As an EngSci, you’ll want to make sure you spend time outside the classroom doing things unrelated to academics. A big part of the university experience is hanging out with friends and enjoying living independently. The U of T campus is filled with fun things to do during your study breaks. Here is a list of some cheaper things that will work for you and your university friends on a budget.
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Board Game Library Loan
U of T libraries obviously have a huge collection of books, but what might be more surprising is that they also offer board games. They can be taken out for loan for two weeks at a time. You can even look up what games are available online and make a request ahead of time. The board game collection has games for groups of all sizes and not all games require you to sit down at a table for hours on end. They have classic games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry which are quick and easy to pick up. They also have well-loved newer games such as Tokaido, Dixit and Catan. Board games are an amazing way to connect with your university friends, and the fact the library gives you access to them for free makes it easy to host an awesome board game pizza party.
Innis College Movie Night
Nestled right in the heart of the U of T campus, Innis College hosts free movies every Friday night at 7pm. It is called the Free Friday Films program, and movies played each week are posted a month in advance on social media. This way, if you’re picky about your movie choices, you can visit on a week where there is a film you will enjoy. Their collection of movies tends to be acclaimed films that really allow you to learn as you watch. To learn more about these movie nights, check out the Innis College Movie Night website.
Sign up for the Innis College mailing list to get updates on upcoming movie nights and events.
Sports
Studying hard is a sedentary activity, but U of T has tons of ways for you to stay active and healthy, and reduce stress. The Athletics Centre offers drop-in sessions (i.e. no booking needed) including basketball, ultimate frisbee, jogging, yoga . You can also book courts for squash, table tennis, badminton, and more. All of these are covered by your tuition. If you don’t have the equipment, you can also rent rackets and balls at the Athletic Centre equipment counter.
Attend a Varsity Blues Game
Frosh Week and other Skule events will teach you that engineers have a lot of school pride. A LOT. But we don’t just have pride for our Faculty: we also have pride for U of T. One way you can show this pride is by cheering on the Varsity Blues with all your friends. The games are free for students with a TCard, and you can visit their website to find the game schedule. Go Varsity Blues!
Geocaching on Campus
One of the first things you may notice about the U of T campus is that it has beautiful historic buildings as well as lovely greenery. One fun thing to do is to just enjoy the outside nature of the campus by going on nice walks with friends. If you want an extra activity to do while you walk, you can download the free Geocache app. Geocaching is basically a real-world treasure hunting game, and there are a handful of geocaches hiding around campus. Before you head out, make sure to download the app.
Watch a Musical
U of T has a bunch of different musical theatre groups, such as Skule Nite, Trinity College Dramatic Society, and Hart House Theatre. As a student you get discounts on tickets to their shows. Most shows occur during the second semester, and they are wonderful weekend activities!
Enjoy Your EngSci Common Room
Common rooms are designed to be fun places to relax, vibe out, and regenerate. In the EngSci Common Room, you can find Foosball, board games, a pop machine, a Gamecube (which, at this point is mainly a Smash Bros. Melee box), an Xbox 360 and more! If you want to have fun in a relaxed way with your classmates, look no further. The EngSci Club also hosts various events throughout the year, which are held in the Common Room – look out for them in your inbox!
U of T Art Museum
Art Museum located in Hart House and University College [Source]
If you’re an art lover or just want to have a relaxing time looking at beautiful works, drop by the U of T Art Museum! The museum has exhibits located in Hart House and University College. It runs all year round with free admission to all and showcases the wide diversity of art and art history.
Classical Concerts
Are you a fan of classical music? Do you wish you had morezart access to classical concerts? Well we’ve got exactly what you need! The Faculty of Music offers regular free classical music recitals and concerts both live in person and virtual through a livestream on their Youtube channel. These events occur very frequently so if you are interested check the Faculty of Music website for more details.