How to Write SOP for Australia

SAMPLE SOP FOR AUSTRALIA 

NAME OF APPLICANT: SAM JOHN 

COURSE AND INSTITUTE: DIABETES EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT, SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY 

INTRODUCTION 

My name is Sam John and I am a citizen of India residing in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Having completed my undergraduate studies to obtain my MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), I have decided to further my knowledge by focusing on diabetes management and obtain a certification in the same. During my undergraduate studies, I obtained insights into different aspects of endocrinology and having practiced under a senior diabetologist for a while opened my eyes to the scope of the field. I believe that by obtaining the postgraduate certificate, I will be able to gather deep insights into the debilitating disease and more research insights that will help me improve my practice expertise and render more effective treatments and prophylaxis to my patients in the future. As a doctor and a student, I am excited to pursue my post-graduate studies in this field at Southern Cross University. 

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND 

I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a healthcare specialist and preferably a doctor. My parents greatly encouraged me to work hard so I could take up this noble profession and give back to my society in the best way possible. I come from a community where I have watched so many people suffer from lack of access to basic healthcare facilities and awareness that impacts extremely negatively on their quality of life. This greatly affected me and made me conscious of every decision of mine. I was determined to establish myself as a dedicated and selfless professional who would live to serve my people. I was an ambitious and dedicated student in school and always scored excellent marks in all my examinations. 

I completed my 10th grade education in 2010 and decided to major in the subjects of biology and mathematics for my higher secondary education. I scored a 9.8 GPA in my board examinations and upon graduating from school, I secured 88% marks in my final examinations.

 I took up entrance coaching classes to help me secure admission into any of the reputable colleges for my undergraduate studies in medicine and my hard work paid off. I cracked the entrance examinations with excellent marks and secured admission into ABC UNIVERSITY in Delhi, which is one of the best medical colleges in the region. 

Throughout my time in college, I was an enthusiastic and committed student who placed equal emphasis on both my academic studies and the extracurricular activities I participated in. Physiology, Anatomy, General Medicine, Endocrinology, Pathology and Gynecology were some of the subjects that I enjoyed learning the most. These are the topics that piqued my attention the most, and as a result, I’ve been making an effort to expand my understanding of them. I participated in a variety of events and webinars that helped me better grasp how the principles that I had been studying apply to real-world situations. My institution required that I participate in a rotatory internship, which I did. During this internship, I was able to gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in a variety of fields owing to the opportunities it presented. 

I graduated from college in 2018 and since then I have practiced as a general physician in three different hospitals. I have worked primarily in the ER department in rotating shifts. For five months, I have been working as a Junior Resident in the Endocrine Department and have mainly been working along side and for Dr TYH who is a Senior Diabetologist with 15+ years of experience. This has been an eye-opening experience for me and greatly inspired me to learn more about the fascinating subject. I believe that I have gathered preliminary knowledge of diabetes which will enable me to handle the challenging program set by Southern Cross University. 

HOW WILL THIS PROGRAM HELP ME ENHANCE MY CAREER AND ACHIEVE MY PROFESSIONAL GOALS? 

This program has a very well-structured and comprehensive curriculum that elaborates on different aspects of diabetes in a holistic sense, right from under- standing the causes of the disease to appropriate management techniques. It is a detailed program that is delivered within a year making this an excellent choice for me to gather focused knowledge of this discipline without having to spend years chasing after traditional specialization routes. The carefully constructed curriculum focuses on approaching diabetic care uniquely and appropriately and places more emphasis on awareness and prevention. 

Diabetes mellitus is the kind of disease that has to be prevented early on to avoid the dangerous consequences that it can have on someone’s health. Early identification of the disease can help in reversing the disease completely and rendering a person free of it. This is why prevention is one of the most important aspects of dealing with this disease. I am impressed by the focus of the program on the preventive aspects of the disease. Through this program, I will obtain insights into how to provide appropriate counselling and education on self-management of the condition which is more important than anything else to avoid long-term medication. I wish to be able to provide my patients with clear insights on diabetic self-care so that they can broach the disease with the right caution and make appropriate lifestyle changes. 

Because of the chronic nature of the disease, it is important to approach the management in different steps and this program helps me understand these methodologies in detail. Moreover, this program provides me insights into how to approach the disease in a manner that is acceptable globally. International standards of practice will be introduced and I will be able to understand how to implement unique methods into awareness practices and prevention classes set that I will be able to communicate these things to patients more effectively. I am certain that this program will prove to be very helpful in aiding my progress in my professional career and in the achievement of my professional goals of delivering exceptional healthcare to people in my hometown. 

