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SFU Requirements
A thesis-based MA from Simon Fraser University or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5/4.33 will normally be required for admission, as well as submitted evidence that the applicant is capable of undertaking substantial original research. SFU doctoral admission requirements. Academic equivalency by country.
Supervision
You will be asked to indicate your interest in working with particular faculty members on the online application. You can also indicate this preference in your letter of intent.
However, admissions decisions are made by the admissions committee and individual professors do not make commitments to you before the committee’s adjudication. You are not required to contact a potential supervisor prior to your application, unless a faculty member indicates otherwise on their profile.
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Preparing Your Application
How to Apply
Tuition & Costs
Contact
PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION
We recommend you apply early to ensure all aspects of the application are completed by the deadline.
Your application will require you to:
- complete the online application
- pay the application fee
- submit your reference contact details
- upload your supporting documents
Note: Reference responses and supporting documents are due on the application deadline. Therefore, we recommend that you complete your online application and pay the application fee early enough to allow your referees time to submit their reference.
Reference Letters
AFTER submitting your online application and paying the application fee, you will be required to provide the contact details for 3 people willing to provide a reference.
Selecting Your Referees
Your selected referees should include a combination of academic and professional references. Three professional references are also acceptable if you do not have an academic reference.
At least TWO out of the THREE required reference letters should be written by referees who are able to:
- comment on your academic abilities in relation to undertaking advanced study in the program you are applying to
- make an informed judgment about your likelihood of success in graduate study (e.g., professors)
Note: If a referee is providing references for you on more than one application, they must submit each reference separately.
Entering Referee Information
When entering your referees’ contact information in the online portal, you must provide their professional or institutional email address.
Referees will then receive an email asking them to submit their reference letters directly to the online application system.
Reference Letters
We recommend connecting with your referees to ensure they include the following in their reference letters:
- a frank appraisal of your ability to undertake a rigorous program of graduate study
- reference to your scholarly competence and academic ability to undertake advanced studies in education
- the personal qualities deemed relevant to your ability to engage in graduate work
- the length of time and the context in which the referee has known you
All reference letters must be:
- specific to your application
- addressed to SFU
- on the referee’s institutional or professional letterhead
- submitted by the application deadline
Tip: We encourage you submit your application and pay the application fee early enough to allow your referees time to submit their reference.
Required Supporting Documents
TRANSCRIPTS
You are required to provide an unofficial PDF transcript for each post-secondary institution you have attended.
Transcripts must:
- show final grades for any pre-requisite courses; in progress courses will not be considered
- include all pages of your transcript
- include the grading scale (typically located on the back of the page or a separate sheet)
- be in English and/or French, or be fully bilingual including one of these languages (all words and notations must be in English or French, in addition to any other language)
- include an official translation (For transcripts not in English or French only)
Note: Official transcripts will only be required if you receive an offer of admission.
ACADEMIC WRITING SAMPLE
You are required to submit a recent (within the past 5 years) writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write an academic paper.
Your writing sample should:
- introduce the topic
- sustain an argument
- develop a logical conclusion
- express ideas in clear and appropriate language
- use proper citations
Acceptable previously authored work should meet regular university standards and expectations and could be a dissertation or an essay that was written during an Undergraduate course, or an argumentative text with an introduction, development and conclusion.
If you do not have a recent paper, you should write one on any topic that is of interest or relevance to you. You could choose an article from a professional journal on a subject you are interested in, develop argumentation for or against it and make links to related personal and professional experience or other related readings.
All academic writing samples must:
- be authentic and original
- be sole-authored (no co-authored samples)
- be 5 pages minimum, plus references
- adhere to principles of academic integrity
Note: Your academic writing sample may not be co-authored, including with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME
You will need to provide your current curriculum vitae/resume; it may include a summary of publications.
Ensure that your curriculum vitae/resume is:
- no more than 3 pages
- saved as a single PDF
LETTER OF INTENT
You will need to prepare a typed letter of intent that:
- outlines your reasons for pursuing graduate studies
- demonstrates your scholarly and professional accomplishments
- provides an example of a research question you are interested in or an example of an aspect of your teaching practice that you would like to explore further
Ensure that your letter:
- is no more than 1000 words
- has your last name and first initial inserted in the header of the document
- is saved as a PDF
Note: Your letter of intent may not be written with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST RESULTS (IF APPLICABLE)
If your primary language is not English, you must demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies.
For programs conducted entirely in French, you will be exempt from the English Language requirement but must demonstrate command of French sufficient to pursue graduate studies in that language.
International applicants are not 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.
Test scores:
- must be valid at the time of submission
- are valid for a period of two years from the date of the test; scores more than two years old cannot be verified and cannot be used
- must be achieved in a single test
Online Application Sections
The online application for graduate studies at SFU includes the following sections:
- Privacy Notice
- Biographical Information: Name; Date of Birth; Citizenship
- Program of Application
- Research Information (Doctoral application only): Your area of research; Potential Supervisor(s)
- Academic History: All post-secondary institutions you have attended including current studies, even if a degree has not been awarded
- Self-Reported Test Scores: Cambridge English Qualifications, CAEL, GMAT, GRE, IELTS, Pearson Test of English, TOEFL, Duolingo
- Funding Information
- Emergency Contact
- Declaration and Signature
HOW TO APPLY
STEP 1: Apply online
Complete the Online Application for Graduate Studies at SFU
The online application:
- can take approximately 45 minutes to complete
- will allow you to partially complete the process, save and return later
- is only available during the program’s application period
Note: You do not have to wait until you have all your supporting documents are ready before applying. It is recommended that you begin your application early to complete the online sections and begin preparing and collecting the required documents.
STEP 2: Pay the application fee
Once you complete and submit Step 1 of the online application, you need to pay the non-refundable application fee before the system will allow you to submit your references and upload your required documents.
Application Fees
- $112 CAN (applicants with Canadian transcripts only)
- $160 CAN (students with one or more international transcripts)
Payment must be made by credit card (Mastercard or Visa).
Once the payment is approved, you will receive an email confirming that your payment was successful and inviting you to proceed to submitting references and uploading documents.
Note: The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including if a program intake is cancelled due to insufficient applications.
STEP 3: Submit your references and upload supporting documents
You will only be able to submit references and upload the required documents to complete your application after your application fee has been processed.
Reminder: Reference letters and all supporting documents must be received by the application deadline.
REFERENCES
All reference letters must be submitted through the online system by the referee directly. You must enter your referees' information in the application system for them to receive an invitation to submit their letter.
When entering your referees' information:
- Choose "Education" as the type of reference
- Use their professional or institutional email address
Note: If a referee does not receive the email invitation, ask them to check their junk/spam folder.
More information about references
Transcripts
Upload an unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution you have attended and listed in your online application form.
Reminder: All pages of the transcript must be included in the PDF and it must include the grading scale.
Academic Writing Sample
Upload your prepared academic writing sample as a PDF.
Letter of Intent
Upload your letter of intent as a PDF.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE Test Results (If Applicable)
Document Retention
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.
Tuition (2026/27)
- $2,192.57 (per term)
*Subject to estimated 2% fee increase each September.
SFU Ancillary Fees
Simon Fraser University assesses the Student Services fee, the graduate student activity fee, the U-Pass BC fee and the mandatory supplementary course fee to all eligible students in each term of enrollment.
Financial Resources
- SFU Minimum Funding Available
- SFU Graduate Studies Awards and Funding
- SFU Financial Aid
- SFU Work Study Program
- Using Tuition Fee Credits (TFCs)
Note: Limited guaranteed funding spots are available per intake, and are awarded based on meeting certain eligibility criteria.
