SAMPLE SOP

SAMPLE

1. Statement of Purpose – Accounting and Management

It is difficult to understate the importance of Accounting in companies and the business world as a whole. It is because of my recognition of the importance of accounting that I have decided to seek further education and a career in this field. After careful consideration, it has become clear to me that developing a successful career in accounting in the modern business environment requires advanced training in accounting and related subjects. I am motivated to study in your master’s program in Accounting and Management by an awareness of the ever-changing reality of the business environment and the need to upgrade my own expertise and professional abilities. I am a native of Nepal, an Asian island with a trade-oriented economy that is increasingly focused exporting to markets in Europe and North America. Many outstanding scholars from my country have studied abroad to hone their skills with foreign teachers and classmates, and this has been instrumental to the progress of my country’s economy. I hope to follow suit, broadening my international perspective, improving my language skills, and refining my knowledge of accounting.

I majored in the Department of Mathematics at National Good University, one of the top ten universities in all of [country]. I chose this major due to my belief that math is the foundation of academic and professional development. My department offered us comprehensive training in diverse fields such as computer science, mathematics and social sciences. With my extensive foundation in mathematics, I am convinced that I can cope well with the demands of your master’s program. I also took elective management classes, including Management and Economics, while in the university. My academic experiences impressed upon me the importance of accounting in the modern business world, as well as the crucial role played by management in the ultimate direction and success of a company. With my growing interest in the business world, my performance in the university steadily improved over my four years of study. As my interest in these areas developed, it became clear that the pursuit of postgraduate education in these areas, ideally in the USA, is the logical next step in my overall development.

 In addition to my work in the classroom, I was an active member of campus. I have joined several organizations since senior high school, in which I acquired a unique blend of experiences. Perhaps the most memorable and valuable of all was my participation in the Department of Mathematics’ Student Association. I was in the activity section, which organized many activities for the whole Department. I organized the Department’s large-scale end-of-year party, planning details of the event with my partners and ensuring steady progress toward our goals. During the process of conducting these tasks, conflicts inevitably arose. I worked hard, however, to coordinate with other members of the group and developed contingency plans to address problems as they arose. This experience proved to be as rewarding as it was challenging, and I expect that the leadership experience I acquired will be very useful when pursuing further studies.

Given the importance of globalization in the management and development of companies, an education that does not fully address the international and multicultural realities of the modern business world is incomplete. I have therefore decided to pursue my degree overseas, as the expertise and facilities offered in my country’s educational institutions are limited and thus unable to match the diversity and multiculturalism available in the US. I look forward to meeting and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. The ability to listen and learn from others is crucial for professionals in all industries. Your university, with its mix of people from different backgrounds, is a true microcosm of the international business world and thus the ideal place in which to pursue a business-based education.

As the above shows, I am highly motivated and ambitious in pursuing my master’s degree in the Australia. By studying in your master’s program, I hope to extend my vision and improve my English proficiency. After completion of your master’s program, I plan to return to [my country] and work for one of the leading multinational accounting/finance firms as an accounting professional capable of dealing with a broad range of people, companies, and financial situations. Your program in Accounting and Management will enable me to achieve the goals I have set for myself. I expect to have a long career in this field and benefit a wide range of companies. In this way, I hope to add to the general development of my country’s economy and become a leading professional in my field.

SAMPLE 2

SOP FOR MPA FOR AUSTRALIA

            One of the most valuable lessons that I have learnt from life is to make the best of what I have. I believe this is one of the most important rules than can help one survive in a developing country like Nepal. A lot is written and said about Nepal these days; that it is begging for good governance; is rife with mismanaged assets; is plagued by rampant corruption – the problems listed are endless. The one problem that has always irked me lies in the fact that the majority of the privileged class – and I call it “privileged” in as much, as it can afford a decent education – tends to get educated “for the sake of getting educated”: they lack aims and goals, and simply hope to find the same along the way.
It was during the start of my 10+2 that I truly realized the importance of setting goals in life. I believe that up until that time, I was the clichéd “underachiever”; however a good result in my 10+2 helped me change that notion, and put it to rest for good. Today my aim is to bring a positive change in my country and help it rise amongst other nations. I believe that the key to excellence lies in the maximization of one’s potential. I have opted for your postgraduate course in International Business because it is the precise area where I can excel and maximize my own potential.
I believe that my will to excel has been generated by the social conditions in Nepal; seeing the plight of others who are surrounded by financial distress makes one truly and humbly realise how wealthy are those who have the fortune of being able to afford an education. It is this very realisation that has always compelled me to make the most of my shot at getting educated, and now that this feeling has fully entrenched itself within my soul, I am determined to make it count not just for my sake, but also for the sake of my fellow countrymen to whom I owe as much as I owe to myself. 
I completed my Bachelors in Business Administration as an student of the Trivuwan University. This is a very rigorous course that becomes especially so for external students since they lack access to a wider range of materials. Through sheer hard work, dogged determination and continuous motivation by my teachers, I finished as one of only five students to get an upper second class honours. For a student who used to be continuously reminded that he was underachieving, this was a feat to take a lot of pride in. Yet, I feel that I am incomplete without taking another proverbial leap into the academic vortex. 


