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SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS & BURSARIES

There are a number of Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries available to students across SFU. Visit SFU's searchable Bursaries and Scholarships Database to see all that is available.

Each Scholarship, Award, and Bursary available through SFU has its own terms of reference and application requirements that applicants must meet and complete, but SFU also requires that all applicants must meet these basic criteria:

Scholarships

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50. 
• Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units of standard graded courses in the term of award. Challenge, audit and non-credit courses are not considered. 
• Have completed at least 12 units of standard graded courses at SFU.
  
• A student holding an SFU Entrance Scholarship is not eligible for any other University administered scholarships. This policy applies to any term in which an entrance scholarship is deferred. Please contact Financial Aid and Awards to check if the selected student is a recipient of an SFU Entrance Scholarship.

Awards

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 at SFU and be in good academic standing (in the case the student is a first term or transfer student he/she must possess an equivalent secondary school or college standing).
  
• Registration in a minimum of 9 units of standard graded courses in the term of eligibility. Challenge, audit, and non-credit courses are not considered.

Awards and Scholarships for the SCA

We've collected a set of Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries, listed below, that are particular to students in the School for the Contemporary Arts.

If you meet the above criteria from SFU, please use the online form on this page to apply to the Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries listed here.

NOTE: Please make sure to include everything that the particular Award and/or Scholarship asks for as part of your application, which, as necessary, can be included as an attachment (PDF or Word document) with the online form.

ALSO NOTE: for awards that require letters of recommendation, they are required only once a student has been nominated for the award.

All of the applications submitted for the Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries listed here are granted by the Senate Undergraduate Awards Adjudication Committee on the nomination of the SCA Awards Committee, which assesses and adjudicates all applications.

If you have any questions, please contact us at faawards@sfu.ca.

SCA Service Awards

When available, applications for the SCA Service Awards are submitted online separately HERE.

Deadline: September 24, 2025

List of Awards and Scholarships

BRIAN TAYLOR UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN DANCE

Terms of Reference

One award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to a full-time undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:

• is enrolled in the School for Contemporary Arts, majoring in Dance;
• is in their third or fourth year of study;
• is in good academic standing; and
• has demonstrated high levels of achievement as a dancer and/or choreographer and shows great promise to succeed in the field professionally.
  

BILL JEFFRIES AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS IN THE ARTS

Terms of Reference

One award or more awards, valued at a minimum of $1,000 each, will be granted annually in any term to Indigenous undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:

• are enrolled full-time in the terms of eligibility;
• are pursuing a bachelor's degree with a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts;
• are in good academic standing; and
• have demonstrated creative potential in their field.

Applications must include:

• a resume outlining the applicant's creative activities in the field; and,
• a faculty letter of reference addressing the applicant's creative potential in their field.

ALDERSON INTERARTS AWARD IN THE SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS

Terms of Reference

One or more awards, valued at a minimum of $3,000 each, will be granted annually in any term to undergraduate students who meets the following criteria:

• are pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts;
• are enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
• are in their fourth year of studies;
• are in good academic standing; and
• have demonstrated ongoing interest and accomplishments in interdisciplinary and collaborative exploration of multiple art forms over the course of their studies.

Applications must include a personal statement from the applicant outlining their interest and accomplishments in the exploration of multiple art forms and their interconnections during the course of their studies.

KER WELLS MEMORIAL AWARD

Terms of Reference

At least one award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:

• is enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
• is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the School for the Contemporary Arts, with a major in theatre and performance;
• enrolled in the third or fourth year of study;
• is in good academic standing; and
• has demonstrated strong artistic promise and community engagement.

Applications must include:

• a maximum one-page letter outlining the applicant’s artistic promise and community engagement
• a letter(s) of reference from individual(s) who can verify the student’s artistic promise and community engagement.

STEVEN SHANE UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Terms of Reference

Multiple scholarships, valued at a minimum of $2,500, will be granted each year in any term, to those who fulfill the following criteria:

• full-time undergraduate student currently in fourth year of study majoring in the Program in Film within the SFU SCA
• in excellent academic standing (minimum 3.50 CGPA); and,
• demonstrated commitment to film production.

As part of the application, students must include a one page letter outlining their dedication to the art of film production.

TANABE/THORNE UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN VISUAL ARTS

Terms of Reference

The award, valued at a minimum of $2000, will be granted annually to a student in good academic standing going into his or her fourth year of study in the Visual Arts concentration of the School for the Contemporary Arts and who has completed CA 361. The award will be by departmental nomination for the student who shows the strongest promise in visual arts. 

CHRIS WELSBY EXPERIMENTAL FILM AWARD

Terms of Reference

At least one award, valued at a minimum of $2,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:

• is enrolled full-time in the term of eligibility;
• is enrolled in the film program within the School for the Contemporary Arts;
• is in good academic standing; and
• has a demonstrated contribution to experimental film.

Preference will be given to students in their third or fourth year of studies.

Applications must include:

• a one-page statement outlining the applicant’s contribution to experimental film; and
• a letter of recommendation from a faculty member attesting to the applicant’s work in experimental film.

SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS SCHOLARSHIP

Terms of Reference

The scholarship(s), valued at a minimum of $1,000, recognizes achievement of excellence in the Arts for outstanding artistic contribution.The recipient(s) must:

• Be an undergraduate student
• Have achieved a minimum CGPA of 3.50
• Have completed at least 48 units at SFU
• Have declared a major in the School for the Contemporary Arts.

BICE CAPLE AWARD

Terms of Reference

Up to 3 awards valued at $1,000 each will be made each year to undergraduate students who have made outstanding contributions to fine arts at 91ÅÝܽ.

The recipient(s) must:

• be enrolled full-time at SFU
• be in good academic standing
• continue to be active in the fine arts.

In no case, may an individual receive the award more than twice