Student Services
As an SFU NOW student, you will enjoy the same benefits as all SFU students:
- SFU Libraries
- Student Learning Commons
- Computing Services
- Recreation Services
- Health and Counselling Services
- Career Services
- SFU Bookstore
- Transportation and U-Pass
SFU’s libraries are not only a great source of learning materials and a quiet place to study—they’re also somewhere you can write your papers, print or photocopy your assignments, and attend workshops. Visit the SFU Library website for comprehensive information.
SFU libraries offer a number of services and research skills resources for mature students. Learn more.
To borrow materials from the library, you will need an SFU Library/ID card. Click here for information on how to obtain your card.
SFU Vancouver - Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
The Belzberg Library is the Vancouver campus branch of the SFU Library system. Containing more than 16,000 books and several hundred print journal titles, the Belzberg branch works with the W.A.C. Bennett Library at SFU Burnaby to provide additional services for Vancouver campus students.
Many of the SFU Library’s resources, including almost 64,000 journals and 60,000 e-books, are available online so you can use them at the time and place most convenient for you. Access is through the SFU Library home page, and we offer assistance by live chat, email, phone or in person through Ask a Librarian.
All print books and articles available at the other two campus libraries (Burnaby and Surrey) can be sent to the Vancouver campus. All you need to do is place a request and select the Belzberg Library as your pickup location.
The Belzberg Library is open evenings and weekends. See its hours of operation for details.
Browse the library at your leisure to familiarize yourself with its services and staff. If you would like a more detailed introduction, personal orientations are available to students. Book in person at the reference desk, call 778-782-5051, or email libask@sfu.ca.
SFU Surrey – Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Academic Library
The Fraser Library is the Surrey campus branch of the SFU library system. If offers a full range of services, including reference, liaison, instruction, circulation, course reserves and document delivery. The Fraser Library also circulates laptop computers, digital camcorders and other media equipment for class or assignment use.
The on-site collections support SFU Surrey programs and include more than 25,000 books, some 110 print journals, DVDs, videos, CDs, CD-ROMs and games. You can arrange delivery of items from the Burnaby and Vancouver libraries to the Surrey campus, thereby gaining access to 2.5 million more titles. You can also access the library’s online collection (170,000 e-books, 61,000 e-journals, 500,000 art e-images and hundreds of databases) anytime and anywhere.
The Fraser Library is open evenings and Saturdays. See its hours of operation for details.
Browse the library at your leisure to familiarize yourself with its services and staff. If you would like a more detailed introduction, personal orientations are available to students. Book in person at the reference desk, call 778-782-7411, or email lib-surrey@sfu.ca.
Student Learning Commons
SFU’s Student Learning Commons provides you with resources and tools for academic success.
By accessing Student Learning Commons services through SFU libraries, you can get help with a wide range of academic writing, learning and study strategies.
Many students—especially those who have been away from school for some time—wish to fine-tune their study and writing skills to meet the academic demands of university. The Student Learning Commons can help you make the transition from work back to school.
A variety of free workshops are offered each semester. Previous offerings include “Creating an Effective Study Schedule”, “Getting the Most From Your Lectures” and “Top 10 Things to Know About University Writing”. Click here for current workshops at SFU’s Vancouver and Surrey campuses.
Individual consultations on writing and learning strategy are also available. Some examples of writing concerns are grammar, developing arguments and appropriate use of sources. Learning strategy concerns include academic reading, note-taking, time management and exam preparation. Learn more.
SFU Vancouver
The Belzberg Library provides writing and learning strategies assistance to students, including individual consultations. Individual consultations take place in the Belzberg Library, Mezzanine Level 2, Room 1070 (at the back of the mezzanine).
SFU Surrey
The Yosef Wosk Student Learning Commons (YWSLC) provides a range of programs, including one-on-one consultations and workshops to help students with their academic needs. YWSLC is located on Podium Level 3 of SFU Surrey, in Room 3695, next to the Fraser Library.
