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Motivation letter for Germany: when you need one and how to write it

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A motivation letter (*Motivationsschreiben*) is a personal letter about why you want a job, a training place or a study place. In Germany it is usually an extra page next to your cover letter, not a replacement for it. For most job applications it is optional. For scholarships, university admission and some senior roles it can be required (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, ZAV, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).

ContentsThe short answer

This guide shows when you need one, how it differs from the cover letter, how long it should be, how to build it, and what a full example for a job looks like.

The short answer

  • What it is: a personal text about your motivation, values and goals. The cover letter shows your qualifications; the motivation letter shows why you really want this (ZAV).
  • When you need it: when the job ad, the university or the scholarship asks for it. Otherwise it is optional (ZAV).
  • Length: for a job, about one page. Universities often set their own limit, and some reject letters that are longer (University of Ulm, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
  • Biggest mistake: repeating your CV or your cover letter (ZAV, University of Duisburg-Essen).

What is a motivation letter in Germany?

In German recruiting, the motivation letter is sometimes called the “third page” (die dritte Seite), because it comes after the cover letter and the CV (University of Duisburg-Essen, ABZ, June 2010, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). It tells the reader about your personal fit before they meet you.

The two terms are often mixed up, and people sometimes use them for the same thing (ZAV). When a German employer asks for a Motivationsschreiben, read the ad closely. Sometimes they mean a separate page. Sometimes they simply mean a cover letter with a clear “why”. If you are not sure, ask the contact person in the ad.

Tip: Before you write a separate page, check what the ad really asks for. If it is unclear, a short question to the contact person saves you work.

Paste the job ad and see what it asks for at a glance.

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Motivation letter vs cover letter

The Federal Employment Agency’s international service (ZAV) compares the two documents like this (ZAV, retrieved 31 Oct 2026):

Cover letter (Anschreiben)

Role
The centrepiece of almost every job application
Needed?
By default, unless the job ad says you don’t need one
Length
Strictly one A4 page
Tone
Professional, objective, fact-based
Content
Qualifications, expertise, hard skills
Form
A business letter

Motivation letter (Motivationsschreiben)

Role
An extra page, the “third page”
Needed?
Usually optional; can be required for scholarships, university admission or leadership roles
Length
About one to two pages, depending on the position
Tone
Personal and forward-looking
Content
Motivation, personality, soft skills, your goals
Form
Reads more like a personal essay, often with subheadings

So the cover letter answers “Why do you fit this job?” The motivation letter answers “Why do you want it, and who are you?” If you send both, don’t say the same things twice (ZAV).

For the cover letter itself, see our page on the German cover letter.

When do you need a motivation letter?

Situation Do you need one? What it should answer
Job (Stelle) Only if the ad asks for it Why this job, why this company, why you
Internship (Praktikum) Sometimes Why this field and this position
Vocational training (Ausbildung) Usually covered in the cover letter Why this profession, why this company
Master’s programme Often, and the university sets the rules Why this programme, what you bring, your goals
Scholarship Usually Why you, why this scholarship, your goals

Sources: ZAV, University of Duisburg-Essen, TU Darmstadt SchreibCenter, IHK Rhein-Neckar, all retrieved 31 Oct 2026.

For a job or an internship

The University of Duisburg-Essen’s career centre says a separate motivation page is only asked for now and then. Often the simplest version is a cover letter that explains why you chose your field and why you want this position. If your cover letter already does that, you don’t need a third page (University of Duisburg-Essen).

Key point: For most jobs, a cover letter with a clear “why” is enough. Add a third page only if the ad asks for it or you have something new to say.

Write a one-page cover letter with a clear “why” for each job ad.

Write my cover letter

The same guide names cases where a third page still makes sense (Duisburg-Essen):

  • You want to describe technical projects in more detail.
  • You apply through a recruiting event, where motivation letters are common.
  • You want to explain a CV with many changes, or why you changed direction. Explain it; don’t apologise for it.

Company portals usually let you upload extra documents such as motivation letters (ZAV, cover letter, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). An empty field does not mean you must fill it.

For vocational training (Ausbildung)

For an Ausbildung, the motivation usually goes into the cover letter. The IHK Rhein-Neckar lists what it should say: how you found the ad, your current situation, why you chose this profession, why the company should take you, and why you chose this company (IHK Rhein-Neckar, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). Expect the question “Why this profession?” in the interview too, so learn what the job involves before you apply (IHK Rheinhessen, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).

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How to structure a motivation letter

A simple plan from TU Darmstadt’s writing centre works for most cases. Pick one guiding question, for example “Why am I a good fit for this?”, and answer it in three parts (TU Darmstadt SchreibCenter, February 2020, retrieved 31 Oct 2026):

  1. Who am I? What drives you, what you care about, a challenge you have handled.
  2. What can I do? The knowledge and skills you built, projects you worked on, what you learned from internships or work.
  3. What do I want? Your goals, and how this job, programme or scholarship helps you reach them.

Keep a clear thread through all three parts, split the text into sensible paragraphs and use subheadings if they help (TU Darmstadt).

