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Home / Graduate Studies / Degrees, Diplomas & Certificates / Master's Degrees / Teaching Languages in a Global Context MEd / Application Process

Teaching Languages in Global Contexts MEd - Fall 2022

APPLICATION PROCESS

* Please review steps for obtaining visas/study permits here: https://www.sfu.ca/students/isap/explore/before/before-arriving.html

1.  Before Applying (Admission Requirements and Documents)

a) Meet all the admission requirements for SFU and your program.

b) Have a valid credit card to pay the application fee (Visa or Mastercard). Please contact our office before completing your online application if your do not have either of these credit cards.

c) Have contact information for three referees, including their email addresses. Reference letters must be specific to this application.

  • Referees should include a combination of academic and professional references. Three professional references is also acceptable if you do not have an academic reference.
  • Referees are to indicate the applicant's ability to undertake advanced study in the area of interest they are applying for.

Guidelines for Reference Letters (please send to your referees):

  • A frank appraisal of the ability of the applicant to undertake a rigorous program of graduate study.
  • Comment on the applicant’s scholarly competence and academic ability to undertake advanced studies in education.
  • Personal qualities that the referee deems relevant to the applicant’s ability to engage in graduate work (including leadership skills, teamwork, capacities for collaboration, etc.).
  • Relevant professional experiences, qualities and capacities.
  • Length of time and the context in which the referee has known the applicant.
  • Addressed to SFU on your institutional/company letterhead.

d) Prepare to gather the required supporting documents. You will be prompted to upload the following PDF documents after your application has been submitted and your application fee has been paid:

(See #3 below for more details on these requirements.)

  • Location: SFU's Burnaby campus
  • Start Term: Fall 2022 (September)
  • End Term: Fall 2023 (December)
  • Applications Open: November 1, 2021
  • Application Status: Closed
  • Tuition 2021/22*: $6,000.00/term
    *Subject to estimated 2% fee increase each September.

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2. Apply Online

Please note that the  Online Application System  is only available while applications are being accepted for each program.

a) Complete the Online Application for Graduate Studies at SFU. You do not have to wait until you have all your supporting documents ready before applying. We recommend that you begin your application early so we are aware of your interest; then you can work on completing and collecting the rest of your package until the posted deadline.

b) Enter contact information, including e-mail addresses, for three references. Once you submit your referee contact information, your referees will be sent a secure e-mail link and password enabling them to log into the Online Application System where they will have the option to submit their reference by PDF upload or by simply copying and pasting text.

c) Pay the application fee when prompted. An application fee of $90 CAD (students with Canadian transcripts) or $125 CAD (students with international transcripts) is due after the Online Application form has been submitted.

As programs are competitive, we recommend you complete your online application and pay the application fee as soon as possible and at least one week prior to your program deadline.

Our program office is notified only after you have completed your application and paid your application fee.

If you do not receive an e-mail requesting payment of this fee within 3 working days after submitting your application, please contact the Program Assistant to check the status of your application.

3.  Online Submission of Supporting Documents (PDF uploads)

The Online Application System will request that you upload the following documents in pdf form:

a) Official Transcript(s) from each institution attended (except SFU). 
Upload all pages of each transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended. Please ensure that you include the grading scale (found on the back).

(See #4 below for more information about submitting official transcripts)

Applicants who have attended SFU do not need to send official SFU transcripts. Transcripts are still required from all other institutions attended.
Link: academic requirements by country

b) A recent Academic Writing Sample (Essay) in PDF format

General Guidelines

  • written within the last five years
  • if you do not have a recent paper you are advised to write one on any topic that is of interest or relevance to you. 
  • must include a title page with author’s name and date paper was written. If the sample was originally written for a different context (e.g. submitted for course credit, developed as a work product), then identify the original context and clarify whether the document has been edited or otherwise updated since the orginal submission.
  • must be sole-authored (no co-authored samples). 
  • be 10-20 pages, double spaced, including references.
  • should be a strong example of your academic writing. It should introduce the topic, sustain an argument and develop a logical conclusion expressing ideas in clear and appropriate language with proper citations.
  • must demonstrate your ability to write an academic paper (ex. therefore, your sample should NOT be a written finance report or curriculum guide). The writing sample may be a Literature Review.
  • submitted in PDF format
  •  

c) Resume in PDF format

Submit a resume showing employment, volunteer activities, education, and other appropriate information. Include your current mailing address, email address and phone number.

d) Letter of Intent in PDF format 
Maximum 2 pages. Outline the following in your letter of intent:

Your professional accomplishments (teaching experience, other work experience, scholarships/awards received, membership in organizations, field of university degree, and thesis topic if applicable).

Give reasons why you want to:

  • Pursue graduate studies 
  • Take a graduate program in Canada 
  • Take graduate studies specifically in education 
  • Take the MEd Teaching Languages in Global Contexts program 
  • Describe what specific career goals you have for the future, how the MEd Teaching Languages in Global Contexts program will help you fulfill your career goals, and what specifically you hope to gain professionally from the program

4.  Submit Official Transcripts

a) Official Transcripts

If you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript for each post-secondary institution. If you have a degree in progress, your offer of admission letter will confirm if that degree must be awarded before you begin your studies at SFU. If the degree must be completed, do not send your official transcript from that institution until your degree is awarded and appearing on your transcript.

Either paper originals or certified copies. In some cases, we can accept official electronic transcripts.

We can receive transcripts electronically via a secure delivery service, such as Parchment, directly from official institutional email addresses (your institution of study must have such a service in place for this to be possible). SFU's email address for receipt of electronic transcripts is gradap@sfu.ca (Note: You do not need to submit SFU transcripts.)

You can arrange to have the transcriptmailed directly to SFU from the issuing institution, OR you may mail it directly to SFU provided it is in its original sealed envelope. 

If your original documents are not in English or French, please include a certified translation into English or French and a certified copy of the documents.

IMPORTANT: Applicants from universities that do not issue transcripts are required to submit official documents showing contents of degree program completed and the standards or grades obtained.

Please mail official transcripts to:

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies​
Simon Fraser University
MBC1100 - 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6​

b) English Language Competence Test Results

Required for applicants whose primary language is not English or whose previous education has been conducted in another language. International applicants will not be required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language.

IELTS and TOEFL test scores can be submitted electronically directly from the test centre. TOEFL code for SFU – 0999.

Results for Cambridge or CAEL testing should be sent directly from the testing centre in a sealed envelope for processing to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Results for Pearson PTE testing can be scanned with your name and test number clearly visible to our tickets along with your name and GA or student number. Allow a minimum of 1 week for verification of your results.

Please email cpmed@sfu.ca or call us at 778.782.8120 if you have any questions, we will be happy to assist you.

5. 30-Minute Interview and Short Essay

All applicants to the program who meet the requirements, including capability in English, will have a 30-minute interview over Zoom to evaluate the relevance of the program for their educational goals and will need to submit a short essay (approximately 400 words) after the completion of the interview.

 

RETENTION OF DOCUMENTS

The documents which students supply to support admission applications will be retained for three terms following the term to which application is made. Then, application forms, transcripts and other materials related to applications will be destroyed. Irreplaceable documents will be returned to the applicant if requested at the time of application.

Learn more about the Faculty of Education Graduate Student Funding Policy.
Information about financial support is available from the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office.
Additional information can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page as well as in the Student Calendar.
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