Exchange Program Motivation Letter / Letter of Intent

I am applying for a Master level exchange program between my school (a small international IR school - School A) and another school (A large, prestigious North American university - School B). Both Master programs are professionally oriented, featuring a multi-disciplinary approach to International Relations / Political Science.

I have removed my introductory paragraph, which includes an introduction about myself, and my personal motivations for applying to the program.

Any help on the body would be greatly appreciated!

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Dear Selection Committee:

The purpose of my studies at EXCHANGE PROGRAM is to bridge my academic aspirations of studying international cooperation, conflict resolution, and state fragility with practical policy oriented scholarship. Specific to my research interests, I seek to engage the abundance of resources and connect with leading scholars and researchers SCHOOL B has to offer, including those at the RESEARCH CENTER A, RESEARCH CENTER B, and the broad affiliated faculty the EXCHANGE PROGRAM offers across a wide range of disciplines. My plan to achieve this is to undertake a diverse multi-disciplinary courseload and to partake in a three-month directed research study with a SCHOOL B faculty member. More precisely, during my three-month exhange, I seek to conduct my directed research study program with Professor XXX, whereby I will support his policy-oriented research on global security and conflict resolution. Professor XXX’s academic work directly aligns with my interests of multilateral cooperation and conflict resolution, and under his mentorship I will endeavor to enrich my knowledge of the literature in order to enhance my future contribution to the field of conflict resolution as a SCHOOL A scholar.

In addition to partaking in a directed research study, I seek to supplement my studies at SCHOOL A with EXCHANGE PROGRAM courses that will not only provide the mechanisms necessary to enhance my academic career but to prepare me to solve dynamic problems in the real world. Specifically, I seek to tackle a diverse courseload from a multidisciplinary approach, inlcuding the following courses from the Schools of Political Science, Law and Philosophy: Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law; From Innovation to Implementation - How Government can Develop and Apply New Ideas; International Mediation and Civil Wars; International Security in a Changing World; Philosophy of Action; and, as mentioned above, a directed research study with Professor XXX. This plan of study not only encompasses the spirit of an interdisciplinary academic approach, but will provide the necessary theoretical and practical training to interconnect my career as a scholar, and relatively, as a practitioner.

In sum, my goal as a SCHOOL A representative of the EXCHANGE PROGRAM is threefold. First, in conducting a directed research project with Professor XXX I will have the opportunity to enrich my academic wisdom and enhance my policy knowledge of the conflict resolution field through building a mentorship with one of the world’s foremost scholars in the field. Second, through utilizing the vast resources SCHOOL B has to offer I will forge the necessary experience to bridge academia with real world policy expertise to be able to confront and solve the problems of the 21st century. Finally, I seek to expand SCHOOL A's young relationship with SCHOOL B through cultural exchange. As a cosmopolitan student having lived in COUNTRY A, COUNTRY B, COUNTRY C, COUNTRY D, and COUNTRY E, I would not only bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm, but I would also bring the intellect and multicultural diversity to contribute to a fruitful exchange in this program.