WHY DID I SELECT AUSTRALIA FOR MY HIGHER EDUCATION? 

The decision to study in Australia for this program was made after much deliberation. Initially, I began looking for programs abroad and was bombarded with a variety of options. The program offered by Southern Cross University stood out to me in terms of the curriculum as well as the unique teaching methodologies implemented by the institution. However, I discovered similar programs in UK, USA and Canada. I spent a lot of time pondering the different options and concluded that Australia was the best option for me for many reasons. To begin with, the educational standards in Australia are exceptionally high. Obtaining a certification from here would enhance my career prospects in India and I would have the invaluable opportunity of understanding more about healthcare practices in one of the most advanced countries in the world. 

When compared with other countries like the UK and the USA, the cost of education for this program was much more reasonable in Australia. I differentiated between the different curriculums offered for the same program by different institutions in these countries and I realized that I would obtain the most value for my money by studying here. As a result of the research that I conducted, I gained the understanding that the government of Australia provides a great deal of support to the education industry using supplementary policies and interventions. I also understood that this country has a wide range of programs and mechanisms to ensure the quality of the offering and support the students from around the world. Some examples of these programs and mechanisms include AQF, PRISMS, and CRICOS. 

Australia has a wonderful and cosmopolitan cultural environment that is welcoming and supportive, which complements the students’ educational experiences. It fascinated me to note that the majority of cities in Australia have made it onto many lists of “The Best Cities to Live in the World,” which serves as confirmation that I have decided upon a secure location in which to pursue my education. The supportive nature of the country as well as the opportunity to study in a vibrant and dynamic community encouraged me further to choose Australia for my further studies. 

WHY DID I NOT CHOOSE TO STUDY IN INDIA? 

The main reason why I did not select India for my further education is that I was unable to locate a program that would offer me the same level of knowledge and expertise in such a short period. The field of diabetes is being currently explored in much detail across the world and I felt that international exposure would prove valuable in enhancing my understanding of the same in a comprehensive sense. This is what prompted me to look abroad for suitable programs. I am very aware of the educational system in India and I believe that there is a significant lack of practical exposure especially when it comes to short term programs. I believe that this is a field that demands international exposure such that I will be able to comprehend global standards of practice and healthcare delivery to raise awareness and inculcate sustainable practices for the management of the disease. This is why, despite the high cost of ed- ucation in a western country, I decided that it was worth the investment and decided not to study in India. 

WHY SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY? 

After plenty of research and two different programs across the world, I decided that the certification program offered by Southern Cross University in Australia was the perfect one for me in terms of the expensive curriculum as well as several other factors. This is a world-class university that offers education at affordable rates. It is without a doubt that the institution, by providing me with a variety of practical learning methods and collaborative role-plays methods, would be able to assist me in becoming an extraordinarily skilled and proficient professional in the field of medical and healthcare. I realized that, unlike many other institutes that offer comparable programs, Southern Cross University had established an equally amazing learning environment that was both creatively demanding and technically sound. When I saw the college’s distinguished academic infrastructure and experienced faculty members, I knew it was the right choice for the program. 

FUTURE PLANS 

After completing the program in Australia, I will be returning to India to work with different hospitals as a general practitioner focusing on diabetic care and management. While this will be the primary aspect of my career, I will be also working with different local clinics to set up awareness campaigns and strategies that would help me utilize the knowledge and skills I have gathered to contribute to the prevention and effective management of the disease. I am certain that I will have the opportunity to practice with established clinics and hospitals in my area. I will be working toward designing self-management resources that will help my patients manage their condition better and prevent deterioration. I have no plans to stay back in Australia once I am done with the program. 

VISA GUIDELINES I SHALL BE ABIDING BY: 

•  I will maintain 80% attendance at all times.
•  I will only be working part-time 40 hours a fortnight.
• I will constantly update any contact changes to the university.
• I will have valid health insurance. 
• I will not be changing the program until I complete six months in it. 
• I will maintain a minimum score of 50% in all my examinations. 

Based on all of the information that I have provided; I beg you to evaluate my situation with a great deal of consideration for my academic achievements and my professional goals. The information is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and it has been presented with utmost care to prevent any kind of inaccuracies from occurring. Nevertheless, the responsibility for any mistake, no matter how big or small, is mine as well. 

I thank you very much for your time and consideration and I look forward to a positive response from you.