Faculty of Science

About Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU) is an academic division dedicated to scientific research, education, and innovation. Established alongside the university in 1965, the faculty operates primarily on SFU's main Burnaby Mountain campus in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, with additional activities and courses offered at the university’s Surrey and Vancouver campuses. As a major constituent faculty of Simon Fraser University, it delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a wide spectrum of physical, biological, mathematical, and data-driven disciplines. The institution adheres to Canadian higher education standards, holding recognition through SFU's institutional accreditation and provincial oversight by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills of British Columbia.

Academic programming within the Faculty of Science is organized across eight main departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Physics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, and Marine Science. Students can pursue Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, as well as specialized certificates and joint majors that combine scientific disciplines with computing, business, or humanities. The curriculum emphasizes fundamental scientific principles, practical laboratory training, computational skills, and quantitative analysis, preparing graduates for careers in research, industry, healthcare, education, and public policy.

The faculty’s facilities include specialized research laboratories, advanced computing infrastructure, and teaching environments designed for hands-on learning. Key facilities located on the Burnaby campus include the Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard, which support astronomy education and public outreach, and the SFU High-Throughput Screening Facility. The department of Biological Sciences utilizes extensive greenhouse facilities and specimen collections, while Chemistry and Physics house specialized instrumentation for spectroscopy, microscopy, and materials characterization. Students and researchers also have access to regional and national research networks, including the TRIUMF particle accelerator center in Vancouver, of which SFU is a member institution, and the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island for field-based marine biology instruction.

Notable academic strengths of the Faculty of Science lie in interdisciplinary research, actuarial science, molecular genetics, subatomic physics, and environmental science. Research funding for the faculty comes from major Canadian granting agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and various industry partners. Faculty members and students engage in collaborative projects addressing climate change, renewable energy, data science, cellular biology, and quantum materials. The faculty also integrates cooperative education (co-op) options across its majors, allowing students to complete paid, relevant work terms in industry, government, and academic research settings prior to graduation.

As an integral part of Simon Fraser University, the Faculty of Science operates within the comprehensive governance and academic policies of the broader university. Admission requirements, course credit transfers, and degree completion criteria are aligned with university-wide standards. Students within the faculty benefit from SFU’s central academic resources, including the W.A.C. Bennett Library, student support services, athletic facilities, and international exchange opportunities. Through its combination of foundational education, research output, and specialized facilities, the Faculty of Science contributes significantly to scientific training and regional technology development in Western Canada.