Admission Requirements

Normally, to be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 from a recognized university, preferably in an arts or social sciences discipline. Those admitted with other credentials or those with arts degrees, who, in the judgment of the Graduate Chair, are without adequate foundation in the social sciences, may be required to make up any deficiency without receiving graduate credit for those courses.

Students are admitted for commencement of studies in the fall semester only.

DEADLINE: All supporting documents must be received by the International Studies department by JANUARY 6, 2012. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application requirements

The following application information is required:

• A Simon Fraser University graduate application form accompanied by a Graduate Application fee of $90 CAN (students with Canadian transcripts) or $125 CAN (students with international transcripts) by credit card (MasterCard or Visa).
  (Please note: We do not receive your online application until you have paid the application fee. Payment must be made within seven days of submitting the online application form or it will expire).
• The applicant’s official transcript(s) from all institutions attended, showing all grades (in sealed envelope(s)).
• Copy of unofficial transcript showing Cumulative GPA if not noted on official copy (electronic file is acceptable).*
• Three confidential letters of reference, at least two of which are from university faculty members (on official university letterhead and with original signature).*
  
• A one page letter of intent that explains why the applicant wishes to pursue the M.A. in International Studies, and which stream he/she wishes to pursue.*
• A one page statement of research interest.*
• Curriculum Vitae (two pages maximum, single-sided).*

International applicants: please click here for additional admission requirements.

All applicants whose first language is not English and whose undergraduate degrees come from institutions where English is not the language of instruction are required to submit English language test scores. Note that scores are only valid for two years from the date of examination. The test scores must come from one of the four testing agencies below. Normally, we would require the following minimum scores:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7.5 on each Academic Module (listening, speaking, writing, reading); or
• TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet based test) with an overall score of 102 or better with a minimum score of 25 in each of the four components (listening, speaking, writing, reading); or
• TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, paper based test) with a minimum score of 625 including a minimum essay score of 5.5.
  

Reference letters that are emailed to us directly by the referees MUST BE sent from their university/institution email accounts. We do NOT accept reference letters sent from personal email accounts.

If referees prefer to send a hard copy of the reference letter, the letter must be prepared on an official university letterhead, signed, sealed and initialized on the seal of the envelope.

Items noted with an asterisk should be sent electronically in PDF to intst@sfu.ca. In Subject line of the email header, state: MAIS 2012, Applicant Name. Reference letters must be sent from the referee's university e-mail account with the Subject: MAIS 2012, Applicant Name.

Please do not staple any of your documents or include them in folders. Please send all other supporting documents in one complete package to:

School for International Studies
Simon Fraser University
Attn: MAIS 2012
7200-515 W. Hastings Street
Vancouver BC
CANADA V6B 5K3