Statement of Purpose

Intoduction:

I would like to introduce myself as Miss Priyanka Gurung holding passport

number 10436501, daughter of Mr. Hari Lal Gurung from Kirtipur-II, 03 Sunwal,
Nawalparasi. I believe in individual specialty and talent who are capable of setting
different goals in life. I also have a passionate ambition I am looking to achieve.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, I have a dream of forging a career in the field of
business by starting with a degree in a subject that is at the heart of every business,
Accountancy. Time and effort will determine how soon I will reach my goals.
Moreover, I am aware of the fact that I must go through a stiff competition that is
prevailing in this era.  To be able to stand out in the scholastic competition, I have
to possess certain skills and an academic degree that is recognized worldwide.
Owing to this and with an interest of pursuing my future education overseas, I am
pleased to write this Statement of Purpose for the enrolment in Bachelor of
Accounting at Australian Institute of Higher Education (AIH), Sydney, Australia.

Academic Profile/ IELTS/ Gap Year:

As regards my academic qualification, I have completed my School Leaving

Certificate (SLC) from Pioneer English Boarding School in 2014 securing 75%. I
then successfully completed my Higher Secondary Level (10+2) from Einstein
Academy Secondary School in 2017 in Management Stream with 67.80%. Both of
these performances fall under First Division Grade Category.

During the last term of high school just prior to the Board Examinations, 2016, I
suffered from a menacing shoulder pain and a weakness of upper limb that
prevented me from appearing in the Board Exams of that year resulting in a one
year gap between my Year 11 and Year 12. I did manage to pass my Year 12 exam
the next year with 68.4%. After the completion of my Higher secondary 10 +2 I
was in a dilemma as to whether I should continue my studies in Nepal or pursue
for abroad education to gain an international academic exposure, knowledge and
skills to compete in the global market. After a much needed self analysis, I decided
for the latter. I conducted an in depth research of my future study plan and possible
higher education programs available within and outside my home country. IELTS
was the first step for my further study abroad. I gave my IELTS Academic Test on
16th December 2017 conducted by British Council held in Kathmandu and scored
an overall band of 6.0.

Details of the financial Sponsors:

My family has always given top most priority to education. They have been
supportive and funded my studies since my schooling days and more than happy
to fund my further education in Australia. My immediate family includes my
mother- Mrs. Deudhara Gurung, my step-mother- Mrs. Dhan Kumari Gurung, and
my uncle- Mr. Kharilal Gurung. All of these three guardians of mine will be
bearing my entire fee and expenses during my stay in Australia. They all reside in
Nepal. They will be supporting me financially with the combined annual income of
approximately AUD 17054 through different sources as well as loan of AUD
40317 has been granted by Nepal Bangladesh Bank Limited , Butwal. All the
financial requirements are managed as all my guardians receive pension from
Indian 4/4GR and my mother's land is used to generate income from land lease and
house rent. Bank loan is secured from the collateral of my mother's land. This
year's tuition fee, total OSHC has been disbursed through the loan and I will be
using the amount for this year's living expenses from the loan as well. Similarly,
next year's tuition fees and living expenses will be covered by the combination of
my sponsors' annual income and bank loan.

Living Arrangements in Sydney:

