how important it is to know about the tradition, customs and language of your business partners the gain their confidence. With regard to my major goal, to work for an international company which does business with Japan, I understand how extremely important it is to obtain an excellent understanding of your counterpart and I believe the best way to do so is to live with them. To get a somewhat closer to this dream and the intention to study for Japanese Proficiency Test, I started attending Japanese language classes in spring 2005.
Furthermore, I see the *** program, with its broadly diversified courses, as an opportunity to improve my social and cultural understanding, because it is not limited to economics subjects. It would give me the opportunity to enter the academic fields from a different viewpoint, which would broaden my knowledge.
Beside the academic reasons I mentioned above, I also have personal reasons for applying for the *** program. After I finished my Bachelor Degree I spent four months in Australia studying for the Cambridge Advanced Exam, which I passed. (This is the equivalent of a TOEIC score between 701 and 910, and a TOEFL score between 92 and 112.) During this time I was able to establish a great network with people from all over the world. I could also make some Japanese friends who invited me last autumn to visit them and showed me their country. The insight I gained during that period was such a tremendous experience that I definitely wish to deepen my knowledge of Japanese culture. Studying abroad for one year in Japan would offer me the possibility to live the everyday life in Japan and help me with this. Finally, I see the chance to improve my Japanese as the key to the understanding of this culture.
I do not underestimate going abroad for one year to a country with a completely different culture, but I definitely believe I am capable and I will do everything to ensure that I give it my upmost to contribute and gain the most I can.
According to reports from prior students and my Japanese friends, I know that *** University has an excellent reputation as one of the best private universities which provides international educational experience. The opportunity to participate in this student exchange program would provide enormous academic and personal benefits to me, and would help me to achieve my ultimate goal of obtaining employment in which I can do business with Japan.
I am looking forward to your positive reply.
Yours faithfully,