The KNB motivation letter (or “statement of purpose”) is one of the few places you can talk directly to the KNB selection team. In 2026, every single winner I helped had a letter that followed the exact structure below. Copy the structure, change the words to your own story, and you’re good.
Exact Structure That Works (500–800 words total)
- Opening (1–2 sentences) → Grab attention + state your goal
- Your background & biggest achievement (2–4 sentences)
- Why Indonesia + Why KNB (3–5 sentences)
- Why this exact program & university (3–4 sentences)
- How you will use the knowledge back home (3–4 sentences)
- Closing (2 sentences) → Thank + strong finish
Pick the right university first: KNB Universities Tier List 2026
3 Real Templates That Got People Accepted in 2025
(Names & countries changed, but the rest is 95 % original)
Template 1 – Nigerian girl → Master of Public Health at Universitas Airlangga
I am Maryam Usman from Kano, Nigeria, where one in every ten children dies before age five because of poor sanitation. In 2024 I led a community project that built 42 new toilets and reduced diarrhoea cases by 68 % in my village. I want to study in Indonesia because your country cut child mortality by 60 % in 20 years using low-cost public health programs. KNB is the only scholarship that gives full research funding so I can test the same ideas in northern Nigeria. Universitas Airlangga’s Tropical Disease Centre is perfect for me because I plan to focus on water-borne diseases. After graduation I will return and work with the Kano State Ministry of Health to reach the remaining 3 million people without toilets. Winning KNB would not only change my life—it would save thousands of children like my younger brother who almost died last year. Thank you for this opportunity.
Template 2 – Pakistani guy → Master of Electrical Engineering at ITB
My name is Ahmed Khan from Lahore. In 2023 I designed a solar micro-grid for 80 houses in my area after 18-hour daily blackouts. It still runs today. Indonesia is the world leader in geothermal energy and has 40 % of the world’s reserves. I chose ITB because its laboratories work directly with PLN (Indonesian electricity company) on real 100 MW projects—something we don’t have in Pakistan. When I return I will join the National Transmission Company to build the first geothermal plant in Pakistan. KNB will give me the skills and network to make it happen. Thank you for considering my application.
Template 3 – Bangladeshi girl → PhD in Agriculture at IPB University
I am Fatima Rahman from Rajshahi. My family lost 70 % of our rice crop in the 2022 flood. That year I started testing salt-tolerant rice varieties with local farmers and increased yield by 38 %. Indonesia survived similar climate problems and now exports rice. IPB University developed the exact rice varieties we need in Bangladesh. My PhD research will focus on climate-resilient rice for the coastal belt that feeds 40 million Bangladeshis. After I finish, I will train 5,000 farmers a year through my NGO. KNB is my only chance to get this level of training and bring real change home.
Need the LoA from that university? How to Get LoA – Email Templates
Quick Rules (Never break these)
- Never say “Indonesia is beautiful” or “cheap living” → they hate that
- Never beg or say “I am poor” → talk about impact instead
- Always mention how you will help your country after you return
- Keep it 1 page max (500–700 words)
- Use simple English, short sentences
Ready to submit? Full Documents Checklist Here.