Please note:
To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.
Graduate Students
This section contains senate-approved information related to Financial Aid and Awards only. For complete information, visit https://www.sfu.ca/students/financialaid.
Graduate students are eligible for a variety of financial assistance programs including entrance or continuing scholarships, graduate fellowships, awards, bursaries, work-study and government loans and grants.
- Scholarships and fellowships recognize outstanding academic achievements
- Awards generally acknowledge outstanding achievements or community contributions
- Bursaries are awarded on the basis of a demonstrated financial need
- Work-Study provides part time opportunities to earn a supplemental income
- Government student loans and grants are awarded on the basis of a demonstrated financial need by the student’s province of residence. A grant is funding that a student is not normally required to repay.
Other sources of income are teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs) which are available in most departments. Applications should be directed to the chair of the appropriate graduate program committee in the intended department.
All graduate scholarship and financial assistance programs are administered by one of two university units. Merit-based graduate scholarships and awards (cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or better) are administered by Graduate Studies, room 1100, Maggie Benston Student Services Centre, email gpsaward@sfu.ca.
Generally, the financial needs-based graduate scholarships, bursaries and loans, including government student loans and grants, the Work-Study program and graduate student bursaries are administered by Financial Aid and Awards, Student Services, Maggie Benston Student Services Centre, Tel 778.782.4356, Fax 778.782.4969.
Categories of Graduate Scholarships, Awards, Bursaries and Stipends
Merit-based awards available to graduate students and post doctoral researchers from internal and external sources are listed in the graduate awards guide. The guide is available on the Graduate Studies website at https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/awards-funding.html.
Every attempt has been made to provide up-to-date information. However, it remains the prerogative of the award-granting agencies to change deadline dates, discontinue awards, etc., without prior notice.
Award Categories
The following awards are administered by Graduate Studies:
- Simon Fraser University entrance scholarships
- awards for new/incoming and continuing students
- donor awards
- university administered external awards
- externally adjudicated awards
The following awards, bursaries and loans are administered by Financial Aid and Awards, Student Services.
- bursaries administered by the university
- bursaries for all students
General Information and Regulations
The following regulations apply generally to all financial assistance administered by the university.
- Plan and apply well in advance as many scholarship deadlines occur between (4) and (12) months before the granting of the award. It is the responsibility of applicants to investigate current deadlines. Please note that the published deadlines are approximate dates only, and are subject to change by the awarding agency.
- All scholarships and awards are given on the recommendations of the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committees. Committee decisions, when announced, are final.
- The university does not guarantee the payment of any scholarships, awards or bursaries listed in the Calendar other than those provided directly from funds of the university. If invested funds do not provide the necessary income for an endowed scholarship, award or bursary, payment of the award may be reduced or the award withheld. The university reserves the right to withhold awards donated by individuals or organizations where the funds required have not actually been received.
- The university reserves the right to refrain from making an award if, in its opinion, none of the applicants meet the terms specified.
- The individual graduate student is responsible for knowing deadlines, proper completion of application forms and supplying all appropriate documentation for the various scholarships, awards and bursaries. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
The following awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. Further information is available from Graduate Studies.
Convocation Awards
Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medals
Terms of reference: A silver medal has been established for at least one graduating graduate student from each faculty. The dean of the respective faculty will recommend (a) student(s) who has achieved the highest level of academic excellence in their graduate program.
The criteria for selection of special awards are quality of work, cumulative grade point average (CGPA), and timeliness of completion of the degree. All recommendations are to be forwarded to Graduate Studies in April every year.
Governor General’s Gold Medal
Terms of reference: The Governor General’s gold medals will be awarded to students who achieve the highest academic standing in their master’s or doctoral degree programs. The two students selected will be from different faculties. One will be awarded to the top student in the social sciences/humanities area and the other to the top student in the sciences.
Entrance Scholarships
Major Graduate Entrance Scholarships
Entrance awards and scholarships are by departmental nomination only. Students applying for admission to a graduate program at Simon Fraser University, and who wish to be considered for an entrance scholarship, are strongly encouraged to submit their admission documents to their department of intended enrollment by January 15.
Awards for New or Continuing Students
For details, see the Graduate Studies awards website.
Donor Awards
Donor awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. Completed application forms and all required documentation should be submitted to the graduate secretary in the applicant's department of enrollment by the deadlines, unless specified otherwise. For details, see the Donor Awards section of the Graduate Studies website.
Bursaries
The following regulations govern all university, private and endowed bursaries over which the university has jurisdiction.
- Bursaries are a supplemental source of funding for students in high financial need. Students are expected to find their primary funding through other sources such as government student loan or grant programs, part-time work, savings, family, etc.
- Students must have a demonstrated financial need.
- Both undergraduate and graduate students, domestic (Canadian) and international, are eligible unless otherwise indicated.
- Graduate students must be enrolled for residence credit in an approved full-time program for the term of application. Students who do not enroll or subsequently change to on-leave or part-time status may have their awards cancelled.
- The student must apply using the Simon Fraser University online bursary/work-study application form via the Student Information System (https://go.sfu.ca). It is the student’s responsibility to meet applicable deadlines and supply all required documentation. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
- Unless otherwise stated, bursaries are tenable only at Simon Fraser University.
- Funds will be credited to the successful student’s account with the university. Outstanding debts to the university will be deducted from the bursary funds before a cheque for the credit balance is issued.
- Bursaries are tenable only for the term indicated on the notice and may not be deferred. Students who do not enroll in the term for which the bursary is granted forfeit the award. To be considered for bursaries in future terms of enrollment, students must reapply.
Work-Study Program
The following regulations apply to participate in the Work-Study Program.
- Students must have a demonstrated financial need.
- Undergraduate and graduate students, both domestic (Canadian) and international, are eligible to apply.
- Graduate students must be enrolled for residence credit in an approved full-time program for the term of application.
- The student must apply using the Simon Fraser University online work-study application form via the Student Information System (https://go.sfu.ca). It is the student's responsibility to meet applicable deadlines and supply all required documentation. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
Student Emergency Loan Fund
The following regulations govern all loans for continuing students over which the university has jurisdiction.
- Short term emergency funds are available to students who urgently need money while awaiting receipt of other sources of funding.
- Emergency loans are not available for outstanding fees owed to the university.
- Students must have a demonstrated financial need and a secured source of repayment.
- Graduate students must be enrolled for residence credit in an approved full-time program.
- Students must meet with a financial aid and awards advisor. It is the student’s responsibility to supply all requested documentation. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
- Simon Fraser University emergency loans are tenable only at Simon Fraser University and only for the term indicated on the notice.