Simon Fraser University offers Chemistry: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), a doctorate in Chemistry programme in Burnaby, Canada. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 2,193 per semester (CAD 2,193 per semester for local students).
The PhD in Chemistry is a research doctorate completed under a faculty supervisor and supervisory committee, expected to take about four to five years. Students entering with an MSc complete nine credit hours of graduate coursework including CHEM 808, while direct-entry and MSc-transfer students complete 15 credit hours, and all candidates must maintain at least a B average and write and defend an original research thesis.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: A faculty research supervisor position must be secured before applying. Applicants preferably hold a master's degree (MSc) from SFU or an equivalent, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.33; exceptionally qualified applicants with only a BSc may gain direct entry to the PhD with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.33, but must additionally submit evidence of research capability — thesis copies, an 18-month research history, affiliated institutions, and any authored or co-authored publications or reports. PhD students who already hold an MSc complete 9 credit hours of graduate CHEM coursework; those without an MSc, or transferring from the Chemistry MSc, complete 15 credit hours. Non-native English speakers must meet SFU's institution-wide minimum (IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band, or TOEFL iBT 90 overall with at least 20 per section) unless exempted by a prior English-medium degree. The department has three annual intakes, with application deadlines of October 1 for Spring (January) entry, February 1 for Summer (May) entry, and June 1 for Fall (September) entry.
Application Details
Start Date:January, May and September
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through EducationPlannerBC, with one set of dates per applicant type rather than by citizenship. Fall 2027 entry: high-school-route applications open 1 October 2026 and close 31 January 2027, while transfer applications open 1 March 2027 and close 15 April 2027 (Education and Contemporary Arts transfer applicants may apply from 1 October 2026). Spring 2027 entry runs 1 July to 15 September 2026, and Summer 2027 entry runs 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. Admission documents are generally due 28 February 2027 (Fall) and offers must be accepted by 1 May. International applicants use the same EducationPlannerBC dates and portal; SFU publishes no separate international deadline. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
