What are you interested in: Aviation, 3D modeling (CAD & CGI)
Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: Planespotting, city walks, making 3D models
Why did you choose EngSci?
Growing up, I’ve always had a personal interest in space, aviation, and really anything that flies. In high school I enjoyed my STEM courses, which led me to decide to pursue engineering where I can apply my skills in an area that I’m interested in. U of T EngSci was particularly appealing as its aerospace program (and the workload) is quite well-known. Ever the adventurous one, I decided to take on the challenge, and the rest is history…
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
I was fortunate enough to be selected for ESROP Global this summer, and thanks to EngSci, I am about to wrap up three months in Munich, Germany! It is a fascinating opportunity to represent U of T abroad while working on real, cutting-edge research with peers from around the world – it may well be your first time in a real lab, working with full professional equipment and taking true responsibility for the products you make. It is also a chance to expand one’s horizons through immersion in a new culture. Germany, in particular, has so many things to teach us, so many places to show us, so many experiences to share with us. It truly is something that will stay with you forever.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
I cannot overstate the importance of your friends and peers in EngSci; they are there to help you balance your school and extracurricular life. I often celebrate and commiserate with my friends over lunch or coffee, or even just walking between classes. Companionship itself is a type of fun, and you’d be surprised how much pleasure you’ll find in even small moments like grabbing a sandwich or complaining about whichever assignment.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
It’s tempting to skip lectures, but it’s a slippery slope. One lecture might become many, and they pile on, making it harder and harder to break the cycle. Success requires a certain degree of discipline to keep yourself motivated and on schedule. Do also take advantage of the resources made available to you, like office hours, GEARS, and skule.ca.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
For most people, university is the first time you will have to take full responsibility for your actions, your decisions, and your lifestyle. Definitely build that discipline and good habits as early as possible, otherwise the rapid transition could give you whiplash and disorientation – speaking from experience!
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
So, you’ve decided to join us for a wild ride. Welcome! There will be ups and downs along your journey but take comfort in knowing someone always has your back. These four years will likely be the most liberating, constrained, carefree, and stressful time of your life, so savor every moment of it. We’re glad you’re here.
What are you interested in: Photonics and quantum computing
Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: I have a dog named Milo. We enjoy hiking and the occasional run. I started rock climbing which is similarly enjoyable.
Why did you choose EngSci?
I chose EngSci because I thought it was the most research-focused program in Canada, and for whatever reason I really wanted to do research. I was also originally drawn to the Robo major but was not ready to commit. Choosing EngSci allowed me to procrastinate a choice for two more years : D. This was helpful because I ended up choosing EngPhys. This is not the perfect major but it’s extremely customizable. I chose it since it let me do the ECE courses I enjoyed while giving me some foundations in experimental physics (with advanced physics lab course) which I hope is a good choice.
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
Meeting people who are much smarter and harder-working than me. This is not exclusive to EngSci but being in such an environment can push you to be better.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
Don’t mix leisure time with work time. For instance, I used to scroll reels/YouTube shorts/Pokemon Unite and instantly respond to any message. That cooked my attention span and simple things took forever (because I kept checking my phone). Time limiting Instagram and blocking notifications during the school day saved my sanity. I found it more productive for me to be locked in for the school day and rewind for a couple hours at night instead of being consistently distracted by my phone.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
Try to be curious and try to learn a subject deeply for the sake of learning, not for your transcript. Just thinking of questions, and answering them, is helping develop my problem-solving skills. This is important to incubate since it is transferable to any engineering exam and probably most things you will do. It develops a strong foundation for future courses and broadly teaches you how to think. My marks increased a bit once I stopped stressing over my marks.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
How being addicted to my phone held me back, both in time lost doing meaningless things and my fried attention span that I’m slowing building back up.
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
GOOD LUCK!!! It’ll be fun (at least sometimes) trust!!
What are you interested in? Machine Learning, Biology (Neurotechnology, Drug Discovery)
Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: Athletics (gymnastics), piano, arts & crafts
Why did you choose EngSci?
I chose EngSci for two reasons: the majors and the community. EngSci offers a lot of unique specializations, such as Machine Intelligence or Biomedical Systems Engineering, and early on I wanted to specialize in Machine Intelligence. I also wanted to experience the EngSci community: meeting people who were curious, intelligent, humble, and just fun to hang out with in general. In this environment, I could push myself to become a better person.
