Dear all,
I have gotten admission to Concordia University(Montreal)'s MA in Economics programme, beginning in the coming September. Since this is the first time applying for a study permit, I don't know what exactly I should include in my study plan but I have had a draft. If you have gotten your study permit successfully, I would like you to please leave me some valuable comments and advice as to what else I can do to improve it. I'm a bit afraid that my draft is a bit too lengthy and wordy...
Big Thanks!
My path in Economics has embarked since high school, where I excelled in Economics, Calculus & Statistics and Mathematics. My performance in these subjects led me to consider myself a “quant guy who is good at Economics” and made me confident enough to specialize in these fields and start considering of working in an economics-related field in the future so that I can unleash my full potential with my know-how. My high school teacher told me that a bachelor’s degree in statistics is more rewarding than one in economics, and a degree in statistics can bring me to advanced studies in economics, given its quantitative nature.
In the third year of university studies, I decided to start my career in research. In Hong Kong, government-run or -funded research institutes, including some research-oriented government authorities, offer a wide range of resources for research and more lucrative remuneration package to employees than others do. Moreover, the employment prospects, in terms of the ladder of promotion, is usually clear and transparent. It has been my goal to work in such institutes and to launch a start-up firm with two friends in Hong Kong after working for a few years. This is how I would like to serve and contribute to my hometown that has empowered me to become who I am.
One of my dream job to begin my professional career is the “Graduate Economist” at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA, the de facto central bank of Hong Kong), where possessing a solid background in both Statistics and Economics is mandatory to work at. The monthly salary of a “Graduate Economist” at the HKMA is around HK$40,000 (CA$6,550), which is a very handsome figure in Hong Kong. At the HKMA, I will be honoured to join the team of elites who work towards maintaining Hong Kong’s monetary and financial stability. Since Hong Kong adopts a pegged exchange rate to the US, the HKMA does not have the autonomy to create its own monetary policies, and hence it is a research-oriented governmental authority concerning Hong Kong’s economy. I will be able to further hone my skillsets for research, which will be a valuable asset for launching the startup in the future.
However, such jobs are highly competitive. It is stated on HKMA’s recruitment page that an advanced degree in a closely-related field is required. As a result, I began to realize that I need to pursue a Master’s degree, and even a Ph.D.’s degree to maximize my employability and capability to do the job well. As a norm in Hong Kong, if not the entire Greater China Region, employers prefer candidates with international exposures - foreign credentials. When two candidates with similar profiles apply for the same job openings, the one with foreign credentials has a much greater probability of being selected for interview and given the job. Having worked for 3 months at the Department of Marketing of CUHK, and another 3 months at Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, CUHK as a part-time research assistant, my supervisors were satisfied with my performance, so I realized that I am passionate about doing research and that I have the confidence to make it my career.
All these factors prompted me to consider studying abroad towards a Master’s degree. I began searching for a master’s program that will gear me up with hands-on research experiences a better understanding of Economics. Employers do care about research and work experiences when it comes to hiring. My goal of pursuing a Master’s degree in economics is to develop an economist’s mindset when dealing with real-world problems. I would like to understand how economists think, and I would like to transition into an “Economist with sharp quantitative edges” from a “Statistician with a background in Economics”. Pieces of training in economics in a good atmosphere are needed so that I can extend and connect my thinking to the context of economics. Having only a minor in Economics, however, is far from enough to achieve this.
My school search ended at Concordia University, and I was admitted to the Master of Arts in Economics program in which all topics that I am interested in will be covered comprehensively. I will be utilizing what I will have learnt through coursework to work on my research paper, which weighs the last 24 credits out of the total of 45. The Department of Economics at Concordia University offers some state-of-the-art computer facilities that make my studies easier. In my experience, data analyses has already become an inseparable section of modern research, since the world is becoming increasingly data-intensive as the notion of big data grows, not to mention that macroeconomic research itself relies on a massive quantity of data.
Nonetheless, the department is affiliated institute to the Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Économie Quantitative (CIREQ), a research centre in economics and quantitative analysis that links theories with applied research and thus provide better understandings of the economy. CIREQ offers a variety of resources and funding to the research projects of faculty members, from which students can also benefit by researching under their supervision. This program also offers an optional co-op on a competitive basis that can provide me 2 semesters of practical work experiences before graduating. If I have gained research and work experiences abroad before returning to Hong Kong, my resume will definitely appear more impressively to potential employers.
Why study in Canada?
