Overview

Nowadays international business management is becoming an extremely popular course chosen by international students. With lucrative job opportunities and a broad range of sectors to work for, the competition in this field is ever-increasing. In such a scenario, how does one make sure to secure a safe spot in their dream college/university. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Our guide on how to write a successful statement of purpose will help you craft an SOP that is authentic and set your application apart from other candidates.

Toolkit for SOP for business management

If you’re writing your statement of purpose for business management at the last moment, our toolkit will help you to craft a compelling SOP covering all the important points in no time!

Action ItemPoints to be consideredExamples
Introduction (motivation and goals) Address the things that made you choose business managementMy fascination for marketing coupled with my desire to develop a career in the same field but at a global level enticed me to pursue a postgraduate degree in international business management
OR
Problems with inventory, supply chain, and customer satisfaction in the bakery business motivated me to get an in-depth understanding of these problems to save my business as an entrepreneur
What are the interpersonal skills that make you different from other candidates?Creative thinking and adaptability
OR
Time management and multitasking
What do you hope to achieve/ become after this course?To realise the dream of becoming an international marketing manager for a global brand
OR
Learn the technical know-how of the business world especially supply chain management and sales management and bounce back as a successful entrepreneur
Body paragraph I (learning, execution, and impact)Discuss your academic background (school/college/other courses)Completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies
OR
Completed graduate degree in Bachelor of Arts from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune
Discuss your professional background (internship, volunteership, work experience)Worked as a sales and marketing intern at Techmagnate for 1 year
OR
Started my own baking business online
Highlight the accomplishments during your academic and professional lifeLearned how to implement sales strategies, conduct sales calls, and developed additional skills like managing social media accounts, and conducting social media performance analysis
OR
Showed active participation in competitions and volunteered at college fests, developed time management and multitasking skills, became proficient in managing content on social media
Body paragraph II (why course, why university)Why did you decide to study an undergraduate or postgraduate program?To get global exposure and broaden my horizons in order to build my understanding of the international market including market analysis and global brand management
OR
A diploma would equip me with the fundamental knowledge required to run a business in a shorter period of time
Why did you decide to study this specific course?The robust curriculum with a vast syllabus that covers international business strategy, finance, and marketing issues will prepare me to face challenges in the global business scenario
OR
The curriculum will help me gain a well-rounded understanding of operations management, logistics and supply chain, and become better at inventory control
Why did you decide to study at this specific college/university?Impressive scholarship programmes curated for the international students
OR
College’s work-integrated learning approach will provide me with an internship opportunity in the last semester, providing me with hands-on experience in managing a supply chain in business
How will you be a great addition to the college/university?Become a part of the Manchester RAG and participating in fundraising events
OR
By being a part of the international student ambassador volunteer team
Conclusion (closing statement) Discuss your short-term goalsTo secure an entry-level job in a UK based enterprise
OR
To develop an in-depth understanding of the essential aspects that are required to run a business
Discuss your long-term goalsTo become an international marketing manager for a global brand
OR
Get back to my bakery business and apply the knowledge gained from my diploma over there
Discuss how you believe that your career in business management will benefit societyAim to standardise fair marketing policies that are true to word and do not make any false claim
OR
To bring about a change in society’s eating habits by selling only freshly baked goods with organic ingredients

Sample SOP for a student with a similar background in business management

This is a sample SOP for international business management in the UK from University of Manchester.

"It's not what you sell that matters as much as how you sell it!” - Brian Halligan

As a kid, I have always been fascinated by advertisements. Be it a huge billboard, the first page of a newspaper covered with an ad, or a television ad, I loved them all. The notion of building a brand by attracting customers towards the product with catchy taglines has excited me for years. As my interest in this field developed over the years, I studied BBA and worked in the sales and marketing sector until I decided to pursue higher education. What motivated me to study further, despite my work experience, was the opportunity to understand the complexities of the global market. Additionally, in the light of globalisation, organisations today are compelled to tailor their marketing strategies to expand their reach by adeptly responding to and capitalising on the markets. So I aim to learn more about the changes in the environment, expand my cultural competence and language skills, and work with a global brand.Creative thinking, adaptability, and application of technology are crucial skills required to manage a business.I have developed these skills over the years, and I believe they will help me approach problems in the business world with a fresh perspective as an international business manager.

