How to Apply to Engineering at Simon Fraser University: Three CEAB-Accredited Programs in the Faculty of Applied Sciences with Direct Entry From High School and Mandatory Co-op, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

At Simon Fraser University (SFU), in Metro Vancouver, undergraduate engineering is offered by the Faculty of Applied Sciences and leads to the Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc). Based on SFU’s official information for September 2027 entry, this guide is organised for Canadian domestic applicants (by province), international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computing Science and Software Systems are in the same faculty and have their own guide on this site, so they are not covered here.

1. Three engineering programs and accreditation

• Engineering Science: offered by the School of Engineering Science. SFU lists five options: biomedical, computer, electronics, engineering physics and systems engineering; the application page says you choose an option towards the end of second year. In the calendar, the engineering physics option appears only as an honours program. The calendar describes eight academic terms plus at least three co-op terms, and program entry is competitive.
• Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE): offered by the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering at the Surrey campus, combining mechanical, electrical, control and software engineering, with an agricultural technology (AgriTech) concentration. A Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Business double degree is also listed; I did not read its requirements, so check the program page.
• Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE): offered by the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering only at the Surrey campus, combining core engineering with policy, economics and entrepreneurship, and described as accredited by Engineers Canada.
• Accreditation: the calendar says the undergraduate engineering programs of all three schools are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) and provide the academic requirements for P.Eng. licensure.
• Direct entry?: high school students apply directly to a specific program rather than through a common first year; only Engineering Science states that options are chosen at the end of second year.
• Co-op is mandatory: see section 7.

2. How admission works

• How to apply: apply to SFU on EducationPlannerBC, choose the Faculty of Applied Sciences, then BASC Engineering Science, BASC Mechatronic Sys - Surrey or BASC Sustainable Energy Engineering - Surrey. You can name first and second choices.
• Admission is competitive: over the past three years, Engineering Science and Mechatronic Systems Engineering admitted Canadian and student-visa applicants alike with averages in the mid 80s; for Sustainable Energy Engineering it was the mid 80s for Canadians and the high 80s for student-visa applicants. SFU notes that meeting these grades does not guarantee admission. IB Diploma applicants need at least 26 points for any program, and the competitive minimum is higher.
• Two review rounds: early admission uses Grade 11 and any Grade 12 results available, usually released November to January, so apply before the end of January; standard admission uses all Grade 11 and 12 results, usually released February to April. BC grades arrive through the BC Ministry of Education’s Student Transcript Service (STS) and the application is reviewed again as new grades come in.
• Supplemental application: the Sustainable Energy Engineering calendar entry says a supplemental application and documents may be required for specific routes, without saying what; ask the school.
• Grade minimums once admitted: Engineering Science needs C- or better in prerequisites to take engineering science courses; Mechatronic Systems Engineering needs C- in all courses counted towards the program; graduation requires a cumulative and an upper-division GPA of at least 2.0.

3. High school courses and deadlines

• British Columbia (same for all three): graduation with at least five approved academic Grade 12 courses; at least 70% in Language Arts 11 or English 12; required English Studies 12 (or English First Peoples 12), Chemistry 12, Physics 12 and at least one of Pre-Calculus 12 or Calculus 12; no specific Grade 11 courses; equivalent AP or IB courses may substitute.
• Ontario: Grade 11 ENG3U, MCF3M or MCR3U and one science (SBI3U, SCH3U, SVN3M or SPH3U); Grade 12 ENG4U (70%), MHF4U, SCH4U and SPH4U plus two more approved courses; MCV4U is recommended. Engineering Science requires 75% in MHF4U, SCH4U and SPH4U, while Mechatronic Systems and Sustainable Energy Engineering require 70%. SFU asks for at least six Grade 12 U/M courses overall.
• Alberta: Grade 11 ELA 20-1, Math 20-1 or 20-2 and a 20-level science; Grade 12 ELA 30-1 (70%), Mathematics 30-1, Physics 30 and Chemistry 30, with 75% in Math 30-1, Physics 30 and Chemistry 30 for Engineering Science and 70% for the other two; Math 31 is recommended; SFU asks for at least five approved 30-level courses overall.
• Other provinces: SFU lists each province on its own page; I read only BC, Ontario and Alberta.
• Dates: for September 2027, high school applications open 1 October 2026 and close 31 January 2027. The pages I read do not give a document deadline; check your Student Centre.
• Application fee: non-refundable, CAD 86 for domestic and CAD 130 for international students.
• Testing and essays: the pages I read do not mention engineering-specific testing or essays.

