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Academic Advising

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Contact General Academic Advising 

Until further notice, all advising appointments will be offered by phone or virtually. Details of how you book and attend these appointments are listed below. 

Advising services options

Due to a high volume of inquiries, we currently have a longer than normal wait time for 30 minute advising appointments. If you need to speak to an advisor urgently, please use one of our other options. If you are a new student, make sure to complete University Prep Step 2 for important information on course planning and course enrollment!

Please choose from one of the following:

Option 1: LiveHelp

This is a secure, online instant messaging system where you can connect with an Academic Advisor, just as you would through Facebook Messenger.

Please note LiveHelp is for quick, general academic advising questions only—more complex questions and concerns should be addressed via an advising appointment (see Option 3 below).

LiveHelp hours are:

  • Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.*

*Livehelp is cancelled from 9:00 am - 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 17th

>> Go to LiveHelp

Option 2: Virtual Drop-in Advising

Virtual drop-ins are 20-minutes long and for quick, course planning questions. These sessions are currently being offered online only.

Current Schedule, Monday to Friday:

Please visit this link* at the designated drop-in times.

11:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. (Wednesdays only)

*Please note that once drop-ins are full, the link above will not work. If this is the case, please book an appointment or visit us during our next drop-in time.

Option 3: 30-minute Advising Appointments

Types of Appointments

  • Virtual Appointments: By default, all in-person appointments will be switched to virtual appointments if booked by 3:00 p.m. the day before. If your session is going to be hosted virtually you will receive an email with an appointment session link.
  • Phone Appointments: Please check your phone number by logging into goSFU and update as necessary, as the phone number listed is the one we will use to contact you.

Book your academic advising appointment via goSFU or by phone

  1. Book an appointment via goSFU
    1. Log in to goSFU with your SFU computing ID and password.
    2. In the Academics section of your Student Center, click on the drop-down menu and select Appointment Booking from the list.
    3. Select the current active term. For example, if you would like advising regarding Summer 2021 enrollment in the month of April, please select the Spring 2021 term.   
    4. Select the area for which you require academic advising. Provide additional appointment details. 
    5. Click the Next button.
    6. Use the Search Criteria to narrow down the available appointment times.
    7. Click the Search button.
    8. Select the appointment you would like to book.
    9. Remember to hit the Save button!
      • If you get an error message at any point while attempting to book an appointment, please email myadv@sfu.ca for assistance.
  2. Book an appointment by phone
    • Please call 778.782.6930

Ensure that you see the right advisor for your needs

See below for the advising services offered through Student Services. When booking an appointment, please state the main reason for the appointment:

Advising Services
 Topics Discussed

Academic difficulty (all undergraduate students)
  • Academic standing and continuance (On Academic Probation, Continued Academic Probation, Required To Withdraw, Extended Withdrawal)
  • Withdrawals under Extenuating Circumstances (WE)
  • Course repeats
  • Readmission after being Required to Withdraw

Course and program planning
  • Selection of degree(s), program(s), and/or certificate(s) *
  • Program admission for undeclared students and students who wish to change programs **
  • Meeting lower division program requirements for a major, minor, or extended minor
  • Course selection
  • Referrals for resources available around campus
  • Program changes

* excluding: upper division questions, graduation, honours, second degrees, and post-baccalaureate diplomas (see the department)
**excluding: Engineering Science, Interactive Arts and Technology, and Contemporary Arts programs (see the department)

Other
  • FAL/FAN Hardblocks
  • Professional Schools

Option 4: Advising Workshops & Sessions

More info on upcoming events here!

Is this service right for me?

This service is for you if you are

check A newly admitted student;
check An undergraduate student with fewer than 60 units and undeclared;
check An undergraduate student who is experiencing academic difficulty; or
check An undergraduate student with fewer than 60 units, declared, and wanting to change your major.

If you have been approved in an area of specialization, or are ready to have a specialization (major or minor) approved, you should contact the appropriate departmental advisor.

Have you declared your major and/or accumulated over 60 units?

Please contact your program/departmental advisor.

Are you a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit student?

Please visit the Indigenous Student Centre.

Are you an NCAA student-athlete?

NCAA student-athletes should contact the NCAA Academic Advisor.

Making the most of your academic advising appointment

To help you prepare for your appointment, we suggest that you:

  1. Review the Academic Advising Syllabus PDF  : this will help you understand:
    • when you should see an academic advisor,
    • our advising approach,
    • what you will learn through advising, and
    • how we can help you succeed at SFU.
  2. First appointment with us? Fill out the New Student Academic Advising Information form PDF  and bring it with you to your first appointment. Your advisor can clarify any questions you might have about the form at the start of your appointment.

If you are a new student, complete University Prep first before meeting with an academic advisor to help you come prepared.