As an exchange student, there are a few things you need to know about going to the University of Toronto. Learn more about the location, the courses and student life!
Visit their website for more information about studying abroad at the University of Toronto!
The University of Toronto (UofT) is Canada's leading university and the fifth largest in North America. It is currently ranked 29th in the world according to the World University Rankings.
The University of Toronto is a global leader in research and teaching. One university, three campuses, 90,000+ enrolled students from 160+ countries, 14,000+ faculty, 7,000+ staff, over 800+ student clubs, and the 3rd largest library system in North America.
The St. George Campus of the University of Toronto is situated in the heart of Toronto, a booming centre of industry, trade and culture. People from all corners of the globe have settled there in this thriving community with its beautiful parks and architecture and a standard of living that rivals major cities such as New York or London.
Students will find a wide range of activities to occupy themselves outside of their studies with various forms of entertainment from theatres to restaurants and nightclubs.
The campus is next to popular natural landmarks in Toronto’s greenest area and is situated in one of Toronto’s most diverse and multicultural neighbourhoods.
Queen Mary sends students to any of the University of Toronto's three campuses: St. George, Scarborough and Mississauga.
Non-Law bilateral agreement: Very competitive ***
Law bilateral agreement: Very competitive ***
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Special notice for non-Law bilateral agreement: Queen Mary has a fixed number of exchange spaces available for each of the three University of Toronto campuses. If you are successful in receiving a Conditional offer of exchange for UofT, the Global Opportunities team will be asking you post-offer for your ranked campus preferences. Therefore, we recommend you research the academic offerings at each campus to determine which campus(es) may best match your field of study.
Semester 1: early September to late December
Semester 2: Early January to late April
Holidays: Winter break – late December to early January
For more information, visit the University of Toronto's academic calendar.
Please use this link to research the course offerings at The University of Toronto. Please make sure you take note of any course restrictions which may prevent your access to a particular campus:
School of Business students should note:
Rotman Commerce (business) Restriction
Business courses at the St. George campus (course code: RSM) are not available to exchange students from your home institution. If you are pursuing a business degree (e.g., B.B.A. or B. Comm.) or a similar degree at your home institution, and you want to take business courses while on exchange, you should be nominated to one of our other campuses:
Students need to take 4 to 5 x 0.5 credit courses per semester not exceeding 2.5 credits (a maximum of 5.0 credits for the full academic year).
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions.
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram takeovers:
Please note university accommodation is not available at the St George campus. University accommodation is available at the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses.
Private/off-campus Toronto accommodation guidance can be found here. Queen Mary students who intend to look for private accommodation are advised to follow the partner’s guidance as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
The University of Toronto provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Toronto here.
Students should be mindful of the rising cost of living in Toronto, greater on average now than living in London. Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially depending on the type of accomodation, frequency of travel, and more. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
We encourage you to contact the Learning Abroad Advisor – Inbound as early as possible to enquire about academic accommodation that is available to students. Due to the documentation required for the disability, the process must be started at least 2 months before the arrival date to ensure that the appropriate academic accommodation is in place. Students must be registered with the University of Toronto's Accessibility Services in order to receive academic accommodation, while on exchange.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Exchange at UTM.
UTM features 15 academic departments, 148 programs, and 89 areas of study, offering undergraduate and interdisciplinary graduate studies programs. The campus also boasts a vibrant research environment and many of its faculty and researchers are recognized internationally for their innovative work. UTM’s facilities are situated on 225 acres of protected greenbelt along the Credit River, with direct shuttle bus service to and from St. George campus.
UTM also offers a unique research program for undergraduate exchange students, the International Research Opportunities Program (iROP). The iROP runs from mid-May to mid-August over the summer and during the academic year (Fall, Winter + Full Year). In addition, there are a large number of experiential learning opportunities available on the UTM campus).
Restricted Programs: Some programs in Visual Arts and CCIT have courses offered at Sheridan College that have limited capacity for hosting exchange students. Management courses are also extremely competitive and difficult for exchange students to enrol in.
UTM Residence offers a variety of on-campus accommodation options. The application process is very competitive and places are not guaranteed for students coming during Fall and/or Winter. However, students coming to UTM in the summer are guaranteed a spot in Residence. See housing information on the UTM website.
Experiential education is the hallmark of the UTSC campus. Students get a head start on their futures through hands-on research, community engagement and vibrant campus life. Located next to popular natural landmarks in Toronto’s greenest area, the UTSC campus is experiencing dynamic growth. The new Aquatics Centre and Field House represents Canada’s largest investment in amateur sport infrastructure, opened in 2015 for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
Restricted Programs: The Co-op (work placement) program and any Joint Program courses taught at Centennial College (Paramedicine, Journalism, New Media Studies) are not available to exchange students.
Programs with limited capacity: please refer to the UTSC website.
On-campus accommodation is guaranteed for exchange students coming to UTSC. UTSC Student Residence provides 765 self-catered spaces on-campus to both international and domestic students. Students generally live in their own room with shared cooking and common areas, either in the Townhouses or Joan Foley Hall (apartment-style).
Set in the centre of Toronto, one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities, it is a place where students, staff and faculty engage with vibrant academic life and countless co-curricular activities. Life and learning take place at many innovative landmarks across campus. Experience the treasures in the 1970s larger-than-life Robarts Library or conduct some cyber-sleuthing at the Citizen Lab. Students have access to some of the world’s leading minds. After all, ten Nobel Laureates have taught, or were students themselves, on this very campus.
Details on the courses for each Faculty as well as information on the restricted programs are available on UTSG website.
Course registration is confirmed after students are admitted to U of T.
Programs with limited capacity: Computer Science and Rotman Commerce.
Accommodation is not guaranteed for exchange students at the St George campus. Housing Services offers assistance and advice to all students on housing-related matters. They can assist with finding on-campus and off-campus accommodations after admission as an exchange student.
The University of Toronto:
Go to Student Exchange fact sheet.