4. Canadian domestic applicants (by province)

• Application system: SFU states that all applications to post-secondary institutions in BC go through EducationPlannerBC, where you select SFU.
• Tuition (2027 spring calendar, per unit): CAD 220.61 for regular courses and CAD 242.67 for 200/300/400-level courses in the Schools of Engineering Science, Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering. A co-op term costs CAD 932.08.
• USES entrance scholarship: for high school students with an average of at least 90% (or 31 IB points, excluding bonus points) in the courses required for admission; CAD 20,000 to 60,000 for domestic students and CAD 140,000 for international students, with a possible living allowance, priority access to residence and course enrolment priority. Applications open 1 October 2026 and close 15 December 2026.
• In-province versus out-of-province: the pages I read do not distinguish tuition or admission by province of residence; check with Admissions.

5. International applicants

• Courses and grades: see sections 3 and 6; IB is described below.
• IB: the full diploma includes at least three HL courses and at least 26 points; the three engineering programs require IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (HL or SL) or Applications and Interpretations HL (Applications and Interpretations SL does not satisfy the requirement), Chemistry (HL or SL) and Physics (HL or SL). A completed IB Diploma earns one year (30 units) of transfer credit.
• English (any one): IELTS Academic 6.5 with no part below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 4.5 with no part below 4.0 for tests from 21 January 2026, or 88 (20 in each part) before, from a single test; Duolingo 125; PTE 65 (60 in each communicative skill); CAEL 70 (60 in each part); Cambridge 176 (169 in each part); LanguageCert Academic 70 (65 in each part). Alternatively, three years of English-medium secondary school in Canada or in a country where English is the principal language of instruction, or four years at a recognised international school, with at least 70% in senior English; IB English A grade 3; or SFU-recognised English courses at C-.
• Tuition (2027 spring calendar, for international students who entered in 2024/25 or later): CAD 1,262.88 per unit for regular courses and CAD 1,348.19 for 200/300/400-level courses in the three engineering schools; co-op terms CAD 932.08. SFU notes that current international students’ tuition may rise by up to 6% a year.
• Scholarships: USES awards up to CAD 140,000 to international students under the criteria above.
• Proof of funds and credential verification: not stated on the pages I read; see SFU’s international student pages.

6. Applicants from China

• Documents: the senior middle school graduation diploma; a transcript with grades for all courses completed and first-semester grades for Senior Year 3. Admission is calculated on Senior Year 3 academic subjects.
• Subjects: Engineering Science, Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering require senior-level math, chemistry and physics. SFU’s quantitative requirement is at least 70% in Senior Year 2 or 3 math (on a 60% pass scale).
• Gaokao: offers are conditional on receipt of Gaokao results in July, and the required results depend on the program; IB and A-Level students do not need to submit them. The score needed for engineering is not stated; ask Admissions.
• If you are slightly short: the Fraser International College pathway is available.
• Other curricula and verification: IB and A-Level applicants follow the relevant pages; credential evaluators and interviews are not mentioned on these pages.

7. Co-op and work permits

• Mandatory: Engineering Science students complete three co-op work terms, at least two in industry, and may count one special co-op (self-directed, entrepreneurial, service or research) with approval. Mechatronic Systems Engineering also has three mandatory co-op terms, may include one special or research co-op, and AgriTech students need at least one AgriTech placement. Sustainable Energy Engineering has a three-term co-op program with at least two terms in industry.
• Automatic enrolment: students in these three undergraduate programs are automatically enrolled in co-op.
• Cost: CAD 932.08 per co-op term; a separate co-op application fee exists but its amount is not stated on the pages I read.
• International students: need a study permit with a condition allowing work on campus and should first obtain a Social Insurance Number; if the permit lacks the condition, contact an International Student Advisor. Whether a separate co-op work permit is needed is not stated on these pages; ask an advisor.

