The full form of SOP is “Statement of Purpose”

SOP simply means stating your purpose for your student visa application.

Visa SOP (Statement of Purpose) is all about sharing your experiences and giving a firm
statement and/or a reason why you are eligible for any particular country where you want to
study. So, individual experiences and reasons won’t be the same as yours and vice versa.

Writing an SOP is all about you introducing yourself as a qualified visa candidate, who
should be allowed into a particular country, proving your point about why you are perfect fit
for their country and why their country is perfect fit for you?

Some got Temporary Resident Visa without SOP but don't try this if your application got
some ''undone'' and demanding questions. More so your profile, the type and manner of
study program would demand a convincing SOP with devoted hours or just fairly written
ones which could take me one hour as the case may be.

However, while writing a statement of purpose, there are some questions you are expected to
provide answers to, and I will be listing them below.

Your SOP should have:

1) Your address
2) The recipient address (the visa office address)
3) Subject
4) Paragraph
5) Transitional words
6) Good Vocabulary
7) Correct letter closing.
Irrespective of the availability of the attributes listed above, there are some questions that
needs to be answered in your SOP which I will provide.

I have always seen different formats and opinions on how to write it but to me there is
actually no standardize format in writing this, but any good reader would want to see a
sequential flow without repetition from introduction-body-conclusion and ability to
paragraph while structuring your statement is also necessary to make it interesting. Some tips
have been laid out to make you revolve your statements in accordance.

The listings goes on and on, however, with this questions being answered and strategic
construction of your sentence, you will definitely please the visa officer that will handle your
application.

1) What do you want to study at the school?

2) Why do you want to study this degree?
3) Why do you want to study at this particular college?
4) What are the school qualities that captured your interest?
5) Why you would like to study in this Country?
6) What are your educational goals?
7) Why have you not chosen to study in your homeland?
8) How much of experience do you have in your field?
9) Is your experience related to your choice of course?
10) If you are already experienced, what additional skills are you planning to gain from your
proposed course?

11) What you plan to do with your course after graduation?

12) Would you choose to end up with a job or take up research?
13) What are your expectations from both the course and the university?
14) Would you like to study or do research under any particular professor?
15) If yes, why only them?
16) How can you contribute to your university and your program?
17) What specific skills do you bring to the table?
18) Apart from work and education, what are your hobbies, interests, and habits?
19) What are you like, as a person (state your past experience, passion and interest)?
20) What do you understand about your intending student community and culture?
21) What conviction do you possess regarding this program?
22) What is that one unique aspect/characteristic about you that should be known?
23) Why does it matter to us or to the fellow students of your class?
24) How this program will benefit your employment opportunities in your own land?
25) What tied do you have to your home country?
26) If you’ve been out of school for more than 2 years, provide your resume: this should not
be a problem, especially to our graduates.
27) Add job experience and possible reasons for your study gaps.
28) If possible, mention a professor or two that you know of and compliment their work.

FURTHER NOTE:

The first thing your SOP should deal with is your reasons for choosing the program as noted
above. What actually inspired your decision to pursue the program? This area is quite tricky;
a lot of people make the mistake of stating generic reasons like "I have always had passion
for" the VOs probably see this phrase way too much. Whatever informed your decision to
pursue a program should have either economic, academic or career undertone.

The next thing you should address is your preparations for the program, is your undergrad
discipline related to the intending program? Is the program available in Nigeria? Why didn't
you attempt to do the program in Nigeria? In this segment you can state that you're eager to
launch your career and that the program takes longer in many institutions here in Nigeria or
that the program is not available in Nigeria.

In doing this, do not condemn Nigeria as the VO may think you're not patriotic and that
may work against you regarding home tie and trust me these westerners love patriotism to a
fault. When stating the reasons for choosing Canada just stop at raining praises on Canada's
economy and standard of education. You can also state that you've tried taking some online
courses but they were simply introductory and probably won't provide you with sufficient
knowledge or experience needed to succeed in your career.
If the intending program is inconsistent with your academic background but it is related to
your work, you should highlight the specific transferable skills and experience you have
garnered over the years in your field of work that would assist or aid your transition into
your intending program and subsequently after your program.

