Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Student Services

Study Abroad

Visiting Field School Students

If you are not a current SFU student, you must complete both the Field School Program Application AND the Visiting Student Application.

  1. The Field School Application is for the specific program you are applying to
  2. The Visiting Student for SFU Field School Application facilitates your admission into SFU.
    • This circumvents and replaces the regular visiting student application process.
    • This is due by the same day as your Field School Program Application.
    • All Visiting Student Applications will be processed after acceptance into the Field School Program, around late February or March.

Below are recommendations, how to determine which visiting student application is relevant to you, and information for if you choose or are required to travel to Canada as part of your program. 

Transfer Credit and Letter of Permission

  • As a visiting student to SFU, you are strongly advised to consult with your home university academic advisor prior to applying to an SFU Field School.
  • SFU advises all visiting students to obtain a Letter of Permission (or equivalent process) from their home institution to aid in the facilitation of transfer credit.
    • You are however not required to submit your Letter of Permission to SFU for your Visiting Field School Student application.
  • After completing your Field School program at Simon Fraser University, you will be able to order an official transcript from SFU (nominal issuance fee applies). It is also your responsibility to obtain a course syllabus for each of your field school courses, as these will usually be required by a home institution to facilitate transfer credit.

Visiting Field School Student Admission Process

For Visiting Undergraduate Students

If you are a current undergraduate student at an institution other than SFU, you must complete:
  1. Field School program application
  2. Visiting Undergraduate Student for SFU Field School Application
    • This application is embedded within your Field School program application, when you select that you are a visiting student to SFU.

Please note:

  • Do not directly apply through the regular non-Field School visiting student application, but rather complete the above visiting application within the Study Abroad System.
  • There is no application fee for the visiting undergraduate application.
  • If/once you have been accepted into the Field School Program, you will be admitted to SFU only for the purpose of the specific Field School Program and term. 

For Visiting Graduate Students

If you are a current graduate student at an institution other than SFU, you must complete:

  1. Field School program application
  2. Visiting Graduate Student for SFU Field School Application
    1. This application is embedded within your Field School program application, when you select that you are a visiting student to SFU.
    2. What is required for this application varies, see below sections. 

Please note:

  • Do not directly apply as a Graduate Visiting Research Student to SFU, but rather complete the above visiting application within the Study Abroad System.
  • There is no application fee for the Visiting Graduate Student for SFU application.
    • Non-degree students will however have to pay a $90 fee (for applicants with Canadian transcripts) or $125 fee (for applicants with International Transcripts), and a $250 deposit (which goes towards tuition) if confirmed into their field school program.
  • If/once you have been accepted into the Field School Program, you will be admitted to SFU only for the purpose of the specific Field School Program and term.

For Visiting Graduate students attending Canadian Institutions 

Students from select Canadian institutions may be eligible for admission through the Western Dean's Agreement (WDA), which allows you to pay tuition to your home university rather than SFU. 

  1. If your institution is listed on this page, see Western Dean's Agreement below.
  2. If your institution is not listed, see Non-Degree below.

Contact fieldschools@sfu.ca for Graduate student inquiries, if you are unsure of the criteria you meet.

For Students from a Western Dean's Agreement (WDA) Institution

Please make sure your institution is listed as a participating WDA institution. If your institution is not listed in the above link and you are at a Canadian institution, please see Non-Degree below.

Process:

  1. Begin your Visiting Graduate Student for SFU Field School application.
  2. When prompted in above application, complete and upload the WDA form, but without the SFU signature. 
    • The form only needs to be signed by your home institution [signatures (1) and (2)], and not SFU. 
    • Ensure that the "Courses to be taken" section includes only the course(s) associated with your desired field school.
  3. If you are admitted to your Field School, SFU will complete your form and admit you for the term of the Field School. SFU may also contact you if additional information is required.

Fees if approved into program:

  • There is no application fee to SFU.
  • Tuition will be paid to your home institution.
  • You will be charged the Off-Campus Graduate Student Activity Fee ($37.84 as of 2024), Field School program fee, and administrative fee (listed on the program's website).

Non-Degree: For Students from non-Canadian or non-WDA Institutions 

You may apply to a field school program as a visiting, non-degree seeking student. This option allows you to receive university-level credit for the program, however please note credits through this admission pathway cannot be used towards any future SFU program. We recommend you check with your home program—or programs you may be considering—prior to applying whether the credits can be transferred.  

Eligibility:

If you have either: 

  1. Been admitted into a Master’s program
  2. Completed a Master’s degree
  3. Completed an undergraduate degree and are not yet admitted to your graduate program 
  4. Not yet been awarded your undergraduate degree, but have been deemed by the Field School Director to meet the necessary requirements to be admitted into the Field School program as a graduate student.

