An applicant over 30 who already held a master's asked about visa chances and whether to pick a 1-year or 2-year program. The thread had two direct success stories:
- Age is not a bar — the SOP is. One member's husband was approved at 37 for an MBA. Their advice was blunt: "write a strong SOP." For older applicants with prior degrees, the officer's question is why more study, why Canada, why now — the SOP has to answer it convincingly.
- Prefer the 2-year course. The second success story (spouse approved after an M.Tech) recommended a 2-year program. A longer program reads as a more serious academic commitment and, practically, leads to a longer post-graduation work permit.
- Frame the program as career progression, not repetition. The M.Tech household chose a postgraduate diploma in a specialization and justified it as gaining practical exposure on top of theoretical education — a framing that pre-empts the "you already have a master's, why a diploma?" objection. Look for specialization courses that visibly build on your existing degree and work history.
- Program choice options that worked: MBA (natural fit for someone with long experience) or a specialized PG diploma explicitly linked to your field. Avoid generic programs with no connection to your background.
In short: 30+ approvals with prior master's degrees are routine when the program choice is coherent and the SOP does the explaining.