Payments + Policies

Senate Regulations (Governing SFU awards)

Recipients of SFU graduate awards are responsible for reviewing and abiding by the Senate regulations governing university awards outlined in the Graduate Student Admission Handbook and the Graduate General Regulations, where appropriate.

View Graduate Student Admission Handbook →
View Graduate General Regulations →

Award Holder Guide (Governing External Awards) 

Recipients of external graduate awards, scholarships, and fellowships are advised to read the Award Holder's Guide on the appropriate award agency’s website. Please refer to your award offer letter and/or the agency website.

CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC graduate award holders should refer to the Tri-agency Award Holder’s Guide, effective September 1, 2016.

View Tri-agency Award Holder’s Guide →

Award Funding Maximums

As outlined in the Graduate Student Handbook, the annual maximum support graduate students are permitted to receive (in an academic year) from university administered awards and scholarships is $60,000* unless otherwise specified in the terms of reference for the award. 

• This includes external agency awards administered by SFU (e.g. CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC). 
• Only Internal + SFU Funded Awards may be cancelled or adjusted. 
• External agencies may have their own funding limits. 

*The funding maximum was $50,000 per year and increased to $60,000 effective for all awards starting September 2021 and after. 

Awards & Employment

Award holders are expected to limit their number of hours of employment in order to excel in their graduate program, especially when given award funding to do so.  Graduate awards are paid to students enrolled full time in their graduate programs. Students, supervisor and/or graduate programs with concerns should contact the Graduate Studies Office.
 

Annual Progress Reports (SSHRC and NSERC Awards)

Students who hold a multi-year SSHRC or NSERC doctoral award (PGS-D, CGS-D or SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship) must complete a progress report every year to activate the next year's payments. Failure to submit a progress report will result in award payments being suspended until a satisfactory progress report is received. Completed reports must be submitted to gpsaward@sfu.ca (please be sure to include your full name and student ID) or in person to our office.

Changes to Research, Department and/or Supervisor

Award holders who are changing their proposed research, graduate program, department and/or supervisor, must submit an outline of the changes to the Graduate Studies office. Submit a one page outline of changes to gpsaward@sfu.ca (include your full name and student ID).
 

Deferring or Interrupting Award

Internal and/or Donor Funded awards will only be deferred when a written request is received from the graduate program. 

Holders of CIHR, SSHRC or NSERC awards must complete the Request for Deferment of Start Date or Interruption of Award Form, found inside the Award Holder’s Guide. A copy of all documentation sent to the agency must be sent to gpsaward@sfu.ca (please be sure to include your full name and student ID)

Taking a Leave of Absence

Award holders are not eligible to receive their award during academic terms in which they are on-leave from their program. Students must advise Graduate Studies as soon as possible to arrange for the suspension of their award payments until their return from on-leave status. For retroactive leaves, awards are prorated – funds owed to the university will display on the students goSFU account, which may affect future enrollment.

Holders of CIHR, SSHRC or NSERC awards must complete the Request for Deferment of Start Date or Interruption of Award Form, found inside the Tri-agency Award Holder’s Guide. A copy of all documentation sent to the agency must be sent to gpsaward@sfu.ca (include your full name and student ID).

Withdrawal from Graduate Program

Award holders must maintain continuous enrollment. Students must advise Graduate Studies as soon as possible to arrange for any award payments to stop should the plan on withdrawing.  For retroactive withdrawals, awards are prorated – funds owed to the university will display on the students goSFU account, which will affect the students record.

For changes to all other Tri-agency awards, follow the process as outlined in the Tri-agency Award Holder’s Guide. A copy of all documentation sent to the awarding agency must be sent to gpsaward@sfu.ca (include your full name and student ID).