How should I decide my course load?

Of course, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all for students when it comes to course loads. There are both benefits and costs to either increasing or decreasing your course load, which all play a part in paving your educational trajectory. When deciding, ask yourself what matters to you most: Is it your time? Your finances? Your experiences?

Benefits of Taking a Higher Course Load

• Timely completion for your degree
• Benefit from cost-benefits of enroling into fewer terms (e.g. minimizing your student fees, fuel or transportation costs, residence fees, etc.)
• If you’re planning on doing co-op, study abroad or field school, you won’t feel like you’re delaying your degree even further or ”taking too long” as with a partial course load
• Satisfy credit requirements for certain financial aid eligibility
• You’re on campus more often, an environment conducive to learning and focusing on studies, while connecting with the SFU community
• You may exhibit stronger academic performance by keeping your momentum at school

• Alleviate some academic difficulty and challenging workload that comes with higher course load
• Shift your focus more on your current studies, especially the more demanding upper level courses
• Face less financial constraints due to having lower up front costs for less courses
• Have more time to work or volunteer part-time hours on/off campus
• Enjoy a bit of breathing room to accommodate non-academic pursuits on campus or life obligations off campus (e.g. family or social commitments)
• You can focus more on your mental and physical wellbeing with the time you’ve freed up