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
It is definitely the friends I have made here! I have grown so much because the people around me all possess different traits that I continue to learn from. I have also gotten to know a lot of upper years, and I am grateful for the amount of mentorship I have received from them. Honestly, I did not expect myself to socially mature so much over the past year, and I would definitely give credit to these incredible people around me.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
This is an interesting question, because I would say most of the time, under an intense course load, I would be thinking about how to take care of myself / relax. The fun things I chose to do were more for relaxation: eating out with friends, playing card games / board games, watching movies, nature walks, etc.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
Knowing how to study is really important. There will not be many conceptual questions on exams, so it really comes down to how much practice you do. Time management is also something to keep in mind because often there will be many overlapping projects / deadlines that need to be completed. Knowing how to motivate yourself and breaking down notions of perfectionism are things that I learned from year 1 winter semester.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
I think it would be how to smartly use my time to get better results. Often, I would think: the more time I spend on something, the better results I would get. However, in EngSci, you often have to be selective of how you spend your time. Sometimes, saying ‘good enough’ is the more humbling option.
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
Honestly, you don’t have to worry. Getting in means that you are capable of doing well in EngSci. It is normal to feel challenged here, and often times I leverage this fact to help me grow. If I didn’t feel challenged (in the things I did, ways I studied and managed my time, in my search for meaning and purpose of studying what I studied), then I wouldn’t have grown so much this past year.
What are you interested in? Brain-computer interfaces, machine learning, neurotechnology
Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: I love arts and sports, such as rhythmic gymnastics, piano, and dance. I also love going through unique experiences with my family and friends, such as swimming, group camping, hiking, boating, skating, skiing, snowboarding, picnics, playing board games, etc.
Why did you choose EngSci?
I’m interested in brain-computer interfaces, which is a niche category of neurotechnology. I originally chose EngSci because it was, to my understanding, the only program that provided a specialization in Neuro Sensory and Rehab Engineering (in the Biomedical Systems Engineering major). Graduating from full IB, I also loved not only the rigor and theory in the knowledge that was taught, but also my friends and tightly knit cohort. These are exactly what EngSci provided as well.
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
The most rewarding experience was the friends that I made: upper years and friends my age. After experiencing so much together, I realize that they all have something within them that inspires me. They help me the most when I need help or simply want to talk. Unlike most of my childhood friends, they can also support me throughout my entire career outside of university.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
To be honest, in the first semester, the concept of having fun did not cross my mind. I was more focused on academics and my club work than anything else. However, in second semester, I began to realize just how lonely I was in the first semester — going to lectures and studying independently. Hence, I began to chat and hang out more with friends. I tried coworking and group studying. We ate meals together. Hence, socializing was my way of having fun.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
There are different definitions of “doing well.”
First is in terms of grades. To achieve a high grade, we must pay attention to all assignments, quizzes, labs, tests, and exams that are worth marks, prioritizing those worth more marks. Before handing assignments in, I would recommend comparing with friends. To prepare for timed quizzes, tests, and exams, I would recommend practice papers—they are much more effective than simply reviewing the notes taken from class, as engineering is application-heavy. Email TAs if you need help—they can also check over your coursework and give tips. In addition, a list of tips for each specific course is on the
Engineering Science 3T0 Orientation website!
Second is understanding the content taught in class, which sometimes a grade cannot effectively quantify. Aside from chatting with friends, I would recommend speaking to TAs and professors about the course content.
Third is using classes as a way to clarify, immerse, or redirect yourself into a field or subject you want to pursue in the future. In this case, classes expand and challenge your interests. They also allow you to network with friends, upper-years, TAs, or professors in the field, helping you curate your understanding of what you want to pursue in the future.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
I would say taking care of myself—mentally, physically, and psychologically. Back in first semester, I drained myself out by juggling courses and club work in the day, then exercising at 8pm-10pm at night (late exercise apparently prevents us from falling asleep), then wake up extremely early in the morning. I was productive, but mentally and psychologically, I was drained. Procrastination also hit me, which led me struggling with a bit of an inconsistent sleep schedule.
