¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Our admissions process is based upon a comparison of qualifications among those who apply. We consider a broad range of information about each candidate.  Our objective is to enroll a cohort each year that is both academically accomplished and diverse in interests, background, and experience.

Our primary considerations for admissions are previous academic performance, research interests and graduate performance potential.  Applications include university transcripts, letters of reference, a statement of area of research interest, and a writing sample. The cumulative grade point average is a measure of past academic performance and potential performance as a graduate student. Assessments from qualified referees of an applicant's ability to undertake advanced work in criminology is another indicator or future academic performance. The statement of interest reflects what an applicant's areas of research interest are and why they want to pursue graduate studies in criminology. The writing sample reflects academic research and writing.

The Graduate Programs Committee values the initiative shown by students to reach out to potential supervisors prior to submitting their application.

Application period: November 4, 2024 to January 31, 2025 for the program starting in September 2025. Applicants will be informed by the end of March about the status of their application.

From the Academic Calendar

The minimum admission requirements to this Master of Arts (MA) program are stated in .

Academic Requirements

Students admitted to the program will normally have completed the following before admission to the Master of Arts program in preparation for undertaking graduate course work:

• Undergraduate degree from ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.33 scale.
• One (1) intermediate criminology theory course and two (2) intermediate research methods courses: one quantitative and one qualitative.
• One (1) English-language, sole-authored writing sample from the last two (2) years of the applicant’s most recent degree (e.g., academic course papers, research publications, etc.).
• Submitted evidence that the applicant is capable of undertaking substantial, original research. Sub-capability will be reviewed by the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) from application documents.
• Additional requirements are listed under the "¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Process" tab below.

Students in the School of Criminology MA program are engaged in a great deal of reading, writing, and speaking, and must be able to understand and use highly nuanced academic language.

International applicants will not be required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a bachelor's degree or higher at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language; see the full list of countries from which an English language proficiency test is not required.

Applicants who have completed credentials in countries not on the list linked above are required to submit English language proficiency scores that meet or exceed the minimum scores on the following acceptable tests:

Applications submitted without valid test scores that meet the minimum as detailed above will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed and considered for admission. Applicants are discouraged from initiating an application prior to obtaining test scores that meet the minimum requirements as the application fee is non-refundable.

Note that the minimum English language test scores required by the School of Criminology are higher than the minimum test scores accepted for entry into Graduate Studies at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV.  

Application Period

November 4 to January 31 for a September 2025 start.

• All application documents must be submitted by January 31.
• Applicants will be informed by the end of March about the status of their application.
• Note: We do not confirm that documents are received.  Applications are periodically updated as documents are received and applicants are encouraged to check the status via the online system.

Application requires the completion of an online application form and the submission via PDF upload of supporting documents (see below). If admission to the university is offered, submission of official transcripts (sealed in originating institution envelopes, submitted to Graduate Studies) will be required.

Apply Online Via goGRAD

Online Application

• Research Information (10 words): a brief list of keywords describing research interest(s).
• Research Supervisor: An applicant's likelihood of being admitted to the graduate program is influenced in part by their ability to identify a faculty member who is willing to supervise them during the course of their studies. Applicants should contact potential faculty supervisors prior to applying to the MA program. Applicants should discuss their interest in the MA program with faculty who share research interests and inquire as to whether the faculty member would be willing to work with the applicant, should the applicant be offered admission. Applicants should clearly indicate in their Statement of Interest the name(s) of any faculty member with whom they had such a conversation. Applicants may include written correspondence between themselves and potential faculty supervisor(s) with permission of the faculty member(s).
• English language test scores (if applicable; self-reported English language test scores must be confirmed via offical score submission).
• References (3): Ideally these should be faculty or people in a related professional field who hold at least a Master's degree. Referees will receive an email with a link to an online form that they can complete, or they will have the option of uploading a letter in the form of a PDF file. If they are unable to use the online system, they may submit a reference on institutional letterhead via email to the Graduate Program Assistant or by paper mail to the School of Criminology, attention: Graduate Program Assistant (address below). The email must come from an institutional email address. General letter format is acceptable. Note: Allow sufficient time for referees to complete references before the application deadline.

Referees should be made aware of the following: The British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act allows an applicant to have access to the information contained in his/her letters of reference where that can be done without disclosing the identities of the referees who supply a reference in confidence. It is understood between ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV and yourself that the letter of reference is supplied in confidence unless you state otherwise.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (PDF FILE UPLOAD)

• One (1) English-language, sole-authored writing sample from the last two (2) years of the applicant’s most recent degree (e.g., academic course papers, research publications, etc.).
• Statement of Interest (400 words): Expansion of Research Information keywords into a descriptive research statement.
• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Unofficial transcripts (including the grading scale) can be used at the time of application.* If the unofficial transcript does not include a grading scale, an official transcript including the grading scale must be uploaded. GPAs cannot be calculated without a grading scale.
• A Curriculum Vitae.

*If admission to the university is offered and accepted, submission of official transcripts (sealed in originating institution envelopes, submitted to Graduate Studies) will be required. See mailing address for Graduate Studies below.

MAILING ADDRESSES

Graduate Programs Assistant
School of Criminology
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV
Saywell Hall 10128 – 8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC  V5A 1S6  Canada

Graduate Studies
Maggie Benston Centre 1100
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC  V5A 1S6  Canada

The application deadline for the online application and all supporting documentation is February 1. Late applications will not be accepted except in exceptional circumstances.

Application Fee

Application fees are set by Graduate Studies and are subject to change each year.  The application fee is non-refundable. The School of Criminology does not collect the application fee and cannot provide any applicant with an application fee waiver.

• $ 110 CAN: Applicants with Canadian transcripts.
• $ 150 CAN: Applications with international transcripts.
• Applicants will be given seven days to pay the application fee after the initial submission of the application.
• It takes approximately one to three business days to process the payment.
• Once the application fee is paid and processed you can upload supporting documents.
• Current ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV graduate students can request a fee waiver, please email gradap@sfu.ca.

The School of Criminology actively invites applications from Indigenous persons – they may self-identify by submitting a letter with the application.