Computing Services
Several computer labs are available at the Vancouver and Surrey campuses. Computer lab users must be students enrolled in credit or non-credit study, or other members of the university community. Users must present a valid SFU Library card or an authorized provisional usage card before using the facilities.
SFU Vancouver
The Vancouver campus offers several computing facilities in support of its programs:
IBM Labs
Located on the main floor of the Vancouver campus, both north and south labs feature 17 Dell computers each.
Royal Bank Instructional Computing Centre
These labs are located in room 1340 and 1350, on the main floor. The dropin Lab in 1340 holds eight Apple computers and eight Dell computers; the Mac Lab in room 1350 holds nine Apple computers.
Himie Koshevoy Publishing Lab
Located on the second floor, this lab features 22 Apple computers.
7th Floor PC Lab
The largest of our PC labs features 31 Dell computers.
Computing lab facilities are open for drop-in use during the hours shown below, unless they have been booked for a course. Bookings are posted regularly outside the lab facilities. Call 778-782-5030 to find out if the lab you wish to use is available.
Computing Lab Hours
Monday to Thursday 9 am–10 pm
Friday 9 am–7 pm
Saturday 10 am–5 pm
(closed noon–1 pm)
Please note that these hours are subject to change without notice, and that there are regular closures for lab maintenance during each semester break.
SFU Surrey
The Surrey campus has six instructional and two drop-in labs as well as 12 classrooms, four theatres, one studio workspace, and seven seminar and tutorial rooms. The instructional computer labs are scheduled teaching spaces with limited availability. However, these labs are available to SFU students for drop-in use during unscheduled times.
The drop-in computer labs are located in rooms 2300 and 3300. Computer workstations are also available at SFU Surrey’s Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Academic Library, as are laptops.
Computer labs are open until 8 pm, but your student card gives you 24-hour access.
Recreation Services
All undergraduate students registered for three credit hours or more at any campus, and all students registered at the Burnaby campus, are eligible for an SFU Burnaby Recreation Membership.
Recreation facilities at the Burnaby campus include an indoor running track, basketball, badminton and racquet courts, swimming pools, and a fitness centre.
Burnaby campus membership and free recreation ID tags for the Burnaby campus are available for the Burnaby campus.
SFU Vancouver
SFU’s Vancouver campus does not have its own recreation facility. However, Athletics & Recreation has partnered with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to enable eligible SFU Vancouver students to obtain a Vancouver recreation membership. This is a pilot initiative to promote healthy living through access to recreation services in Vancouver.
SFU’s Vancouver recreation membership gives you access to Vancouver Park Board-operated fitness centres, public skating and public swimming sessions during operating hours at the facilities listed below.
This membership is available only to undergraduate students registered at SFU Vancouver. Students must be registered for four credit hours or more, with at least three credit hours at our Vancouver campus.
Fitness Centres
Champlain Heights – 3350 Maquinna Drive
Creekside – 1 Athletes Way
Dunbar – 4747 Dunbar Street
Hillcrest – 4575 Clancy Loranger Way
Kensington – 5175 Dumfries Street
Kitsilano – 2690 Larch Street
Lord Byng – 3990 West14th Avenue
Marpole-Oakridge – 990 West 59th Avenue
Mount Pleasant – 1 Kingsway
Renfrew – 2929 East 22nd Avenue
Templeton Pool – 700 Templeton Drive
Thunderbird – 2311 Cassiar Street
Trout Lake – 3350 Victoria Drive
Vancouver Aquatic Centre – 1050 Beach Ave
West End – 870 Denman Street
Indoor Pools
Hillcrest Park – 4575 Clancy Loranger Way
Kensington – 5175 Dumfries Street
Kerrisdale – 5851 West Boulevard
Killarney – 6260 Killarney Street
Lord Byng – 3990 West 14th Avenue
Renfrew – 2929 East 22nd Avenue
Templeton – 700 Templeton Drive
Vancouver Aquatic Centre – 1050 Beach Avenue
Outdoor Pools
Hillcrest Park – 4575 Clancy Loranger Way
Kitsilano – 2690 Larch Street
New Brighton – 500 North Windermere Street
Maple Grove – 6875 Yew Street
Second Beach – Stanley Park
Ice Rinks
Hillcrest Park – 4575 Clancy Loranger Way
Kerrisdale – 5670 East Boulevard
Killarney – 6260 Killarney Street
Kitsilano – 2690 Larch Street
Riley Park – 50 East 30th Avenue
Sunset – 390 East 51st Avenue
Trout Lake – 3350 Victoria Drive
West End – 870 Denman Street
SFU Surrey
SFU’s Surrey campus does not have its own recreation facility. SFU Surrey offers recreational programs through City of Surrey Parks and Recreation.
