FAQ
What qualifications do I need to apply?
The School accepts students with undergraduate or graduate training in a variety of fields including natural, applied, and social sciences, as well as business and related professional fields. The program is very competitive, so details such as grades, research interests and work experience can all help towards a successful application. Historically, successful applicants all exceed the minimum standards for admission which are set by the University. If you are a borderline applicant, your chances of success are low. Review the different graduate programs for an outline of each program and how they differ. Note that all of our master's programs are research programs although there is higher standard required for the thesis than the project; we do not offer a course-based master's. The REM graduate program is full-time with a demanding course load; ensure you are prepared to dedicate yourself to completing your studies. Part-time students are not accepted into the REM graduate program.
REM Graduate Admission Requirements
Graduate Studies - Requirements (SFU minimum standards of admission. This link takes you to a different SFU website.)
If you are unsure how to figure out if your GPA is high enough, there are online calculators that can help. SFU is on a 4.33 system (A+ = 4.33, A = 4.0, etc). Please ensure that your GPA from your school exceeds the minimum 3.0 required.
Which statistics course do I need to complete?
Completing an undergraduate course in statistics is required. It is impossible to specify all the courses which would be considered appropriate to meet this requirement, so please review the requirements and then self-assess if your prior statistics coursework is sufficient. You might also send the required skills to your statistics instructor to ask their advice. Do not email documents to the department; they will not be assessed outside of the application system. Previous REM intakes have shown that successful students have a good foundation in statistics and most of the faculty consider this piece essential before you proceed into the REM graduate program.
Should I do the Project, the Thesis or the Planning stream?
The Master of Resource Management is one degree with three streams, and all three streams require students to bring original research to an oral examination. The Project is less research intensive than a Thesis, but it is not a course-based master's. The Planning stream is a research project with some specific differences in the required courses which allows you to apply for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners and has the "(Planning)" designation on the degree. Applicants apply to the Master's program but do not select the stream. The decision about which stream is something you will discuss with your supervisor and it is a joint decision. Students are able to switch streams provided its done in the first term. Students from all three streams have excellent job opportunties post-graduation and also have been successful going on to PhD programs.
Do you accept International Students?
The admission requirements and fees are the same for international and domestic students at the graduate level. Funding for international students is very limited and you should be prepared to self-fund a significant portion of your studies. Do not expect to be fully funded if you are offered a space in the program. Proof of sufficient funds is required to apply for a Canadian Study Visa.
Graduate Studies - International Students
How much is tuition and what additional fees do I have to pay?
REM graduate students pay the regular per term fee and it is important to note that SFU runs three terms per calendar year. Students are required to be registered or on an approved leave of absence for all three terms. All graduate students, both international and domestic, pay the same fees for each semester they are enrolled. See the current fee schedule and look for the "regular per term fee" for current rates. These are reassessed regularily and may be subject to increases during your program.
Graduate Studies - Tuition and Fees
When can I apply?
Applications for 2023 intake are now closed; applications for 2024 will open in October. New student intake is only in the fall term of each year. All documents, including referee letters, must be submitted by deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The SFU Graduate Studies collects all SFU graduate program applications and their website also contains useful information for prospective SFU graduate students.
Where do I send my transcripts, references, and supporting documents?
Applicants upload their unofficial documentation directly into the online application system. Unofficial transcripts can be your personal copies or downloaded from your institution at no cost. These will be suffient for initial processing of your application. REM will ask you to provide official transcripts if you are under consideration for a space in the program. Do not send official documentation before you are asked.
Applying to REM - What do you need to know?
Graduate Studies - Application Process
Who can I use as a reference?
An ideal reference is from someone that:
i) has experience that makes them qualified to judge the applicant's ability to be successful in the REM graduate school program; and
ii) knows the applicant well enough that they can speak to the applicant's ability to be successful in the REM program (with specific examples to demonstrate the applicant's strengths).
In that sense, it is ideal that the reference be from someone with an academic background (professor or lecturer), or that otherwise has experience with graduate school. If from a professional background, it is ideal that the reference has substantial background and experience in their profession (and ideally that profession has some relevance to the student's planned REM degree). Former or present employers, coaches, or personal references are possible but usually not ideal -- these will only be effective if they can speak to the above mentioned issues with credibility.
I forgot to include a transcript in my application, can I add it?
If you discover that you submitted your application before including all of your documents listed on your application checklist, you can email Graduate Studies to have them add these documents manually. When you contact Graduate Studies, make sure to identify yourself clearly using your Application ID number or SFU ID number, the name you applied under, and the department you are applying to. They receive thousands of emails per day, make it easy on them.
Do I need to submit GRE scores or an English Language Test?
A current GRE score is not required. English language proficiency can be demonstrated by completing a four-year degree at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction, or by submitting IELTS or TOEFL scores. See Graduate Studies for more information about English language requirements. See the SFU Calendar for additional details about graduate admission.
Will you review my documents and tell me if I will be accepted?
No. Your application must be considered alongside the entire pool of received applications, so advance evaluation of your credentials or scores will not be done. It is up to you to decide if you want to apply or not. It is important to read the admission requirements and recognize that unqualified applicants will not be considered. It is important to realize that independant research and thinking are important skills in graduate level academic study. Your ability to read through the minimum requirements and show your understanding of what is required in your application is a demonstration of your readiness to enter graduate studies. If you fear your qualifications are not of a sufficient standard, you may find that applying to the REM Undergraduate program may meet many of your academic and professional ambitions.
Do I need a supervisor to be admitted to REM?
All REM graduate students are accepted to the program by their supervisor who guides their research and writing. REM faculty select their graduate students. It is a good idea to review the faculty profiles and read about their research. Faculty members are usually looking for a ‘fit’ between prospective students and their existing research. It is highly recommended to reach out to faculty members whose work interests you while you are preparing your application. Most faculty will not confirm with master's applicants prior to seeing all applications. However, it is very important that you list which members of faculty you are hoping to work with in your application. Applications without any named prospective supervisors are usually ignored by faculty who are seeking students who indicate they want to work with them.
I do not meet the minimum requirements, what options do I have?
REM is a very competitive program; the majority of successful applicants exceed SFU's minimum qualifications. It’s rare that a faculty member might consider supervising a student who does not meet minimum requirements, or only just meets them. They usually have several applicants who are exceptional and do not need to draw from marginal applicants to fill the available spaces in the program. Many applicants to graduate programs hold more than one undergraduate degree. Completing a second undergraduate degree in REM can be one way to access the learning and the credentials if you aren't qualified for graduate school.
I missed the deadline, can I still apply?
The online application system closes to new applications on the date specified in the system. Meeting deadlines is an important demonstration of your readiness to undertake graduate studies. We will open the system to new applicants in October for the following year.
When will I be notified if I have been accepted?
The bulk of the decisions regarding the new cohort of students will be made approximately six weeks after the document deadline. Some students may need to wait longer as there are several variables at play in making the final decision and some details are not finalized until later. Please be patient. All students will be notified regarding the final outcome of their application. It is during this time period that official transcripts may be requested. If you have concerns, please wait until eight weeks after the application deadline to make inquiries. If you opt to withdraw your application, please notify the REM office as soon as possible so that we may remove your name from consideration. (For reference, all applications for the 2021 intake were finalized by May 12th). If you receive a competing offer, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant as matching funds may be available for qualified applicants.