Motivation Letter

Hi everyone!

I'm applying for an LLM program in Britain (related to humanitarian affairs) and would just like some comments on my motivation letter. If anyone could take a couple of minutes to check it for grammar and content, I would be very, VERY grateful:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would hereby like to set forth my motivation for applying to the LLM XXX Programme at XXX University, as it relates to both my personal, academic and professional experience.

I received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from XXX in XXX, and it has always been my strong desire to pursue my education further. However, a postgraduate degree requires a greater commitment on the part of the student and, more importantly, a clearer vision of the future. Given that I did, at some point during my undergraduate studies, question the choice of major which resulted in permanent back marks on my record, this experience prompted me to thoroughly consider the subject of my master’s degree and avoid repeating the past.

Since my graduation, I have pursued various career paths within the arena of international affairs, yet my interests have always drawn me to a field position, even if volunteer, where interacting with and helping marginalized communities was of primary concern. Such interests were then only reinforced once I moved to XXX, where my experience during the Arab Spring Uprising, my teaching position with the XXX University, and my work with XXX (humanitarian organization) truly set me on a career in the field of humanitarian affairs. I am especially interested in humanitarian and human rights policy as it relates to program implementation and institutional performance. However, such pursuits require specialized knowledge, which I currently possess only in form of practical experience with little theoretical foundations, and I strongly believe that your LLM programme due to its unique structure and holistic approach will offer more than ample understanding to successfully pursue my goals.

I am aware that the field of humanitarian affairs is still a developing field within the international arena, and as such faces much difficulty and criticism in upholding and spreading global values, often times due to its own internal inconsistencies; in the words of the UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson:

“We [UN] are often criticized but I think we are a reflection of the world as it is and not as we want it to be – but we have to bridge that gap, make sure the world becomes more of what we want it to be.”

I would sincerely like to dedicate myself to such efforts because I see them as a path to true tolerance, diversity and peace. I believe that the LLM XXX at XXX University is a stepping stone to such future and I thank the University for granting me the opportunity to be considered for admission.