Prospective Students
Website updated on July 28, 2021. For a number of reasons, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Ministry of Advanced Education our proposal seeking permanent program status for the Terrorism, Risk and Security Studies Program. We have encountered challenges securing the resources needed to run the program on a permanent, on-going basis, and delays in the approval process--both internal to SFU and with the Ministry--have prevented TRSS from admitting new cohorts.
Admission Requirements
The TRSS Master’s Program is open to individuals currently employed in the public or private sector in positions related to public safety and national security.
Prospective students must satisfy the SFU admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulation 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. The TRSS graduate admissions committee may offer, at its discretion, MA admission to students without an undergraduate degree. A student may be admitted with lower formal qualifications than stated in Graduate General Regulation 1.3.3. (see below) when there is significant professional experience relevant to the proposed area of scholarship.
Due to the sensitive nature of information discussed during lectures, applicants should have or be capable of obtaining security clearance in Canada at the Reliability Status level or greater. Admission applications are submitted on line, via the Post Doctoral and Graduate Studies (PGS) website (all documents required for consideration for admission are listed in the application) in addition to any post secondary certificates, diplomas, degree transcripts, your resume, a statement of research interest, and three references are required. Please note that we are not accepting applications at this time.
You will find information about the admission process here: https://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/future.html. All required documents must be uploaded into the admission portal. NOTE: Applicants offered and accepting admission to the program, must send official transcripts from all post secondary institutions to:
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Maggie Benston Student Services Centre 1100
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada V5A 1S6
References should come from individuals who can speak to your professional experience, and at least one should also comment on your ability to undertake graduate studies. Reference requests are required in the form of the following questions: 1. In what capacity, how well, and how long have you known the applicant? 2. If English is not the applicant's native language, does s/he, in your opinion have sufficient competence in English to enable her/him to carry out the program? 3. Please give your comments concerning the applicant's academic qualities, and her/his ability to carry out the program. The questions are emailed to the references you provide in your application, so a formal letter is not required, but one can be uploaded if provided.
The most important document for the TRSS application is your detailed CV/resume with a cover letter outlining your career and listing professional achievements.
Graduate General Regulation 1.3.3 Admission to a Master’s Program
The minimum University requirements for admission to a master’s program are as follows.
a) a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University or its equivalent from a recognized institution;
b) a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B), or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses. All graduate work is also considered. Individual graduate programs may set a higher admission grade point average;
c) submitted evidence, usually references from qualified referees, of the student’s ability to undertake advanced work in the area of interest. In addition, some programs also require completion of entrance examinations such as the GMAT and GRE, and/or the submission of other material.
In exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted with lower formal qualifications than in (a) or (b) when there is significant professional experience relevant to the proposed area of scholarship.
Students must satisfy any further requirements set by the graduate program committee. Students whose native language is not English may be required to satisfy the University and the graduate program committee as to their capability in English. (See also 1.3.12).
Further details may be found in the SFU Calendar here.
The program is currently designed as a Cohort Special Arrangements Program (see Graduate General Regulation 1.3.5a below).
Graduate General Regulation 1.3.5a Cohort Special Arrangements
Cohort-based special arrangements programs are designed to meet the educational needs of specific student groups in fulfilling the requirements for a graduate credential (certificate, diploma or master's degree) where these needs cannot be met within existing programs. Each program will be comprised of a curriculum and a set of program requirements recommended by each program’s graduate program committee, approved by the faculty graduate studies committee and by the senate graduate studies committee. Students may undertake this program only through specific admission to the cohort program. Admission criteria, credential requirements and any other special conditions for a particular cohort special arrangements program must be approved in advance by the senate graduate studies committee; these may not be below the minimum admission and graduate credential requirements of regular graduate programs. In some instances, tuition fees may differ from the regular graduate fee schedule published in the Calendar, and will be announced separately.
Fees
The SFU Calendar lists TRSS Program Graduate Tuition Fees here - scroll down to 'Specialty Programs' and expand the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences dropdown to locate current tuition fees for TRSS. Tuition is paid every semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer semester), based on units to be taken. Each TRSS course is three units and the final project is six units. Nominal SFU administrative fees will be applied each semester (less than $100). The current cost of the entire 3-year program is approximately $30,000.
Application Process
TRSS Program application process can be found here. (http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/future/application_process.html )
For more information, please e-mail admtrss@sfu.ca.