Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Compare Simon Fraser University programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways in one source-reviewed guide. Jump to the decision section you need below.
The short answer
- Apply through EducationPlannerBC, not OUAC (the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, Ontario's university application site). The fee is $87.75 for domestic applicants and $130 for international applicants.
- Ontario students need six Grade 12 U or M courses, which are university or college prep courses. You also need ENG4U at 70% or higher and your program's required courses.
- Fall 2027 applications opened October 1, 2026 and close January 31, 2027 on EducationPlannerBC.
- Fall 2026 tuition is $220.61 per unit for domestic students. International students pay $1,262.88 per unit if they started in 2024/25 or later.
- Fall 2026 first-year residence starts at $3,780 per term for a North Towers single. A $3,727 meal plan is required there.
Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides
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Overview
Simon Fraser University — one source-backed guide
SFU decisions for Fall 2027
Simon Fraser University has campuses in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver. It is the main B.C. choice other than UBC. Apply to the program, not just the university name. Prerequisites, competitive range, supplemental work, start campus, premium tuition, and co-op structure all change by faculty. Confirmed facts below are kept apart from Fall 2026 planning evidence. This way, an older fee or deadline is never shown as new.
$87.75
EducationPlannerBC application fee (domestic)
3 terms
Trimester calendar: September, January, May starts
3 campuses
Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver
Fall 2027 cycle status
Fall 2027 · Published for this period
SFU's high-school deadline hub now publishes Fall 2027, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 intakes. Fall 2027 applications opened October 1, 2026 and close January 31, 2027 on EducationPlannerBC.
Beedie and Contemporary Arts supplements are due February 7. Most high-school documents are due February 28. The previous fall sequence closed January 31, 2026.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2027 high-school application dates and deadlines · Verified October 1, 2026
Three-term (trimester) calendar
Current structure · Published for this period
SFU runs three terms a year: Fall begins in September, Spring in January, and Summer in May. The Summer term also contains a shorter Intersession (eight weeks, May–June) and Summer Session (six weeks, July–August).
Year-round terms are a real SFU differentiator: courses, co-op work terms, and even admission intakes run in all three terms.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Admission terminology: the three-term (trimester) calendar · Verified August 14, 2026
Varsity sport: NCAA to U SPORTS transition
2027–28 · Published for this period
SFU was accepted as U SPORTS' 59th member on June 4, 2026. It begins Canada West competition in 2027 in basketball, cross country, indoor track and field, soccer, swimming, and wrestling. This comes after one final NCAA Division II season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Media release: SFU becomes U SPORTS' 59th member university · Verified August 14, 2026
Detailed application guides
Best Computer Science Programs in Canada
Compare SFU Computing Science with Waterloo, U of T, UBC, McGill, and Carleton.
SFU acceptance rate
About 78% in 2025-26 is our calculation from SFU's applications and offers. Compare the by-program table of official grade ranges, labels and offer timing.
Canadian University Application Deadlines 2027
Compare this university's published date with application dates across eight provinces. Those dates are confirmed, annual, and still pending.
Admissions Planning
SFU admissions: EducationPlannerBC route, requirements, and deadline status
SFU is not on OUAC—applications go through EducationPlannerBC. Ontario applicants need six Grade 12 U/M courses with ENG4U at 70% or higher plus the exact program prerequisites below. Historical grade ranges are competitiveness signals, not guaranteed cut-offs.
