Admissions

Application Procedure

Applications for admission to the MA ALS program for a Fall 2025 start date will be submitted using the SFU GoGrad application submission platform https://gograd.sfu.ca/apply/.  Applications for the MA ALS program will be accepted through the SFU GoGrad portal between November 1st to February 1st. For detailed information regarding the GoGrad application process please review the information available at https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/gograd.html

The following supporting documents must be included with your application (see  https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/gograd.html for instructions re submission). Please ensure you give yourself adequate time to assemble the documentation required:

• You must upload an unofficial transcript (scanned, saved, etc.) for each post-secondary institution you have attended with your application. Please note, if you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript for each post-secondary institution you have attended (your official transcripts are required only if you receive an offer of admission; your unofficial transcripts are required with your application). If you have a degree in progress, your offer of admission letter will confirm if that degree must be awarded before you begin your studies at SFU. If the degree must be completed, do not send your official transcript from that institution until your degree is awarded and appearing on your transcript. More detailed information about submitting transcripts can be found on the GO Grad application page:  https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/gograd.html;
• Your resume (maximum 2 pages);
• The "statement" required is a statement of why you are interested in the program (maximum 250 words);
• An Essay is not required for this program;
• No research information is required for this program;
• No interview notes are required for this program;
• If applicable, an English language test score. See more about minimum English language test scores below;
• An International Credential Evaluation Certificate (Comprehensive), available from the BC Institute of Technology, must be submitted for transcripts obtained from a non-Canadian educational institution; for more information please visit https://www.bcit.ca/ices/. The BCIT ICES Comprehensive evaluation is the only one that is accepted for students with international degrees looking to apply for admission to the MA-ALS program; and,
• You are required to write the LSAT and have your score submitted to us as part of the application process. To register for the LSAT, and to review writing dates and details, please visit www.lsac.org. We will only accept LSAT scores that are forwarded directly from the Law Schools Admissions Council (LSAC). LSAT scores provided directly by applicants (and not by the LSAC) will not be accepted. In order for us to receive your LSAT score from LSAC, you must complete an “Authorization for Release of LSAT Score Report” prior to writing the LSAT and submit the completed “Authorization for Release of LSAT Score Report” (as an email attachment) to crimugrd@sfu.ca  The subject line of this email must include your name and the date when you will be writing the test.  SFU will then submit this Authorization to LSAC after your test date; this will enable us to receive your score. We will accept score for LSATs written in February 2025 at the very latest; the deadline to register with LSAC to write the February 2024 LSAT exam is December 2024.

• All applicants are required to submit a list of qualified referees who will submit a reference for their application. Information regarding references can be found here: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/gograd.html#references.

Referees should be made aware of the following: The British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act allows an applicant to have access to the information contained in his/her letters of reference where that can be done without disclosing the identities of the referees who supply a reference in confidence.  It is understood between Simon Fraser University and yourself that the letter of reference is supplied in confidence unless you state otherwise.

Please note, an application fee must be paid at the time you submit your application.  Further information will be available on the SFU GoGrad application website.  Application fees are set by the Dean of Graduate Studies Office and are subject to change every year.  The application fee is non-refundable.

English Language Requirements

Students in the School of Criminology ALS program are required to take 10 courses, all of which require mastering and working with complex written material and a high level of writing proficiency, in preparation for entry into a profession requiring a high degree of English language proficiency.

International applicants will not be required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a bachelor's degree or higher at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language; see the full list of countries from which an English language proficiency test is not required.

Applicants who have completed credentials in countries not on the list linked above are required to submit English language proficiency scores that meet or exceed the minimum scores on the following acceptable tests:

Applications submitted without valid test scores that meet the minimum as detailed above will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed and considered for admission. Applicants are discouraged from initiating an application prior to obtaining test scores that meet the minimum requirements as the application fee is non-refundable.

Note that the minimum English language test scores required by the School of Criminology are higher than the minimum test scores accepted for entry into Graduate Studies at SFU.