Every year, Simon Fraser University (SFU) offers an inspiring opportunity for high-achieving high school students: the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarships (USES) program. Designed to reward academic excellence and community leadership, USES helps both domestic and international students realize their potential without being weighed down by tuition worries.
If you’re eyeing a spot at SFU for Fall 2026, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from eligibility and application steps to how to make your USES application shine.
About SFU
Simon Fraser University (SFU) has grown from a bold 1960s experiment on Burnaby Mountain into one of Canada’s most respected research universities. Founded in 1965 and built with a strong community-engaged mission, SFU today serves tens of thousands of students across three campuses (Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver). That history of ambition and access is reflected in SFU’s scholarship programs — chief among them for incoming students is the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarships (USES), SFU’s flagship entrance award program that offers generous, renewable funding for outstanding incoming high-school students.
What Is the USES Program?
The USES program isn’t just one scholarship — it’s a suite of entrance scholarships for students entering undergraduate programs from high school. These scholarships are tailored to recognize not only academic strength but also extracurricular involvement and leadership in the community. According to SFU’s Financial Aid & Awards office, USES aims to support students who can make sustained contributions to the SFU community.
What makes USES particularly compelling is how generous it’s structured to be — especially for international students. SFU sets aside substantial funding, and for the 2026 cycle, applicants can compete for awards worth up to CAD $140,000, depending on their eligibility.
Who Can Apply?
To compete for USES, you must meet a specific set of criteria:
1. Enrollment & Timing
- You need to apply to SFU for the Fall term.
- You should be either completing your final year of high school or have graduated within the past year without beginning any post-secondary courses.
2. Academic Requirements
- You must meet SFU’s admission standards for your primary program.
- Your grades must reach a minimum of 90% (or 31 IB points, excluding bonus points) in the courses relevant to your SFU admission.
3. Personal & Extracurricular Profile
- In addition to academics, SFU expects you to show excellence in extracurricular activities — this includes volunteer work, sports, arts, or leadership roles.
- You’ll need two references:
- One academic reference (teacher, counselor, etc.)
- One reference who can speak to your extracurricular involvement (not a peer or family member)
These referees will fill out an online reference form (no document uploads required).
4. Other Documentation
- Complete your “Student Centre To-Do List” on SFU’s portal by the deadline.
- There is an optional financial section in the application — this lets you explain any financial need if you believe you might qualify for extra living support.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
The value of USES varies depending on applicant status and level of merit:
- For domestic students, the USES awards range from CAD $20,000 to CAD $60,000.
- For international students, there is a significantly larger package: the International Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship is valued at CAD $140,000, paid as eight annual installments of $17,500.
- In addition, very high-potential students with demonstrated financial need may qualify for a living allowance of CAD $8,000 per term.
How to Apply for the USES Scholarship
1. Make Sure You’ve Applied to SFU
- Before you can access the USES scholarship application, you must have already applied to SFU for undergraduate admission for the Fall term.
- Once your admission application is submitted, SFU will provide you with a student number, which is needed to access the USES application.
- Click here to apply.
2. Complete the USES Application Between the Open Period
- The USES application opens on October 1, 2025.
- You need to submit your USES application by December 15, 2025 (11:59 pm PST).
3. Prepare Your Supporting Materials
- Community Involvement & Achievements: In the application, you’ll list up to five extracurricular activities/achievements (like volunteer work, athletics, arts, etc.) and any awards you’ve received.
- Essay: You’ll write a short 500-word essay that explains how your personal experiences have shaped your perspective and your future goals at SFU.
- References: You must provide contact information for two referees:
- One academic (teacher, counselor, or someone who knows your school performance)
- One who can speak to your community or extracurricular involvement (must not be a peer or family member).
- Once you submit your application, SFU will email each referee a link to an online reference form — no need for them to upload documents.
- Optional Financial Info: There’s a section where you can detail your financial circumstances, which helps SFU identify candidates who might also need a living allowance.
