Tuition and Student Fees

The following is a statement from Jonathan Driver, vice-president, academic and provost pro-tem.

The university has received many questions about fees as we enter this fall term, as well as why tuition isn’t reduced. SFU remains committed to delivering a high-quality educational and learning environment. Building on our experience gained in the spring and summer terms, we’re ensuring that remote learning and teaching continues to provide a high-quality educational experience and to support students in completing their programs.  

Although classes are primarily remote, students are still learning the same curriculum from the same instructors, many of whom are already well-versed in delivering curriculum outside of a traditional classroom. The cost of delivering education remains the same, and in some cases is more expensive as we implement new technology for remote learning and create safe work and study environments for students and staff who are required to be in-person.

Student fee breakdown:

• Students who are learning remotely currently do not pay recreation and athletics fees.
• Supplementary fees related to the use of materials in laboratory courses are not being charged if the courses are not held in person.
• Student Services fees continue as all of those services remain available. Supports such as health and counselling, academic advising, career services and financial aid are all available remotely if they are not in-person. Visit the student support and resources webpage for more information about these services.
• The student activity fee is set by the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS). More details about the activity fee can be found under Supplementary Fees. The SFSS supports SFU students but it is separate from SFU.
• Students have expressed that they want the U-Pass program back in place. Since the program for the 2020 summer semester was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SFSS, Graduate Student Society (GSS) and SFU worked with TransLink, and the other public post-secondary institutions and student associations in Metro Vancouver, to reinstate the program with appropriate eligibility adjustments. The U-Pass BC program has resumed for students enrolled at SFU in the fall semester (online or in-person courses) and currently residing in Metro Vancouver. Pre-existing exemption categories continue to apply and the exemptions are standard across all institutions that use U-Pass. Students enrolled at SFU in the fall semester, but not currently residing in Metro Vancouver, will be considered ineligible for the program and will receive a refund of their U-Pass BC fee.

Student supports:

Despite the supports we put in place, we recognize many students are having financial difficulties during this time. SFU’s general bursary program is available to both domestic and international students (grad and undergrad) who meet the eligibility requirements. Emergency assistance funding initiated late in the spring term was meant to be one-time funding, and we will have paid out roughly $3 million dollars within that short period of time. We continue to monitor requests for aid.

Finding cost savings for students is a continuing priority. The university has established a working group in partnership with the SFSS and GSS to find solutions to student affordability.

Any student currently experiencing any food and/or housing insecurity challenges should email student_support@sfu.ca to arrange a phone call, virtual meeting, or email follow-up with a Student Services case manager.

For students who are transitioning to online learning, support is available through academic advising in a variety of modes, as well as students can access case managers through our health and counselling services.

We wish all of our students success with their studies this fall. Stay safe, healthy and well and a please be reminded that counselling and other supports are available to members of our campus community. We encourage students who need mental health support to contact MySSP 1.844.451.9700 and/or Health and Counselling Services and the Interfaith Centre.