With no work history, a fresher's application letter leans on coursework, projects and internships. Name a specific project and what it produced — concrete beats enthusiastic every time at entry level.
Nearly. 'Application letter' is the more formal term, common in South Asia and for postal or email applications. 'Cover letter' is the standard term in the US and UK. The structure is the same.
One page, three or four paragraphs. Anything longer is competing with your CV instead of introducing it.
'Dear Hiring Manager' is fine. It is better than a wrong name — and worth two minutes on LinkedIn to check first.