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Tuition and Fees
Budget Calculator
The Budget Estimator is a free tool provided to assist students as a guideline to budget and plan finances. It is only as accurate as the information you provide. Costs featured below can vary depending on your personal circumstances and change without notice so always refer to the direct source for the most up-to-date information.
Start building your budget by gathering your sources of expenses and income. Once you've gotten your costs sorted out, plug in your numbers using our budget calculator by downloading our Google Sheet or Excel file. Feel free to look through the example budget sheet below to see how it works!
Sources of Expenses
Education
- Tuition
- This depends on your program and may depend on the number of courses you are taking each term. Refer to the Calendar for the most accurate information on your program tuition. Also consult with your graduate program to learn about any additional fees or costs.
- Student Fees
- Books + Supplies
Housing
Statistics about the general cost of living in the Lower Mainland can be a helpful guide in your budget planning.
- Rent
- Fees are dependent on the type of residence. Refer to SFU Residences for the latest up-to-date fees. Rental fees off-campus can range greatly.
- Food/Groceries
- Utilities
- Phone Plan
- TV/Cable/Streaming Subscriptions
- Internet
Medical/Health
- BC MSP
- If you're a TA/TM, MSP is included in your benefits package.
- GSS Benefit Plan
- TSSU Benefit Plan
- If you're a member of the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU), you may be eligible for the TSSU extended healthcare plan. You may also be eligible for MSP coverage.
- guard.me@SFU Plan
- A short term primary medical insurance coverage for international students. Its goal is to help you transition while you are waiting for your BC MSP.
- Emergency
Transportation
- U-Pass
- Gas
- Car Insurance
- Parking
- Car Payments (Loan or lease payments)
- Taxi/Ride Hailing
- Other (Car maintenance, repairs, etc.)
Personal
- Recreation (Sports, gym membership, etc.)
- Entertainment (Movies, outings, bars, etc.)
- Personal Care (Haircuts, beauty products, etc.)
- Child Care
- Clothing
- Vacation
- Gifts
- Other
Sources of Income
Income
- Part-Time Job
- The SFU Student Temp Pool can be a good opportunity for temporary, part-time work. International student should consult International Student Advising and Programs (ISAP) for information on employment and requirements.
- Family Contributions
- Work-Study Program
Financial Assistance
Savings + Investments
- Savings
- Investments
- RESP
- In-Trust
Miscellaneous
- Gifts
- Refunds
- Other
Example Budget Sheet
This sheet is only an example to show how the calculator works and cannot be edited. To build your own budget sheet, use one of the links below to download a copy.
