SCA AWARDS
Applications for SCA Awards are now open!
Submission deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026.
Guidelines and Requirements
There are a number of Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries available to students across SFU. See what's available HERE.
Each Scholarship, Award, and Bursary available through SFU has its own terms of reference and application requirements that applicants must meet and complete, but SFU also requires that all applicants must meet these basic criteria:
Scholarships
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units of standard graded courses in the term of award. Challenge, audit and non-credit courses are not considered.
- Have completed at least 12 units of standard graded courses at SFU.
- A student holding an SFU Entrance Scholarship is not eligible for any other University administered scholarships. This policy applies to any term in which an entrance scholarship is deferred. Please contact Financial Aid and Awards to check if the selected student is a recipient of an SFU Entrance Scholarship.
Awards
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 at SFU and be in good academic standing (in the case the student is a first term or transfer student he/she must possess an equivalent secondary school or college standing).
- Registration in a minimum of 9 units of standard graded courses in the term of eligibility. Challenge, audit, and non-credit courses are not considered.
Graduating Awards
For graduating awards, where the terms of reference specify that the award is granted to a graduating student, or for essay awards where the award is based on an essay written in the past year, we accept registration in 9 units of standard graded courses in the current term, i.e. Fall 2026, or in any of the previous two terms, i.e. Spring 2026 or Summer 2026.
Awards and Scholarships for the SCA
We've collected a set of Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries, listed below, that are particular to students in the School for the Contemporary Arts.
If you meet the above criteria from SFU, please use the online form on this page to apply to the Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries listed here.
NOTE: Please make sure to include everything that the particular Award and/or Scholarship asks for as part of your application, which, as necessary, can be included as an attachment (PDF or Word document) with the online form.
ALSO NOTE: for awards that require letters of recommendation, they are required only once a student has been nominated for the award.
All of the applications submitted for the Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries listed here are granted by the Senate Undergraduate Awards Adjudication Committee on the nomination of the SCA Awards Committee, which assesses and adjudicates all applications.
If you have any questions, please contact SFU Financial Aid and Awards at faawards@sfu.ca.
SFU Service Awards
If available, applications for SFU Service Awards – or as we call them, SCA Service Awards – are submitted via this online form, as well. Along with the application materials requested by the other Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries you're applying for, please make sure to also include everything that the SCA Service Award asks for in your attachment (PDF or Word document).
NOTE: SFU Service Awards are not part of this round for the Fall 2026 term.
List of Awards and Scholarships
MARCIA AWARD IN ELECTROACOUSTICS
An award of at least $250 is available annually to a graduate or undergraduate student from any discipline who shows promise and/or excellence in the field of electroacoustics, whether for composition, research, performance or production.
One award at $950.
BRIAN TAYLOR UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN DANCE
One award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to a full-time undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:
- is enrolled in the School for Contemporary Arts, majoring in Dance;
- is in their third or fourth year of study;
- is in good academic standing; and
- has demonstrated high levels of achievement as a dancer and/or choreographer and shows great promise to succeed in the field professionally.
One award at $1,500.
BILL JEFFRIES AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS IN THE ARTS
One award or more awards, valued at a minimum of $1,000 each, will be granted annually in any term to Indigenous undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:
- are enrolled full-time in the terms of eligibility;
- are pursuing a bachelor's degree with a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts;
- are in good academic standing; and
- have demonstrated creative potential in their field.
Applications must include:
- a resume outlining the applicant's creative activities in the field; and,
- a faculty letter of reference addressing the applicant's creative potential in their field.
Two awards at $2,750 each.
ALDERSON INTERARTS AWARD IN THE SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
One or more awards, valued at a minimum of $3,000 each, will be granted annually in any term to undergraduate students who meets the following criteria:
- are pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts;
- are enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
- are in their fourth year of studies;
- are in good academic standing; and
- have demonstrated ongoing interest and accomplishments in interdisciplinary and collaborative exploration of multiple art forms over the course of their studies.
Applications must include a personal statement from the applicant outlining their interest and accomplishments in the exploration of multiple art forms and their interconnections during the course of their studies.
One award valued at $3,400.
KER WELLS MEMORIAL AWARD
At least one award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:
- is enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
- is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the School for the Contemporary Arts, with a major in theatre and performance;
- enrolled in the third or fourth year of study;
- is in good academic standing; and
- has demonstrated strong artistic promise and community engagement.
Applications must include:
- a maximum one-page letter outlining the applicant’s artistic promise and community engagement; and
- letter(s) of reference from individual(s) who can verify the student’s artistic promise and community engagement.
One award at $1,250.
LINDA MARGUERITE JOHNSTON AWARD IN THE SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
One award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:
- is enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
- is enrolled in the School for the Contemporary Arts in one of the following programs: Performance Production & Design, Theatre & Performance, Dance, or Music & Sound;
- is in good academic standing; and
- has demonstrated strong artistic promise.
Preference will be given to applicants who are currently enrolled in or have successfully completed Contemporary Arts 306 – Practicum in Contemporary Arts I (CA 306) or similar SCA coursework emphasizing experiential learning in professional arts contexts, including engagement with the operational and business dimensions of the arts sector.
Applications must include:
- a maximum of one-page statement outlining the applicant’s artistic promise, achievements, and passion for their field of study; and
- a letter of reference from a faculty member or an individual who can verify the applicant’s artistic promise.
One award at $1,350.
STEVEN SHANE UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
Multiple scholarships, valued at a minimum of $2,500, will be granted each year in any term, to those who fulfill the following criteria:
- full-time undergraduate student currently in fourth year of study majoring in the Program in Film within the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts;
- in excellent academic standing (minimum 3.50 CGPA); and,
- demonstrated commitment to film production.
As part of the application, students must include a one page letter outlining their dedication to the art of film production.
Two scholarships at $3,850 each.
TANABE/THORNE UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN VISUAL ARTS
The award, valued at a minimum of $2000, will be granted annually to a student in good academic standing going into his or her fourth year of study in the Visual Arts concentration of the School for the Contemporary Arts and who has completed CA 361. The award will be by departmental nomination for the student who shows the strongest promise in visual arts.
One award at $3,000.
CHRIS WELSBY EXPERIMENTAL FILM AWARD
At least one award, valued at a minimum of $2,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:
- is enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
- is enrolled in the film program within the School for the Contemporary Arts;
- is in good academic standing; and
- has a demonstrated contribution to experimental film.
Preference will be given to students in their third or fourth year of studies.
Applications must include:
- a one-page statement outlining the applicant’s contribution to experimental film; and
- a letter of recommendation from a faculty member attesting to the applicant’s work in experimental film.
One award at $2,000.
SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship(s), valued at a minimum of $1,000, recognizes achievement of excellence in the Arts for outstanding artistic contribution. The recipient(s) must:
- Be an undergraduate student
- Have achieved a minimum CGPA of 3.50
- Have completed at least 48 units at SFU
- Have declared a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts.
One scholarship available at $1,000.
BICE CAPLE AWARD
Up to 3 awards valued at $1,000 each will be made each year to undergraduate students who have made outstanding contributions to fine arts at Simon Fraser University.
The recipient(s) must:
- be enrolled full-time at SFU
- be in good academic standing
- continue to be active in the fine arts.
In no case, may an individual receive the award more than twice.
Three awards at $1,000 each.