Community Guide - Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - Simon Fraser University

The Community Guide is a compilation of resources that can help support you throughout your time at SFU as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Find resources on research, learning, wellness, peer support, and more.

Indigenous + International Graduate Student Support

Additional resources are available for Indigenous and international students to support your graduate experience.

Indigenous graduate student support →
International graduate student support →

Research + Writing

Research and writing are critical skills for any student.

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SFU Library

Did you know that in addition to books, journals, and media items, the SFU Library also loans laptops, chargers and audiovisual equipment? You can also:

get in-depth assistance your research topic by speaking with a specialist Liason Librarian
take advantage of campus specific services (e.g. makerspace at SFU Burnaby, borrow video games and consoles at SFU Surrey, attend talks & events at SFU Vancouver)
book group study rooms
get a spousal/parner library card
get access to free movies via Criterion on Demand
stream CBC's educational content via Curio.ca
access LinkedIn Learning for free workshops/tutorials
full (free) subscription to the Financial Times for current students (Licence and subscription managed by Beedie School for Business)

Research Commons

Improve your research and writing skills with the help of the Research Commons. You can find resources online and in-person at the Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver campuses, including:

workshops
read-ahead service and additional writing support
consultations
assistant for theses (formatting, procedures, template troubleshooting, review before final submission)
bookable graduate group rooms (door code for entry) as well as individual workstations/spaces

SFU's Archival Holdings

SFU AtoM (Access to Memory) provides a single interface for searching the archival holdings of both SFU Archives and SFU Library's Special Collections and Rare Books.

Research Ethics

Find documents, policies, and support for the ethics review process of your research.

Document Solutions

SFU Document solutions offers a variety of services for print and digital products. Services specifically tailored to graduate students and postdoctoral fellow needs include:

printing research posters
business cards
thesis binding

Select External Resources

Grad Write Slack is an online support community for graduate students
The Conversation: Get published in mainstream media through this academic media publication.
Inclusive and antiracist writing overview SFU Library resources to help you be intentional about perspectives, peoples, and groups that might be excluded and/or harmed from your word choice(s).
7 tips for efficient thesis writing (University Affairs Mar 2021)
Presenting your research effectively online (University Affairs May 2021)
Share your research and/or innovation with SFU Communications & Marketing to see if it has media potential. If you're about to be published in a journal, have an idea or topic, please contact mediarelations@sfu.ca to discuss. For past examples, check out media releases and issues & experts pitches.

Teaching + Learning

Find resources to help you with your studies at SFU. Gain confidence as a teacher, TA, or TM with workshops and professional development.

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Technology-based Tools

Free Microsoft Office for all SFU students
SFU Snap app provides emergency alerts directly to your mobile devices; includes your library information, and is a great guide for transit and finding rooms
Find your course outlines
Matlab at SFU: free installation for graduate students
Adobe Creative Suite is available for university-owned computers
Access Burnaby Library lab computers and software remotely
Remote Study, Work, and Research Resources from SFU IT Services

Professional Development Opportunities

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers a 3-part series of academic and non-academic career-focused workshops called, Your Career Compass. Additionally, we partner with institutional units throughout SFU to provide a variety of professional development opportunites.

Free access to online workshops with Lynda.com via SFU Library
Free subscription to University Affairs, with breaking news, thoughtful commentary, and in-depth articles about university trends, practical advice and tools to help your academic career and employment advertisements within post secondary institutions.

Centre for Educational Excellence (CEE)

The CEE collaborates with SFU's learning and teaching community to support innovative, inclusive, and reflective teaching approaches that create enriched and engaging learning experiences. Some ways the CEE supports graduate students include:

Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU)

If you are a teaching assistant, tutor marker or sessional instructor while you are a graduate student, you are a member of the TSSU. Learn about your membership benefits including medical coverage and childcare bursaries.

Wellness + Inclusion

Taking care of both your physical and mental health is important for your wellbeing.

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Health & Counselling

Services provided by SFU's Health & Counselling include:

medical/doctor appointments
flu vaccine clinics
counselling appointment
support for mental health
well-being support
creative collective
dog therapy
support over suicide/students in distress
surviving to thriving (graduate student-specific)
bouncing forward (online course; graduate student-specific)
workshops & more!

My SSP (Student Support Program)

Access immediate and ongoing mental health support worldwide with My SSP.

free, confidential service
in-person appointments
24/7 call or chat
culturally relevant
multiple languages
supportive resources

Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)

The Centre for Accessible Learning arranges academic accommodation and services for eligible students with documented disabilities to help provide equal educational access. They also consult with students on strategies to improve their learning and study skills.

Healthy Campus Community

Supporting the well-being of students, faculty and staff, this initiative involves creating a healthy campus with a focus on poitive influences on health and well-being.

Thriving in Graduate School

SFSS Women's Centre

Co-funded by the Graduate Student Society and the Simon Fraser Student Society, the SFSS Women's Centre has a 24/7 lounge and kitchen for self-identified women. They offer a phone, menstrual and safer sex supplies, refreshments, and canned food. Their all genders resource area also offers a kitchen and lounge, as well as crisis referrals and peer support.

Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Office (SVSPO)

The SVSPO provides support, referrals and information for people impacted by sexual violence and misconduct, including those who receive disclosures of such incidents. They also aim to eliminate barriers to supports and services for marginalized and disenfranchised people of all ages, clasess and cultures along with education and training to the wider SFU community at all three campuses.

Out On Campus

Find support for LGBTQ+ students and their allies with the SFSS Out On Campus space. All are welcome to use their space and access an LGBTQ+ library, peer support and crisis referrals, and kitchen facilities.

SFU Recreation

Eligible SFU students/postdocs have access to SFU Recreation facilities and programs including, gyms, aquatic centres, drop-in sports and others in Burnaby, Surrey or Vancouver.

Multifaith Centre

Located at all three campuses, the Multifaith Centre provides a space for students to live their faith. They also host events and discussion groups to increase the understanding of religious beliefs and practices.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Resource Guide

Learn how to create trans and queer supportive spaces with this resource guide provided by the SFU Library. Find resources on LGBTQ inclusion at work, the importance of pronouns, and more.

Bullying & Harassment Prevention, Support and Reporting

Supports and services are available to anyone impacted by bullying and harassment at SFU. Bullying and harassment includes any inappropriate conduct or comment by a person towards a member of the University Community that the person knew or reasonably ought to have known would cause the member of the University Community to be humiliated or intimidated. Learn more about your rights, responsibilities and access to services.

Peer Support + Governance

Get involved with your fellow students.

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Graduate Student Society

Your Graduate Student Society (GSS) supports all graduate student by providing services (such as health & dental insurance; financial support; free coffee/tea; legal services, individual advocacy support, and more!) as well as events and opportunities for you to get involved with advocacy for graduate students at SFU.

Graduate Student Caucuses

Serve on your Graduate Student Caucus and work with the GSS on governance, funding and graduate student support for your academic unit.

SFU Ombudsperson

The Ombudsperson can assist you issues around fairness, appeals, interpersonal conflic, academic concerns, supervisory issues and policy questions.

Get Elected to Serve on Senate and Senate Sub-Committees

Have your say in academic governance at SFU by serving on Senate!

What's involved?

Senate meets once/month (usually from 5:30 pm on a Monday for 1-2 hours); no meetings in August.
Senators are expected to sit on at least 1 committee such as the Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC) and the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee (SGAAC) (see all committees). Some committees meet monthly, but some only meet a few times per year (commitment varies). Some of these committees currently have no graduate student representation!
Terms are 1 to 2 years.

The call for elections usually goes out at the end of January — watch your emails.

What do you get from involvement?

Senate is responsible for the academic governance of the University (development of new initiatives, formation of priorities, consideration and approval of policies, etc.). Being a senator provides you with the direct opportunity to have your say in issues that impact you and your fellow students.
You would be a graduate student representative that is able to lobby for all SFU graduate students, particularly in committees (think of SGSC or Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) as examples).
Form relationships and network with a large and diverse group of University community members (Senior Administrators, Deans, Faculty, and other students).
If you’re planning a career in Academia, this is a great CV builder (some grad students have told us that they got jobs because of their work on these types of committees).
Develop critical skills for navigating meetings, rules, policies and regulations.

Additional Campus Support + Services

Find more resources to support you.

Click to learn more ↓

Financial Assistance

SFU's Financial Aid Office
GSS Financial Support
Local food programs
Downloadable budget calculator with links to sources of information to build your own budget. Use this to better understand your financial situation.

Support for your Family

Participate in events and programs for graduate students with partners/families.

Safety & Security

SFU Safety & Risk Services

Safe Walk program
Road and traffic reports
Pick up keys/access cards
Contact the lost and found system

Protect Yourself from Fraud

Review some of the scams and fraud targeting students
Learn how to protect your identity
Find out how to identify phishing scams

Dining on Campus

SFU Dining provides information about dining plans, catering and menus and locations of some of the dining options on Burnaby campus.

Burnaby: UniverCity has restaurants, a grocery store and a variety of shops.

Surrey: Located below SFU Surrey, Central City Mall offers a food court, grocer stores and a variety of retailers. Tip: show your SFU ID for discounts at most food court restaurants.

Vancouver: Harbour Centre Mall directory lists shopping and dining options (found on the bottom floor of the mall).

Lockers

Rent a gym locker (for a day or 1–3 terms) or a book locker (1–3 terms) at the Burnaby and Surrey campuses.

Parking + Sustainable Mobility

Find information on parking and alternative transportation options for all three campuses.

External Legal Resources

Access Pro Bono provides 30-minute legal consultation at no charge. You can select the type of legal expertise you require (family law, immigration law, etc.) and a convenient location/time.
Legal Aid provides representation to people with low income. Additional information and other services available to all.
UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program is a non-profit society run by law students at the University of British Columbia providing free legal advice and representation to low income clients.

Embark

To promote sustainability, Embark hosts engagement events. They also run a Learning Garden and a food recovery program on campus.

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