MotivationalLetter: Master's degree in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology

I am writing to express my keen interest in pursuing a Master's degree in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology at the University of Coimbra. My responsibilities as the production manager/team lead of the Quality Control Unit of O'SEYE Enterprises, a food processing company, have exposed me to some contemporary challenges and changes in the industry. Hence, I am challenged to advance my education at a prestigious institution that emphasizes research, innovation, and academic excellence, such as yours.

As a graduate student, I have worked and published journals with international researchers from the Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), United States, the Centre of Biological Engineering and the University of Minho, both in Portugal, and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria. The research-oriented courses outlined for this program, the availability of world-class laboratories and seasoned lecturers with well-cited publications assure me of real-world learning at the University of Coimbra. Portugal is known for its rich scientific heritage, commitment to fostering innovation in the field of biotechnology and vibrant academics affirm my thoughts.

I am convinced that the contemporary knowledge I will gain from this academic journey will empower me for the challenges at work and impact my teams. Most importantly, O'SEYE ENTERPRISES is our family business, and we plan to expand to other sectors and ensure we meet all regulatory standards both nationally and globally. Consequently, the necessity to attend a global institution. In the long run, my career goal is consultancy, joining a venerated university and partner with research institutes both at home and abroad. Therefore, this program will prepare me for the doctoral degree I aim to earn before venturing into my future aspirations. Food security is an alarming issue in my home country and my conviction is that food security cannot be addressed if food processing is not prioritized. Microbial biotechnology is a catalyst for both food production and food processing. Thus, this journey is not personal, it's an investment in humanity.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Since you already have an existing master's degree, you should be justifying why you would want to pursue a 2nd master's course. It would also help if you connect your first course with the second course. That way a clear academic path will be provided for the consideration of the admissions committee. The motivation based on the family business should also be better developed by first, explaining how far your first masters degree has brought you in terms of business development and second, how the 2nd degree will be a stepping stone towards your future business ideas. The motivational letter can be better developed and more informative at this point. This is a good start, you need to develop it further.