Sample SOP for MS in Australia

Ranking in the top 5 countries for being preferred study destinations of international students, Australia is a hub of many top universities and colleges. The country offers quality education through numerous courses in various streams to thousands of international students.

If you are still in the planning stage for your application, check out the Application Timelines for Australia for:

• July Intake
• February Intake

On the contrary, if you have reached the stage of application, you might want to learn how to prepare a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for an Australian university. Please note that Australian universities do not generally ask for an SOP, instead, they ask for written material in the form of University Essays and GTE Forms. While the essays help you define your suitability for the chosen study program, a GTE Form plays important in Visa Filing. In this context, you might want to refer to the Australia Student Visa Guide.

Nevertheless, some universities and courses require international applicants to provide an SOP stating their desire to join their university. The popular disciplines that require SOP for admissions are Arts, Business, and Education programs.

SOP for MS in Australia Format and Guidelines

Always stick to the format of writing an SOP. If the universities you are applying to have given you a set of SOP guidelines or an essay prompt, then you must follow that. Refer to the common template, format, and guidelines for writing a convincing SOP:

SOP Format for Universities Abroad

Shiksha Guidelines for SOP

SOP for MS in Australia Writing Tips

The step-by-step approach to writing an impressive MS SOP for Australian Universities would be to:

Step 1: Start with a rough draft. Draw a flow chart planning your career goals.

Step 2: Start with the long-term goal and connect it with the intended course of study.

Step 3: Start building the connection between your past, present, and future.

Step 4: Read the essay with a fresh mind and conclude wisely.

Step 5: Check with your friends and family and ask for feedback.

Step 6: Re-draft the SOP as per the feedback.

Step 7: Repeat Step No. 2 until you are satisfied with your SOP.

Note: Use only professional language and avoid jargon. Write in the first person only.

There are a few things to keep in mind while drafting your SOP:

5 Points that Add Value to SOP

Things that make your MS SOP Strong

Common Mistakes in the SOP for MS in Australia – Dos and Don’ts

Please note that when you write an SOP or Essay for an Australian University, your answers need to be more objective, stating facts. Avoid discussing stories from your past or random plans.

The key is to discuss the possibilities in your field of study with proper evidence to support them. Also, share your particular experiences from the past that have a factual connection with the study program and your professional goals.

Under no condition should you appear childish discussing your fantasies in an MS SOP for Australia. You should have strong data points to back up what you know about the industry, college, and country. Your research should be strong enough to hook the admission committee and not bore them.

Dos	Don’ts
Be more objective	Be subjective
Research and be factual	Beat around the bush

In this context, you might want to read: Common Mistakes to Avoid in an SOP.

SOP for MS in Top Australian Universities

Discussed below are the SOP requirements from a few of the top Australian universities for applying to some of their faculties:

1. Applying to MS at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia

SOP Requirement for the University of New South Wales (UNSW): SOP for preparatory courses offered through the following faculties:

• Arts and Sciences
• Engineering
• Business
• Science

SOP Writing: Should have the following sections:

• Scholastic achievements in approximately 2,500 characters with spaces
• Why this course - in approximately 1,000 characters with spaces
• How are you prepared and what are your plans in approximately 1,000 characters with spaces?

2. Applying to MS at the University of Melbourne, Australia

SOP Requirement for the University of Melbourne: One-page SOP is required by:

• Melbourne Business School: Approximately 500-600 words long
• Faculty of Arts: Approximately 500-600 words long

SOP Writing: Should have the following sections:

• Work experience
• Extracurricular activities
• Relevant achievements

3. Applying to MS at Macquarie University, Australia

SOP Requirement at Macquarie University: 750-word long SOP is required by the Faculty of Education only for its bachelor’s program.

SOP Writing: Should cover the following topics within 750 words:

• Your inspiration/motivation behind choosing Teaching as a profession
• Methods you will adopt to communicate with students of different age groups effectively
• Skills you possess that would help in teaching
• Your understanding of education’s role in society

4. Applying to MS at the University of Wollongong, Australia

SOP Requirement at the University of Wollongong: 250-word SOP is required by the Faculty of Education for all its courses.

SOP Writing: Should cover the following topics within 250 words:

• Your inspiration/motivation behind choosing Teaching as a profession – how does it fit your career plans?
• Discuss your involvement in the community, learning, leadership, or development activities
• Describe your time management skills juggling with personal and professional life
• Elaborate on your problem-solving skills

These are just a few examples requiring SOP for an application that we have covered in this article. Some universities provide their applicants with only a small section in the application form. This section allows students merely 5-6 lines to write their SOP. You must be precise while writing such an SOP. Discussed below is a suitable example for the same.

Sample SOP for MS in Australia

It is recommended not to copy anything from any of the samples because plagiarism is considered a serious offence in universities abroad.

1. Sample for 6-line long SOP

This is just an example, do not use this content.

I aspire to study for MS in to complement my existing qualification. The coursework offered by your university perfectly fits my academic needs with subjects on. I am interested in the research areas and, and eager to study under the precious guidance of . After graduating, I aim to grow professionally in the field of.

2. Full-Length Sample

Please note that the samples are only for reference purposes. Under all conditions, students must prepare their SOPs on their own. You may refer to a Sample SOP for Australia, here.

It is important for the students to take their application process very seriously. Application documents such as an SOP, LORs, Essays, etc. are extremely important as they can make or break your chances of getting selected for your dream university. If you seek professional guidance for applying to an abroad university and hope to get editorial help alongside, you may avail free-of-cost services from the expert counsellors of Shiksha.

All the best!