I have chosen Sydney city for my further studies as it is the capital city of New
South Wales state and the most populous city in Australia. The 2014 Mercer
Quality of Living Survey ranks Sydney tenth in the world in terms of quality of
living, making it one of the most livable cities. It is classified as an Alpha World
City by Globalization and World Cities Research Network, indicating its influence
in the region and throughout the world. Ranked eleventh in the world for economic
opportunity, Sydney has an advanced market economy with strengths in finance,
manufacturing and tourism; all the more reason to study Accounting in this
city. There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational
corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as one of Asia Pacific's leading
financial hubs. Students from more than 140 countries are studying in Sydney
providing me with a great opportunity to learn different cultures of different
students. Sydney has a wide variety of world class entertainment centers,
restaurants, beautiful parks, gardens and shopping centers where we can indulge in
recreational activities. We can find different accommodation facilities like Hostels
and Guest houses, Shared Rentals, on campus accommodation, Home stay, Rental
etc in Sydney. Australian government estimates that the average living costs for an
international student is at least AUD 20290 annually. For my living arrangements,
I shall take help from my counselor and my friends who are already studying in
Sydney. As living and sharing a room can be cheaper, I intend to do that in
Sydney.
One of the key things to note while choosing a study city is how well the city is
equipped to provide you with the platform to ensure a healthy learning
environment. When it comes to Sydney, this is a city bustling with people of
various backgrounds in terms of occupations they do. So it is very easy to connect
to a variety of people for networking. Interactions and communication is very
important to enhance your academic profile and Sydney does not lack this. Also
you can access the state of the art technological developments which help you be
updated with the modern trends in Accounting. There are many financial
companies located here which all have strong Accounting Departments and I can
easily approach if I need to learn some practical details of my studies. A student
can learn a lot from this kind of exposure.
Research Done on My Home Country:
When I was studying in my +2 examinations, due to some adverse circumstances
in my home country's education system owing to extremely poor administration in
the management of the Board, students like me were left helpless as there were
many interruptions during the studies. And on top of that, because the norm here
is to complete the examinations on time no matter what, students were pressured
to hastily prepare for the exams without knowing and learning much of the course's
content.
Though I can find a similar course in my home country Nepal, I will have to
compromise with various factors that will no doubt affect my ability to experience
learning to its fullest. For instance, the available courses and contents are not up-
to-date in my home country. The books and course content that are used are more
than a decade old and are not relevant to the practices today.
Similarly, teaching methodology in Nepal is based on theoretical and traditional
approach and little emphasis is given to research based teaching and learning.
To be honest, I may gain a degree here but it cannot compare with the prospect of
an internationally recognized degree and the level of practical learning and
international exposure it offers. Employers in Nepal highly seek and prefer
individuals who have attained a degree from a developed country like Australia.
The degree in Nepal is recognized but priority and preference for a job position is
given to individuals who hold a foreign degree. Many newspaper ads as well as
company websites clearly state this.
There are some colleges in Nepal which provide an international Bachelor degree
in Business but without the specialization route. As a result, these credentials don't
help the graduates to the extent of courses here, resulting in a lower satisfaction
level. The factor that stands out the most when considering my home country for a
Bachelors Degree is the fact that it has a very weak spectrum of specialization
courses that are suited to a student's needs and interests. A case in point would me
my own situation. Institutes that offer a Bachelor of Accounting course are very
limited and one could even say non-existent if the bodies awarding the degree are
taken into consideration because they are all foreign. I would indeed have to make
do with courses such as BBA just to study a few modules related to actual
Accounting practices. This completely undermines my core interests and future
aspirations.
During examination students give their three hours time for exam papers to
complete but that doesn’t mean students are facing it confidently because whatever
they provide in paper it is based on their reading matters only ; this does not reflect
their true potential. I too faced this situation. Although I was a very hardworking
student and gave my full dedication, because I could not attend one single exam
meant I had to wait an entire year just so I could clear one single examination.
What this shows is the inefficiency of the education system experienced first-hand
by me.
There is a massive funding problem for universities in Nepal and as a result there
are only five universities in Nepal- Tribhuvan University (T.U.), Kathmandu
University (K.U.), Pokhara University (P.U.), Mahendra Sanskrit University and
Purbanchal University. What this means for the students is that popular and
reputed colleges that provide courses like BBA are very few in number and there
are too many students who want to enroll in such colleges. This results in
overcrowding of classes even if you get admission which is biased because of
nepotism. One my sisters shared the experience of waiting a long queue for 4
hours just to get an application form. This means that students wanting to gain
quality education despite their determination and enthusiasm are held back.
Because of a lack of proper administration, a four year bachelors course in Nepal
can easily turn into a 5 year or a 6 year course because of the lag seen in
administration of campuses here. Students should not be forced to waste such
valuable time.
Also I personally feel like this is the time in my academic career when I should
experience something different and study abroad and acquire key life skills such as
time management skill, personality development, ideas and culture exchange with
other students. So, I have decided to complete my degree from abroad and not
from my home country Nepal.

Research Done on Other Countries:

Although my initial focus and intention was to study in USA where many of my
friends had gone, I decided against it.
In the US, only those with a degree in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM subjects) are considered to extend their F-1 Optional Practical
Training Visa which is equivalent to Australia's PSW. I checked the list of
subjects that fell under this category and to my shock Accounting was not
included. Therefore I realized that my interest was not going to provide me with a
wide range of opportunities in the USA. Also Bachelor's degrees in the US run for
4 years which is an additional 1 year than in Australia. I can utilize this time with
work experience. Similarly most education providers require good SAT scores for
admission unlike in Australia.
In the UK, post study work opportunities are non- existent therefore I decided not
to pursue my further education there.
Many European countries like Germany and Scandinavian countries provide
quality and free education. However, because of the language barrier and the fact
that in Nepal we are taught in English medium made me decide on an English
speaking country. This helps massively to settle down and communicate and takes
pressure off the student.
Another popular choice for Nepalese students is India but once again with many
cases and problems related to accreditation of courses, I was concerned and
worried. I had heard from my relatives how many universities and colleges were
actively participating in fraudulent documents scam and faking their accreditations.