Example: (made up) Mia applies for a scholarship. Her guiding question is “Why am I a good fit for this?”. She answers it in three parts: who she is, what she can do, and what she wants.

For a job: the third page

For a job, the University of Duisburg-Essen suggests (Duisburg-Essen):

0 of 5 done

For university and scholarship letters, the formal letter parts are more common: sender, recipient, date, subject line, closing and signature (TU Darmstadt). Some universities ask for something different. TU Dresden, for example, wants only your name in the header of a scholarship letter, without address, phone or email (TU Dresden, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). Always follow the rules of the place you apply to.

An application with three pages: the cover letter, the CV, and the motivation letter as the third page on top.1Cover letter2CV3Motivation letter
The motivation letter is the "third page", after the cover letter and the CV. Add it only if the ad asks for it or you have something new to say. Source: University of Duisburg-Essen, ABZ

How long should a motivation letter be?

For a job, keep it to about one page. The ZAV gives one to two pages as the range, depending on the position (ZAV). In practice, a reader who already has your cover letter and CV will thank you for one page.

For study and scholarships, the university decides. A few real examples:

Where Rule Source
University of Ulm, M.Sc. Energy Science and Technology Must not exceed one page, or the application is rejected on formal grounds Ulm
University of Jena, Faculty of Economics (master’s) One page maximum Jena
University of Göttingen, guide for a master’s programme in Intercultural Theology Ideally one page, at most 1.5 Göttingen
Ruhr University Bochum, International Office scholarships No longer than one page Bochum
TU Dresden, Deutschlandstipendium One A4 page, font size at least 10 TU Dresden

All retrieved 31 Oct 2026. If no rule is given, TU Darmstadt’s writing centre suggests no more than 1.5 to 2 pages for study and scholarship letters (TU Darmstadt). One page is the safe choice almost everywhere.

Key point: For a job, aim for one page. For study and scholarships, the university’s limit always comes first.

Tone and language

The style is close to that of a cover letter (TU Darmstadt):

  • Short and precise. Duisburg-Essen suggests sentences of 8 to 16 words with no more than three statements each (Duisburg-Essen).
  • Confident, not hesitant. Write positive sentences. Avoid “could” and “would” (könnte, würde), because they sound unsure (TU Darmstadt, IHK Rhein-Neckar).
  • Not every sentence starts with “I”. Turn some sentences around: “My degree taught me…” instead of “I studied…” (Duisburg-Essen).
  • No mottos or empty phrases that many other applicants use too (TU Darmstadt).
  • Personal, but still professional. The ZAV describes the tone as personal and forward-looking (ZAV). That doesn’t mean casual.

Example: (made up) Instead of “I would like to support your team”, write “I want to support your team.”

Write in the language of the job ad or the programme. LMU’s career service advises applying in English for English-language ads and in German for German-language ads (LMU Career Service, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).

Writing in German? Find the level you can state on your CV.

Find my German level

If your education or experience is from another country

A motivation letter is a good place to explain a path that a German reader does not know. Keep it to the parts that show your motivation. Facts such as degree names and dates stay in the CV.

Use the “What I bring” part to translate your path. Say in one or two sentences what your degree or job abroad involved, and link it to the job. For example: what kind of company it was, what size, which tasks were yours.

Point to official proof instead of explaining it. If you have a document that places your qualification in the German system, name it in one short sentence:

  • For a university degree: the ZAB Statement of Comparability names the comparable German level, for example bachelor’s or master’s. The ZAB says many employers ask for it in job applications, for instance in the public sector. It costs €208 (ZAB, fees, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
  • For a vocational qualification comparable to an IHK profession: the notice from IHK FOSA (IHK FOSA, in German, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
  • To check how your university and degree are rated in Germany: the anabin database of the ZAB, in German (anabin, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).

For most jobs, recognition is not required. You can work in a non-regulated profession without it. Regulated professions, such as doctors or teachers, need it. The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland explains this and has a Recognition Finder in 11 languages (Anerkennung in Deutschland, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).

Example: (made up) Priya studied business informatics abroad and has a ZAB statement. In her third page, under “What I bring”, she writes one sentence: “According to the ZAB, my degree is comparable to a German bachelor’s degree.” Then she uses the rest of the paragraph for a project that matches the job.

Online portals often ask for a short version. Many company portals end with a free-text box for your motivation (ZAV, Online applicant portals, issue 03/2026, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). Use the same three parts there, in a few sentences each: who you are, what you can do, what you want.

Template: “What I bring” paragraph for a path from abroad
What I bring
[Degree, university, country]. [If you have it: According to the ZAB, my degree is comparable to a German [bachelor's / master's] degree.]
For [number] years I worked as [job title] at [type of company, size] in [country]. There I [one task with a result that matches the job ad].
[One sentence that links this to the job: what you want to use or learn in this role.]

Common mistakes

Use this as a checklist before you send:

0 of 12 done

Check your CV against German rules before you send it with your letter.

