How to Apply to Psychology at Simon Fraser University: Apply Directly in Arts and Social Sciences, and Requirements and Timeline for BC and Chinese High School Students and Transfer Students

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is in Metro Vancouver. Its Department of Psychology is part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and awards a Bachelor of Arts (BA). You can start at the Burnaby campus or spend first year at the Surrey campus, which makes SFU one of the closest psychology options for Vancouver students. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SFU’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (especially BC and Vancouver students, as well as international students in Canada), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. How to apply and what you study

• Apply directly to psychology: on EducationPlannerBC, choose the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the program “Psychology”, or “Psychology - 1st yr Surrey” (fall only) to spend first year in Surrey.
• Declaring the major: to be declared, you must complete PSYC 100, PSYC 102 and PSYC 210 (or STAT 270), and earn at least a C in PSYC 201W (research methods). Without a C in PSYC 201W you cannot graduate with a psychology major. The department reserves 300- and 400-level PSYC courses for approved majors, minors and honours students, so complete these courses early.
• Options: a major, a minor, joint majors with criminology, business and gender studies, an applied behaviour analysis concentration and a co-op program. Majors need a psychology CGPA of at least 2.0 to graduate.
• Honours: students first declare the major, then apply. Requirements include 75 units with a CGPA of 3.33; at least 15 units of SFU psychology with a GPA of 3.0; at least a B in PSYC 300 and 301; a faculty supervisor; and a project outline. Meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission.
• BA only: SFU psychology awards only the BA. Students who prefer a science degree can look at programs such as Behavioural Neuroscience in the Faculty of Science.

2. Admission grades (past three years)

• High school applicants (Arts and Social Sciences): low 80s for Canadian citizens and permanent residents; mid 80s for students on a study permit.
• Transfer applicants (Arts and Social Sciences): C+ to B- for Canadians and permanent residents; B- to B for students on a study permit.
• SFU notes that meeting these ranges does not guarantee admission. IB Diploma students need at least 26 points to be considered.

3. Academic requirements: Canadian high schools

• BC high school students:
  • graduation, with at least five approved academic Grade 12 courses including English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12;
  • at least 70% in Language Arts 11 or English 12;
  • no additional course requirements for Arts and Social Sciences;
  • admission is based on all approved academic Grade 11 and 12 courses.
• Quantitative requirement: all applicants need at least 60% in an approved Grade 11 or 12 math course. Note that PSYC 210, the required statistics course, needs BC Math 12 with a C (or Math 11 with a B-), so Grade 12 math is a good idea for psychology.
• Two reviews:
  • Early admission uses Grade 11 and any available Grade 12 marks, with limited offers for strong applicants, usually from mid-November to January; apply as early as possible and before the end of January.
  • Standard admission uses all approved Grade 11 and 12 courses, with decisions usually from February to April.
  • SFU receives grades through the BC Student Transcript Service (STS) and reviews your file each time new grades arrive. BC students must submit the STS form by January 31.
• International students at Canadian high schools: follow your province’s requirements; use the study-permit ranges as a guide.

4. Academic requirements: high schools in China

• Credential and transcript: the Senior Middle School Graduation Diploma; a transcript with all completed courses and final grades for the first semester of Senior Year 3. Admission is calculated on Senior Year 3 academic subjects.
• Gaokao: unlike Alberta and Calgary, SFU requires the Gaokao: offers are conditional on receiving Gaokao results in July, with requirements depending on the program. Students in IB or A-Level programs do not need it.
• Math: at least 70% in Senior Year 2 or Senior Year 3 mathematics (on a 60% pass scale).
• Psychology: no additional faculty prerequisites for Arts and Social Sciences.
• If you fall short: Fraser International College (FIC), SFU’s on-campus partner, offers a pathway program for students missing a course or below the direct-entry grades. You can apply to SFU and FIC at the same time.

5. English requirements

• Exemptions: the last three years of full-time high school in English in Canada, or in a country where English is the principal language of instruction, with at least 70% in senior English; or the last four years at a recognized English-language international school in a non-English-speaking country, with at least 70% in senior English.
• Test scores (valid for two years):
  • IELTS Academic 6.5 with no part below 6.0; One Skill Retake is not accepted.
  • TOEFL iBT 4.5 with no part below 4.0, or 88 with no part below 20 for tests before January 21, 2026; scores must come from a single test (no MyBest); the Home Edition is accepted.
  • Duolingo 125; PTE Academic 65 (60 in each skill); CAEL 70 (60 in each part); Cambridge B2, C1 or C2 176 (169 in each part).
• Compared with other schools: SFU’s Duolingo requirement of 125 is higher than the 120 required by Queen’s, Ottawa, Calgary and Alberta.

