study plan essay for master degree

Essay Service Examples Education Study Plan

My Study Plan for Master Studies at University

Table of contents

Study plan for master studies, introduction of my academic background:, my personality:, study plan in china:, first year of ms:, second year of ms:, why do i choose to study in the china:.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Study Plan — Master’s Study Plan (study Plan for Master Degree Program)

Study Plan for Master Degree Program

• Categories: Study Plan

About this sample

Words: 1457 |

Published: Dec 5, 2018

Words: 1457 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

Study plan sample (masters in communication and information engineering), my interest in computer science and information technology, works cited, statement of purpose, why come to china to study in communication and information engineering at chongqing university of post and telecommunication, why not pursue less expensive alternatives in pakistan, what is my overall educational objective, how will this chinese degree increase my chances in the pakistan labor market, following my course of study, research background, keen interest, chosen area, why china and my contribution to the development of research in china and to the society.

• Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cqupt.edu.cn/
• Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. (n.d.). Introduction to the School of Communication and Information Engineering. Retrieved from http://cie.cqupt.edu.cn/html/3/wenminggailan.html
• Government College University Faisalabad. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://gcuf.edu.pk/
• Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pta.gov.pk/
• World Bank. (2022). Pakistan - Information and communication technology readiness assessment report. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/292291637321102268/pdf/Pakistan-Information-and-Communication-Technology-Readiness-Assessment-Report.pdf
• Ali, S. (2022). The role of information and communication technology in Pakistan's economic development. Journal of Economic and Social Thought, 9(1), 70-78.
• Ahmed, Z. U., Anwar, M., & Qureshi, M. A. (2020). Impact of information and communication technology on economic growth: Evidence from Pakistan. The Journal of Developing Areas, 54(3), 19-37.
• China Scholarship Council. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.csc.edu.cn/
• Guo, S., Xu, S., & Ren, J. (2020). Innovation effects of returnees in China: A panel data analysis based on the mixed innovation index. Chinese Management Studies, 14(3), 570-588.
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/

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Graduate School Application Essays

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Types of Essays

Regardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want students with clear commitment to the field. Essay prompts typically ask applicants to discuss their previous experience, future professional goals, and how the program can help them in achieving those objectives. The essay gives the applicant the chance to articulate these goals and display strong writing skills. Remember to tailor your essay to each school and the faculty committee that reviews your application. But first, take note of what kind of essay is being requested of you. Here are the two main admission essays:

Personal Statement

A personal statement is a narrative piece describing how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the department but the academic discipline as a whole. This is often achieved by detailing social, educational, cultural, and economic obstacles you have overcome in your journey to get to where you are today and your future objectives. A personal statement is also an opportunity to highlight what is unique about you and how you will advance diversity within the institution.

Check out Personal Statement Resources for Graduate School Applications in the Resources section of Handshake for a brainstorming activity and essay samples that can help you get started on your personal statement.

Statement of Purpose

Interchangeably called a “research statement”, a statement of purpose will prompt you to describe your research interests and professional goals, how you plan to accomplish them, and why a specific program is best suited for you to do so. Be specific about your specialized interests within your major field. Be clear about the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan connects with your previous training and future goals.

Use the Outlining Your Statement of Purpose guide in the Resources section of Handshake to get started on your statement outline.

How to Write a Powerful Admission Essay

Whatever required format, your essay should be thoughtful, concise, compelling, and interesting. Remember, admissions officers read hundreds of personal essays. Below are some tips for your admissions essay writing process:

Before Writing

• Read the question:  Be sure you are aware of all aspects of the prompt. Failing to pay attention to details in the prompt won’t reflect well on you as a potential candidate.
• What is distinct, special, and/or impressive about me and my life story?
• Have I overcome any particular hardships or obstacles?
• When did I become interested in this field and what have I learned about it?
• What are my career goals?
• What personal traits, values, and skill sets do I have that would make me stand out from other applicants?
• Create an outline:  You might have a lot that you want to say, but you will need to whittle down your many thoughts and experiences to a concrete thesis with a select number of examples to support it. Create an outline for your draft, not only to organize your points and examples, but to help tailor your essay for your readers.
• Know your audience:  Consider how your narrative can best meet the expectations of admissions committee members. Will faculty be reading this? Administrators? Experts in the field? Knowing your audience ahead of time will assist you in addressing the prompt appropriately.

While Writing

• Grab your reader’s attention:  Start your essay with something that will grab the reader’s attention such as a personal anecdote, questions, or engaging depiction of a scene. Avoid starting things off with common phrases such as “I was born in…” or “I have always wanted to…” Consider the experiences that have shaped you or your career decision, and delve into them with a creative hook.
• Write well:  Your essay is a sample of your writing abilities, so it’s important to convey your thoughts clearly and effectively. Be succinct—you don’t need to write out your full autobiography or resume in prose. Exclude anything that doesn’t support your thesis. Gentle humor is okay, but don’t overdo it. Also, don’t make things up! Be honest about your experiences.
• End strong:  End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis. This helps unify your essay as a whole, connecting your detailed experiences back to the reason you are writing this essay in the first place—to show your qualifications for your graduate program of choice.

Final Touches

• Use resources: The MIT Communication Labs have a CommKit that collects all of the Comm Lab resources relevant to the grad application process , including recommendation letters & interviews
• Revise:  Give yourself enough time to step away from your draft. Return with a fresh pair of eyes to make your edits. Be realistic with yourself, not your harshest critic. Make a few rounds of revisions if you need.
• Ask for help:  Have your essay critiqued by friends, family, educators, and the  MIT Writing and Communication Center or our Career Services staff.
• Proofread:  Read your essay out loud or even record yourself and listen to the recording, to help you catch mistakes or poor phrasing you may have missed when reading to yourself. Also, don’t rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling.

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How to write a master’s essay

(Last updated: 3 March 2020)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

When considering how to write a master's essay, it can be tricky to understand and achieve the subtle differences between master's and undergraduate level work. In short, a master's level essay will generally require a deeper level of independent thought, which can be shown by adopting the following tried and tested tips.

As the name of the degree suggests, you should ideally demonstrate a mastery of your subject by confidently contextualising your arguments and making reference to trends, themes, theoretical paradigms and traditions within the discipline.

Delineate the scope of your paper

Position the issues you intend to discuss within the broader field of your subject area. This will demonstrate not only your understanding of the breadth of the academic landscape but also your ability to focus on a particular part of it. It is not enough to analyse certain idea, you must recognise their place in the whole.

Independence of thought

All parts of the essay must show more than a regurgitation of ideas and a proficiency in collating material. Discussion, analysis, evaluation and argument must all demonstrate your ability to interpret, understand and critique from a unique perspective. Challenge assumptions and explain the reasoning behind your contentions.

Conceptual thinking

Abstract reasoning and comfort with interpreting unfamiliar concepts is a of work at this level. Do not be tempted to critique the academic literature through vague and impressionistic approaches; demonstrate instead a genuine conceptual engagement.

Compelling conclusions

When considering how to write a master's essay, you need to ensure that your arguments and conclusions are plausible; try throughout to make them properly convincing. Weigh evidence, analyse arguments and develop your own position. If on reading you have successfully convinced yourself, you will more likely convince the reader.

Substantial originality

At undergraduate level, evidence of genuine originality almost certainly ensures top marks. At master's level, originality is more routinely expected. A key aspect to this – the most challenging element of academic work – is confidence in your intellectual acuity. Lay the foundations through mastery of the more prosaic elements, then develop the confidence to speak with a new voice.

Research skills

One of the biggest step-changes between undergraduate and master's studies is the premium placed on research. Go beyond the reading lists provided by lecturers and directors of studies to demonstrate your initiative in finding your own sources. Live in libraries, use internet resources, become familiar with useful journals and, perhaps above all else, follow the footnotes!

Operate within the academic conventions

At this level of academia you should be fluent in your understanding of appropriate referencing , attribution of borrowed ideas and the proper approach to research. Much of this area can be solved through simple diligence, so don’t let minor errors erode the credibility of your essay.

The academic register

Spelling, punctuation and grammar are such basic considerations as to be taken for granted. Instead, the major linguistic concerns at this level are those of tone and style. An academic register is based in precision, formality, thorough understanding of subject-specific vocabulary, and an avoidance of familiarity and inappropriate use of the first person. Many students choose to use academic editors and proofreaders to apply edits to their work in order to ensure that their submission is clear from any errors or omissions.

Immaculate presentation

Perhaps seemingly trivial, presentation should not be disregarded. Demonstrate scholarly professionalism through due care and attention to all aspects of your work.

Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’

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The graduate application essay is generally 1-5 pages and is your opportunity to share relevant information about yourself, your goals and why you would make a good match for the particular graduate program to which you are applying.

First, check if your program of interest is listed below with a program-specific application essay question. If so, answer your program-specific essay question.  

If not, the following essay question must be answered by all other graduate applicants.

Standard essay question (unless your program is listed below)*

Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include: Specific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives. Within the area of study you have selected, are there areas of special interest to you?

African American Public Humanities (AAPHI Interest Only)

Application Essay 1 (600-800 words):

• What does the “public” in African American Public Humanities mean to you? Why is this scholarly activity important to you?

Africana Studies (M.A.)

Application Essay 1 (800-1200 words):

• Applicants must submit a written statement of the reasons for their interest in Africana Studies, their motivation to pursue a graduate degree, and their professional goals and objectives. The Africana Studies Graduate Program Committee will review the essay part of the application carefully.  The Committee wants to know why applicants are interested in applying to the program and how the degree will make sense in the overall career path. 

Africana Studies (Certificate)

Application Essay 1 (800 to 1200 words):

• Applicants must submit a written statement relaying your interest in Africana Studies and its relationship to their graduate course of study or their current vocation.  If you are currently a UD graduate student, please indicate that in the statement.

Applied Bioinformatics (Certificate)

Application Essay 1:

• What educational background and scientific research or employment experience prepared you for this bioinformatics graduate certificate program? 
• What are your long-term professional objectives?
• What specific attributes of the program make you feel that this certificate is appropriate to help you achieve our professional objectives?

Applied Physiology (Ph.D.)

• Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them.
• Some additional areas of discussion might include s pecific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives.
• Within the area of study you have selected, please identify the faculty member you would like to work with as well as any areas of special interest to you.

Art Conservation (M.S.)

Short Answer Questions (300 to 500 words each) - draw on your personal experiences.

• How do you define material culture, and why do you believe it should be preserved?
• How do you deal with adversity or challenges? This could be academic, professional, or personal.
• Describe a situation when the knowledge you gained in one context proved valuable in a different setting. 

Art History (M.S., Ph.D., D.Ph.D)

• What are your research interests and professional objectives?
• How will studying at the University of Delaware help you to pursue them?
• How have your education and extra-curricular experiences prepared you for graduate studies in art history?

In your response, you may wish to discuss a recent book you read, a museum exhibition you visited, or a work experience you had and explain how it shaped your ideas about art history and your interest in pursuing a graduate degree.

Athletic Training (M.S.)

Application Essay 1 (no more than 2 double-spaced pages):

A personal statement or essay. The purpose of this statement is to introduce yourself to the admission committee and discuss your academic and career interests and goals as they stand now, and how you think the graduate program aligns with your interests and a career in athletic training. 

Biological Sciences (M.S. and Ph.D.)

• What scientific research experience have you had?
• What are your research interests and long-term professional objectives?
• What specific attributes of our department make you feel that it would be a good place for you?
• Are there any special circumstances related to your academic record that you feel we should know about?

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (M.S.) with Concentration in Bioprocess Development

• What is your motivation for considering the Biopharmaceutical Sciences Master’s program? What do you wish to get out of the program? Where do you see yourself in the future? What makes you a great candidate for this program? (250-500 words)
• What excites you most about the biopharmaceutical industry? How would a career in this field enable you to make a difference? (250-500 words)

Biotechnology (P.S.M., Certificate)

• What scientific research/employment experience have you had? Please be specific about the field of work and job responsibilities
• What specific attributes of our Department and the PSM/Certificate in Biotechnology make you feel that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives?

Business Analytics and Information Management (M.S.)

Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include specific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives. Within the area of study you have selected, are there areas of special interest to you?

Application Essay 2:

Please answer one of the two following questions for Essay 2.  Be sure to identify which question you have selected within the essay.

• Describe an obstacle you have faced in your professional or academic life. How did you overcome this obstacle and how did it foster your development?
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Business Fundamentals (Certificate)

• Please upload a personal statement of how a Certificate in Business Fundamentals can assist the candidate in professional practice or voluntary endeavors.
• Additionally, candidates should answer the following prompt: “What are the specific attributes of this certificate program at UD that led you to believe that this program is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives?”​

Childhood Education in Languages, Literatures and Cultures (M.A.)

Note: Your personal statement is a very important part of the application and is read with great care. It is highly recommended that you invest ample time in composing this statement and include enough detail to communicate your fit with our program.

• It should describe why you have selected our program (MAFLL, MAFLP or MACFLE) and how you intend to use the degree to fulfill your career goals or further educational aspirations.
• It should provide any other information about you (your experience, specific interests, talents or abilities, and/or your academic record) that you believe is important for the admission committee to know. If you are currently registered in a graduate program at this or another university, please explain why you wish to leave.
• If you are an MAFLP applicant intending to pursue the certification track, please mention this in your essay.

Civil Engineering (M.C.E., M.A.S., Ph.D.)

• Default essay question
• Describe what research area(s) interest you and which research groups might be a good match for your background and interests. (Answer NA if applying for a non-thesis degree)
• Describe how your past coursework, research experiences (if any), and extracurricular experiences have prepared you for our program.
• Give an example of your creative solution to a problem. This needs not be in a class; it can be something you solved at home, at work, etc.
• Is there anything else about you would you like us to know as we evaluate your application?

Clinical Exercise Physiology (M.S.)

• In 500 words or less, explain how being accepted in the clinical exercise physiology master's degree program at the University of Delaware will help you achieve your career goals.
• In 500 words or less, explain what three qualities are most important to being a successful graduate student. 
• In 500 words or less, explain your greatest weakness as a student and how you will overcome that weakness in a graduate program. 

Climatology (Ph.D.) and Geography (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.)

In geography and spatial sciences we are looking to admit graduate students who are passionate about human-environment interactions, geographic information systems and science, and/or climate science. We encourage prospective applicants to consider available research opportunities in the department and contact faculty they are interested in working with BEFORE they submit an application. We are committed to conducting a holistic admissions process and we evaluate files based on research experience, academic excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, motivation and goals, as well as fit with the research programs in the department. Strengths in any one area do not preclude strengths in another and we consider files as a whole.