4. Finish Your “To-Do List” in Your Student Centre
On your SFU Student Centre, make sure to complete all required “To-Do” items by January 31, 2026.
These items typically include submitting your final high school transcript, ensuring your references are submitted, and any other admission documentation SFU needs.
5. Submit References
- When you submit, SFU will automatically send an email to both referees.
- They will be asked to fill out the online reference form. Your referees do not need to upload a letter — just complete the form via the link.
6. Review & Reflect While You Write
- Before writing your essay, read through the entire application so your responses are thoughtful and cohesive.
- Plan your answers: reflect on how your past experiences—both challenges and successes—inform your goals and how you might contribute to the SFU community.
- Save your essay in a text editor (e.g., Word or Google Docs) so you can proofread, spell-check, and have a backup.
7. Submit Before the Deadline
- Make sure your entire USES application is submitted by December 15, 2025, and that all supporting documents and references are completed by January 31, 2026.
For detailed information about the scholarship, visit the official website.
Dates & Deadlines (2026 Cycle)
Timing is everything with USES. Here are the key dates you need to know:
- October 1, 2025: Registration for the USES application opens. You’ll need your SFU student number, so make sure your admission application is underway.
- December 15, 2025: Deadline to submit your USES application.
- January 31, 2026: Deadline for all supporting documents (references, “To-Do List” items) to be submitted.
- February–March 2026: Evaluation period for USES applications.
- Mid-March to May 2026: Award decisions are announced, and scholarship offers go out by email.
- Enrollment Window: In July–August, you need to enroll in classes for the Fall term, and SFU will verify your final high school grades before your funds are applied.
Maintaining (Renewing) Your USES Scholarship
Winning USES is only the first step — to keep it, you’ll need to meet ongoing requirements. SFU’s regulations outline how this works:
1. First Payment (Fall Term)
- You must enroll in at least 12 standard graded units in your first term.
- You also must have final high school grades that meet SFU’s entrance standard.
- If your first-term enrolment is less than 12 units, your scholarship is deferred — and you must hit a minimum CGPA of 2.00 in that next term to receive the payment.
2. Subsequent Payments
- For your second payment, you need a CGPA of at least 2.00 and at least 12 units enrolled.
- From the third payment onwards, you must maintain a CGPA of 3.00 and enroll in at least 12 units each term.
- If your CGPA falls below 2.00, the scholarship is canceled permanently. If it’s between 2.00 and 2.99, payments pause until your CGPA goes back up.
3. Term Tenure
- You must claim your scholarship within a certain number of terms:
- For standard USES: up to 18 terms (6 years)
- For “with Distinction” awards: up to 21 terms (7 years)
Tips for a Winning USES Application
To increase your chances of winning, consider these tips:
- Start Early: Begin drafting your essay and identifying referees well before the application opens on October 1.
- Reflect Deeply: Think about how your experiences shaped you — both the successes and challenges — and connect them to your future goals.
- Give Concrete Examples: When describing extracurriculars, talk about impact, leadership, and what you learned.
- Pick Your Referees Wisely: Choose people who know you well, both academically and in terms of community involvement.
- Write Offline First: Draft your essay in a Word doc or Google Doc — this helps with editing, spell-checking, and saves you from losing work.
- Keep Track of Deadlines: Mark down key dates (October 1, December 15, January 31) and set internal reminders.
- Review the Regulations: Read the full USES regulations (CGPA requirements, deferral rules, payment structure) to understand renewal obligations.
- Prepare for Verification: SFU will check final high school grades and enrolment in classes, so make sure everything is lined up.
Conclusion
The USES program at SFU is one of Canada’s most meaningful entrance scholarship opportunities — especially for high-achieving international students. With award packages that can reach CAD $140,000 and additional supports for exceptional applicants, USES both recognizes past achievement and invests in future leaders.
If you’re preparing for a Fall 2026 start, begin your SFU application now, finish your supporting documentation early, and craft essays that present a clear, evidence-based case for why you’re a scholar who will enrich the SFU community.
