Undergraduate
Program Entry
Program entry for all levels for Dance, Film, Music & Sound, Production & Design, Theatre & Performance, and Visual Art BFAs is by audition, interview, or portfolio review. Auditions, interviews and portfolio reviews take place from January to April.
Entry into the Art, Performance & Cinema Studies (APCS) BA is by direct admission to SFU. Please scroll down for Program Area-specific information, instructions, and documents.
SCA Fall 2025 Applications: Info Sessions
With Aimee Rigor (New Student Advisor & Recruiter)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | ZOOM
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | ZOOM
SCA Open House 2024
Thursday, December 12, 2024 | 5:15 PM – 7:30 PM
SFU School for the Contemporary Arts, 149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver
Tour the SCA
We'd love to show you around! A tour is a great opportunity to ask questions about our Areas and the application process. Please fill out our Tour Request Form with your contact information and we'll get back to you to set something up.
Cohort based - Fall Admission
The SCA offers cohort-based BFA programs. Students work with the same group or cohort of students for the four years of their BFA Major. Starting in the Fall term of Year 1, students follow a sequence of cohort classes each year.
Our entry process is limited to Fall term (September) for our BFA programs. While SFU offers Spring and Summer admissions to the University, we are not able to accept applications to the BFA programs for Spring and Summer entry.
Important - Intended Major Status
When you apply to SFU you are asked to declare an Intended Major for the BFA programs. If you are admitted to the University by SFU Admissions, it is as an Intended Major and you have not been accepted to a BFA Major. To be accepted to a BFA Major, you need to complete the supplemental application. This can be found on your TO DO LIST (SCA Supplemental Application) in your SFU Student Centre. The SCA supplemental application process (applications, reviews and decisions) is done in Spring, for entry to a BFA program for the following Fall term.
The SCA BFA and SFU application and acceptance timelines for Fall 2025 are below:
SFU Undergraduate Application Period
- High School Applicants (including Mature Students) and Post-Secondary Transfer Applicants applying to SCA: October 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025
- Post-Secondary Transfer Applicants only: March 1, 2025 - April 15, 2025
BFA Programs Supplemental Application Period: October 1, 2024 - March 15, 2025
- First Deadline: January 15, 2025 (high school applicants strongly recommended to apply by the first deadline)
- Final Deadline: March 15, 2025
Entry into the Art, Performance & Cinema Studies (APCS) BA is by direct admission to SFU. The submission of a supplemental application is not required for this Major.
how to apply
Step 1 - Apply to SFU
You can find SFU's Admissions Requirements HERE.
You can apply to SFU HERE.
Apply to SFU before submitting the SCA supplemental application. You do not need to be admitted to SFU prior to applying to SCA. After applying to SFU, you will be given a 9-digit reference number (e.g. 301XXXXXX) - you will need this number to submit the SCA supplemental application.
Step 2 - Apply to SCA
There are three parts to the SCA supplemental application for the BFA programs:
- Part 1: Fill out the SCA Online Application Form
- Part 2: Submit the Area-specific questionnaire and supporting documents (e.g. portfolio). CLICK HERE for the Area-specific applications.
- Part 3: Audition or interview (Area-specific)
- Dance and Theatre & Performance: Live auditions are held in January and March at SCA
- Film, Music & Sound and Production & Design: You will be contacted if you are selected for an interview in February or April
- Dance and Theatre & Performance: Live auditions are held in January and March at SCA
Step 3 - Your SFU and SCA Application Results
You need to gain admission to both SFU and SCA to start in a BFA Major.
Communication regarding your admission to SFU will come from SFU Amissions, and communication regarding your acceptance to a BFA Major will come from SCA directly.
All applicants will be notified by email.
Don't forget to accept the SFU and SCA BFA offers! You can accept your SFU offer through your goSFU account, and your BFA Major offer by replying to your offer email.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I'm admitted to SFU but not accepted to the SCA?
If you are admitted to SFU but not accepted to a BFA Major, you will be admitted to SFU as an Intended Major. This is not the same as being declared in a Major - it is a placeholder for undeclared students.
Next steps:
- You can re-apply to a BFA Major for the next Fall semester - you do not need to re-apply to SFU, but you do need to submit a new SCA supplemental application.
- You will receive an email from SCA with more information on course enrollment for your first year.
- You can also explore the other Majors offered at SFU - Please reach out to Student Services Advising for more information
What if I'm not admitted to SFU but accepted to the SCA?
Your admission to the BFA Major is conditional on your admission to the University. If you are not admitted to SFU, we encourage you to make alternate plans for the Fall semester.
Please contact SFU Admissions if you have any questions about your SFU application results.
If you re-apply to SFU at a later date, you will also need to submit a new SCA supplementary application. Please note, re-admission to an SCA Major is not guaranteed.
If you have any questions about your application status, please contact the SCA's New Student Advisor at scanew@sfu.ca.
APPLY TO: Dance
The process to apply for the Dance program is a questionnaire and an audition. Please note that a live audition is strongly recommended and preferrred. If circumstances prevent your attendance at a live audition, we will accept a video audition.
Fall 2025 Dance Video Audition Instructions
Find out more about the Dance program HERE.
APPLY TO: Film
The process to apply for the Film program is a questionnaire followed by an interview. Based on the results of the submitted questionnaire, a virtual interview will follow later for approximately half the students who have applied. Please note that applicants for the Film Program may apply a maximum of two times.
Find out more about the Film program HERE.
For answers to frequently asked questions about the Film program, as well as advice on filling out the questionnaire, see our Film Area FAQ.
APPLY TO: Music & Sound
Application to the Music & Sound program requires submitting a questionnaire and a portfolio of musical work. After applications are reviewed, a select group of prospective students will be contacted for a virtual interview.
Fall 2025 Music & Sound Questionnaire
Find out more about the Music & Sound program HERE.
Prospective students are encouraged to thoroughly research the program description, FAQs, and alumni profiles including links that illustrate their work and careers. If these resources spark your curiosity, this may be the program for you!
APPLY TO: Theatre & Performance
The process to apply for the Theatre & Performance program is a questionnaire and an audition. Please note that a live audition is strongly recommended and preferrred. If circumstances prevent your attendance at a live audition, we will accept a video audition or a creative portfolio.
Fall 2025 Theatre & Performance Questionnaire
Fall 2025 Theatre & Performance Video Audition Instructions
Find out more about the Theatre Performance program HERE.
APPLY TO: Production & Design
All prospective Production & Design students will submit a questionnaire. After applications are reviewed, a select group of prospective students will be contacted for a virtual interview.
Fall 2025 Theatre Production & Design Questionnaire
Find out more about the Theatre Production & Design program HERE.
APPLY TO: Visual Art
All prospective Visual Art students are evaluated by means of a portfolio with images and written responses.
Fall 2025 Visual Art Questionnaire
Find out more about the Visual Art program HERE.