Note: The Statement of Interest should directly answer each of the following questions. Any statements that exceed the limit or attach additional samples of writing will be rejected without review.

Application Essay 1 (no more than 3 pages):

• Why are you seeking a graduate degree at the University of Delaware? What specifically about our program(s) makes you a fit? We are looking for evidence that the research and teaching in the department is appropriate for the skills you want to build and research you want to pursue.
• What knowledge and skills do you hope to gain from the graduate program that will be useful to your long-term career goals? We are looking for evidence that you are passionate about the field and why a research-based graduate degree will help you to achieve your goals.
• The graduate student experience and life in general involves a range of challenges. Describe your motivation for pursuing your academic and career path goals. We are looking for evidence of clear and achievable goals.
• The University of Delaware is a top-tier research university, please describe any prior research experience and the research ideas you wish to develop at UD. We are looking for evidence of experience, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking, as well as, demonstrated knowledge of proposed research topic.
• Finally, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are an essential endeavor in our department, please describe how DEI factors into your current or planned work. We are looking for evidence of understanding of DEI as it relates to undertaking academic work.

Communication (Ph.D.)

• What specific area of communication are you interested in exploring and which of our faculty member(s) do you consider most appropriate to mentor you in your academic work and why?
• What is one communication-related question or concept that keeps you up at night with curiosity?
• What are you interested in studying communication from a quantitative, social scientific perspective (as opposed to from a more critical cultural or interpretive perspective)?
• Describe how your research interest relates to the research expertise of the department's faculty.

Communication (M.A.)

• What specific area of Communication are you interested in exploring and which of our faculty member(s) do you consider most appropriate to mentor you in your academic work and why?
• What are you interested in studying Communication from a quantitative, social scientific perspective (as opposed to from a more critical cultural or interpretive perspective)?

Communication Sciences and Disorders (Ph.D.)

• Describe your research experience, include length and type of experience and designate your preference of a primary and secondary advisor from the department's faculty.

Computer Science M.S./MBA Dual Degree

• Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. What are the specific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives? Within the area of study you have selected, are there areas of special interest to you?

Data Science (M.S.)

• Describe how your academic, professional and personal background has prepared you to be successful in this program and explain how the completion of this degree will contribute to your professional goals.

Disaster Science Management (M.S. and Ph.D.)

• What are your vocational objectives and how will your proposed plan of graduate study relate to them and allow you to achieve them?
• Within your major field, are there special areas of interest to you? Please explain.
• Are there any special circumstances related to your academic record that you wish to explain or that we should know?

Education (Ph.D.)

Application Essay 1 (2-5 pages):

• Applicants should introduce themselves and discuss educational and career goals related to the Ph.D. in Education program and how this program is a good match for their interests. Applicants should identify their area of specialization and potential research interest. 

Education Leadership (Ed.D.)

• Explain why you are applying to this particular program, that is, why do you want to be admitted to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?
• The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership requires that candidates be involved in planning and implementing a series of initiatives targeted at specific improvement needs that candidates identify and in which they may exercise leadership. Describe the contexts and responsibilities in your current position which would allow you to exercise leadership.

Application Essay 3: 

• Describe a problem in your area of interest that typifies the kind of issue that you would like to pursue as a leadership professional and why you think it is important to address.

Education and Social Policy (M.A.)

Application Essay 1 (2-3 pages): 

• Describe your interest in education and/or social policy, including your research area interest.
• What is your prior experience, research or otherwise (for credit, as an intern, as a job, or any other relevant practical or industry-related experiences)?
• What are your specific research and educational goals?
• What are your long-term professional career objectives?
• How do you see this program assisting you with achieving your objectives?
• Describe how your interests intersect with one or more Ed and Social Policy faculty members.

Energy and Environmental Policy (M.E.E.P. and Ph.D.)

Engineering and public policy (ph.d.), environmental science and management (m.s.).

Application Essay 1 (no more than 2 pages): 

• Why are you seeking a graduate degree in Environmental Science and Management at the University of Delaware?
• The Environmental Science and Management degree is interdisciplinary, asking you to engage with both natural and social sciences. How do you see the degree, including the knowledge and skills that will be gained and your selected track (climate, earth resources, or marine) supporting your interests and goals?
• The graduate student experience and life generally involve a range of challenges. Describe an example of how you have shown resilience and/or perseverance in pursuing your academic goals or in your personal life and how you have grown as a result.
• [Optional] Please add anything you would like to say in support of your application or anything that puts your application in a broader context that is not addressed by these questions (e.g., other relevant certifications or standardized examinations, uneven academic success).

Environmental Economics (M.S. and Ph.D.)

• Please tell us why you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Economics at the University of Delaware.

Epidemiology (Online Certificate)

• What educational background and scientific research or employment experience prepares you for this Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology?
• How will acquiring this graduate level training in epidemiology help you achieve your long-term professional objectives?
• What disease/condition are your content areas of interest and/or expertise? 

Epidemiology (Ph.D.)

Please also include:

• Research experience, when applicable: please indicate length and type of experience; 
• Practice experience, when applicable: please indicate the length and type of agency; 
• Advisor preference: please designate primary faculty advisor, and secondary advisors in order of preference. 

Exceptional Children and Youth (M.Ed., all concentrations)

Application Essay 2 (Choose one of three options):

• Select an important problem facing individuals with disabilities or the schools, teachers, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem.
• Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to work with individuals with disabilities.
• Upload a brief paper that you submitted in a recent education course to your application file.

Exercise Science (M.S.)

Financial services analytics (m.s.).

• What educational background and scientific research or employment experience prepares you for this degree program?
• What specific attributes of the program make you feel that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives

Finance (M.S.)

• How will an MS in Finance from the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware help you achieve your professional goals?

Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures (M.A.)

Foreign languages and pedagogy (m.s.), geography (m.a., m.s., ph.d.), generative ai in business (certificate), health behavior and science promotion (ph.d.).

• How do your research interests relate to those of at least two Health Behavior Science and Promotion faculty members?

Health Policy and Management (M.P.H)

History (m.a. and ph.d.).

Application Essay 1 (more than 600 words):

Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include specific attributes of the program at UD that led you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives. Within the area of study you have selected, are there areas of special interest to you?

Hospitality and Sports Business Analytics (M.S.)

Please upload a personal statement of how a M.S. degree in hospitality and sport business analytics can assist the candidate in accomplishing their career goals and aspirations. Additionally, candidates should answer the following prompt: “What are the specific attributes of this MS program at UD that led you to believe that this program is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives?”

International Business (M.S.)

Note: The Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics program essays are reviewed for originality and proper referencing of cited materials.  

• Why do you wish to pursue your graduate studies at the University of Delaware? What, in your opinion makes UD special?
• What are your career objectives and how will the MD IB degree help you achieve your goals?
• What does the word "global" mean to you?

Liberal Studies (M.A.)

Submit a three-to-five-page essay (double-spaced) about your intellectual interests and life experiences and how you think these can be developed in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. Please discuss your personal or professional objectives and why you believe this degree is appropriate to help you reach them.

Write a short essay (no more than three pages, double-spaced) about a book, essay, story or article that has been important to you (fiction or nonfiction). Discuss the author’s primary theme or argument and how it is developed. Describe how the work has influenced you.

Literacy (M.Ed.)

Application Essay 1 (500-words):

• Outline your short-term and long-term career goals and how a M.Ed. in literacy relates to them. 

Application Essay 2 (500 words):

• Describe a problem in your professional setting that typifies an issue you would like to pursue as a reading/literacy specialist and why you think it is important to address. 

Application Essay 3 (500 words):

• As you know, the M.Ed. in literacy program at the University of Delaware is offered online. It requires students to be self-initiated learners and excellent time-managers. Additionally, many of the courses require you to apply what you learn to an educational setting with students. Specifically, EDUC 630 and EDUC 763 require you to tutor a child regularly in reading and writing. Describe (a) how you plan to manage your time so you are able to fulfill your course requirements and (b) how you will identify appropriate educational settings so you can fulfill course requirements. Be specific.

MBA (Online)

Getting your message across to prospective customers is a key element of a business plan. Please critique our effort to market the University of Delaware MBA programs by using specific examples of where and how you heard about our program (e.g., specific radio station, internet site, publication, TV station, etc.) and honestly assess how effective that vehicle was in drawing you to apply for admission. What are some strengths of these marketing efforts and what could be done better? What is the best way to reach prospective students like you? We are looking for insightful, specific and brief essays.

Application Essay 3 (Optional):

Is there any other information, not covered elsewhere in your application, that you would like to share with the department's Graduate Admissions Committee? Are there special circumstances related to your academic record, such as low GPA or low GRE/GMAT scores that you feel we should know about? Are there any challenging social, economic, educational, cultural or other life circumstances that you have overcame to achieve success in higher education?

Microbiology (M.S. and Ph.D.)

​​​​​​​A personal statement should address the following questions: 

• What is your prior research experience (for credit, as an intern, as a job, or any other practical or industry related experiences)?
• How do you see this program assisting you with achieving your objectives? 

Minerals, Materials and Society (Certificate)

• What educational background and scientific research or employment experience prepared you for this graduate certificate program? 

Nursing Science (Ph.D.)

What is your research area/topic of interest? Use the literature to provide an explanation about what is known about this topic and why additional research needs to be done in this area. Based on your review of the literature, propose three research questions that you would like to explore in doctoral studies.

What are your professional objectives? How will resources (i.e., faculty, other) at the University of Delaware help you achieve your objectives and pursue your area of interest? Which School of Nursing faculty member would best fit as your mentor? Why?

Application Essay 3:

How have your education, prior research experience and professional and/or personal activities and achievements prepared you for doctoral studies in Nursing Science? Cite specific examples.

Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Graduate (Certificate)

In your personal statement please discuss your previous experience with the nonprofit sector and relevant career goals.

Nutrition Science (Ph.D.)

Describe how your research interests relate to at least two potential nutrition faculty advisors.

Political Science and International Relations (Ph.D.)

Provide an essay detailing why you are interested in a Ph.D. in Political Science, your research interest, what you hope to do with your degree, and why you are applying to our program. The latter reasoning should highlight faculty members and/or departmental research strengths that align well with your research interests.

Psychological and Brain Sciences (Ph.D.)

• What scientific research experience have you had? What aspects of your experience have you enjoyed most?
• What specific attributes of our department make you feel that it would be a good place for you? How could you see your research interests fitting with a particular faculty mentor or lab group?
• Are there any special circumstances or qualities related to your academic record that you feel we should know about? Were there any personal or academic obstacles or challenges that had a significant impact on your educational or research experience?

Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Public policy (m.p.p.), public policy and admininstration (ph.d.), quantum science and engineering (m.s. and ph.d.).

• Discuss what motivates you to pursue a graduate degree in Quantum Science and Engineering and outline your educational and career goals.
• What aspects of the QSE program at UD are of particular interest to you or lead you to believe that this program will help you meet your goals?
• Which track or tracks are of most interest to you?
• Are there any faculty members that you are particularly interested in working with and, if so, what attracts you to their area of research?

School of Marine Science and Policy Programs

Application Essay 1 (no more than 2 pages):

Note: Statement of Interest – In SMSP we are looking to admit graduate students who are passionate about learning and exploring marine science and policy. We encourage prospective applicants to explore the research opportunities in the school and contact faculty they are interested in working with before they submit an application. We welcome applicants who have varied cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Why are you seeking a graduate degree in SMSP at the University of Delaware? What knowledge and skills do you hope to gain from the graduate program that will be useful to your long-term career goals? We are looking for evidence that you are passionate about the field and also why a research-based graduate degree will help you to achieve your goals.
• The graduate student experience and life in general involves a range of challenges. Describe an example of how you have shown resilience and/or perseverance in the pursuit of your academic goals or in your personal life and how you have grown as a result.
• It is important for researchers to stay curious and be willing to question their own and other’s work. Please describe a time when you worked on something you were excited about, either academic or personal, in which you exhibited these qualities.
• [Optional] Please add anything you would like to say in support of your application or anything that puts your application in a broader context that is not addressed by these questions (e.g., other relevant certifications or standardized examinations).

School Psychology (M.A.)

• What qualities and experiences do you have that should help make you an excellent graduate student and school psychologist?
• What are your career objectives and how will obtaining your degree in social psychology from the University of Delaware contribute to them?
• Are there any special circumstances related to your academic record that you feel we should know about? 

Secondary STEM Education (M.S.)

• Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include: Specific attributes of the program at UD that lead you to believe that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional goals.

Address one of the following questions in a brief essay of 500 words or less:

• Select an important problem facing students who are learning science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science, their teachers, or other people who work with them and propose a solution to this problem; or,
• Describe an experience in your own life that influenced your decision to become a K-12 teacher in a STEM field.

Strategic Communication MBA (MBA/M.A. Dual Degree)

• Outline your educational plans and career goals and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study relates to them. Some areas of discussion might include specific attributes of this dual-degree program at UD that lead you to believe that this combination is appropriate to help you achieve your professional or career goals.

Teacher Leadership (Online M.Ed.)

• Outline your short-term and long-term career goals and discuss how a M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership relates to them.
• The M.Ed. in teacher leadership teaches candidates to lead from the classroom. Describe a problem in your professional setting that typifies an issue you would like to pursue as a teacher leader and why you think it is important to address. 
• The M.Ed. in teacher leadership is delivered 100% online. It requires students to be self-initiated learners and excellent time-managers. Describe how you plan to manage your time so you are able to fulfill your course requirements.

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

You should present a carefully planned and written statement of one to two pages in length describing what led you to pursue a degree in TESL, any past work in TESL or TEFL, your expectations of the University of Delaware M.A. in TESL program, and how you intend to use the degree to fulfill your professional career or further educational aspirations. Please include additional information you feel is important for the graduate committee to know about you. If you are currently registered in a graduate program at this or another university, please explain why you wish to leave. The personal statement must be submitted electronically as part of the admissions application.

Urban Affairs and Public Policy (M.S.)

Graduate College

Prospective Students

• Graduate Programs
• Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Community Portal
• Graduate College Council
• Event Photography and Videography Policy

234 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE 19716 USA   [email protected] General: (302) 831-6824 Fax: (302) 831-8745

Study Plan | How to write a Pro Study Plan

April 2, 2019

Introduction.

