First year
student housing
application
48%
OF RESIDENTS ARE NEW
Fall 2025 student resident data
90+
COUNTRIES
RESIDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
8
COMMUNITIES
CHOOSE THE ONE THAT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE
Student Experience
Your university experience starts here. Live steps from class, build lasting connections, and be part of a vibrant community designed to support your academic success, independence, and everyday life on campus.
Guaranteed Housing
First Year Guarantee for Fall and Spring term (September to April)
Students entering SFU directly from high school are guaranteed housing for Fall and Spring (September to April) To be eligible for SFU’s First Year Guarantee you must:
- Apply for SFU on campus student housing by May 1
- Accept your SFU admission offer by May 1
- Confirm that you are eligible to live in residence
- Be entering SFU directly from high school without completing post-secondary studies after graduation
- If you apply after May 1, you can still apply for residence, but your application will be considered through the regular application process
Deadline
MAY 1
Application tips
Before you apply keep these important tips in mind:
- Apply for housing as early as possible. You do not need to wait until you are admitted to SFU before applying to housing
- A $50 non-refundable Application Fee is required to complete your application
- If you receive a housing offer, a $700 Confirmation fee is required to secure your space
- Housing offers are only made after you have been admitted to SFU or FIC
- Residence spaces are limited. Applying early gives you the best chance of receiving an offer
- Review important dates and deadlines to ensure you are up-to-date on the application process
Important information
- Meal Plans: A meal plan is required for students living in Towers residence halls
- Building Type: Most direct from high school students are placed in a Towers residence halls
Mandatory meal plan
restaurant
FOR ALL TOWERS BUILDINGS
FIRST YEAR GUARANTEE STUDENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO LIVE IN A TOWERS ROOM BUILDING
Contract length
| Contract Term | Contract Length | Applications open | Offers begin (ongoing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall and Spring | September - April | October 1 | February |
| Spring | January - April | July 1 |
October |
| Summer | May - August | December 1 |
February |
Contract length
- For a Fall start: Contract includes Fall and Spring term (September to April)
- You may apply separately for Spring and Summer
Eligibility requirement
To move into on campus student housing at SFU or to be eligible to continue living in SFU’s residence community the following term, you must meet all 3 conditions / requirements below. Note that these conditions and requirements apply to ALL SFU and FIC students.
- You must be an SFU or FIC student
- You cannot have any overdue fees to SFU or FIC including tuition and residence fees
- You must meet one (1) of the following three (3) criteria. You are an:
- SFU undergraduate student
- Maintain full-time enrolment registered in at least 9 credit hours or equivalent for Fall and Spring terms (see Summer Housing exceptions or part-time enrollment exceptions in the Residence Handbook) or
- Be enrolled in an SFU registered co-op work term or the Back on Track Program
- FIC student
- Maintain full-time enrolment for each term that you are living in residence
- SFU undergraduate student
Priority housing
SFU Residence and Housing supports safe, inclusive communities; eligible applicants may receive a Priority Housing Offer.
There is an application fee that is due upon completion of your residence and housing application. Additionally, upon accepting your housing offer, there is a confirmation fee payment due.
Looking for availability for the current term? Contact our office housing@sfu.ca as space may be available.
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-refundable application | $50 Payment to complete application |
| Non-refundable confirmation payment* | $700 Due with housing offer deadline |
*This confirmation payment will be applied to your residence fees for the first term of your contract and is required for each new contract.
Non-refundable application fee
$50
FOR ALL RESIDENTS
WHEN YOU APPLY TO LIVE IN RESIDENCE
| Building | Bedroom type | Cost of room per term |
Cost of Meal Plan per term* |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Towers | Single |
$3,780 | $3,727 |
| North Towers | Super Single |
$4,272 | $3,727 |
| North Towers | Single with Bath |
$4,764 | $3,727 |
| East/West Towers | Single | $4,600 | $3,727 |
| Courtyard Residence | Single | $4,600 | $3,727 |
| McTaggart Cowan Hall | Single | $4,320 |
optional |
| McTaggart Cowan Hall | Super Single | $4,880 | optional |
| Townhouses | Single | $4,400 |
optional |
*Meal plan is required and cost is subject to change.
*Fees may vary by term and academic year. Refer to the fees page for the term you are seeking.
*Fees shown only reflect the Fall term fees.
Confirmation payment
$700
FOR ALL RESIDENTS
ONCE YOU RECEIVE AN OFFER AND HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR OFFER, a non-refundable confirmation payment will be applied to your residence fees for the first term of your contract and is required for each new contract
Most first year students live in one of our Towers communities, where you'll be part of a supportive first-year residence experience. Explore the residence communities below to learn about room types, amenities, and community features.
Towers - Burnaby
Our Towers and Courtyard Residences are first year student focused. While living in the towers, you are required to take part in the meal plan provided by the Dining Commons.
Understanding your housing options
Buildings include
- Shared washrooms
- Shared lounges, common spaces
- Shared pay laundry
- WiFi
- ROOM: Basic furnishings in room (desk, chair, mirror, closet, mini-fridge)
Compare housing
Find your community on campus. Check out our Housing Comparison page and compare your building and community options. Visit each Housing Option page to see what it's like to live in a specific building.
Living Learning Communities
Living Learning Community (LLC) focused on shared interests. To learn more click below.
Accessibility & Accommodation
SFU Residence and Housing is committed to creating inclusive living environments where all students can participate fully in residence life. Learn more about available supports and how to request accommodations.
Residence applications are open throughout the year. Housing offers are sent on an ongoing basis after students have been admitted. Review the dates below to understand when applications open and when offers are typically made.
Direct from high school application dates
| Terms | Contract length | Applications open | Offers begin (ongoing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (Fall and Spring) | September - April | October 1 | February - August |
| Spring | January - April | July 1 | October - December |
| Summer | May - August | December 1 |
February - April |
Important Dates
For a list of all residence and housing important dates, visit our important dates under our community section.
Fall applications open
calendar_month
OCTOBER 1
see application dates and deadlines for details
How to apply
- Sign into your MyPlace@SFU housing portal to start your application
- Log in or click Register to create your new profile if this is your first time applying
- Click Application on the top-left of the MyPlace@SFU home screen
- Submit the $50 application fee to complete your application
- Monitor your MyPlace@SFU housing portal account for updates including your housing offer
- If you receive an offer, submit the required confirmation payment before the deadline shown in your offer
- Familiarize yourself with the next steps including waiting for your offer and accepting your offer process
Apply at your
MYPLACE@SFU
HOUSING PORTAL
After you apply for Residence, check your status anytime through your MyPlace@SFU Housing portal. If your application shows as complete, you are in the queue. Housing offers are sent to eligible (admitted) students based on priority criteria and application date. Timelines vary by term. Refer to the dates above for details.
Next steps
Check your status & Updates
After you’ve applied to live in Residence and Housing, you can check your status on-line via your MyPlace@SFU housing portal. If your application status says complete you are in the application queue.
Waiting for your offer
Find your community on campus. Check out our Housing Comparison page and compare your building and community options. Visit each Housing Option page to see what it's like to live in a specific building.
Accepting your offer
Find your community on campus. Check out our Housing Comparison page and compare your building and community options. Visit each Housing Option page to see what it's like to live in a specific building.
Room Assignment
Find your community on campus. Check out our Housing Comparison page and compare your building and community options. Visit each Housing Option page to see what it's like to live in a specific building.