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Frequently Asked Questions

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As a future graduate, you may have questions about your intended program or the admission process for the school you wish to apply to.

Please see our collection of common FAQs below. Please note that processes and information may be different depending on the school you are applying to.

If you have any questions not answered here, please connect with the relevant graduate program coordinator for the school you're applying to.

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Computing Science
Engineering Science
Sustainable Energy Engineering

School of Computing Science FAQ

Program-related questions

We offer a Spring intake (January start date) for both our MSc Thesis and PhD programs.

New students are not admitted to the Summer semester (May start date), but deferrals or early starts in the Summer semester are possible when approved by the Graduate Program Chair.

Please note that we do not offer a Spring intake for the Professional Master’s Program.

Currently, we do not offer graduate degrees on a part-time basis.

Please see here for information about financial support offered by the Computing Science department upon admission.

Please see here for information about graduate program tuition fees, which is the same for domestic and international students.

The typical tenure of a PhD student in our department is 12 to 15 semesters. The expected time to finish the MSc program is 5 to 6 semesters (within two years).

Students admitted without a MSc degree will have 5 years to complete the PhD program, and students admitted with a MSc degree with have 4 years to complete the PhD program.

Thesis based MSc students must complete a breadth requirement consisting of 5 graduate courses.

ADMISSION-RELATED

Yes, we encourage students from other disciplines to apply. However, once you are accepted into our program you may be required to take extra courses to strengthen your background in computer science to better prepare you for our graduate program. To learn more about conditional or qualifying admission, please see the Admission Requirements page of the Graduate Studies website.

We are intentionally vague about "related fields" as we want to have an open mind when evaluating eligible applicants. We would consider fields such as computer engineering, engineering science, computational mathematics, applied computing, applied mathematics, computer information systems, etc., to be more closely related to computer science than fields such as electrical engineering, civil engineering, or business administration. However, we still consider all applications on their merit, and when reviewing applications we typically look at the undergraduate and/or graduate courses taken under your qualifying degree(s). That being said, the more overlap there is between the courses you have already taken and the courses offered by Computing Science, the better chance you have of being considered a qualified applicant. Please use your best judgement based on the above, to determine if your past education demonstrates your ability to be considered a qualified applicant.

Industry-related experience may be considered for admission into our professional master's programs. For PhD and MSc thesis students however, we do place more emphasis on the applicant's research potential, e.g., publications, participation in research projects, academic awards, etc. There is no single criterion that determines the outcome of the committee's decision; all factors will be considered.

No, they are not.

If you do not meet the language requirements and have not yet taken the test, we recommend testing. It is possible for applicants to be considered for conditional admission, pending submission of passing English language test scores prior to enrolling at SFU.

Please visit the Admission Requirements page of the Graduate Studies website for English language requirements.

When you apply via our online system, you must upload a digital copy of your unofficial transcript. You must submit an official transcript for each post-secondary institution once you receive an offer of admission. For information on how to send your official transcript, please see the Admission Requirements page of the Graduate Studies website.

Yes. The main point is that your references come from a credible source. Although we would prefer at least one academic reference, references from well known companies or any source that sheds light on your technical and personal skills are encouraged.

Please refer to the admissions page for exact dates and deadlines.

We have two intakes per year, one in Fall (September start date) and one in Spring (January start date). For the Fall intake, applications are generally accepted between October and January. For the Spring intake, applications are generally accepted between May and August.

Admission offers are sent out on a rolling basis, therefore, it may take a few months for you to receive a decision.

All Fall applicants should receive a decision by May at the latest. All Spring applicants should receive a decision by the end of October at the latest.

You do not need a confirmed supervisor to submit an application, but in order to receive admission a faculty member must be available to act as your supervisor. You do not have to contact faculty to get a commitment but it can be advantageous to communicate with faculty prior to applying to our thesis-based programs. Applicants to our professional master's programs do not need a supervisor as all programs are non-thesis based.

You can review our research faculty to potentially contact here.

You can review all current faculty in the School of Computing Science here.

AFTER APPLYING

It can take a minimum of 3-4 weeks for your results to update on your application portal. If you have waited longer than 4 weeks and still do not see your results updated, please submit a ticket to Graduate Studies with the following information:

Your GA or student number
The date on which you released your results to SFU
Your unofficial test results with your name and test information clearly visible
Your application deadline for your program of application

For more information, please visit the Graduate Studies Admission Requirements page.

Please do not email or contact the School of Computing Science for this issue, as we are not the department that receives your scores. It is important to note that some delays may be due to heavy processing times.

To check the status of your application, login to your goGRAD Student Portal and look under "Status Update".

Admission to our programs is very competitive. Therefore, incomplete applications are usually not reviewed for admission.

School of Engineering Science FAQ

Program-related questions

We do not have any part-time programs. However, our MEng program can be taken part-time by taking less than 6 course units a term. If you are an international student, please ensure you check all your study permit/visa requirements before studying part-time.

The MASc, on the other hand, is a full-time program in which primary emphasis is on the thesis, rather than course work. It is more exploratory than the MEng, and hence the areas of study cover a greater range.

For students starting their program Fall 2016 or later:

The maximum amount of time to finish the MEng program is 9 terms from the date of first enrollment in the program.

The maximum amount of time to finish the MASc program is 9 terms from the date of first enrollment in the program.