Study plans are schedules that designate studying times and learning objectives for specific courses or classes. Similar to a work schedule or a school schedule, a study plan outlines exact times for certain days and specific courses.

Create a study plan to become more organized and hold yourself accountable for learning objective deadlines. While applying for admissions or scholarships , you may be asked to submit a study plan that outlines your objectives and goals during your next course.

A few colleges demand Motivational letter independently alongside the study plan/research plan.

• How to write a Study Plan for CSC Scholarship?
• How to write a Study Plan Essay?

How to write a Study Plan?

You can create a study plan to become more organized and hold yourself accountable for learning objective deadlines.

Your study plan should include (at minimum) these 9 important notes:

• Your most recent education
• Achievements made an overview
• Outline learning objectives and assignment schedules (if any)
• Experiment objectives/expected outcomes
• Future academic goals
• Changes in study habits
• Outline Strengths
• Write your Weaknesses & your plans to counter them

5 Steps to Create a Study Plan

Maximize your study plan and its potential with these five essential steps:

STEP #1: THE PURPOSE OF STUDY PLAN

First of all, define the purpose of your study plan.  Is it for your college courses?  Is it for applying to scholarships?

A study plan for applying to scholarships requires a little more research and time versus a study plan for college courses.  Be sure you are including all the information that is pertinent to the purpose of the study plan.

STEP #2: THE TIME CHART IN STUDY PLAN

A time chart enables you to discover how much time you are spending on each activity throughout your day.  For example, maybe you spend 2 hours a day with your dog in the park.

Create a time chart to take notes about everything you do during the day, whether it’s at work, home, or school.  Be sure that the notes you are taking are very detailed.

So later you can look at your chart and decide where you can plug in an extra hour of studying and where you’re going to lose an hour.

STEP #3: SCHEDULE EVERYTHING IN STUDY PLAN

Your time chart should have helped you recognize and determine which days and what times will be the most beneficial for your studying. Take those dates and times and update them into your monthly calendar.

If your time chart shows that Wednesday and Friday from noon to two are your best studying sessions, then be sure you block those times off in your monthly calendar.

Writing it down in your calendar not only helps you remember it better but makes it seem more important, like a doctor’s appointment.

STEP #4: DEFINE STUDY GOALS IN STUDY PLAN

At the beginning of each week or at the beginning of each study session, determine why you need to study, what you need to study the most, what you need to improve on, and what objectives or goals you plan to achieve.

STEP #5: FOLLOW YOUR STUDY SCHEDULES IN STUDY PLAN

It may seem easy to miss out on one study session to go to the movies with your friends but making up the study time later in the week is going to cause you stress and anxiety.

Work hard to really stick to your time chart and study session calendar. If you skip once, you’re more likely to skip again.  Do your best not to get behind.

Why do you need a Study Plan?

The study plan is a great tool to help you succeed in your educational endeavors. It will aid in the organization of your schedules and make you feel accountable.

The Study plan will help to remind you of important due dates. Personalizing your study plan requires you to sit down and think about your time management skills.

It is the Study Plan that forces you to ask yourself questions such as, “Have I spent enough time on my studies lately?” or “Did I spend more time hanging out with friends than studying for my last exam?”

Therefore, being able to answer those questions will provide insight into your current time management skills. You may find that the hours you spend hanging out with friends or playing video games is three times as much as you spend on your studies.

Tips on Writing a Study Plan

Don’t overbook dates.

Figure out which days are light days and which days are filled to the max on your study plan . On days where your commitments are low, pack in extra hours of studying.

Vice versa, plan on losing a couple of hours of studying on the days that appointments are scheduled on or lots of errands have to run.  Be sure to look ahead and keep in mind any projects or exams that will take up a large amount of your time.

Personalize It

A personalized study plan will also help you become aware of how much time you need to put into studying to effectively learn and understand a subject.  All students are different, and some students learn much faster than others.

Students that learn at a slower pace oftentimes need more time to register learning objectives because their brains cannot process information as quickly as faster learners.

You may discover you need to study an extra 2 or 3 hours a night, for 3 nights a week, instead of studying for 45 minutes each night.

Keep Updating Your Plan

Prior to each study period, your study plan needs to be updated to outline specific goals, learning outcomes, objectives, and study materials specific to that study session.

Also, create a study plan that answers why you are studying, and what you need to improve on to achieve the learning outcomes you set.

Maximize Effectiveness

While you don’t want to skip scheduled sessions in the  Study plan , you also do not want to exhaust yourself in your studies.  Be reasonable and allow yourself sufficient study breaks in between sessions and during your sessions.

If further help is needed in your study sessions, consider hiring a tutor or studying with a friend. In fact, having a study partner creates discussions that facilitate the learning process.

Study Plan Sample and Study Plan Example can be download from the link below:

Download: Study plan Sample

137 thoughts on “Study Plan | How to write a Pro Study Plan”

Dear Mr. Waqas,

I did B.Sc in textile engineering and i hold CGPA 3.72 out of 4:00. Can i apply for china government scholarship? If i apply how much the chance that i will get scholarship?

You can apply for CSC scholarship. 100% chances with acceptance letter and 90% chances without acceptance.

Please i want know the deadline for 2019/2020 application and submission csc documents

yes you can, +8618222967410 (what”s aap+we chat)

any time i go csc web, i always get the message “Server maintenance in is in process please wait”, is there any other link?

Kindly check again, it is working now and you can now apply for CSC scholarship.

My cgpa is 3.139 done mechanical engg from uet..how many chances of winning fully funded scholarship

Dear Waqas can you share the sample study plan for PhD.

Hi respected sir, Sir I am a graduate student of BS Computer Science and applying for CSC, sir in CSC form study plane is require, sir if you have any samples about my field, please sir send me. Thanks Regards: Falakniaz

Do I need an agent to apply for a CSC scholarship? I live in Ghana. And would I be given a supervisor for my masters program?

No need to apply through agent for CSC Scholarship. Application procedure is very easy. kindly have a look at CSC Scholarship application process section of our website.

I just tried the link you left on this comment and it took me to a broken link. Could you please guide me in applying to the CSG Scholarship

i have got acceptance latter.what are the required documents and how can i apply .

Salam, I am currently applying for the Chinese government scholarship but having some difficulty writing a study plan. Must the study plan be nothing less than 800 words? Thank you

For a Master degree applicant for any scholarship it is advised to write a unique Study plan consisting of at least 800 words.

Do we need to write a study plan as well as a research plan for masters students? Thank you for your help.

what about undergraduate students? how many words do I have to write at least ?

How many words is the study plan?

Ideally a study plan must consist of at least 800 words for Master degree applicants and over 1200 words for PhD applicants.

for CSC: Undergraduate students- 200 Masters students- 800

please how can i write “A STUDY PLAN” for csc scholarship…what are the process and key point too write about …thanks

Study plan sample you can view here.

HI I NEED A STUDY PLAN FOR STATISTIC FACULTY IN MASTER DEGREE

Thank you for help.

Iam graduate of nurse i want to apply CSC scholarship

can i apply with a Higher National Diploma for Masters?

Dear Mr. Waqas! My question is when recommendation letter is to be attested by an associate professor, is it required to get letter stamped as well signed by the professor? I am asking this because some people say that stamp is not required. Please tell me about it.

My academic record is not particularly astounding, but its not bad either. My GPA was 3.47, to tell you the truth I was capable of achieving more but at the time I got my hands full as I were quite active at the student body. This is apparent during my final year when I retired from my position at the student body my grade immediately shot up to 3.95, I did perfect especially at my thesis I even won the highest grade title in my last semester. Now its been 2 years since my graduation, and I have been working at major governmental projects since then. My question is how can I make my study plan as good as the sample above considering I was not being a model academic student at that time?

how to get acceptance letter?

Just stopped by to see what was up and found this awesome lesson! What a cool form – I hope the triolet makes a comeback by shear force of dVerse poets. I took a stab at it and am looking forward to checking out some of the other triolets posted.Oh, and can I get a Mi#7ek821&;s Hard Lemonade? And some peanuts? Peace, Linda

Hello good day.. Thanks for study its so excellent.. Please am so confused with other study plan i saw online. A study plan is an organized schedule that students create that outlines study times and learning goals….please i have an interview tomorow i really dont know which i will be asked of

hello..i am applying for the japanese government Mext schoolarship and i am having difficulties in contacting professors.I cant find their emails

waqas muhammad what is your opinion about the scholarship in Japan..how this study plan is differ from china..

Hi . Can I apply for PhD in sociology on scholarship base

Sir, waqas . How we can write a good study plan to apply for scholarship as economics student in Mphill

helo waqas bro. I done Msc In Agriculture, Plz Help me writing a Reserach plan for phd for csc scholership

Found your article very helpful! Thank you soo much Mr waqas

Excellent forum for information sharing and i my self really inspired with the different format, study plan, motivation letter etc.

Hello sir AoA! What kind of documents should be ready before applying for csc???

hello brother i completed BS(IT) with 65% marks and have a lot of international certifications . chances to get csc scholarship ?

please is there a service charge?? do i have to pay some money as a visa application process fee?

sorry…do i have to pay money as a scholarship application process fee?

After writing the study plan do i also have to write motivation letter for PhD program? what are the major difference between the two, please?

Dear Mr. Waqas I did sociogy and i got 3,40 out of 4. Can i apply for China Scholarship ? If i apply how much the chance that i will get scholarship?

Dear Mr. Waqas

I did sociology and i got 3,40 out of 4. Can i apply for China Scholarship ? if apply how much the chance that i will get scholarship?

Greetings! My name is Ihsan Ullah and I just completed my bachelors degree in Electronics. I acquired 3.82 GPA out of 4.00 GPA. Now I wish to apply to china for masters and I am hoping if you could assist me in this regard as I don’t know about the procedure of how to apply to CSC scholarships. Your help in this regard will be highly appreciated, Thanks.

please dear would you mind me if you tell me how can I meet advisor for agricultural product processing and storage engineering in jiangsu university

Hi. What are the differences between a study plan and a research plan or are they the same?

Study plan is actually given by Master degree students and research proposal is actually a detailed version of your study plan which is asked by doctoral degree students to provide alongside their applications.

hello Mr. Yousaf, I want to ask that if I apply for Phd. program then I don’t need to submit study plan

how can one submit fee for registration in china also do we need to send original recommendation latter or just need to submit notarized copies

[email protected]

can u plz guide me that what should be written in proposed study plan ?

Muhammad me i have ssce certificate, so how can i write for study plan

Please, anytime I visited the CSC link to create an account, after entering my email and password, the response I did got is that the email and the password is not valid, please what can cause this?

Dear Waqas,

I have bachelor degree–B.Sc Engineering Technology in Electrical from UET Lahore, and i hold CGPA 3.35 out of 4:00. Can i apply for china government scholarship for MS Engineering Program? If i apply how much the chance that i will get scholarship?

i want to study for master but am having a diploma certificate,will i be accepted?

really i want to say you are so gentle that you answer the all questions one by one as they asked !!

The language of the study ( phd) is English or china

Please can you get admission for masters program without writing a study plan? Also I did Bachelor of Education in Accounting and got 3.1 out of 4.0 as CGPA. Can I get opportunity to study MBA in Finance in Chinese Government Scholarship.

Dear Brother, Is it necessary to fill out both university online registration form and CSC form. Secondly how can we guess that the very university required online registration too??

I am currently applying for CSC and need help on how to go about writing a study plan . Am applying for masters scholarship with a GPA of 3.59 and what are my chances of getting this scholarship base on academic merits?

am Gozah from Ghana currently working my thesis for MPhil in Mathematics (Financial engineering). i will be graduating in July, can I also apply for the CSC scholarship now. however, i have MBA certificate and what is the chance of winning the scholarship if I want to PhD in Financial Engineering and Mathematics.

should recommendation letter be written by only Professor, what about senior lecturer.

Please l want to find out if l can use diploma in marketing to apply csc schorlarship

Sir, Is it true that the “Chinese Govt scholarship under CSC ” only provide “going air ticket” and then the Candidate pays the return air ticket ? en-lighten me about the scholarship value/benefits

I am applying in Master Degree. WHAT is the basic need study plan or research proposal? Kindly Help me.

are these scholarship available now? and ending date is 5 March 2018?

I would love to apply for csc scholarship but am finding difficult in getting a school with my choice of study. Am interested in M.sc clinical psychology, child psychology, developmental psychology or early childhood studies. Please can you refer me to any of the Chinese school that offers this course. Thanks Blessing from Nigeria

I’m now tried to apply a PhD scholarship at Hungary. But the problem is writing a research proposal, I mean I don’t know the correct format and contents should be there as a proposal. In a limited number of words and pages how can I writes a short summery of research proposal?

Sir, I want to ask that, Japan govt is offering a teacher training scholarship program of 18 months through japan embassy. I am a teacher and I have specialty or Master in Math.I have Filled “Reach Feild” as Mathematics Education. I want a suggestion to fill “research plan” that may increased my chance of scholarship.Please guide me about that

M.Yousaf, I need research proposal or study plane about china pakistan cooperation on fruits and vegetables or agricultural practices. [email protected] or my whatssup is 03318006106 . kindly help. thank you regard Saeed Ahmed.

Is the study plan same as statement of purpose?

Dear, I did BS in Computer Science with B Grade having CGPA 3.02/4.00 in 2011 from Pakistan. Now I want to get Graduation leading to Phd. Scholarship from China. What you think that is there any chances for me to get Scholarship.

Assalamuaalikum. My name is Muhammad Farukh Tanveer. i want to apply for a china Government Scholarships. I have completed my Masters with a CGPA of 3.42/4. Now i am applying for a PHD in Electrical Engineering & Information and Communication Engineering. How much chance do i have to get a full CSC scholarship???

Sir my passport will be expire in end of September .do I need to make new or apply on this one for CSC .thanks

Could you plz guide me how to write study plan??

I have done my BE in Civil Engineering with 81.6% but degree will be awarded in end of march and most of the Chinese universities deadline to submit application is in march. So is there any alternate to complete my Application in CSC 2018.

Dear Waqas Sir. My Name Shakir Amjad I did B.Sc in Agriculture Mechanization and i hold CGPA 3.45 out of 4:00. Can i apply for china government scholarship? If i apply how much the chance that i will get scholarship? I get Acceptance letter For the same department

i need study plan for master can u help me

please reply me some as soon as posssible

plz help mi have no idea for study plan and i have done msc botany plz tell me about study plan for scholarship

online application form is not opening, i am trying from last 2 weeks

Asalam o alikum.

