How to apply to art and design at Simon Fraser University: the SCA Visual Art BFA takes fall entry only, with the questionnaire and portfolio due 7 February, and Interactive Arts and Technology (Design concentration) admits directly; portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

At Simon Fraser University (SFU), art programs sit in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology. Fine art is the BFA in Visual Art at the School for the Contemporary Arts (SCA), on the downtown Vancouver campus. Design and digital media are in Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT) on the Surrey campus, which has a Design concentration. This guide covers September 2027 entry for students at Canadian high schools (especially BC and Vancouver), students at high schools in China, and transfer students, based on SFU's website.

1. Degrees

• Visual Art BFA (major or honours): studio practice balanced with theory; studios at 611 Alexander Street, with exhibitions in the Audain Gallery. SCA also offers BFAs in Dance, Film, Music and Sound, and Theatre and Performance, plus the Art, Performance and Cinema Studies (APCS) BA and the Performance Production and Design BFA.
• Interactive Arts and Technology (BA or BSc): concentrations in Design, Interactive Systems and Media Arts, with joint majors in Business and Communication.
• Cohorts: SCA's BFAs are cohort-based, with a sequence of cohort classes starting in the fall of year 1.

2. Visual Art BFA structure and continuance

• The Spring 2027 calendar lists 120 units, with at least 39 lower-division and 38 upper-division units.
• Entry to the major is based on grades and portfolio assessment; students not admitted before starting are encouraged to take CA 160 and CA 161.
• Staying in the major: a cumulative GPA of 2.67 in CA courses is required. Students below it get two semesters (years 1–2) or one semester (year 3) to recover before losing major status.
• Transfer credit does not automatically give advanced standing; it is decided individually, usually by audition or interview.

3. How to apply: two offers needed

• Fall (September) entry only: SCA BFAs do not accept spring or summer entry.
• Step 1: apply to SFU through EducationPlannerBC; in section 4 choose Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology and BFA Visual Art. For fall 2027 the window is 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027 (high school, mature and transfer applicants applying by 31 January). The non-refundable fee is CAD 86 for domestic and CAD 130 for international applicants.
• Step 2: SCA supplemental application. With your 9-digit SFU number, submit a portfolio with images and written responses, combining the questionnaire and documents into one PDF uploaded through SCA's online form. Deadline: 7 February 2027 for high school and mature applicants and for transfer applicants who applied by 31 January; 22 April 2027 for transfer and second-degree applicants who applied after 31 January.
• Reviews: auditions, interviews and portfolio reviews run February to April; early submitters may be invited to Part 2 early.
• Results: you need admission to both SFU and SCA. If not admitted to the BFA, SFU assesses your second choice; you can reapply as an SFU student the following fall.
• Portfolio specifics (number of works and prompts) are in SCA's "Visual Art Fall 2027 Questionnaire" PDF, which we did not read; download it from SCA's undergraduate page.
• No portfolio: APCS (BA) and Performance Production and Design (BFA) are direct admission to SFU; Interactive Arts and Technology also needs no portfolio.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC (Visual Art BFA): graduation; 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 specific Grade 11 courses; plus the supplemental application (portfolio).
• BC (Interactive Arts and Technology): English Studies 12 (or English First Peoples 12) and at least one of Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Math 12.
• Historical ranges: over the past three years, high school admits to all Communication, Art and Technology programs were in the low 80s for Canadians and permanent residents and mid 80s for student-visa holders (not a guarantee). IB Diploma applicants need at least 26 points to be considered.
• Two review rounds: early admission (November–January) uses Grade 11 and available Grade 12 marks; standard admission (February–April) uses all Grade 11 and 12 marks, received through BC's Student Transcript Service.
• Other provinces: requirements are listed by province on the program page.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials: Senior Middle School Graduation Diploma; transcripts with all courses and first-semester Senior Year 3 grades; the admission average uses Senior Year 3 academic subjects.
• Gaokao: required; offers are conditional on Gaokao results in July, with the required result depending on the program. IB and A-Level students do not submit Gaokao results.
• Subjects: SCA programs other than APCS and Performance Production and Design need a supplemental application; Interactive Arts and Technology needs Senior Year 3 Math. SFU also requires at least 70% in Senior Year 2 or 3 Math (60% pass scale).
• Pathway: Fraser International College offers a route into SFU.

6. English

• The last three years of full-time secondary school in English in Canada satisfy the requirement.
• IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 each); TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale (4.0 each), or 88 (20 each) for tests before 21 January 2026; Duolingo 125; PTE Academic 65; CAEL 70.

7. Tuition and scholarships

• Per unit (Spring 2027 calendar): international students who entered in 2024/25 or later pay CAD 1,262.88; domestic students pay CAD 220.61. The fee table lists premium per-unit rates only for 200-level and higher courses in Business, the engineering schools and Computing Science.
• Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship (USES): open to domestic and international students with a 90% average (or IB 31, excluding bonus points) in required courses; CAD 20,000–60,000 for domestic and up to CAD 140,000 for international students; deadline 15 December 2026.
• Art-specific awards and materials costs are not published on the pages we read; ask SCA.

8. Transfer

• At least 24 transferable units, up to 60 transferred; with fewer than 24 units and a post-secondary GPA of at least 2.00, admission is based on high school results and high school deadlines apply.
• Historical ranges: Contemporary Arts transfer admits were C+ to B (Canadians and permanent residents) and B- to B (student visa); Interactive Arts and Technology were B- to B for both.
• Deadlines: applicants who apply to SFU by 31 January submit the supplemental application by 7 February; those applying 1 March–15 April 2027 by 22 April. All entry levels need the supplemental application.
• Current SFU students applying internally to an SCA BFA submit by 7 February or 22 April.

Checklist

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

• Apply through EducationPlannerBC by 31 January 2027 (Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology; BFA Visual Art)
• Take English Studies 12 and five approved Grade 12 courses; aim for the 80s
• Submit the questionnaire and portfolio as one PDF to SCA by 7 February

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to SFU by 31 January and submit the portfolio and questionnaire by 7 February
• Offers depend on July Gaokao results; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each), TOEFL 4.5 (new scale) or Duolingo 125
• September entry only

Transfer students:

• Complete 24 transferable units; the supplemental application is due 7 February or 22 April depending on when you apply

Sources: Simon Fraser University, Visual Art overview; Visual Art BC requirements; Visual Art: how to apply; School for the Contemporary Arts: undergraduate entry; SCA: Visual Art; Calendar: Visual Art BFA; Interactive Arts and Technology overview; Interactive Arts and Technology requirements; Historical admission grade ranges; China requirements; English language requirement; College/university transfer; Apply to SFU and fees; Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship; Calendar: undergraduate tuition. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check SFU for the latest details.