SOP Sample for MSc Public Health in the UK

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

[APPLICANT NAME] International Graduate Applicant MSc Public Health and Wellbeing

[EXPERT NAME] said that one of the biggest myths in medicine is that all we need are more medical breakthroughs and then all of our problems will be solved. As someone with a keen interest in working on field with various communities and individuals in the public health sector, I strongly resonate with this thought. No amount of medical breakthroughs can ensure that their benefits are reaped by those that most need them if suitable policies to this end are not devised and implemented. Since I want to build a career in developing such policies for my own community, learning as much as I can about various policies pertaining to public health will further equip me to this end. By pursuing MSc in Public Health and Wellbeing, I will be able to immerse myself in the study of the research, administrative and mental aspects of the policy making process. Therefore, applying for MSc in Public Health and Wellbeing from [UNIVERSITY NAME] has taken prime importance for me.

The better part of the country I come from views social work as a philanthropic endeavour. When I decided to take up the course Bachelor of Social Work, I was already deviating from this view. Many individuals believe that social work does not even require formal education, because it is something one indulges in during their spare time and when they have an excess of resources. But I knew better than to take to that view; thus venturing to take my education a notch higher by enrolling for the Master of Social Work degree, specialized in the Welfare of Child, Family and Youth. Owing to the subject matter of my courses, I had the opportunity to dive into the depths of mental health; understand the process of working with communities, groups and individuals; dabble in the complexities of research in the field of social work and gain insights into the essence of working with children and families. All my educational decisions so far were guided by my goal to ultimately branch into the public health sector, and as such bear proof of my commitment to the said field.

As I continued to equip myself with knowledge and experiences to become a fruitful contributor to the field of public health in my community, it became clear to me that by pursuing the MSc in Public Health and Wellbeing course from [UNIVERSITY NAME], I would reach the pinnacle of education in this field, giving me an edge over my counterparts. [UNIVERSITY NAME] provides a supportive and encouraging environment, packed with lecturers and course coordinators that have real experience of working in the field of public health and wellbeing, making it the most facilitative environment for me to learn and grow in as a professional. The diversity that [UNIVERSITY NAME] allows in its student pool will enable me to sharpen my skills and ability to work with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, thus setting off my career in the right direction. Furthermore, this course is designed with a focus on the global public health sector which will allow me to have a wider perspective of the public health scenario.

India's young population is the largest in the whole world. Since 2001, 35.3% of India's population has been within the age range of 0 to 14, while 41% of its population is less than 18 years of age. Additionally, India's youth comprises one-fifth of its total population. Though having a population that is largely within the productive age group is a huge benefit to any economy, the youth will be able to contribute its maximum to the nation and the globe only when there are practical, solution-focused policies to enable them to do so. So also, children will someday add value to the country through its workforce only if they transition healthily to the youth phase. Currently, the situation in India is such that in spite of the many efforts of the government and its policy makers, benefits of government policies are not trickling down at the rate at which they should due to lack of manpower within the field of public welfare. Hence a huge portion of India's young population continues to be gripped by the clutches of hunger, malnourishment, disease and lack of adequate healthcare facilities and services. My motivation to work towards the welfare of children and youth coupled with my background in the field of social work could posit me as a catalyst for change, enabling me to facilitate the betterment of marginalized youth and children, which is the foremost reason for my wanting to pursue this career path.

To this end, the course at [UNIVERSITY NAME] will help me gain more awareness about the risk factors that threaten the health of children and youngsters across the globe. The course will train me in the skills of planning, implementing and evaluating health policies that benefit the masses while also sharpening my management skills and my ability to work with and in a team, thereby preparing me to become a better leader in the field of public health and welfare. What drew me to [UNIVERSITY NAME] among all other institutes offering this course is its cultural diversity, which will give me the opportunity to interact with and understand individuals and communities from various parts of the world. The course at [UNIVERSITY NAME] is led by well achieved professionals that offer not only high quality teaching, but enriching knowledge from their own gathered experience of working in the field. Furthermore, the university has a track record of successful alumni making me want to be a part of its student pool too.

In tune with my professional goals, I have initiated a group with likeminded people in my hometown known as "[ORGANIZATION NAME]". Together we conduct cleanliness drives all over the state of Goa. In my spare time I enjoy cooking and singing. Having grown up watching my mother work in a mental health research centre named "[ORGANIZATION NAME]", I have seen the realities of the community from close quarters since a young age and have always strived to make a change in my community towards better health systems. I have much experience of working with children and youth on field. All this exposure has served to make me more open to new learning. I am keen about meeting and exchanging ideas with various professionals in the public health sector, with the objective of gaining a greater understanding of their unique perspectives.

