Financial Planning
Higher learning is a valuable investment in your future. Discover the financial aid, supports and resources available that can help offset the costs of your education.
We know that every student has unique life circumstances and financial needs that can differ from their peers. That's why we'll help you explore various financial aid and supplemental income options, as well as using available tools and services to find what works best for you.
We'll help you develop healthy financial planning and budgeting habits that will support you throughout your studies!
Our financial aids and supports
Learn about the different financial aid and support options you'll have access to at SFU. Go
Your income opportunities
Explore ways to finance your education with income opportunities through SFU. Go
Know your costs
Understand the differences between the fixed and variable costs you'll typically incur. Go
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Financial aid and supports
Learn about the different financial aid and financial support options you'll have access to at SFU.
Income opportunities
Explore ways to finance your education with supplemental income opportunities through SFU.
Know your costs
Understand the differences between the fixed and variable costs that students incur.
Undergraduate cost calculator
Punch in some numbers in our calculator to determine an estimate of your costs and to budget your term. Go
Speak to an Advisor
Connect with a Financial Aid Advisor over the phone, or schedule a 30-minute in-person or remote advising session with them. Go
Cost calculator
Key in some numbers on our calculator to get an estimate of your costs per term and your budget.
Speak to an Advisor
Connect with a Financial Aid Advisor over the phone or schedule an advising session with them.
Find opportunities to fund your education through a variety of scholarships, awards and bursaries available to eligible SFU students. Take note of different eligibility requirements as you explore your options.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to Canadian and international students in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.
Awards
Awards recognize the leadership, athletic achievements, contributions or community involvement of Canadian and international students.
Bursaries
Bursaries provide supplemental sources of funding to both Canadian and international students with demonstrated financial need.
Student loans and grants
Students enrolled in eligible programs can apply to a variety of government assistance options, including student loans and grants.
Canadian Indigenous Students
Additional financial assistance is available to Canadian students who identify as Indigenous, specifically First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
US students
Financial assistance options including US Federal Direct Loans and US Veterans Affairs benefits are available to US students studying in Canada.
Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for additional grants and/or bursaries through the federal and provincial governments.
Youth in Care
If you are living—or have lived—as a youth in care in BC, you may qualify for financial support to cover some of the costs of your education.
Did you know?
OPEN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS
Each term, the Undergraduate Open Scholarship recognizes and supports undergraduate students who are highly qualified academically. No application is required—students who meet eligibility criteria are considered automatically!
ENTRANCE AID FOR FUTURE STUDENTS
Entrance scholarships, entrance awards and entrance bursaries all support new undergraduate students entering SFU. Each type of aid recognizes different achievements or needs, with varying levels of academic requirements. Find out which ones you’re eligible for!
Work opportunities through SFU can help you earn income to fund your education and lifestyle. They also help you gain valuable work experience during your studies and build connections across the SFU community.
Co-Op
Co-operative Education (Co-op) integrates academic study with relevant work experience in the field, including business, industry, government, not-for-profit and community-based organizations.
Work-Study
The Work-Study Program offers students the opportunity to earn a supplemental income in their field and participate in on-campus, research-based projects with flexible hours.
Jobs on Campus
Various opportunities are offered on campus, including teaching and research assistant positions, producing for SFU’s media platforms, retail positions at the SFU Bookstore or around UniverCity, and others.
Budgeting is an essential part of your education. To budget for your expenses as a student, think about the various costs you might incur during your undergraduate studies. Take a few moments to consider the obvious (and not so obvious) costs in your life before you use our budget calculator in the next section.
Fixed costs vs variable costs—what's the difference?
Fixed costs are expenses that don’t change very often. But when they do, it usually happens over time due to inflation or other economic factors beyond your control so expect to pay the same fixed amount month-by-month or term-by-term, over the next year or two. Compared to variable costs, think of fixed costs as somewhat “non-negotiable” in terms of how they fit into your budget.
Examples of your fixed costs:
- Tuition – Varies with your program of study and faculty, plus the number of courses you take in a given term.