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
Congratulations, you are independent now :D. There are so many exciting decisions you’re going to make, like what clubs to join, what initiatives to start, what events to register for, what courses to take (I mean technical electives at least), what to do with friends, what food to cook, when to sleep, when to exercise, how to approach life, when to phone or visit family, if you should smile to yourself in the morning… ahhhh this is super-duper exciting! Enjoy it all you can!
GEARS helps you integrate learning strategies with the content you need to learn to solve problems in your classes. Upper-year students help you develop key academic skills and answer questions related to your courses, the Engineering Science program, and opportunities within the Faculty and the university at large.
EngSci GEARS Schedule
The GEARS schedule for the Fall/Winter Sessions will be posted on the EngSci Info Hub, our online hub for key program information. You will get access to the Info Hub at the beginning of the semester. You can also ask Irma any questions about GEARS!
Note: The Core 8 has its own version of GEARS, but the one you’ll see advertised in the EngSci Info Hub is specifically for EngScis.
After first and second year, successful students are encouraged to apply for GEARS mentor positions to help the next generation of students!
Benefits of Attending GEARS
As you are transitioning into your first year, you might find that your schedules don’t always allow you to thoroughly prepare for an exam. By attending GEARS sessions and talking to successful upper year students, you can learn how to better review materials and prepare for tests even during the busier weeks.
Despite what its name suggests, GEARS isn’t just for academics. This is a place where you can get to ask upper years anything. EngSci tips? Major advice? Just ask! This is also a place for you to hang out and get to know your peers.
With all the different assignments, labs, homework, and midterms, it can be difficult to find a regular study time to review material covered in recent lectures. Since GEARS sessions are weekly, you can use this time to do just that. And since all the sessions are drop-in, you are free to skip a session if you have a particularly busy week.
Since GEARS sessions are led by current EngSci students, they can help you not only with learning course materials but also with advice on the most useful study skills for each course. For instance, some courses might require you to do practice problems often, while others may need you to spend more time understanding theoretical concepts. By chatting with upper-year students, you can develop these study skills and come up with a strategy that works for you.
GEARS sessions are completely separate from your courses, i.e., no marks will be issued and your attendance will not be reported to your instructors. So you can drop-in for a full session or even part of a session when you have the time without worrying about your participation affecting your grades.
GEARS Mentors (2026 – 2027)
Andy | EngSci 2T8
Andy, 2T8
Bio: Hello everyone, my name is Andy and I’m an EngSci 2T8 in the Robotics Engineering option. This past summer I developed and built a road surface sampling robot at Imperial College London as part of the ESROP — Global program. I was also the 1st and 2nd year class rep for our class, so I can say I know quite a bit about the program in general. Feel free to reach out and ask me anything about the EngSci experience 🙂
Ablah, 2T8
Bio: Hi! My name is Ablah, I’m an EngSci 2T8 student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering option. This summer I was part of SimPL at UBC working on validating inertial measurement units used in instrumented mouthguards worn by contact sport athletes through the ESROP Global program. Outside of classes I’m a big fan of textile crafts, web and game development, the horror genre, and cooking. Looking forward to meeting you, feel free to reach out!
Ablah | EngSci 2T8
Alvin | EngSci 2T9
Alvin, 2T9
Bio: Hey everyone! My name is Alvin, a 2T9 EngSci that is very interested in Control Systems, Computer Vision, and Machine Learning especially in robotics. This summer, I’ve been doing research at SFU related to Autonomous Drone Object Retrieval, and also private tutoring. Outside of that, I like being in nature, playing baseball, and eating. I’ve really been enjoying blueberries recently, and during the semesters you could probably catch me having chicken shawarma poutine in the EngSci common room every day!
Jadon 2T8
Bio: Hello! I’m Jadon, an EngSci 2T8 going into the Machine Intelligence option. This summer, I did research at Baycrest Hospital on white matter modelling for MR fingerprinting. Outside of school, I am one of the general managers for Iron Dragons (currently U24 national champions and always welcoming new members!), and I probably spend way too much time watching Habs games. I was also pretty undecided on my major for a while, so if you have questions about choosing a major or anything else U of T related, feel free to reach out!