AIMS, GOALS AND FUTURE PROJECTION:

My advice is for you to first check your program website, most often than not, the program
outcomes is usually stated in the program website. Just copy them and then build on them.
Some people make the mistake of stating that after their program they would work for their
father or aunty or whatever or even return back to their present place of work, as cogent as
this seems, it doesn't fully describe what your goals are. Your goals should be something that
can be reasonably perceived as being an achievement not just that "you intend to go back to
your place of work" that's just your intention not your goals.

In addition to the above you should state what your career projections are i.e. in the next few
years after your program where do you see yourself. Take for instance, you're going for
marketing course in canny...you can state that your goal is to head the marketing department
of 500 fortune companies or to be a well-respected and recognized consultant in the field of
marketing etc. However, you have to be very realistic taking into consideration several
factors such as age; academic background and achievement etc. This will go a long way to
convince the VO that indeed you have a career plan and achievable goals and plan of
studying in Canada is not just an attempt to run away from your country.

Also, it is always advisable to highlight in one or two paragraphs what courses you're
expected to learn during your program. And how the courses would add value to your
career. For example; if you're going for HR, after your program, it is expected that you
would have learnt the following skills; Communication and presentation skills, problem
solving skills, strategic planning skills etc. This should to an extent convince the VO that
indeed you have genuine interest in the program and of course the program will add value to
you career wise or upgrade your already acquired knowledge and skills in your field of work.

Furthermore, you should say one or two things about the school particularly what attracted
you to the school. Here you can state that you've been exchanging correspondence with the
staff particularly the international admissions office of the school and some of the instructors
of your program and that they're very responsive, accommodating and eager to help and you
believe an environment like that would foster your academics etc. check the school website
to get more information regarding the benefit of studying in the school. You'd be surprised to
find that there are so many things on the website that could help you in writing a sound
SOP.

In case you're going for a program that is partially related to your undergrad discipline. It is
better to state in one paragraph the courses that you took during your undergrad which is
directly related to your intending program. For instance if you're going for international
business management but your undergrad discipline was let's say economics, ensure to check
your transcript and fish out those courses you took that are directly related to your intending
program. You can just state that "having taken so & so courses during my undergrad, I
believe I have made necessary preparations for my intending program" frankly I think this is
one of the reasons why CIC request for our transcripts. It would be better if you assisted the
VO in reconciling the disparity between your undergrad discipline and your intending
program. Sometimes these VOs maybe too impatient to actually check if there are courses in
our transcript that are related to our intending program. So better remind them of their job.
 SAMPLE TEMPLATES: SOP

Do not just copy and paste in your own interest but use it as a guideline. It’s not also the best
but it worked for many successful applicant. Check this link for more samples:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1gevqbkct9l0ciw/AAD400Wcj0_iyWelUk6AZe2ma?dl=0

a) The Canadian Embassy,

Visa Office,
P. O Box 54506,
Ikoyi Station,
Lagos, Nigeria.

Dear Sir/Ma,

Statement of Purpose

My maternal grandfather was a crude entrepreneur. I still have clear memories of him. I can
still remember watching him making business decisions and I used to discuss my business
ideas with him. As small as I was then, he never looked down on me. He would ask for my
suggestion on new business ideas. I can still remember my grandfather telling me: What a
good businessman you are going to make, Opeyemi. I never really wanted to do anything
else but I dabbled into Science after my JSS3 just because Commercial and Art classes were
ignorantly dimmed inferior to Science in my secondary school. Fast-forward years later, I
realized that I did not have the burning desire to become a practicing engineer. The
profession did not interest me; it was my perception of the profession that had caught my
fancy.

Since my graduation, I have been doing quite fine investing in small businesses. But unlike
my grandfather, I wanted to take Nigeria’s economic landscape by storm. I have spent a lot
of time looking for information on search-engines, the outline of the course-International
Business Management, coupled with the excellent reputation of Fanshawe College are my
main reasons for choosing Canada. I am especially interested in gaining an insight into the
thinking, doctrines and techniques of the International Business Management. Luckily for
me, as a graduate engineer I can still delve into Management. With a reputable school like
Fanshawe College and a course like International Business Management which exposes
students to the nitty-gritty of Business management, I will be able to hone my entrepreneurial
and enterprising skills.

