Budget guidelines

Research Personnel Costs

All Research Assistants must be paid at least the BC minimum wage ($16.75/hour as of June 2023) plus 14% benefits for a minimum SFU RA rate of $17.78/hour; the Supervisor may choose a higher rate (e.g., the BC living wage: $24.08/hour).

Graduate Students may be paid a stipend instead of a wage;  stipends must equal or exceed the BC minimum wage.

  • Note that the living wage for Metro Vancouver is $24.08/hour (www.livingwageforfamilies.ca; 2022).
    RA wages and stipends should meet living wage requirements.

Refer to the HR Research Personnel Initiative for more information; and see Employing Grant-Funded Research Assistants.  

Research Travel and Subsistence

Research travel costs must be essential to research activities or to communicate research results. The SFU Travel Policy (appendix) lists standard rates for travel/subsistence:

  • obtain air travel at the lowest fare possible (cost may not exceed the equivalent of full economy fare)
  • private accommodation: $45/night
  • personal vehicle usage: $0.61/km
  • meals when traveling (rates include tips and taxes):
Within Canada
Breakfast $20
Lunch       $20
Dinner      $35
     Total $75/day
International
Breakfast $25
Lunch       $25
Dinner      $45
     Total $95/day

Library Support for research projects

SFU Library offers research-related services in a range of areas, including: 

  • digital publishing
  • software development
  • training for research project teams
  • digitization and digital preservation
  • research data management
  • media and maker commons
  • copyright assessment
  • open access publishing

Teaching "Buy Outs"

Some funding agencies provide salary replacement funds to protect research time and "buy out" teaching responsibilities.

According to SFU Policy:

  • the minimum cost of one regular course buy-out is 12% of annual salary
  • a faculty member normally may not buy out more than one course in any academic year
  • buy outs require the approval of the Department Chair and Faculty Dean