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Dates + Deadlines

Keep track of academic dates and deadlines by consulting the tables per term below. Bookmark this page to find the most up-to-date information.

Click to expand dates + deadlines per term ↓

Fall 2020

September 2020
July 8 Registration opens for Fall 2020 term.
Sept 7 Labour Day, University closed.
Sept 9 Fall term classes start.
Sept 11 TA/TM Day
Sept 18 End of Bursary application period (bursaries are awarded based on financial need; international students are eligible)
Sept 22 4:30pm Deadline for submitting a U-Pass BC exemption request for Fall.
Last day to opt out or change your coverage in the Graduate Health Plan
Last day for graduate students to enroll through self-service (late enrollment deadline)
Last day to drop with 100% refund of tuition. For refunds on U-Passes, please refer to the U-Pass website.
Last day to change from credit to audit grade basis.
Tuition and fees are due and payable.  Every month after this date, a 2% penalty will be calculated and posted to your student account.
Sept 29 Last day to drop with no notation on transcript
Sept 30 Last day to drop with 75% refund of tuition. No refund of ancillary fees. 
Last day for receipt of grades deferred from the summer term.
Early completion submission deadline of Thesis at 4:00pm pst.
Last day to be eligible for 75% early completion tuition refund.
Only applicable to new international students: Last day to opt out of Guard.Me@SFU (see medical insurance deadlines).

October 2020
Oct 12 Thanksgiving Day.  University closed.
Oct 22-23 Convocation for students who completed in Summer 2020. See www.sfu.ca/convocation for more information.
Oct 31 Last day for a 50% refund of tuition for term withdrawals (and course drops for unit fee students).  No refund of ancillary fees.

November 2020
Nov 1 Western Canadian Deans Agreement deadline for applying to take transfer courses at other western Canadian universities is 4–6 weeks before the beginning of the next term (depends on destination university).
Nov 9-27 Work-study application period.
Nov 9 Enrollment opens for Spring 2021 term. 
Nov 10 Last day for graduate students to drop classes with WD on their transcripts
Nov 11 Remembrance Day.  All classes cancelled and offices closed.

December 2020
Dec 8 Classes end for Fall term.
Dec 9-20 Examination period.
If you are a current TA and want to pay to extend your TSSU medical insurance for up to two terms, application forms are due by the end of the term.  (See also: All HR forms.)
Dec 13 Deadline to apply on Go.SFU for graduation in the June 2021 convocation ceremonies, if you are completing degree requirements in Fall 2020 term.
Dec 21 - Jan 15 Bursary Application period for Spring 2021.
Dec 23 Grade Deadline.
Dec 24 Any Withdrawal under Extenuating circumstances (WE) requests received for the Fall 2020 term after this date will be considered as a retroactive WE.
Deadline for all thesis defences and library submission (library submission due at noon).

Spring 2021

January 2021
Jan 1 New Year's Day. All classes cancelled and offices closed.
Jan 5 Spring term classes begin.
Jan 8 Submission of all recommendations for the awarding of a graduate degree, diploma, or certificate for Fall 2020 term. Degree requirements (including a thesis defence) must have been completed within the Fall 2020 term.
Jan - TBA TA/TM Day
Deadline for submitting a U-Pass BC Exemption request for Spring
Jan 15 End of Bursary application period (bursaries are awarded based on financial need; international students are eligible).
Jan 18 Last date to opt out or change your coverage in the Graduate Health Plan (only if you started school in January).
Grad tuition and fees (including co-op practicum fees) are due and payable. A 2% penalty will be calculated and posted to your student account every month.Last day for graduate students to enroll through self-service (late enrollment deadline).
Last day to drop with 100% refund of tuition and ancillary fees. If you drop and were eligible for the January U-Pass BC, there is no refund of the January U-Pass BC but you will be refunded for the February–April U-Passes.
Last day to change from credit to audit grade basis.
Jan 25 Last day to drop with no notation on transcript.
Jan 31 Early Completion submission deadline of Thesis at 4:00 pm PST.
Last day to drop with a 75% refund of tuition. No refund of ancillary fees and January U-Pass BC.
Last day for receipt of grades deferred from the Fall 2020 term. 
Only applicable to new international students: Last day to opt out of Guard.ME@sfu.ca (see medical insurance deadlines).

