5 Primary Questions You Should Address while Writing an SOP Letter for

Canada Student Visa

1. Why do you really want to study in Canada? To completely answer this question, you
won’t only address why you want to pursue higher education in Canada. You’ll also include
why you are choosing Canada over the UK, Australia, USA, etc.

2. Why did you apply to this specific university in Canada? To completely cover this aspect,
don’t focus on the University’s rank and reputation alone. Talk about how that particular
university suits your choice of program, curriculum, financial affordability, etc. 

3. Which program do you want to study and why? Mention your choice of program (complete
name not short form), talk about your motivation and genuine interest in the chosen program.

4. Do you have any study gaps? If you have been out of school for a couple of years, you have
to thoroughly explain what you did during this period and why you have now decided to go back
to school. As we said earlier, Canada is very strict about study gap years. 

5. Will you return to your home country? Pro-Tip: Do not mention anything about you staying
in Canada. Instead, emphasize strongly on returning to your home country and state your reasons
for this together with long term plans.

Apart from the above questions, it is advisable that you address the following aspects as well:

 How will you fund your studies in Canada? 

 Do you have a scholarship/sponsorship to study in Canada or will someone else (for

example, your parents, spouse, relative, etc.) fund your studies? Make sure you explain
this detail. Attach letters, affidavits, and bank statements that refer to your financial
support.

 Do you fully grasp all your responsibilities as an international student? For example,
students who plan to work part-time and off-campus during an academic semester can do
so for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Overall, make sure your SOP letter for Canada student visa is a strong essay highlighting your
goals, expectations, and financial ability.

Before we discuss the format of an SOP for visa, let’s look at a summary of the specifics for
getting a Canadian student visa.
Summary – The Specifics for Obtaining a Canadian Student
Visa
 The first thing you need to do is obtain a letter of acceptance from a Designated
Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

 Then, you need to get a Canadian student visa application package. The best way to get
this is from the IRCC (formerly CIC) website. Depending on the services that is available
in your country, you could also get the Canada student visa application package from
your local Canada Visa Application Centre (VAC/VFS) office or your local visa office or
the Canadian embassy.

 For online applications, the next step is to answer a few questions about yourself on the
IRCC’s website to know if you are eligible. If you are deemed eligible, you will get a
personal checklist code that expires in 60 days. You will need this code to submit your
application.

 The next step is for you to create a MyCIC account. This is the account you will use to
send your documents to IRCC.

Format for SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

Writing an SOP letter for Canada student visa can be both simple and challenging. However,
following the following required steps will make it easier to create an excellent statement of
purpose(SOP):

1. Begin with a write up of the university.

2. Discuss your passion for studying that course or in that field.
3. Describe your academic background. This section is compulsory, and don’t forget to discuss all
your extracurricular activities.
4. Discuss your additional professional achievements to impress those who would be selecting.
5. Explain your reasons for choosing that particular university. You can talk about the university’s
degree program features and mention what you like best about the teachers. 
6. The final step is to read and edit the whole document properly. This will help you to spot the
major mistakes and make the necessary corrections. 

Step-by-Step Guide – Writing SOP Letter for Canada

Student Visa
Canada is one of the top nations known to provide a world-class education to international
students. So, for students who plan to carve a better future by studying abroad, studying in
Canada is a dream!
Every year sees many international students applying for Canada Student Visa to study at a
reputable Canadian university or college. However sadly, sometimes their hopes get dashed on
getting a visa refusal based on purpose of visit. One reason for this can be strongly tied to the
Statement of Purpose (SOP) submitted with the student visa application. This is why SOP is
regarded as a major document for Canada student visa application.

To write an appealing and unique SOP, you should clearly convey the information that must be in the
SOP. So, take your time to gather information and facts and place them correctly in the SOP.

There are some key points you must emphasize while writing your SOP. To make them clear,
you can divide your SOP into different sections and work on it as we are about to describe
below: 

# First Section (Introductory) – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

This is the first section. Here, you have to include:

 Your personal details like your name, date of birth, passport number & residential address. 
 You’ll also include your academic details such as your academic credentials;
10th/12th/bachelor/masters, the institutions from which you obtained these credentials, the
board/university of education & your GPA.
 Your family details include your parents & siblings’ names, occupations, employment details
(present employer, work designation, and job responsibilities). Also, have their former working
designation & former employer name, if applicable.