Membership to the North Surrey Recreation Centre allows you to visit any City of Surrey fitness centre and pool, and includes access to all fitness/weight rooms, swim sessions, and non–registered aquatic and fitness programs.
City of Surrey Recreational Facilities
Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre - Drop-In Sports
13458 – 107A Avenue Surrey, BC V3T 0G4
Cloverdale Arena - Public Skating Sessions
6090 – 176 Street, Surrey, BC V3S 4P5
Fleetwood Community Centre - Weight Room & Drop-In Fitness Programs
15996 – 84 Avenue, Surrey, BC V4N 0W1
Fraser Heights Recreation Centre - Weight Room
10588 – 160 Street, Surrey, BC V4N 0A1
Guildford Recreation Centre - Weight Room & Drop in Fitness Programs
15105 – 105 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3R 7G8
North Surrey Recreation Centre - Indoor Pool, Weight Room, Drop-In Aquatic Fitness Programs & Public Skating Sessions
10275 – 135 Street , Surrey, BC V3T 4C3
Newton Recreation Centre & Wave Pool - Weight Room, Pool & Drop-In Aquatic Programs
13730 – 72 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 2P4
Newton Arena - Drop-In Fitness Classes & Public Skating
7120 – 136B Street, Surrey, BC V3W 5E6
South Surrey Recreation Centre - Fitness Studio
14601 - 20 Avenue Surrey, BC V4A 9P5
South Surrey Arena - Public Skating Sessions
2199 – 148 Street, Surrey, BC V4A 8L5
South Surrey Pool
14655 - 17 Avenue Surrey, BC V4A 5M2
Surrey Sport & Leisure Centre - Weight Room, Pool & Public Skating Sessions
16555 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC V3X 2S3
For facility schedules and registered program information, visit Surrey Parks and Recreation.
Health and Counselling Services
If you are registered for three or more credits during a semester, you are automatically enrolled in the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) Health & Dental Plan for a fee. To opt out of the plan or enrol other family members, you must complete a change-of-coverage form.
Click here for fees, dates and other details. Change-of-coverage forms are available at ihaveaplan.ca.
Please note that the SFSS Health & Dental Plan does not replace basic medical coverage. You maintain BC Medical Services Plan (BC MSP) coverage while attending SFU. Basic medical services provided at SFU are covered by BC MSP. If you do not have BC MSP, you must pay for services at the time of your appointment. However, temporary coverage may apply to students insured under other provincial medical plans. Learn more.
To be eligible to use the extended health coverage provided through your student plan, you must have provincial health coverage or the equivalent.
SFU’s Health and Counselling Services address mental and physical health needs of students.
SFU Vancouver
At the clinic on our Vancouver campus, doctors and counsellors are available Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm. To book an appointment, call 778-782-5200.
Please note the following:
- The last appointment of the day is at 4:30 pm.
- On Mondays, there are no doctors at the Vancouver clinic. However, medical office assistants are on hand to make appointments, answer questions, and provide first aid.
Health and Counselling Services also offers several free health-related workshops. These workshops typically take place from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Click here for more information.
The Vancouver Health Clinic is located on the bottom floor of Harbour Centre campus, across from the SFU Bookstore at the foot of the “down” escalator. If you enter Harbour Centre from Hastings Street, the clinic is one floor down.
SFU Surrey
There is no health clinic at our Surrey campus but SFU Surrey offers counselling services to its students between the hours of 9 am and 4:30 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. To book an appointment, please contact Counselling at 778.782.8022 or surrey_counsellor@sfu.ca.