Over the years, I have learnt as much practical entrepreneurial skills as I did in Mechanical
engineering. The subject matter of the two learning experiences were, of course, very
different; but I was engaged in developing my business skills as much as I was in learning
Engineering. My long time business/investment experiences have provided a thorough
exposure to the various specialties available in Business management, thus stimulating
interest in International Business Management. As an undergraduate, I was able to manage
and earn good returns on my stock portfolio (see stock documents) running into over a
million naira (N1, 000,000.00). Though it took a hit after the Nigerian Stock market nearly
crashed I have been able to inject an additional four hundred thousand naira (N 400,000.00)
after the near-crash to nullify the effect of the hit. This is a smart move as the glossy prospect
of the Nigerian economy remains of one of the world’s best kept secret.

Goal-wise, I wish to expand my views on business and international management. Presently

I am into tricycle leasing, which has been very encouraging. I came up with the idea last year
during my NYSC with my brother (Sponsor). I realized that the reason leasing businesses
was not thriving in Nigeria is because of the selfish interest of investors/lessors. I then came
up with an idea to let the lessee take total possession of the tricycle after a certain period of
time to give them a sense of belonging and this has worked like magic. There has been no
single default payment on the twelve (12) tricycles I presently leased out. However, I plan to
return back to Nigeria after my studies to harness the various business and investment
potentials that are begging for attention in Nigeria that only foreign investors have been able
to take advantage of. My long-term goal is to own a leasing company that would rival the
likes of Arval leasing company and Lease link of Canada.
I believe in my abilities and I know I have all it takes to succeed in Nigeria. This is not a ploy
to abscond from my country but a step in life to sharpen my knowledge to becoming a well-
rounded and polished person both in education and life. I also look forward to experiencing
the different foods, lifestyle and culture of the people of Canada.

Thanks in anticipation of your positive consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Xxxxxx xxxx.

b) June 1, 2010.

Your name here

Your address here
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Canadian Embassy

Visa Section
Abuja, Nigeria.

Subject: APPLYING FOR STUDY PERMIT (Canada)

Dear Sir/Madam,

My admission application has been approved and now I wish to apply for a study permit.
The ORIGINAL letter of acceptance from the institute is attached.
Please see the last page for the list of enclosures and documents, I have attached with the
application.

Introduction: I am a professional Web and Graphic designer, holding an extensive work

experience of more than 9 years in the graphics industry. I'm currently working as a
“Graphics Lead” (Senior Web & Graphics Designer) for a Denmark based Software
Company in Islamabad. (Original Letter from the employer is attached.) I also work as a
freelance designer and currently have more than 25 clients and companies in my freelance
profile list.

Purpose: According to the recent market trends and needs I have decided to enhance my
educational qualification and make a career change in my life and strongly feel that this is
the right time for me to update my professional skills from 2D graphics into 3D Motion
graphics (Computer Animation) to pursue with a bright and secure future carrier. In the
current market, there's a huge demand of 3D resources in Pakistan and many of the
multinational IT/software companies are targeting 3D - computer animation projects and
employees. (Some 3D - computer animation job advertisement printouts are also attached as
reference, downloaded from the major job posting websites of Pakistan.) But due to lack of
3D resources (3D professionals), Companies are unable to find an experienced resource. So
I'm sure once I'm back to my country with a 3D computer animation degree in hand, I will
be valued by the employers in Pakistan.

Purpose of choosing Sheridan: I have chosen a course and now have been granted
admission in (course name here) at university or college name here. One of the best reputable
institute specially in the Animation industry offering, up to date animation courses with
State-of-the-art learning environments featuring the latest technology all over the world, such
as the Research facility, highly recognized and competent faculty hired from the biggest
companies in the industry such as Nintendo, Sega, PSP, Disney etc..., as well as best
hardware machines (Computers and rendering machines) in the labs for animation, also the
college alumni, Comprehensive student support services, from Sheridan's friendly Student
Advisement Centers to the excellent resources of the Career Centre plus exhibitions for
students to show their profile/work developed during their studies and above all, a Practical
hands-on learning that prepares you to ‘jump right in' to the workforce.

