Completing + Graduation

Degree Completion

Whether you're doing a masters' or a doctoral degree, there are steps you need to take in order to complete your degree. Find information regarding requirements for your thesis and oral examinations.

Scroll down this page for further information not specifically related to thesis and defence procedures.

Doctoral Degree

Learn about thesis requirements →
Learn about defence requirements →

Master's Degree

Learn about thesis requirements →
Learn about defence requirements →

Graduation Checklist

You're nearing degree completion and ready to graduate. Use this checklist to see what your next steps are on the road to convocation.

Check your Academic Progress

When you are completing your capstone draft or final course it is recommended that you run your Academic Progress Report (APR). Your APR will show any outstanding program or university requirements. The only requirement that should show as “Not Satisfied” is your final capstone. If other requirements are displaying “Not Satisfied” contact your supervisor or graduate assistant as soon as possible. It may be that you have been granted an exception that has not been formally submitted or you may be missing a requirement.

Apply to Graduate

During your final term you will need to apply to graduate. You do not have to wait until your defence or thesis has been submitted to the library to apply. Please refer to graduation application deadlines. If circumstances change, it is a straightforward process to withdraw your application to graduate.

Log into your student account at go.sfu.ca.
Under the Academics heading, select the drop-down menu labelled 'other academic...', and select Apply for Graduation, then click the '>>' button, like the image on the right:
Read the instructions, scroll down, and click the Save and Next buttons to fill out the online application form.

NOTE: If you have receive this error, it is a result of your Chrome or Firefox browser settings. This error tends to appear if US English is not the default set for your browser.

To fix this issue, you can either use a different browser (e.g. Edge) or updated your browser settings as follows:

What you'll see in your Student Centre:

Defend your thesis/project

Learn more about doctoral defences →
Learn more about master's defences →

Submit to the library (if applicable)

Your submission must be done by April 30^th for the Spring term, August 31^st for the Summer term or December 24^th for the Fall term (unless December 24 falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. In which case it is the day before the University closure).

Proof of completion

Once Graduate Studies receives and processes the Credential Recommendation from your program, you will be able to download a credential completion letter in goSFU until you receive your Senate letter.

REQUEST A CREDENTIAL COMPLETION LETTER →

Senate formally awards degrees in September, February and May. After Senate awards your credential you will receive an email with a PDF. This PDF is an official letter which can be used to verify your credential to third parties. Graduate Studies is not able to forward the letter to third parties, but, if you need the letter stamped and sealed please contact us at gpsreg@sfu.ca for assistance.

Updating your email address and mailing address

In order to be informed about the convocation and other important information, we recommend reviewing your contact information in goSFU to ensure its accuracy. If you move or change email addresses prior to your convocation ceremony, please update goSFU using the same steps.

Log into goSFU
Scroll to the buttom of your Student Centre to the 'Personal Information' section.
Select 'Addresses' from the drop down and click the blue double arrow button.

Mailing Address

Verify the mailing address is correct/included.
- If it no mailing address is included, click "Add a new Address", complete the information and click "Ok". Select the appropriate Address Type and "Save" once completed.
- If a mailing address is listed, but, is inaccurate, click the pencil icon. complete the information and click "Ok". Select the appropriate Address Type and "Save" once completed.

Alternative Email

Verify the "other" email address is correct/included.
Scroll through the navigation tabs under 'Personal Information’ and select "Email Addresses"
- If it no "other" email is included, click "Add an Email", select "other" from the drop-down menu and type your email in the text field and "Save" once completed.
- If an "other" email address is listed, but, is inaccurate, double click on the text box and type in your non-SFU email address and "Save" once completed.

Convocation

Convocation takes place in June and October. If you completed in the Fall or Spring term, you will be invited to the June ceremony, while students who completed in the Summer term are invited to the October ceremony. In rare cases, you may ask to be in the following convocation (i.e. if you are unable to attend June you may email and request to be included in October).

Approximately 3 weeks before convocation, you can confirm your attendance:

Log into goSFU
On the top-right corner of your screen (Nav Bar), select the compass icon, click Self Service > Graduation/Convocation > Confirm Convoc Attendance
Click the ceremony code for your designated ceremony (A through F)
1. See also: Full Convocation Schedule
Confirm the details listed on this page, specifically your credential
1. If there is an error please contact gradstdy@sfu.ca
Read the permission to release photographs and select your choice
Click Confirm Attendance
A new screen will open confirming your attendance.
1. NOTE: You may confirm that you have successfully completed this process by checking that the "Confirm Attendance" link is now greyed out.

Regalia

All graduands wear regalia at convocation. At SFU it normally includes a gown, hood and a hat or Cambridge Bonnet. Master’s and Doctoral students wear a hood specific to their credential. Gowns are not floor length and your mid-calf and lower may be exposed. Doctoral students should also note that their gowns are open in the front which will show part of your outfit underneath.

Graduands are welcome to wear their Indigenous ceremonial dress, other cultural ceremonial dress, or their military or law enforcement dress uniform with, or instead of, the gown at the convocation ceremonies. In these instances, graduands must still be hooded.

Renting
Once you have confirmed your attendance now you need to rent your regalia. You may rent your regalia the day of convocation, however, you receive a discount when reserving in advance.

Follow the instructions from Gaspard and click Rent Regalia
You will be prompted to add your information, review your order and submit payment
If you have any problems or concerns regarding renting your regalia please call Gaspard at 1-866-949-5703 Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (PST), email alphaomega@gaspard.ca or use the contact form on their website.
- When sending an email to Gaspard please include your name, institution name, student number and order number.

Purchasing
Instead of renting you may purchase your regalia directly through Gaspards.

Not attending convocation?

Your parchment normally be available for pick up at Graduate Studies during normal office hours starting the week after convocation. You may designate another individual to pick it up on your behalf by adding a document pick-up release on your goSFU account.

All parchments not picked up at the end of the month will be mailed to your mailing address.

Early completion refund

In some cases students are eligible for a reduced tuition rate in their final term if their capstone is completed within the first month of the term.

If you meet all of the following criteria you will receive 75% refund on the tuition portion of your student fees (there will be no refund on the ancillary fees):

You are in a research program
You are enrolled only in your thesis, project or capstone course
You have completed your program requirements during the first calendar month of the term (including submission to the library)
AND
Your tuition is assessed at the continuing fee

The following groups are not eligible for the 75% refund:

Master's students in per-unit programs who are enrolled in the first term of their capstone
Master's students in research programs who enrolled for fewer than seven terms (excluding all on leave terms)
Doctoral students who enrolled for fewer than nine terms (excluding all on leave terms)

You do not need to apply for the early completion refund. If you do not pay your tuition fees per the "outstanding fees" schedule applicable to the term, you will be liable for interest even though you expect a refund later in the term. Please pay your fees on time and if you are eligible for the refund, it will be processed by Graduate Studies and transferred to your SFU account, once the Graduate Studies receives confirmation from the Library of the submission date and Degree Recommendation. This refund normally takes place by the 6^th week of the term. When you see that your student account has been credited, you may claim the refund by following the instructions listed here.

Graduate Studies