Question 1

Do I need to name a specific professor or lab, or is describing the program generally enough?

Accepted Answer

Generic praise won't score well on Depth of Program Rationale. Name at least one faculty member, lab, or curriculum feature uniquely relevant to your goal — vague references to rankings or 'Canadian quality' are scored as weak.

Question 2

How specific does my financial plan need to be to score well on Financial Readiness?

Accepted Answer

Name exact amounts, funding sources, and duration — e.g., 'CAD 45,000 in family savings covering two years of living costs.' Stating 'my family will support me' without figures scores poorly under Evidentiary Grounding.

Question 3

I had a previous visa refusal — should I mention it in my 500–1,000 word letter?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Narrative Consistency scores you higher when you address red flags like prior refusals directly, explain what changed, and connect the explanation to your return intent — ignoring it is treated as a weak response.

Canada Study Permit – Letter of Explanation

Evaluation criteria

Focus Themes

Use this rubric for your review

Frequently asked questions