Statement of Purpose (SoP)

The statement of Purpose (SOP) is your opportunity to tell the universities what you want them to know about you. It’s an important part of your application, although even a great SOP probably won’t help too much if you don’t have grades to meet the entry requirements. Please don’t copy the SOP from the internet because the universities might have seen this before.

Tips and format of the SOP – we recommend

- the SOP is typed and not handwritten.

- no less than one side of A4 paper and no more than two sides of A4.

- your name and course are inserted in the header of the document.

- the SOP is submitted on a separate sheet of paper & write ‘please see attached sheet’ in the relevant section on the application form.

Things to write in your statement

This is your one chance to say what you want rather than answer the questions on the application form. Although you don’t need to repeat things that you have already written in the application form. The statement can be used to emphasize your strengths and maybe explain any weaknesses in your application.

How to write the statement of purpose? As the admissions are becoming increasingly competitive, then remember that this can be an important document in your application and use it to show that you know about the course, university, your study planning in the university, and reason to study the course.

A simple structure

Paragraph 1 – Motivation for studying this subject/course

- Why you want to study in the subject

- How it relates to your experience or interests

Paragraph 2 – The proposed course details and its relevance to you

- Show you have researched the course

- Refer to the individual modules within the course

- Try to say why you want this course at this university

- What is special about this particular course

Paragraph 3 – Your relevant background (from your study and/or work experience)

- Highlight past achievement or relevant experience for this course

- Explain your GPA and transcript if you have to – if your overall GPA is a little lower as you had a problem during the first or second year of study, then highlight your strong performance in the final year or two

Paragraph 4 – Your future plans and how the course will help

- Link this course to your future plans by explaining how you think it will help you in your career

Now Hands On offers you a special SoP service by Matthew Jarvis, our SoP expert who has several years experiences, together with four native English speaking staff who will happily read over your SoP.  We also run workshops called SoP drop-in session every Tuesday and Thursday on 15.00 – 17.00 on how to write a good SoP which will be opened for registration here. At the same time, you can send your SoP draft to sop@hands-onconsultants.com for checking and verifying your statement.

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