I want to do PhD in veterinary sciences under studentship/ scholarship, from any European country i.e Australia,Switzerland, UK etc. How i will get admission?I studied in institutes where English was the medium of instruction for all courses. However i did n,t appear in any English language examination i.e IELTS etc .

good evening ! i am going to apply for csc scholarship i a m from tunisian i would like to know my chances to get accepted is it easy if all my papers are correct and i have a good grades as well because i dont have an acceptance letter ! thanks in advance

Please can a get a sample research plan, Japan scholarship specifically Stated :Describe in detail and with specifics-particularly concerning the ultimate goals of your research at YNU. Your academic background and research methodology should be included”.

sir please tell me about best university in china which offer scholarship for master in engineering management in English.Thanks

What is the last date to apply for csc scholarship

Hi Muhammad Yousaf. Can you help. I must write study plany for csc scholarship. If you help i am very glad. Please help me)))

I am in a management student.I am complete my master’s degree from Bangladesh University. my result are CGPA 3.22 out of 4. can I apply again master’s degree from Chinese government scholarship..

please can i have your we chat ID?

dear bro i did pharm d and i want to study in china and i have no acceptance letter plz tell me thats how much chances is for me to get an admission

Hello. How to write a study plan undergraduate?

Hi.. for the csc scholarship do I need to write a study plan for undergraduate programme?

Hi.. do I need to write a study plan for undergraduate programme for the csc scholarship?

Please can i know the differences between the Shanghai Government Scholarship of class A and Class B type of scholarship.

please i need direction on how to apply for csc scholarship

I completed Pre-engineering in 2004. After that I started doing jobs. Now I am serving a Chinese company. I want to learn Chinese. Very basic things I have learnt from Chinese here. I want to be a professional Chinese interpreter. For this I am seeking one year scholarship only for Chinese in China. Is it possible that I will get chance to get scholarship in this scenario?

Hello I have received a letter of acceptance from a supervisor from Jaingsu university, on a condition of csc scholarship or JSU Scholarship. Even though i did not apply for the that course on the online application. Please what should i do about that. Kindly advise.

i have done my BS Physics degree with CGPA 3.1/4.0 now i want to get studentship for research in Germany, without ielts, my english is proficent for my studies, how can i get?

I am applying China AUN scholarship but the application registration stated audit. How can i log in and complete application online?

what is the difference between: Study plan and SOP Study plan and research plan when only ask to submit study plan , should a phd student require to submitt research proposal

is it a must that the study plan of undergraduate could be a minimum of 400 words

Hi iam abdul hanan done bsit with cgpa 2.48 can i aply for csc

Slam, i from pakistan. I have done M.A English language and literature from NUML university in 2017 with a CGPA of 3.34/4.00. I want to apply for Master degree in china. How much chance is for me? And how i can write a study plan? plz guide me.

Hi … thank you very much for your cooperation and your help.

i would kindly ask about the structure of the study plan

what does it consist of?

salut. s’il vous plaît j’ai fait une demande de bourse sur le site du SCC depuis Mars 2018 mais jusqu’à ce jour je n’ai eu aucune réponse.j’aimerais savoir quelle est la procédure habituelle après la demande et ce qui peut expliquer l’absence de réponse. Merci

Hi Mr. Yousaf could you please help me write my study plan for study permit. How do we start it for BBA

Login Link Plz Dear,

I am going to be 40 years in December 2018. Can I apply CSC or UNIST scholarship in upcoming year??

Salam Sir I complete my LLB degree from University of Swabi with 3.2 CGPA and now I want to study LLM from Chinese universities but the study plan so difficult for me I try my best many time but I failed.

Dear Waqas, I earned my Master degree in Chemical Engineering from UET Lahore this year,now i want to do P.hd from china kindly guide me regarding research proposal.

Dear sir, you said in the above comment that study plan is for master and research proposal is for PhD student. So PhD student just need to submit the research proposal.? or study plan too?

Sir how can I apply for phd mathematics can you help me right now I m in china and I want fully funded scholarship

AoA Sir, I am a law graduate and want to get admission in llm with full fledged scholarship in foreign countries like,china Australia,Taiwan etc.Therefore humbly request you be informed procedure for admission and also guide me in thiz regard.

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Please what are the chances for a person with a GPA of 3.24 out of 4.00 win the CSC scholarship? Thank you

I have a bachelor of science degree in statistics with first class honored at kwame nkrumah university of science and technology , ghana. can I apply for master degree admission with scholarship in economics. If so what is my chance of getting scholarship?

Thank you Muhammad Yousaf for your assistance, I have a master’s degree in civil engineering (structural option) and so far I have published one paper, can I apply for a PhD scholarship with only one paper published?

Sir I really confused how to apply Chinese governmental scholarship I need to guid me step by step please thanks

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Hi, I am a female from Islamabad, need your help for PhD scholarship in China, Kindly guide. Best Regards

Hey. I complete my BBA Hons in finance now I want o to apply for CSC scholarship so I complete all the requirements but can you manage a study plan for me I will mail you all of the requirements please reply me I will wait for your response.

i’ve done my graduation from Virtual University Of Pakistan. Can I apply for CSC Scholarship?

Dear, Salam. I did my MS in Management Sciences major in Project Management. I have applied on the CSC portal in the previous session but there is no response from that side. whilst, showing “In Progress” Status on the portal. what should I do now? let me guide plz…………….

Sir kindly send me study plan for master program in economics My email account is saleem [email protected]

Hello, Is it ok if I add any reference in my study plan? Best Regards, Md Shah Neowaz

i need to apply for a china i need a study plan for pharmacology

if i want to get chinese Govermint Scholarship ( Undergrduted ) i have to write study or research plan or no ?

Hi! how can I prepare a study plan, please help me with it?

Sir how can I apply to the school address eg Nanjing University

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Hi and my regards, sir I have just filled the csc scholarship application, but now don’t know how to upload the University which i prefer.

This web help me a lot to understand how to write a study plan thank u soo much

It was a useful information about a study plane I have ever seen. But what was state in the information it did not considered in the sample at the end.

How do I apply for the Chinese Undergraduate scholarship

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• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school

How to Write a Statement of Purpose | Example

Published on February 13, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 1, 2023.

When you apply for graduate programs or scholarships, the admissions committee is looking for more than just a list of grades. The statement of purpose (also known as a statement of intent or motivation letter) is your chance to stand out from the crowd and showcase your motivation, skills and potential. It should:

• Outline your academic or professional interests and goals
• Discuss relevant skills, experience and achievements
• Demonstrate why you’d be a good fit for the program

Table of contents

Successful statement of purpose example, requirements and prompts, personal introduction, experience and achievements, goals and motivations, fit with the program, tips for an effective statement of purpose, other interesting articles.

The torment of the Founding Fathers is responsible for my interest in Classics. My desire to learn Latin stemmed from reading American Revolutionary-era history during junior high and high school, and particularly from the countless Latin quotations I found in John Adams’ writings. Always eager for a challenge, I was intrigued by the American founders’ accounts of the torture of learning such a difficult language. In my first semester at university, I started learning Latin and thoroughly loved it. As I learned more and more about classical civilization through the language, I realized that I was passionately interested in many aspects of the field of Classics. I have since taken courses on mythology, art and archaeology, and religion, on ancient history, and on the classical tradition. I have also learned Greek, of course, starting with an intensive two-semester course at the university’s summer school. My experience studying abroad in Florence and traveling through Italy and Greece intensified my zeal for the field and, in particular, fueled my ambition to specialize in classical archaeology.

My personal philosophy of life is that everything is connected, and this conviction drives my desire to study Classics. The most rewarding moments for me are discovering and investigating connections – both broad ones, between fields and disciplines, and more specific ones, like the relationship between a piece of literature and an object of material culture. My liberal arts education has equipped me with a broad base of knowledge in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts, and in the honors program I pursued independent projects exploring academic and personal connections, including a paper on ancient Mayan astronomy, a self-observation study on the effects of nutrition and hydration on exercise performance, and a paper on the influence of political context on the changing artistic representations of John Adams. By seeking out connections between seemingly unrelated areas of academia, I have acquired a well-rounded outlook which helps me approach new ideas with both a range of prior experiences and a mind always open to different interpretations.

In accordance with my personal philosophy, I have also continued to explore connections within Classics and between Classics and other fields. In 2007, I published an article in my university’s undergraduate humanities journal; inspired by my studies in Florence, I compared representations of the birth of Venus in ancient and Renaissance literature and art. My major academic achievement to date, however, has been my senior honor thesis on John Adams’ connection to the Classics. Funded by a Hilldale Research Fellowship, I conducted research in the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society and in John Adams’ personal library at the Boston Public Library on the influence of the classical tradition on Adams’ worldview and how he consciously modeled himself on classical ideals. It was particularly fulfilling to connect historical and classical research in writing about the figure most responsible for instigating my study of the Classics.

As well as my research skills, I have demonstrated proficiency in the classical languages, winning prizes for both Latin and Greek translation from the Classics Department, as well as receiving an enthusiastic nomination from the department for the Pearson Fellowship from the American Philological Association. I am also the president of the undergraduate Classics Society, which allows me to share my enthusiasm for Classics with other students and the larger community.

One of the most appealing aspects of studying Classics is the vast range of topics encompassed by the field. Because my interests are broad and I value an interdisciplinary approach, I would like to pursue graduate study ultimately leading to a PhD in Classical Archaeology. Archaeology in itself is, of course, a multi-faceted field, requiring knowledge of history, language, anthropology, and various scientific and technological methods. I have already started building my skills in this area: I participated in a microartifact analysis from the excavation of a Maya site in Belize as part of an honors project, and this summer I will take part in two archaeological projects in Turkey after working as a research assistant on related material in the spring semester. This PhD program includes many other opportunities I am eager to explore, such as palaeography and papyrology courses, and especially the variety of fieldwork and museum experiences available. I believe that my strong background in the classical languages and wide range of courses on classical civilization and archaeological methods have prepared me well for this program, and I am convinced that, guided by my philosophy of interconnectedness, I will flourish in this program.

The first step is to read the application instructions. These should include the length of the document (usually 1-2 pages), any formatting requirements, and often a question or prompt that indicates what you should focus on.

In some cases, you might also be asked to submit a personal statement . Similar advice applies to both of these documents—both should give a sense of who you are, what you’ve done and what you want to do. But a statement of purpose is often more formal, tightly focused on your academic background and your suitability for the program.

If you are working on multiple applications, don’t try to write a one-size-fits-all text—tailor your statement of purpose to each program. Make sure to respond to the prompt and include all the information you’re asked for. A typical statement of purpose prompt looks like this:

Your focus will be slightly different depending on whether you’re applying for research-based academic programs (such as a PhD ) or professional qualifications (such as an MBA). But all statements of purpose should contain the following elements.

This is your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and let them hear your voice. The statement of purpose shouldn’t tell your life story, but it should give a glimpse into who you are.

Academic and personal background

Give an overview of your academic background, and show what drives your interest in this field or profession. You might want to include some personal background too—your family history, social circumstances, personal relationships and life experiences have all shaped your trajectory and perspective. What unique insights will you bring with you?

Characteristics and personality

Think about aspects of your character that make you well-suited for graduate school. Don’t just list generic adjectives—give examples that demonstrate your strengths and show why they’re relevant.

• Are you organized enough to handle a high-pressure workload?
• Do you have the creativity needed to develop original ideas, or a systematic mindset perfect for problem-solving?
• Do you have strong leadership skills, or are you great at working collaboratively?

Avoid including irrelevant autobiographical detail in the statement of purpose. Everything you include should be aimed at showing why you’d be a strong candidate for the program.

Your experience shows that you have the necessary skills to succeed in graduate school. Don’t just summarize everything you’ve done—pick out some highlights to build a clear picture of your strengths and priorities, illustrating how you’ve learned and developed along the way.

Academic experience

If you’re applying for a research-focused program, such as a PhD, show your knowledge of the field and outline your research experience. This might include:

• A brief summary of your thesis or final project
• Courses that you found particularly valuable
• Projects you contributed to
• Publications
• Presentations
• Extracurriculars that gave you relevant skills or experience

Professional experience

If you’re applying for a professional program, such as an MBA, outline your experience so far and show how it relates to your career plans. This might include:

• Past or current job roles
• Projects you led or participated in
• Internships
• Voluntary work
• Training courses

In all cases, give specific examples with details of what you worked on, what you achieved, and what you got out of the experience.

As well as showing that you’re prepared for the program, explain what you expect to get out of it. What are your motivations for applying? How do you plan to make the most of its opportunities, and how will it help you achieve your goals?

Academic motivations

For academic programs, indicate your research interests, showing how they follow from and build upon what you have studied so far. This might include:

• A subfield that you want to strengthen your expertise in
• A specific problem or question that you’d like to address
• An initial idea for a research project
• A theoretical or methodological approach that you want to develop

This isn’t the place for an in-depth research plan, but it’s a chance to show your enthusiasm and knowledge of your field.

Professional motivations

For professional programs, outline your career aspirations and show how your experience informs your goals. This might include:

• The next step you want to take in your career. What position are you aiming for and how will the program help you achieve it?
• Your motivations for a career change. Can you make a link between your previous experience and your new direction?
• Your long-term goals. Where do you want to be in five or ten years, and how do you see yourself getting there?

The admissions committee wants to know that you’re genuinely motivated to complete the program, and the clearer your plans, the more convincing your commitment.

It’s important to show not only why you want to study this subject, but also why you want to do it in this particular institution and department.

• Do your research, and mention particular classes, specialisms or faculty that attracted you.
• Show why you’re a good fit. Do your priorities align with the values and culture of the institution? What will you contribute to the department?
• Discuss the specific skills, knowledge and experience you expect to get from the program.

The statement of purpose isn’t only about selling yourself—it’s about illustrating an ideal match between you and the program.

Once you’ve made sure to cover all the key elements, you can work on strengthening and polishing the text. Follow these tips to make your application the best it can be.

Stay focused

It can be tempting to try to cram in everything you’ve done, but a good statement of purpose requires careful selection to craft a focused narrative. One way to do this is by building your text around a central theme—for example, a character trait, an intellectual interest, or a career goal.

This strategy helps structure your text and puts your priorities centre stage. Link each paragraph back to the central idea, making it clear how everything fits together.

