Review the following to ensure you meet SFU’s admission requirements, the academic requirements by country, and have all required documents ready before starting the application process.

Check That You Meet all the Admission Requirements for SFU and Your Program

• University admission to a Master's Program
• Program prerequisites
• Time permitted between a GDE and the MEd EP

Have a Valid Credit Card to Pay the Application Fee (Visa or Mastercard)

If you do not have either of these credit cards, email the program assistant for the program before starting your online application.

Collect the Contact Information for Two References, Including Their Email Addresses

Reference letters must be specific to this application and must be obtained from both of the following:

• A Graduate Diploma in Education instructional team member (mentor, instructor or faculty associate) who is very familiar with your work as a teacher inquirer; and
• An individual who has witnessed the impact your inquiry has had on your practice, yourself and/or others (e.g., at the classroom-level, school-level, district-level or in other educational contexts), such as a colleague or administrator.

Read more about references

Gather the Required Supporting Documents, Including Transcripts

After you submit the online application and pay the application fee you will be required to upload the following PDF documents:

• Transcripts for each post-secondary institution attended
• Reflective paper
• Proposal for further study
• Self-evaluation form
• additional requirements for those with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0
• additional requirements for those who may exceed the five-year completion limit

Complete the Online Application for Graduate Studies at SFU

Apply Here

Important notes about the online application system/process:

• You do not have to wait until you have all your supporting documents ready before applying. Graduate programs can be competitive, therefore is it recommended that you begin your application early to complete the online sections and being preparing and collecting the required documents.  
• The Online Application System is only available while applications are being accepted for each program.
• The Faculty of Education Advanced Professional Studies Office will be notified of your application after it has been submitted.

Once you complete and submit your application information:

• Your referees will be automatically emailed and sent instructions for providing their reference online.
• You will need to pay the non-refundable application fee of $90 CAN (students with Canadian transcripts only) or $125 CAN (students with one or more international transcripts) by credit card (Mastercard or Visa). If you do not receive an e-mail requesting payment of this fee within three (3) working days after submitting your application, please contact the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) office at gradstdy@sfu.ca to check the status of your application.

Reflective Paper (PDF)

The reflective paper must be 1500 words (maximum), 4-6 pages, double-spaced. Upload the reflective paper under the category “Letter of Intent (Education)” in the application system.

This paper should demonstrate a synthesis of theory, practice, and inquiry by describing significant understandings and ways that your practice has developed as a result of your work during a Graduate Diploma in Education (GDE) Program. Consider the following questions:

• What are the most significant insights/new understandings you gained during your GDE program?
• How do these insights/new understandings relate to your philosophy (beliefs and understandings about teaching and learning)?
• How did your field studies contribute to your learning?
• What were the most significant ideas from readings, and/or educational thinkers that influenced your learning?
• What impact has your GDE experience had on your practice?
• How are you participating differently in educational communities?
• How did others contribute to your learning?
• If you are not currently enrolled in a GDE, please describe how you have been continuing to engage in inquiry and professional learning since completing your GDE.

Proposal for Further Study (PDF)

This proposal outlines your research passions and frames a possible direction for inquiry (please note that you may change the nature of your inquiry once accepted into the program). It must be 600 words (maximum); approximately 2 pages double-spaced. Upload the proposal under the category “Research Proposal” in the application system.

Consider the following questions:

• What tension, problem or question about your practice (e.g., teaching, administration, counselling, etc.) do you foresee will be the focus of your inquiry?
• Why is this issue personally/professionally relevant?
• What ‘thinkers’ (theorists, researchers, practitioners) inform this inquiry? How do their ideas inform your work?
• How is this inquiry informed by, or related to, your previous GDE field studies?

Self-evaluation Form (PDF)

You must upload a completed Self-Evaluation Form as part of your application. Please either download and complete the form digitally or download, print, and complete the form by hand and then scan and upload into the online application system. Please ensure any handwritten information is cleary legible.

Applicants With an Undergraduate GPA Below 3.0

In accordance with university policy, applicants to a master’s program must provide the CGPA acquired in their most recent graded academic program. As the GDE is ungraded, your undergraduate GPA will be considered and must be a minimum of 3.0. In exceptional circumstances, students may be admitted to the MEd EP with an undergraduate CGPA below 3.0, with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' approval. If your CGPA is below 3.0, Section 3 of the Self-Evaluation form (see Section c) above) provides instructions on required information.

Applicants who may Exceed the Five-year Completion Limit

In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to secure an extension to the five-year completion limit. In such cases, you will be required to provide a letter explaining your delayed application. Specific requirements will be provided to applicants on contacting our MEd program assistant at medep_admin@sfu.ca or 778-782-5356.