Jadon | EngSci 2T8
Jiyoo | EngSci 2T9
Jiyoo, 2T9
Bio: Hi everyone! I’m Jiyoo, an EngSci 2T9 student. I’m hoping to major in BME or robotics in my third year, and I’m super interested in medical devices and neurotechnology, which is why you’ll find me on teams such as NeurotechUofT and UT Bionic! This past summer, I completed a research project in Bangkok, Thailand, on analyzing echocardiography videos using deep learning. Outside of class, I love basketball, going café hopping with friends, listening to country music, and recently I’ve started running. Feel free to reach out, and I’m excited to meet you all!
Rahi, 2T8
Bio: Hello hello hello! My name is Rahi and I’m an EngSci 2T8 in the Physics option. This summer, I worked on a project about the behaviour of sand at Waterloo. You might see me in the common room working on code; if you do, please say hi! I’m also usually involved with Skule Nite in one way or another (you should come watch!). Outside of school, I like to cook and play piano. I’m looking forward to seeing you at GEARS!
For starters, if you’ve 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! We repeat, enjoy the rest of your summer!
First-semester EngSci courses begin with some review of high school content, which can help ease your transition. The content 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. We also recommend getting to know faculty resources such as the tools and reasources that can you improve your study skills and take an active role in managing your learning journey.
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 your first time living 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’re an international student, ensure that you’ve properly arranged your student visa and government documents. 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’ll be ready for first year! First-year courses are designed to provide a solid foundation for all students. If, during first year, you find you’re unfamiliar with a certain concept you were otherwise expected to have covered during high school (this probably won’t occur often), it can help to review some fundamentals.
ESC180 (Introduction to Computer Programming) and ECE159 (Fundamentals of Electric Circuits) assume that you’ve zero prior knowledge of either computer programming or electric circuits. Therefore, you’ll 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’d like to learn programming, there are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube. If you’re 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. Again, though, our ultimate recommendation is that you wait; we know we’ve mentioned it a couple times, but we really want you to relax over the summer!
U of T Engineering does not offer transfer credits for IB or AP classes; this rule applies to all IB and AP classes, which means you won’t be able to use IB or AP credits to fulfill your elective requirements.
Academics
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 don’t take any electives. In upper years, you’ll be able to take three Humanities & Social Science (HSS) and/or Complementary Studies (CS) electives. 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 which your instructors will explain in class. However, you may typically choose your lab partners 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’s natural to struggle keeping up during certain lectures; what’s important is that you take accountability and attempt to fully absorb the concepts later. Trust us, your note-taking skills will improve very quickly!
Stay attentive during lectures and try to understand 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 has a dedicated Learning Strategist to help you with practical note-taking tips and other learning/study strategies; ask your Academic Advisor and they’ll connect you with them.
In first year, the primary software you’ll use will be MATLAB, Pyzo, and Visual Studio Code. If you’d like to buy a laptop, the minimum requirements can be found on the Guide to First Year website. 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’ll 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.
Majors, Minors, Certificates
For more information about EngSci majors, check out the majors page. For information about engineering minors and certificates, check out this site.
U of T Engineering offers ten minors that are open to all undergraduate engineering students. A minor is like an extra “mini degree” dedicated to a particular topic 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. Once declared, minors will appear on your transcript.
If you’re interested in learning whether a minor or certificate is for you, book a meeting with your Academic Advisor. The process is simple, each minor has a respective form you complete where you detail which courses you’ll take and when you’ll take them. You can self-enroll in minors or 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 2027. Note: you don’t need to do any of this in first year. We recommend discussing this with your Academic Advisor and/or emailing the Cross-Disciplinary Office (engineering.minors@utoronto.ca) for more information about minors and certificates.
Note: there are some restrictions on minors and certificates for EngSci students (e.g. EngSci Machine Intelligence majors cannot earn a minor/certificate in Artificial Intelligence Engineering).
Research
For more information, visit this page on summer research. For general tips and advice regarding research opportunities, visit the Research page on the Blog (coming soon).
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 in 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 or the Engineering Research Page. 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 unique, it can be challenging to study abroad whilst in EngSci – challenging, but not impossible. Your academic advisor can give you more information. Furthermore, ESROP – Global can enable you to perform research at institutions across the world!
PEY Co-op
To learn more about PEY Co-op, visit the U of T Engineering Career Centre website. For general tips and advice regarding internships, visit the Internships page on the Blog (coming soon).
