Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For starters, if you have been accepted to EngSci, you already have the necessary foundation for the upcoming school year, so you just need to put your best foot forward. And, since your first-year schedule will be quite packed, it’s important to recharge your batteries over the summer to take on this new challenge!

If you would like to brush up on certain academic concepts, there are plenty of helpful online resources, and the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering First Year Office offers services such as Summer Academy. Note that EngSci courses in the first semester begin with some review of high school content, which can help ease students into a greater workload. The content covered will gradually become more difficult, so paying attention in class, while regularly reviewing content and seeking help whenever necessary, can allow for a comfortable transition and will foster positive academic habits.

First, we recommend you relax and spend time with family and friends! Engage in fun activities and make the most out of the summer from a personal lens.

First year might be the first time you live away from home, in which case, you might want to practice basic skills like cooking and using a personal calendar to stay organized and on top of things! If you will be living away from home, now is the time to look for living accommodations and potentially search for roommates. If you are an international student, ensure that you have properly arranged everything regarding your student visa and government documents. For international students, check out the specific page on the First Year Hub with more information on readiness here.

EngSci students come from around the world and many different academic backgrounds; if you were admitted into EngSci, you will be ready for first year! First year courses are designed to provide a solid foundation for all students. If, during first year, you find that you are unfamiliar with a certain concept you were otherwise expected to have covered during high school (although this probably will not occur very often), it can help to review some fundamentals.

ESC180 (Introduction to Computer Programming) and ECE159 (Fundamentals of Electric Circuits) assume that you have zero prior knowledge of either computer programming or electric circuits. Therefore, you will be able to succeed in the courses and develop a strong background in the concepts without any prior knowledge, so we recommend you wait and learn from the actual courses. If you would like to learn programming, there are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube. If you are interested in circuits, Khan Academy is an excellent resource. When you’re starting out with circuit theory, pay attention to the fundamentals, such as Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s law, and try solving simple series and parallel circuits.

The DELNA (Diagnostic English Language Needs Assessment) is a short, non-credit assessment that measures your ability to recognize and use academic language. Your DELNA results will help you to be more aware of your facility with using English in an academic context and provide you with support if there are areas of improvement. No preparation is needed for this assessment, and there are no grades associated with the DELNA. It will take less than 30 minutes to complete and it is NOT something that you will pass or fail or have any impact on your enrollment in the university.

U of T Engineering does not offer transfer credits for IB or AP classes; all incoming students will have to take the same courses in first year. In some cases, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit for a non-engineering course. If you would like to learn more, please speak with your academic advisor.

Your professors will communicate the required course materials, including textbooks, on Quercus shortly before the beginning of classes. We recommend that you wait for your professors to tell you which textbooks are mandatory, and where to find them.

First year EngSci students do not take any electives, since you are assigned six mandatory courses (and six courses make a full timetable). As part of the EngSci curriculum, in your second year you will choose a Humanities & Social Science elective (HSS), and in years three and four you will choose Complementary Studies electives (CS). In some cases, students in second year and above may take a seventh course through a process called “overloading”. For further information, please speak with your academic advisor.

Although the schedule may appear daunting, try your best to attend all lectures, tutorials, and practicals (especially those which take attendance!). Designate certain tasks to accomplish for each day, and try to find a schedule that works for you. Review content regularly and seek help immediately if you are stuck. Always remember to take breaks and relax.

You cannot select your group members for Praxis I and Praxis II; your team will be determined by an algorithm. However, you may choose your lab partners (or lack thereof) for classes such as ESC180, ESC190, and ECE159.

This is a matter of personal preference, however, since many classes will have formulas, equations, and drawings, you may find it easier to use some form of handwriting (such as pencil/paper or a stylus/tablet) for certain classes. Assignments can range from written to typed deliverables, depending on the requirements. Try and spend the first few lectures deciding what works for you. If you’re using a device for notetaking, turn off your notifications during class to prevent distractions. For more information, check out the “School Supplies” page.

It is natural to struggle to keep up during certain lectures; what’s important is that you take accountability and attempt to fully absorb the concepts later on. Trust us, your note-taking skills will improve very quickly!

Stay attentive during lectures and attempting to understand all of the content instead of just writing down what the professor is saying word-for-word. Create an organization system that works for you and review your notes regularly.

U of T Engineering also has a dedicated Learning Strategist to help you with practical note-taking tips and other learning/study strategies; ask your Academic Advisor and they will connect you with them.

