IUPP: FAQs

• Applicants must normally have graduated from high school
• Foundations of Math 10
• English 11 or English 11 First Peoples
• Official Transcripts (High School or any educational institution that reflects the required courses listed above)
• One letter of reference (non-family)
• Provide documentation of Aboriginal heritage (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit). This could include but is not limited to, Indian or Métis status cards, official Inuit identification, official letters from Aboriginal organizations, or a combination of documents and in-person interviews. (For more information or if you are experiencing challenges with attaining documentation then please email: indigenous_students@sfu.ca.)
• Successful completion of the Math Immersion for Indigenous Scholars Program (MIISP), which is a free online 4-week/2 hours per day program running in July to prepare you for IUPP.

YES! We know that your grades do not always represent your academic potential which is why we at IUPP thoroughly review each applicant’s application and interview them to learn about their unique story. We like to believe that anything is possible if you remain dedicated and work hard so we would encourage you to apply even if you were not able to graduate from high school.

YES, we offer 3 Foundations courses in our curriculum for students who may not yet meet SFU’s general requirements. Completion of our 3 Foundations courses listed below, gives students 8 units of Foundations courses.

Term 1 - FAN X91-2 (Part 1): Foundations of Analytic and Quantitative Reasoning

Term 2 - FAN X92-2 (Part 2): Foundations of Analytic and Quantitative Reasoning

Our quantitative courses (FAN X91-2 and FAN X92-2) help students and can be used by both students who wish to upgrade their background in math, and students who want to refresh their skills after several years away from mathematics. Achieving a grade of C or better would allow students to gain quantitative proficiency and proceed to Q courses.

Term 2 FAL X99-4: Foundations of Academic Literacy

Our academic writing course (FAL X99-4) introduces students to the kinds of reading and writing they will encounter in lower-division courses across university disciplines. Achieving a grade of C or better would allow students to gain writing proficiency and proceed to W courses.

You do not need to be a BC resident to be eligible for our program and if costs of relocating to BC for potential in-person classes is a concern, we may also be able to see what funding options are available to you, accordingly.

IUPP provides MANY supports for our students, ensuring that they do not feel overwhelmed. Our pathway ensures that applicants have additional supports as they transition into university.

Our course, FASS 120-2: Learning Strategies for Academic Success, teaches studying strategies you will be able to use throughout your academic route and while also ensuring your mental wellbeing.

Currently, since the program is cohort-style and there is a set class schedule, the program is only offered as full-time since there are 4 courses per term (8 courses in total). However, a full-time course load allows you to be eligible for appropriate funding along with allowing you to gain organizational and time-management skills.

Currently, we do not offer classes in the evenings or on the weekend, our classes are usually Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. However, we may offer classes in a wider range of times in the future if our program continues to grow!

Our program has numerous supports to ensure you succeed even if Math or English are not yet your strength.

Our math courses promote continuous practice and are taught in small groups to ensure that our fantastic mathematics professor can personally support individual students during class.

Similarly, our English courses have additional layers of support based on student’s needs.

In addition, the professors and academic mentors hold office hours numerous times in the week to continually support our students through the course.

No, our program is free to apply, there is no application fee to encourage everyone to apply, regardless of socioeconomic status!

The deadline to apply is June 1. However, we recognise that there may be unique circumstances that may have hindered you to submit your application by the deadline. If you are interested in IUPP for the Fall of 2023, and the deadline has passed please email: indigenous_students@sfu.ca

Please see ready to apply for application instructions.

Anyone who is not a family member, who you feel knows you well and may be well-acquainted with your accomplishments, can write a reference letter for you! Some examples are teacher, professor, counsellor, former employer, supervisor, colleague, client, etc.

Please provide a transcript from your most-recent academic insitution. Transcripts can be from your high school, college, or university.

YES! Even if you do not yet have access to your transcript or reference letter right away, you can still submit your application with all the other sections completed and submit your missing documents later via email to indigenous_students@sfu.ca

If you are experiencing challenges attaining your academic transcript, feel free to email  indigenous_students@sfu.ca and we can assist you.

Don’t worry! Email us at indigenous_students@sfu.ca and we will provide you with support.

The pathway fees from the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar are estimates:

• Total tuition and supplementary fees: $5,836.10
• Plus SFSS Health & Dental Plan Fees (if applicable)
• Book and supplies cost may be evaluated at approximately $936/term.
• Additional costs may apply for residence or meal plan fees (if applicable).
• See details specific to IUPP fees. 

