Dear Erasmus Committee,
My name is Petra Novakova and I would like to apply for the Erasmus exchange student
programme at the University of Helsinki in spring 2009.
I am currently in my third semester studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at
Masaryk University. I actively participate in university life, being a member of the Academic
Senate and the university choir. In my studies, I am particularly interested in Nordic folk
music, the specifics of which I am going to investigate in my Bachelor’s thesis.
I would like to study at the University of Helsinki as it is known for high-quality education and
offers a range of specialized courses in Nordic folk music, which are taught by renowned
experts in the field. Therefore, I believe that a study stay there would be a unique opportunity
for me to gain first-hand knowledge of the topic that I would like to pursue in my thesis
research. I also hope to gain insight into various other aspects of the culture and history of
the country. In addition, I would improve my spoken and written English, which would
enhance my chances to find good employment either in the Czech Republic or abroad.
I believe that I can quickly adapt to life in a different country because I am independent,
open-minded and friendly. I have a good command of English, which would enable me to
easily follow courses in English. I like to actively participate in seminar discussions and hope
that by coming from Central Europe I could bring a different perspective on folk music.
I would be grateful if you could consider my application and give me a chance to participate
in the Erasmus programme, which would contribute to my professional and personal
development.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Petra Novakova
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Which paragraph,,,
Showing gratitude Own skills and qualities Ending with use of politeness
Formal greetings Signing off formally Detailed information about the writer
Motivation for the choice of university Purpose of the letter
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Instructions on the next page..
Write your own application letter, though personalise it to make it about yourself. Your
structure and letter length should be similar to the above sample.