Think about your structure

The structure of a statement of purpose is somewhat flexible, as long as you include all the relevant information in an order that makes sense.

For example, you might start with a chronological story of where your interests began, or you might open with your goals and then select a series of examples that show your capacity to achieve them. If you’re desperate to study in this specific program, you could lead with a summary of why it’s your ideal choice, and then elaborate on each aspect to show why you’re a perfect fit.

The important thing is that the text showcases your strengths and motivations in a compelling, coherent way. As in any other piece of academic writing, make sure each paragraph communicates one main idea, and that each sentence flows smoothly and logically from the last. Use transition words and topic sentences to move between paragraphs.

Add meaning to your resume

The bare facts of your achievements—grades, prizes, work experience—are already included in your graduate school resume and transcripts. Use the statement of purpose not to repeat yourself, but to add personal meaning and texture to these facts.

If you got top marks for your thesis, describe the research process and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the topic. If you completed an internship or participated in a project, explain what new skills you learned and which aspects you found most valuable. If you already have lots of experience in the field, show how each step developed your skills and shaped your current plans.

Revise, edit, proofread

Your statement of purpose isn’t only about the content—it’s also a chance to show that you can express yourself fluently, confidently and coherently in writing. Spend plenty of time revising, editing and proofreading your text before you submit.

Make sure you stay within the recommended length, and check if there are any specific formatting requirements. If not, use a standard 12pt font, 1-inch margins and 1.5 line spacing.

When you have a final draft, our professional statement of purpose proofreading service can offer an extra pair of eyes to make sure every sentence is perfect.

Proofread my statement of purpose

Checklist: Statement of purpose

My statement of purpose clearly responds to the prompt.

I have introduced my academic, professional and/or personal background.

I have described any relevant experience and shown my development over time.

I have highlighted key achievements that demonstrate my talents.

There is a clear connection between my previous experience and my future plans.

I have explained how the program will help me achieve my goals.

I have mentioned specific aspects of the program, department and institution that appeal to me.

Every paragraph focuses on one central idea.

The paragraphs are organized in a logical order and tell a clear, coherent story.

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Not sure what graduate schools are looking for in a statement of purpose? Looking at successful graduate school statement of purpose samples can help! In this guide, we’ll orient you to what makes a great statement of purpose or letter of intent for graduate school. Then we’ll provide you with four successful statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. We’ll also provide analysis of what makes them successful. Finally, we’ll direct you to even more helpful examples that you can find online!

The Graduate School Statement of Purpose: An Overview

A statement of purpose (also called a letter of intent or a research statement) introduces your interests and experience to the admissions committee. For research-focused programs, like most PhDs and many master’s degrees, your statement of purpose will focus primarily on your past research experience and plans. For more professionally-focused graduate programs, your statement of purpose will primarily discuss how your pursuit of this professional program relates to your past experiences, and how you will use the skills from the program in your future career.

A statement of purpose for grad school is also where you sell the admissions committee on why you belong in their program specifically. Why do you fit there, and how does what they offer fit your interests?

What’s in a Great Grad School Statement of Purpose?

Here are the essential elements of a strong graduate school statement of purpose:

Clear Articulation of Goals and Interests

A strong statement of purpose will clearly and specifically lay out your goals in undertaking the program and what you hope to accomplish with the degree. Again, for a research-focused program, this will focus primarily on the research project(s) you want to undertake while you are there. For a more professional program, discuss what interests you within the professional field and what skills/knowledge you hope to gain through the program.

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You should be as specific as possible in discussing what interests you. Use examples of particular phenomena, tools, or situations that you find exciting. If you are vague or say that everything in the field interests you, you run the risk of seeming unfocused or not actually that passionate.

Don’t worry that being too specific will box you into a particular research area or subfield during your entire tenure in graduate school. Your program understands that interests change—they won’t be pulling out your research statement to cross-reference with your dissertation proposal!

Evidence of Past Experience and Success

A great graduate school statement of purpose will also show programs that you have already been successful. They want applicants that will be able to follow through on their research/professional plans!

To this end, you’ll need to provide evidence of how your background qualifies you to pursue this program and your specific interests in the field. You’ll probably discuss your undergraduate studies and any professional experience you have. But be sure to draw on specific, vivid examples.  You might draw on your thesis, major projects you’ve worked on, papers you have written/published, presentations you’ve given, mentors you’ve worked with, and so on. This gives admissions committees concrete evidence that you are qualified to undertake graduate study!

Interest and Fit With the Program

The third essential ingredient to a great statement of purpose is to clearly lay out why you and the program are a good fit. You should be able to identify both specific reasons why your work fits with the program and why the program suits your work/interests! Are there particular professors you’d like to work with? Does the department have a strong tradition in a certain methodology or theory you’re interested in? Is there a particular facet to the curriculum that you’d like to experience?

Showing that you and the program are a match shows that you chose the program thoughtfully and have genuine interest in it. Programs want to admit students who aren’t just passionate about the field. They want students who are genuinely enthused about their specific program and positioned to get the most out of what they have to offer.

Strong Writing

The final essential piece of a strong statement of purpose or letter of intent is strong writing. Writing skills are important for all graduate programs. You’ll need to demonstrate that you can clearly and effectively communicate your ideas in a way that flows logically. Additionally, you should show that you know how to write in a way that is descriptive but concise. A statement of purpose shouldn’t ever be longer than two pages, even without a hard word limit.

Admissions committees for humanities programs may be a little more focused on writing style than admissions officers for STEM programs. But even in quantitative and science-focused fields, written communication skills are an essential part of graduate school. So a strong statement of purpose will always be effectively written. You’ll see this in our statement of purpose for graduate school samples.

Real, Successful Statement of Purpose Samples

In this section, we’ll present four successful graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts, along with a brief commentary on each statement. These statements come from a diverse selection of program types to show you how the core essentials of a statement of purpose can be implemented differently for different fields.

Note: identifying information for these statements have been changed—except for example four, which is my statement.

• Statement of Purpose Sample One: Japanese Studies MA

This statement of purpose is notable for its great use of space and its vivid descriptions. The author is able to cram a lot into about a page. She discusses how she came to her two primary research interests (and how they are connected). She integrates this discussion of her interests with information on her past experiences and qualifications for pursuing the course of study. Finally, she includes details on her goals in pursuing the program and components of the program that interest her. Her examples are specific and fleshed-out. There’s a lot very cleverly included in a small amount of page space!

Additionally, the language is very vivid. Phrases like “evocative and visceral” and “steadily unraveling,” are eye-catching and intriguing. They demonstrate that she has the writing skills necessary to pursue both graduate study and her interest in translation.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Two: Music MM

This sample is fairly long, although at 12 point Times New Roman it’s under two pages single-spaced. The length of this statement is partially due to the somewhat expansive nature of the prompt, which asks what role music has played in the applicant’s life “to date.” This invites applicants to speak more about experiences further in the past (in the childhood and teen years) than is typical for a statement of purpose. Given that this is for a master’s degree in music, this is logical; musical study is typically something that is undertaken at a fairly young age.

This statement does an excellent job describing the student’s past experiences with music in great detail. The descriptions of the student’s past compositions and experiences performing new music are particularly vivid and intriguing.

This statement also lays out and elaborates on specific goals the student hopes to pursue through the program, as well as features particular to the program that interest the student (like particular professors).

• Statement of Purpose Sample Three: Economics PhD

One of the first things you’ll likely notice about this statement is that it’s a little on the longer side. However, at 12 point Times New Roman font and single-spaced, it still comes in under 2 pages (excluding references). It makes sense for a PhD statement of purpose sample to be longer than a master’s degree statement of purpose—there’s more to lay out in terms of research interests!

The writing style is fairly straightforward—there’s definitely a stronger focus on delivering content than flashy writing style. As Economics is a more quantitative-focused field, this is fine. But the writing is still well-organized, clear, and error-free.

The writer also gives numerous examples of their past work and experience, and shows off their knowledge of the field through references, which is a nice touch.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Four: History of the Book MA

This is actually my statement of purpose. It was for a program that I got accepted to but did not end up attending, for a Master’s in the History of the Book. You’ll notice that the two essay prompts essentially asked us to split our statement of purpose into two parts: the first prompt asked about our research interests and goals, and the second prompt asked about our relevant experience and qualifications.

I’ll keep my comments on this graduate school statement of purpose sample brief because I’ll do a deep dive on it in the next section. But looking back at my statement of purpose, I do a good job outlining what within the field interests me and clearly laying out how my past experiences have qualified me for the program.

Obviously this statement did its job, since I was accepted to the program. However, if I were to improve this statement, I’d change the cliche beginning  (“since I was a child”) and provide more specificity in what about the program interested me.

Deep Dive Analysis of a Sample Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

Next, we’ll do a paragraph by paragraph analysis of my statement, statement of purpose sample four. I’ll analyze its strengths and suggest ways I could shore up any weaknesses to make it even stronger.

Essay 1: Academic Interests

To refresh, here’s the first prompt: Please give a short statement that describes your academic interests, purpose, objectives and motivation in undertaking this postgraduate study. (max 3500 chars – approx. 500 words)

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Paragraph 1

Since I was a child, my favorite thing has always been a book. Not just for the stories and information they contain, although that is a large part of it. Mostly, I have been fascinated by the concept of book as object—a tangible item whose purpose is to relate intangible ideas and images. Bookbindings and jackets, different editions, the marginalia in a used book—all of these things become part of the individual book and its significance, and are worth study and consideration. Books and their equivalent forms—perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus—have long been an essential part of material culture and are also one of our most significant sources of information about the human historical past. Through both the literal object of the book, the words contained thereon, and its relationship to other books—forms of context, text and intertext—we are able to learn and hopefully manage layers of information with which we would otherwise have no familiarity.

First, the good: this paragraph does a good job introducing my academic interest in the book-as-object, and shows off pre-existing knowledge both of the study of material culture and literary theory. Additionally, the language is engaging: the juxtaposition of “tangible” and “intangible” in the beginning and phrases like “perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus” lend life to the writing and keep the reader engaged.

If I were to go back and improve this paragraph, first, I would absolutely change the first sentence to something less cliche than talking about my childhood. I might try something like “My love of books is a multifaceted thing. I don’t only love them for the stories and….” Second, I would chill out on the em dashes a little bit. Three sets in one paragraph is a little excessive. Finally, I might actually cut this paragraph down slightly to make more room word-wise later in the statement to discuss what specific things about the program interest me.

Paragraph 2

Furthermore, blogs, webcomics, digital archives, e-readers, and even social media sites like tumblr and Facebook have revolutionized the concept of the book by changing how we share and transmit ideas and information, just as the Gutenberg printing press revolutionized the book all those years ago in the fifteenth century. Once again there has been an explosion both in who can send out information and who can receive it.

This paragraph briefly and effectively introduces my other main academic interest: how new technology has changed the concept of the book-as-object. The tie-back to the printing press is a nice touch; it’s a vivid example that shows that I’m aware of important historical moments in book history.

Paragraph 3

I am deeply interested in the preservation of the physical book, as I think it is an important part of human history (not to mention a satisfying sensory experience for the reader). However I am also very concerned with the digitization and organization of information for the modern world such that the book, in all of its forms, stays relevant and easy to access and use. Collections of books, archives, and information as stored in the world’s servers, libraries and museums are essential resources that need to be properly organized and administered to be fully taken advantage of by their audiences. My purpose in applying to the University of Edinburgh’s Material Culture and History of the Book is to gain the skills necessary to keep all forms of the book relevant and functional in an age when information can move more radically than ever before.

This paragraph actually has a focus problem. Since it covers two topics, I should split it into two paragraphs: one on the integration of my two interests, and one on my goals and interests in the program. I could also stand to expand on what features the program has that interest me: professors I’d like to work with, particular aspects of the curriculum, etc.

In spite of these things, however, this paragraph does a good job clearly integrating the two academic interests related to the book I introduced in the first two paragraphs. And the language is still strong —“satisfying sensory experience” is a great phrase. However, I’ve been using the word “information,” a lot; I might try to replace with appropriate synonyms (like “knowledge”) in a couple of places.

Paragraph 4

Additionally, I intend on pursuing a PhD in Library and Information Sciences upon completion of my master’s and I feel that this program while make me uniquely suited to approach library science from a highly academic and interdisciplinary perspective.

This final paragraph offers just quick touch on my future goals beyond the program. It’s typically fine for this to be relatively brief, as it is here, just so long as you can clearly identify some future goals.

Essay 2: Relevant Experience

The second prompt just asked me to describe my relevant knowledge, training, and skills.

As a folklore and mythology student, I have gained a robust understanding of material culture and how it relates to culture as a whole. I have also learned about the transmission of ideas, information, stories and pieces of lore among and between populations, which is an important component of book history. Folklore is also deeply concerned with questions of the literary vs. oral lore and the tendency for text to “canonize” folklore, and yet text can also question or invert canonized versions; along with this my studies in my focus field of religion and storytelling have been deeply concerned with intertextuality. One of my courses was specifically concerned with the Heian-period Japanese novel The Tale of Genji and questions of translation and representation in post-Heian picture scrolls and also modern translations and manga. In addition to broader cultural questions concerned with gender and spirituality both in historical Japan and now, we considered the relationships between different Genji texts and images.

This is a strong, focused paragraph. I relate my academic background in Folklore and Mythology to my interests in studying the book, as well as showing off some of my knowledge in the area. I also chose and elaborated on a strong example (my class on the Tale of Genji ) of my relevant coursework.

I also have work experience that lends itself to the study of the book. After my freshman year of college I interned at the Chicago History Museum. Though I was in the visitor services department I was exposed to the preservation and archival departments of the museum and worked closely with the education department, which sparked my interest in archival collections and how museums present collection information to the public. After my sophomore year of college and into my junior year, I worked at Harvard’s rare books library, Houghton. At Houghton I prepared curated collections for archival storage. These collections were mostly comprised of the personal papers of noteworthy individuals, categorized into alphabetical folders. This experience made me very process-oriented and helped me to understand how collections come together on a holistic basis.

This paragraph also has a clear focus: my past, relevant work experience. Discussing archival collections and presenting information to the public links the interests discussed in my first statement with my qualifications in my second statement. However, if I were to revise this paragraph, I would add some specific examples of the amazing things I worked on and handled at Houghton Library. In that job, I got to touch Oliver Cromwell’s death mask! An interesting example would make this paragraph really pop even more.

