Simon Fraser University Scholarship 2027: $140,000 Award for International Students

Simon Fraser University’s major international undergraduate entrance scholarship for Fall 2027 is worth CAD $140,000 over eight academic terms. Applications for the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarships competition open on October 1, 2026 and close on December 15, 2026.

The International Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship is available to eligible international high-school applicants. In limited cases, exceptionally strong students with demonstrated financial need may also receive an additional living allowance.

SFU International Scholarship Value

Minimum Academic Standard

SFU states that applicants need a minimum average of 90% in the courses required for admission to their primary program, or at least 31 IB points excluding bonus points.

This is a minimum threshold for consideration, not a guarantee of a scholarship. Applicants also need a competitive record of community involvement and achievement.

Who Can Enter the 2027 Competition?

Applicants must be applying to SFU for the Fall term and generally need to be graduating from high school in the year of admission. Students who graduated in the previous year can also be eligible if they have not enrolled in post-secondary courses.

The applicant must also qualify for admission to the primary program listed on the SFU application. If the student is not eligible for that primary program, SFU says the scholarship application will not be considered.

You Must Apply to SFU First

The scholarship application requires an SFU student number. That means applicants need to submit the university admission application before they can access the USES scholarship form.

This sequence is important for students who plan to wait until December. A scholarship deadline may still be weeks away, but the applicant first needs the university application to be sufficiently complete to obtain access.

The Application Looks Beyond Grades

SFU’s scholarship application asks students to describe community involvement and achievements. Applicants can list and reflect on up to five extracurricular activities or achievements, including volunteering, work, athletics, arts and personal accomplishments.

Students can also list awards they have received.

The Essay Is 500 Words

The USES application includes a short essay of approximately 500 words asking applicants to explain how their personal experiences shaped their outlook on life and how that connects with their future at SFU.

The essay is most effective when it connects experience with future direction. A list of achievements without reflection is less useful than explaining how an experience changed the applicant’s thinking, goals or approach to community involvement.

References and Supporting Documents Are Due Later

The scholarship form closes December 15, but supporting documents have a separate deadline of January 31, 2027. SFU requires two complete references by that date, along with all required admission items on the applicant’s To-Do List.

Applicants should still arrange references early. A later documentation deadline should not be treated as a reason to delay contacting referees.

Possible Living Allowance

SFU notes that, in limited cases, an additional living allowance of up to $8,000 per term may be offered to exceptionally talented students with demonstrated financial need.

This additional support is not automatic for every $140,000 scholarship recipient. Applicants should distinguish the main scholarship value from the separate, limited living allowance.

Scholarship Review and Decisions

SFU expects to review applications from February through March 2027. Winners are expected to be announced from mid-March through May.

Students should continue completing admission requirements during the scholarship review period rather than assuming the award application replaces the normal admission process.

Beedie School Applicants Have a Special Interaction

For applicants to the Beedie School of Business, a complete USES application that meets the minimum scholarship requirements can be reviewed in place of the Beedie supplemental application for admission.

This is a specific SFU rule and should not be generalized to other faculties or other Canadian universities.

Why This Award Is Competitive

The scholarship combines a very high award value with admission to a major Canadian university, so meeting the 90% or 31-IB minimum should be viewed only as the entry point.

Applicants should show a consistent record across academics, community involvement, personal achievement and the written application.

Where to Compare Other Funding Options

Students who meet SFU’s academic standard but want to compare other Canadian awards can use Canadanship’s Scholarships section. International applicants should also keep admission funding separate from immigration planning; current study-permit updates are covered under International Students.

Application Calendar

1. Before October: review SFU programs and admission requirements.
2. October 1: scholarship application period begins.
3. Before December 15: submit the complete USES scholarship form.
4. By January 31: complete references and supporting admission documents.
5. February–March: scholarship review.
6. Mid-March–May: scholarship offers are announced.

How the Eight Scholarship Payments Are Maintained

SFU’s USES regulations set different academic conditions as the scholarship progresses.

If the CGPA falls between 2.00 and 2.99 after the early payment stages, later scholarship payments can be paused and may resume once the student returns to a 3.00 CGPA within the award’s tenure. A CGPA below 2.00 can permanently cancel the scholarship.

How to Select the Five Activities in the Application

SFU allows applicants to describe up to five activities and achievements. Choosing the strongest five is usually better than trying to represent every minor activity.

A balanced set can show different dimensions of the applicant: sustained community service, employment responsibility, a major academic project, leadership and a personal achievement. The reflection should explain impact and growth rather than simply restate the activity name.

The Primary Program Choice Can Affect Scholarship Eligibility

SFU explicitly ties scholarship consideration to admission eligibility for the applicant’s primary program. Students should therefore make a realistic first-choice selection that matches their courses and academic record.

If the student is not admissible to that primary program, the USES application will not move forward simply because the applicant qualifies for a second-choice program.

What the $140,000 Figure Means Per Academic Year

The main award is paid as eight instalments of $17,500. For a typical four-year program with two funded academic terms per year, that is equivalent to $35,000 in scholarship support per academic year before any separate living allowance.

The payment structure is important for budgeting. Students should compare each year’s expected scholarship instalments with tuition and living costs rather than treating the $140,000 headline value as immediately available cash.

Official SFU Reference

Checked August 31, 2026. SFU’s Fall 2027 USES application opens October 1, 2026.