Statement of Purpose

“English for Academic Purpose (EAP2) + Master of Health Promotion

Student: KIEC Student

INTRODUCTION

It is a privilege to take an opportunity to write my brief statement of purpose and introduce myself. I am ( YOUR NAME ) residence of ( YOUR ADDRESS ) Nepal, currently residing at ( CURRENT ADDRESS ). I was born as the daughter of Mr. ( PARENT’S NAME ) born on ( Date ) at ( Place ) Nepal. I got married to ( Spouse ) on 4th February 2016. I believe that studying abroad is the best way to enhance one’s knowledge and strengthen career. So, with this strong belief I made up a decision to choose Australia since it provides wide range of courses which are practical and research based. Similarly, it is the most favorable and affordable for international students willing to study abroad. I feel really delighted to get an opportunity to bring some words in writing about my desired program and future plans. I am hard-working, well disciplined, loyal and honest by nature with strong ability to act collaboratively as a team. I was always a good student during my school and college days. Being a student of Science background, my purpose of application is to apply for Master of Health Promotion in ( University )  for Feb intake 2019.

Briefly description of my education history & my IELTS

I have completed my school (class 10) from ( School Name ) with 76.88% in 2010 and high school (+2) from ( College Name ) in science faculty with 62.40% in 2013. I have done my Bachelor’s Degree in Food Technology from Nilgiri College, Itahari, Sunsari affiliated to Tribhuvan University with XX% in 2XXX. After finishing my final exam, I worked in a dairy company; ( Company Name ), as a lab analyst. I left the job in order to apply for a Master’s Degree in International University which requires English language Proficiency scores like IELTS. I choose the IELTS over others because it is accepted by all Universities in Australia and in many other countries. I took the IELTS exam in 17 November, 2XXX and scored overall 7 with each band not less than 6.

Brief record of my employment history:

I have worked as an Analyst in Quality control Department in ( Company Name ) from 5 September 2017 to 15 October 2018. I was hired by ( Name )  (Factory Manager) and was designated to perform chemical and physical tests on raw milk, fresh dairy products at all stages of production. I worked there for one year and left the job to prepare for my IELTS test and apply for a Master’s degree in Health Promotion in Australia.

Reasons for gaps of one year or more in my academic and/or employment history:

After completing class 10, I moved to the city from my village and joined entrance preparation course for Diploma in Engineering but I was not able to crack the entrance exam so I lost one year as it was very late to get admission in high school. I utilized the time by doing computer course and prepared for my high school (+2) in science faculty. I joined ( School Name ) or my +2 in science faculty so that I can have number of options for Bachelor’s study.

My (or my spouse) previous immigration history:

I do not have any previous wrong immigration history in my profile and this is the first time I am applying for abroad. However, my husband has been working in Saudi Arabia from June, 2011 to till date.

Financial arrangements for study and living in Australia:

My husband’s family, uncle-in-law, father and mother in-law will be sponsoring us financially for my Australian studies and our living expenses. (Name) my father-in-law is a retired pensioner from Nepal Police Force and is currently working as a sales and Marketing officer while my mother-in-law is a government Public Health Nurse Officer at Dhankuta. (Name) , my uncle-in-law is working at Nursing Campus, Maharajgunj as well as a site supervisor of Mega Electronic Concern. Altogether my father and mother-in-law have an annual income of Nrs ( Amount )and my uncle-in-law has an annual income of Nrs ( Amount ) which in total is Nrs( Amount ) ,equivalent to AUD ( Amount ). [Exchange rate 1 AUD= Nrs 81.12]. My uncle-in-law will be supporting us through his bank balance of ( Amount ). We will get all the financial support from my parents-in-law for our stay in Australia.

My & my spouse’s proposed living arrangements in the particular city of Australia:

In Australia, students can live in homestay, privately owned accommodation and shared apartments nearby the campus. We are planning to live in private shared apartment in Brisbane which can cost from $85 to $215 per week and other expenses like food, transport, electricity can cost from $170 to $200 per week as per student guide from University of the Sunshine Coast. There are many Nepalese students and families who are helping the new students to find affordable accommodation and I am very sure to get an ideal one for us.

Research that I conducted about study in my home country:

After completing my Bachelor’s degree in food technology which comes under the Institute of Science and Technology in Nepal, I decided to study public health or health promotion course for my Master’s degree but with my non health science background I could not meet the entry requirement for the course in different universities of Nepal. Master of Public Health in the universities of Nepal like Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Purvanchal University requires a four years of Bachelor’s degree in health science related subjects with a minimum of 1.5 years of work experience in the relevant field. While searching Master of Health Promotion Course none of the Universities in Nepal offering this course. Also Nepalese degree is not globally competitive. To get admission in Nepalese Universities students needs to go through many entrance examinations and also they have very limited seats. In current scenario, Nepalese Universities are way behind in terms of higher degree, they follow the old methods with few practicals which does not meet today’s requirements. Although, these universities have recently implemented the semester system in the Masters level, the curriculum is similar to the old annual system and there are not enough changes in the course or the prescribed textbooks according to the changing times. After 16 years of my education gained in Nepal, I believe that it is the perfect time for me to apply for my further education in bigger countries like Australia.

