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SFU

Simon Fraser University

A coach's guide to SFU's grades-first application and the few essays that actually carry weight, written for international and American applicants.

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Application route

EducationPlannerBC (not the US Common App)

Core written material

Personal Information Profile (Diverse Qualifications pathway)

Program supplementals

Beedie (BBA) and Sustainable Energy Engineering

Interview

Not required for most programs; Beedie transfer adds video questions

What SFU rewards

If you are coming from the United States, the first thing to understand about SFU is that there is no Common App essay here, and for most applicants there is no essay at all. Simon Fraser sits in British Columbia, Canada, and you apply through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), the single online portal that serves every public BC university. Admission to the large majority of SFU programs is decided on your grades, your course prerequisites, and your English-language proof. You will not be asked to narrate a formative childhood moment, and there is no slate of personal-essay supplements like the ones you would write for a US private college.

Writing enters the picture in only a few places, and it pays to know which apply to you. If you apply through the Diverse Qualifications pathway, you complete a short Personal Information Profile with three set questions. If you want the Beedie School of Business (BBA), you complete a supplemental application with a written response. The Sustainable Energy Engineering program asks for five 100-word short answers. For everyone else, the "application essay" is effectively the optional case you make about yourself, and the smartest move is often to let your transcript speak and submit nothing extra. This page coaches the writing that does exist so it works hard for you.

01Fit, stated plainly. SFU's prompts repeatedly ask how a program connects to your goals. The reader rewards a specific, believable line of cause and effect (this interest, this evidence, this SFU program, this aim) over generic enthusiasm. Name the program and one concrete reason it fits.
02Self-awareness over spin. Where SFU invites you to describe hardship or a situation behind your grades, it is reading for honest reflection, not a sympathy bid. The strongest profiles explain what happened, what you did about it, and what changed, without inflating it into a personal-essay drama.
03Evidence, not adjectives. Beedie and SEE both ask what you actually do and how you think through problems. Calling yourself a leader is worthless; describing the thing you ran, the obstacle you hit, and the decision you made is worth everything. Verbs and specifics beat character words.
04Brevity that respects the limit. These boxes are tiny: 150 words, 250 words, 100 words, 300 words. SFU is partly testing whether you can be clear under a hard cap. A tight answer that ends early reads as confident; a padded one that strains the limit reads as unfocused.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

3 prompts for SFU, each broken down with annotated examples.

Profile: goals & program fit150 words maximum

Please provide a clear description of your educational goals and the connection between your proposed program at SFU and the attainment of those goals

Profile: situation & accomplishments250 words maximum

Please provide a description of your special accomplishments, special situation, hardships or difficulties, community service, etc.

Beedie BBA: your defining activity300 words maximum

To what activity do you dedicate most of your time? Why is this activity important to you, and how does engagement in this activity support your future aspirations?

See all 3 prompts and get a read

Your chance

See your chance

Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at SFU and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

High school applicants, Fall 2026 (apply + supporting documents)January 31
Beedie (BBA) supplemental application, Fall 2026February 7
Post-secondary transfer applicants, Fall 2026March 1 to April 15
Offers to high school applicants issuedJanuary through June

Cost

Sticker price$42,112
Avg net after aid$42,112
Read my essay for SFU
Explore SFU
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what SFU weighs most Supplemental essays3 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $42,112/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes SFU interview? Format, tips, and practice The SFU Reader ProScore your draft against SFU's exact prompts
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SFU FAQ

What is SFU's acceptance rate?

Admission to most SFU programs is primarily grades-based. The majority of applicants are admitted on academic record alone, with no essay required. Written material comes into play in three situations: the Personal Information Profile if you apply through the Diverse Qualifications pathway, the Beedie School of Business supplemental for BBA applicants, and the Sustainable Energy Engineering supplemental. Where an essay exists, SFU reads it for genuine fit and self-awareness, not polish. At SFU, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does SFU require?

SFU requires 3 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does SFU cost?

SFU's published sticker price is about $42,112 per year, but the average family pays $42,112 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

When are SFU's application deadlines?

SFU's application deadlines are High school applicants, Fall 2026 (apply + supporting documents) January 31; Beedie (BBA) supplemental application, Fall 2026 February 7; Post-secondary transfer applicants, Fall 2026 March 1 to April 15; Offers to high school applicants issued January through June. Add SFU to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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