- Student fees – e.g. Student Services, Student Activity and Recreation-Athletics fees
- Housing – e.g. off-campus rent or SFU Residence fees (plus meal plan), renter's insurance
- Fixed utilities – e.g. mobile, Internet, media streaming services
- Fixed transportation – e.g. transit fares (including U-Pass BC), parking pass, car insurance
Variable costs are expenses that can change, and depending on your personal consumption for a given time period, can go up or down with less predictability. Spending on services and items here and there can quickly add up! But with proper budgeting and by sticking to a financial game plan, you can plan for and cover these costs.
Examples of your variable costs:
- Textbooks + school supplies – This varies with each course and the number of courses you take that term.
- Documents - e.g. study permit, travel insurance, English language proficiency tests and other documentation
- Variable utilities – e.g. gas, heat, electricity or hydro
- Food – e.g. groceries, dining out, meal subscriptions, delivery app fees
- Health + wellbeing – e.g. gym memberships and fitness classes, mental health care, personal care
- Transportation – e.g. gas, car maintenance and repairs, bike tune-ups
- Shopping – e.g. clothing, electronics, furniture and houseware, gifts
- Entertainment – e.g. social activities, events
- Travel – e.g. plane tickets, accommodation, tour package fees
- Pets – e.g. food, pet care, vet visits, pet insurance
Your daily life is filled with all sorts of variable costs. While some are essential needs like food, others can be filed under “wants” or “nice-to-haves”. With that in mind, consider all your fixed and variable costs together and try to think about the things you can and can't do without—it'll help you make informed decisions about your budget!
bulb-61 Food for thought
Food security is a real concern for many university students, since food and grocery expenses can quickly add up. Take advantage of these on-campus resources to alleviate some of your costs:
- SFSS Food Bank Program
The Food Bank Program issues food certificates to students in need once per term, redeemable at participating locations. - Embark Sustainability's Food Rescue
The Food Rescue program champions food justice and reduction of food waste by redistributing items to SFU students for free or by donation. - SFU Food Pantry
The pantry is a food bank for students in need of emergency food and hygiene supplies, made possible through a network of local charities across the Lower Mainland. - SFU Community Free Fridge
The Free Fridge is a low-barrier and nonjudgmental way for you to access food and reduce food waste. Think of those little free libraries you see around town—but with food! - SFU Student Meal Plans
Meal plans offer a convenient and cost-effective way for you to get fresh meals daily at the Dining Commons, with a variety of plans to suit your dietary needs.
Now that you’ve had some time to think about your fixed and variable costs, it’s time to crunch the numbers! Keep in mind that the cost calculator provides only an estimate of your expenses per term (i.e. four months) and isn’t meant to compute exact figures to the dollar. Take some time to fill in your answers—the more information you provide, the more accurately the results will reflect your actual costs.
This calculator is based on 2024/2025 tuition and fees and will be updated in June 2025 with 2025/2026 tuition and fees.
Use this as a starting point to manage your financial expectations as you plan your undergraduate studies at SFU, term by term.
Did you know?
A Payment Plan gives you the option to pay for you tuition in installments while allowing you to enrol in courses the following term, despite the outstanding balance. You'll be charged a 2% monthly interest but will remain in good plan standing if payments are made on time.
TIP #1:
To paint a more representative picture of your costs, be mindful of one-time expenses, like if you need to purchase a laptop, tablet or other device to support your studies. Also consider recurring expenses like travel costs, if you live away from home and plan to go back to visit family over the holidays.
TIP #2:
Keep an eye out for special student pricing! You may find discounted prices for media streaming services, apps/computer software, events and more. Student plans are sometimes offered for banking/financial services and credit cards.
TIP #3:
As an SFU student, you have access to on-campus services and amenities for your personal well-being at no extra cost, including the Rec Centre and Health & Counselling services. For academic needs, check out the Student Learning Commons.
Contact us
SFU's Financial Aid and Awards Advisors can answer questions you may have about SFU-based scholarships, awards, bursaries and other funding opportunities, including government-issued student financial assistance. For inquiries:
- Call us at 778 782 6930 from Monday to Friday, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 3:30 pm
- Email us at fiassist@sfu.ca or
- Attend drop-in advising sessions on Zoom from Monday to Friday, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
You can also schedule an appointment with one of our Advisors for a more in-depth advising session.