| Program route | Ontario Grade 12 pattern |
|---|---|
| Computing Science / Software Systems | ENG4U (minimum 70%), MHF4U, one of SBI4U, SCH4U, or SPH4U, plus three additional approved 4U/M courses. MCV4U is recommended. |
| Engineering Science | ENG4U (minimum 70%); MHF4U, SCH4U, and SPH4U (minimum 75% in each); plus two approved 4U/M courses. MCV4U is recommended. |
| Mechatronic Systems / Sustainable Energy Engineering | ENG4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, and SPH4U (minimum 70% in each), plus two approved 4U/M courses. MCV4U is recommended. |
| Business (Beedie) | ENG4U (minimum 70%), MHF4U, one approved mathematics, science, or social-studies course, and three more approved 4U/M courses. A supplemental application is required. |
| Science | ENG4U (minimum 70%), MHF4U, two additional approved 4U/M mathematics or science courses, and two approved 4U/M courses. |
| Health Sciences (BSc) | ENG4U (minimum 70%), SBI4U, SCH4U, one approved mathematics course, one approved mathematics, science, or social-studies course, and one additional approved 4U/M course. |
| Arts and Social Sciences | ENG4U with at least 70%. One math or science course. One social-studies course. One course in math, science, social studies, or a language. Two more approved 4U/M courses. |
| Program | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Computing Science / Software Systems | High 80s to low 90s | High 80s to low 90s |
| Engineering Science / Mechatronic Systems | Mid 80s | Mid 80s |
| Sustainable Energy Engineering | Mid 80s | High 80s |
| Business (Beedie) | Minimum grades in the 80s + supplemental | Minimum grades in the 80s + supplemental |
| Arts and Social Sciences | Low 80s | Mid 80s |
| Communication, Art and Technology | Low 80s | Mid 80s |
| Health Sciences / Science | Mid 80s | High 80s |
| Intake | Deadline status | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2027 | January 31, 2027 | Applications opened October 1, 2026 on EducationPlannerBC. Beedie and Contemporary Arts supplements are due February 7, most documents February 28, and most students accept by May 1. Classes begin September 7, 2027. Checked October 1, 2026. |
| Previous fall sequence (Fall 2026) | January 31 application deadline | Applications opened October 1, 2025. The main application deadline was January 31, 2026. Beedie and Contemporary Arts supplements were due February 7. Most documents were due February 28. |
| Spring 2027 | September 15, 2026 | Applications opened July 1, 2026. Documents are due October 1. Offers are expected from late August through October. Classes begin January 5, 2027. |
Application route: EducationPlannerBC, not OUAC
Current route · Published for this period
All applications to B.C. post-secondary institutions go through EducationPlannerBC. This includes SFU. They do not go through OUAC. After you apply, SFU issues a personalized to-do list. The list has the required items.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: How to apply: EducationPlannerBC, application fees, and deposits · Verified August 14, 2026
Application fee
Current fee schedule · Published for this period
$87.75 for domestic applicants and $130.00 for international applicants, paid with the EducationPlannerBC application.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified October 16, 2026
Admission deposit on acceptance
Current fee schedule · Published for this period
The deposit is $250 for domestic students. It is $5,000 for international students. If a study permit is denied, the international deposit is refunded. A $150 processing fee is taken off.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: How to apply: EducationPlannerBC, application fees, and deposits · Verified August 14, 2026
Ontario academic base
Current requirements · Published for this period
A minimum of six Grade 12 U/M courses including ENG4U at 70% or higher, plus required Grade 11 courses and the program's subject prerequisites. Computing Science needs MHF4U and one of SBI4U, SCH4U, or SPH4U; Beedie needs MHF4U plus the supplemental application.
Applies to: Ontario high school
Simon Fraser University: Ontario high-school admission requirements · Verified August 14, 2026
Engineering course-specific minimums
Current requirements · Published for this period
Engineering Science requires MHF4U, SCH4U, and SPH4U at 75% or higher in each; Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering require the same three courses at 70% or higher in each, on top of ENG4U at 70%.
Applies to: Ontario high school
Simon Fraser University: Ontario high-school admission requirements · Verified August 14, 2026
Historical admission grade ranges
Past three years · Published for this period
These are published three-year ranges. Computing Science and Software Systems: high 80s to low 90s for domestic and international. Engineering Science and Mechatronics: mid 80s. Sustainable Energy Engineering: mid 80s domestic and high 80s international. Health Sciences and Science: mid 80s domestic and high 80s international. Arts and Social Sciences and Communication, Art and Technology: low 80s domestic and mid 80s international. Beedie: minimum grades in the 80s, plus the supplemental.