Other than these, Unique Leading-Edge Centre's of Excellence, These centers’ include:
Sheridan Elder Research Centre, Sheridan Centre for Animation and Emerging
Technologies, Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies, Centre for
Healthy Communities. All these features/facilities/services impressed me and convinced me
to join Sheridan. I hope I can avail all the services to my best and cash the study time in
good manners.

A first payment fee of CAD $ 12,150.00 to the institute has been paid as mentioned in the
invoice, through my personal Dollar ($) Account. Copy of dollar ($) bank draft (sent to the
institute) is attached as a proof of evidence.

My health coverage is done through www.gaurd.me under student guard on behalf of the
institute.

My accommodation is also arranged, at 2-minutes walking distance from the institute, at:

Address of arranged
Accommodation goes here....

Landlord/Owner Name: his her name here

Landlord e-mail: xxxxxx @ yahoo.com

I have fulfilled all the requirements and have paid CAD$ 600 as required by the landlord to
book the room and rest of the amount for living will be paid once landed and is shown
available in my bank account (Bank statement). A letter from the landlord is also attached,
confirming the booking of my accommodation from August 2010 and onwards (for 1 year).
The letter contains her cell contact no. which can be used for further details and verification.

Funds available: According to my earnings and saving I have sufficient funds in my Allied
bank (Salary) account (F-6 super market branch) (i.e.: PKR 2,160,000/-over $CAD 26,900
approximately) for my expenses in Canada. (First payment fee of CAD$12,150 and
CAD$600 already paid) My recent bank statement (Both, Salary and Dollar $ account) are
attached showing the available funds for the last 6 months. I have sold my car (Honda Civic,
Model 2007 worth CAD$16,250 equivalents to 1.3 million PKR) to a relative on the terms
and conditions of paying in 2 instalments before 1st of July 2010. Original Car sale
agreement is also attached.

For further details please refer to my bank statement with highlighted information. Which
now makes a total of 2,160,000PKR over $CAD 26,900.

Note:

In order to pay my fee in dollars, i.e.: $CAD 12,150 (requirement of the institute) I had to
open a new separate personal DOLLAR $ account as my salary account in (Allied bank is a
Pakistani rupee (PKR) account and is not eligible to pay in dollar, according to the bank
policies), so I had to open a new dollar account and deposit the payable fee amount into it
from my salary account, and pay the fee from that account (dollar account). The transaction
for paying the fee from my dollar account to the institute can be seen on available bank
statement sheet, attached. (Both accounts are my personal accounts)

I assure you that on completion of my course, I will return back, and join the growing 3D
industry of Pakistan as I also have strong ties in Pakistan (My aged Mother (picture
attached), Brother (picture attached), Wife with 2 kids (Son and Daughter, Not
accompanying me, Also immediate family Pictures, Birth certificates and Marriage
certificate (Nikkah Nama) are attached as proof of evidence).
I really need your support and request you to encourage me and wish me good luck for my
future and efforts and issue me a postdated Study permit from August 1, 2010 onwards, as I
want to travel to Canada by end of August 2010.

I believe that the information I have provided is adequate and in detail, however if you have
any query, please feel free to contact me on 0092 xxxxxxxxxx or email: xxxxxxxxxx

Thank you so much in advance for your kind consideration.

Yours sincerely,

_________________
Your full name here

PROFESSIONAL CRITIQUE OF SOP WRITTEN BY A NIGERIAN

APPLICANT

Visa Officer,
Canada High Commission,
42, Independence Avenue,
Accra, Ghana.

The Visa Officer,

Deputy High Commission of Canada,
4 Anifowoshe Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos State,
Nigeria

While the address may not mean anything, I just want to say it is the wrong address for
someone applying from Nigeria, unless you're applying from Ghana.
23rd April, 2019

Dear Sir/Madam

APPLICATION FOR A CANADIAN STUDY PERMIT

My name............ I hail from Abia State, Nigeria. I am a graduate of the Federal Polytechnic
Nekede, Owerri, where I obtained my National Diploma and Higher National Diploma
degrees in Computer Science. I am currently a freelancer who provides I.T, CCTV and
Networking Solutions to individuals and top business organizations.