With all these factors considered I decided that Australia would be the sound
choice for my further studies.
Why Australia:
According to the Guardian, Australia is the fourth most popular destination for
international students after the USA, UK and France. It has a world renowned
education system, a plethora of technological and natural resources and ample
opportunities for practical exposure. Friendly environment and a diverse education
system down under attracts students from all around the globe and the cross
cultural society makes it the best place to adapt and study in.
I will be able to market myself to virtually every country in the world with an
Australian academic degree.
The main reason for selecting Australia over other countries is because of the
Education Services for Overseas Student (ESOS) act which protects the rights of
international students.
Not to mention Tuition Protection Scheme which provides a safety net for paid
fees.
The availability of Post Study work visa (PSW), probably the feature I find the
most attractive about studying in Australia, allows international students to gain
practical experience which not only gives a professional touch to a student’s career
but also aids in instilling confidence through work experience.
Australian research and the employability of graduates around the world is well
known. Having produced many Nobel Prize Winners and home to world class
universities, Australia boasts one of the strongest education systems in the world.
Students can fully rely on the education providers as the government ensures that
only quality meeting institutes can engage in education providing. The
government's such initiative and responsibility is an example that all countries can
learn from.
Apart from these, the fee structure is also quite affordable in comparison to other
countries. Australian education programs represent great value for money.
Australian courses are often shorter than their counterparts in other countries,
particularly in the US. For example most Australian bachelor degree courses can
be completed in three years or even less if the education provider works on a
trimester system. This means I can save a whole year's tuition fees if I choose to
study in Australian rather than in the US or even India, Nepal's neighboring
country. Apart from being a great place to get a first-rate education, Australia is
also a fantastic place to live. It provides a welcoming and multicultural society
with a population that originates from around 200 countries. Australians have a
reputation for being amongst the friendliest in the world, and their cities are safe
and clean, with low crime rates. The lifestyle and quality of living in Australia is
among the best in the world. Several of Australia’s territorial capital cities
regularly rank among the world’s ‘most livable’ cities. In 2014, the Economist
Intelligence Unit's Global Livability Survey found that four Australian cities
ranked in the world's top ten most livable cities. Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and
Perth ranked first, fifth, seventh and ninth respectively, a feat not achieved by any
US or UK city. And also Australia's strong economy and low unemployment rates
mean international students who wish to work part time have no problems finding
a part time job.
Why this particular course?
There are various courses that give good job prospects but accountancy/
entrepreneurial domain is the one which not only brings us sound opportunities but
a great chance to mould an exemplary personality. I have always had a keen
interest in Accounting which is reflected in my high school grades (around 80% in
both years). This course also helps us to explore the ideas within the international
context with transferable skills and it is equally effective on practical syllabus from
which one can gain numerous personal as well as professional benefits.
Accounting course is important to get specialization in the field of management.
This provides a combination of cutting edge theoretical and technical knowledge
plus hands on approach to prepare for a successful career as a professional
accountant. The AIH accounting program is designed to provide specialized
accounting ideas and principles by giving up to date knowledge of recent
development in accounting management practices. Accounting is at the heart of
every organization and is a sensitive and a challenging practice. To become an all
rounded professional of this subject, I will be pursuing a Bachelor of Accounting
in AIH which is a 3 years program. After I complete this course I would have
gained all the necessary skills required to be a successful accountant. Although
the accounting subject has been practiced for a long time one thing that made me
attracted to study the course was that how the units were properly designed to be
relevant to today's accounting needs. For example, IT units and Information
Systems units in this course reflect that it will give an individual all the necessary
skills required to practice the latest accounting trends. I will be doing a lot of
Reports, project documentation, case studies and presentations, Essays and
assignments, Quizzes, class tests and examinations, Practical and team-based
projects, Participation in class in this course.
Bachelor of Accounting courses is one of the most popular courses worldwide. Not
only is the demand for competent accountants soaring, this course reflects my
interests as well and my future plan. This course focuses on Accounting subjects
and students are able to study units that are very much in demand in the job market
as well.

