CA · Master's
Simon Fraser University
MASc in Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Simon Fraser University
Deadline detail: February 1 (September intake); apply earlier if you need a supervisor commitment
Course Overview
The Master of Applied Science in Mechatronic Systems Engineering is SFU's thesis-based research master's, taught out of the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering on the Surrey campus. Mechatronics is the deliberate fusion of mechanical, electrical, control and software engineering, and SFU built a whole school around it rather than treating it as a mechanical-engineering elective — which is why the labs cover robotics and autonomous systems, control and mechatronic design, biomedical devices, intelligent manufacturing, sensors and instrumentation, and clean-energy systems as first-class research areas.
The MASc is a research degree: coursework exists, but the substance is an independent thesis reporting original research or an original design investigation, supervised by a faculty member. That structure has an important practical consequence — admission is effectively a supervisor match. You are not simply admitted to a programme; you are admitted because a professor with funding and a research agenda wants you on it. It also means thesis MASc students at SFU are commonly supported through teaching assistantships, research assistantships and graduate fellowships, which changes the cost picture substantially compared with a course-based master's.
For Sri Lankan applicants this is the route to take if the goal is research and engineering depth rather than a management credential. A BSc Eng from Moratuwa or Peradeniya in Mechanical, Electrical & Electronic, Electronic & Telecommunication or Computer Engineering maps directly onto the entry requirement, and Sri Lankan engineering degrees accredited by IESL carry Washington Accord standing, which helps both with admission and later with the academic assessment that Engineers and Geoscientists BC applies to internationally trained engineers seeking P.Eng. registration. Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit gives up to three years after the degree, and mechatronics graduates sit squarely in the occupations British Columbia's technology and engineering employers recruit for.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, electronic, mechatronic, control, computer or a closely related engineering discipline, from a recognised institution.
- check_circle SFU Graduate Studies expects a minimum CGPA equivalent to a B (roughly 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in the final two years of the bachelor's degree; competitive files sit well above that.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants with a BSc Eng from Moratuwa (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic & Telecommunication, Computer Science & Engineering), Peradeniya (Mechanical, Electrical & Electronic, Computer), Ruhuna, Jaffna or SLIIT are the standard profile.
- check_circle You must secure a supervisor. Read the faculty research pages, identify two or three groups whose work genuinely overlaps with your final-year project or work experience, and write to them individually with a CV, transcript and a short, specific note about their published work. A generic mass email is worse than no email.
- check_circle Transcripts, degree certificate, statement of interest, CV and two academic references. Publications, a strong final-year project, or design-competition and industry experience all carry weight.
- check_circle GRE is not normally required.
- check_circle A Canadian study permit requires a provincial attestation letter, proof of funds, biometrics and often an upfront medical — build three to four months into the timeline after admission.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall with no band below 6.0 is the SFU Graduate Studies minimum; some supervisors expect 7.0.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 93 Overall with no section below 20.
- check_circle PTE Academic: 65 Overall.
- check_circle A waiver applies where your bachelor's degree was completed at an institution where the language of instruction and examination is English — Sri Lankan applicants from the English-medium engineering faculties at Moratuwa, Peradeniya, Ruhuna, Jaffna and SLIIT commonly qualify with a Medium of Instruction letter from the registrar. Confirm with SFU Graduate Studies in writing, as the waiver is applied programme by programme.
- check_circle Note separately that the Post-Graduation Work Permit requires a language test result at CLB 7 for university graduates regardless of any admission waiver — plan to sit the test before you graduate.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CAD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, approx., research-based) | CAD 10,000 | Rs. 2,350,000 |
| Living Expenses in Surrey / Metro Vancouver (per year) | CAD 20,000 | Rs. 4,700,000 |
| Health Insurance (MSP & extended cover) | CAD 1,000 | Rs. 235,000 |
| Study Permit, Biometrics & Medical | CAD 400 | Rs. 94,000 |
| Laptop, Books, Airfare & Settling In | CAD 2,500 | Rs. 587,500 |
| Total Year 1 Investment (before funding) | CAD 33,900 | Rs. 7,966,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
A Canadian master's degree qualifies graduates for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years, subject to the CLB 7 language requirement now applied to PGWP applicants, and that runway feeds Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class and British Columbia's Provincial Nominee Program skilled-worker and tech streams. MASc graduates work in robotics and automation, medical device engineering, autonomous systems, control and embedded software, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. British Columbia's employers in this space include the aerospace and marine cluster, MDA and the space robotics supply chain, medical-device companies, the automation arms of the forestry and mining sectors, and a substantial startup layer around Vancouver and Surrey. A meaningful share of MASc graduates continue to a PhD — at SFU, UBC, Waterloo or Toronto — and Canadian doctoral positions are funded. Registration as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia runs through Engineers and Geoscientists BC, which assesses academics, experience and professional practice examinations for internationally trained applicants; a Canadian master's plus Canadian work experience makes that assessment substantially easier. Sri Lankan returnees fit the automation and process engineering functions at MAS, Brandix, Hayleys, CBL and the industrial groups, the R&D and product engineering teams at Dialog Axiata and the electronics manufacturers in the export zones, and university engineering departments, where a Canadian research master's is a strong platform for an academic post.
Related Programs
Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering
University of Toronto (Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering)
Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia
MEng in Civil & Environmental Engineering
Western University (Faculty of Engineering)
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
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