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Example: a motivation letter for a job

The letter below is an invented example. The person, the company and all details are made up. It shows the structure of a third page for a job: a heading, no letterhead, the three parts “who I am, what I can do, what I want”, and a signature. It is written in English because the (invented) job ad is in English. It fits on one page.

Template: Example (invented), Sam Okafor, Junior Data Analyst at Example Logistics GmbH, Frankfurt am Main
Why I am applying

What drives me
Good decisions need clean numbers. That idea has guided my work since my first student job, when I rebuilt a messy stock list for a small shop and we found a whole shelf of products nobody had sold in a year. Since then, I have looked for work where data changes what people actually do.

What I bring
My degree in business mathematics gave me a solid base in statistics. In my final project, I analysed delivery times for a regional courier and showed which routes caused most delays. In my current role as a working student, I prepare weekly reports for the sales team. The most useful lesson there: a report only helps if the reader understands it in two minutes. So I keep charts simple and write one clear sentence above each one.

Why Example Logistics
Your job ad mentions route planning and a new reporting system for your warehouses. Both are close to my final project, and I want to deepen exactly this kind of work. I also like that your analysts work directly with the warehouse teams. I learn most when I see how my numbers are used on site.

What I want next
In the next years, I want to grow from preparing reports to finding the questions behind them. A junior role in a team that works close to operations is the right next step for that.

I look forward to telling you more in a personal conversation.

Sam Okafor

What makes this example work:

  • It adds something new. The cover letter would list the degree and the skills. This page explains the why behind them.
  • Each claim has an example. “I keep charts simple” is backed by the weekly reports.
  • It refers to the job ad. The paragraph about the company uses two points from the ad, not praise from the homepage.
  • It looks ahead. The last part answers “What do I want?”

Don’t copy it. Use the structure and fill it with your own facts. This empty version of the same structure helps:

Template: Third page for a job
Why I am applying

What drives me
[What drives you, what you care about, a challenge you have handled]

What I bring
[Your knowledge and skills, a project you worked on, what you learned from work or internships, each with an example]

Why [Company]
[Two points from the job ad and how they link to your goals]

What I want next
[Your goals, and how this job helps you reach them]

[First name Last name]

For the cover letter that goes in front of it, a German cover letter template gives you the business letter layout.

Master’s programmes and scholarships

University and scholarship letters follow the university’s rules first. Read the programme page and answer every question it asks, in the order it asks them.

Tip: Make a list of every question on the programme page first. Then check that your letter answers each one, in that order.

Master’s programmes. Expect questions like these (Duisburg-Essen, Ulm):

  • Why this programme, and why at this university?
  • What do you bring from your studies so far?
  • What are your career plans, and how does the programme help?

Some faculties are very direct about what they want. Jena’s economics faculty, for example, wants to know which bachelor courses interested you most and why. It says it is not much interested in your biography or business achievements (Jena). TU Darmstadt advises against justifying your choice of subject with good job prospects or high pay (TU Darmstadt).

Scholarships. Here your career goals and your future engagement matter more. Show that the scholarship helps the funder too, not only you (TU Darmstadt). Bochum’s International Office gives guiding questions such as “Why am I applying for this scholarship?” and “What are my goals after graduation?” (Bochum). TU Dresden asks about your personality, your field of study, your achievements and your social engagement (TU Dresden).

Universities may invite you to an interview after the written application, so write the letter yourself (Duisburg-Essen).

How Joblumi helps

Most job applications in Germany need a strong cover letter first and a motivation letter only sometimes. Joblumi writes a one-page cover letter for each job ad from the facts in your CV, in German business letter layout, and checks which language level the ad asks for. If the ad also wants a motivation letter, you can then write your third page with the structure above, without repeating what the cover letter already says.

Put this guide to work

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FAQ

Is a motivation letter the same as a cover letter in Germany?

No. The cover letter shows your qualifications for the job and is expected in almost every application. The motivation letter is a separate, more personal page about your motivation and goals, and it is usually optional (ZAV). Some employers use the words loosely, so read the ad carefully.

Do I need a motivation letter for a job in Germany?

Only if the job ad asks for one. If your cover letter already explains why you want this job and this company, a third page is not needed (Duisburg-Essen).

How long should a motivation letter be?

For a job, about one page. The ZAV gives one to two pages as the range (ZAV). For master’s programmes and scholarships, follow the university’s rule. Many ask for one page at most (Ulm, Bochum).

Can I write my motivation letter in English?

Yes, if the job ad or the programme is in English (LMU Career Service). Otherwise, check what the employer or the university asks for.

Does a motivation letter need a letterhead?

For a job, a heading such as “Why I am applying” and your signature are enough (Duisburg-Essen). For study and scholarships, a formal letter layout is common, but some universities ask for only your name in the header (TU Darmstadt, TU Dresden).

Can I use the same motivation letter for several applications?

Not unchanged. A motivation letter should explain what matters to this specific employer, not be a standard text (Duisburg-Essen). Keep your core story, and rewrite the parts about the job, the company or the programme each time.

Example CVs

The CV that goes with a motivation letter, in German format. The person is made up.

Lea HoffmannBusiness GraduateStart from this example

More on German CV examples.

Sources