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Admissions
Deadline and Fees
We are not currently accepting applications for graduate programs. The next application cycle will begin in Fall 2025.
Applications open:
October 15, 2025
Applications close:
January 31, 2026
Start date:
End of August 2026
An application fee must be paid before applicants can upload the required documents:
- Fee for applicants with domestic transcripts: $110 CDN
- Fee for applicants with international transcripts: $150 CDN
Please note: We are unable to offer application fee waivers.
If you cannot pay the application fee by credit card via the SFU online application system, please click here to view other methods of payment.
Tuition and ancillary fees: all students (both domestic and international) are assessed the same full-time research program tuition and ancillary fees. Approximately $7,000 CAD/year (plus other fees; subject to change. For complete details, please visit the university Tuition and Fees website.
Application Assessment
All complete applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee after the February 1 documentation deadline. Applicants are formally notified after the Committee has made a decision, typically in late spring. Applications recommended for admission are forwarded to the SFU Senate Graduate Studies Committee for consideration and final approval. A formal letter of acceptance issued by the Dean of Graduate Studies is emailed to all approved applicants.
Please wait to be contacted as your current application status will not be reflected on your applicant account.
Admission Standards
MA Program
The usual prerequisite for admission into the MA Program is a Bachelor's degree in economics from a recognized institution. The minimum cumulative grade point average required for admission is 3.0.
Qualified students with a Master’s degree in another discipline may also be admitted.
The MA program in the Department of Economics begins in September (Fall term).
PhD Program
The usual prerequisite for admission into the PhD Program is a Master's degree in economics from a recognized institution. The minimum cumulative grade point average required for admission is 3.5.
Exceptionally qualified students with a Bachelor’s degree in economics or with a Master’s degree in another discipline may also be admitted. Students with very strong academic performance in our MA program can apply to transfer to the PhD program after two completed semesters.
The PhD program in the Department of Economics normally begins in September (Fall term). Occasionally, a PhD student may be allowed to begin in January (Spring term).
Required Documentation
All applicants are responsible for uploading the following documents through the university's online application system:
Reference letters
Two (2) academic letters of reference. The letters of reference should comment specifically on the student's academic preparation and ability to undertake graduate coursework. Applicants to the PhD program should also ask the referees to comment on their ability to undertake research and on their prospects to successfully complete a doctoral thesis.
The referees will be emailed a link to upload their reference letters after the applicant has submitted an online application.
Transcripts
The application system requires uploading unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
Official transcripts are required only after an offer of admission is made and accepted. Detailed requirements about official transcript requirements after an offer is accepted can be found at www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/requirements.html#transcript
GRE
Applicants who have completed or are currently completing their post-secondary studies at an institution outside of Canada and the United States are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. A copy of unofficial GRE scores is required (the application checklist usually updates later when official scores have been received). There is no formal minimum score requirement. GMAT cannot be substituted for the GRE.
Applicants should self-report their GRE scores on their goGRAD Application Portal and also upload their GRE Score Report . For instructions on how to upload documents and self-report test scores please refer to this video: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/gograd.html#step3
Please note: GREs will not be waived. GRE scores must not be older than 2 years.
TOEFL/IELTS
Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if they have completed their degree at an institution where the language of instruction and examination is not English or in a country where English is not the primary language. A copy of unofficial scores is required (the application checklist usually updates later when official scores have been received). Please refer to the Dean of Graduate Studies website for the minimum university requirements for TOEFL and IELTS and for the list of exempt countries. Please send the official test results to Simon Fraser University using Institution Code 0999 and Department Code 84.
Detailed information regarding GRE and TOEFL may be obtained from ETS.
Please note: TOEFL/IELTS scores must not be older than 2 years. In order to satisfy the requirement, scores must be achieved in a single test. Please refer to the Graduate Studies page for more details on submitting test scores.
Statement of interest
Applicants are asked to prepare a carefully written Statement of Interest that must be uploaded with your application. There is no strict word limit, but succinct writing is valued. Applicants should provide a sense of their academic background and interests, but also a sense of their academic interests and the types of research projects that they would like to work on. Prospective supervisors want to see that you have a sense of what makes a good graduate level research topic, both intellectually and in terms of scope. While a sense of research interest is important, applicants also need to be flexible as research is frequently grant-funded which drive research outcomes and expectations.
Curriculum vitae (CV) and writing sample
Only PhD applicants are required to submit a CV and writing sample (no page limit) as part of their application.
Additional Coursework Form
All applicants must complete the Additional Coursework form below outlining the most advanced core courses you have taken in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Econometrics and Applied.
Full details on SFU’s graduate admissions policies are available here.
Frequently Asked Questions
DO YOU OFFER APPLICATION WAIVERS?
We do not offer application waivers at this time.
DO I NEED TO SELECT A SUPERVISOR NOW?
You do not need to select a supervisor during the application process.
Can you tell me about scholarships and funding?
Should you receive and accept an offer of admission at Simon Fraser University, there are other funding options that may interest you. International students (including those from the United States) can access most forms of financial assistance administered by the University, including scholarships, awards, bursaries, and the Work-Study program. Links to these sources of funding are listed under 'Graduate Resources' on the right-hand side of the following webpage: www.sfu.ca/students/financialaid/international.html
Full-time graduate students at SFU with valid study permits may accept part-time employment on any of our three campuses without obtaining a work permit. International students may also be eligible to work part-time off-campus and to apply for co-op work permits. For more information on work permits, please see the Citizenship & Immigration Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work.asp. Detailed handouts are also available on the SFU International Services for Students website www.sfu.ca/students/isap/resources.html.
CAN I START IN THE SPRING TERM?
The MA program has a strict start in September only. Occasionally, a PhD student may be allowed to begin in January (Spring term).
Contact Us
If you have questions about the SFU Economics admissions process, please fill out the form below. If you have technical problems or require changes to your application entry, please contact Graduate Studies.