In first-year, the primary software you will use will be MATLAB, Pyzo, and Visual Studio Code. If you would like to buy a laptop, the minimum requirements can be found here. Some of your work for Praxis II or design teams might involve the use of certain programs which exceed the limitations of your computer, in which case, you can use the desktop computers at an Engineering Computing Facility (ECF). You should also consider how you plan to take notes and complete assignments, in which case, touchscreen laptops or drawing tablets may or may not be a requirement.

For some of your exams, you will be permitted to use an officially approved calculator. The approved models are: Casio FX-991 (any suffix is acceptable), Sharp EL-W516 (any suffix is acceptable), Sharp El-520 (any suffix is applicable). From the above list, you might want to consider calculators which can perform certain computations, such as complex number calculations for ECE159.

U of T Engineering offers ten minors that are open to all undergraduate engineering students. A minor is like an extra “mini-degree” dedicated towards a particular engineering focus, and is an optional way to supplement your major degree with more breadth while exploring some of your specific interests. Minors are completed alongside your major and take six courses to complete. Some students may take a non-engineering minor degree as well. Minors will appear on your transcript.

U of T Engineering offers 15 certificates that are open to all undergraduate engineering students. A certificate is like a “mini-minor”, requiring three courses to complete. They cover a wide range of interdisciplinary topics and will appear on your transcript.

To select a minor, you must complete an online form and detail which courses you will take, and when you will take them. You can self-enroll for certificates. Many courses which count towards minors/certificates have prerequisites and are reserved for upper-year students. Depending on your minor/certificate, some of these courses will be available to you as early as the summer after first year, in which case you would enroll for these courses in early April 2025. Note: you do not need to do any of this in first year. We also recommend further discussing this with your Academic Advisor.

Note: there are some restrictions on minors and certificates for EngSci students (e.g. EngSci Machine Intelligence majors cannot earn a minor nor a certificate in Artificial Intelligence Engineering). Besides those particular cases, EngSci students can complete any minors and certificates.

Engineering research involves development, optimization, and discovery in engineering fields. It takes place at universities and research institutes, as well as certain companies which are pushing the boundaries to create innovative technologies. Despite the term, engineering research requires both theoretical knowledge and excellent practical skills to put knowledge into effect.

The Engineering Science Research Opportunities Program (ESROP) is a program which provides paid opportunities just for EngSci students from Years 1 to 3 to perform engineering summer research under researchers at U of T and many institutions across the world.

For a list of research opportunities, please visit the Undergraduate Research Hub. Once you begin EngSci in September, regularly read the EngSci Newsletter and check the EngSci Info Hub to learn about new opportunities!

If you can arrange payment with your supervising professor, you can get paid for summer research even without any of the fellowships listed above. If your research position is not at U of T, you should look for research fellowships exclusive to that institution.

One of the primary methods to get research opportunities for first year EngSci students is to email professors. Some opportunities may be posted on the EngSci Info Hub or elsewhere. For a comprehensive guide to summer research, register for information sessions hosted in the Fall and speak with upper-year students for advice!

Since EngSci’s program requirements and courses are very unique and particular, it is often not possible to study abroad whilst in EngSci. However, in exceptional circumstances, you should reach out to Don Newton or your academic advisor. Furthermore, ESROP – Global can enable you to perform research at institutions across the world!

The Professional Experience Year Co-op Program (PEY Co-op) is an optional work-integrated learning program, that allows undergraduate engineering students to earn up to 12-16 months of paid work experience before graduating. If you sign up for PEY, during the summer after 2nd year and/or for up to 16 months after 3rd year, you can complete real full-time paid internships at companies. By paying a certain fee and completing a brief introductory program guide, you will gain access to PEY as well as U of T’s job search platform, CLNx (of course, you are also encouraged to look for internships on other platforms and websites). Upon successful completion of the PEY program requirements, your transcript will indicate that you received a PEY credit.

PEY Co-op is an excellent way to gain relevant, significant work experience during your time at U of T and to get a taste for whether a particular type of work is for you. Many companies recruit PEY students, and many provide full-time return offers to students. The job search portal has hundreds of companies from startups to international corporations, and hosts thousands of jobs. By exploring different industries and roles throughout your internships, you might gain insight into the field of study in which you would like to specialize. Finally, you will earn a competitive salary during your internship, and your substantial work experience might help you negotiate a higher salary for your next job (according to the PEY website, new graduates with this work experience earn 15% higher than those without the same experience).

You can sign up for PEY Co-op until a certain point during second year. We recommend you sign up sooner than later, since there are some onboarding tasks which you must complete.