Moreover, I want to become a graduate from an Australian University as they are world ranked for their teaching methodology which is more practical and based on research unlike the universities in Nepal which are more focused on theoretical studies with less practicals and research. In comparison, graduates from an Australian University can have better opportunities in national and international platforms than form Nepalese Universities. Being a graduate from an Australian University can make me eligible for better jobs in the future and pursue a successful career and I actually believe that studying abroad can add to my personal experience. Therefore I choose to study Master of Health Promotion in the ( University Name ) rather than studying here in Nepal.

Research that I conducted about study in Australia and other countries:

Before choosing to study in Australia, I researched about other countries like UK, United states, Canada etc and I did some research through https://www.topuniversities.com>guide , took help from the education counsellor and went to education fairs as well. I found UK expensive with extremely cold climate and it also lacks tuition protection system that ensures refundable fees of the students but Australia has got Tuition Protection System and also UK does not offer Post Study Work (PSW) opportunity like Australia.. On the other hand, USA requires additional GRE scores which takes longer time to complete and living in USA is not very safe for the international students as we often get to hear about robbery and shoot out crimes in public places. Incase of Canada, the visa processing time is quiet lengthy than other countries. Canada and New Zealand has got very limited universities only where admission requirements is high and also they have high tuition fees.. European countries like Germany, Norway are not fully English speaking countries and they have very limited subject options and student also needs to learn other language for the admission. I compared Australia with these countries in accordance with the teaching quality, tuition fees, cost of living, study environment and student satisfaction. I also searched through different websites like https://www.internationalstudents.com/study_australia/ and www.studyinaustralia.gov.au which provided me the best reasons to choose Australia. Firstly, Australia is a fully English speaking country and many Australian Universities are ranked among the world’s best universities: seven Australian universities are in the global top 100 with many institutions improving their positions every year. Secondly, Australian universities, provides tuition protection, Post Study Work (PSW) permit  to the international students for two years and part time work permit to help them in paying living expenses. The living expenses and tuition cost are considerably lower in Australia than in the UK and USA (1AUD= 80, 1 US dollar= 105, 1 Pound sterling = 135). Like US and UK, Australian Universities offer wide range of courses in each and every field and Australian degree are highly valued in the international platforms. Apart from these reasons for choosing Australia, the country is also known for some of its world changing inventions in the field of medical science like the invention of Electronic pacemaker by Australian doctor Mark Lid will and Bionic ear by Professor Graeme Clark which made me choose Australia over other countries. In addition, ESOS act ensures the protection of rights of the international students and the visa and enrollment process is also quiet easy and convenient compared to other countries. Australia is also known as a peaceful and safe country with cultural diversity and suitable climate . Considering the education and living expenses, tuition protection system, post study work permit, personal safety as well as weather conditions, I found Australia to be the best international destination to get a degree from world renowned universities. 

Reasons for choosing this particular academic program

During my bachelors study I developed an interest in working in international organizations like FAO, UNICEF, WHO, Red Cross etc and realized the importance of health related degree. Master’s in health promotion related courses can provide countless opportunities both in Nepal as well as other countries. Master of Health Promotion is closely related to the public health sector which has 15 courses in total and includes the subjects like Public Health Foundations, Introduction to behavioral health, Health Research Project, Health Promotion Project, Quantitative Research Methods, Health Promotion Needs Assessments and Planning, Health Promotion Settings, Health Promotion Principles, Public Health Research and Evidence. 

After being a graduate in this program I will be able to start my new career as a Health promotion practitioner, researcher, policy officer, project manager, project worker, social advocate, academic consultant or educator in government and non-government organizations. Growing in a country like Nepal where people suffer from various health issues and lacks proper health facilities in the rural areas, achieving a degree in health promotion allows me to improve the overall health of the public through education without going to a medical school. On the other hand, health careers offer high salaries, good job growth potential and numerous other professional benefits. Therefore I decided to study health promotion for my master’s degree in order to broaden my career opportunities in the health sector.

Reasons for choosing The University of Sunshine Coast not other Universities:

There are many universities in Australia which offers Master’s degree in public health like Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, University of Wollongong  University of Tasmania, Macquarie university, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University etc. These Universities vary widely in respect of their admission criteria, tuition fees, location and students satisfaction. While doing research among these universities I am unable to found the course Master in Health Promotion. I found other health related course but not exactly Health Promotion specializations. Also from my research I found that Master of Health Promotion in the university of the Sunshine Coast is a two years course and its annual fee is $25,800 ($12,900 per semester) whereas the annual fee for the other health related course in in Edith Cowan University is $29,900 per year, Queensland University of Technology is $30,300  and Macquarie University is $ 33,000, Griffith University has got above $ 33,000 per year. I also compared the course structure, specialization options, class size, internship opportunities, location and other facilities provided to the international students by University of Sunshine Coast and other above mentioned Universities and I found University of Sunshine Coast is suitable for me in term of course, location, tuition fee etc. I found that The University of Sunshine Coast is the one University in Queensland State offering low tuition fees comparatively other universities based in the Queensland State. USC is one of the best public university in Australia and has been rated five stars for teaching quality and students satisfaction. Besides the university fees, the living cost in Brisbane is also lower than Sydney and Melbourne and students can easily find a range of student accommodation as per their requirement throughout Brisbane. I also collected feedback from the students who are already studying in University of Sunshine Coast and received positive feedback from the about the University and education system. I also watched some student’s Testimonials from the Youtube about University of Sunshine Coast, its campus location. Comparing all these universities in accordance with their admission criteria, tution fees and location, course I found University of the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane to be the ideal one for me to study Master of Health Promotion .