In my formative schooling years, I have been an exemplary student, displaying good academic results. However, my journey into the business world began with a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies. It was during college that I developed a keen interest in business management and marketing, knowing that they hold utmost importance in today’s world.This conviction was further strengthened by my summer internship as a sales and marketing intern at Techmagnate. After completing my graduation, I continued my position as a full-time employee. My role trained me to implement strategic sales plans that expanded the customer base and the company’s reach. Over time, I met with potential clients and was able to build good relationships with them. My experience made me skilled enough to implement sales strategies and conduct sales calls in a corporate setting. Moreover, it also helped me develop additional skills like social media management and social media performance analysis. Nonetheless, I felt that my job position and my skills limited my scope. In order to open up doors for higher-level positions and move a step higher to working in the global market, I decided to pursue higher education in international business management.

I wish to get global exposure and broaden my horizons in order to build my understanding of the international market, including market analysis and global brand management. In such a situation, getting a master's degree in international business management from the UK will help me move ahead.Upon exploring different colleges and universities, I decided to enrol in the University of Manchester’s ‘Masters (MSc) in International Business and Management’ programme. The university’s robust curriculum, which has a vast syllabus that covers international business strategy, finance, and marketing issues, will prepare me to face challenges in the global business scenario. I am particularly impressed with the university’s scholarships and funding programmes for master’s degrees, especially those made to support international students irrespective of their nationalities. As an international student like me who is looking forward to getting a higher education, scholarship programmes make it easier to study abroad. On my part, I believe my experience as a marketing and sales employee coupled with my academic excellence will contribute to the diversity of the university and bring a fresh perspective. I am enthusiastic about joining your university, becoming a part of the Manchester RAG, and participating in fundraising events.

My masters programme at the University of Manchester aligns with my career goals and will power my career trajectory. My short-term goal after getting my postgraduate degree would be to secure an entry-level job in a UK-based enterprise, which could provide me with hands-on experience in marketing management.In the long-term, I aspire to become an international marketing manager for a global brand, accomplishing my long-term goal.Beyond my career aspirations, I aim to standardise fair marketing policies that are true to word and do not make any false claims. I see myself as a capable student who will grasp this challenging degree, further my academic potential, and become an asset to your university.

Sample SOP for a student with a different background

This is a sample SOP for masters in business management from Humber College, Canada.

“Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change.” -Tom Peters

It is said that cooking is an art, but baking is a science. It is said so because baking relies on mixing the ingredients precisely with an understanding of chemical processes to create a perfect finished product. Baking takes a lot of patience and effort, and to be a learned baker doesn’t come easy at all. After being a home baker for over a decade, I recently decided to take my hobby of baking to a bigger stage and start my own bakery. It was a great ordeal to set up the business and promote it online and offline. I, however, managed to make it all work. The first few months went great as people from around the town started to come and become repeat customers. However, it was not until the sixth month that the business started to face problems regarding inventory, supply chain, and customer satisfaction. As a solo entrepreneur, I did my best to manage the same, but it wasn’t enough. In that situation, I was at a crossroads about whether to shut down the business or make it all work despite the roadblocks. I decided to go with the latter, which led me to pursue a diploma in business management. I am confident that my interpersonal skills of time management and multitasking would help me learn better as a student.I aspire to learn the technical know-how of the business world and bounce back as a successful entrepreneur.

Academically, I have been an indifferent student with decent results in school and college. I started baking at the tender age of 13, and I knew that I wanted to pursue it full-time. I wasn’t sure about my idea until I completed my graduate degree in Bachelor of Arts from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.During college, I was introduced to a whole new world with a wide range of opportunities. I started to participate in every competition and volunteer at college fests. It was during my college’s annual food fest that I set up a stall with my baked goods. The stall was a success, and the praise inspired me to start my own baking business online.It was during my online business that I not only developed time management and multitasking skills but also became proficient in managing content on social media. As I mentioned before, in order to upscale my online business, I opened my own bakery, which nonetheless encountered problems related to the supply chain and inventory. So, to learn effective strategies regarding supply chains and efficient inventory management, I decided to pursue a course in business management.

After extensive research, I opted to get a diploma in business management from Humber College, Canada. A diploma would equip me with the fundamental knowledge required to run a business in a shorter period of time. The diploma’s curriculum, with its emphasis on principles of management, leadership, and entrepreneurship, perfectly aligns with my career aspirations. Additionally, the curriculum will also help me gain a well-rounded understanding of operations management, logistics and supply chain, and become better at inventory control.What particularly interested me towards Humber College is their work-integrated learning approach. This approach will provide me with an internship opportunity in the last semester, providing me with hands-on experience in managing a supply chain in business.I hope to be a valuable addition to the college and look forward to being a part of the international student ambassador volunteer team. I believe that Humber College’s diploma would help me get global exposure in business management, helping me get my business back on track.