Over the years, I have had opportunities to further my interest in business management and operations. I have interned as an assistant accountant in my summer break with Digi Computers (Exporters).This work experience was my first step in entering practicalities of my career. During the course of my internship, I worked with senior accountants, which enlightened me with the practical implications of accounting. I have also served as Teacher’s Assistant during my undergraduate program for two consecutive years. I marked assignments and conducted frequent tutorials. I believe this experience contributed immensely in strengthening my grip over my subjects and in learning how to apply them. I can also stake a claim that I deal well with people in general; this was proved by the fact that I was elected as Head of the Student Council for my university in 2010-11.
My decision to select University of Technology Sydney for its Master of Professional Accounting program was purely based on firsthand research. I undertook thorough research so as to select the best possible option for a bright career. Having an internationally acceptable undergraduate degree and access to all the best educationalists, UTS appealed the most to me. The said program is being offered by various universities across the globe, each offering its own unique course composition. Canadian universities like Brock University offered a similar program but it lacked the industry relevance, while the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom had a program which was based more on theory. Similar programs are being offered by various universities in Pakistan, but they lack the embryonic nature of accounting. No doubt that the professional programs in Pakistan do meet the international calibre but the accounting bodies in Pakistan lack the active participation and this gap of collaboration is clearly depicted in the offerings of the universities. With the international harmonization in accounting standards, I feel that the programs in Pakistan are slightly outmoded. The MPA at UTS not only provides in-depth knowledge of accounting but also encompasses the legal environment that concerns the field of accounting. 
Australia has a diverse-multi cultural environment. The young and energetic Australian society welcomes international students. Based on my search over the internet and correspondence with acquaintances, the safe environment, religious freedom and sound economic conditions all speak about Australia for themselves. Studying in Sydney will make this experience more delightful. The weather won’t be unforgiving, Sydney is a popular tourist destinations which means it always will have something to offer throughout the year. Coming to the practical aspects, studying the field of accounting in the economic hub of Australia means that I will be lectured by the best industry practitioners. UTS offers industry realistic teaching methods. Being a leader in research, UTS provides access to world class facilities. Apart from that it has excellent student support which is not limited to education provision only. The ideal location of UTS in Central Business District adds to it being the top choice.
Getting equipped with a Master’s degree in Professional Accounting will open doors of opportunities for me to grow as an individual and to serve my country. I aspire to become a valued player in the marketplace, empowered with the professional acumen required to make critical business decisions. Master in Professional Accounting will provide me with countless opportunities for industry experience, business networking and a sound knowledge to start a prospering career. It will help stimulate my entrepreneurial vision and curiosity together with enhancing my business knowledge. I can claim with conviction that my innovation and analytical approach will encourage me to understand new and current accounting issues.
Upon completion, I intend to continue the legacy of growth of my family business. I strongly believe that after acquiring this degree there is enough aptitude for me to get in the family business and manage my area of specialization i.e. accounts. In the long run, I intend to offer consultancy services at affordable rates so as to help all classes of businessmen. I believe I am much closer to this market since I have been running my own business, dealing in exports of finished products. For this very reason, I am more appreciative of the role prospective graduates can play in helping these businesses understand the essence and importance of organization. This degree will serve as the core of my arsenal if I am to venture into relatively unexplored terrain and maximise my potential. 
In my absence, the entire business will be managed by my brother (Business Partner). I plan to return and re-join the business as soon as I complete my degree, whereupon I shall endeavour to put my learning into practice. My studies will be fully funded from the loan facility that has been availed against our savings (Fixed Deposit), while additionally; my brother has also undertaken to assist me in funding. 
It is an admitted fact that I withdrew my previous visa application after a long and arduous visa processing period that spanned for more than 8 months without any result or decision. This is due to the fact that I am eligible under the new Streamline Visa Processing and I feel that my application will be dealt with more efficiently and expeditiously via this new system. This initiative taken by the Australian Government is a very beneficial scheme for genuine prospective students like me and will expedite visa processing so that such students may be able to attend their courses on time.
I feel that Australia and specifically the University of Technology Sydney will be a great place to study and provide me with a chance to broaden my horizons. I sincerely hope that I will be bestowed a chance to study in Australia.