SOP Sample for MS in Financial Technology in the UK

FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY MSC STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

I firmly believe that our experiences and thoughts shape who we are today. As I'm naturally curious and creative, I needed something to keep my restless mind going, and I found computers to be the answer. As a child, I was invariably intrigued and interested in the operation of computers and software. In addition, I often accompanied my uncle to the stock market and investments. Watching the stock indexes on the big screen above, I was mesmerised by the world of the stock market. Growing up, I gradually learned to appreciate the importance of financial instruments in the modern world. I was fortunate to have been exposed to a wide range of fascinating and interesting topics as a child, including programming and stock trading. I have always been captivated by how computers function and how they can interpret my commands. And I also understood that to have a career in Fintech, I had to start from the basics, so I chose to do Bachelors in Computer Science Engineering studies. During this time, I always thought I should deep dive into Fintech and understand how this works. My curiosity to explore and have a broad view of the world beyond borders has let me find an exceptional place to broaden my knowledge and skills. I feel it is the right time to take up a master's degree in a financial technology program, which would be great for my future upbringing and life thereon. Hence, I envision [UNIVERSITY NAME] as the suitable stepping stone to pursue my dreams and career goals. My knowledge, intense curiosity, self-motivation, and ability to work successfully as part of a team would make me a great candidate for this program.

My analytical ability, meticulous research, and natural aptitude for mathematics and sciences have helped me to succeed in all academic fields, wherein I scored 95% in 10th grade and 93% in 12th grade. Along with my Bachelor's in Computer Science Engineering program, I studied risk and money management through my background in stock trading. This made me realise how vital the financial sector is to the economy. Financial professionals have the unique responsibility of managing assets and analysing risks to ensure the future success of a business or organisation. I was consistently among the top 15 percentile students, achieving a CGPA of 8.35, equivalent to a First Class with Honours. My favourite subjects included calculus, distributed computing, machine learning, information security, and data mining during my undergraduate program. I started exploring practical implementations of my knowledge with an undergraduate project in my third year. I developed a website to rank news articles according to the popularity of news from different sources. During my last year in college, I created a project in the domain of Human-Computer Interaction. A Gesture interactive game-based learning system can be a resource for learning numbers and complex concepts for students and Down syndrome patients using gesture interaction.

To evaluate the skills and knowledge I gained through my studies, I did an internship at [COMPANY NAME]. I got a good understanding of various platforms, like Git. I worked on app development using Java and C++ as exposure to industry standards in software development through experts from the computing industry. My second internship was in the fourth semester at [COMPANY NAME]. During this time, I learned Git, Latex, Bootstrap, and Kali Linux for basic ethical hacking, Web networking, and IPC. I was initially intimidated, as I was new to all these technologies. But I persevered, and I was awarded the Advanced Certified Secure Computer User credential upon fulfilment. And then, during my last semester, I did an internship at [COMPANY NAME] as a product designer.

In addition to meeting academic requirements, I participated in various extracurricular activities. Even more than attending events and workshops, I enjoyed organising them. I was an active member and volunteer of the IEEE and ACM chapters of my college. As a core team member of the Free and Open Source Club, we organised the all-Kerala level conference [CONFERENCE NAME]. Because of my leadership skills and the faith that my classmates and teachers had in me, I was selected as a volunteer for the [EVENT NAME] 2020 organised by the government of Kerala higher education department. I was selected as one of the finalists of the [HACKATHON NAME] 2021 hackathon organised by the Project Management Institute (PMI). I felt fortunate to have been chosen for the [PROGRAM NAME], organised by the Kerala government's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC). My partners and I also took part in a competition held by the [DEPARTMENT NAME] during the last semester, and we came in 3rd place for the best project. I also attended a multitude of workshops and networking events, which aided in developing my communication and networking skills.

To improve my skills to a professional level in stock market trading, I took a course from [COMPANY NAME] and learned how institutional traders make their trades. I am also very active in their trader's community with their sapphire membership. Due to my interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency, I took the Blockchain Foundation Program Course from [INSTITUTION NAME] to enhance my knowledge. As I studied a few basics related to the financial sector apart from my undergraduate studies, I am very excited about financial technology and its applications, which have been very popular. In recent years, the fintech industry has experienced tremendous growth. Some examples like [COMPANY NAME], [COMPANY NAME], and [COMPANY NAME] are Fintech start-ups, and all of them have recently sprung up in my country. The programme MSC Financial Technology will help me understand the roots of FinTech, which can give me the proper knowledge of where I might go in the future. Once I know the driving forces for change, I will be better equipped to know which products or services might be successful in the years to come.

The United Kingdom is my dream destination, so I chose it for my master's degree. Moreover, the majority of prestigious academic excellence centres located here make it one of the most popular locations for aspirants from all over the world seeking higher education. I will have the opportunity to be a part of a world-renowned university with a high employability rate and gain international experience. The UK government allows us to work while studying and will provide a work permit after we finish, which will cover my daily expenses and a portion of my tuition fee. I needed to learn from a top-tier reputable institution to be an outstanding professional. My search ended with [UNIVERSITY NAME], a premier university in the United Kingdom and one of the top 100 universities in the world. It is well-known for its high level of academic support and teaching excellence. I'll be exposed to a completely new learning and working environment, allowing me to maximize my potential and learning abilities. The program provided by the university is uniquely quantitative as well as qualitative also. It's been designed to give the best understanding of the commerciality and technological aspect. It would be interesting to share my ideas and learn from students from all over the world with diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

After finishing the course, I wish to return to my home country and work with top international organisations to help them expand using the knowledge I've gained. In the long run, I hope to build an organisation in my country that will make a mark in the domain of FinTech using my entrepreneurial talents and leadership traits. Thus, playing a part in developing India from a low-cost outsourcing centre into an innovation hub where disruptive technology innovations assist in improving the lives of millions of poor people not only in my nation but around the world.

I am well aware that the requirements for studying this course are a high level of intelligence, competition, dedication, hard work, and sacrifice in some or other way. I am confident that I have the potential and competence to contribute positively to your respected university. With great hope, I eagerly wait for your reply of accepting me into your university.

Yours Sincerely,

[APPLICANT NAME]