Letter of motivation for a Masters degree

Dear all,
i have been following some threads on this forum and found them extremely useful in writing my letter of motivation. This is my first draft and I definitely think it is too wordy and long, and was wondering if any of you would be so kind as to give me some recommendations on what to shorten or leave out, or any other comments on structure and content! I would greatly appreciate any comments and suggestions and would be grateful for any help you can give me! Thank you;-)

Currently completing the 5^th term of my Bachelor’s degree in Asian and African Area Studies..., I am now looking forward to pursuing my studies at postgraduate level to prepare me for a future working in the development field. The MSc in Development Studies at the ... offers the perfect combination of courses that tailor to my academic interests as well as my future career plans and I would therefore be enthralled to have the opportunity to continue my studies in your department.

Working for a year as a volunteer at an NGO and Fair Trade shop, and as an intern at the ..., I became involved and familiar with issues surrounding globalisation, international trade relations and the work of non-governmental organisations and institutions on a national and international level. I also gained insight into the nexus between government and non-state collaboration in the field of development. These experiences, along with my multi-cultural background, were pivotal in choosing the interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree in Area Studies: I sought a degree that would broaden my horizons in thinking about global issues, while allowing me to focus regionally on Africa. Area Studies seeks to bring together knowledge and theories from various disciplines and regions of the world to provide a holistic approach to analysing and understanding local, national, regional and global phenomena. Thus I have gained insights from the fields of cultural studies, social anthropology and history, providing me with analytical tools and ideas to try and understand the historical and contemporary causes and effects of global issues.

My regional focus has been East Africa, particularly Tanzania, concentrating academically on historical perspectives, the question of agency and the challenges of writing history itself; on political transformation, post-colonial theory and the potential of ‘civil society’, the ‘subaltern’ and other non-state actors in affecting positive change in various African societies. Other foci have been the questions of identity and the construction of identities, with practical reference to for instance the current transformations in Northern Africa, politics and identity in South Africa and the reciprocal construction of identity in colonised societies. To complement these academic approaches, I have been learning Northern Sotho (South Africa) and Swahili. Supplementing this multi-disciplinary nature of Area Studies, my minor in Social Sciences has given me a foundation in comparative politics and international relations, transnational institutional change, political theory and research methodology.

My interest in international development moved me to work for a shadow MP ... for Economic Development and Cooperation and I became familiarised with development cooperation on a governmental and policy-making level, an experience that greatly strengthened my intent to work in the non-governmental sector. I then spent three months as a trainee at the ... in Tanzania, and was involved in the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of various projects and activities in the area of democracy support and participation. I had the opportunity of working closely with various local NGOs and CSOs, especially youth organisations, and was thus involved in development cooperation on a day-to-day level. The potential of civil society to affect real change and be involved in democratisation processes, both on a grassroots and state agenda level, as well as the possibilities and difficulties of cooperation with international organisations, I find imminently important and interesting. My Bachelor thesis will thus explore the potential of civil society in shaping the national development agenda in Tanzania, as a comparative study with Kenya, looking at if and how the diverging historical and political paths in the two countries have influenced civil societal action and participation. Therefore the optional course on Civil Society, Social Movements and the Development Process corresponds perfectly with a core academic interest of mine.

During my internship in Tanzania I also became increasingly aware of the complexities and myriad of issues surrounding development cooperation on a practical level, as well as the often very problematic issue of international aid and development work. Subsequently, the necessity of acquiring a sound theoretical basis and critical awareness in thinking of development in order to work in the field and be part of affecting change in a constructive and positive manner became more than evident. The optional course on Aid and Development provides the optimal theoretical background and will provide me with the necessary tools to comprehend the complexities and challenges surrounding development aid, as well as insight into the issue on a contextual level.

Based on my academic interests and my occupational experience, I am positive that the MSc in Development studies at ... is the perfect choice for me. Aside from that already mentioned, the two core courses will provide me with invaluable knowledge and insights into the theories, politics and historical perspectives on development, as well into a field with which I am not familiar; that of political economy and development. I am convinced that the MSc in Development Studies at ... will not only give me the opportunity to enhance my understanding of development theories and practice, but will also offer a stimulating environment in which to further my individual research interests and provide me with a well-rounded background to work in the field of development cooperation.