The Professional Experience Year Co-op Program (PEY Co-op) is an optional work-integrated learning program, that allows undergraduate engineering students to complete 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’ll gain access to PEY Co-op jobs portal (of course, you’re 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 work experience during your time at U of T and to get a taste for whether a particular type of work is right 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’d like to specialize. Finally, you’ll earn a competitive salary during your internship, and your 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.
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. Make sure that the position in which you’re 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 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 PEY Co-op portal and then register their PEY with that position.
Some companies don’t 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 find their own internships instead of doing a regular PEY. However, you’ll not be considered a PEY student during this time, and this method will not give you the PEY credit.
The PEY co-op program is not required for graduation. Instead, all engineering undergraduate students must complete 600 hours of practical experience before graduating. This experience can be gained through PEY or through other types of employment, typically during the summer. The key requirement is completing the 600 hours of relevant practical work experience, not participation in PEY specifically.
Extracurriculars & Clubs
For more information, check out the Extracurriculars section of the Blog (coming soon).
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. You’ll find that a lot of clubs and design teams start recruitment in the fall, during Frosh week and club fairs. Many of them also do another recruitment cycle at the beginning of second semester.
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.
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. 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 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’s 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.
Residence & Meal Plans
If you meet the academic requirements to continue 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. Information about all meal plans and commuter meal plans can be found at the U of T Food Services website.
All 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.
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 similar habits. We recommend that after you identify potential roommates, you speak with them to get to know them better before finally making your decision.
Other
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.
For questions related to transferring, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor. A big part of their job is helping you figure out if EngSci’s the right fit for you!
This varies depending on when you transfer and how many courses you’ve completed. Your academic advisors can give you more information.
Did you know? Quercus is the Latin genus name for the oak tree, which is an important symbol in U of T’s coat of arms. The symbol of the oak tree also reflects U of T’s motto, which translates to “may it grow as a tree through the ages.”
Quercus
Throughout your time at U of T, you’ll use an online platform called Quercus. Quercus, based on the Canvas Learning Management Engine, hosts everything you’ll need for courses and other important modules, such as the EngSci Info Hub.
Quercus course modules hold course syllabi, assignment deadlines, submissions, feedback, grades, and important course announcements. Professors may also post slides, lecturematerial, or other resources. If professors prefer different platforms to host their courses (such as a custom website), they’ll post this information on their Quercus page. There’s also a Quercus (Canvas) mobile app for Android and iOS devices, so you can quickly check up on your courses on your phone and may make task management easier.
Starting in September, you’ll also see the EngSci Info Hub on your Quercus Dashboard, where you’ll find EngSci-specific academic resources, events, summer internship/research opportunities, graduate school information, and more!
Sample Quercus Dashboard where you can find your courses and other resources like the EngSci Info Hub
While navigating the platform is quite intuitive, you can also refer to this video to learn how to use Quercus. For more information, consider the following resources:
Turn all Quercus notifications ON! Quercus and your U of T email are the official channels through which professors, academic advisors, and the university will communicate with you. Important announcements will be sent to you through Quercus;it’s your responsibility to pay attention.
Why you should check Quercus and your U of T email inbox daily:
U of T communicates with students only through official channels. This is partly to protect your privacy–after all, anyone can set up a gmail account in your name. But it’s also so that the university can prove that you have received information in a timely manner. If you miss a deadline or other important notice because you didn’t check your email or see an announcement on Quercus, that is your responsibility and not a legitimate reason to ask for an extension
Quercus (Canvas) mobile app for Android and iOS [Source].
ACORN
Screenshot of the side toolbar in Acorn
ACORN stands for Accessible Campus Online Resource Network (note the oak tree theme again) and is another U of T’s website that you’ll frequent throughout the year.
Acorn contains a lot of useful information as shown in the sidebar on the left. There are a few tabs that’ll be used more frequently than others — but you’ll visit most of them at some point, so make sure you’re familiar with the interface.
Before the school year begins, the Financial Account tab is crucial to verify your tuition payments.
Close to September, the Timetable & Exams tab will contain your timetable, and show your exam schedule before final exam season. Finally, the Academic History tab will show your final grades when they’re released.
In your foundation years, there’s only one elective course, which you’ll take in the winter term of second year. Course selection will also be done through ACORN, so this’ll be an increasingly important feature in upper years.