Finally, in my current capacity as an education mentor in Allston, a suburb of Boston, I have learned the value of book history and material culture from an educational perspective. As a mentor who designs curriculum for individual students and small groups, I have learned to highly value clearly organized and useful educational resources such as websites, iPad apps, and books as tools for learning. By managing and organizing collections in a way that makes sense we are making information accessible to those who need it.

This final paragraph discusses my current (at the time) work experience in education and how that ties into my interest in the history of the book. It’s an intriguing connection and also harkens back to my discussion of information availability in the paragraph three of the first statement. Again, if I were to amp up this statement even more, I might include a specific example of a book-based (or book technology-based) project I did with one of my students. I worked on things like bookbinding and making “illuminated manuscripts” with some of my students; those would be interesting examples here.

This statement is split into two parts by virtue of the two-prompt format. However, if I were to integrate all of this information into one unified statement of purpose, I would probably briefly introduce my research interests, go in-depth on my background, then circle back around to speak more about my personal interests and goals and what intrigues me about the program. There’s not really one correct way to structure a statement of purpose just so long as it flows well and paragraphs are structured in a logical way: one topic per paragraph, with a clear topic and concluding sentence.

More Statement of Purpose Examples

We’ve provided you with four great graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. However, if you’re looking for more, there are other sample letters of intent and statements of purpose for graduate school online. We’ve rounded up the best ones here, along with some strengths and weaknesses about each example.

Majortests Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a fairly straightforward, clearly written statement of purpose sample for a biology program. It includes useful commentary after each paragraph about what this statement of purpose is accomplishing.

• This statement of purpose sample is well-organized, with clear topic sentences and points made in each paragraph.
• The student clearly identifies what interests her about the program.
• The student proactively addresses questions about why she hasn’t gone directly to graduate school, and frames her professional research experience as a positive thing.
• She gives a tiny bit of color about her personality in a relevant way by discussing her involvement with the Natural History Society.
• In general, discussing high school interests is too far back in time unless the anecdote is very interesting or unusual. The detail about The Theory of Evolution is intriguing; the information about the high school teacher seems irrelevant. The student should have condensed this paragraph into a sentence or two.
• While this statement is cogently written and makes the candidate sound competent and well-qualified, it’s not exactly the most scintillating piece of writing out there. Some of the constructions are a little awkward or cliche. For example, the “many people have asked me” sentence followed by “the answer is” is a little bit clunky. This is probably fine for a STEM program. But just be aware that this statement is not a paragon of writing style.

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UC Berkeley History Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a graduate school statement of purpose example from the UC Berkeley History department’s PhD program, with annotations from a professor as to why it’s a successful statement.

• The author is able to very clearly and articulately lay out her research interests and link them to past work she has successfully completed, namely, her thesis.
• She is able to identify several things about the program and Berkeley that indicate why it is a good fit for her research interests.
• She addresses the time she spent away from school and frames it as a positive, emphasizing that her use of time was well-considered and productive.
• Her writing is very vivid, with excellent word choice and great imagery.

While very well-written and engaging, this sample statement of purpose for graduate school is a little bit on the long side! It’s a little over two single-spaced pages, which is definitely pushing the limits of acceptable length. Try to keep yours at 2 pages or less. Some of the information on the thesis (which comprises over half of the statement of purpose) could be condensed to bring it down to two pages.

Pharmacy Residency Letter of Intent Sample

This is not technically a sample letter of intent for graduate school because it’s actually for a pharmacy residency program. However, this example still provides illumination as to what makes a decent graduate school letter of intent sample.

• This is a serviceable letter of intent: the writer clearly lays out their own goals within the field of pharmacy, what qualifications they have and how they’ve arrived at their interests, and how the program fits their needs.
• The writing is clearly structured and well-organized.
• The main weakness is that some of the writer’s statements come across as fairly generic. For example, “The PGY-1 Residency Program at UO Hospitals will provide me with the opportunity to further develop my clinical knowledge, critical thinking, teaching, research, and leadership skills” is a generic statement that could apply to any residency program. A punchier, more program-specific conclusion would have amped up this letter.
• While the writer does a decent job providing examples of their activities, like working as a tutor and attending the APhA conference, more specificity and detail in these examples would make the statement more memorable.
• There’s a typo in the last paragraph —a “to” that doesn’t belong! This is an unprofessional blip in an otherwise solid letter. Read you own letter of intent aloud to avoid this!

NIU Bad Statement of Purpose Example

This is an ineffective graduate school statement of purpose example, with annotations on why it doesn’t work.

As you might imagine, the main strength in this document is as an example of what not to do. Otherwise, there is little to recommend it.

• The annotations quite clearly detail the weaknesses of this statement. So I won’t address them exhaustively except to point out that this statement of purpose fails at both content and style. The author includes irrelevant anecdotes and lists without offering a decisive picture of interests or any particular insight into the field. Additionally, the statement is riddled with grammatical mistakes, awkward sentence structures, and strange acronyms.
• You’ll note that the commentary advises you to “never start with a quote.” I agree that you should never start with a freestanding quote as in this example. However, I do think starting with a quote is acceptable in cases like the Berkeley history example above, where the quote is brief and then directly linked to the research interest.

Graduate School Statement of Purpose Examples: 4 Key Points

Graduate programs ask for statement of purpose to hear about your interests and goals and why you think you and the program would be a good fit.

There are four key elements to a successful statement of purpose:

• A clear articulation of your goals and interests
• Evidence of past experiences and success
• Interest and fit with the program
• Strong writing

We’ve provided you with four successful statement of purpose samples from our graduate school experts!

We also provided additional statement of purpose samples (and a sample letter of intent) for graduate school from other sources on the internet. Now you have all kinds of guidance!

What’s Next?

If you’re looking for more information on graduate school , see our guide to what makes a good GPA for grad school .

Not sure if you need to take the GRE ? See if you can get into graduate school without GRE scores .

Want more information about the GRE? We can help you figure out when to take the GRE , how to make a GRE study plan , and how to improve your GRE score .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

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How to Write an MBA Application Essay

26 th August 2022

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One of the most important aspects of your application to an MBA course will be the application essay, and with this article, we hope to make these potentially tricky bits of writing much easier to understand. The application essay will be one of your first opportunities to truly show the faculty at the university your grasp of business concepts, enthusiasm for the field, and innovations you can bring to the department. As such, it is vital that you comprehend the task that is set for you, and complete it to the best of your abilities. Read on to find out how you can go about doing this... 

What is an MBA Application Essay?

Anyone who applies for an MBA course is usually expected to write at least one application essay. Be prepared though, as sometimes there will be more than one essay question, for instance the London Business Schools have had three essay questions in previous years, such as...

• What are your post-MBA plans and how will your past experience and the London Business School programme contribute?  
• What specific areas of London Business School life are you most excited about getting involved in and where will you add value?  
• Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?

The essay may sound like a nightmare, but it actually provides you with a great opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and why you should be on their course.

Why is Writing a Good MBA Application Essay Important?

Short of interviewing everyone applying for a place, there is no other way for an admissions committee to really get to know each applicant. The essay questions are designed to elicit a real feel of your thoughts about yourself, the course and your future.

So it’s vital to produce a high quality and thoughtful essay, as it’s the only chance you’re going to get to show the committee how important the course is to you, as well as how integral it is to your future plans.

Tips to Remember When Writing an MBA Application Essay

Every application essay is going to be different, but here are some tips that apply to every essay though...

• Word limits should never be exceeded. Go over and it’ll look like you haven’t read or couldn’t be bothered to follow the instructions.  
• The question should always be answered. Resist temptation to go off track and try and stay on topic. ​
• The tone should be professional. No lols, omgs or generally overly friendly words.  
• Always proof read, proof read again and then ask friends and family to proof read again for you. Just in case. 

Read Example MBA Application Essays

It’s always good to look at some examples of successful essays that landed that particular student a place on the course for inspiration and motivation (after all, if they did it, so can you). You should be able to find some using any of the usual popular internet search engines. Reading through these essays should give you a good idea of the standard that business schools are looking for as well as showing you how to create an effective essay to accompany your application. 

Next: Read more about How To Write an MBA Personal Statement

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Stanford Online

How to write a compelling statement of purpose for graduate school.

A statement of purpose (SOP) is a critical component of most graduate school applications, and are often required for various types of graduate level programs, including Graduate Certificates and Master’s Degrees .

An SOP offers you the opportunity to showcase your motivations, qualifications, and aspirations to a school’s Office of Admissions. Crafting an effective SOP requires careful planning and attention to detail. Whether you're applying to Stanford or any other institution, here's a guide on how to write a standout statement of purpose that shows how your goals align with the program's expectations.

Understanding the Prompt

A prompt's comprehensive nature offers you the chance to provide a holistic view of your journey, motivations, and aspirations. Be sure to check the websites of any programs you’re applying to, as they often have additional information or suggested frameworks to get you started.

Stanford Master’s Degree

If you are applying to a Stanford master’s degree program , the recommended maximum length for your SOP is 1,000 words and the prompt for the statement of purpose emphasizes several key elements:

• Reasons for applying
• Preparation for the field of study
• Research interests
• Future career plans
• Relevant aspects of your background

Stanford Graduate Certificate

If you are applying to take individual graduate courses or pursue a graduate certificate through Stanford Online, the prompt contains less elements than for the master’s program. This statement of purpose should be brief, as you’re limited to 4000 characters. You should summarize:

• Specific course work on your transcript that meets the course and or certificate prerequisites
• Relevant aspects of your professional experience

Tips for Writing your Statement of Purpose

After you fully understand the prompt for the program you’re applying to, use these tips to guide your writing:

• Be Concise and Focused Most institutions have maximum lengths for words or characters. With limited space, it's important to be concise and focused. Use each word purposefully to convey your message. Ensure that every paragraph adds value and contributes to your overall narrative.
• Start Strong Your opening should be attention-grabbing. Consider sharing a personal anecdote, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question that sets the tone for your SOP. Engaging the reader from the beginning can make your statement more memorable.
• Address the Prompt Thoroughly Cover each aspect of the prompt thoroughly, addressing your reasons for applying, your background preparation, your research interests, and your future career plans. Use specific examples to illustrate your points. For instance, if you're applying to a computer science program, discuss projects, coursework, or experiences that highlight your passion and readiness for further study in this field.
• Showcase Fit with the Program Demonstrate a clear understanding of the program you're applying to and explain why it's an ideal fit for your academic and career goals. Highlight specific courses, professors, research opportunities, or unique features of the program that attracted you. This showcases your commitment to the program and demonstrates that you've done your research. You may consider including reasons your presence will benefit the program as your uniqueness may help set you apart from other applicants.
• Highlight Research Interests Discuss your research interests in detail. Explain how your past experiences have shaped your interests and how the program's resources can help you further develop them. Share any relevant research projects you've been a part of and explain their impact on your academic journey. If your program includes a capstone, you may want to include more actionable, compelling examples.
• Connect to Your Future Career Articulate your future career plans and explain how the program will prepare you for success. Whether you plan to pursue academia, industry, or another path, convey how the skills and knowledge gained from the program will contribute to your career trajectory.
• Weave in Personal Background Share aspects of your personal background that are relevant to your journey. This could include challenges you've overcome, experiences that have shaped your perspective, or unique qualities that set you apart. Ensure that these details contribute to your overall narrative and that adding them showcases your qualifications.
• Edit and Proofread After writing your SOP, review it meticulously for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Typos and errors can detract from the impact of your statement. Consider seeking feedback from mentors, professors, or peers to ensure your SOP effectively conveys your message.
• Tailor for Specific Programs If you're applying to multiple programs, make sure to customize each SOP to align with the specific program's offerings and requirements. Avoid using a generic SOP for all applications, this tends to be very noticeable to admissions.
• Seek Inspiration from Examples If you’re applying to a Stanford Master’s program, the Stanford Graduate Admissions website provides specific guidance on the statement of purpose. Review your program’s recommendations and, if available, consider reading sample SOPs from successful applicants to gather inspiration and insights.

Writing a compelling statement of purpose for graduate school requires thoughtful reflection, careful planning, and clear communication. By addressing the prompt comprehensively, showcasing your fit with the program, and demonstrating your passion and readiness, you can craft an SOP that stands out and may even increase your chances of admission to your desired program. Although it’s far from the only criteria that will be considered in the admissions process, your SOP is your chance to tell your unique story and show why you are a perfect candidate for graduate study. We hope you find this guide useful as you write your statement of purpose, please know that following this guide does not guarantee your admission to any program.

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• Researching and Writing a Masters Dissertation

Written by Mark Bennett

All Masters programmes include some form of extended individual project. Research-focussed programmes, such as an MRes , may include multiple independent research components. Taught courses usually culminate with a substantial research task, referred to as the Masters dissertation or thesis.

This article talks about how long a Masters dissertation is and the structure it follows.Before you get started on your dissertation, you'll usually need to write a proposal. Read our full guide to Masters dissertation proposals for more information on what this should include!

On this page

What’s the difference between a masters dissertation and an undergraduate dissertation.

The Masters thesis is a bridge between undergraduate study and higher level postgraduate degrees such as the PhD .

A postgraduate dissertation may not look that different to its undergraduate equivalent. You’ll likely have to produce a longer piece of work but the foundations remain the same.

After all, one of the purposes of an undergraduate dissertation or final year project is to prepare you for more in-depth research work as a postgraduate. That said, there are some important differences between the two levels.

So, how long is a Masters dissertation? A Masters dissertation will be longer than the undergraduate equivalent – usually it’ll be somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 words, but this can vary widely between courses, institutions and countries.

To answer your overall research question comprehensively, you’ll be expected to identify and examine specific areas of your topic. This can be like producing a series of shorter pieces of work, similar to those required by individual modules. However, there’s the additional requirement that they collectively support a broader set of conclusions.

This more involved Masters dissertation structure will:

• Give you the scope to investigate your subject in greater detail than is possible at undergraduate level
• Challenge you to be effective at organising your work so that its individual components function as stages in a coherent and persuasive overall argument
• Allow you to develop and hone a suitable research methodology (for example, choosing between qualitative and quantitative methods)

If the individual topics within your overall project require you to access separate sources or datasets, this may also have an impact on your research process.

As a postgraduate, you’ll be expected to establish and assert your own critical voice as a member of the academic community associated with your field .

During your Masters thesis you’ll need to show that you are not just capable of analysing and critiquing original data or primary source material. You should also demonstrate awareness of the existing body of scholarship relating to your topic .

