Tips for your application for WBS Scholarship Programme
So, you’re ready to apply for the scholarship to support you at WBS, great! Now you’re wondering how to make your application competitive enough to be considered and accepted, specifically your cover letter, that’s where this advice comes in.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter should be no more than 1 side of A4, written in Calibri font size 11 (or equivalent) and provide sincere evidence to convince the reader that:
- You are motivated for the school and the programme
- You have sound reasoning for wanting to study at WBS
- You will be an excellent addition to the student body here at WBS as a result of the Scholarship programme
It’s best to have a paragraph for each of the points above, but it can be in any order you like.
When assessing applications, our team will use your cover letter to gauge a general impression of you as an applicant, so it’s important it’s detailed and portrays exactly why you want to be considered.
When constructing your motivation paragraph, think about why you want to study at WBS and why the Scholarship programme is so important/appealing to you. Think of what first sparked your interest and what you have done since then that would demonstrate that interest. Grounding your interest in real experiences will demonstrate that your interest in authentic – don’t tell them you’re interested, show them. For example:
- Have you spoken to previous students and scholarship holders? What have they told you about what has made you think this programme and WBS is suitable for you
- You have a thorough understanding of the programme and how it can support your future
- The development opportunities the programme can offer you with
When writing your paragraph for why you, try not to regurgitate anything you have already included in your application. Space (and the reader’s attention span) is limited – address the most important points and pieces of evidence that meet the specific requirements for this programme, rather than general positive qualities.
- Read the eligibility criteria – what examples do you have to demonstrate you satisfy this?
- Read the programme detail – what examples do you have to demonstrate how you will be able to undertake what is expected of you. What are the most important skills for this programme?
- Once you are confident that you know what the programme is looking for in an applicant, then you can provide examples of each skill or train that proves you are a suitable applicant to be considered for the programme
Format: a step-by-step guide
- Address your letter with “Dear Sir / Madam”
Opening paragraph
- This should be no more than 2 or 3 sentences (roughly around 50 words)
- Explain what this letter covers generally
- Be succinct and to the point
Next paragraph: why are you motivated for the programme?
- Aim for around 100-150 words
- What specific reasons and examples can you give here to demonstrate your interest and motivation
- Show that you have a thorough understanding of the programme and how it can support your future
- Discuss the development opportunities the programme can offer you.
Next paragraph: why do you want to study at WBS
- Aim for 100-150 words
- Again, refer to your list for why WBS, don’t forget to reference any scholars/students you have spoken to and what they have said
Next paragraph: why are you a fit for the programme and what will you gain as a result
- Aim for 100-150 words
- Make sure the skills and qualities you are sharing are relevant to those required for the programme and supported with evidence
Final paragraph: sign off
- No more than 50 words
- Be polite and not over-confident
- Tie it back to why you should be selected
- Sign with ‘Yours faithfully’
How to avoid the ‘No’ pile: Common mistakes
Not tailoring your cover letter
- To really demonstrate your interest and motivation for the programme, you need to tailor your cover letter to show clearly how and why you are suitable. Generic information can make it difficult to assess whether you meet the criteria!
Not getting to the point
- To really gain the attention of the reader, make sure you are clear and concise with your words and examples. Too much information will make it hard for the reader to focus and concentrate on what is really important
Don’t be modest
- Don’t be shy of highlighting you achievements and explain why they are relevant to your application. Include work experience, qualifications or achievements you are proud of
Not writing enough
- We can only assess what we can see: if you have only written 2 sentences, we might not have the evidence we need to progress your application