Career Services
SFU Vancouver
SFU Career Services at our Vancouver campus provides the following:
- One-on-one consultations for career planning and decision-making
- Work search techniques
- Interview strategies
- Résumé and cover-letter feedback
Thirty-minute appointments are free for all students. Book your appointment by visiting Registrar and Information Services on the main floor of Harbour Centre campus or by contacting Career Services at 778-782-3106.
SFU Surrey
At SFU Surrey, Career Services provides the following:
- One-on-one consultations for career planning and decision-making
- Work search techniques
- Career and employability workshops and events, such as career days
- Mock interviews
- Job-posting services through workopolisCampus.com
- Self-help resources, both print- and web-based
- On-campus recruitment activities—employers on campus
Located in Room 2560 off of the Mezzanine Level 2 at SFU Surrey, Career Services is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. We highly recommend appointments, but we also welcome drop-in visitors. For more information, click here.
Book your appointment by contacting Career Services at 778-782-3106.
Centre for Students With Disabilities
SFU’s Centre for Students With Disabilities provides disability-related information, support and counselling to the SFU community.
The centre also reviews eligible students’ disability documentation and recommends reasonable academic accommodations. It acts as a liaison between students and faculty in the implementation of disability-related services and accommodations.
Contact the centre if you have a documented or suspected disability, or if you need information on physical access or another disability-related issue.
Located at SFU’s Burnaby campus, the centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Tel: 778-782-3112
Secure fax: 778-782-4384
Email: csdo@sfu.ca
SFU Bookstore
Once you have enrolled in courses, find out what textbooks you need by logging in to my.sfu.ca using your SFU Computing ID. Click on the titles of your courses to see what textbooks are required.
You can use my.sfu.ca to order your books online through the SFU Bookstore’s eService. There is a charge of $10 per order for ground shipping within Canada. When you order your textbooks through eService, they will be sent directly to you. This service is available from approximately two weeks before classes start until the end of the third week of classes.
If you wish to purchase books in person, you can visit the SFU Bookstore. Check the bookstore website to confirm opening hours.
When you look at the list of textbooks for your course, you may find that some are required and others are recommended. This information is posted online, and in the bookstore on the shelf tag for each book. Before purchasing a recommended text, you may wish to wait until you know how your instructor will use it.
Transportation and U-Pass
The U-Pass Program is a transit pass initiative approved by Simon Fraser Student Society referenda. Mandatory for all eligible SFU students, it provides unlimited, all-zone access to public transit in Metro Vancouver (the GVRD) at approximately one-third to one-fifth the cost of a regular monthly transit pass.
With the U-Pass, you do not pay any additional fares to ride TransLink buses (including community shuttles and West Vancouver Blue Buses), SkyTrain and SeaBus. You can also purchase West Coast Express tickets at a discount.
The U-Pass will be automatically charged to your student account each semester when you enrol in at least one U-Pass-eligible SFU course. You must pay for the U-Pass when you pay your tuition and other fees. Ineligible students will have the U-Pass fee reversal applied to their student account by the end of the first week of classes.
You are ineligible for the U-Pass program if one of the following applies to you:
- Your mailing address, including postal code, in SIS is outside Metro Vancouver AND you are enrolled in courses that take placeoutside Metro Vancouver OR by distance education
- You are enrolled in under 3 progress units or total fees charged are less than $604
- You are an outgoing Foreign Exchange student
- You are an outgoing Dual Degree Student
- You have withdrawn from courses at SFU (student becomes ineligible in month following withdrawal)
Your monthly U-Pass is available for pick up in person at any SFU campus U-Pass kiosk beginning the 21st of the previous month. For more information on how to pick up and renew your U-Pass, please click here.
Note: The U-Pass BC Term fee must be paid in full by the Tuition Deadline for subsequent U-Pass BC cards to be issued for the remainder of the semester. To confirm your payment has been received by SFU, check your Account Inquiry at sis.sfu.ca.