How to Write Study Objectives for Scholarship Applications

Guidelines for Study Objectives

The purpose of the Study Objectives is to present concisely but thoroughly what you plan to study, what skills you wish to learn, and what you plan to do with the knowledge and skills you acquire.  After reading your study objectives, the reader should be able to understand clearly what it is exactly that you want to study and learn, and why it is important to you and your community.  You are presenting to a stranger what are your hopes and dreams that you will accomplish in and through your desired degree program.  The Study Objectives should be presented in an essay form made up of an introductory paragraph, the body text and the conclusion paragraph and should be approximately one typed page in length, single-spaced.

Part I: Introduction.  The introduction is one brief paragraph introducing what your study objectives are.  State your personal and/or professional interest and what degree and area of study you plan to pursue. Describe and define what the area of study means, in your own words and understanding.  Describe specific topics you are interested in studying, what you want to learn in these areas, and why this is important to your personal and your community’s collective interests and development.  (This is not a paragraph to introduce your self.  Please do NOT begin the study objectives essay with “My name is _______.”)

Part II.  The Body of the Essay. In the body of the essay, explain more thoroughly the study objectives focusing on the following questions. 

v  What influenced me to study this? How have my work experiences and other factors guided my decision to pursue this study field?

v  What do I hope to accomplish as a result of this study program? (What is your vision or dream that this study objective will help accomplish; why were you selected for this fellowship program?  How will this accomplishment apply to the needs of your community?  How will your overall degree, including coursework and research, relate to your overall goals and objectives in your community?)

v  How will earning your degree contribute to your own professional growth?  In what ways would you like to develop and strengthen your professional attitudes, values, perspectives, and worldview?

Part III.  Conclusion.  For the Conclusion, once again state your primary study objectives and summarize what you hope to accomplish as a result of your gaining the degree.