Some other useful features worth pointing out include the tax forms under the Tax Forms tab and a hyperlink to access Quercus.
Outlook Mail
UTmail+ will be your official student email account. UTmail+ accounts end in @mail.utoronto.ca and can be accessed through the Microsoft Outlook app on Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS devices. All university correspondence is done through your UTmail+ account, so download the app on your laptop and phone to stay updated regarding course updates, grades, important announcements, and more. You can also have Quercus notifications sent to your UTmail+ inbox. It is important to check your emails daily and keep your inbox organized, so you avoid losing track of important messages and deadlines.
Discussion Boards (Piazza & Ed Discussion)
Online discussion boards are used by professors to provide students with a forum to ask questions about course content, assessments, administration, and more. Questions can be sent publicly to the entire class or privately to the teaching team. For public questions, students and the teaching team can answer and ask follow ups.
You can ask questions during office hours, tutorials, and/or after lectures; however, discussion boards are very helpful for seeking quick clarifications when preparing for assignments or midterms or revising tricky concepts.
The most common discussion boards are Piazza and Ed Discussion. Don’t worry about signing up for these boards just yet: when classes start, your course instructors will permit you to access the course-specific discussion boards.
Note: Instructors will often have rules for what you can share on discussion boards. For instance, if you have questions about your specific solution for an assignment, you’ll likely not be allowed to create a public thread that’s visible to everyone. When in doubt, refer to the course syllabus or reach out to your professors.
Discussion Board Tips
As stated above, make sure you’re allowed to post your question in the first place! General inquiries or clarifications for assignment questions will likely be allowed for public posts; however, if your question pertains to your individual solution, make sure that your post either won’t give away your answer or is sent privately to the teaching team. Consult the course’s syllabus for the discussion board rules!
If you have a question, make sure you first attempt to solve it before throwing it over to a discussion board. Read through your notes, the textbook, or syllabus, or try a quick Google search. If you still can’t find an answer, post your question and briefly outline how you’ve attempted to answer it (e.g. “I already checked my notes and the textbook, but I’m unsure how to approach this practice problem…”).
Before you post anything, check other posts to make sure that nobody else has already addressed your inquiry. That way, you might find an answer to your question instantaneously. This also prevents redundant posts on the discussion board.
If you posted something and ultimately solved it, post a follow up outlining how you were able to get it resolved. That way, students who may have the same question as you in the future have a post to refer to. This also helps the teaching team, as they can refer to your post when addressing student concerns and knowledge gaps in class.
Discussion boards are places where all students can learn and engage with their peers. Whenever you make a post, you should write as though you’re talking to someone inperson; use professional language, be patient, and don’t belittle anyone for their questions or answers. Common courtesy and constructive criticism are key!
On discussion boards, everyone’s contributions are valuable! Try your best to provide insight into a question. If you’re an expert in the topic, take some time to help your peers while refining your knowledge and communication. If you’re somewhat uncertain about your answer, don’t simply comment, “I don’t know.” Instead, make an honest attempt to addressing the question and mention if certain aspects of your answer are limited or uncertain. Your contributions can be recognized by the teaching team (for better or for worse)!
Grading and Assessments
Assessments for each course will either be marked by hand or scanned and then marked digitally, depending on the type of assessment and the instructor’s preferences. In Year 1 courses, tutorial quizzes are typically marked by your TAs by hand, and the physical copies will be returned to you once marked. However, most midterms and final exams will be scanned and graded through online grading platforms such as Crowdmark and/or Gradescope. In addition, Gradescope is often used to submit assignments and problem sets for courses such as ESC180, ESC190, and MAT185.
Like the discussion boards, you don’t have to sign up for these platforms just yet. Usually, your grades will be tied to your U of T email address, and once they’re published by the professors you can access them by logging in to the appropriate platform with your U of T email.
Note: Gradescope has two different instances – Gradescope.com and Gradescope.ca. Your accounts on each platform, and the associated courses and grade data, will be separate and cannot be merged. So, if grades have been published for a certain course and you’re not seeing that course when logged into Gradescope.com, try Gradescope.ca, and vice versa.