# Second Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

After the introductory part comes the main body. In the second section it is important to write
your direct motivation for higher studies i.e., what reasons made you decide to go for further
studies.

Also, if your chosen field of study is not related to your academic background or employment history, it
is compulsory for you to give a strong explanation for the change in field of study. 

For instance, you studied Bachelor of Science degree & now you want to pursue postgraduate
diploma in human resources, you’ll have to give a reasonable and convincing explanation for the
change. 

# Third Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

In the third section, you have to describe the strong, convincing points for not picking your home
country for higher studies. What this means is you’ll have to explain how it pursuing higher
education abroad & not in your home country would be more beneficial for you. 

Also, providing a full explanation for choosing Canada over other countries abroad is really vital
in SOP. You have to discuss it in an effective manner and explore some reasons that make
studying in Canada better than other abroad countries.

# Fourth Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

The fourth section should discuss how much you know about your chosen institution. Try to
briefly explain the history, accolades, and location of the campus. For instance, if the campus is
in Alberta, what’s so interesting to study in Alberta? & what services are provided to the students
etc. 

# Fifth Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

In the fifth section, you’ll provide an explanation for the kind of special skills/knowledge you
would acquire through your selected course. Also, describe the course contents briefly in your
own words. Do not copy the exact information on the university or college’s website.

# Sixth Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

Here, you’ll discuss your future career plans in your home country after completing your course
in Canada. Explain that there would be a significant growth in your field of study in your home
country in the coming years. 

This growth would lead to creating a better job market in that field in your home country.
Explaining this gives a clear indication that you planned your study concerning your home
country’s job market. This means you would return to your home country after you complete
your studies in Canada. 

Mention some reputable organizations in your home country, where you will try to find employment
after completing your studies in Canada. State some working designation you are looking towards and
your salary expectations according to your country’s job market. 

# Seventh Section – SOP Letter for Canada Student Visa

This is the final section. Here, you have to prove that you have strong ties to your home country
to further assure your return to the home country after completing your studies in Canada.

When you work on all these points/areas, you’ll be able to create an outstanding SOP that would
help fulfill your Canadian study dream. 

PRO-TIP: Do not copy and paste content available online to use as your SOP. Instead, you the
information here as a guide to create your own unique SOP that is appealing to the Visa Officer.

Type a Command Like, “Jarvis, write a Statement of Purpose Letter for Canada
Student Visa”.

Get Unique and Plagiarism-free SOP Written by Jarvis!

Activate Boss Mode

General Tips to Write a Good SOP Letter for Canada

Student Visa
1. Stick to the Instructions

You need to proof to the admission committee that you can follow instructions and the visa
regulations. Your SOP should convey originality and flair.
2. Put Your Audience into Consideration

Admission officers read hundreds of SOP letters for Canada study visa during every application
period. So, it’s very easy for them to detect insincerity and formulaic writing. When they find
something unique, it’s more appealing.  

3. Show Interest in the Institution

If you are applying for different institutions, there are chances that you will draft a general
statement and then modify it to fit individual schools. Note that the keyword is changing.

Research every school you apply to dilligently. Even if you are appling to six other universities,
make it seem to the admission board that fate has chosen that school for you.

4. Write a Draft

The perfect writing doesn’t come from a moment of inspiration but from a lengthy process. Start
brainstorming ideas for your SOP letter for Canada student visa months before the application
commence and put down a few rough draft.

Your statement might feel raw the first time but don’t worry about this. You’ll figure it out better the
second or even the third draft and be able to proofread, polish, and perfect your statement.

5. Carefully Choose Your Angle 

The goal of writing an SOP for Canadian student visa is to show your life path as story that has
never been heard. This is another reason you should not copy other people’s content. 

6. Peel Back the Layers

Not sure what your path is? Don’t worry. Many individuals begin writing before they figure out
exactly what they wish to note down. You can start by writing down your ideas on a paper and
going through a statement of purpose sample for a student visa to see how it is written.

7. Be Clear and Concise

When writing a statement of purpose, communicate your message efficiently and effectively. Do
not try to show off your academic skills.

8. Revise, Proofread, and Have Someone Review Your SOP

After writing your statement of purpose, revise and proofread it. Then, have somebody else to
review it.

Your SOP should be typically between 500 to 600 words with neat paragraphs of between 50-70
words.