SFU states that grades equal to or higher than these ranges do not guarantee an offer of admission.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Historical admission grade ranges (past three years) · Verified August 14, 2026
Beedie supplemental application
Current requirements · Published for this period
All Beedie high-school applicants must send a supplemental application. The fee is $95.12 CAD. It has a written short-answer response, achievements from the last four years, and two references. At least one reference must be academic. Assessors evaluate blind against a set rubric. Fall applicants are exempt if they have a complete, eligible USES scholarship application.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Beedie high-school supplemental application · Verified August 14, 2026
Previous fall deadline sequence (Fall 2026)
Fall 2026 benchmark · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Applications opened October 1, 2025 and closed January 31, 2026. Beedie and Contemporary Arts supplemental items were due February 7. Admission documents were due February 28. Most students had to accept offers by May 1. Classes began September 8, 2026.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2027 high-school application dates and deadlines · Verified August 14, 2026
Spring 2027 intake deadlines
Spring 2027 · Published for this period
Applications opened July 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026. Admission documents are due October 1; rolling decisions run from late August through October; classes begin January 5, 2027.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Spring 2027 high-school application dates and deadlines · Verified August 14, 2026
English-language evidence
Current requirements · Published for this period
Test routes include IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0. They include TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall with no part below 4.0 on the new scale used from January 21, 2026. They include Duolingo 125. They include CAEL 70 with no part below 60. They include Pearson PTE 65 with Communicative Skills minimums of 60. Tests must be within 24 months of application. Academic routes such as 70% in a senior-level English also qualify.
Applies to: International
Simon Fraser University: English language admission requirement · Verified August 14, 2026
Programs and Pathways
SFU programs by campus
Computing Science and Computer Science are commonly used as search terms, but SFU names its degree area Computing Science, and Software Systems is a distinct Surrey route. Choose the program first, then confirm the start campus—the trimester calendar means courses and co-op run in all three terms.
Burnaby
SFU's main campus and the broadest degree selection, including Arts and Social Sciences, Beedie Business, Computing Science, Engineering Science, Environment, Health Sciences, and Science.
Surrey
Full-degree routes include Software Systems, Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Sustainable Energy Engineering, Interactive Arts & Technology, and selected Beedie and Operations Research options.
Vancouver
Undergraduate options include Communication, Dance, Film, Gerontology, and Visual Culture and Performance Studies. Confirm the start campus for the exact program.
Compare SFU with Canada's leading computer science programs
Compare program structure, prerequisites, competitive context, first-year progression, and work-integrated learning across SFU, Waterloo, U of T, UBC, McGill, and Carleton.
Three campuses, one application
Current structure · Published for this period
SFU's program directory spans Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver. Burnaby is the main campus and has the broadest degree selection. The program determines the start campus, prerequisites, and any supplemental work. The university name does not.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Undergraduate program directory (A–Z) · Verified August 14, 2026
Surrey full-degree routes
Current programs · Published for this period
Complete degrees at Surrey: BASc Mechatronics, BSc Software Systems, BASc Sustainable Energy Engineering, BBA (Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration), BA and BSc Interactive Arts and Technology, and BSc Operations Research. Every faculty offers a start-at-Surrey option, with most programs continuing at Burnaby.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Surrey campus undergraduate programs · Verified August 14, 2026
Vancouver undergraduate routes
Current programs · Published for this period
The Vancouver campus lists five undergraduate programs. They are Communication, Dance, Film, Gerontology, and Visual Culture and Performance Studies.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Vancouver campus undergraduate programs · Verified August 14, 2026
SFU Residence Guarantee, Fees & First-Year Housing
SFU residence: first-year guarantee and Fall 2026 costs
You may qualify for the first-year guarantee if you enter directly from high school. To get it, apply for housing and accept your SFU offer by May 1. The rates below are published Fall 2026 per-term figures. They are useful for a provisional budget. They are not a Fall 2027 quote.
| Room option | Fall 2026 per-term cost |
|---|---|
| North Towers single | $3,780 room + $3,727 mandatory meal plan |
| North Towers super single / single with bath | $4,272 / $4,764 room + $3,727 mandatory meal plan |
| East/West Towers or Courtyard single | $4,600 room + $3,727 mandatory meal plan |
| McTaggart-Cowan single / super single | $4,320 / $4,880; meal plan optional |
| Townhouse single | $4,400; meal plan optional |
First-year residence guarantee for Fall 2027
2027 pending · Fall 2027
The Fall 2027 guarantee dates are not yet published. Here are the current criteria. Apply for on-campus housing by May 1. Accept the SFU admission offer by May 1. Enter SFU directly from high school without completing post-secondary studies after graduation. Applications open October 1 for Fall/Spring contracts. Offers begin in February.
