Criminology: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission Requirements: Applicants normally need a master's degree from Simon Fraser University or an equivalent from a recognized institution, plus evidence of capability for substantial original research, assessed through reference letters, prior thesis work, and scholarly output. Applicants should have completed graduate-level coursework in criminological theory, research design, and quantitative and qualitative research methods, corresponding to SFU's CRIM 800, CRIM 860, CRIM 861, and CRIM 862; those admitted without this coursework receive instruction to complete it during the PhD. International applicants from countries where English is not the primary language must meet English-proficiency scores the School states exceed SFU's general graduate minimum: Duolingo 135 overall with no subscore below 115, IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with 7.0 minimum per section, TOEFL iBT 110 (before January 21, 2026) or 5.5 (on/after that date), Cambridge English 190, PTE Academic 75, or CAEL 80. Applications require an online form, a statement of interest of up to 500 words, two English-language writing samples, unofficial transcripts, a CV, and three reference letters.