Statement of purpose (SOP) is a short essay written by the applicant highlighting all his positive traits and skills. It is a great opportunity for applicants to elaborate their academic interests, work experiences, and personal background. A well written SOP for MS in Australia will impress the admissions committee and increase the likelihood of acceptance into an esteemed university.

The statement of purpose should include the motivation for pursuing the specific course in that institution, major accomplishments, professional goals, specific area of interest within the program and details about academic and extracurricular activities where the applicant excels. An applicant gets a chance to speak about himself beyond his grades, test scores and academic performance.

Points to Keep in Mind While Writing an SOP for MS in Australia

Australia is recognized all across the world for its splendid landscapes as well as it’s immense popularity among the students for its standard of education. It is a desirable study abroad destination for students all over the world. Remember to frame the SOP for MS in Australia by including the below mentioned details:

  • Academic Background: Discuss in detail about your previous education relevant to MS program, projects or internships undertaken that helped you hone your skills. Significant achievements, awards, in any related field of study.
  • Work Experience: Give details of your whole employment history. Highlight your relevant work experiences and Mention the major skills learnt from that experience.
  • Motivation to study that particular course: Discuss the reasons that influenced you to take up an MS program in that particular course. If possible, give evidence from real life supporting your reasons.
  • Reasons to choose Australia for your higher studies: Mention the reasons why you preferred to live and study in Australia. Specify whether it is due to low cost of living, quality of teaching, etc
  • Reasons why you chose this university: Elucidate the reasons why that specific university complements your academic goals.
  • Future goals: Explain why you want to pursue MS in that particular programme and how it will help you achieve your future goals after its completion. State your short-term and long-term goals.

The following tips must be kept in mind while writing a Statement of purpose for MS in Australia:

  • The SOP should be brief yet comprehensive and should include all the positive traits of the applicant relevant to the course.
  • The statement of purpose should be verifiable and should only contain honest details about the candidate
  • Applicants must not exaggerate about his accomplishments and qualities.

SOP Sample for MS in Australia

Given below is the sample Statement of purpose written by a student applying to MS in computer science:

While all of my classmates were confused about their future career goals, I was clear and determined about my aim since high school. My deep inclination towards technology and innovation drove me to pursue my bachelors degree in computer science at ABC university.

I was fortunate to have been accepted in one of the top engineering colleges in my country and it has helped me gain boundless knowledge and guidance from exceptional faculty. Both my parents being IT professionals has helped me in remarkable ways. They taught me programming languages and computing skills from a very early age and they are one of the greatest reasons for my fascination towards computer science.

During my bachelors degree, I’ve learnt to develop the fundamentals of the subject and gained a strong foundation in the field. I got acquainted with various areas of study including artificial intelligence, programming languages, database systems, operating system, design and computing. The advanced computer labs and extensive curriculum of the university helped me enhance my technical skills. I've a great academic history and have been in the top 10% of my entire city in 12th grade final examinations. During my final year, I prepared a project on “Android Patient Tracker” which helped me develop my programming skills to a great extent.

I have always had active participation in extracurricular activities, giving equal importance to academics too. I have been awarded in several debate competitions, article writing competitions, and quiz programs. I’ve always been passionate about chess and have represented my country in the international level competitions.

I believe both academic and extracurricular activities are essential for a child’s growth and plays an important part in developing the skills from an early age. My parents have encouraged and supported me since childhood to participate in different competitions which has helped me develop my personality.

During the final year of my bachelors degree, I took an integral decision of interning for XXXX company and gaining some professional experience. Throughout my internship program, I had been exposed to the corporate work environment and it has helped me in honing my managerial skills, organisational skills and teamwork skills. Working at a renowned IT industry has been beneficial for me and my career goals.

I know the path from here is going to be difficult. After all, life isn’t a bed of roses, it’s a journey where you’ll have to overcome the hurdles, face the thorns in order to reach the ultimate destination. The challenges that come our way will strengthen us and promote our personal growth. I am ready to work hard and achieve my goals.

I believe the MS in computer science at your university will provide me top notch education and research facilities. The computer labs at your university are well equipped with the latest technology. The world class faculty and quality of education that you provide will be a big step towards achieving my goals. I will be honoured to be a student at your university. I hope to get admission.

Nate Williamson