Hi All,
I interviewed and applied to a PhD program at SFU, but the university had funding issues and adviced me that a M.Sc. thesis track offer was the next best stepping stone into the PhD program. I took the offer as that was the only offer they could give me. Can any experienced folks on this forum please let me know the strength of my application and its approval? Everyone else is also encouraged to post their their informed thoughts.
Admit : M.Sc. thesis track
University: Simon Fraser University
Program: School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT)
Details: Admitted under advisor who is a Canada Research Chair professor.
Fellowship: 7k CAD.
Application submitted: August 3rd
Offer letter received : June 28th.
Prior Status: 4 years and 6 months in U.S. (Jan 2021 - July 2025)
Prior Master's: MS. course based in Business analytics and information systems (jan 2021- may 2022)
Other degree: Integrated dual degree Mechanical engineering (2011-2016)
Recent gap period: August 2025 - July 2026
Age: 32
Parents status: retired central and state govt. employees.
Loan details: taken from SBI global ed-vantage, Loan sanction letter from SBI bank lists my parent's collateral immovable property value (INR 38757400 or 560k CAD.
CA certication of net worth: not attached since SBI bank already had two of their valuators and lawyers do an evaluation of my parent's main propoerty
Other property docuemts: Not attached
Father's gross income according to their IT-returns : Pension + Interest from deposits/savings = 16.16 lakh inr or 23.4k CAD
Mother gross income according to their IT-returns: Pension + Interest from deposits/savings = 9.4 lakh inr or 13.6k CAD
Total parent's income: 26.3 Lakh inr or 36.5K CAD
Proof of other residential properties of my parents not attached.
Here is my LOE which I attached to my application:
Name, DOB, Citizen of India
Date,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Dear Officer,
please accept this letter in support of my study permit application to pursue the M.Sc (Thesis
Research Track) in Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University (DLI: O18781994282), starting Fall
2026, providing additional information on my academic background, program rationale, financial arrangement, and
post-graduation plans.
1. Academic Background and Rationale for This Program
I hold an integrated degree in Mechanical Engineering and a M.Sc(course-based) in Business Analytics and Information Systems(Analytics
& ML) alongside 5 years of industry experience in India and the U.S. combined, with hands-on experience in
machine learning pipelines, applied analytics, and large-scale data systems.
During this period, I identified that my prior training did not address interpretation of algorithmic outputs, & how
bias entering the design of data systems and AI models affects humans.
The SIAT program at SFU directly addresses this gap. It is one of a small number of programs globally that combines
computing and data systems with human-computer interaction (HCI), visual analytics, and human-impact AI
research. This is not a repetition of my prior credentials but a deliberate specialization at the intersection of my
existing technical background and the direction my career needs to move in.
While Indian graduate programs isolate either the design or the technical dimension separately, none of them
combine HCI, visual analytics, and human-impact AI research into a single interdisciplinary research track with
dedicated faculty supervision.
I have been admitted to work under Dr. XXXX, Canada Research Chair specializing in human-centered
computing, and I have also been in direct contact with Dr. XXXXX, who specializes in computational visual
analytics, regarding being my co-advisor as my program progresses. This advisor pairing and combination of
human-impact inquiry with quantitative visualization methods is not available within standard engineering or
computer science research programs.
My prior U.S. Master's degree was a course-based program which lacked the thesis track required for doctoral-level
research. Entering a traditional Ph.D. directly would skip the foundational research training I require for my specific
goals.
Therefore, I have intentionally chosen SFU's M.Sc. (Thesis) track as a deliberate, foundational stepping stone. This
thesis-based program provides the rigorous, independent research methodology training my prior course-based
Master's degree did not include, and which I require before advancing further in research. It is my long-term
educational goal to pursue doctoral research, and SFU's Graduate General Regulations (GGR 1.3.7b) provide an
institutional pathway for high-performing thesis students to apply for transfer into the PhD program, based on
academic performance. My immediate commitment, however, is to complete this MSc thesis program fully and
successfully.
