I would like an opinion on my motivation letter please

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am a graduate Civil and Structural Engineer currently employed in Eldoret, Sudan. I would like to apply for a Postgraduate Scholarship offered by your Organisation in Resources Engineering at Cologne University.

My undergraduate program has provided a good background in Design of Drinking Water Supply Systems, Sewerage and Waste Water Treatment, Water Resources Engineering, Irrigation Engineering, Analysis and Design of Timber, Steel and Reinforced Concrete Structures and Traffic Engineering and Management.

Water and Sanitation Engineering is, however, my preferred branch because it forms part of all the other fields of Civil Engineering. Provision of potable drinking water and safe disposal of human waste is an integral part of any society because of the direct and indirect impact on its quality of life. I have gained invaluable experience in this field over the last two years of employment with a Civil Engineering Consultancy which specializes in this field. During this time, I have had an opportunity to travel across Sudan, preparing Feasibility Reports and carrying out Design for Rehabilitation and Augmentation of existing Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Systems.

I am seriously considering specialization in the field of Water Resource Management mainly because of the inadequacies in water supply and sanitation observed in the field. My country is plagued by water scarcity which is further aggravated by inefficiencies of the water authorities. The result of this is poor services being rendered to the end user whose living standard is consequently compromised from the impact of having inadequate or no water supply and sub standard sanitation.

After studying the course contents of the Master of Science Program in Resource Engineering, I believe that my undergraduate foundation will be an advantage because of the similar courses already studied. The contents of this Postgraduate study which include Water Supply Systems, Water Resources and Management, Hydrology, Waste Treatment and Environmental Protection, Highway Engineering and Traffic Planning will further enhance the undergraduate knowledge I have already gained in these fields.

The courses on Data Evaluation and Mapping Techniques, Regional Analysis and Management and Administration of International Projects will sharpen my skills in integration and implementation of these techniques to the betterment of Water Resource Management. In addition, the application and use of Geographic Information Systems has grown immensely due to its versatility hence making it an invaluable tool in engineering management of water catchments and urban water supply and sanitation systems.

I am confident that this Postgraduate program will provide me with insight in Resource Management from an integrated perspective and equip me in making a valuable contribution to the services my Employer offers to its clientele which include the Government of Sudan and International Donor agencies. Furthermore, my country is already in the process of formulating policies for decentralized management of water resources, and the gained knowledge will enable me make a valuable contribution towards this process.

Germany is a symbol of quality. This is evident in the fields of Art, Medicine and Engineering. This country has always intrigued me in its field of automobile engineering. The advanced concepts of engineering put in a car, with utmost care, comfort, safety and quality in mind for the end users is one of the classic examples. Therefore my educational experience in this country will definitely be of high standard and prepare me for the challenging working environment in my country.

University of Cologne is the institution of my choice because it is one of the top universities in Germany. With a history exceeding a century, and also being one of the first technical universities in Germany, I am sure of the excellence it has attained in teaching and research. Further to this, my fellow German colleagues who I have had an opportunity to work with have spoken very highly of this institution.

Engineering practices are fast evolving, with conservation of existing resources currently being the main focus. It is my desire to make a difference in environmental protection and wise use of resources. This course offers an interdisciplinary approach in this regard and will help me contribute substantially in the formulation of resource use policies in my country given the limited number of professionals in this field.




I am applying for the MSc in Resource Engineering for two reasons. The first is that the course exactly matches my particular area of interest in Water Engineering. The second is the high reputation your Institution has for producing outstanding graduates and keeping pace with technological changes. The combination of these factors makes your MSc in Resource Engineering course the natural choice for me at this point in my career.

Your sincerely,

Huzefa