Online Grading Tips
The transition from high school to university is challenging for everyone. If you receive a grade lower than expected, let it be a chance for you to read through all the feedback and determine your next improvement strategies. Similarly, if you’re satisfied with your results, reflect on the process to understand which strategies were most effective and create a plan to continue your achievement. Remember, grades are only a fraction of your university experience!
You can learn a lot about course content and test-taking strategies by diligently reviewing your graded feedback. Identify where you made errors or where you may have overlooked concepts and determine how to improve upon this for next time.
If you want to request a regrade, you’ll have to specifically point out where you believe you deserve more marks and why; only then will your regrade request be considered by the teaching team.
Sometimes class-wide grading accidents happen. If you receive a shockingly low grade, it may be due to a grading error that wasn’t your fault. If this happens, respectfully notify the teaching team and they’ll resolve it as soon as they can.
Course Content and Homework
Although Quercus is most often used by professors to share course content and accept assignment submissions, some professors may require you to access course content and/or submit textbook homework problems through an external online platform. Three such platforms used for Year 1 courses in previous years include McGraw Hill Connect,Top Hat, and WileyPLUS.
Note: While these platforms were used for courses in previous years, instructors may choose to structure course contents and assessmentsNote: While these platforms were used for courses in previous years, instructors may choose to structure course contents and assessments differently for Fall 2025. Always refer to the course syllabus and check in with your professors for the most up-to-date information. And in the meantime, feel free to browse the Fall and Winter Courses pages to know more about Year 1 courses.
MathMatize
MathMatize is another of the platforms used for homework but works a bit differently from the others. It does not contain a textbook, and can host both homework and live questions, which courses like PHY180 and ECE159 take advantage of to create questions for students to answer during class.
Throughout your time at EngSci, you’ll work in multiple team projects, including the Praxis I and II Engineering Design projects and the CIV102 Bridge project. A lot of these team projects will include multiple deliverables, requiring you to store, share, and collectively work on documents, reports, and the like. OneDrive and Google Drive are two of the more popular options in terms of sharing files and documents.
You can also use specialized platforms such as Overleaf (for writing physics lab reports or problem sets in LaTex), GitHub (for coding projects), MATLAB Drive (for sharing and collaborating on MATLAB coding files), and Onshape (for CAD 3D modelling).
For communications, you and your team can discuss which platforms work best. Historically, Discord has been a common choice for Praxis teams due to its comprehensive messaging, voice, video, and file-sharing capabilities. Clubs and design teams may use Discord, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. You should get familiar with Teams, as virtual advising appointments will typically use Teams.
Research Tools
Research Databases
Throughout your academic and professional career, you’ll likely conduct a lot of research to learn about new topics, before writing reports, designing, etc. During your time at U of T, you’ll have free access to over 30 databases containing thousands of research papers, handbooks, academic journals, and conference proceedings. You can find a list of available databases on the Engineering and Computer Science Library here. This library and your status as a U of T student will be useful as you access any source, whether for Praxis or your thesis! If you want to develop your research skills or learn more about how to research a certain topic, you can reach out to the library research team here.
RefWorks
When you’re doing research for a project or report, chances are you’ll have to write a bibliography to cite your sources. While there are free online tools to generate citations, as an active U of T student, you can use the citation management tool ProQuest RefWorks to generate, store, and organize your sources more efficiently.
If you want to learn more about something from the convenience of your computer, U of T offers a student plan for Coursera. Coursera is an online platform where universities and institutions from around the world can create online courses about literally any topic in existence for anyone to learn from. From simple classes about Microsoft Excel to technical concepts about computer architecture and machine learning, Coursera has something for everyone. As a U of T student, you have access to plenty of Coursera courses and certifications for absolutely free!
While EngSci is a small program, U of T is a rather large school, and this means we have a lot of unique terms that students use in everyday speech. Since we’ve incorporated these terms into our blog posts, here’s a list for your reference.
ACORN, or Accessible Campus Online Resource Network, is an online platform that stores all your records – including academic history/current courses, tuition fees and financial statements, and personal documents – and links you to other campus resources.
Accreditation
Accreditation is the process by which engineering programs are officially recognized as meeting certain educational and curriculum standards established by a regulatory board for engineering, such as Professional Engineers Ontario.
Aero/AER
Aero is short for “aerospace engineering”. It could refer to the EngSci Aerospace Engineering major or the field of aerospace engineering in general. EngSci courses related to Aero have the course code “AER”.
