(University of Toronto)
With more than 14,000 faculty, 700 undergraduate programs and 93,000 students on three campuses, the University of Toronto is in a class of its own. St. George, the leafy downtown campus, has historic stone buildings alongside sleek modern architecture while the newer Scarborough and Mississauga campuses are located in the east and west ends of the city, respectively. The Mississauga campus borders on protected greenbelt land; the Scarborough campus offers co-op in all of its program areas.
U of T’s halls have echoed with the debates of future premiers and prime ministers. It is famous for research on insulin, regenerative medicine and pioneering work in artificial intelligence. U of T’s School of Cities brings together researchers from across disciplines to address the challenges facing urban areas. The university also has initiatives to support student start-up companies; aspiring entrepreneurs can grow their ideas through 11 hatcheries and incubators and more than 250 courses.
Given its size, one might think professors would be too busy for undergraduates, but the university fosters small-group learning opportunities, such as first-year seminars. Incoming engineering students can join the U of T Engineering Academy for a free refresher program on high school math, chemistry and physics. In 2020, U of T was named the top-placed Canadian university in Times Higher Education’s global ranking on employability of graduates for the eighth year in a row. “The university has worked hard to make sure graduates are equipped with both the academic credentials and the core competencies they need to succeed,” says president Meric Gertler.
READ: An insider’s guide to the best place to study, live music venue and more
Standout Programs
• Global Health: Explore the socio-economic and cultural factors of world health challenges; access the research opportunities in labs and hospitals in downtown Toronto.
• Forensics: This program is offered at the Mississauga campus and features a house where crime scenes are recreated for study.
• Business Administration: This Scarborough campus program teaches economics and management and includes up to a year of paid employment.
Cool Courses
• The Real Law & Order: Examine the impact of pop culture on jurors and how scientific methods lead to admissible evidence.
• Corporate Citizenship, Sustainability and Ethics: This course explores the intersection of corporate social responsibility and global practices, as well as business ethics, human rights and equity.
Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$7,651
Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 75-84% · Science: 75-92% · Commerce: 83-90% · Engineering: 88-95%
Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 66,751 · Part-time: 6,034
Graduates: Full-time: 18,682 · Part-time: 1,614
International Students: First-year: 31.1% · Graduate: 21.1%
Male-female Ratio: 44 to 56
Housing Facts
Residence offerings reduced because of COVID-19
Residence Spaces: 5,551 (8,971 last year with 5,408 reserved for first-year students)
Residence Costs: Single room with meals: $11,620 to $20,605 · Apartment-style: $8,460 to $10,690
More Schools: York University, McGill University, Ryerson University, University of Waterloo, Queen’s University