8. Transfer students

• General rules: at least 24 units of transferable post-secondary study, with up to 60 units transferable. Applicants with fewer than 24 units but a GPA of at least 2.00 are assessed on high school results and must meet the high school deadlines. With more than 23 units, admission is based on your post-secondary GPA, with only the highest attempt counted for repeats; you must be in good standing with at least a 2.00 GPA (60%).
• Admission reference: over the past three years, transfer applicants to all three engineering programs were admitted with B- to B averages (Canadian) and B- to B+ (student visa).
• Engineering Science: within 24 units, one math course (MATH 152, or 232/240), one computing course (CMPT 128, 135, 125 plus 127, 225, or ENSC 151) and one physics course (PHYS 121/141 or 321); the calendar also lists PHYS 221, so the two pages differ slightly.
• Mechatronic Systems Engineering: one math course (MATH 152, 232 or 240), one computing course (CMPT 130, 135, 128, 125 plus 127, or 225) and one physics course (PHYS 140/120 or 141/121).
• Sustainable Energy Engineering: one math course (MATH 152, 232 or 240), one computing course (CMPT 128, 130, 135 or 125 plus 127), one chemistry course (CHEM 120, 121 or 122 plus 126) and one physics course (PHYS 120, 121, 140 or 141), plus the program’s high school requirements; a supplemental application may be required.
• Dates: for September 2027, apply 1 March to 15 April 2027 with documents by 15 May.
• BC associate degrees and diplomas: BC Associate of Arts or Science degree holders receive preference, with a GPA 0.25 below the regular transfer GPA but not below 2.00. Two- or three-year diplomas from institutes of technology or CAATs are assessed individually with very limited transfer credit.
• Internal transfer within SFU: for Engineering Science, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, at least 12 SFU units in the term before applying, no more than five repeats and a competitive engineering-related GPA (ERGPA) that SFU says is typically as high as 2.8, calculated from specified math, computing and physics courses. Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering require a cumulative GPA of at least 2.67, at least 12 units in the prior term, no more than five repeats and the high school requirements. The cut-off is set each term based on spaces.

Checklist

Canadian domestic applicants:

• Apply on EducationPlannerBC by 31 January 2027, choosing the Faculty of Applied Sciences and an engineering program (fee CAD 86)
• BC: English Studies 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, and Pre-Calculus 12 or Calculus 12; Ontario and Alberta follow their own course lists, with 75% in math and science for Engineering Science
• Aim for the mid 80s or higher; students averaging 90%+ should apply for USES by 15 December

International applicants (including China):

• Apply by 31 January (fee CAD 130); senior-level math (70%+), chemistry and physics
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each), new TOEFL 4.5 or Duolingo 125; offers for applicants in China are conditional on July Gaokao results
• Confirm your study permit carries the on-campus work condition so you can join co-op

Transfer students:

• Complete 24 transferable units including the program’s math, computing and physics courses (plus chemistry for Sustainable Energy Engineering), aiming for B or higher
• Apply 1 March to 15 April 2027 and send documents by 15 May

Sources: Simon Fraser University, Undergraduate programs A–Z; Engineering Science; Engineering Science: BC requirements; Engineering Science: how to apply; Mechatronic Systems Engineering; Sustainable Energy Engineering; Historical admission grade ranges; Alberta requirements; Ontario requirements; China requirements; IB requirements; English language requirement; College/university transfer; Dates and application fee; Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship; Calendar: Engineering Science; Calendar: Mechatronic Systems Engineering; Calendar: Sustainable Energy Engineering; Calendar: accreditation; Calendar: undergraduate tuition; Co-op for international students. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check SFU for the latest details.