Back-to-school 2024: 6 things every U of T student should know
There’s always more to discover at the University of Toronto – whether you’re setting foot on one of its three campuses for the first time or have been here for years.
With its diverse opportunities, expansive resources and vibrant community, there are nearly endless ways for students to make the most of their time at one of the world’s top universities.
The following list, though by no means exhaustive, is meant to serve as a starting point for those who are looking for tips on everything from answering basic questions to finding their community – and even starting their own company.
Navigating campus life
Need help finding your way around? U of T’s tri-campus map tool is a great resource when it comes to figuring out where to go – and don’t forget that most lectures start 10 minutes after the hour to make sure students have time to get where they need to be.
“Where do I get a…?”
Starting out at U of T can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming – and many students have a lot of questions.
“How do I find out about orientation events and activities?”
“What is a TCard and where do I get it?”
“How much time is there to walk from class to class?”
Fortunately, U of T’s ASKme Anything booths and ambassadors are here to help. The initiative is all about building a warm and welcoming community for students on all three campuses.
ASKme Anything booths will be operating on the St. George campus from Aug. 19 to Sept. 9 on weekdays, plus Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25. They will be conveniently located at the campus gate at King’s College Road and College Street, at St. George and Ursula Franklin Streets and near Sidney Smith Hall at St. George and Willcocks Streets.
At UTM, students are encouraged to visit the Hub Hello Desk in the Student Services Hub to have their questions answered and to connect with student services on campus. The desk is open all days of Orientation from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
At U of T Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be set up in Scarborough Circle, the lobby of the Sam Ibrahim Building, the front vestibule of the Instructional Centre and in the Bladen Wing hallway just outside of Tim Horton's from Sept. 3 to Sept. 14.
There are also welcome booths at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Terminals 1 and 3.
Finding your community
Diving into university life by joining a club provides the opportunity to learn new things, connect with others and enrich the student experience. From sports and the arts to social causes, there are hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups across the three campuses – meaning there’s literally something for everyone.
Interested students should check out the St. George Clubs Carnival on Aug. 30 or visit the Student Organization Portal, which is a great resource to discover campus groups and includes information on what each group does and how to go about joining it. Several clubs will be hosting drop-in events during UTM's Orientation, which takes place Aug. 30-Sept. 7.
Explore U of T’s thriving startup scene
U of T Entrepreneurship (UTE) is hosting AcceleratorFest on Sept. 18 from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.
The event offers an opportunity for aspiring and established entrepreneurs – as well as those who are merely curious about what it takes to effectively create your own job while attending university – to explore the many resources, spaces and programs available to them across U of T’s tri-campus network.
There will be representatives from more than a dozen campus accelerators, founders who turned their ideas into impactful businesses and a tour of ONRamp, UTE’s co-working and community spaced housed inside the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.
Stay in the know with UTogether and connect with U of T on social media
There are many ways to connect with the U of T community and stay in the loop for events happening across the three campuses.
The UTogether web page is a hub of information and helps connect students, faculty members, staff and librarians with important resources – such as health and wellness supports – as well as news and messages from U of T leadership.
The social media directory is useful for those looking to find and connect with the various university accounts on social media. Use keywords and filters to search or browse the listings. Below are the quick links to the main social media accounts on each campus.
On Instagram
On TikTok
On X/Twitter
On Facebook
University of Toronto Mississauga
University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
On YouTube
First day of classes (now the same across all three campuses)
So when does the fall term actually begin? For the first time, students on the St. George campus, U of T Scarborough and UTM will begin on the same day: Sept. 3.
The alignment follows a review that recommended standardizing critical dates such as the start and end of classes, exam periods, reading weeks and fee deadlines across the three campuses.
The new, more co-ordinated approach is expected to provide a more streamlined and predictable academic experience for the university community.