February 2021
Feb 15 Family Day. All classes and offices closed.
Feb 16-19 Reading break. Classes cancelled. (Please note: this is for applicable departments only.)
Feb 28 Last day to drop with a 50% refund of tuition. No refund of ancillary fees or January/February U-Passes.

March 2021
Mar 1 Registration opens for the Summer 2021 term.
Mar 8-26 Work-study application period for the Summer term.
Mar 10 Western Canadian Deans Agreement deadline for applying to take transfer courses at other western Canadian universities is 4–6 weeks before the beginning of the next term (depends on destination university).
Mar 15 Last day for graduate students to drop classes with a WD on their transcripts. (End of Week 9)

April 2021
Apr 2-5 Easter break. All offices closed.
Apr 12 Last day of classes.
Apr 14-26 Examination period.
If you are a current TA and want to pay to extend your TSSU medical insurance for up to two terms, application forms are due by the end of the term.
Apr 16 Last day for graduate students who completed in Spring 2021 to apply for graduation (June convocation)
Apr 30 Grade deadline.
Last day for submission of all graduate degree requirements for 2021 Spring term (library submission deadline at 4PM).
Any Withdrawal under Extenuating circumstances (WE) requests received for the Spring 2021 term after this term will be considered as a retroactive WE

Summer 2020

May 2020
May 4-22 Bursary application period (bursaries are awarded based on financial need: international students are eligible).
May 8-17 You can enroll yourself and/or your spouse/dependent in the Graduate Health and Dental Plan (only if you started school in May).
May 11 Summer term classes begin.
May 15 Deadline for submitting a U-Pass BC Exemption request for Summer. Requests must be submitted by 4:30 pm PST.
May 18 Victoria Day. All classes cancelled and offices closed.
May 25 Grad tuition and fees (including co-op practicum fees) are due and payable. A 2% penalty will be calculated and posted to your student account every month.
Last day for graduate students to enroll through self-service (late enrollment deadline)
Last day to drop with 100% refund of tuition and ancillary fees.
If you were eligible for the May U-Pass BC, there is no refund of the May U-Pass BC but you will be refunded for the June-August U-Pass BC.
Last day to change from credit to audit grade basis.
May 29 Last day for receipt of grades deferred from the Spring term.
Early Completion submission deadline of Thesis at 4:00pm.
May 31 Last day to drop with a 75% refund of tuition. No refund of May U-Pass BC and ancillary fees.
Only applicable to new international students: Last day to opt out of Guard.Me@SFU (see medical insurance deadlines).

June 2020
June 1 Last day to drop with no notation on transcript.
June 9-12 Convocation for students who completed in Spring 2020.
June 30 Last day to drop with a 50% refund of tuition. No refund of ancillary fees.

July 2020
July 1 Canada Day Closure. All classes are cancelled and offices are closed.
July 6 Registration opens for Fall 2020 term.
July 17 Deadline for other Western universities to receive application forms from SFU graduate students to take courses elsewhere under the Western Dean's Agreement for Fall 2020.
July 20 Last day for graduate students to drop classes with a WD on their transcripts.

August 2020
Aug 3 BC Day closure. All classes cancelled and offices are closed.
Aug 10 Last day of classes.
Aug 12-22 Examination period.
If you are a current TA and want to pay to extend your TSSU medical insurance for up to two terms, application forms are due by the end of the term.  See also: ALL HR forms.
Aug 14 Last day for graduate students who completed in Summer 2020 to apply for graduation (October convocation).
Aug 26 Grade deadline.
Aug 31 Submission of all graduate degree requirements for 2020 Summer term (must be submitted to library by 4:00pm PST if submitting in person).
Last day for graduate students to drop classes under special procedures applicable in extenuating circumstances (WE on transcript).  Any WE requests received for the Summer 2020 term after this date will be considered as a retroactive WE.