Hey guys. Can you please give me your thoughts about the SOP below? My first application was refused because of the reason that my study plan was vague. I am changing my program to a better match to my past study and work experience. Should I mention previous refusal and program change? Thank you for your time.
I have been granted unconditional admission for one-year long CPJ2 – Construction Project Management Post Graduate Certificate Program from Fanshawe College (DLI # O19361039982), London, Ontario, Canada. First term of the program will be delivered fully online due to current pandemic. I am currently submitting this letter to explain my study plan and the reason to return to study.
Past study and professional background;
I have Bachelors’ of Civil Engineering degree from *********** completed on Aug. 2008. Since then, I have been working at international mega construction projects with top ***** contractors, with no significant gap. At the moment, I am working at**** Nuclear Power Plant Project with an estimated cost of USD$20 billions (For more info; http://www.akkunpp.com/)
Please see below for chronological list of my work experiences;
Reason of returning to study after 12 years of work experience;
During my career, I have built-up good level of understanding in technical side of civil engineering and mostly focused combining computer programming with civil engineering. In addition to that, I have learnt and affectively used English and Russian languages. In 2012, my experience as a construction manager which is an upper management position ended up quickly because of insufficient knowledge in construction project management. Since then, I have not been able to get beyond of the technical and low level management positions. Since 2013, I have been working mostly as a Chief, which is a low management position, at various departments in the industry.
My applications for promotion in ***** Construction in 2019 and recently in ***** was denied because of inadequacy of my theoretical knowledge and because of not having a formal education on construction project management field. As a matter of fact, even if I had the promotion, I fear that I could not handle a construction management position because of the lack of my knowledge on the field.
With returning to study, I aim to eliminate deficiency on my theoretical background so that I can have the promotion which I have been striving for a long time.
How will a Construction Project Management Post Graduate Degree benefit me?
By completing my intended study, I will have the essential knowledge, skills and an official post graduate certificate to easily advance to an upper management position. My purpose is to have promotion as a construction manager and eventually as a project manager. Construction managers in the industry are paid approximately 50% more than my current salary and project managers are paid up to 2.5 times of my current salary. Therefore, pausing my current career and completing a 1-year long study will be highly rewarding for my future career and economically as well.
Why am I not pursuing a similar program in my home country?
Thanks to my multinational work environment, English has been the most common language that I have been using at my daily work activities for years. That’s why, studying construction project management in English is a must for me to specialise it in the same language which I use at work so that I can learn it’s terminology in English and be on the same page with my co-workers after graduation. There is not any post graduate program in ****** delivered in English language and takes one year. Having a study more than one year will cause me to disconnect from my current employer and from construction industry. In addition to that, after my careful research, I have observed that similar programs offered in my country are out dated and do not meet the needs of todays construction industry.
Why have I chosen to study in Canada?
I strongly believe that hands on education is the most affective way of learning. Canada provides updated, practical and world class education which is recognized globally. Canadian education institutes are considered great value which is no less then the ones in US and European Countries. Nonetheless, compared to other English speaking countries across the world, tuition fees are very low in Canada.
Why Fanshawe College? Why not a Master Program?
Unlike master programs which are solely theory based, academy focused and take 2 years to complete, Fanshawe’s CPJ2 program takes 1 year to complete and it is completely industry focused which exactly meets with my future goals. The program fulfills the needs of today’s construction managers by combining theoretical knowledge with practical learning. As an example to that, the program includes some courses such as Applied Construction Project Management course (CONS-6006) which students manage a complex construction project simulation. Fanshawe College offers an innovative and hands on learning experience with 81.2% graduate satisfaction rate which is well above average in Canada.
Ties to my home country?
Since the first term of the program is fully on-line because of the pandemic, I am not going to move to Canada but continue working part time in my current employer which supports me for my study plans (see Attachment #12). If the delivery of the program continues as on-line, I will keep working part time on the second term of study as well.
I have a wife, 2 children and my parents who are residing in Turkey. I am not filing a visa application for any of them.
I own a house which I and my family live in, I have a vehicle and I own 2 fields at my country.
Expenses and funding;
My expense for the duration of my study will be CAD$25,525.97. Which is detailed below;
I hereby confirm that all the information and additional documents provided with this letter is true. In addition to that I acknowledge that I must leave Canada by the expiry date of the study permit. Lastly, I declare that I have read ‘Conditions as a Study Permit Holder in Canada’ which is provided on Government of Canada web-site and I have understood them.
I have been granted unconditional admission for one-year long CPJ2 – Construction Project Management Post Graduate Certificate Program from Fanshawe College (DLI # O19361039982), London, Ontario, Canada. First term of the program will be delivered fully online due to current pandemic. I am currently submitting this letter to explain my study plan and the reason to return to study.