Treat the May 1 apply-and-accept pattern as the working plan and verify the first-year page when the Fall 2027 cycle opens.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: First-year residence guarantee, eligibility, and key dates · Verified August 14, 2026
First-year residence rates by building
Fall 2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
These are the published Fall 2026 per-term rates. North Towers: single $3,780, super single $4,272, single with bath $4,764. East/West Towers: single $4,600. Courtyard Residence: single $4,600. McTaggart-Cowan Hall: single $4,320 and super single $4,880. Townhouses: single $4,400.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 residence and meal-plan fees by building · Verified August 14, 2026
Meal plan cost and where it is required
Fall 2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
The residence meal plan is $3,727 per term and is required in North Towers, East/West Towers, and Courtyard Residence—where most first-year students live. It is optional in McTaggart-Cowan Hall and the Townhouses.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 residence and meal-plan fees by building · Verified August 14, 2026
Residence application and confirmation fees
Current process · Published for this period
There is a $50 non-refundable application fee. There is a $700 confirmation payment applied to the first term. There is a $13 Residence Hall Association fee. This fee excludes graduate and family housing and Charles Chang residents.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 residence and meal-plan fees by building · Verified August 14, 2026
Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid
SFU per-unit tuition, mandatory fees, and USES scholarships
SFU charges tuition by unit. There are upper-division premiums in Business, Engineering, and Computing Science. So build a program-specific estimate. Do not multiply one headline rate. B.C. context: this is unlike Ontario's OUAC universities. Here the application, deposit, and per-unit fee structures all come from SFU's own calendar and EducationPlannerBC.
| Fall 2026 published category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Domestic basic tuition | $220.61 per unit |
| International basic tuition (2024/25 or later entrants) | $1,262.88 per unit |
| Domestic upper-division premium rates | Beedie Business $294.15, Engineering $242.67, Computing Science $231.64 per unit |
| International upper-division premium rates (2024/25 or later) | Business $1,492.13, Engineering $1,348.19, Computing Science $1,327.97 per unit |
| Co-op work term | $932.08 per term |
| Mandatory term fees | $144.25 student services and recreation-athletics (4+ units), $191.91 student activity (full-time), $191.40 U-Pass BC |
Domestic tuition per unit
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
$220.61 per unit basic tuition for Fall 2026—about $6,618 for a 30-unit year before student fees. Upper-division premium rates per unit: Beedie Business $294.15, Engineering $242.67, Computing Science $231.64.
Applies to: Ontario high school, Other Canadian, Transfer, Mature
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified August 14, 2026
International tuition per unit
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
$1,262.88 per unit basic tuition for students entering in 2024/25 or later—about $37,886 for a 30-unit year before student fees. Upper-division premium rates per unit: Business $1,492.13, Engineering $1,348.19, Computing Science $1,327.97. Earlier entry cohorts keep lower grandfathered rates.
Applies to: International
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified August 14, 2026
2027–28 tuition status
2027 pending · 2027–28
Not yet published. SFU posts tuition by term in the academic calendar; Fall 2026 is the latest published undergraduate fee table.
Budget with labelled Fall 2026 per-unit rates and re-check the calendar for the 2027–28 tables before treating any figure as a quote.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Mandatory supplementary fees
Fall 2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Fall 2026 term fees include $144.25 for student services and recreation-athletics for 4+ units. Full-time students pay a $191.91 student activity fee. There is also the $191.40 U-Pass BC transit fee.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship values
Current awards · Published for this period
Named awards for Canadians and permanent residents include the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship at $40,000 (8 × $5,000). They also include the Surrey Close to Home Entrance Scholarship at $20,000. The Rajan Family scholarship in Computing Science is $40,000. The Stolte Family scholarship in Sustainable Energy Engineering is $50,000. The Biagioni Family scholarship is $60,000. International applicants compete for the $140,000 International USES (8 × $17,500). Applicants need a minimum 90% average or 31 IB (the International Baccalaureate diploma) points. They also need demonstrated extracurricular excellence.
USES recipients also get residence-offer priority for the scholarship's duration. They also get front-of-the-line course enrolment priority.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarships (USES) · Verified August 14, 2026
USES application window for Fall 2027
Fall 2027 · Published for this period
SFU's Fall 2027 high-school timeline lists USES applications opening October 1, 2026. They close December 15, 2026. Supporting documents are due January 31.