So, if you’ll excuse the pun, a ‘Masters’ degree really is about achieving ‘mastery’ of your particular specialism and the dissertation is where you’ll demonstrate this: showing off the scholarly expertise and research skills that you’ve developed across your programme.

What’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis?

A dissertation is a long piece of (usually) written work on the same topic. A thesis is a little more specific: it usually means something that presents an original argument based on the interpretation of data, statistics or content.

So, a thesis is almost always presented as a dissertation, but not all dissertations present a thesis.

Masters dissertation structure

As you can probably imagine, no two dissertations follow the exact same structure, especially given the differences found between Masters programmes from university to university and country to country .

That said, there are several key components that make up the structure of a typical Masters dissertation

How long is a Masters dissertation?

Most dissertations will typically be between 15,000 and 20,000 words long, although this can vary significantly depending on the nature of the programme.

You should also check with your university exactly which sections of the dissertation count towards the final word count (the abstract, bibliography and appendices won’t usually be included in the total).

Usually around 300 words long, the abstract is meant to be a concise summary of your dissertation. It should briefly cover the question(s) you aim to answer, your primary argument and your conclusion.

Introduction

The purpose of the introduction is to provide context for the rest of the dissertation, setting out your aims and the scope of what you want to achieve with your research. The introduction should give a clear overview of the dissertation’s chapters and will usually be around 1,000 words long.

Literature review

This part of the dissertation should examine the scholarship that has already been published in your field, presenting various arguments and counter-arguments while situating your own research within this wider body of work.

You should analyse and evaluate other publications and explain how your dissertation will contribute to the existing literature in your subject area. The literature review sometimes forms part of the introduction or follows immediately on from it. Most literature reviews are up to 1,000 words long.

Research methodology

Not all dissertations will require a section covering research methodology (Arts and Humanities dissertations won’t normally undertake the kind of research that involves a set methodology). However, if you are using a particular method to collect information for your dissertation, you should make sure to explain the rationale behind your choice of methodology. The word count for this part of the dissertation is usually around the 1,500 mark.

Those in the Arts and Humanities will usually outline their theoretical perspectives and approaches as part of the introduction, rather than requiring a detailed explanation of the methodology for their data collection and analysis.

Results / findings

If your research involves some form of survey or experiment, this is where you’ll present the results of your work. Depending on the nature of the study, this might be in the form of graphs, tables or charts – or even just a written description of what the research entailed and what the findings were.

This section forms the bulk of your dissertation and should be carefully structured using a series of related chapters (and sub-chapters). There should be a logical progression from one chapter to the next, with each part building on the arguments of its predecessor.

It can be helpful to think of your Masters dissertation as a series of closely interlinked essays, rather than one overwhelming paper. The size of this section will depend on the overall word count for your dissertation. However, to give you a rough idea for a 15,000-word dissertation, the discussion part will generally be about 12,000 words long.

Here you should draw together the threads of the previous discussion chapters and make your final concluding statements, drawing on evidence and arguments that you’ve already explored over the course of the dissertation. Explain the significance of your findings and point towards directions that future research could follow. This section of the Masters thesis will be around 1,500 words long.

References / bibliography

While planning and writing your dissertation, you should keep an extensive, organised record of any papers, sources or books you’ve quoted (or referred to). This will be a lot easier than leaving all of it until the end and struggling to work out where a particular quotation is from!

Appendices won’t be necessary in many dissertations, but you may need to include supplementary material to support your argument. This could be interview transcripts or questionnaires. If including such content within the body of the dissertation won’t be feasible – i.e. there wouldn’t be enough space or it would break the flow of your writing – you should consult with your supervisor and consider attaching it in an appendix.

It’s worth bearing in mind that these sections won’t always be discretely labelled in every dissertation. For example, everything up to ‘discussion’ might be covered in introductory chapter (rather than as distinct sections). If you’re unsure about the structure of your Masters dissertation, your supervisor will be able to help you map it out.

How does supervision work for a Masters dissertation?

As a Masters student at the dissertation stage you’ll usually be matched with an academic within your institution who will be tasked with guiding your work. This might be someone who has already taught you, or it may be another scholar whose research interests and expertise align well with what you want to do. You may be able to request a particular supervisor, but taught postgraduates are more likely to be assigned them by their department.

Specific arrangements with your supervisor will vary depending on your institution and subject area. They will usually meet with you at the beginning of the dissertation period to discuss your project and agree a suitable schedule for its undertaking. This timetable will probably set dates for:

• Subsequent discussions and progress checks
• The submission of draft chapters or sections
• Feedback appointments

Though your supervisor is there to help and advise you, it is important to remember that your dissertation is a personal research project with associated expectations of you as an independent scholar.

As a rule of thumb, you can expect your supervisor to read each part of your dissertation once at the draft stage and to offer feedback. Most will not have time to look at lots of subsequent revisions, but may respond favourably to polite requests for exceptions (provided their own workload permits it).

Inundating your supervisor with emails or multiple iterations of draft material is best avoided; they will have their own research to manage (as well as other supervision assignments) and will be able to offer better quality feedback if you stick to an agreed schedule.

How is a Masters dissertation assessed and examined?

On most courses your dissertation will be assessed by an external examiner (as well as additional members of faculty within your university who haven’t been responsible for supervising you), but these will read and critique the work you submit without personally questioning and testing you on it.

Though this examination process is not as challenging as the oral defence or ‘ viva voce ’ required for a PhD thesis, the grading of your Masters dissertation is still a fundamental component of your degree.

On some programmes the result awarded to a student’s dissertation may determine the upper grade-band that can be awarded to their degree.

Search for a Masters

Ready to start looking for your ideal postgraduate opportunity? Browse and compare Masters degrees on FindAMasters.com.

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Applying for a Masters can feel a bit daunting. Here is a checklist of all the things you need to do to make sure you have everything covered in your Masters application.

Postgraduate study is often very flexible, with the option to study a Masters degree or other qualification part-time, online or through blended learning.

How do Bachelors and Masters courses differ? We’ve covered the main differences you’ll encounter when making the transition from undergrad to postgrad study.

Our guide explains how online Masters degree work, what the benefits of online learning are and how to choose what to study online.

Our guide tells you everything about the application process for studying a Masters in Italy.

Our guide tells you everything about the application process for studying a Masters in the USA.

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How To Write a Study Plan

Find out the possible steps to create a scholarship-winning study plan

Without knowing about how to write study plan or research plan, getting a fully funded scholarship is not easy. 

If you are planning to study abroad for undergraduate, master’s or postgraduate studies, an effective study plan is required to get selected.  

But writing a killer study plan for scholarships does not seem easy. In this blog, we are going to explain to you all the significant points to write a study plan.  

So, let’s get straight into writing an effective study plan for scholarships!   

How to Write a Study Plan for Scholarships   

1. Why Study Plan is Important for International Scholarships? 

2. How to write a study plan

3. Mistakes to Avoid in a Study Plan

4. Important Questions while writing a Study Plan

5. Final Thoughts

If you want to study in the USA with a scholarship, here is the guide for Yale University Scholarship 

1. Why Study Plan is Important for International Scholarships?   

A Study plan is a necessary document you will need for your higher studies. It’s important because it helps students to use their time effectively & efficiently. Study-plan also plays a vital role in the self-discipline of the students who do online courses. 

Study plan for scholarships is mostly required by Chinese, German, Italian or Canadian Scholarships. Your research supervisor or professor you are approaching to get an acceptance letter could ask for a study plan too. 

A study plan helps you forecast your studies and career moves. It also makes you accountable & increases your self-determination. Putting your study plan in writing will help you see the bigger picture.

The scholarship selection board assess your discipline, determination and enthusiasm for your respective course program through a study plan for scholarships. 

2. How to Write a Study Plan? 

Writing a good study plan is all about a strategic structure of your aims and goals. You need to be simple yet motivated to showcase your future plans to the selection committee. 

We have divided the five parts of the study plan. You need to follow this sequence to have a great study plan for scholarships. 

2.1   Personal Introduction

2.2.  Academic Background

2.3.  Work experience & Academic achievements

2.4.  Career Goals

2.5.  Time Scheduling & Management

Got stuck while drafting your research proposal? Check this detailed guide on Research proposal for Scholarship programs

2.1. Personal introduction

Introduce yourself in a short, precise & enthusiastic way. Write about your passions, interests & social circle in two-three sentences at the beginning of the essay. It will give the professor a general idea about your personality & professional attitude.  

You can start your introduction with any of your strengths, passion, habit, interest or about your journey. You can begin with a quotation that connects with your personality. 

2.2.  Academic Background 

A: You should write about your most advanced studies. Focus more on your recent education.  For example, if you have done Bachelors’ & you are applying for a Master’s education abroad, you must focus more on writing about your Bachelors rather than FSC & Matric.

B: Also write a short description of your previous studies before your bachelor’s.

You need to write in a smooth and connected way so that readers do not get distracted. You need to develop your own life story in a compelling way. 

2.3. Work Experience & Academic Achievements

Mostly, the selection committee check out your previous work experience. This paragraph should contain details about your previous experience. You can elaborate on any skill or expertise you gain under a specific role.  

You can write about the following things here: 

A : Write in detail about your research papers & their relevance to your future studies at the university

B : You can write about Seminars/Conferences you attended, online courses, Certificates, and short courses you ever completed. 

C : You can write short & precisely about your all academic or non-academic -extra-curricular activities 

A : You need to Write about future courses & semester subjects. You must mention how the courses are important and how you are going to study them in the near future.  

B : Explain your academic & research goals in detail along with the career possibilities you want to pursue after your education.

C : Potential pathways you can take if you finish this education. Also, write about how it’s impossible to achieve these goals if you don’t follow this education.

2.5. Time Scheduling & Management:

A : Plan your course outline semester-wise within a time frame. It’s a lot more time-efficient & professional.

B : study the course bulletin & cross-check it with your time plan to ensure that you met all the requirements.

3. Mistakes to Avoid in a Study Plan   

There are still a few mistakes that students do while writing their first study plan. Following are tips for these mistakes: 

• Don’t take it for granted or lightly, must give it your thought and take your time with your essay, it’s very important, to work on your introduction and conclusion.
• Give it a  proofread with the help of an expert or consult with your professor, but don’t expect that someone will do the whole thing for you. You can take advice but it’s your essay and your life story, so you have to write it by yourself.
• Try to finish your essay in 850-1000 words, don’t make it very long and stretchy. Just make it precise & well-articulated.
• Whenever you write about your future goals or past achievements, try not to be overconfident or delusional about realities. Explain it in a realistic way by explaining how you overcome your problems.
• Make sure there are no mistakes related to grammar or sentence formulation.

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4. Important Questions While Writing A Study Plan 

Your study plan must have a well-structured format so that the selection board get a whole perspective while reading. It can be professional and effective by keeping these questions in mind while writing your study plan.    

4.1. Why you chose respective program/ Academic course or technology? 

This question must be answered in detail   

Explain your motivation for pursuing this specific program. The reasons why you like this program and the history you shared with this course. Don’t forget to mention if you have any job experience or you did some online courses or you have attended some seminars related to this program. 

4.2. Why do you want to study at the specific university?

Answer this question in a short but precise manner .  

Explain your intentions about choosing this university, and talk about the university from a broader perspective. Write about its cultural environment, student councils, educational achievements, and faculty members that impress you. 

4.3. Why you are not interested in pursuing this course in your home country?

Answer this question in a concise way.  

This question will allow you to explain the multicultural environment which you always wanted to experience in an educational institute. Talk about that country’s educational scholarships & grants systems. 

You can also talk about your host country’s culture & heritage which you always wanted to visit & explore. You can also mention that your country is not offering this specific course; that’s also one reason you are not staying there.

4.4. What kind of research have you done so far in this course or topic?

It’s a very important question & your study plan must answer this question in detail.  

Write about your educational background or research papers you have done on this topic. Talk about the seminars or classes or courses you have attended that are relevant to the topic. Write about the job opportunities & career moves you can do after the completion of your education.

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4.5. Tell them about your Time-Schedule & Acting plan for this course

Your Answer must be short and precise

You have to be very careful while answering this question.  Do a proper brainstorming before you answer this question.  Time scheduling means you should know exactly how much time you will stay in the country & university while pursuing this course.

5. Final Thoughts   

A study plan is an important yet tricky part of your scholarship application. A good study plan throws a good impact on the selection board. You must have a well draft study plan before starting your application process.  

The study plan should be concise, compelling, professional and well-articulated. This blog provides detailed guidelines to write a study plan for scholarships. Keep all the important tips in mind before beginning your journey.                            

We cover everything in detail, but if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.

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How to Write a Study Plan for a Scholarship

Last Updated: October 25, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. . Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 249,300 times.

If you are asked to write a study plan for a scholarship, you may not know where to begin. Basically, a study plan describes what you'll be studying and why. One common scholarship committee that asks for study plans is the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Start by establishing your main educational goals, and then talk about how you plan to achieve them. Conclude your study plan, and spend time refining your writing.

What to Write About

• For instance, maybe your main goals for studying in China are to gain a bachelor's degree in business and learn Chinese because it's becoming a global language. You could write, "My main two educational objectives are to gain a bachelor's degree in business and to learn to speak Chinese. Chinese is becoming a global language, so I feel it's necessary to learn it."

• For instance, you might write, "I was born in the United States, but my grandparents on both sides are Chinese. I chose this business program because I want to connect with my heritage, improve my Chinese, and eventually, help establish better relations between China and the U.S. by improving trade relations."

• For example, you might say, "As a PhD candidate, I plan to conduct research on how ancient tradition and ritual influence contemporary Chinese culture, which will include a literature review and extensive interviews with historians and a small sampling of the Chinese population."

• It can help to draw a conceptual model. Start with the antecedents (the causes) and the mediators (the processes that change the antecedents). Finish with the outcomes. Draw lines between them to help you see which variables are more central to your problem.
• Consider asking peers or professors to look at your research proposal. They may be able to help you narrow.

• For instance, you might say, "One of my long-term goals is to open an import business from China to the United States, and learning about business in China will be essential to making my endeavors a success."

Explaining Your Plans

• For instance, if you plan on doing a PhD where you'll need participants, discuss how you'll find people for your study. You might say, "I plan to put out an ad to gain participants for a focus group, as well as contact historians by phone and email for interviews."

• For example, you might write, "I anticipate the language barrier will be an issue at first. However, I plan to work hard early on to learn the language, and I am already taking intensive classes now."

