Statement of purpose or motivation letter?
Both explain why you are applying. They differ in what they focus on. Always use the name and the rules your programme gives.
Motivation letter
Usual in Germany (Motivationsschreiben) and Italy (lettera motivazionale), for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.
- Main question
- Why this programme, at this university, and why you?
- Focus
- Reasons for choosing the programme and the university
- How your background prepares you
- What you want to do afterwards
- Typical length
- One to two pages, unless the programme sets its own limit.
“The course on water resource modelling is the reason I am applying to this programme rather than a general engineering Master’s.”
Statement of purpose
Common for Master’s, research-oriented and English-taught programmes.
- Main question
- What do you want to study in depth, and why are you ready for it?
- Focus
- Your academic background and interests
- The questions or topics you want to pursue
- Your academic or professional goals
- Typical length
- Often one to two pages or a word limit set by the programme.
“My thesis on sensor drift left me with one question I could not answer: how to model uncertainty when the data itself degrades.”
What applies to every letter
- Follow the programme’s own rules first.
- Length, format and language are set by each university, and often by each programme.
- Explain, do not list.
- Your CV already shows grades and dates. Use the letter to explain what you learned and why it matters.
- Give reasons you can name.
- A module, lab, specialisation or study format is more convincing than praise for a reputation.
- Prove claims with examples.
- One real project, described well, is worth more than several adjectives.
- Write it yourself.
- Universities expect the letter to be your own work.
Italy and Germany
There is no single national format in either country. Examples from official sources, with the date we last checked them:
Germany
uni-assist describes the letter of motivation as explaining why you apply to a specific university and course and why you are qualified, usually in one or two pages. At TUM, binding content and length rules are set in each programme’s statutes.
Politecnico di Milano
Laurea Magistrale (Master's) applicants with a foreign qualification: optional, up to 2 pages, in English or Italian. It asks about: what you hope to achieve; what makes you a strong candidate; why you chose this programme; why politecnico di milano rather than other universities.
Checked 23 Oct 2026
Università Politecnica delle Marche
International applicants, academic year 2026/27: a motivation section in the application. It asks about: why you want to enrol in your chosen course; what your expectations are; how you came to know the university.
Checked 23 Oct 2026
Rules change. Confirm every requirement on your programme’s official page before you submit.
Sources
- uni-assist glossary: letter of motivation(opens in a new tab) uni-assist.de
- University of Göttingen: how to write the letter of motivation (based on the DAAD manual)(opens in a new tab) uni-goettingen.de
- TUM style guide for application documents(opens in a new tab) tum.de
- Politecnico di Milano: documents required by the admissions office(opens in a new tab) polimi.it
- UNIVPM admission guidelines 2026/27(opens in a new tab) international.univpm.it
Have a draft?
Check it against your programme’s requirements in about two minutes.
Check your letter