Funding options for youth in care:

The Provincial Tuition Waiver Program waives tuition fees for B.C. students who are former youth in care between 19 and up to their 27th birthday who are attending a B.C. public post-secondary institution.

Youth Education Assistance Fund (YEAF)

This program provides grants of up to $5,500 per program year to former B.C. youth in care students between 19 and 24 years of age. Students may receive a maximum of four grants.

Students should be applying on a term by term basis.  The forms can be submitted to the the SFU Financial Aid and Awards office to complete the confirmation of enrollment section.

Agreements with Youth Adults (AYA funding)

The Agreements with Youth Adults (AYA) program can assist you if you have been in foster care or had a youth agreement. This program can provide assistance, with costs of things such as housing, child care, tuition and health care while you go back to school, or if you are attending rehabilitation, vocational or approved life skills programs.

Aged Out brought to you by Former Youth in Care

This online resource was created by and for youth that have been in care or are currently in care.  This interactive website explores topics such as education, health and wellness, housing, money & income and ID Needs.

Other funding opportunities may be available as well!

Sponsorship

Since the IUPP is a university preparation pathway, it is intended to meet the full-time eligibility requirements for most government-funded sponsorship programs. You may be eligible for sponsorship by First Nations band funding, funding through Métis organizations and/or funding from Inuit organizations. https://www.sfu.ca/students/fees/howtopay/methods/thirdparty.html  

ACCESS - Aboriginal Community Career & Employment Services Society

ACCESS provides education and training services to Indigenous people (Status, Non-Status First Nations, Inuit and Métis) living in Greater Vancouver. If eligilible, they provide funding for tuition, books and living expenses.

Indspire

It is a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.

Indspire provides hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and awards to thousands of Indigenous students every year and you may be eligible for some of them.

Deadline dates: February 1, August 1, November 1

Bursaries

Links below have a compilation of different bursaries available for your educational journey

Aboriginalstudents.ca

Aboriginallearning.ca provides resources for First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners wishing to pursue or continue college or university (post-secondary) studies in British Columbia

Student loans and grants through Studentaid BC as a full-time student

Since our program is a full-time 8-month long program, student loans and grants (for full-time) are available to our students. If you are receiving sponsorship, it may not exclude you from receiving student loan funding. Government student loans may consist of loan funding which is repayable and grant funding which is non-repayable.

Although student loan funding is repayable, there are many debt management programs available which can assist you if you are financially unable to make your payments. Please see the StudentAid BC page on repaying your loan.

You may also be eligible for some scholarships and grants listed here.

Unsure or want more information? Ask us!

Our current team includes:

• Our IUPP staff
• Our amazing professors
• Our supportive academic mentors

Each member of our team is readily available to guide and support you with any challenges you may experience during IUPP. They will always try to either help you themselves or point you in the right direction!

There are also numerous free support services offered by SFU for Indigenous students to ensure your mental wellbeing. These services include counselling sessions, live chats etc.

Indigenous Student Centre (ISC)

The ISC provides a space to enrich our students’ academic, social and cultural lives.

There are many services and programs for our students.

These services:

• Academic Support
• Tutoring program
• Cultural Connections
• Elders Program
• Indigenous Learning Living Community
• Financial Aid and Awards Advising
• Health and Counselling Services
• Peer Cousins Mentorship Program

First Nations Student Association is an independent student-run organization which hosts several events and services to support our students.

Successful completion of all IUPP courses and a GPA of 2.5 at the end of our program guarantees direct admission to SFU* with full transfer units! While there can be more specific program requirements, successful completion of this program means you will not need to apply for admission to SFU to continue your studies here!

* Additional requirements for Faculties other than the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) may apply. For example, to transfer from FASS to the Faculty of Science, you must first meet at a minimum these specific admission requirements:

• Minimum SFU CGPA of 2.00 (attained by successfully completing IUPP)
• Minimum 12 units completed at SFU (attained by successfully completing IUPP)
• Minimum of 3 Faculty of Science courses taken at SFU, with a minimum C+ in each of the three courses (one must be Math 150, 151, or 154).

SFU Residence and Housing is a living learning community made up of towers, traditional residence halls, studio style apartments and townhouses.

All rooms are private single rooms (i.e., no roommates) which means that you won't have to share your room with anybody.

Find out more about the different housing options here.