Process:

  1. Check the following box in your Visiting Field School Graduate Student application: 
    • If accepted into my Field School, I understand that I will be required to apply to SFU as a non-degree student. The deadline to complete this step will be the Opt-Out deadline as communicated to me by ISS. 
  2. After acceptance into the Field School, you will then be prompted to apply to SFU through the regular Graduate student application portal. Select that you are applying to the department of your field school - e.g. Political Science - as a non-degree student. You will need to order an Official Transcript from your home institution for this.
  3. Complete all sections including payment of the application fee. 
  4. You must complete your payment by the deadline to accept or decline your offer (~late Feb. - early Mar.) as communicated to you by ISS. 

Fees:

  1. Tuition will be based on the number of units included in your field school, charged at the graduate basic rate or the rate for the subject area, if higher. 
  2. As part of your application to SFU through the Graduate student application portal, you will need to pay a Graduate student application fee to SFU if accepted into the field school.
  3. You will be charged the Off-Campus Graduate Student Activity Fee ($37.84 as of 2023), Field School program fee, and administrative fee (listed on the program's website).

Funding and Travel Information

Financial Assistance

Undergraduate students:

  1. Domestic visiting students are eligible for BC/Canadian Student Loans, but are not eligible for SFU Awards (including the Suite of Study Abroad Awards), SFU Scholarships, and SFU Bursaries. Eligibility for external funding opportunities may vary.
  2. International visiting students are not eligible for BC/Canadian Student Loans, SFU Awards (including the Suite of Study Abroad Awards), SFU Scholarships, and SFU Bursaries. American citizens may apply for U.S. Direct Loans. Information on US Federal Direct Loans. Please contact SFU Financial Aid and Awards as early as possible to confirm your eligibility. Eligibility for external funding opportunities may vary.

Graduate students:

  1. See this page.

Mandatory Health Insurance

  • If you are a visiting student, you will need to print, sign, scan and upload a copy of the Field Schools: Confirmation of Alternative Travel Medical Coverage Form.
    • As stated in the Field School Student Acknowledgment, Section 4 (a) under Insurance, it is your responsibility to purchase sufficient levels of travel medical insurance, when participating in an SFU Field School. 

Immigration Requirements for Field School Destination

All students are responsible for researching and obtaining (and paying for) the proper immigration documents to the country(ies)/region(s) in which the field school is located, based on your citizenship.  If required, please ensure to check if an interview is required and the timing of securing an interview at the appropriate Consulate/Embassy for your visa. You may be required to appear in person to submit your visa application at the nearest processing location, if not available locally. Eg. Ottawa/Montreal or the Embassy (for the field school) located in your country of citizenship. Please consult the Consulate/Embassy for your citizenship's requirements. If you have any questions, please contact fieldschools@sfu.ca.

For students located outside of lower mainland: Accommodations & Transportation 

If you will be travelling to SFU as part of your program, see the following options for housing:

The public transportation system in Greater Vancouver is convenient, safe and reliable. Find out more about how to get around the city without a car in our Arriving in Vancouver and Transportation guide. Please note, the U-pass is not included in Tuition or Field School Program Fees.

If you will be driving to SFU Burnaby campus: parking passes are available on a daily, 10x discounted pass, or monthly basis. View options and rates online. There are moreoever Alternative Transportation Options.

If you are Visiting SFU from an International Location: Immigration & Insurance Information 

If you will be travelling to SFU from an international location as part of your program, see the following.

Primary Medical Insurance 

SFU has the following option of primary medical insurance for international visitors, and is below for your information. You may choose to use this and/or travel medical insurance from your own health provider.  

Guard.me@SFU Policy (current as of Nov. 2021)

  • $2.30/day
  • For Visiting International Undergraduate and Visiting International Graduate Students. Coverage is available for dependents as well.
  • Purchase a minimum of 40 days.
  • Purchase through https://www.guard.me/sfu 
    Please review the policy details online to ensure that this coverage is appropriate for your needs (eg. prescription medications, pre-existing conditions etc.).
  • The guard.me@SFU policy also includes the following benefits, as can be seen in the policy details: 
  1. 10-Day Inbound to Canada Coverage. You are covered under this Policy for up to 10 days when travelling from Your Home Country for the first time during the Policy period to attend Simon Fraser University. Coverage is not available within Your Home Country.
  2. Out of Canada Coverage for dates within the exact Field School program dates. 

Immigration into Canada

Other Resources