International Studies: Master of Arts (MA) at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada is a master's degree in Politics & International Relations programme. The programme runs for 3.5 semesters, 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).
A full-time MA completed in three to four terms, opening with cohort core seminars before students pick electives from regional concentrations - Africa, Central Asia, China, Latin America, the Middle East, and Russia - or topical areas such as migration and security governance. Students finish with either a 14,000-to-16,000-word thesis defended orally or two shorter extended essays, and admission looks for research interests that match an International Studies faculty member's expertise.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: The MA in International Studies requires a bachelor's degree from SFU or an equivalent from a recognized university, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the 4.33 scale, and prefers an arts or social-sciences academic background whose research interests align with the School's faculty expertise. International applicants whose primary language is not English must submit an English-language test score, valid for two years, unless their prior degree was taught and examined in English in a country where English is the primary language; the program's own page does not state its own scores, so SFU's institution-wide thresholds apply (IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, 6.0 per band; TOEFL iBT 90 overall, 20 per section). An English Language Waiver is available for applicants with extensive, demonstrable English ability who fall outside the standard exemption categories, but the School states such waivers are rarely granted and are unavailable to applicants whose test scores fall below the minimum or have expired; waiver requests must be made in writing, either as an additional document or within the letter of intent.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
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.