2. Selection of SFU Over My U.S. Offer
My passport contains an F-1 Student Visa valid through 2031, issued following a funded doctoral offer at Rochester
Institute of Technology. I chose the SFU program instead because the RIT program does not provide HCI or human machine interaction specialization. The M.Sc thesis-track at SFU provides this exact specialized research training my
career requires, which is not found in traditional engineering or computer science programs.
3. Financial Plan
My studies are funded through a combination of parents’ liquid savings, education loan, and SFU's Graduate
Fellowship. I have already purchased my first-year GIC upfront. My remaining educational and living expenses are
fully covered by my father’s fixed deposit savings equivalent to $144,307 CAD, alongside an Entrance Graduate
Fellowship of $7000 CAD for the first year.
Supporting documentation includes my father's official fixed deposit statements that can be withdrawn at any time,
signed financial support affidavit by my father and mother, along with both my parents’ income tax statements
confirming ongoing family financial capacity.
4. Addressing the Recent Academic Transition Period
My prior employment with Company A. (June 2024–July 2025) included a USCIS-authorized STEM-OPT training under
Form I-983 including a 2-month paid client project. After my industry tenure, I dedicated myself full-time to
academic transition and graduate admissions. This structured timeline reflects continuous milestone progress:
August 2025–January 2026 was spent on GRE preparation and interviews, securing a doctoral admission at RIT;
January 2026 marked the successful issuance of my U.S. F-1 visa; February-April 2026 involved multiple round
research interviews with Dr. XXXX; and April 2026–June 2026 represented standard institutional
evaluation by SFU Graduate Admissions leading to my formal offer in the final week of June.
5. Home Country Ties and Return Intent
My family has resided their entire lives in city-A, India. I remain closely connected to my parents, and
maintaining this relationship is an important personal consideration in my plan to return to India upon completing
my studies. My parents are retired government employees drawing pensions and own multiple residential
properties in Hyderabad. These are established, verifiable ties to India.
My current career background is in data science and machine learning. My purpose in entering Canada is strictly to
fulfill the research requirements of my program, which directly maps to senior roles of "Responsible AI Scientist"
and "Senior ML Researcher in Foundation Models," positions requiring HCI and human-impact evaluation skills my
current technical background does not yet include. India's technology sector is undergoing active regulatory
transition, with major firms including Google India and Microsoft India establishing dedicated Responsible AI
divisions and hiring skilled researchers. Upon completing the degree, I intend to return and apply this
interdisciplinary profile within that market.
If you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at the contact information listed
below.
Sincerely,
Here is the Study plan I attached below it:
I am applying to pursue an MSc (Thesis Research Track) in Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University. My overall educational goal is to specialize in the evaluation of human impact in AI and data systems,building on over five years of industry experience in data science and machine learning engineering in India and the United States.My prior training did not address how AI systems are interpreted, designed, and evaluated for their effect on the people who use them. SFU's SIAT program combines human-computer interaction, visual analytics, and human impact research, an interdisciplinary combination I have not found replicated elsewhere. I have been admitted to work under Dr. XXXX, Canada Research Chair in human-centered computing, and co-advisor Dr. XXXXX, specializing in computational visual analytics. I reviewed Indian graduate programs in this space, including interaction design programs and data science/AI master's programs offered at several technical institutes. These programs address either the design or the technical dimension separately, but none combine human-computer interaction, visual analytics, and human-impact AI research into a single interdisciplinary research track with dedicated faculty supervision in this specific intersection.This program will directly enhance my employment opportunities in India. My current career background is in data science and machine learning engineering. I am targeting roles such as Responsible AI Scientist and Senior MLResearcher in Foundation Models, positions requiring HCI and human-impact evaluation skills that my current technical training does not include. Indian technology firms, including Google India and Microsoft India, are activelybuilding dedicated Responsible AI divisions and hiring for this exact skill combination.