6. Transfer students

• Transfer status: at least 24 units of transferable post-secondary study; up to 60 units can transfer. Arts and Social Sciences requires only the 24 units plus the English and quantitative requirements.
• Fewer than 24 units: with a post-secondary GPA of at least 2.0, you are assessed on high school grades and apply by the high school deadlines. With 9 to 23 units, admission generally considers both high school grades and post-secondary GPA.
• GPA: calculated on all transferable units attempted, using the highest attempt for repeated courses. You must be in good standing with a GPA of at least 2.0.
• BC college students: transfer credit follows the BC Transfer Guide; courses not listed do not transfer. BC Associate of Arts or Science degree holders receive preference, with a GPA requirement 0.25 lower than regular transfer (but not below 2.0).
• Dates: for fall 2027, apply from March 1 to April 15, 2027, submit documents by May 15, with rolling decisions from April to July.

7. Timeline for fall 2027 entry (high school applicants)

• October 1, 2026: applications open on EducationPlannerBC, along with residence and USES scholarship applications.
• Mid-November 2026 to January 2027: early admission for BC curriculum students.
• December 15, 2026: USES scholarship deadline.
• January 31, 2027: application deadline; BC students’ STS form deadline; USES supporting documents deadline.
• February 28, 2027: document deadline for all high school applicants.
• January to late April: most high school decisions on a rolling basis; entrance scholarship offers from mid-March to May.
• May 1, 2027: deadline for most students to accept their offer, and to apply for residence.
• Finish all high school courses by June 30; registration begins in July; request a deferral by August 15; classes start September 7.

8. Tuition and scholarships

• 2026–27 estimates (Arts and Social Sciences or Science, two terms, 30 units):
  • tuition and fees (including a transit pass): about CAD $7,673 for Canadians and CAD $38,944 for international students;
  • a single North Towers residence room with meal plan: about CAD $15,014;
  • total for the year: about CAD $25,452 for Canadians and CAD $57,303 for international students.
  Tuition for current students may rise by up to 6% a year.
• Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship (USES): open to Canadian and international high school applicants with at least a 90% average in the courses required for admission (or 31 IB points excluding bonus points), based on academic and community contributions. Worth CAD $20,000 to $60,000 for domestic students and up to CAD $140,000 for international students. Deadline December 15, 2026.
• Other support: the Uggla Family Scholarship (ten a year, for students facing significant financial and systemic barriers), plus other entrance scholarships, awards and bursaries for fall entry.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply on EducationPlannerBC by January 31, 2027: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, program Psychology (or first year in Surrey)
• Five approved Grade 12 academic courses including English Studies 12, with at least 70% in Language Arts 11 or English 12; Grade 12 math recommended
• Submit the STS form by January 31 and all documents by February 28
• With a 90%+ average, apply for USES by December 15

Students at high schools in China:

• Transcript including Senior Year 3 first-semester final grades; Gaokao results in July
• At least 70% in Senior Year 2 or 3 mathematics
• IELTS 6.5 (no part below 6.0), TOEFL 4.5 (no part below 4.0) or Duolingo 125
• Apply by January 31; you can also apply to FIC as a backup

Transfer students:

• At least 24 transferable units; past FASS transfer GPAs: C+ to B- for Canadians, B- to B for study-permit students
• Apply March 1 to April 15, 2027 and submit documents by May 15; up to 60 transfer units

Sources: Simon Fraser University, Psychology program overview; Psychology: BC high school requirements; Psychology: how to apply; Historical admission grade ranges; China high school requirements; College/university transfer; English language requirement; Quantitative and analytical skills requirement; High school deadlines, fall term; Transfer deadlines, fall term; Fees and scholarships; Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship; Calendar: Psychology Major; Calendar: Psychology Honours. Information is for fall 2027 entry; grade ranges reflect the past three years. Check SFU for the latest details.