Established in 1965, Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a public research university in British Columbia, Canada, with a strong academic reputation, culture of research and innovation, and over 60 years of tradition for excellence.
SFU offers over 350 undergraduate programs and nearly 150 graduate programs across a range of subject areas, including degrees, certificates and diplomas at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
SFU's three campuses in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver, British Columbia are all accessible by public transit, and the university is home to more than 33,000 students, including over 6,600 international students representing over 130 countries worldwide.
SFU is currently and repeatedly ranked the number 1 Canadian comprehensive university (Maclean’s University Ranking). It is also Canada's top university for innovation and 14th globally according to the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) rankings and ranks highly in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
As one of Canada’s fastest growing research institutions, SFU is committed to mobilizing knowledge to drive innovations on average, SFU researchers publish 2,900 journal articles per year, over 40 percent of which appear in the world's top 10 percent journals.
SFU students can contribute to this research excellence, working alongside faculty researchers to gain hands-on experience while contributing to projects that help address critical societal challenges.
SFU's Co-operative Education program enables students to incorporate professional work terms into their studies. By applying for opportunities in diverse workplace settings, students can develop skills and explore career interests.
SFU is a globally engaged university that has academic partnerships with more than 120 universities, including many among the top 100 globally. Through exchange programs at these universities along with SFU-led field schools, students gain international experience while earning credit toward their degrees.
2025 401 100
2024 301
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Research and innovation are core values around which SFU’s academic reputation has evolved.
The university has recently been recognised for its continued investment in these values, being named Canada's top university for innovation for the sixth time and is currently 14th globally according to the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) rankings.
These ranking results highlight the strength of SFU’s impact within Canada and on the world stage and indicate the progressive approach to education for which the university is globally known.
SFU ranks among the top 1.9 percent of all universities and number 13 in Canada in the Centre for World University Rankings 2025. The university also performed well in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, placing within the top 301-350 universities in the world. Its education, computer science, psychology, archaeology, anthropology, and communication & media studies programs rank among the best in Canada and the top 150 in the world.
The Times Higher Education 2026 World University Rankings ranked SFU as third in Canada for International Outlook. SFU also placed second in Canada for both Climate Action and Sustainable Cities and Communities and third in Canada for Affordable and Clean Energy in the Times Higher Education 2026 University Impact Rankings.
In 2025, the university opened the Gibson Art Gallery at the Burnaby campus to showcase its extensive art collection as well as the First Peoples’ Gathering House, a gathering place where Indigenous students, staff and faculty can come together to practice, learn and share in their cultural traditions. A major milestone for SFU’s Surrey campus is the 2026 opening of the new SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine, focused on community-embedded and culturally safe healthcare and helping train future physicians for British Columbia.
CAD$34,342 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
CAD$7,637 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
SFU offers a variety of academic programs at various levels of study, with tuition fees contingent on the program and level of study. For example, tuition and student fees for international students are about CAD 38,900 per year for a typical program in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in the 2026/27 academic year.
SFU provides many financial aid options, including scholarships, bursaries and awards, which can be based on academic merit or financial need. One significant source of funding available to international applicants is the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship, which is available to all high school students. This scholarship ranges from CAD 20,000 to CAD 140,000 and is given to students who demonstrate strong potential to enrich the university community through their ongoing academic and community involvement.
There are also scholarships for all students as well as specific ones for certain departments, including applied sciences, arts and social sciences, business administration, and sciences. Additionally, SFU offers work-study and co-op programs that allow students to earn money while gaining valuable work experience.
There are a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs for prospective students to choose from at SFU, and these cover hundreds of subjects and several modes of study.
Specific entry requirements vary between course subject and study levels, and applicants are encouraged to review the program-specific pages on the SFU website to familiarize themselves with important details before preparing their application.
There are many different pathways to admission, from high school applications to college transfer, plus partnership pathways. The SFU admissions team considers each application based on its individual merits and encourages anyone with the desire to gain a top-class Canadian education to apply.
In addition to meeting academic criteria, applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency. This can be demonstrated in two main ways – evidence of completing a secondary education taught in the English language, or via language proficiency exam scores, with a range of exams accepted depending on the score(s) achieved.
SFU is recognized for consistently high standard of teaching across more than 500 undergraduate and postgraduate programs combined, placing it among the best universities in the world for many academic subjects.
Programs are distributed across multiple academic faculties and delivered by experienced and highly qualified instructors, many of whom are involved in ongoing professional work and innovative research projects. Class sizes are small, which results in a more personalized learning experience and greater opportunities for feedback, guidance, and connection.
Students are supported at every stage of their academic journey and have full access to a range of student services, learning resources, academic advising, personal and well-being support, and cutting-edge teaching technologies, helping to drive engagement and give students the best chance for success.
SFU has earned a respected academic reputation, including more than 70 active Royal Society of Canada members currently researching at the university. Between the university’s dedicated faculty and prestigious alumni, SFU has had multiple Rhodes Scholars and Guggenheim Fellows. SFU’s global reputation has attracted over 450 faculty with an international background to become part of its faculty community of more than 1,000 members.
SFU is a research-oriented institution, whose comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programs provide students with relevant and thorough preparation for starting their careers with confidence.
The university offers a unique interdisciplinary academic approach that allows students to combine majors, minors, and certificates to create an educational experience that provides breadth and knowledge, while building a strong foundation in current research, relevant skills, and best practices.
There are over 500 programs for students to choose from, which can lead to a huge variety of career pathways. SFU includes the following ten academic faculties:
Additionally, SFU is home to more than 60 research centers and institutes distributed across these ten faculties, and each performs leading work that contributes to the university’s high ranking among Canada’s top universities for research impact.
SFU's network of research centres address some of the most current and significant global and societal challenges, fostering a collaborative environment in which the research informs the teaching and course delivery throughout the rest of the school. Undergraduate researchers have the opportunity to work alongside experts on projects, teams, or independent exploration, contributing to new discoveries.
SFU offers a wide range of facilities that support learning, research, student life and recreation across its three campuses.
More than 2,300 students live on the Burnaby campus in a mix of residences, towers and townhouses, many with single-occupancy rooms.
The Student Union Building (SUB) is a central gathering place for students at the Burnaby campus. It supports student life through its study spaces, gathering areas, student services, and more than 230 active clubs and groups.
Many student services are centrally located in Burnaby's Maggie Benston Centre, a hub for academic, personal, and career supports. Across all campuses, students have access to resources that help them succeed academically, plan for the future and navigate university life.
Students can stay active through SFU Recreation facilities, including fitness, gym and climbing spaces. The Burnaby campus is home to the Lorne Davies Complex and SFU Stadium which host recreation programs and varsity athletics. Canadian hero Terry Fox played for SFU varsity basketball and the university’s largest competition field is named in his honour.
Each SFU campus is home to a library that provides study space, research support and access to academic resources. In Burnaby, the W.A.C. Bennett Library also houses the Library Media and Maker Commons, where students can explore creative technologies and digital media. The Fraser Library in Surrey and the Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library in Vancouver offer collaborative learning spaces and resources tailored to their campus communities, such as the Games Collection and Room in Surrey.
Surrey's LEED Gold-certified Engineering Building brings together teaching and research through specialized laboratories and collaborative learning spaces. In Vancouver, the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts houses studios, theatres, and production spaces that support creative learning in music, dance, theatre, film, and visual arts.
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