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- Lead the Way: Graduate Studies at SFU in Canada for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
- Why Grad Studies at SFU?
- Programs
- Applying
- Tuition + Fees
- Visiting + Incoming Exchange
- Awards + Funding
- Graduate Students
- Life + Community
- Faculty + Staff
- Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies in Graduate Studies
Whether you are pursuing your Master’s or your Doctoral degree, the INS program tailors a path to your academic and research interests.
INS Guidelines for graduate students
Featured Graduate Student
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Ethan Schmidt is a Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies (History/Humanities) doctoral student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and a recipient of the Graduate Dean's Entrance Scholarship and the Katevatis Graduate Scholarship in Hellenic Studies.
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Makhfirat is a Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies doctoral student in the Faculty of Education and a recipient of the University of Central Asia (UCA) and 91ÅÝܽ (SFU) Scholarship. Three keywords of research: Success Strategies, Academic Achievement, Motivation
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Katherine is studying forensic search and recovery methods in residential schools in Canada.
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Matthew is a PhD student studying the history of small music venues in BC.
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Asura is studying the infrastructure of scholarly communication in the 21st century.
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Lucy is an Independent Interdisciplinary Studies Doctoral student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences whose research is on Indigenous museology and Haida museum practice in particular.
Master's Degrees
There are three degree options for master's INS students:
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
- Two graduate on-campus courses; Four additional graduate courses
- Thesis
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
- Two graduate on-campus courses; Four additional graduate courses
- Thesis
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
- Two graduate on-campus courses; Four additional graduate courses
- Thesis
- Minimum 36 units elective course work from at least 2 different academic units
INS Master's Degree Timeline
Terms 1–3 | Course work |
Term 4–6 | Thesis Course |
Term 6 | Thesis Defence |
INS Doctoral Degree Timeline
Terms 1–5 | Course work |
Term 6 | Comprehensive Exam |
Terms 7+ (up to maximum of 15 terms total) | Thesis + Thesis Defence |