I decided to study in Canada because I want to improve my profile and sharpen my competitive edge. Canada is renowned for its quality of education. A Canadian master’s degree is widely recognized in the world, while the tuition and cost of living are lower than other countries that offer comparable quality of education, for instance, the United States. I chose to study in Quebec because of its unique culture like no other cities in North America offer. The study experience in Quebec will definitely make me slightly different from other Hong-Kongers who have studied elsewhere in Canada. When I received the offer letter, I could not think of a reason not to accept it because this school and this study program appears a perfect fit for me given my career goals.
The education in Hong Kong still follows the British system. There are 2 types of Master's degree, taught and research-based. Taught degrees are primarily designed for students who aim to switch their field. For instance, from Sociology to Computer Science. This type of master's programmes are often some 2-year equivalent to 4-year degrees. They do not dive deep into the subject. As for the research-based ones (M.Phil), its only purpose is to bridge students to Ph.D.'s. If M.Phil students do not proceed to Ph.D.'s, the degree itself does not strengthen their profiles. That being said, the choices in Hong Kong are not flexible enough for me. The Canadian system, however, combines coursework and research to strike a balance, which is what I want.
Ties to Hong Kong
Born in Mainland China and moved to Hong Kong with my family at the age of 6, I consider myself a Hong-Konger. Formally as a Chinese Citizen with Permanent Residency(the Right of Abode) in Hong Kong, I have lived in Hong Kong for 16 years, and I have fully established my network in Hong Kong. All my friends and relatives are from Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Since both of my parents are gradually reaching the age of retirement. I will return to Hong Kong immediately upon the end of studies in Canada to secure a steady job and look after them, as I am their only child. Throughout my childhood, they have already given me much resources and opportunities to live without having to worry about anything, so it is almost time that I took good care of them.
As mentioned before, I would like to return home immediately after my studies in Canada because 2 friends of mine, Isaac and Christopher, and I are working towards to launch a startup firm in Hong Kong. Isaac specializes in Computer Science and Christopher specializes in Public Health at CUHK, and they are proficient in data mining and machine learning. Christopher is currently developing a mobile app for emotional management. We have decided to develop software and applications detecting suicidal behaviours and thus preventing its occurrence. We hope to do something to reduce suicidal incidents in Hong Kong. Looking at news reports of young students jumping off the roof for a few times a month is so tragic and upset, yet there is little step forward in suicidal prevention.
I have gotten admission to Concordia University(Montreal)'s MA in Economics programme, beginning in the coming September. Since this is the first time applying for a study permit, I don't know what exactly I should include in my study plan but I have had a draft. If you have gotten your study permit successfully, I would like you to please leave me some valuable comments and advice as to what else I can do to improve it. I'm a bit afraid that my draft is a bit too lengthy and wordy...
Big Thanks!
My path in Economics has embarked since high school, where I excelled in Economics, Calculus & Statistics and Mathematics. My performance in these subjects led me to consider myself a “quant guy who is good at Economics” and made me confident enough to specialize in these fields and start considering of working in an economics-related field in the future so that I can unleash my full potential with my know-how. My high school teacher told me that a bachelor’s degree in statistics is more rewarding than one in economics, and a degree in statistics can bring me to advanced studies in economics, given its quantitative nature.
In the third year of university studies, I decided to start my career in research. In Hong Kong, government-run or -funded research institutes, including some research-oriented government authorities, offer a wide range of resources for research and more lucrative remuneration package to employees than others do. Moreover, the employment prospects, in terms of the ladder of promotion, is usually clear and transparent. It has been my goal to work in such institutes and to launch a start-up firm with two friends in Hong Kong after working for a few years. This is how I would like to serve and contribute to my hometown that has empowered me to become who I am.
One of my dream job to begin my professional career is the “Graduate Economist” at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA, the de facto central bank of Hong Kong), where possessing a solid background in both Statistics and Economics is mandatory to work at. The monthly salary of a “Graduate Economist” at the HKMA is around HK$40,000 (CA$6,550), which is a very handsome figure in Hong Kong. At the HKMA, I will be honoured to join the team of elites who work towards maintaining Hong Kong’s monetary and financial stability. Since Hong Kong adopts a pegged exchange rate to the US, the HKMA does not have the autonomy to create its own monetary policies, and hence it is a research-oriented governmental authority concerning Hong Kong’s economy. I will be able to further hone my skillsets for research, which will be a valuable asset for launching the startup in the future.