I interviewed and applied to a PhD program at SFU, but the university had funding issues and adviced me that a M.Sc. thesis track offer was the next best stepping stone into the PhD program. I took the offer as that was the only offer they could give me. Can any experienced folks on this forum please let me know the strength of my application and its approval? Everyone else is also encouraged to post their their informed thoughts.
Admit : M.Sc. thesis track
University: Simon Fraser University
Program: School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT)
Details: Admitted under advisor who is a Canada Research Chair professor.
Fellowship: 7k CAD.
Application submitted: August 3rd
Offer letter received : June 28th.
Prior Status: 4 years and 6 months in U.S. (Jan 2021 - July 2025)
Prior Master's: MS. course based in Business analytics and information systems (jan 2021- may 2022)
Other degree: Integrated dual degree Mechanical engineering (2011-2016)
Recent gap period: August 2025 - July 2026
Age: 32
Parents status: retired central and state govt. employees.
Loan details: taken from SBI global ed-vantage, Loan sanction letter from SBI bank lists my parent's collateral immovable property value (INR 38757400 or 560k CAD.
CA certication of net worth: not attached since SBI bank already had two of their valuators and lawyers do an evaluation of my parent's main propoerty
Other property docuemts: Not attached
Father's gross income according to their IT-returns : Pension + Interest from deposits/savings = 16.16 lakh inr or 23.4k CAD
Mother gross income according to their IT-returns: Pension + Interest from deposits/savings = 9.4 lakh inr or 13.6k CAD
Total parent's income: 26.3 Lakh inr or 36.5K CAD
Proof of other residential properties of my parents not attached.
Here is my LOE which I attached to my application:
Name, DOB, Citizen of India
Date,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Dear Officer,
please accept this letter in support of my study permit application to pursue the M.Sc (Thesis
Research Track) in Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University (DLI: O18781994282), starting Fall
2026, providing additional information on my academic background, program rationale, financial arrangement, and
post-graduation plans.
1. Academic Background and Rationale for This Program
I hold an integrated degree in Mechanical Engineering and a M.Sc(course-based) in Business Analytics and Information Systems(Analytics
& ML) alongside 5 years of industry experience in India and the U.S. combined, with hands-on experience in
machine learning pipelines, applied analytics, and large-scale data systems.
During this period, I identified that my prior training did not address interpretation of algorithmic outputs, & how
bias entering the design of data systems and AI models affects humans.
The SIAT program at SFU directly addresses this gap. It is one of a small number of programs globally that combines
computing and data systems with human-computer interaction (HCI), visual analytics, and human-impact AI
research. This is not a repetition of my prior credentials but a deliberate specialization at the intersection of my
existing technical background and the direction my career needs to move in.
While Indian graduate programs isolate either the design or the technical dimension separately, none of them
combine HCI, visual analytics, and human-impact AI research into a single interdisciplinary research track with
dedicated faculty supervision.
I have been admitted to work under Dr. XXXX, Canada Research Chair specializing in human-centered
computing, and I have also been in direct contact with Dr. XXXXX, who specializes in computational visual
analytics, regarding being my co-advisor as my program progresses. This advisor pairing and combination of
human-impact inquiry with quantitative visualization methods is not available within standard engineering or
computer science research programs.
My prior U.S. Master's degree was a course-based program which lacked the thesis track required for doctoral-level
research. Entering a traditional Ph.D. directly would skip the foundational research training I require for my specific
goals.
Therefore, I have intentionally chosen SFU's M.Sc. (Thesis) track as a deliberate, foundational stepping stone. This
thesis-based program provides the rigorous, independent research methodology training my prior course-based
Master's degree did not include, and which I require before advancing further in research. It is my long-term
educational goal to pursue doctoral research, and SFU's Graduate General Regulations (GGR 1.3.7b) provide an
institutional pathway for high-performing thesis students to apply for transfer into the PhD program, based on
academic performance. My immediate commitment, however, is to complete this MSc thesis program fully and
successfully.