Many engineering students secure summer jobs/internships after first year*. The key is to take advantage of networking opportunities and apply to many positions which interest you, through official company websites and different platforms. Make sure that the position in which you are interested actually accepts first year students (some positions require the applicant to have completed a certain number of years), and craft a solid application. Sometimes, some internships require applicants to have completed certain coursework in advanced topics, which first year students would not have done. Therefore, it is important to supplement your classroom learning with practical experience, such as through a student design team!

*Note: first year students completing an internship cannot earn credit towards the PEY program – you can only begin earning credit after 2nd year.

PEY is the only way to gain credit on your transcript for your internships. Keep in mind that students can acquire 12–16-month internships independently of the CLNx portal and then register their PEY with that position.

Some companies do not hire student interns for extended periods of time, or students may prefer to complete multiple shorter terms at different companies. Some students take a gap year and complete their internships during it, as opposed to a regular PEY. However, you will not be considered a PEY student during this time, and this method will not give you the PEY credit.

Any time is the right time to join clubs and design teams! Make sure that your club of interest is recruiting members at that time, and then visit their website or social media to learn more.

As a first year EngSci, you can run for various positions in the Engineering Society (EngSoc), such as class representative, or vice-president of academics. To learn more, visit skule.ca and keep an eye out for newsletters! As an upper-year student, you can get involved in other leadership positions at U of T.

In first year, all of your classes will end no later than 6:00 PM EST, and you will have no classes on weekends. Therefore, many clubs will schedule their meetings after 6:00 PM on weekdays, or in the afternoon on weekends (depending on what is convenient for the club’s members). The best way to learn about different clubs’ schedules is to attend their recruitment meetings and ask the leaders of the clubs. Usually, meeting times will be decided with the feedback from club members.

Anyone can start a new club at U of T! If you have an idea for a new club, devise a solid plan for its purpose and structure. Then, try and recruit a few leaders and members, and follow through with your plan. For getting the club officially registered with EngSoc, see this page on skule.ca.

Absolutely! Actively participating in club meetings and activities will help you develop certain skills which can be applied in the classroom. For example, joining a student design team for a programming-based role may help you refine your coding knowledge from ESC180 and ESC190. The collaborative skills which you develop from working with others in a design team or club will help you in your academic and professional careers, and beyond!

Joining clubs is completely up to you! Based on their own preferences, students may choose to join (or not join) clubs at various times throughout the year. It is important to develop a plan that works for you and adjust it as necessary. However, some clubs may have certain intake cycles for new members at certain times of the year. In any case, you should follow clubs on social media, check out their websites, and speak with club representatives and your peers to learn about how you can get involved.

As long as you meet the academic requirements to continue on in your program, have no past behavioral or conduct issues, and no outstanding financial balance with U of T, you can receive a residence offer as an upper-year student.

Meal plans vary depending on the residence you are staying at. Information about all meal plans and commuter meal plans can be found at the U of T Food Services website.

See U of T Food Service’s page on TBucks.

Almost all first-year students are placed in single rooms at Chestnut Residence. All upper-year students are eligible for single rooms at Chestnut Residence. Typically, upper-year students are placed in single rooms, or double rooms if they would prefer.

To choose a roommate, the StarRez portal can help you identify and contact other residents looking for a roommate. Otherwise, you can ask around amongst people you know, or use social media to expand your reach. A good roommate might be someone you know, someone who is in your program, or someone who shares habits (such as studying or health) with you. We recommend that after you identify potential roommates, you speak with them to get to know them better before finally making your decision.

To learn about the U of T Students’ Union Health & Dental Plan, visit this site. According to the site, “The Health & Dental Plan fees are charged on a compulsory basis as part of your tuition, although students may opt-out if they are able to provide proof of other extended health insurance coverage.”

To learn all about the various deals and discounts for which U of T students are eligible, check out the Student Life page (coming soon).

For questions related to transferring, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor.

There are two intake periods for transferring into Core 8. If you transfer at the end of first year, you are not required to take any additional courses (i.e. you will begin second year in Core 8 as if you had completed your first year in Core 8). If you transfer at the end of first semester, due to EngSci and Core 8 having different schedules, you will have to take some additional courses. Some EngSci courses have core 8 equivalents (such as CIV102 replacing CIV100 and PHY180 replacing MIE100) and others do not (for example, ESC103 does not have a Core 8 equivalent). The specific courses you will need to take will depend on the Core 8 major to which you are transferring. However, all transferring EngScis will have to take APS110 and MAT188, along with some other courses. We recommend that you speak with your academic advisor about this.