Why AIHE?
Once I chose Australia as a destination for my further education, I researched on
many universities in Australia and Sydney in particular and came across various
universities like University of Sunshine Coast, Victoria University, Federation
University, Southern Cross University and Charles Darwin University who are all
offering the course that I am looking for. Among them I found AIH's ( Australian
Institute of Higher Education) courses' content the most in tune with my
preferences.
A provision for industry partnership for possible internship and its national and
international rating, reviews and feedback of the past students has attracted me to
select this institute among many of the universities.
Offering three years bachelor degree, AIH has an advanced teaching and learning
methodology.
Tuition fees of AIH is considerably lower than other Sydney based universities
like University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie
University ,CSU and Western Sydney University all of whose total tuition fee fall
in the range of 70,000-75,000 AUD. The program fee for Bachelor of Accounting
is 48,000 AUD which falls within the scope of what my sponsors can afford. Also
the English entry requirement for these institutes was more than what I had gotten
limiting my ability to study despite the desire.
AIH has also given very good services for international students and gives
scholarships to students meeting the guidelines.
Furthermore, individual attention to the student is practiced as class size is
relatively small.
Because this institute is relatively new in terms of establishment (recognized in
2009), I believe an additional focus will be placed on student satisfaction and its
program's success rate which in effect will benefit me. Teachers of this university
are more friendly and motivating.
It provides diverse modules such as Business Communication & Academic
Writing, Accounting Information Systems and Strategic Management Accounting
which are the current needs of today’s accounting practices.
Also the freedom to chose electives as per my interests is worth mentioning. The
management system, method, the environment along with the facilities provided by
the university suit my ambition. Along with this, AIH has modern facilities across
campuses and benefits from global reputation in creating the world-class career
opportunities. The Academic Skills team supports student learning by offering
online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one
support.
AIH also provides students with modern, well equipped teaching spaces such as
lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs
of specific study disciplines. Contemporary audiovisual equipments are also
standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for
individual study purposes.  One of the vital advantages of studying in AIH is that I
can experience diverse student population from all over the world. Therefore, it is
obvious that I will learn in the classroom, beyond the classroom, culture and
society to become competitive to the global market after graduation.
There is also a significant Nepalese community in this institute which should help
me integrate more quickly.

Understanding the Course:

Bachelor of Accounting contains 24 units and students can chose from a myriad of
elective Modules. To be enrolled international students from Nepal need to have at
least 60% in their Higher Secondary Examinations and IELTS overall band of 6.0
which I have met. The course will last for 3 years for a full time student like me
which is the normal duration for a Bachelors Degree in Australia. The program fee
for Bachelor of Accounting is 48,000 AUD. The Bachelor of Accounting provides
its graduates with the skills, knowledge and attributes required by accountants to
perform effectively in modern business environments. The degree is designed in
accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the
requirements of relevant professional associations.
In this course are units that provide the financial accounting, management
accounting and auditing skills necessary to obtain professional accreditation and
employment in the discipline of accountancy. It also provides education and
learning outcomes in the areas of information technology, marketing,
organizational behavior and operations, as well as allowing students the freedom to
choose from a number of business-based electives.
To complete the degree, students will need to pass 24 Units. These Units are
divided into three levels based on contents and level of difficulty. The first level
(Level 1000) has 8 core units. The second level (2000) has 6 core units. The third
level (Level 3000) has 7 core units. In addition, we will get to select 3 electives.
As a full-time student, I will have between 9-12 hours of classes each week, on-
campus. In addition, I will need to set aside between 14-28 hours each week in my
own time to complete assignments, readings, projects and prepare for quizzes, tests
and exams.

Upon Successful Completion of the program:

