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After you have reviewed and prepared using the steps on the Applying Page, you can launch your application using the "Apply Now" button in the grey box. Once you start, the application is a 3 step process; please work ahead of your program’s admission deadline.
- Start and submit the application form
Can take approximately 45 minutes. Includes identification, academic history etc.
You can only submit your form before the application deadline.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee
Submit the payment 5–7 days prior to the final deadline to allow for processing time.
$110 for applicants with Canadian transcripts, $150 for applicants with international transcripts.
- Application checklist (upload supporting documentation)
Once you submit your form and application fee, you can immediately proceed to invite references and upload documents within your portal. You need to upload all required documentation before the admission deadline.
How to create an account
Before you can start Steps for Applying, you'll need to create an account in goGRAD.
- To create an account go to goGRAD.sfu.ca/apply
- Enter in your details
- You will be sent an email to the email address you provided with your Temporary PIN
- In that email, use that PIN to access your account
- You will be prompted to set up a new password
- Once you've successfully set your new password, you can start a new application
Watch this video to learn more about creating an account
About online application process
- If you require technical support with the system, email technical support at gradap@sfu.ca
- The application system will allow you to partially complete the process and return later
Preview application form sections
| Privacy Notice | Once you read and click accept, the application form will open. |
| Biographical Information | Provide your name, date of birth, citizenship, and other identification details. Please ensure that all information is accurate and matches your official supporting documents. You need to complete Biographical Information only once; this information will apply to all future applications through this system. |
| Program of Application | Once you select the academic and program, additional fields and/or application sections may appear. Some programs require program-specific questions in order to fully evaluate your application. |
| Research Information | Indicate your area of research and/or identify potential supervisor(s). |
| Academic History | Provide details of all post-secondary study you have undertaken, including current studies, even if a degree has not been awarded.
You will be required to provide a copy of the transcript for each institution. Failure to disclose all previous post-secondary education may affect your application, evaluation, acceptance or registration. |
| Self-Reported Test Scores | If you have taken any of the tests listed below, self-report your scores exactly as they appear on your official test report(s). Start by clicking Add Test, select the test type and follow the prompts.
|
| Funding Information | Indicate funding you may be bringing and/or you wish to be considered for. |
| Emergency Contact | Enter an emergency contact. |
| Declaration and Signature | Ensure you have read and accepted the Collection of Personal Information notice and Application Declaration. You are required to type your name in place of a signature. |
| Review | This page will list any missing fields or errors before you can submit your application. You must correct all errors before the Finalize and Pay button will display. |
After you click Finalize and Pay, you will be directed to pay a non-refundable application fee.
Application Fee Payment Instructions:
- Visa and MasterCard credit cards are the only accepted forms of payment. If you do not have a credit card you can use a prepaid or gift credit card to pay your application fee.
- We cannot accept debit card payments.
- Ensure your payment goes through:
- only have one tab open
- pay within 5-10 minutes of opening payment page
Once the payment is successful, you can immediately proceed to upload documents within the portal.
If there is an issue with payment, submit a ticket or email gradap@sfu.ca. Include your application number or SFU ID number in all tickets and emails.
The application checklist, which includes uploading all supporting documentation and sending reference requests. After you complete the payment in step 2, you can access your checklist in the Application Portal, also called your status page.
It can take 10-15 minutes for a green check mark to appear after you upload.
Once your payment has been processed, you can immediately proceed to upload documents in your goGRAD Status Page. This page will display your program’s application deadline. All mandatory documents and materials must be uploaded before the displayed deadline.
- If you uploaded transcript(s) within the Application Form, a green checkmark will appear beside that item.
- To add documents/materials: within the Upload Materials section, click the dropdown to identify the material you are adding. Follow the Choose File and Upload prompts.
Applicants invite referees through their Checklist/Status Portal as part of Step 3. Referees should be individuals who can comment on your abilities and potential performance in your graduate program of application. If you are unsure of who to include as a reference, please contact your program of application for assistance.