The decision to get this diploma will represent an important step towards realizing both my short-term and long-term goals, particularly as an entrepreneur. My short-term goals include developing an in-depth understanding of the essential aspects that are required to run a business. My long-term goals include getting back to my bakery business and applying the knowledge gained from my diploma over there. I hope to bring about a change in society’s eating habits by selling only freshly baked items. I plan to continue this practice and stick to using only organic ingredients, making it unique from my competitors. I believe that a diploma in business management from Humber College, Canada, can help me emerge as a successful entrepreneur and realize my goals.

How to write an SOP for business management

Here, we have explained how to write SOP for business management in greater detail with 4 different sections.

Introduction (motivation and goal)

To begin with a statement of purpose, use a hook line to keep your SOP reader glued from the very beginning. Additionally, mention your long-term goals with respect to the skill sets that made you choose business management as a career option. Then, mention what the bigger goal is that you want to achieve in your career through business management.

Checklist for writing introduction:

  • Hook (quote related to business management)
  • Source of motivation
  • Long-term goal
  • Reason to pursue the course
  • Unique aspects about your personality
  • Future goals

Body paragraph I (learning, execution, and impact)

The first body paragraph mentions your academic and professional background and highlights your accomplishments during the same. In this paragraph, you need to share a slice of your life and not go into the detailed explanation of your life experiences. Rather, try to fit 2-3 important accomplishments that you’ve achieved in school, college, or at your workplace. The impact of these accomplishments will display your strengths and weaknesses as a prospective student, establishing your identity other than your scores.

Checklist for writing body paragraph I:

  • Academic accomplishments
  • Professional accomplishments
  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • Impact of all the cumulative experiences
  • In case of a fresher, talk about internships and volunteerships

Body paragraph II (why course, why university)

The key to making good points is to get into greater detail about the college or university. The more you know about your chosen college or university, the better you’ll be able to write about it. Explaining a thing or two about the institution will show the admissions committee that you’re eager to be a part of it. Just make sure that whatever you write has to be specific, devoid of any generic information about the campus or your business management course. In addition to this, list your qualities as a student who can contribute to the institution, apart from academics.

Checklist for writing body paragraph II:

  • The skills and knowledge you know related to business management
  • Why this particular college/university?
  • What do you like about the university?
  • How can you be a valuable addition to the college/university?

Conclusion (closing statement)

The last paragraph should include your short-term and long-term goals that you wish to achieve in the next few years. Though thinking outside the box is highly appreciated, we recommend that you stick to realistic and practical goals that you’re sure that you can achieve, as unrealistic goals might make you sound childish and impractical. It’s critical that you also mention your contribution to society as a working professional in the field of business management, which displays your value of working for the community.

Checklist for writing conclusion:

  • Path to achieve your career goals (short-term and long-term goals)
  • What after the course (long-term goals)
  • Contribution towards the society

Wrap Up

To wrap up, our 4-step complete guide for writing an SOP for business management will simplify your college/university application with a quick look at our toolkit and samples. In order to appeal to the admissions committee, make sure that your SOP must have a strong opening and concluding statement along with detailed first and second body paragraphs. With all the tips and tricks mentioned, you will be able to write a compelling SOP similar to the one written by a trained writer.

FAQs

Why should you study business management?

Pursuing a masters course in business management is one of the best ways to open yourself to new avenues and job opportunities as an international student. A career in business management guarantees you a high paying job with average salaries at $105,542 per year. With a masters degree in business management from Canada, you can build a secure and successful career as a business graduate.

Is business management and business administration the same?

While business management is mainly concerned with coordinating a company’s resources, business administration revolves around operations with specific concentrations within a company. In other words, if you decide to study business administration or Master of Business Administration, your study will typically be specialised in areas of finance, accounting, and marketing, teaching you the technical know-hows of running a business. On the other hand, the study of business management will be focused on management theories and build interpersonal skills of leadership and communication.

What do you write in a statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose includes four different paragraphs namely: introduction, body paragraph I, body paragraph II, and conclusion. The introduction should state your motivation to study your business management course. Then, the first body paragraph should state your life’s learnings, their execution, and impact upon your life. Following which, the second body paragraph should state your reasoning for your choice of course and university. And lastly, write the concluding paragraph that states the closing statement for your statement of purpose.

How many pages should SOP be?

When writing a statement of purpose, you must stick to the word limit of 600-1000 words. This means, writing an SOP could generally take around 2 pages.

Recommended Readings:

How to Write SOP for IIM Backed with Effective Sample SOP

SOP for UK - How to Write an Effective SOP for UK