Simon Fraser University Scholarship 2026: Fully Funded MSc & PhD Opportunities in Canada (Up to $30,000 Stipend/Year)
The Simon Fraser University Scholarship provides exciting, fully funded study opportunities for international students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in Canada. Hosted by the prestigious Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Laboratory at Simon Fraser University (SFU), this opportunity focuses on advanced remote sensing research.
Selected applicants receive a generous stipend of up to $30,000 CAD per year, plus additional funding to cover tuition and living expenses. No IELTS is required for applicants from English-speaking backgrounds or those with prior English-medium education.
Simon Fraser University Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: Canada
- Study Location: Simon Fraser University (SFU), Burnaby, British Columbia
- Eligible Countries: All countries (international students welcome)
- Reward: Fully funded scholarship | Stipend up to $30,000 CAD/year
- Degree Levels: Master’s (MSc) and PhD
- Field of Study: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) methods and applications, with focus on maritime and novel land applications
- English Requirement: Strong command of English (TOEFL/IELTS may be waived in some cases)
- Application Deadline: Not fixed — ongoing inquiries accepted (contact supervisor directly)
Simon Fraser University ranks among Canada’s top research-intensive universities, renowned for innovation, sustainability, and excellent graduate outcomes.
About the Synthetic Aperture Radar Laboratory (SARlab) at SFU
The SAR Laboratory, led by Prof. Bernhard Rabus (Industrial Research Chair in Synthetic Aperture Radar), invites talented candidates to join cutting-edge research in SAR technologies.
Key research areas include:
- Maritime applications (vessel detection, ocean parameters, multi-sensor fusion)
- Novel land applications using advanced interferometric and polarimetric time series analysis
SFU provides exceptional resources:
- Free access to RADARSAT-2 satellite data and other exclusive remote sensing datasets
- State-of-the-art equipment, including high-powered GPU servers and an airborne SAR sensor
- Opportunities for collaboration with departments across SFU and industry partners like MDA
Eligibility Requirements for 2026 Simon Fraser University Scholarship
To qualify, applicants should:
- Demonstrate passion for remote sensing and SAR research
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in Physics, Geophysics, Engineering, or a closely related field
- Possess solid programming skills, especially in C++ and Python
- Show strong scientific writing abilities and motivation to produce publishable research
- Have excellent English proficiency:
- Internet-based TOEFL: 93 (minimum 20 per section)
- Paper-based TOEFL: 580 (TWE 5)
- IELTS Academic: Overall 7.0 (minimum 6.5 per section)
- Exemption: Applicants from English-speaking countries or with English-medium education backgrounds
Benefits of the 2026 Simon Fraser University Scholarship
This opportunity offers comprehensive support for graduate studies:
- Competitive 4-year funded Research Assistantship (RA):
- MSc: Starts at CAD $20,000/year, increases to $25,000/year (e.g., after first publication)
- PhD: Starts at CAD $24,000/year, increases to $30,000/year
- Additional funding via Graduate Fellowship (GF) and/or Teaching Assistantship (TA) — typically CAD $13,000+/year (often covers full tuition)
- Creative freedom in research with potential cross-department and university collaborations
- Access to premium data and top-tier equipment
- Dedicated mentoring from Prof. Bernhard Rabus
- Optional industry collaboration with MDA, including future career pathways
This funding package makes it possible for international students to focus fully on groundbreaking SAR research without financial stress.
How to Apply for the Simon Fraser University SAR Lab Scholarship
There is no centralized application deadline — positions are filled on an ongoing basis.
- Prepare your documents: CV, academic transcripts, cover letter highlighting your interest in SAR/remote sensing.
- Email your inquiry directly to Prof. Bernhard Rabus at [email protected].
- Include why you are a strong fit for the lab’s research themes.
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted (due to high interest, only qualified applicants receive responses).