• To help you choose, do a thorough literature review. Look at the research that has been done in the area you plan to study. Note the primary methods used to do the research and the pros and cons of each. Choose a method based on what you think will work best for your research. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

• For instance, you might use simple random sampling or systematic sampling when the whole population is similar based on the variables for your study. On the other hand, a stratified random sample is often used when you have people who are different from each other based on your variables.

Concluding and Refining Your Writing

• For example, you might write, "Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. If I receive this award, I can focus solely on my studies. I will work hard to implement my goals of learning Chinese and gaining a business degree at a Chinese university, and your trust in me will not be wasted."

• You don't need to write as if you're talking to a child. However, you should write so someone outside of your discipline can easily understand your plan.

• The space for the study plan on the CSC application is only a couple of lines. However, the application suggests you attach more paper as needed.

Scholarship Study Plan Template

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/how-to-set-educational-goals-and-meet-them
• ↑ https://bangalorestudy.com/blog/factors-to-consider-while-choosing-a-school
• ↑ Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.. Educational Consultant. Expert Interview. 18 June 2020.
• ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2005/03/methods.aspx
• ↑ https://www.collegedata.com/resources/money-matters/10-ways-to-stand-out-when-applying-for-scholarships
• ↑ http://www.natco1.org/research/files/SamplingStrategies.pdf

About This Article

If you’re unsure how to go about writing a study plan for a scholarship, focus on explaining your educational goals and discussing how you’ll achieve them. Begin by briefly stating what you want to study and why. For example, you might say you want to study business management in China so you can learn Chinese, because it will soon be a global language. Then, provide some personalized reasons as to why you chose the school you want to go to, such as research interests or long-term goals. After laying out your goals, show the scholarship committee how you’ll achieve them. If you’ll be carrying out research, for instance, write about how you’ll find participants for your study. You should also try to mention possible obstacles and how you’ll overcome them, since the committee will be impressed to see you’re thinking ahead. For tips on how to proofread your study plan before sending it off, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The 15 Graduate Schools With the Best Return on Investment

The post-college job landscape can be daunting. Should you just go to grad school instead? That depends on what you plan to study.

Obviously not all grad programs are created equal. And not everyone has the resources to spend another five to six figures on a degree with not-so-great financial or professional prospects (or worse, one that no one will have any use for by the time you’re 30). So we asked IvyWise for a few guidelines for gauging whether a master's degree is the right path for you.

First, ask yourself why. Start with some soul-searching, advises Team IvyWise. Be honest about your motivations. Are you a recent college graduate who is unsure about what you want to do? Then taking time off to reflect, and then getting a job that puts your bachelor’s to use, is better than spending more years and more money on another degree you’re not even that excited about. On the other hand, if you are crystal clear about your long-term career goals—and how this degree will help achieve them—then grad school may be worth it. Have C-suite ambitions? Then a master’s is essential. According to a 2021 study , half of North American CEOs have one, while 74% of Europe’s top executives do.

When should you go? “There are advantages to working in the field for a few years prior to applying to graduate schools, as it can give you a better understanding of yourself, in particular the knowledge and skill gaps you need to fill to advance in your chosen field,” Team IvyWise says. “It also allows you to contribute your professional experiences in the classroom.” Plus, some employers will even pay for grad school. But again, it all depends on your personal goals. Do keep in mind, though, that certain programs, especially MBAs, often want applicants to have work experience.

How to find the right program. Ultimately, you know what’s best for you, but look for certain clues. For example, “programs that emphasize real-world application in their curriculums, and where you can participate in internships and applied learning projects, contribute to industry and academic publications, and receive mentorship,” Team IvyWise says.

And then there is the ROI. That specialized, skills-based expertise is becoming an increasingly valuable asset should be a factor when determining whether a certain program is going to be worth it in the end. To help narrow it all down, we asked IvyWise's consultants for a list of the degrees (and the top schools for each) with the best return on investment . Below, with insight gleaned from metrics like job opportunities, student feedback, and earning potential, among other things—as well as with the help of resources like the U.S. World News Report, Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, and the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity —they make the case for which MBA programs, STEM subjects, and liberal arts degrees are really going to pay off.

The Best MBA Programs

Despite the oft-cited opinion that going to business school doesn’t amount to more than a very costly networking exercise, there are plenty of reasons to justify the time and financial investment it takes to obtain an MBA, especially if you want to change careers, switch industries, or just earn more money. According to IvyWise's consultants, in today’s job market an increasing number of employers are looking at grad school degrees as an indicator that candidates have acquired valuable skills, including leadership, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

To maximize your investment towards an MBA, “look for programs with far-reaching industry alumni networks and robust career services,” advises the IvyWise team, who created a list of the top business schools that are worth it, based on data both quantitative (median starting salary, tuition, ranking) and qualitative (including skills acquired, career paths, and fellowship opportunities).

Georgia Institute of Technology

SCHELLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Atlanta, Georgia

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $189,539 Lifetime return on investment: $1,623,056

“Georgia Tech’s MBA program focuses on the intersection of business and technology, offering 14 STEM-designated concentrations, including sustainability and the TI:GER program, which prepares students to become technology innovators.”

University of Texas at Austin

MCCOMBS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Austin, Texas

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $207,935 Lifetime ROI: $1,879,816

“McCombs’s home city of Austin is consistently named one of the best cities in the U.S. for business, technology, entrepreneurship, startups, job growth, real estate, and livability, so students will surely be able to explore their professional interests in a wide variety of fields.”

Indiana University

KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Bloomington, Indiana

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $170,927 Lifetime ROI: $1,593,023

“Kelley’s MBA program is particularly strong in professional development, beginning during orientation with Me, Inc., a one-of-a-kind business professional development workshop that guides students to identify the right professional fits for their skills, personalities, and values—and ultimately setting them up for long-term success.”

University of Michigan

STEPHEN M. ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Ann Arbor, Michigan

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $218,806 Lifetime ROI: $2,300,312

“UMich’s MBA offering is known for REAL (Ross Experiences in Action-Based Learning), a program that allows students to learn business by actually doing business. Hallmarks of the approach includes providing resources for new business ideas, offering seven-week-long consulting projects in 20 countries, letting students manage one of six student-led investment funds overseeing millions of dollars, and having them manage real businesses.”

Duke University

FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Durham, North Carolina

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $228,716 Lifetime ROI: $2,646,085

“Fuqua’s Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE) encourages students to dive into international business for two months, starting with six weeks of interactive coursework on a particular country’s history and current economic landscape, followed by an intense 2-week tour to the country or region studied that includes meetings with business and government leaders in a wide variety of industries and economic sectors.”

Top STEM Degrees

Engineering.

The School: MIT

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $386,193 Lifetime ROI: $6,534,312

“Engineering degrees are routinely in the top five highest earning master’s degrees. With jobs growing across the discipline and median annual salaries falling in the high $150,000 range for some areas, a career in engineering ensures growth and financial stability. MIT’s rank as the #1 school for engineering, plus its strong selection of graduate programs, world-class faculty, extensive industry pipelines, and cutting-edge lab facilities make MIT an excellent (and highly competitive) choice. The Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MEng) program enables students to solve some of the world’s hardest problems and conduct groundbreaking research to drive progress in every sector touched by electrical engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence and decision-making.”

Computer Science

The School: Columbia University

FU FOUNDATION SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE New York, New York

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $463,450 Lifetime ROI: $6,041,342

“No surprise here, as steady career advancement and strong earning potential makes computer science a lucrative academic discipline. Particularly high-growth areas include AI, Machine Learning, Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Software Development. Columbia’s M.S. in Computer Science program provides advanced education in several tracks, including computational biology, natural language processing, and software systems, while also offering opportunities to participate in state-of-the-art research. In addition, its strong reputation, robust alumni network, well-connected faculty, and NYC location make it ideal for establishing industry connections and getting applied experience—and all contribute to the high ROI of the program.”

Applied & Computational Mathematics

The School: University of Washington, Seattle

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS Seattle, Washington

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $169,280 Lifetime ROI: $909,219

“Actuaries and economists are some of the highest paying jobs in this field, but this is a discipline that can be applied across so many sectors, including finance, business, technology, government, scientific research, and healthcare. UW is internationally known for being at the forefront of cutting-edge research, and the Department of Applied Mathematics offers a welcoming environment that is also flexible for working professionals, thanks to both in-person and online options. As a top-rated public institution with strong value for money, UW is known for its exceptional research profile and collaborative faculty—not to mention the perks of its location in Seattle, and its proximity to beautiful natural settings.”

Architecture

The School: Notre Dame University

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Notre Dame, Indiana

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $137,145 Lifetime ROI: $1,306,807

“As we face the worsening impacts of climate change, architects are at the forefront of thoughtful and sustainable design to adapt to new demands. Using alternative and recycled materials, engaging in eco-friendly design practices, and repurposing old buildings are some of the ways this field is evolving to meet society’s needs. Not to mention all the advances in technology, which make this a particularly exciting time to be an architect. A unique facet of Notre Dame’s Master of Architecture program is that all students are required to spend a semester in Rome to do a deep dive into Italy’s rich history of successful urbanism and lasting architecture. A classical approach with a focus on principled design and community is the Notre Dame program’s M.O., while the emphasis on academic advising and teaching assistant positions, as well as a 100% placement rate upon graduation, are some of the top reasons it is a stellar choice for those interested in architecture.”

The School: Ohio State University

COLLEGE OF NURSING Columbus, Ohio

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $113,590 Lifetime ROI: $686,656

“Two million new jobs will be added in the healthcare sector in the next 10 years, and in particular, there is a 38% projected growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioner roles. Practitioners, especially, are highly skilled medical professionals who enjoy a great degree of career fulfillment, versatility, and advancement. OSU’s option for a Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing welcomes students with a college degree in a different major to transition to the field after meeting specific prerequisites, while the traditional master’s program is designed for those who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing. No matter which path a student chooses, the OSU College of Nursing is consistently ranked among the best in the U.S. and sets graduates up for success in roles across private practices, clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, and governmental agencies and across specialties like pediatrics, nurse-midwifery, psychiatry, and women’s health.”

Top Liberal Arts Degrees

Applied psychology.

The School: University of Southern California

DANA & DAVID DORNSIFE COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS, AND SCIENCES Los Angeles, California

Median annual salary 10 years after graduationn: $118,274 Lifetime ROI: $812,883

“A master’s in psychology will enable you to pursue work across industries, from education to healthcare to the private sector, and in various roles like school counseling, social work, corporate training, and criminology. With a projected 6% job growth in the next ten years, this is a great career path. USC’s applied psychology students explore how psychology fosters organizational success, setting them up for a wide variety of careers, including learning and development; user experience; diversity, equity, and inclusion; consumer insights; and organizational consulting. The program also has exciting global immersion components and robust career services. The emphasis on cross-sectoral applied training is apparent in the alumni who have jobs in large consulting firms, innovative tech companies, and media, as well as those traditional counseling roles. Plus, an online option provides flexibility for working professionals.”

Communications

The School: Northwestern University

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION Evanston, Illinois

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $118,496 Lifetime ROI: $983,693

“Communications encompasses a broad range of roles across marketing, technical writing, human resources, public relations, social media, and journalism. Salaries and earning potential will vary widely across these areas, but at the higher end, the median salary for advertising, marketing, and promotions managers was $135,900 in 2019. Students pursuing a Master of Science in Communication at Northwestern can customize their programs to suit the skills and topics they are most passionate about, with innovative elective options like brand management, crisis communication management, generative AI & the media, and public persuasion. Northwestern’s MSC is one of the most user-friendly options out there, with a rolling admissions process, online modalities, and customizable curricular options. It also takes just one year to complete, making it a more affordable option.”

Human Resources

The School: Pepperdine University

GRAZIADIO BUSINESS SCHOOL Malibu, California

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $178,885 Lifetime ROI: $1,399,249

“According to the BLS, jobs in this sector will grow 5% between 2022 and 2032. Human Resource professionals can find particularly high paying jobs in the professional, scientific, and technical service industries. Pepperdine’s online Master of Science in Human Resources program offers a curriculum aligned with the official requirements of the Society for Human Resource Management and provides the relevant skills needed by modern HR professionals. A standout online option for busy professionals, the 16-month program features two immersion experiences in Los Angeles, which enables cohort community-building and knowledge application in professional settings. The program has an extensive global network and offers robust career development services, including one-on-one executive coaching.”

International Affairs & Public Policy

The School: American University

SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Washington, D.C.

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $120,343 Lifetime ROI: $565,479

“For those who enjoy public service and international engagement, careers in these fields can facilitate highly rewarding opportunities to make an impact on the local, national, or global levels. AU has two excellent schools for international affairs master’s degrees and public affairs and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as #5 in Global Policy and Administration, #12 in Public Policy, and #13 in Public Affairs. Students getting the M.A. in International Affairs Policy and Analysis (IAPA) self-design specializations by selecting courses in areas such as environmental policy, foreign policy, and peace-building, and apply their analytical skills and substantive experiences to real-world problems in the Integrated Policy Exercise course, a capstone experience. The Master in Public Policy (MPP) program emphasizes experiential learning opportunities in Washington, D.C., and students select from 11 concentrations, like Education Policy, Public Financial Management, and Cyber Policy and Management.”

The School: Johns Hopkins University

KRIEGER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Baltimore, Maryland

Median annual salary 10 years after graduation: $166,959 Lifetime ROI: $1,560,302

“Providing an extremely useful and broadly applicable skill set, economics degrees can be leveraged in industry roles or for advanced study. Specialized skills will enable you to take on high-level positions, including those dealing in personal financial management, national budget concerns, or international lending. (According to the BLS, in 2022, econ master’s degree holders made about 15% more than those who just completed a bachelor’s degree.) JHU’s M.S. in Applied Economics program focuses on preparing students to support decision-making processes involving global markets and policy, while the M.S. in Financial Economics sets students up for careers that focus on modeling financial markets, forecasting trends, and elevating decision-making in both the public and private sectors. Multiple program modalities, three intake terms, and numerous electives make this a highly customizable option. Plus, Johns Hopkins’s MSFE has a lower tuition than similar programs in business schools. For those who want to pursue an in-person degree, the program’s D.C. campus scores high for professional networking and a vibrant city life. The program is also heavily focused on career placement, ensuring your time and money are well-spent.”

Leena Kim is an editor at Town & Country , where she covers travel, jewelry, education, weddings, and culture.

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