Guide · Germany
How to write a motivation letter for a German university
In Germany, the motivation letter (Motivationsschreiben) is a standard part of the application for many Master's programmes — especially English-taught and selective ones — and for some Bachelor's programmes for international applicants. The committee reads it to answer one question: do your background and your goals fit this particular programme?
A German motivation letter is not an American personal statement. It is a formal letter: factual, structured and close to your documents. Dramatic stories and big promises work against you here.
Checked against official sources: October 2026
- 1–2 pages
- A4, unless the university sets a limit
- DIN 5008
- a formal letter with letterhead and subject line
- Facts first
- every claim matches your CV and certificates
Your first letter is free — no credit card needed.
At a glance
- Length
1–2 A4 pages
That's the norm when the university sets no limit. Often it asks for one page or a number of words or characters — the university's limit always wins.
- Language
Same as the programme
The language of the programme: German for a German-taught programme, English for an English-taught one.
- Format
DIN 5008 letter
Your address, the university's address, date and a subject line. Usually uploaded as a PDF. If the portal has a text field instead, leave out the letterhead.
- Salutation and closing
Fixed formulas
In German: “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,” … “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” (no comma). In English: “Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,” … “Yours sincerely,”.
- Tone
Factual and specific
Polite, with facts first: every claim should match your CV and certificates.
- Where to submit
Portal or uni-assist
In the university's own portal or via uni-assist, the service many German universities use to process international applications.
How to structure it
Opening: why this programme
One or two sentences that connect a concrete experience to the programme you are applying for. Name the programme and the university. Don't start with a general statement about your field.
Academic background
Your degree and grade, plus the courses, thesis or projects that prepared you. Give your grade on its original scale — universities convert grades themselves (in Germany, 1.0 is the best grade).
Practical experience
Internships, jobs, projects or volunteering — but only what supports this programme. Say what you did and what it taught you instead of retelling your CV.
Why this university
Name specific modules, specialisations, research groups or projects and explain why they matter for you. “A renowned university” tells the committee nothing.
Goals and closing
Where you want to go after the degree and how this programme gets you there. Then the closing formula and your name.
Example: Master's application to TU München
Excerpt from a sample letter written with Pennaway, in German. An English-language letter for Germany follows the same structure. The numbers in the margin match the steps above.
Alex Weber, Musterstraße 12, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Technische Universität MünchenZulassung M.Sc. Data Engineering and AnalyticsArcisstraße 2180333 München
Frankfurt am Main, 15. Januar 2027
Bewerbung um einen Studienplatz im M.Sc. Data Engineering and Analytics
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
als ich während meines Praktikums als Data Analyst in einem Logistikunternehmen die wöchentliche Reporting-Zeit durch selbst gebaute Python-Dashboards von sechs Stunden auf eine Stunde reduzieren konnte, wurde mir klar, wie viel ungenutztes Potenzial in operativen Daten steckt, sobald man sie sauber strukturiert und zugänglich macht. Genau diese Verbindung zwischen dem Aufbau von Dateninfrastruktur und ihrer statistischen Auswertung möchte ich im Master Data Engineering and Analytics an der Technischen Universität München vertiefen.
Mein Bachelorstudium der Informatik, das ich mit einem Notendurchschnitt von 3,6 auf einer Skala bis 4,0 abgeschlossen habe, hat mir dafür eine solide Grundlage gegeben. In meiner Bachelorarbeit habe ich mit Gradient Boosting Lieferverzögerungen anhand von 50.000 Sendungsdatensätzen vorhergesagt. Die Modellierung selbst hat gut funktioniert, doch da die gesamte Datenmenge bequem auf einem einzigen Rechner verarbeitet werden konnte, habe ich dabei keine praktische Erfahrung mit verteilten Systemen oder großskaligen Datenpipelines gesammelt. Diese Lücke möchte ich gezielt schließen, und die Pflichtmodule IN2326 Foundations in Data Engineering und MA4800 Foundations in Data Analysis scheinen mir dafür genau richtig, weil sie beide Seiten zusammenbringen, die ich bisher nur getrennt kennengelernt habe: die Konstruktion belastbarer Dateninfrastruktur und ihre fundierte statistische Auswertung.
[…]
Mit freundlichen Grüßen Alex Weber
Common mistakes
An American-style story
“When I was eight, I took apart my father's radio — and I have loved technology ever since.”
“During my internship as a data analyst, my Python dashboards cut weekly reporting from six hours to one.”
Opening with a childhood memory or a dramatic scene reads as off-topic in Germany. Start with a concrete, relevant fact.
Your CV in sentences
“From 2021 to 2022 I worked as a tutor, in 2022 I did an internship, and in 2023 I wrote my bachelor's thesis.”
“My bachelor's thesis forecast delivery delays from 50,000 shipment records — and showed me that I lack experience with distributed systems.”
The committee already has your CV. Pick two or three experiences that matter for this programme and explain them.
Empty praise
“Your excellent university with its world-class reputation…”
“The modules IN2326 and MA4800 bring together the two sides of data work I have only seen separately.”
“Your excellent university” or “world-class reputation” could be about any university. Name a module, a lab or a specialisation instead.
Claims without proof
“I am highly motivated, hard-working and a team player.”
“To process the full dataset for my thesis, I taught myself Spark in two months.”
“I am highly motivated and hard-working” means nothing on its own. Show it with one example.
Converting your grades yourself
“My GPA of 3.6 corresponds to a German grade of 1.4.”
“I completed my bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0.”
Give the grade on your original scale. The university converts it officially, and your own number may contradict your documents.
Ignoring the limit or the questions
1,400 words — the programme allowed 1,000
980 words, with each of the programme's three questions answered in order
If the university sets a word count or asks specific questions, stay under the limit and answer every question in order. Some portals simply cut off the extra text.
Questions
How long should a motivation letter for Germany be?
Usually one to two A4 pages — roughly 400 to 900 words. If the university gives a limit in words or characters, that limit is what counts.
Can I write it in English?
Yes, if the programme is taught in English. For a German-taught programme, write it in German: the letter is also a sample of your language skills.
Do I need a motivation letter for a Bachelor's in Germany?
Often not — many Bachelor's places are allocated by grades. But some universities and programmes ask for one, especially from international applicants. Check the programme page.
Is it OK to use AI for a motivation letter?
Rules differ between universities, and some ask you to confirm that you wrote the letter yourself. Use an AI draft as a starting point: check every fact, change anything that doesn't sound like you, and follow your university's rules.
Sources
Documents checklist
Documents you need to study in Germany