SFU Entrance Scholarships and Awards (Open / Major Entrance / Spirit of SFU)

About this award

Simon Fraser University's entrance scholarships for incoming undergraduate students at the Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver campuses. Separate streams for high-school direct entrants and post-secondary transfer students; dedicated Indigenous Entrance Awards. Most are automatic on admission; a subset require supplementary applications.

Simon Fraser University runs a multi-tier entrance scholarship program managed by the SFU Financial Aid and Awards office. The system distinguishes between high-school direct applicants and transfer applicants from BC colleges or other post-secondary institutions, with each path having its own awards. Notable streams include the SFU Open Scholarship (broad merit-based entrance funding), the Major Entrance Scholarship (named higher-tier awards, often donor-funded), and the Spirit of SFU entrance package (combines merit with engagement / leadership signals). SFU also operates a dedicated Indigenous Scholarships and Awards stream including Indigenous Entrance Awards for incoming students, Bursaries and Work-Study, and an Entrance Award programme — all listed in a separate Indigenous funding section so the awards are easy to find. Most entrance awards are automatic — your SFU admission application is the entry — and selection is based on academic record plus, for some awards, a Personal Statement or short-answer responses. A subset of named donor awards require a separate application with its own deadline; check the current cycle's entrance scholarships page in late fall for the supplementary forms.

Can you get it?

• ✓ Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or International — citizenship requirement
• ✓ Undergraduate — study level
• ✓ Resident of BC — provincial eligibility

How to apply

1. 1

   Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour

   Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.

2. 2

   Request your official transcript1–2 weeks

   Order through your school registrar: allow 1–2 weeks.

3. 3

   Draft and revise your essays~10 hours

   Use the STAR framework. Be specific, show impact, proofread twice.

4. 4

   Submit before the posted deadline~1 hour

   Check the official source for the current deadline: save a copy and submit at least 24 hours early.

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