2. Selection of SFU Over My U.S. Offer
My passport contains an F-1 Student Visa valid through 2031, issued following a funded doctoral offer at Rochester
Institute of Technology. I chose the SFU program instead because the RIT program does not provide HCI or human machine interaction specialization. The M.Sc thesis-track at SFU provides this exact specialized research training my
career requires, which is not found in traditional engineering or computer science programs.
3. Financial Plan
My studies are funded through a combination of parents’ liquid savings, education loan, and SFU's Graduate
Fellowship. I have already purchased my first-year GIC upfront. My remaining educational and living expenses are
fully covered by my father’s fixed deposit savings equivalent to $144,307 CAD, alongside an Entrance Graduate
Fellowship of $7000 CAD for the first year.
Supporting documentation includes my father's official fixed deposit statements that can be withdrawn at any time,
signed financial support affidavit by my father and mother, along with both my parents’ income tax statements
confirming ongoing family financial capacity.
4. Addressing the Recent Academic Transition Period
My prior employment with Company A. (June 2024–July 2025) included a USCIS-authorized STEM-OPT training under
Form I-983 including a 2-month paid client project. After my industry tenure, I dedicated myself full-time to
academic transition and graduate admissions. This structured timeline reflects continuous milestone progress:
August 2025–January 2026 was spent on GRE preparation and interviews, securing a doctoral admission at RIT;
January 2026 marked the successful issuance of my U.S. F-1 visa; February-April 2026 involved multiple round
research interviews with Dr. XXXX; and April 2026–June 2026 represented standard institutional
evaluation by SFU Graduate Admissions leading to my formal offer in the final week of June.
5. Home Country Ties and Return Intent
My family has resided their entire lives in city-A, India. I remain closely connected to my parents, and
maintaining this relationship is an important personal consideration in my plan to return to India upon completing
my studies. My parents are retired government employees drawing pensions and own multiple residential
properties in Hyderabad. These are established, verifiable ties to India.
My current career background is in data science and machine learning. My purpose in entering Canada is strictly to
fulfill the research requirements of my program, which directly maps to senior roles of "Responsible AI Scientist"
and "Senior ML Researcher in Foundation Models," positions requiring HCI and human-impact evaluation skills my
current technical background does not yet include. India's technology sector is undergoing active regulatory
transition, with major firms including Google India and Microsoft India establishing dedicated Responsible AI
divisions and hiring skilled researchers. Upon completing the degree, I intend to return and apply this
interdisciplinary profile within that market.
If you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at the contact information listed
below.
Sincerely,
Here is the Study plan I attached below it:
I am applying to pursue an MSc (Thesis Research Track) in Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University. My overall educational goal is to specialize in the evaluation of human impact in AI and data systems,building on over five years of industry experience in data science and machine learning engineering in India and the United States.My prior training did not address how AI systems are interpreted, designed, and evaluated for their effect on the people who use them. SFU's SIAT program combines human-computer interaction, visual analytics, and human impact research, an interdisciplinary combination I have not found replicated elsewhere. I have been admitted to work under Dr. XXXX, Canada Research Chair in human-centered computing, and co-advisor Dr. XXXXX, specializing in computational visual analytics. I reviewed Indian graduate programs in this space, including interaction design programs and data science/AI master's programs offered at several technical institutes. These programs address either the design or the technical dimension separately, but none combine human-computer interaction, visual analytics, and human-impact AI research into a single interdisciplinary research track with dedicated faculty supervision in this specific intersection.This program will directly enhance my employment opportunities in India. My current career background is in data science and machine learning engineering. I am targeting roles such as Responsible AI Scientist and Senior MLResearcher in Foundation Models, positions requiring HCI and human-impact evaluation skills that my current technical training does not include. Indian technology firms, including Google India and Microsoft India, are activelybuilding dedicated Responsible AI divisions and hiring for this exact skill combination.