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Graduate ´óÏó´«Ã½s

Applicants complete a profile using the goGrad application system. Follow instructions provided on the Graduate Studies website. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

  1. Complete an application profile in goGrad. If you have an ´óÏó´«Ã½ ID number (either as a student or an employee), use that number.
  2. Pay your application fee ($110 CAD for students with Canadian transcripts; $150 CAD for applicants with international transcripts). Submit the payment at least 5-7 days prior to the final deadline to allow for processing time. Payments must be made by credit card (MasterCard or Visa).
  3. Upload your documents and complete your checklist.

An application is complete when all checklist items show a green checkmark. You will not receive a notification via email.

Application Information and Important Documents

Securing a Supervisor

Applicants should secure a supervisor prior to applying to the program. When contacting potential supervisors, applicants should make sure to discuss their research interests, potential openings within faculty research groups, and to confirm their willingness to supervise applicant's program. Applicants should also discuss whether supervisors are able to provide financial support.

Tips on How to Contact a Potential Supervisor

What are you interested in studying for your research topic? What are your broad research interests? Have you taken a look at our  and ? Once applications are open, applicants will be required to confirm that they have secured a supervisor prior to applying. Reach out to faculty members whose research interests align with yours and introduce yourself. Do a little background research on the faculty member whose work you find interesting (they each have their own research websites) and read a few of their published papers. This will help you when you introduce yourself. Here are some tips on the intro email:

  • Brief Introduction (1 to 2 sentences) – who you are, what degree(s) you hold and from what university, your current work or education status, etc.
  • Clearly State the Reason for Your Email (1 sentence) – let them know you are interested in applying to work with them, what degree you are seeking, and potentially what term you are looking to start (e.g. Fall 2025 or Spring 2026).
  • Explain Your Interests (2 to 3 sentences) – be specific! This might include how you became familiar with their research, what aspects of their work you're specifically interested in (this is where reading their papers comes in!), what your motivations or goals are for continuing your education, and why/how you think their research group can help you achieve those goals
  • Describe Any Additional Relevant Information or Experience (1 to 2 sentences) – this might include any relevant research, work, or life experience, technical skills, etc. that you have and believe would contribute to your success
  • Clearly Stated Inquiry or Request (1 sentence) –  be sure to clearly state the primary question and/or request intended with your email. 

In your emails to potential supervisors, please also include as attachments your CV/resume (be sure to highlight any current or previous research experience, any publications or conference presentations, and any relevant coursework or technical skills), as well as unofficial transcripts from your current or most recent program. 

Research Statement

Applicants are asked to prepare a carefully written Research Statement that must be uploaded with your application. There is no strict word limit, but succinct writing is valued. Applicants should provide a sense of their academic background and interests, but also a sense of their academic interests and the types of research projects that they would like to work on. Prospective supervisors want to see that you have a sense of what makes a good graduate level research topic, both intellectually and in terms of scope. While a sense of research interest is important, applicants also need to be flexible as research is frequently grant-funded which drive research outcomes and expectations.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English and whose education has been conducted in a language other than English are required to submit English Language test scores (TOEFL or IELTS). ´óÏó´«Ã½ code: 0999, a department code is not required.

The standards for English language proficiency are set and evaluated by Graduate Studies. International applicants: please note that you will most likely need to submit TOEFL / IELTS scores. In some cases, a four-year degree from a country where the primary language is English and the language of instruction is English can apply to this requirement; however, it may not be possible to assess this in advance. It may still be necessary to apply and pay the application fee before a full assessment of your English language proficiency can be completed.

International applicants should check if they meet the minimum requirements for their country before submitting an application.

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for your application. All transcripts from all institutions attended, including exchange semesters, are required. Official transcripts received directly from the institution will be requested if you are offered a position in the program and must be received prior to enrolling for the first term.

Additional Documents

In addition to the above documents, please also include an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) and letters of references from three referees who are familiar and competent to judge your academic potential. You will need to provide contact information for these three references in the online application system. E-mail requests will be sent by the system inviting referees to submit the letters of references electronically. Applicants must not be submitting reference letters on behalf of their references. 

Once an official offer from ´óÏó´«Ã½ is sent to you, we require:

Official copies of all academic transcripts in envelopes sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution. International applicants must provide both the original language transcripts and degree certificate, and certified English translations. This may take time so arrange for this early. Please note that official transcripts will not be sent back or returned to the applicant. For more information on where to send your transcripts after your offer of admission, please click here

Entrance Scholarships and Funding

A limited number of major entrance scholarships are available for exceptional students. To be nominated, you are strongly encouraged to submit an application for admission to the School of Environmental Science during the admission dates (check the Graduate Studies website for the exact date). 

Failure to submit your application by this deadline will reduce your chances of consideration in the annual Entrance Scholarship Competition held in February. 

Applicants admitted to the program may receive minimum funding, depending on the supervisor. 

International Students

Immigration and Customs

International students considering graduate studies at ´óÏó´«Ã½ should obtain current immigration requirements from a Canadian Embassy or Consulate ().
 
If admitted, you will receive a formal letter of admission to the degree program from the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. You will also receive a letter specifying the annual stipend from research funds and teaching assistantships from the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee.

´óÏó´«Ã½ International

´óÏó´«Ã½ International provides initial and on-going support services and programs for international students at ´óÏó´«Ã½. Visit the  or ´óÏó´«Ã½ International Graduate Students websites for details.

Qualifying Students

In some circumstances, a student who does not meet the minimum requirements for admission to a Master program may be admitted as a Qualifying Student when it is expected that the admission requirements can be met by satisfactorily completing a number of senior undergraduate courses. Upon completion of these courses, successful students can then apply for regular admission to graduate studies.

Questions? 

Contact Rajdeep Dhadwal, Graduate Program Assistant at sesgrad@sfu.ca for any questions related to EVSC graduate programming.