Simon Fraser University
Founded 1965 | Burnaby, BC
In addition to the original Burnaby campus—known for its buildings, which were designed by Arthur Erickson, and stunning mountain views—Simon Fraser University has well-established campuses in Vancouver’s downtown core and in the suburb of Surrey. All three campuses have created strong ties with their local communities. One example is UniverCity, a model sustainable community with a population of about 5,200 residents on Burnaby Mountain.
Students have access to a new Student Union Building, and athletic teams benefit from a new $18-million outdoor sports stadium. SFU is the only Canadian school with sports teams competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). A three-semester system provides flexibility, and the university has extensive co-op offerings; 8,500 students are placed with companies such as Tesla and Google. The university’s sponsored research income has grown by 86 per cent over the past 10 years, reaching more than $167 million in 2020. A new scholarship program launched last fall supports equity-deserving students.
“Inspiring students, talented faculty and world-class educational programs distinguish SFU as a leading community-engaged research university,” says president Joy Johnson. “Our priorities are to build on these strengths to enhance the student experience, advance reconciliation and promote equity, diversity and inclusion across SFU.”
Standout Programs
• Indigenous Languages: This program partners with First Nations organizations in B.C. and the Yukon to bring courses in 18 languages to First Nations communities.
• Sustainable Energy Engineering: This is an interdisciplinary program in engineering, entrepreneurship, economics and policy studies. Students develop skills in areas such as clean transportation, smart cities and sustainable manufacturing.
• Environmental Science: By studying physical, biological and environmental sciences, students learn how to tackle environmental problems. Specializations include water science.
Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$7,156
Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 78% · Science: 80% · Commerce: 78% · Engineering: 83%
Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 12,766 · Part-time: 12,934
Graduates: Full-time: 3,821 · Part-time: 865
International Students: First-year: 19%
Graduate: 36%
Male-Female Ratio: 45 to 55
Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 1,966 (approx. 900 reserved for first-year students)
Residence Costs: Single room: $6,384 · Single room with meals: $11,044 to $12,100 · Apartment-style: $6,880 to $10,816
Cool Courses
• Climate Crisis: Understanding a World on Fire: Students examine the global climate crisis and what can be done about it; they consider tools, technologies, forecasting, proposals and political organization.
• Earth Through Time: Students explore how Earth has changed over time and focus on tectonic plates, glaciation, the fossil record, extinctions and evolution.