FAL/FAN Hard Block Student Information

FAL/FAN X99 Hard Block

If you have been admitted to SFU without the FAL X99 and/or FAN X99 designation(s), you must meet these requirements within your first three enrolled terms at SFU.

Students who do not comply with this requirement will be ‘hard-blocked’ for future enrollment at SFU. Once this happens, you will not be able to enroll in any SFU course until you attain your FAL and/or FAN designation outside of SFU.

Options for Completing FAL and/or FAN X99 outside of SFU

1) Enrolling at another post-secondary institution:

You may enroll at another post-secondary institution, such as a college, and take the appropriate transferable course(s) that will give you the designation(s) of FAL and/or FAN X99, as well as credit toward your degree.

To meet FAL X99, you may take either:

  • a college English course that transfers to SFU as English (ENGL) credit, regardless of being Writing (W) designated or not. Minimum grade of a C- required, OR
  • any college course that transfers to SFU as a certified W course. Minimum grade of a C- required.

To meet FAN X99, you may take:

  • a college course that transfers to SFU as a certified Quantitative (Q) course. Minimum grade of a C- required.

If you choose this method, you do not need to obtain a Letter of Permission (LOP) in order to transfer back the required course(s) that provide your FAL X99and/or FAN X99 designation(s). However, if you wish to take further course work, you will need to apply for permission to do so through a Letter of Permission (sfu.ca/students/forms) under “Continuing Undergraduate Students”). If you are On Academic Probation (OAP), you will not be eligible for a Letter of Permission and can only transfer back the course(s) that provides you with the FAL X99 and/or FAN X99 designation(s).

Important: Are you seeking to attain your FAN X99 designation via a non-Math college course? If so, you may be restricting your ability to take SFU MATH courses. Check with the Department of Mathematics about what is or isn't acceptable prior to enrolling in any outside non-Math 'Q' course if you intend to take SFU MATH courses such as MATH 100 or MATH 190. 

 

2) Upgrading high school grades:

Your second option would be to complete the appropriate high school course(s) that would give you the designation(s) FAL X99 and/or FAN X99. This can be completed through British Columbia’s Adult Education programming.

  • To satisfy FAL X99 you must complete English 12 with 75% or better.
  • To satisfy FAN X99 you must complete MATH 11 or 12 with 70% or better.

The transcript of this completion must then be submitted to SFU Admissions.

3) Writing a proficiency test:

FAL X99:

You may obtain FAL X99 through completing the IELTS Academic Test with a minimum score of 7.0 with no section less than 6.5. 

FAN X99:

You may obtain FAN X99 through completing the Quantitative Placement Test (“Q” test).  This option may be attempted one time only. Therefore, students who have completed this test before are not eligible to attempt it a second time. For more information please connect with the Department of Mathematics.

To discuss your options with an Academic Advisor, please login to Advisor Link and book an appointment with a Student Services Advisor. If you do not see a Student Services Advisor listed, please email us at myadv@sfu.ca to book an appointment.

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