Canada is one of the most preferred places among students planning to study abroad. The country is among the top countries in terms of quality of life. The Canadian education system offers holistic development to students and also opens opportunities for professional growth.
One document you need to prepare and send out to universities is the SOP or the statement of purpose. It is an important document, and each candidate willing to study in Canada needs to submit it while applying for Canada Study Visa and the universities.
The Canadian universities verify the academic performances and profile of each applicant. Each university has a set of pre-requisite criteria, according to which they process each application.
The SOP is more often the deciding factor for universities to accept or reject your application. Therefore, if you are serious about getting a Canada Study Visa and studying at a top Canadian university, you need to write a flawless SOP.
What is SOP?
SOP is the statement of purpose – A wordy document that highlights the reason why you opted for a particular course and also has details about your educational and personal background.
Essentially it is a 1500-2000 word essay that answers the following questions from your perspective:
- Why did you choose Canada for further education?
- Why are you applying for XYZ university?
- What are your areas of interest and why?
- What are your plans after studying in Canada- will you move back to your country?
- How will you fund your education?
Since you are applying for a Canada study visa, it is always safe to mention that you will move back to your country after the course/program gets over. Mention scholarships, if you have any.
If you are planning to take up a part-time job, you must mention and discuss it in your SOP. In this case, you must ensure you do not work for more than 20 hours a week during an active academic session.
Importance of SOP for Canada Study Visa
Statement of purpose gives the officials clarity on your intentions about pursuing a course in Canadian universities. The Canadian visa process does not involve any personal round of interviews with a visa officer.
Documents such as your passport, degree certificate, bank account statement, etc related to visa processes give officials information about your academics, finances, etc.
An SOP is one such vital document that reflects your personal and social background. It must convey your expectations and intentions for studying in Canada. It encourages the officer to decide in your favor.
Example of How SOP Helps
An officer gets an application from a student named ‘A’.
So, ‘A’ applied for a study visa through IRCC registered immigration consultants in Bangalore.
With expert help, ‘A’ submits all the relevant documents. The documents reveal that ‘A’ has multiple backlogs.
When the visa and university authorities receive such an application, they seek clarifications for the poor grades. Your SOP provides them with required answers as here ‘A’ smartly writes about why her grades dipped and how she managed to improve herself.
SOP is an opportunity to put down your side of the story and explain to the visa officer about personal interests, family background, your hobbies, your motivation behind studying the particular course, and much more.
Standard Sop Format for Canada Study Visa
A perfect SOP consists of some basic elements which you must always bear in mind while drafting an SOP.
● An attractive opening statement
It should not be lengthy but be precise and to the point. You can use famous quotes that describe you the best.
● An elaborative academic background
Your SOP is ultimately to get you the study visa. Therefore, be generous in flaunting (never exaggerate, though) your academic qualifications and achievements. You can also talk about failures and how you overcame them.
● Professional summary, if any
If you have any professional background, mention it along with the roles and responsibilities attached to a role. It is also a good place to show off the praises and accolades for your work. You can also mention how your services helped the organization you worked with.
Even if it’s volunteer work during or post-education, do not forget to include them as well.
● Your reason to choose Canada and the university program
Here you need to be as specific as possible. Point out what made you choose the university program. Try to avoid vague and common answers for this.
Research more and list out the genuine reasons why you particularly chose the country and the subject.
● Your career goals
Mention what you are planning to do after completion of the course – whether you will stay back in Canada or come back to India.
You can divide this section into two- Short term and long-term goals.
Short-term goals can be about the college thesis you are about to work on. You can include a brief about the roadmap of how you plan to finish the thesis on time and the resources you have for the same.
Long-term goals are your ultimate ambition in pursuing the course. Whether you want a lucrative job or want to start your entrepreneurial journey- Write your heart out but be crisp and concise.
● Closing Paragraph
A closing paragraph should ideally be a token of gratitude to the head of the university for considering your application. The small paragraph must assure the concerned authorities about your credibility and showcase your passion to complete the program with flying colors.
When writing SOP for universities, you will need a more personalized approach. Universities usually look for elements such as your academic scores, volunteer work, community behavior, and work experience in your SOP. Therefore, stress more on these points while drafting an SOP.
Conclusion
Writing an SOP that converts can be taxing. You may have to draft multiple times before you create the perfect one. Leveraging the SOP writing services of IRCC registered immigration consultants in Bangalore can help you write an SOP that has a perfect structure and includes all the vital points.
Croyez offers holistic support for students aspiring to apply for Canada study visas. We are committed to helping you achieve your dream by making the student visa process smooth and fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory to prepare an SOP while applying for a Canadian Study Visa?
Yes, SOP for Canada Student Visa stands as an important letter-like document that has to be attached with the Canada study Visa application.
Is there any word limit for SOP?
There is no word limit rule for an SOP, the only lookout is that it has to be precisely written with the required content about a student’s educational and professional background along with the right future goals.
Can a student use one SOP for all Canadian Universities?
Yes, a student can submit the same SOP for multiple universities in Canada, the only precaution before such submission would be a check on the course applied, the student has to ensure and rewrite the SOP with relevance to the program applied with the colleges.
Will a visa officer evaluate my SOP?
Yes, a Visa officer will evaluate the SOP based on the intention of the visit to the country which is expected to be satisfying on all grounds.
Should you put your name on your Statement of Purpose?
Yes, all the important information including the name, residential address, and all other essential personal details of the applicant should be clearly stated in the SOP.
