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Experiential learning
There's no better way to learn than by doing. At SFU, you can take what you learn in classrooms and apply it through hands-on experiences such as co-op education, research and study abroad opportunities.
By putting your studies into practice through this experiential kind of learning, you’ll build skills, explore career interests and connect with communities in Canada and around the world.
Here are some of the ways you can make the most of your university experience at SFU!
Take your learning beyond classrooms and labs and into workplaces through SFU’s Co-op Education program. Available to undergraduate students in every program, Co-op lets you explore career options and gain experience while earning academic credit toward your degree.
Co-op educators support your journey, from coaching and career preparation to helping you find opportunities that align with your goals. You can build experience in your field of study or try something completely new. By graduation, you’ll have more than a degree: you’ll have a better understanding of how to plan your career path, along with professional skills, industry experience and an expanded network.
You can begin preparing for co-op as early as the end of your first year, giving you time to build skills, explore opportunities, and plan your academic pathway.
ℹ Did you know?
- Seek opportunities close to home or around the world through a Co-op network of more than 2,800 organizations around the world.
- Customize your Co-op experience with options that align with your goals, including research, entrepreneurship, CPA pathways, opportunities designed for varsity athletes and student-developed work terms.
“Going into the Computing Science program, I didn’t even know that there were tech opportunities within media and animation...
I like that in tech you’re not just confined to one thing. There are so many different companies that you could work for doing so many different things. I found out how broad tech was and that really appealed to me.”
Mariz Fahmy, Computing Science graduate
“During my eCo-op through the SFU Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship, I worked as the founder and operator of Snacki Vending, a startup focused on reimagining the traditional vending machine experience through better user experience, healthier and culturally diverse food options...
What began as an idea quickly evolved into a hands-on exploration of how design, business and technology intersect in the real world.”
Jackie Au, Entrepreneurship Co-op (e Co-op) student
“I could really own my work and talk about it with people at different positions within the RCMP. It was a huge factor in building up my communication skills...
Before starting the co-op, my thinking process was very confined. This experience pushed me to think outside of the box and come up with solutions I couldn’t have before. Now, after my co-op, I know I can take on any job and succeed.”
Rajandeep Kaur, Data Science graduate
“For the summer term of 2026, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with the FIFA Host Broadcast Intern Programme as a Commentary Control Room Assistant...
With the overwhelming operation of the World Cup involving many high-stress moments and moving parts, I had the opportunity to improve my problem solving and adaptability skills.”
Rachel Ling Min Seah, School of Interactive Arts & Technology student
"My training in economics gave me a way of thinking about all of the different factors that might affect an outcome, not just the most obvious one...
I was constantly thinking about the theories I was learning in my classes and how to apply them to my life. I think it helped me make better decisions.”
Ana Mayorca, Economics with Honours student
Take your SFU studies to another country to gain an international outlook and a global network. Through Study Abroad Exchange programs, you can experience university in another country while still earning credit toward your SFU degree.
- SFU has academic partnerships with more than 120 international universities, including many Exchange partners ranked among the world’s top 100 universities.
You can also take part in Field Schools led by SFU instructors that are taught in other countries and communities. Learn in a new setting while exploring your subject through the perspectives, places and people around you.
- SFU offers several Field Schools every summer on a variety subjects in countries like Germany, Portugal, Scotland, Tanzania and Vanuatu.
ℹ Did you know?
- Including Study Abroad as part of your SFU degree can broaden your horizons, build confidence and create unforgettable experiences.
- SFU has a suite of Study Abroad Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries to help fund undergraduate students participating in Study Abroad opportunities.
“The choice to go on an exchange was an easy one: I love to travel, to see new places, try new things, meet new people. The choice of Finland came down to the Comparative Urban Sustainability Field school that was offered over the summer...
By participating in both field school and then exchange in the same place, back-to-back, I was able to use the former as a pre-initiation of sorts. Familiarizing myself with the city, local customs, and culture—while still in the presence of friends from home. To date, it has been one of the best experiences of my life.”
Erik Makinen, Human Geography student
"Living in Singapore for an extended period allowed me to engage with the country and the broader Southeast Asian region as a resident rather than a visitor... This grounded perspective reinforced the importance of local knowledge and contextual awareness, skills that are essential for effective international work, where policies and programs must be responsive to the communities they serve."
Tekahra Tarnowski, International Studies student
“For my study abroad semester I studied at Lund University in Sweden. I wanted to explore Europe because I've never been and I really like the Scandinavian countries... I did a lot of traveling during my semester. In Europe, everything was really close by, and I just really got to experience different cultures which I valued a lot. You get to meet so many amazing people around the world, build connections, and you get to really learn more about yourself.”
Sarah Cheong, Business student
“Studying abroad in Australia was a defining academic and professional experience that... helped with my career direction. My study abroad was during the 2025 Australian federal election, and it provided a unique, real-time case study of comparative politics. Observing the election allowed me to compare Australia’s system with Canada’s political system. Rather than studying these dynamics in a classroom or through social media, I got first-hand experience.”
Laily Ingleson, International Studies student
At SFU, you won’t just study research. You can take part in it. As an undergraduate student, you can work alongside expert researchers, explore questions that matter to you and gain hands-on experience contributing new knowledge and ideas.
SFU offers opportunities to take your learning beyond the classroom through research projects, team collaborations and independent work. Research opportunities can also take a variety of forms – just look at some examples on the right.
Whether you’re investigating a question in your field or exploring an entirely new area, research can deepen your understanding and show you what’s possible when you let curiosity lead you.
ℹ Examples of research opportunities
- Designing and running an experiment in a lab, field site or studio
- Developing and evaluating a community-based research project
- Producing a creative research outcome such as a performance, design or media work
- Investigating historical or cultural topics using archival sources
- Building a prototype, tool or model
“I found my true passion when I started doing research at SFU...
Working with nanomaterials has a way of shifting how you see the world, you have to think about the smallest details and understand how things behave at the molecular level.”
Rebecca Storck, Chemistry & Nuclear Science student
“At a time when biodiversity is declining and climate change is accelerating, contributing to conservation-focused research and helping answer questions tied to problems such as invasive species or biodiversity loss has helped me find meaning in my work...
If there is a subject that excites you and you want to participate in research, you should take the risk and go after the opportunity.”
Owen Kui, Biological Sciences undergraduate researcher
"I was actively involved in several research labs. Through these experiences, I developed valuable leadership, mentorship and research skills while contributing to communities that were important to me...
Together, they pushed me to be more engaged, collaborative and confident both within and outside of the SFU community.”