Colleges Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University www.sfu.ca

Established in 1965, Simon Fraser University is a public research university located along British Columbia’s scenic west coast. It maintains three campuses in Greater Vancouver, respectively located in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver. The 170-hectare (420-acre) main campus on Burnaby Mountain is less than 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The Surrey campus is located inside Central City, and the Vancouver campus is largely situated in downtown Vancouver. SFU’s three campuses are all accessible by public transit. SFU is considered to be Canada’s most community-engaged research university, serving more than 37,000 students each year. The university also includes more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries. In addition to such programs as Applied Sciences, Business, Communication, Art & Technology, SFU also offers students a range of experiential opportunities such as work-integrated learning, international field schools and exchanges, and the innovative Semester in Dialogue focusing on social and civic issues.

Academics

Simon Fraser University is a member of multiple national and international higher education associations, including the Association of Commonwealth Universities, International Association of Universities, and Universities Canada. SFU is home to over 60 research centres and institutes that drive impactful, collaborative research, addressing scientific and global challenges while fostering engagement with students and scholars. The school has 10 faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs. Undergraduate and graduate programs at SFU operate on a year-round, three-semester schedule. In 2015, SFU became the second Canadian university to receive accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The student-faculty ratio at Simon Fraser University is 19:1. Popular majors include Business, Engineering, Computing, and Environmental Science.

Special Highlights

Global Student Centre. The Global Student Centre is the campus hub for creating intercultural connections and sharing your international student experience. It is the space for all things global, intercultural, and international at Simon Fraser University. We open our doors during the week so students may use our GSC lounge to take a break, enjoy free snacks, meet fellow students, or have focused study time. The GSC also hosts an array of events aimed at fostering connections among international students, cultivating an inclusive global community on campus, and celebrating intercultural diversity at SFU. The International Student Experience Support is a suite of drop-in services offered by our team of professional staff and trained student advisors at the Global Student Centre. It is open to all international undergrad and graduate students to receive assistance and guidance on various topics and questions throughout their academic journey.

International Student Services. The Chang Institute is Simon Fraser University’s interdisciplinary home and academic hub for experiencing entrepreneurship and growing your entrepreneurial mindset. From learning in the classroom, to workshops, events, competitions, and a comprehensive incubator program, we’re here to help you. Our programs and services are open to all students, faculty, staff, and recent alum from every faculty. Students can participate in-person on campus or virtually. From leadership talks, ideation workshops to showcases and get-togethers, the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship loves to support the SFU community to get involved in interdisciplinary entrepreneurship. SFU offers courses and certificate programs to students within all faculties and departments. Activate any SFU degree by adding skills, perspectives, and knowledge that will help you stand out, and then transform your ideas into impact as a startup founder. The possibilities are limitless.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Simon Fraser University is dedicated to producing innovative research that benefits society, preparing students to meet the growing demands of today’s workforce, and creating a vibrant community that champions justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. SFU commits to advancing a sustainable future, working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. SFU’s main campus is home to the Trottier Observatory and the Compute Canada facility containing Cedar, one of Canada’s supercomputing and data centres. The Harbour Centre campus, in the heart of Vancouver’s financial district, includes the Segal Graduate School of Business, the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, the Charles Chang Innovation Centre, and the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. The Surrey campus, designed by famed architect Bing Thom, houses the Sustainable Energy Engineering program. SFU is the first Canadian member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the world’s largest college sports association.

Student Reviews…

“Simon Fraser University is a strong academic institution that excels in its course offerings, co-op program, and diverse student body. Unlike many larger universities where professors can feel distant, SFU stands out for its faculty’s accessibility. While it may not offer the most exciting social life, the more personalized learning experience is invaluable for future success.”