How to Write an SOP for your Study Visa Canada

May 31, 2022

Naju Gadhavi

What is a Statement of purpose? A statement of purpose or SOP is a document containing information about your intention and purpose to study in a particular country. The SOP will say a lot about you, your attitude, clarity of thoughts, and aptitude towards work, it is easy to assess your personality and helps you stand out from the crowd. SOP is a vital piece of the document containing information that secures your chance of admission as it is and thus very Important for your Study Visa for Canada 

Points to Consider before you start Writing your SOP

Now as discussed earlier, writing an SOP is crucial for your journey to study in Canada in any country you would like to go to, what the universities look for is a candidate who would make the best of the education received and make a valuable impact on the specific industry. 

Be you – We all individuals perform at our peak when we are ourselves because we all have certain uniqueness which is reflected in any piece of work we do. Therefore, when you write your SOP as all students do, write it in a way that shows your uniqueness.

Listing your Failures is fine – Normalising failures is very important, “as no one can know it all”.

If there are any failures, mention them with a proper explanation, and elaborate on how you overcame them and how they helped you to enhance your personality; however, the catch is to showcase the failures in a smart way!

Style of writing – What makes you different from several SOPs that will be submitted is your style of writing. A compelling SOP is the one that is engaging and holds the attention of the admission committee, so it should not be just a paper sharing all the information but a conversion happening between you and the examiner. Your SOP should be honest and precise.

Checklist for SOP and What does an SOP include.

Introduction – Start your SOP with an eye-catching statement, this could be a quote from a famous author or a theme from the course you opt for.

The introductory section will be an overview of the key elements that will be presented in the upcoming paragraphs of your SOP.

What to write in an SOP introduction?

1. Present your understanding of why you choose to study in this field and how you would like to contribute to the given field.
2. Explain your background in brief and link it with your future goals.
3. Explain your long-term goal that will show them your vision for the future.

Background and Professional experience

This includes what you have done so far in terms of your academics and what you are currently doing, the ongoing projects, your subject strength, and industrial exposure if you have attained any.

Career Goals

Now this section is crucial for your SOP since this includes your long-term and short-term goals, you must have a vision for yourself therefore dividing your career goals in two will help you give a perspective and if you are going in the right direction to reach your goal of Canadian study permits  

Short-term goals are the ones that are specific i.e., what kind of job you will do once you graduate, what will be your plans for the job, and what skills you will acquire to achieve that goal of yours.

Long-term goals can also be called your life goals, as this will depict what you will do in the coming 10- 15 years down the line whether it is further studies like Ph.D. to expanding your family business overseas. Also, it is very important for you that your short-term goal resonates with your long-term plan.

Why Choose this Course?

In this paragraph, you should explain why you want to join the course and what modules you would like to tap according to your area of interest. Also, the choice of your course should cover the skills you would like to acquire for your future goals.

Why Choose this Institute?

The reasoning for the choice of the university or college helps understand how thoroughly you’ve researched the benefits that it offers and how the culture, as well as the curriculum, offered, can help you excel on various fronts.

Financial Planning

It is very important to share the information about how you are planning to finance the course, which bank are you affiliated with, and how you will cover all the expenses.

Example of Financial planning in SOP– I have paid CAD 20,997 as my first-year fees OF Humber College and a secured G.I.C in Scotia bank of CAD 10,000, to cover my expenses during my stay in Canada.

Things you can also Include in your SOP

• Why did you choose this country to pursue the course?
• What experience do you have in your field?
• What are the different projects, courses, etc you have chosen in your past college experience?
• What is that one unique aspect/characteristic about you that the admission officers should know?
• Future planning.

How to end your SOP?

Conclude your SOP with gratitude, explain to the committee your need for the program, convince the evaluator that this program is the solution and that you are a good fit, and close all the loops you have started in your SOP.

The key tip for SOP – When you have been asked to write a statement of purpose and present it to the admission committee, the most important thing to consider is accurate grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Although there is no specific word count for the SOP, it is advisable to maintain a word count of 1200 to 1500 words.

START YOUR ASSESSMENT apply to study in Canada, Get in touch and understand different routes to study in Canada with a free Profile assessment. 

Consult with our Senior Practitioner as we would be able to assess your profile and advise you in the right track. You can call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad) for further information.

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