Upon the successful completion of my Bachelors Degree and my Post Study Work
I intend to return to my home country. I would like to clarify in this SOP that my
sole purpose of pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Australia is so that I gain
international exposure to the Accounting practices and become a preferred
candidate for job here in Nepal. Many top employers look for a foreign English
speaking country's credential while hiring employees. Understanding this trend I
have decided to do my Bachelors in Accountancy in Australia. I have even
researched on accounting firms I would like to work for after returning home. I
have held talks with the HR managers of these companies and have got positive
feedback on my decision to get an Australian degree first and then come back to
Nepal for work. One of the companies is N.K. Joshi & Co.
This Chartered Accountants was established in 1994 under Nepal Chartered
Accountants Act, 2053 with the vision to provide quality assurance services and
other professional services. Nature of such services, it specializes are Annual audit
(Internal/external), tax audit, professional consultancy, financial review & analysis
and preparation of operational & financial manual to the organizations established
in Nepal. It is the only firm of Chartered Accountants in Nepal that has been
concentrating its services in system and software development. Since I will be
choosing modules related to this such as Systems Analysis and Design, it will give
my profile an edge. During the course of system and software development, the
firm has been regularly engaged with the client-base of Airlines, NGOs, INGOs,
Financial Institutions, Manufacturing Industries and Trading organizations. The
firm is currently managed under the leadership of Mr. Joshi, FCA.
They have been actively recruiting Bachelors Degree holders to increase their
manpower.
Another such company is NBSM which is a leading Accounting Firm of Nepal
offering a wide range of services in the field of Audit, Risk Advisory, Tax
Advisory, M&A Advisory and Managed Services for National and Multinational
Companies of all sizes.
NBSM was founded in 2009. NBSM currently has a team of 100 Professionals
including 24 Full Time Chartered Accountants with rich experience of providing
Auditing Service, Risk Advisory Service, Mergers and Acquisition Advisory
Service, Taxation Service, Due Diligence Review Service etc.
NBSM also has been providing Services to diversified Industries in Nepal viz.
Banking and Financial Institutions, Manufacturing, Trading, Mining, Insurance,
Feed and Poultry, Regulatory Boards etc.
I have personally contacted the HR department of NBMS and they are really
excited about my prospects. Also they have urged me to drop my CV to their HR
department once I complete my stay in Australia in return back home. They
encourage applicants who have completed their degrees abroad.
As regards the remuneration in these jobs, the starting salary is around NRs.
40,000 to 55,000 for a Accounting manager. But it should be noted that once you
land the job and start performing well this increases within a short period of time
to NRs. 1 lakh. This depends on how extensive of a knowledge does an individual
hold and I am confident that because of my Bachelor degree from Australia, I
should be able to gain such knowledge ranging from IT units to Accounting
Practices.
My aim indeed is to become an active professional Accountant. In order to achieve
my goal I will be collecting all of my knowledge skills and principles in an
appropriate way in Australia which I will be bringing back to my home country
Nepal. With successful completion of this Bachelors degree, I will undertake PSW
for 2 years which will sharpen my knowledge in the field of accounting by
providing a practical job experience. I wish to return to my home country and use
my gained knowledge. Numerous jobs will be up for grabs in different national and
multinational companies in Nepal. After completion of this program in Australia I
can also work as an Account analyst, Accountant, Business analyst, HR supervisor,
Business consultant etc. as well. As Nepal is in a developing stage, many
companies both small scaled and large are being launched day by day which
creates good opportunities in the accounting sector. So, there should not be any
problem for me to find a job in my country if I attain good knowledge of
Accounting practices. I do believe that the degree acquired from Australian
Institute of Higher Education (AIH) will be extremely beneficial to uplift my
career. I will implement all the techniques and principles to prove my potential.
Apart from my career reasons, I also have a family that will be watching closely to
how I perform in my studies and return home to make a name for myself in
entrepreneurship. I have a commitment to take care of them. I have all my family
members here in Nepal. So, therefore my stay in Australia will be limited till the
duration of my studies and PSW. The skills and knowledge achieved in Australia
will be precious to utilize in my home country Nepal.
Finally, I would like to assure that I am very much aware that I am applying for the
higher education Visa Subclass 500. I know that throughout my stay in Australia I
must maintain 80% attendance in college, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
for the duration of my stay in Australia, maintain 50% marks and should not be
involved in any criminal and illegal activities, I should inform University and
Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) about my home address
within 7 days of arriving in Australia as well as inform College/DIBP within 7
days in case I change my address. I am eligible to work 40 hours per fortnight and
20 hours per week, I cannot change college before six months. I would like to
assure you that I have totally understood the laws and policies for overseas
students.
Getting a chance to study in Australian Institute of Higher Education (AIH) in
Australia will definitely equip me with sound knowledge and expertise me to excel
in business. I believe that AIH will assist me with excellent guidance; and support
from an experienced and knowledgeable faculty that will give me the extra boost to
enhance my level of knowledge. I will be very fortunate to shape my career in the
world of business. I shall follow all the rules, regulations and procedures
implemented by AIH and all the student visa rules during my stay in Australia.

Thank you for the consideration.

Sincerely yours
Priyanka Gurung