Graduate Program Admission

Application information for SFU’s graduate program in mathematics

Applications must be complete - all documents uploaded and all references submitted - by the stated deadline to be considered for admission. Start your application early to ensure that your referees will have sufficient time to submit their references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered and the application fee will not be refunded.

Entrance Requirements

If you are applying to the MSc program, you should have completed a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or equivalent.
If you are applying to the PhD program, you should have completed a Master’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 or equivalent.

In some rare cases, you may be permitted to transfer to the PhD program before your MSc is complete if you are already working towards your MSc at Simon Fraser University.

For more information, see the Dean of Graduate Studies resource on minimum equivalent academic requirements for admission, by country.

Graduate Programs

We offer programs in Mathematics at both the Master’s and PhD levels. Follow the links below for more information on requirements, program length, and course work.

Tuition and Fees

Full-time Fee for Research programs for the 2023 - 2024 Academic Year:
$2,066.11 per term or $6,198.33 per year.

The Graduate Student Activity Fee, Universal Transit Pass, Student Services and Recreation-Athletics Fees, and medical insurance/extended health plan fees are mandatory and in addition to tuition fees. Visit the Dean of Graduate Studies site for details.

In our Mathematics MSc and PhD programs US and international students pay the same fees as domestic students.

Scholarships

It is our Department policy that all graduate students in the Mathematics Department should have financial support, either from scholarships, teaching appointments, professors’ research grants or some combination thereof.

• We fund all of our Masters students a minimum of $25,000 per year for the first two years.
• We fund all of our Doctoral students a minimum of $30,000 per year for the first four years.

Most student receive higher funding, from either additional research assistantships, tutorial assistantships, scholarships or other sources. Admission offer letters describe the individual funding levels for each student. 

In addition, we guarantee a Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship, valued between $2,500 and $10,000 to each admitted student.

We also offer a limited number of Major Entrance Scholarships for exceptional students.

If you wish to be nominated for an entrance scholarship, submit your application for admission by the deadline above. Failure to submit your application for admission by this deadline will decrease your chances for consideration in the annual Entrance Scholarship Competition to be held in February. All applicants are considered for the entrance scholarships; no additional application is required.

Steps to Apply

Step 1. Complete your Application for Graduate Studies at SFU
Upload all documents to the online application. We will not evaluate documents sent as email attachments before you apply.

Step 2. Submit your non-refundable application fee
Fees are $110 for students with Canadian transcripts or $150 for students with international transcripts, payable by credit card only (MasterCard or Visa). This application fee is non-refundable and charged by the university; the university does not grant application fee waivers for any reason.

Step 3. Upload your transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts from each institution you have attended to the online application system. Note that unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the purposes of application review. If you are offered admission to one of our programs, you will receive further directions regarding the submission of official transcripts to the university prior to enrollment.

If you are offered admission to one of your programs, please send all of your official transcripts to:

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Maggie Benston Centre 1100
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

Please note: They accept securely delivered digital transcripts. If this option is available, please feel free to have your institution(s) send them directly to: gradap@sfu.ca

Step 4. Select three referees
Select three referees and include their email addresses when you submit your application. Referees will receive a link via email to a secure form on which they provide a confidential reference.

Guidelines for references:

• At least two referees should be persons familiar with your academic achievements.
• For MSc applicants, letters should address your ability to undertake advanced work.
• For PhD applicants, letters should address your ability to undertake substantial original research.

Step 5. Submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if your first language is not English

• IELTS: The University minimum requirements for English proficiency is an overall band score of 7.0 of the academic (NOT general) test with a minimum of 6.5 in each section.
• TOEFL: The University minimum requirement for the internet-based exam is a total score of 93, with a minimum score of 20 in each category. For the paper-based TOEFL test, the University normally requires a score of 580, with TWE 5.

Learn more about minimum University requirements and how to submit your scores.

Note: Do not send your IELTS score to the Mathematics department. The preferred method of submission is electronic.

Step 6. Optional: Submit any GRE General Test Results & GRE Mathematics Subject Test Results
These are recommended but not mandatory. The Graduate Record Examinations provide standardized tests of skills relevant to graduate students. These allow us to better evaluate your application.

Step 7. Prepare a research statement
Your research statement will be used to direct your application to faculty who share your research interests. Your research statement should not exceed 1-2 pages.

Step 8. Prepare a CV
Your CV should include relevant research and academic activities in which you have engaged through your undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) career.

Step 9. Optional: Request a Supervisor
You will be matched with a supervisor who shares your research interests. You do not need to secure a supervisor prior to applying. However, if you would like to work with with a specific person, you may contact them to see if they will be taking on students in the upcoming admission cycle. Note: They cannot promise you admission. You must still go through the formal application process.

Questions about the admissions process? Email the Graduate Program Assistant

Useful Resources

Graduate Student Handbook

US and International Student Info

International Academic Requirements

Tuition and Fees