Reach out to prospective referees promptly, as their response is due by the program's application deadline. A reference letter beyond what is requested in the online form is not required, unless noted.

Your referee can be either a:

• University professor/instructor who has taught or supervised you in a capacity such as research;
• Graduate-level TA/lab instructor; or
• Non-family member, only if the program allows for personal/professional references.

Your referee will be emailed a fillable online form, asking:

1. How long they have known you and in what capacity;
2. The relevance of the Field School to your career;
3. Areas of weakness;
4. Adaptability to new cultures; and
5. An overall rating (potential, motivation, adaptability, maturity) of your suitability for a Field School.

We recommend selecting an instructor from a class you did fairly well in. Also consider how well they know you. Did you speak in class? Was it a large lecture, or small class? Did you attend their office hours? How long ago was the class? How many classes have you had with them? Are they an advocate of study abroad or international research?

When reaching out to a prospective refereee, we suggest including:

1. Your current transcript;
2. Your resume; 
3. A brief statement outlining your interest in the Field School;
4. That it is a brief, entirely online form emailed to them; and
5. Their response is due by [the program's application deadline].

Once your referee agrees, you will input their contact information in your Study Abroad System application to request their reference. You will receive an email upon their submission, and the request will show as complete in your application.

Please note: while the system allows you to apply without, your application will not be considered complete until your referee has submitted.

See How to ask for a reference letter for more advice.

Please list the Field Schools Program Assistant's contact details as your reference only if the program does not require one:

• Email: fieldschools@sfu.ca
• First Name: Field
• Last Name: Schools

If you are a current SFU student, upload your current SFU advising transcript using term view.

• SFU co-op, official, and unofficial transcripts are not accepted. 
• For a December application deadline, your transcript must contain your Summer grades and list of Fall courses. For a January application deadline, your transcript must contain your Fall courses and grades. 
• If you have transferred credits from other post-secondary institutions, it is recommended you include unofficial transcripts from them (merged into one PDF). 

If you are applying as a Visiting Undergraduate Student, upload a digital copy or scan of your current official transcript.

• Ensure the grade scale is included—usually the back page of a physical transcript.

If you are applying as a non-SFU Visiting Graduate Student, upload a current unofficial transcript.

• We also recommend including your undergaduate degree's official transcript, and/or any unofficial transcripts from previously-attended institutions, all merged into one PDF.

Note: A sealed or digital official transcript directly from your home institution is required around January - March if accepting an offer. 

The Field School Student Acknowledgment Form and Field School Program Fee Refund Policy Form are legal documents, which outline the terms of your participation in the program. Keep the original for your records.

Please make sure each form follows these points to be considered complete:

• Read;
• Signed by hand or esignature; and
• All pages are merged in order into one PDF.
• If under the age of 19 at the time of signing, your parent or guardian has also signed.

Field School Student Acknowledgment Form

Program Fee Refund Policy (ensure you fill out the correct form for your program).

The respective form must be signed by an adult witness who sees you fill it out, and completed by the program's application deadline. 

If you are 19 years of age or older at the time of signing, please complete the SFU Field School Assumption of Risks Agreement (AOR), otherwise please have your parent/guardian complete the SFU Field School Informed Child Consent Agreement (ICC). 

A copy of the form, including the Submission Code required to submit your application, will be emailed to you or your parent/guardian following submission. Please keep this for your records.

Upload your standard 1-2 page resume, including education, employment history, volunteer experience and interests.

If you do not have a resume or have one you’d like to update, we suggest you attend a workshop or connect with an advisor from SFU Career Services.

Upload a scanned copy of the photo page of your valid passport. Your passport must be valid for the time period covering the Field School and for the subsequent six months.

It is your responsibility to ensure your passport will be valid for the appropriate duration.

While your application can be considered complete without, if you need to renew or obtain a new passport, we strongly recommend applying as soon as possible.

Upload a passport-style photo of yourself. Selfies are accepted as long as they meet the criteria: 

Supported file formats: .jpeg, .gif, .png, or similar photo file. Please do not submit a .pdf, .doc, or .HEIC (iPhone) file.

See image below.

1. Confirmation of primary medical insurance. You must indicate you have and will maintain primary medical insurance such as BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP) for the full duration of the Field School.

2. Confirmation of secondary medical insurance. You must indicate whether you are covered as the SFSS Undergraduate Health / Dental or the GSS Benefit Plan for the current academic year (September 1st - August 31st). If you have already opted out of the respective plan or are a Visiting Student, please submit a signed copy of the Field Schools: Confirmation of Alternate Travel Medical Coverage form.

You will need to submit emergency contact information for someone that could be reached for the duration of the field school in case of an emergency. An English-speaking contact is preferred.

Additionally, if you anticipate that a family member, friend or representative will be inquiring on your behalf about your field school program and you wish that person(s) to have access to that information, ISS will require your permission before any personal information is released. We recommend at least one person you identify will be located in the Vancouver area during the time that you are away on your field school. Please note, this is separate from the Designate in goSFU.

If you need to change any of the above after the application deadline, email fieldschools@sfu.ca.

You will be asked to respond to the following questions in the application system.

1. Why have you decided to apply for this Field School program?

• Include how this experience would benefit your degree and support your future academic, career and/or personal goals. (Up to 250 words)

2. How do you prepare for, and adapt to, new and challenging situations?

• If you have had experiences that you think are relevant to your participation in the Field School program—either internationally or locally—include these as examples. 

You will be required to input referral information about how you heard about the Field School program and whether you have been in contact with us.

Your responses do not impact your elgibility nor factor into selection to the Field School.

Degree-seeking SFU students applying for a full-time Field School program may apply to the Suite of Study Abroad Awards within their program application. Visiting Students are not eligible.

Students submit one application to be considered for the full suite of awards, but only a maximum of one International Mobility Award (IMA) will be awarded per student. IMA applications will first be considered for the highest value IMA eligible.

Each award has its own eligibility and selection criteria, which are detailed on the application.

• Degree-seeking SFU students enrolled in a full-time Field School may apply for SFU Financial Aid. 
  • Visiting Students: please inquire with your home instution for options.

Student Loans

• Domestic students enrolled in a full-time Field School are eligible to apply for student loans.
• American citizens may apply for U.S. Direct Loans.
• Other international citizenship holders should inquire with their home institution.

Visit SFU Study Abroad's Financial Aid page for more information.

Please refer to the Visiting Field School Student Guidelines for additional information.

If you are not a current SFU student, you must complete both the Field School Program Application and the applicable Visiting Student Application, embedded within the Study Abroad System program application.

Please do not apply to SFU through the regular application process.