Postgrad student, received PhD offer from a university in Canada

[kim348]

Currently, I am PhD student at a university outside Canada, but I am not satisfied with my studies at all. I have struggled a lot during these years to do something and make the condition better, but all my efforts were useless. My research topic changed bcoz the idea was not working. I was not interested in new topic, but I had no choice. Several times I decided to quit, but my friends told me it is better than nothing so I just continued. After working for a long time still nothing comes out from this research. So, last year I decided to do something and save my life, so I started to apply for PhD in other universities around the world. I applied for many universities and worked on it very hard. Recently, I have received an offer letter from a university in Canada. Now, I want to apply for the visa and I am very worried and don’t know how I should act and what shall I say if they ask about my current student visa ( I am not living in my own country, I live in another country with student visa).
Does this fact that I am a postgraduate student affect their decision for issuing the visa? How should I explain my situation for them?
I wanted to quit this semester, but my friends told me that it is better to apply and wait for the Canada student visa first.
May please advise me what to do? I really need your help and support
Thank you very much in advance

 

[dok]

Hello,

You should add a letter of explanation to your visa application. In this letter, you should explain to the visa officer why you quitted/quitting your previous postgraduate studies and why you think this time the research topic is suitable for you and your academic ability. Also, explain in this letter why it was impossible for you to negotiate on a mutual satisfaction research milestone and the skills that you've acquired that will help you succeed in your research at the Canadian university. Remember that, visa officers look for genuine students (intend to study and able to complete successfully). And finally why the research topic at the Canadian university is vital to your future and employment prospects in your home country. It's advisable you keep your writings to one page or at maximum 2 pages. But it should contain all the necessary information in a logical and concise manner.

As for quitting your semester, it all depends on you. If you think the program is not good for you at all and you can't succeed then why continue! However, if it isn't all that bad as you claim, then you might want to stay on it till you get decision on your Canadian study permit application. But note that, it might complicate the approval of your study permit since you're already enroled as a full-time student in foreign country under study visa/permit.

If it is possible to tranfer from your current university, then it'll be better that way. So you need not to begin afresh with course work, but straight to research in the field you had wanted, but your university is lacking the expertise and the university in Canada has the expertise. This way the visa officer will understand you better.

 

[kim348]

Dear dok
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed explanation and advice.
I am really grateful to you.
About the situation, yes, it is as bad as I said. I applied for a PhD degree in engineering, now my PhD is more toward science not engineering. My current university couldn't provide the suitable equipment to carry out the engineering side of the study. Also, I am on study leave from the company that I was working in my home country and they agreed with my study leave with the condition of an engineering topic. Now, I am sure when I go back there I will face many problems with my company for my job promotion and position and many more issues, and they will underestimate me. Moreover, I am so sad and nothing makes me happy anymore. I am losing weight very fast, I feel like a loser.
This semester is already finished and registration for the next semester is in September, if I receive the visa I will not register for the coming semester at my current university.
Once again, many thanks

If you have any further advice it would be very much appreciated!