- Most programs require 3 references; some only require 2.
- When entering your referees' information, you must use their professional or institutional email address.
- Reference letters should be submitted on professional or institutional letterhead with a signature from the referee.
- If a referee will be providing references for you on more than one application, they must submit each reference separately.
- All required supporting documentation and references need to be completed by your program's deadline.
Letters of reference must be submitted through the online application system by the referees directly.
Updating referee information in your application
You cannot update or change your referee information if your document deadline has passed. If you need to change one or more of your referees or correct the email address entered, refer to the following:
- In your Application Portal, under Step 3, scroll to the bottom of the checklist section and click the "recommendation page" link in blue
- Find the References heading
- Find the referee you wish to change or update, and click the 'Edit' button on the right-hand side next to that referee
- Update all necessary fields, and then click 'Save'
If a referee does not receive the email invitation, ask them to check their junk/spam folder.
Reference Letter Suggestions
Learn more about how to ask for a letter of reference from University Affairs.
Your application must include the names of all post-secondary institutions you have attended and you must upload an unofficial transcript for each of those post-secondary institutions.
- We do not require copies of degree parchments or certificates. A parchment would only be required if your official transcript does not show the date and title of your credential.
- Transcripts must be in English and/or French, or must be fully bilingual including one of these languages (all words and notations must be in French or English, in addition to any other language).
- For applicants, transcripts not in English or French, previously translated unsealed copies are acceptable.
You can upload transcripts inside the Application Form and/or later in the Portal (Checklist Items).
If you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript for each post-secondary institution:
- If you have a degree in progress, do not send your official transcript from that institution until your degree is awarded and appearing on your transcript.
- Applicants who completed their former degrees at SFU are not required to submit an official SFU transcript to Graduate Studies.
- Transcripts must be official documents, sealed by the institution of issue, and sent directly to Simon Fraser University. Do not open the envelope — if you open it, it is no longer official.
- Unsealed (open/loose) transcripts will not be accepted as official, even if they are on institutional paper. Transcripts received by email without secure delivery or sent by an applicant will not be accepted as official.
- For transcripts not in English or French, an official translation must be supplied. An official translator must include, as part of their translation, a declaration that they received an official, sealed copy of the transcripts that they then proceeded to translate.
- Submissions via a evaluation agency such as WES or ICES are not accepted in place of official transcripts.
- Each transcript is subject to review prior to acceptance.
Official Transcripts
Physical transcripts should be sent to:
Graduate Studies
Maggie Benston Centre 1100
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Electronic Transcripts
Electronic transcripts must be sent via a secure delivery service (such as Parchment) directly from the official institution to: gradap@sfu.ca
All graduate students at SFU have some form of faculty supervisor, but there are large variations in supervision from program to program. In some programs, a supervisor is assigned to you; in others, you may be responsible for identifying and approaching prospective supervisors.
Most programs provide lists of faculty members/potential supervisors and their research interests on their websites. Contact your program of interest with any supervision-related inquiries.
It is not required by university regulations that a supervisor be in place prior to starting a program.
The following academic units do require that applicants identify one or more supervisors prior to completing their admission application. You should have written confirmation from any faculty members you list on these applications:
- Archaeology
- Biology (including the Master of Pest Management program)
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (MSc and PhD)
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Engineering Science (MASc and PhD)
- Geography
- Gerontology (PhD)
- Health Sciences (MSc and PhD)
- Mechatronics (MASc and PhD)
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
- Political Science
- Resource and Environmental Management (PhD)
- Sustainable Energy Engineering
When investigating prospective supervisors, here are some tips to follow:
- Check the faculty members on the program website.
- Email them an inquiry. Include your familiarity with their work, your own research interests, your intention to apply, and whether they might be interested in supervising your research.
- Include information about your background and research experience.