However, such jobs are highly competitive. It is stated on HKMA’s recruitment page that an advanced degree in a closely-related field is required. As a result, I began to realize that I need to pursue a Master’s degree, and even a Ph.D.’s degree to maximize my employability and capability to do the job well. As a norm in Hong Kong, if not the entire Greater China Region, employers prefer candidates with international exposures - foreign credentials. When two candidates with similar profiles apply for the same job openings, the one with foreign credentials has a much greater probability of being selected for interview and given the job. Having worked for 3 months at the Department of Marketing of CUHK, and another 3 months at Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, CUHK as a part-time research assistant, my supervisors were satisfied with my performance, so I realized that I am passionate about doing research and that I have the confidence to make it my career.
All these factors prompted me to consider studying abroad towards a Master’s degree. I began searching for a master’s program that will gear me up with hands-on research experiences a better understanding of Economics. Employers do care about research and work experiences when it comes to hiring. My goal of pursuing a Master’s degree in economics is to develop an economist’s mindset when dealing with real-world problems. I would like to understand how economists think, and I would like to transition into an “Economist with sharp quantitative edges” from a “Statistician with a background in Economics”. Pieces of training in economics in a good atmosphere are needed so that I can extend and connect my thinking to the context of economics. Having only a minor in Economics, however, is far from enough to achieve this.
My school search ended at Concordia University, and I was admitted to the Master of Arts in Economics program in which all topics that I am interested in will be covered comprehensively. I will be utilizing what I will have learnt through coursework to work on my research paper, which weighs the last 24 credits out of the total of 45. The Department of Economics at Concordia University offers some state-of-the-art computer facilities that make my studies easier. In my experience, data analyses has already become an inseparable section of modern research, since the world is becoming increasingly data-intensive as the notion of big data grows, not to mention that macroeconomic research itself relies on a massive quantity of data.
Nonetheless, the department is affiliated institute to the Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Économie Quantitative (CIREQ), a research centre in economics and quantitative analysis that links theories with applied research and thus provide better understandings of the economy. CIREQ offers a variety of resources and funding to the research projects of faculty members, from which students can also benefit by researching under their supervision. This program also offers an optional co-op on a competitive basis that can provide me 2 semesters of practical work experiences before graduating. If I have gained research and work experiences abroad before returning to Hong Kong, my resume will definitely appear more impressively to potential employers.
Why study in Canada?
I decided to study in Canada because I want to improve my profile and sharpen my competitive edge. Canada is renowned for its quality of education. A Canadian master’s degree is widely recognized in the world, while the tuition and cost of living are lower than other countries that offer comparable quality of education, for instance, the United States. I chose to study in Quebec because of its unique culture like no other cities in North America offer. The study experience in Quebec will definitely make me slightly different from other Hong-Kongers who have studied elsewhere in Canada. When I received the offer letter, I could not think of a reason not to accept it because this school and this study program appears a perfect fit for me given my career goals.
The education in Hong Kong still follows the British system. There are 2 types of Master's degree, taught and research-based. Taught degrees are primarily designed for students who aim to switch their field. For instance, from Sociology to Computer Science. This type of master's programmes are often some 2-year equivalent to 4-year degrees. They do not dive deep into the subject. As for the research-based ones (M.Phil), its only purpose is to bridge students to Ph.D.'s. If M.Phil students do not proceed to Ph.D.'s, the degree itself does not strengthen their profiles. That being said, the choices in Hong Kong are not flexible enough for me. The Canadian system, however, combines coursework and research to strike a balance, which is what I want.
Ties to Hong Kong
Born in Mainland China and moved to Hong Kong with my family at the age of 6, I consider myself a Hong-Konger. Formally as a Chinese Citizen with Permanent Residency(the Right of Abode) in Hong Kong, I have lived in Hong Kong for 16 years, and I have fully established my network in Hong Kong. All my friends and relatives are from Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Since both of my parents are gradually reaching the age of retirement. I will return to Hong Kong immediately upon the end of studies in Canada to secure a steady job and look after them, as I am their only child. Throughout my childhood, they have already given me much resources and opportunities to live without having to worry about anything, so it is almost time that I took good care of them.
As mentioned before, I would like to return home immediately after my studies in Canada because 2 friends of mine, Isaac and Christopher, and I are working towards to launch a startup firm in Hong Kong. Isaac specializes in Computer Science and Christopher specializes in Public Health at CUHK, and they are proficient in data mining and machine learning. Christopher is currently developing a mobile app for emotional management. We have decided to develop software and applications detecting suicidal behaviours and thus preventing its occurrence. We hope to do something to reduce suicidal incidents in Hong Kong. Looking at news reports of young students jumping off the roof for a few times a month is so tragic and upset, yet there is little step forward in suicidal prevention.