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Writing an internship application letter – C1 English writing
An internship application letter should explain why you are interested in the opportunity, show that you meet the main requirements and demonstrate what you could contribute. At C1 level, your application should be tailored, persuasive and supported with specific evidence.
Understand the task and tailor your application
Before writing, identify the skills, experience and personal qualities the organisation is looking for. Match each important requirement with the strongest evidence you can provide.
‣ Requirement: What is the organisation looking for?
‣ Evidence: When have you demonstrated this skill or quality?
‣ Relevance: How would it help you contribute during the internship?You do not need to mention everything you have done. Select the information that is most relevant to this particular opportunity.
Organise your application letter
A clear structure allows the reader to identify your suitability quickly. An internship application letter will usually include:
🔹 Greeting:
Use the recipient’s name if it is provided. If it is not, use Dear Hiring Manager or Dear Sir or Madam.
🔹 Paragraph 1 – Reason for writing:
Name the internship and briefly introduce your current situation, field of study or professional background.
🔹 Paragraph 2 – Relevant experience and skills:
Focus on the most important requirements and support your claims with specific examples, responsibilities or results.
🔹 Paragraph 3 – Motivation and contribution:
Explain why this particular organisation or programme interests you, what you hope to learn and what you could contribute.
🔹 Paragraph 4 – Closing:
Refer to your CV, express your willingness to discuss the application and thank the reader.
🔹 Sign-off:
Use Yours sincerely when you know the recipient’s name and Yours faithfully when you do not.Do not simply repeat the information in your CV. Select the details that best demonstrate why you are suitable and explain their relevance.
Describe your qualifications clearly
Internship applicants may have limited professional experience, so their academic background can be particularly important. Mention your current qualification, subject, stage of study and any relevant modules, projects or specialist training.
‣ Bachelor’s degree: The main undergraduate university degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).
‣ Master’s degree: A postgraduate qualification, such as a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc).
‣ Doctorate: The highest level of university degree, normally involving original research. A PhD is the most common type of doctorate.
‣ Diplomas and professional certificates: These are qualifications but are not normally described as degrees.Degree names and classifications vary between countries. Use the official English name of your qualification and focus on the parts that are relevant to the internship.
For more vocabulary related to degrees, qualifications and university study, see our B2 vocabulary lesson on education.Support your claims with evidence
Avoid unsupported statements such as I am an excellent communicator. Instead, develop your ideas through claim + evidence + relevance.
My role as communications officer has given me considerable experience producing digital content. For example, I coordinated an online campaign that increased registrations for our annual event by 35%. This experience would enable me to contribute effectively to your communications team.Specific examples make your application more convincing than a list of positive adjectives.
Explain your motivation and contribution
Show that you understand what makes this particular internship valuable. Connect the organisation’s work with your interests or future goals, but also explain what you could offer. A strong application presents the internship as a two-way opportunity.
Use a confident, professional style
Use precise action verbs such as coordinated, produced, analysed and implemented. Sound confident without exaggerating or using so many cautious expressions that you appear uncertain.
‣ Too exaggerated: I am undoubtedly the perfect candidate for this position.
‣ More effective: I am confident that my experience in digital communication would allow me to contribute effectively.
‣ Too cautious: I think I might be able to help with some parts of the project.
‣ More effective: My research experience would enable me to make a useful contribution to the project.
‣ Too vague: I helped with several social media tasks.
‣ More effective: I scheduled posts, responded to enquiries and monitored engagement.If you have limited professional experience, draw attention to relevant academic projects, voluntary work and transferable skills.
Useful language
Opening and introducing your profile
- I am writing to apply for the … internship advertised …
- As a … with experience [verb + -ing] …, I am keen to …
- My background in …, combined with …, makes me a strong candidate for …
Describing your qualifications
- I am currently completing a bachelor’s degree in …
- I am a final-year … student at …
- I hold a master’s degree in …
- Relevant modules include …, while my final-year project focuses on …
Linking your experience to the requirements
- Of particular relevance is my experience in [subject or field] …
- My experience [verb + -ing] … has equipped me with …
- The skills I developed while … would enable me to …
- Of particular relevance is my role as …
- Through this role, I gained first-hand experience [verb + -ing] …
Providing evidence and results
- While …, I was responsible for …
- For example, I …, which resulted in …
- This experience required me to … and taught me how to …
Showing motivation
- What particularly attracts me to … is …
- I am especially interested in this opportunity because …
- The opportunity to … would allow me to …
Explaining what you could contribute
- I am confident that I could contribute to … by …
- Should I be selected, I would bring …
- Although I have not yet …, I have gained relevant experience through …
Closing the application
- Please find my CV attached.
- I would welcome the opportunity to discuss …
- I would be available for the full … period.
- Thank you for considering my application.
Sample task
✍ You see this announcement on the website of Green Horizons, an international environmental organisation:
Communications internship
We are looking for a university student to join our communications team for eight weeks. Applicants should have excellent written communication skills, experience creating digital content, the ability to work collaboratively and a genuine interest in environmental education.
Send an application letter and your CV to Ms Elena Ruiz. In your letter, explain why you are interested in the internship, describe your relevant skills and experience, and say what you could contribute.
Write 220-260 words.Sample answer
Blue: Organising the application
Yellow: Use C1 grammar
Green: Connectors
Orange: Evidence and results
Dear Ms Ruiz,
I am writing to apply for the eight-week Communications Internship advertised on the Green Horizons website. As a final-year Media and Communications student with practical experience creating online content, I am keen to support an organisation whose work makes environmental issues accessible to young people.
Of particular relevance is my role as communications officer for my university’s sustainability society. Last year, I coordinated an online campaign promoting our annual repair fair, producing short videos, scheduling posts and responding to enquiries. Having helped increase registrations by 35% compared with the previous year, I gained first-hand experience adapting messages to different audiences and working to tight deadlines. In addition, collaborating with six volunteers has strengthened my ability to organise tasks and respond constructively to feedback.
What particularly attracts me to Green Horizons is your focus on practical environmental education rather than simply raising awareness. The opportunity to contribute to your schools programme would allow me to develop my communication skills while supporting a project I genuinely value. Should I be selected, I would bring creativity, careful attention to detail and experience producing content for younger audiences. I would also be available for the full eight-week period.
Please find my CV attached. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and motivation could contribute to your communications team. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Maya Chen -
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