The maximum amount of time to finish the PhD program is 18 terms from the date of first enrollment in the program.

Details can be found in the SFU Calendar.

The strength of our research programs lie mainly in these areas:

Biomedical Engineering
Communications
Microelectronics
Systems and Robotics

Please have a look at our Research page for our programs of research.

Specific tuition charges can be found here. Please note that the fees are subject to change each term.

The typical costs of being a graduate student at SFU can comprise many things (from tuition, rent, books, etc.). A detailed breakdown of estimated costs is available here.

However, the Dean of Graduate Studies suggests that you budget approximately $25,000 per year in costs in order to be a graduate student at SFU.

Applicants should review our Dean of Graduate Studies website for more information about Entrance Scholarships. Some are by nomination only and others can be applied for by current students or applicants, but the majority are competition-based and the School can only nominate 1-2 students. It is highly encouraged to Applicants that THEY NOT budget for the successful receipt of these scholarships.

For Canadian Students an important one to apply is the NSERC scholarship. Information about the NSERC scholarship with program details and deadlines can be found at: http://www.nserc.ca/.

International Students who are not Canadian citizens and who require financial assistance to attend SFU must seek such assistance in their country of origin before arrival in Canada.

Many of the outside awards offered to students at SFU (for instance, NSERC) are restricted to Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

You should discuss funding with a potential senior supervisor before commencing your application so you have a realistic idea of your potential support and costs. Please also refer to the Graduate Student Funding Policy here.

ADMISSION-RELATED

No, in order to apply for the MASc or MEng, you must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Science or a related area.

In order to apply for the Ph.D., you must have a Master's degree (or nearing completion) in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science or a related field.

Yes. The main thing is that your references are good and are coming from a credible source. Although we would prefer at least one academic reference, references from well known companies or any source that shed light on your personality are encouraged.

The GRE is not required.

International applicants whose primary language is not English will not be required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language. to check your country, please visit here, under International Admission Requirements.

For more information please see:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): www.toefl.org
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): www.gre.org
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): www.ielts.org

There are three application cycles every year:

Starting Semester	Application period open / Deadline	School Decision Deadline
Spring (January)	May 1 - June 14	October 1*
Summer (May)	August 1 - September 15	February 1*
Fall (September)	October 16 - January 15	June 1*

*Please note of the following conditions:

1. Decision deadline date can be indefinite depending on the volume of applications received. The deadline will move to the nearest work day if it falls on a statutory holiday or weekend.

2. DUE TO VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, WE ARE UNABLE TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documents are sent in to complete their application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

Applications are only considered for the semester to which they apply, and will not be carried over. If your application is unsuccessful and you wish to reapply, you will have to commence a new application and repay the application fee.

No.

School of Sustainable Energy Engineering FAQ

SEE currently offers Master of Applied Science (MASc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree options. Admission requirements for SFU’s graduate programs can be found here: www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/fees-and-regulations/grad-regulation.html#1.3

Additional admission requirements for the SEE graduate programs can found using the links below:

Master of Applied Science (MASc) program: www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/programs/sustainable-energy-engineering/master-of-applied-science
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program: www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/programs/sustainable-energy-engineering/doctor-of-philosophy

Degrees obtained outside of an engineering specific field may be considered for admission. Your previous degrees should provide sufficient background to be successful in taking and completing all required coursework (including specific engineering / technical courses as identified in the SEE program description), and to contribute effectively to your supervisor’s research program. Prospective supervisors will assess this when reviewing applications. A list of SEE graduate supervisors can be found here.

The program aims to offer a unique ecosystem for advanced research in sustainable energy engineering. Through training in formal coursework and hands-on research, SEE graduates will be capable of working with integrity to invent, improve, design and deploy sustainable clean energy technologies addressing the clean energy needs for now and the future. Candidates will develop a strong aptitude for research and exceptional quantitative, analytical, and design skills in areas such as sustainable harvesting, conversion, storage, distribution, utilization, transition, and management of energy and environmental resources.

Yes, applicants must have identified a Senior Supervisor who has agreed to consider your application in order to be reviewed for admission to the program. Your application will not be considered until you have identified a potential Senior Supervisor. A list of SEE graduate supervisors can be found here.

We try to process applications as they come in. Depending on when your application is submitted, applications may take longer than usual. After applications close, it may take a few weeks for applications to be reviewed.

International applicants are encouraged to apply early in order to ensure adequate time to obtain study permits and make travel arrangements. In some countries, it can take months to obtain a study permit, especially if a medical exam is required. Please contact International Services for Students with your questions regarding study permits. They also provide important information regarding immigration documents, health insurance, finding housing, and planning your arrival. Additional information for international applicants can be found here: www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/requirements.

As with other programs at SFU, funding will be established upon mutual agreement between the student and supervisor. Details regarding funding levels would be communicated by the supervisor as part of the offer of admission. If detailed information is required sooner than this, it may be advisable to consider applying for a different program or a subsequent intake of the SEE program.

For your questions specific to the online application system, please contact SFU's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office: www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/about/contact.

You can also watch this video to help you navigate the system: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kns-9n3papI.

Faculty of Applied Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions

School of Computing Science FAQ

Program-related questions

ADMISSION-RELATED

AFTER APPLYING

School of Engineering Science FAQ

Program-related questions

ADMISSION-RELATED

School of Sustainable Energy Engineering FAQ

Contact us