Frequently Asked Questions
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Simon Fraser University is located in British Columbia, Canada, and has three campuses: in Burnaby, Vancouver and Surrey. While undergraduate and graduate courses take place at all three campuses, we offer a number of SFU Continuing Studies courses online or at the Vancouver or Surrey campus. Please check individual course or program pages for the location of your course.
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If you've forgotten the password you used to register for courses or access your student info, select "Reset Password" from the student account login page. A password reset link will be emailed to you. If you've forgotten the email address you used to create your student account, email learn@sfu.ca for assistance.
Yes, you can register for most of our courses without enrolling in a certificate or diploma program. There are exceptions in a few programs, where certain courses will only be available to students enrolled in the full program. If applicable, this requirement will be noted on the individual course page.
You do not have to apply for admission to register for Continuing Studies courses. But to enroll in a certificate or diploma program, you will need to follow an application process. See individual program pages for details.
Some of our programs are considered cohort programs. This means you will work through the program courses with a group of your peers (called a cohort). Some courses are available only to cohort students—that is, students who have been accepted to and are working through the entire program.
If you have trouble accessing your course in Canvas or experience technical issues.
If your SFU tuition fees exceed $100 in one calendar year, they may qualify as a tax credit. The payment receipt that we’ll email you after you register is your official tax receipt. To determine whether your tuition fees qualify, consult the Canada Revenue Agency guidelines.
We mail T2202 tax certificates at the end of each February to all students who qualify for an education amount credit on their personal income tax returns. To determine whether a program qualifies, consult the Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. For more information about tax certificates, visit our Tax Information page.
Limited funding is available depending on the program and your situation.
We reserve the right to substitute instructors or cancel courses without liability. In the event of a cancellation, we will make every effort to give registered students adequate notice. To make this process easier, when you register for courses, please provide full contact information, including your email address(es) and home and business telephone numbers.
Visit our Policies page for our full refund policy.
All courses and programs offered through SFU Continuing Studies are non-credit—they do not carry university credits.
When applying to select programs, you may request exemptions for equivalent courses you have completed at SFU or other educational institutions.
How do I request a transcript?
Go to our online form to request a transcript of courses you have completed through SFU Continuing Studies.
Graduates of SFU Continuing Studies certificate and diploma programs become SFU alumni, complete with alumni benefits.
You can complete the Apply to Graduate form when you are enrolled in the program and have completed all courses. Attendance and participation throughout all courses is mandatory, and some programs evaluate your work on a pass/fail basis, while others assign a letter grade. Check individual program pages for specific details on graduation requirements.
After you Apply to Graduate, we will submit your name to the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies. Once approved, you will receive an official signed parchment from SFU.
If you require proof of completion sooner, you can Request Your Transcript. Your transcript will show the names of the programs you have completed with the notation GRAD.
You can also access your grades online. To view and print your grades, log in to your SFU Continuing Studies student account.
Look under: My Studies > Completed Sections
The SFU Senate Committee on Continuing Studies meets twice a year (May and October) to review and grant certificates and diplomas. You will receive your parchment approximately six weeks after the Senate meeting, if you meet the graduation deadline. (You will need to apply to graduate by April 15 for approval in May, or by September 15 for approval in October.)
Yes. Contact learn@sfu.ca to request a reprint of your parchment.
Yes, but we require your permission in writing. When you fill out the Apply to Graduate form, indicate your preferred address in the text box.
A study permit is not needed for short-term courses or programs of study of six months or less.
For more information on study permits, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada directly. For undergraduate and graduate students, visit SFU’s Student Services for the permit procedure.