After the completion of my graduate studies I see myself working on field as a Social Welfare Officer. Such a position would give me the opportunity to devise and implement fresh policies with a positive impact on the community. I would also venture to impart knowledge from my studies and field experience to the new generation through education. In the long term, I aim to conduct extensive research in the field of public health and shed light on previously neglected topics. Through my research and its findings I aim to bridge the gap between mental health and the community.

The core subjects that I studied and was most drawn to in my previous courses include Mental Health, Social Work with Abused Children, Management of Developmental and Welfare Services, Law – Public Policy and Social Work, Community Organization, Gender and Equity, Family Centered Social Work Practice and Social Work Practice with Children. These subjects are directly aligned with my professional goals and helped me build my understanding of the key concepts of social work in the public sector. As can be observed, most of these papers were focused on children and youth which make up the population of my interest.

The Masters in Social Work course that I took up with a specialization in Welfare of Child, Family and Youth however, did not afford me all the learning that I had expected. The main reason for this is the sudden onset of the pandemic which forced the whole world to shut themselves indoors. As a result, not only was there a significant cut in the course syllabus, which inevitably kept me from much of the learning that I previously thought I would be gaining, but it also led to decreased opportunities for field work due to a paradigm shift to the online mode. As a social worker, it is not in the best interests of my professional development to satiate myself with lessons learnt merely from behind a screen. Another reason why applying to the MSc Public Health and Wellbeing course at [UNIVERSITY NAME] has become so important to me is because of its focus on the health aspect of social work. In my previous Masters course, this element was notably absent. Given that the public health sector is the field in which I want to ultimately venture as a professional, not having an educational background that deals with the health aspect of social work would act as a huge barrier in my future goals and endeavours. For these reasons, applying to this Masters program has become my prime focus even though I have previously acquired a Masters Degree.

I have successfully functioned as a Trainee Social Worker at [ORGANIZATION NAME], [ORGANIZATION NAME], [ORGANIZATION NAME] and [ORGANIZATION NAME]. During my time in these organisations I conducted surveys and research on Migrant desk in Goa and sessions on conflict management. I was involved in research on Autism Spectrum Disorder and was responsible for handling vast amounts of research data. Further, I learned the process of maintaining day-to-day case records and conducted open houses in various slum areas of North Goa. I played an instrumental role in conducting socio-economic surveys of Slum Dwellers and awareness sessions for various school students on the topic of Good Touch and Bad Touch. Additionally, I partook in multiple rescue missions directed towards street and abused children. My work with these organizations afforded me on-field experience of health checkups for sex workers and gave me the opportunity to conduct awareness sessions on HIV/AIDS for commercial sex workers.

I presented my own research paper titled "A Study On Youth Entrepreneurship Awareness and Skill Development" at the National Level Social Work Symposium "[CONFERENCE NAME]" held at [CITY NAME] and participated in a national conference on "Bridging the Mental Health Treatment Gap" organized by [ORGANIZATION NAME]. I am an active member of the [ORGANIZATION NAME]. I participated in [CONFERENCE NAME] (5th World Conference) in [CITY NAME] on "Wisdom Society: Learning to Live Wise" and served as the team leader of [ORGANIZATION NAME] – Covid Task Force.

As a social worker I believe that holistic development is of much importance. As such, my academic achievements are strengthened by my co-curricular accomplishments. I was a Finalist of [COMPETITION NAME] and an [AWARD NAME] Awardee. I won the [COMPETITION NAME] 2019 as well as the [COMPETITION NAME] organised by [INSTITUTION NAME]. I secured the second place in the [COMPETITION NAME] organised by [ORGANIZATION NAME] on World Autism Day and the first position in the [COMPETITION NAME] organised by [ORGANIZATION NAME]. I was the winner of the [COMPETITION NAME] organised by [INSTITUTION NAME].

Leadership for public health and wellbeing caught my eye due to my inclination towards leadership roles in this sector. Having worked in the field of social work for 5 years, I have understood that I have strong regard for humanity and am able to use its essence to guide my endeavours. I am an active listener and am capable of taking constructive criticism in my stride. Empathy, confidentiality and responsibility are principles that are at the fore of all work that I undertake. I value independence and have the capacity to learn and improve as a result of every new challenge that I face in life. I am certain that if selected, I will be an asset to the institute as a student and as an alumnus. Thank you for considering my application.

Regards, [APPLICANT NAME]