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Sop Guidelines

This document provides guidelines for writing statements of purpose for British higher education applications. It discusses general guidelines, including clarifying objectives and avoiding repetition. It recommends drafting a table of contents organizing topics like motivations, preparedness, and post-study plans. For research applications, it emphasizes the need to convince the committee of one's seriousness and vision through discussing research interests, experiences, proposed projects, and skills like independence and perseverance. The statement should be divided into sections on research areas, previous work, proposed projects, reasons for advanced study, and choice of university.

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38 views

Sop Guidelines

This document provides guidelines for writing statements of purpose for British higher education applications. It discusses general guidelines, including clarifying objectives and avoiding repetition. It recommends drafting a table of contents organizing topics like motivations, preparedness, and post-study plans. For research applications, it emphasizes the need to convince the committee of one's seriousness and vision through discussing research interests, experiences, proposed projects, and skills like independence and perseverance. The statement should be divided into sections on research areas, previous work, proposed projects, reasons for advanced study, and choice of university.

Uploaded by

seviram441
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gateway Abroad

Consultants for British Higher Education

Statement of Purpose
Guidelines

General Guidelines Page 1


Research Statement of Purpose Page 2

General Guidelines

1) Before you start writing, be clear in your own mind as to the


objectives of writing this statement
A statement of purpose is generally used to convince the admissions committee
that you are suitable for the course applied for. Clarify why you think you are
suitable for this course, why you would do well in it, and how your previous
experiences are relevant and strengthen your position as an applicant. You should
also consider your own skills, your strengths and weakness, your motivations and
your future plans.

Always keep in mind the purpose of the statement of purpose while writing it,
making sure that no superfluous information in included. Remember that while
you may wish to reinforce certain parts of your CV, overdoing on repetition is not
going to be very useful.
Also keep in mind your readers and consider what they are looking for and how
you think you fit in.

2) Draft a Table of Content for your Statement


Consolidate your thoughts into specific sub-topics. The following are typical areas
that need to be addressed:
- Your motivations behind your application
- Your reasons for choosing the course that you’ve chosen
- How you think you are prepared for undertaking the course (you can
mention here not only academic preparations, but also any extracurricular
activities that have given you skills and knowledge that will be useful for the
course)
- Your reasons for choosing the institution
- What are your plans after your study and how does doing this course fit in
these plans
If there are any inconsistencies in your records or examination results, you may
write a couple of lines to justify yourself. Remember to follow up any potentially
negative points with positive statements of your abilities and strengths.

3) Write the Statement in a Style that Reflects your own Character and
Personality, but Don’t Exaggerate on Individuality
- Avoid narrative styles about your life and avoid confusing sentences
- Try to be clear and to the point in simple language
- Remain objective and specific, but reveal enough relevant information
- Support any statements with real examples (e.g. don’t just say that you are
good at something, but explain how so and how it’s been proven)

www.gatewayabroad.com 1
Email: [email protected]
Gateway Abroad
Consultants for British Higher Education

4) Things to Consider
- Keep your statement of purpose short (1-2 pages) except if you are writing
a research proposal for MPhil or PhD where you may go up to 4-5 pages.
- Do not use jargon or foreign words, unless they are clearly explained
- Spell-check your document or have it proof read

Research Statement of Purpose

5) Objectives
For research applicants, a statement of purpose is an opportunity for the
applicant to convince the admissions committee that he/she is serious and has a
clear vision for the next few years. It should not only cover the general points in
Sections 1-4 above, but also research-related points.

6) Important Points to Cover


- Your research interests: this enables the admissions committee to direct you
to the right supervisors
- Your previous research experiences if any, particularly if it is relevant to your
expressed research interests above
- Your reasons for doing a research degree
- Why you think you will be successful in doing a research degree – what are
your strengths and weaknesses, what prepared you for research
- Reasons for choosing the institution
Consider also the difficulties and challenges of moving area/country and how you
are prepared for them.

7) Skills Relevant to Research Students


Research degrees are very different to taught degrees and the amount of contact
time with lecturers and supervisors is generally less than in research. The
following attributes are useful; if you feel that you have them, it might be helpful
to point it out in your statement of purpose:
- Independence and ability to work from your own initiative
- Ability to overcome problems using your own initiative
- Short term and long term planning and organizing skills
- Innovative approach to problem solving
- Ability to define clear objectives and methodology for reaching them
- An understanding of research, research problems and implications
- Perseverance and fighting spirit (does not easily give up)
- Motivated

8) General Format of an SOP for Research


An SOP can be broadly divided into 5 sections based on what were mentioned
above.

In the first section, describe the general areas of research that interest you and
why. In the second section, describe your previous research experiences, what
you found, what you learned, what were your approaches. The third section can
cover the research project that you want to work on. Mention any papers have
you looked at for research in the area you are looking for to illustrate that you are
knowledgeable in the chosen field. In the fourth section, describe why you feel
you need a M.S/MPhil/Ph.D. Look back to sections 2 and 3 and explain what are

www.gatewayabroad.com 2
Email: [email protected]
Gateway Abroad
Consultants for British Higher Education

in there that appealed to you. In the final section, describe why you want to join
the university you are applying, whom might you like to work with, what will you
will you get out of this university and how this university can help you in
achieving your goals.

It’s important to realise that the research statement is not a commitment to do


research in that area. A third of all applicants end up working in an area different
from that which they described on their research statement.

www.gatewayabroad.com 3
Email: [email protected]

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