Course requirements and core contents with tuition fees, duration of course:

Master of Health Promotion in University of the Sunshine Coast is a two years program (4 semesters) and the estimated tuition fee is $51,600 ($ 25,800 per year). It consists of 13 compulsory courses and two elective courses. The main courses includes Health Promotion Needs Assessments and Planning, Health Promotion Settings, Health Promotion Principles, Public Health Research and Evidence, Public Health Foundations, Introduction to behavioral health, Health Research Project, Health Promotion Project and Quantitative Research Methods, Among the two elective courses we can choose from the faculty of  Arts, Business and law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering. After being a graduate in this program I will be able to start my new career as a Health promotion practitioner, researcher, policy officer, project manager, project worker, social advocate, academic consultant or educator in government and non-government organizations. This course is also accredited by Australian Health Promotion Association, the public health association of Australia and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education.

My future study or career plans upon successful completion of my selected course:

As a graduate in Master of Health Promotion, I will be eligible for the membership of the Australian Health Promotion Association, the Public Health Association of Australia and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education. I can build my career in health promotion as a practitioner, researcher, academic consultant, policy officer, social advocate, project manager, project worker, or educator in international, national, state and local level government and non-government organizations, community organizations all around the world. After graduating from USC, I will search for a job in the relevant field to gain work experience during my Post study Work (PSW) permit of two years which will help me to build my  competence and add value to my resume. Websites like https://au.jooble.org and www.healthcareaustralia.com.au/ can be helpful for the job hunt in Australia .Upon successful completion of my study in USC and PSW in course related field, I will return to my country and use the knowledge and experience I gained in Australia to build my career in Nepal. I can search through some of the best job portal websites of Nepal like https://jobsnepal.com, https://merojob.com which provides employment opportunities in every field. Health is a ever growing field with many opportunities and in context of Nepal, jobs as a health promotion practitioner has a great scope and plays a great role in the community and national health development especially in the rural places of Nepal where people mostly suffer from health problems and are deprived of proper health facilities. International Degree has more value in Nepal and with an Australian degree in Health promotion, I will stand out from the crowd to get better jobs with a minimum salary of Nrs 50,000 – 70,000 per month (nearly 20,000- 30,000 more than what I may earn with a Nepalese degree ) initially and it will be increased in future as per my experience and performance. This will shortly recover my study investment as well. With such good earning per month, I will be able to regain my investment easily and I am pretty sure that I will achieve more lately. More than all the financial benefits, it will also be a matter of honour to serve my own people and country to make a national improvement in the public health through my new ideas, skills and knowledge gained in Australia.

I must also mention that we as a couple are closely attached with our parents, have good relation with my siblings, relatives and friends and after spending our time in Australia, we will return to our home country to spend the rest of our lives with our parents as they are growing old and it’s our responsibility to look after them in times of their need during their old age. My mother-in-law who has worked as a government public health nurse officer will retire after 4 or 5 years and she will guide me through her years of experience in the same field. After my graduation in USC, I see a better future for us in Nepal and we also want to continue our culture, traditions and enjoy Nepalese festivals together with our family. We have high valuated property in Nepal as well so we have very strong family, social and cultural ties with Nepal and we will be back to Nepal after my study and PSW. 

Reason for accompanying/non accompanying spouse with me in Australia:

I got married to ( Spouse Name ) in 4 February, 2016 and he will be accompanying me in Australia. Being in a foreign country as a student can be challenging and my husband will be a help to me to settle in the new environment and culture. Moreover, he will provide me with psychological and emotional support because I have never stayed so far in a foreign country before. Moreover, we as a couple want to experience the Australian life and culture, make good memories during our stay there and at the same time, he will support me psychologically to achieve good results in my studies.

Understanding the visa conditions:

As a student in Australia, I must satisfy the student visa conditions which are as follows :

• I must maintain 80% of the attendance in classes and satisfactory course progress for each study period.
• I must fulfill all of the requirements of the study program.
• I cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight while the course is in session.
• I must inform the university about my address .
• I must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) throughout my stay in Australia.

Declaration

Lastly, I hereby certify that the information above, which has been supplied in support of my student visa application to assist me to demonstrate that I satisfy DIBP’s GS and GTE compliance requirements, has been completed in my own words and handwriting and is a true and correct account. I understand that if any incorrect, misleading or non-genuine information is found in this SOP, my student visa application will be refused.

Name: – Your Name

Passport Number: –  ********

Date of Birth: – ** / Month / Year    

Email ID: email@gmail.com

Date: Current date