Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarships (USES)

What you will need

• ✓ Completed USES application submitted by December 15, 2026
• ✓ List and reflection on up to 5 extra-curricular activities and achievements
• ✓ Short essay (500 words) on personal experiences and future at SFU
• ✓ Academic reference from a high school counsellor, teacher, or administrator
• ✓ Community involvement reference from a supervisor (cannot be a peer or family member)
• ✓ All items on the SFU Student Centre To-Do List marked as "Complete" by January 31, 2027

About this award

Depending on the award you win, you could receive a total of $20,000, $40,000, $50,000, $60,000, or $140,000. These are paid out over 8 installments. Specifically, the Surrey Close to Home Entrance Scholarship provides $20,000 (8 x $2,500); the Shein and Amynmohamed Rajan Family Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship in Computing Science and the general Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship both provide $40,000 (8 x $5,000); the Stolte Family Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship in Sustainable Energy Engineering provides $50,000 (8 x $6,250); and The Darcy and Karina Biagioni Family Entrance Scholarship provides $60,000 (8 x $7,500). International students can win the International Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship at $140,000 (8 x $17,500). In limited cases, exceptionally talented students with demonstrated financial need may also receive an additional $8,000 per term as a living allowance. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a high school student—either domestic or international—who has a strong record of academic success and a passion for contributing to your community through volunteering, arts, or athletics. The application opens October 1, 2026. Apply to SFU first, because you need your SFU student number to open the scholarship application. You must submit your application by December 15, 2026, at 11:59pm PCT. Your supporting documents and references must be submitted by January 31, 2027, at 11:59pm PCT. You will hear if you won between mid-March and May 2027. SFU looks for excellence in both academics and extracurricular activities, and for students with the potential to enrich the university community through ongoing academic and community contributions. Applications are reviewed and evaluated in February and March 2027. Ask Simon Fraser University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. The money is paid in 8 term payments. The conditions you must keep up to receive each payment aren't listed on this page, so confirm them with Simon Fraser University. Winners also get residence offer priority (if they applied to residence) and priority course enrolment for as long as they hold the scholarship.

Who qualifies

You must be applying to Simon Fraser University for the Fall term. You must be graduating from high school in the year you are admitted, or have graduated in the previous year without enrolling in any post-secondary courses. You need a minimum average of 90% or 31 IB (International Baccalaureate — a global standardized curriculum) points in the courses required for your primary program. You must also demonstrate excellence in both academic and extracurricular activities. Note that if you are not eligible for admission to your primary program, you cannot be considered for these scholarships.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to high school students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• EssayAvoid writing a generic list of your achievements. Instead, focus on how your specific personal experiences shaped your outlook on life and how that connects to your future at Simon Fraser University. Spend time reflecting on both your challenges and your wins before you start typing.
• ReferencesAvoid choosing a peer or a family member for your community reference. Instead, pick someone in a supervisory role who can speak to your impact in a specific activity. Reach out to your referees early to ask for their permission before listing them.
• StrategyAvoid rushing your application at the last minute. Instead, save your responses in a word processor like Microsoft Word so you can use spell check and keep a backup record. Submit your materials well before the December 15 deadline to avoid technical glitches.
• RealismAvoid assuming that meeting the 90% average automatically wins you an award. Instead, remember that you must also prove your potential to enrich the university community through your extracurriculars. Ensure your SFU (Simon Fraser University) Student Centre To-Do List is marked as "Complete" by January 31, 2027, or your application won't be reviewed.

Questions students ask

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