Past study and professional background;
I have Bachelors’ of Civil Engineering degree from *********** completed on Aug. 2008. Since then, I have been working at international mega construction projects with top ***** contractors, with no significant gap. At the moment, I am working at**** Nuclear Power Plant Project with an estimated cost of USD$20 billions (For more info; http://www.akkunpp.com/)
Please see below for chronological list of my work experiences;
| Time Frame | Job Title | Company |
| Jan. 2009 – Sep. 2010 | Civil Engineer | ***** |
| Apr. 2011 – Sep. 2011 | Quality Control Engineer | ***** |
| Dec. 2011 – Feb. 2012 | Civil Engineer | ***** |
| May 2012 – Jan. 2013 | Construction Manager | ***** |
| Apr. 2013 – Sep. 2013 | Quality Control Chief | ***** |
| Aug. 2013 – Mar. 2014 | Quality Department Chief | ***** |
| Apr. 2014 – Aug. 2016 | Superstructure Chief | ***** ***** |
| Aug. 2016 – Aug. 2019 | Chief Engineer | ***** |
| Sep. 2019 – Oct. 2020 | Civil Engineer | ***** |
| Oct. 2020 - Ongoing | Site Chief | ***** |
During my career, I have built-up good level of understanding in technical side of civil engineering and mostly focused combining computer programming with civil engineering. In addition to that, I have learnt and affectively used English and Russian languages. In 2012, my experience as a construction manager which is an upper management position ended up quickly because of insufficient knowledge in construction project management. Since then, I have not been able to get beyond of the technical and low level management positions. Since 2013, I have been working mostly as a Chief, which is a low management position, at various departments in the industry.
My applications for promotion in ***** Construction in 2019 and recently in ***** was denied because of inadequacy of my theoretical knowledge and because of not having a formal education on construction project management field. As a matter of fact, even if I had the promotion, I fear that I could not handle a construction management position because of the lack of my knowledge on the field.
With returning to study, I aim to eliminate deficiency on my theoretical background so that I can have the promotion which I have been striving for a long time.
How will a Construction Project Management Post Graduate Degree benefit me?
By completing my intended study, I will have the essential knowledge, skills and an official post graduate certificate to easily advance to an upper management position. My purpose is to have promotion as a construction manager and eventually as a project manager. Construction managers in the industry are paid approximately 50% more than my current salary and project managers are paid up to 2.5 times of my current salary. Therefore, pausing my current career and completing a 1-year long study will be highly rewarding for my future career and economically as well.
Why am I not pursuing a similar program in my home country?
Thanks to my multinational work environment, English has been the most common language that I have been using at my daily work activities for years. That’s why, studying construction project management in English is a must for me to specialise it in the same language which I use at work so that I can learn it’s terminology in English and be on the same page with my co-workers after graduation. There is not any post graduate program in ****** delivered in English language and takes one year. Having a study more than one year will cause me to disconnect from my current employer and from construction industry. In addition to that, after my careful research, I have observed that similar programs offered in my country are out dated and do not meet the needs of todays construction industry.
Why have I chosen to study in Canada?
I strongly believe that hands on education is the most affective way of learning. Canada provides updated, practical and world class education which is recognized globally. Canadian education institutes are considered great value which is no less then the ones in US and European Countries. Nonetheless, compared to other English speaking countries across the world, tuition fees are very low in Canada.
Why Fanshawe College? Why not a Master Program?
Unlike master programs which are solely theory based, academy focused and take 2 years to complete, Fanshawe’s CPJ2 program takes 1 year to complete and it is completely industry focused which exactly meets with my future goals. The program fulfills the needs of today’s construction managers by combining theoretical knowledge with practical learning. As an example to that, the program includes some courses such as Applied Construction Project Management course (CONS-6006) which students manage a complex construction project simulation. Fanshawe College offers an innovative and hands on learning experience with 81.2% graduate satisfaction rate which is well above average in Canada.
Ties to my home country?
Since the first term of the program is fully on-line because of the pandemic, I am not going to move to Canada but continue working part time in my current employer which supports me for my study plans (see Attachment #12). If the delivery of the program continues as on-line, I will keep working part time on the second term of study as well.
I have a wife, 2 children and my parents who are residing in Turkey. I am not filing a visa application for any of them.
I own a house which I and my family live in, I have a vehicle and I own 2 fields at my country.
Expenses and funding;
My expense for the duration of my study will be CAD$25,525.97. Which is detailed below;
- Tuition fee for the full program is CAD$17,492.73.
- Flight Ticket (KLM Airlines) for a roundtrip costs CAD$580.13.
- Health insurance for 8 months of period costs CAD$789.11.
- Living expenses if, I ever have to be in Canada during my study, is CAD$833.00 per month and CAD$6,664.00 for the duration of the study.
- USD$****** approximately which is in my personal bank account in ************.
- Full tuition fee of the program CAD$17,492.73 is already paid as to Fanshawe College (see Attachment for proof of payment ………)
I hereby confirm that all the information and additional documents provided with this letter is true. In addition to that I acknowledge that I must leave Canada by the expiry date of the study permit. Lastly, I declare that I have read ‘Conditions as a Study Permit Holder in Canada’ which is provided on Government of Canada web-site and I have understood them.