A complete USES application also waives the Beedie supplemental.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2027 high-school application dates and deadlines · Verified October 1, 2026
Student Life and Support
Student life: the mountain campus, clubs, and transit
Campus fit is part of program fit. Burnaby Mountain is a self-contained hilltop campus reached by transit up the mountain, Surrey places selected routes in a downtown centre, and Vancouver programs use facilities in the city core. Budget commute time honestly—many students live off-mountain and ride transit daily on the U-Pass.
The Burnaby Mountain campus reality
Current campus · Published for this period
Burnaby Mountain is SFU's original campus. It has over 30 academic buildings, research labs, and residences. It has a central library, student union building, and observatory. It has an Indigenous cultural and ceremonial space and a 182,000 sq ft recreation complex. It is surrounded by hiking trails on the mountain.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Student experience: Burnaby Mountain campus, clubs, and support centres · Verified August 14, 2026
Clubs and support communities
Current services · Published for this period
SFU publishes hundreds of active clubs. Students can start a new one. SFU also has dedicated support spaces. These include the Indigenous Student Centre, Black Student Centre, Women's Centre, and Out on Campus for LGBTQIA2S+ students.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Student experience: Burnaby Mountain campus, clubs, and support centres · Verified August 14, 2026
U-Pass BC transit coverage
Current program · Published for this period
The U-Pass BC program is mandatory. It is for eligible student-society members. It gives unlimited, all-zone access to Metro Vancouver public transit. This includes TransLink bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus. It also gives a discount on West Coast Express fares. The fee is charged automatically each term.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: U-Pass BC program coverage and mandatory status · Verified August 14, 2026
SFU Co-op Programs, Work Terms & Career Planning
SFU co-op: designation, admission, and fees
Co-op is optional in most degrees but mandatory in Engineering Science, Mechatronic Systems Engineering, and Sustainable Energy Engineering. Admission to SFU does not guarantee co-op admission—programs weigh GPA, courses, and faculty standing—and each four-month work term carries its own fee.
Co-op designation and work-term definition
Current program · Published for this period
Three work terms must be successfully completed for a four-year undergraduate degree with a co-op designation. A work term is a minimum of 12 weeks and/or 420 hours of full-time paid experience, and co-op runs in all three academic terms.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Calendar: co-operative education work terms and designation · Verified August 14, 2026
Where co-op is mandatory
Current program · Published for this period
Co-op is mandatory in the undergraduate programs of the School of Engineering Science, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, and School of Sustainable Energy Engineering. It is optional in most other programs, and CEWIL Canada accredits SFU co-op.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Calendar: co-operative education work terms and designation · Verified August 14, 2026
Co-op admission and international rules
Current program · Published for this period
Acceptance normally weighs your cumulative GPA (grade point average) at SFU. It also weighs your courses and credit hours. It weighs admission to the chosen faculty and program. Criteria vary by program. You must complete fifty percent of work terms at SFU. Undergraduate international students are normally eligible for a maximum of four work terms.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Co-op program admission criteria and work-term rules · Verified August 14, 2026
Co-op work-term fee
Fall 2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
The published co-operative education charge is $932.08 per work term for Fall 2026. It is the same for domestic and international students.
Applies to: All applicants
Simon Fraser University: Fall 2026 undergraduate tuition, program premiums, and student fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Simon Fraser University applicants need to match Ontario prerequisites to the exact program. They should treat historical grade ranges as guidance, not guarantees. They need to tell the unpublished Fall 2027 deadline apart from the latest fall benchmark. They must choose the right Burnaby, Surrey, or Vancouver route. They should compare unit-based tuition, entrance scholarships, the first-year residence guarantee, and program-specific co-op. This guide keeps those decisions on one page. The page is backed by official sources.
SFU requirements, averages, deadlines, programs, tuition, scholarships, residence, and co-op questions
Direct answers to SFU's Ontario prerequisites, historical admission averages, Computing Science, Engineering and Beedie requirements, Fall 2027 deadline status, three-campus program structure, Fall 2026 tuition rates, entrance scholarships, first-year residence guarantee, housing costs, and co-op rules.
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison. But official university pages remain the source of truth. They are the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology
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