I always suggest that first paragraphs should include educational background immediately
after the name and surname of the applicant. In my opinion, your state of origin isn't
relevant, they aren't Nigerians and so do not need to know where you're from. Even if
they were Nigerians, they still don't need to know where you're from.
I think it should be "my name is ______, a graduate of _____ with specialization in _____.
I am currently _____ etc.

I have always known right from my undergraduate program that my knowledge in computer
science is the basis to my intellectual abilities in the IT world.

What does the above even mean please? Please sell yourself well. You could say "I have
always been fond of taking gadgets apart or I have always been curious about computers
and their functions. This fascination led me to study ______ at the University."

This is shown in my experiences; advancing as a computer administrator in Chikee Group of

Companies to an IT engineer in Swift Talk Limited and now an IT, CCTV and Networking
solution provider. I took a bold step of actualizing my dream of being an employer of labor
and a company owner by starting out as a freelancer.

You say "this is shown in my experiences", what are those experiences? Why aren't they
included if they are relevant to your future course? As a freelancer, do you have a
company? Are you an employer of labor or is it just a one-man business? If you decide to
include these experiences, please let them be business related; they could even be a mix of
business and IT experiences.

Nevertheless, to successfully run my business, I need the relevant knowledge and practical
skills, hence, my intention to pursue a certification program in Business Analysis from
Fanshawe College, Ontario, Canada. Fanshawe College provides exceptional courses in
Business Analysis, such as business intelligence, business architecture, project management,
advanced professional communication, and many more.

What would these courses do for you? What knowledge would they equip you with?
What would you be able to do with the knowledge gained? You could just mention one
application each of two or three of the courses. If I were the VO, it would make me think
'this guy is really serious about this and he knows his stuff.'

Aside its quality education, Fanshawe College has a friendly environment for international
students and its fees are affordable hence my reason for choosing the school.

This isn't good enough for me. Why? School fees for Nigerian universities are much more
affordable than those of Fanshawe, yet you didn't choose to pursue the course in Nigeria.
I'd advise that you remove the affordability part if you cannot compare it to other
universities in Canada that offer the same course.

Canada is a peaceful country with a peculiar education system and internationally

recognized certification.

They know, they do not want you telling them what Canada has. Tell them what you
want to do with the degree. For this part, I suggest you just leave it at why you chose
Fanshawe College.

My study in Canada will be sponsored by my uncle, Mr. Chiagbanwe Onyemachi, who

currently works as a Correctional Officer with Texas Department of Criminal Justice, United
States of America. The sum of CAD$2,300 has been paid to Fanshawe College as part
payment of my tuition, attached is the payment receipt and letter of admission. Also a
financial statement of USD$35,063.59 equivalent to CAD$46,771.20 has been provided to
support my application, attached is the bank statement and bank cover letter.

Please remove that forex link. I'm assuming you didn't include it in the SOP, because
really, all they have to do is do the calculation themselves, with their own calculators or
an Internet site of their choice. What would your uncle sponsor you? Is it the norm? Had
he been doing that? If yes, please say something about your relationship and show the
relationship if you can.

My desire to obtain a postgraduate certification in Canada is to enhance my business career.

I intend to be an IT business consultant and on the long run build my company. On
successful completion of my study in Fanshawe College, I will return to my home country
Nigeria to put into use the knowledge and skills I have acquired to the sustainability of the
Nigerian economy.

Your desire is to enhance your business career in what way? An IT consultant doing
what? Would the business analysis degree include IT knowledge? What exactly would
your own brand of IT consultation be if you're going to study business analysis? Where do
the two intersect? It should be "and IN the long run". How will you put to use the
knowledge and skills you acquire in Nigeria? Saying you want to use your knowledge and
skills for the sustainability of the Nigerian economy is not only wildly ambitious but very
vague. You cannot sustain Nigeria's economy, you aren't the CBN. Please state exactly
what you plan to do with that degree. You could enlist the Internet to aid you, if you're
short of words to explain properly.

I hope all these corrections make sense to you. Hopefully they do.

You’ll Testify!!!