Academic Advisor
Academic advisors are EngSci staff members who guide you through the program and help with course enrolment, timetables, petitions, academic planning, and more.
AP
AP, or Advanced Placement, is a program offered for high school students around the world which provides an enriched and challenging education. AP courses involve college-level curricula and examinations.
ASX
The Astronomy & Space Exploration Society (ASX) is a non-profit organization run by the University of Toronto undergraduate space community. ASX’s purpose is to educate, excite, and inspire students, professionals, and the public about astronomy and space.
aUToronto
aUToronto is a student design team dedicated to building a fully autonomous car to compete in the GM/SAE AutoDrive Challenge.
B
BA
The building code for the Bahen Centre for Information Technology. It’s one of the main engineering buildings on campus, and houses the EngSci Common Room, EngSci Office, and the Department of Computer Science.
BME
BMEis an abbreviation for “biomedical engineering”. It could refer to the EngSci Biomedical Systems Engineering major, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (the official graduate unit for biomedical engineering at U of T), or the fields of biomedical engineering or the broader biomedical engineering field. “BME” is the course code for BME courses.
Blue Sky Solar Racing
Blue Sky Solar Racing is a student design team dedicated to building energy-efficient solar powered vehicles, to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
C
Certificate
A certificate is like an extra “mini minor” completed alongside your degree, through which you can explore a specialized field of engineering by completing a particular set of three courses.
CGPA
CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average and refers to your overall GPA across all semesters. It’s calculated by averaging the GPAs from all your courses (adjusting for weight if necessary).
ChemE/CHE
The Department of Chemical Engineering. “CHE” is the course code for chemical engineering courses.
Chestnut Residence
Chestnut is a common student residence for first-year engineering students. Located just over a kilometer from campus, it houses almost 1,150 students from all U of T faculties and colleges, with 75% of residents being first-year students. Chestnut also houses more engineering and international students than other residences.
CivMin/CIV
CivMin is the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering. “CIV” is the course code for civil engineering courses.
Class Representative
Class Representatives are students who represent a particular year’s class for a particular discipline to EngSoc and the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Early in the year, you’ll be able to elect two students to represent the EngSci class of 3T0; you can even run yourself! They advocate for matters such as assignment conflicts/extensions and social activities.
Commuting/Commuter
A commuter usually refers to a student who lives somewhere other than a U of T student residence, and travels to and from campus. Commuters could live near or far from campus.
Co-op
Co-ops, or cooperative education programs, allow students to gain real-world work experience through internships as part of credit/degree requirements.
CS
CS stands for Complementary Studies, which refers to studies in humanities, social sciences, arts, management, economics, and communication that complement the technical curriculum of an engineering program. CS could refer to U of T’s Computer Science major or the field of computer science as a whole.
CSC
CSC is the course code for computer science courses at U of T.
CUBE
The Club for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering is a student-run club whose mandate is to promote biomedical engineering at the undergraduate level.
D
Dean
The head of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
Dean’s Honours List
A recognition of academic achievement for students who receive a weighted term average of 79.5% or higher (while meeting the minimum credit loads for full-time or part-time students).
Design Team
A student organization (of the Engineering Society) that works on engineering design projects. Design teams often pit their creations against those of other universities in competitions or publish the process and results of their work.
E
EAA
Engineering Athletics Association. The EAA creates and runs intramural sports teams for all engineering students.
ECE
ECE is an abbreviation for “electrical & computer engineering.” It could refer to the EngSci Electrical & Computer Engineering major, the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (the official unit for undergraduate and graduate studies in ECE at U of T), the Core 8 Electrical & Computer Engineering major, or the field of electrical and computer engineering. The terms “EE” and “CE” may be used to refer to either electrical or computer engineering, respectively. “ECE” is the course code for ECE courses
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Adhering to EDI concepts and policies can help create welcoming environments in which all individuals from all backgrounds can succeed and are appreciated.
EngSci/ESC
Engineering Science. This is the amazing program you’ve decided to join! ESC is the course code for some EngSci-specific courses such as Praxis I (ESC101).
EngSoc
Engineering Society. This is the student government group for all U of T Engineering students. They provide correspondence to students, academic services (such as old exam archives), student club funding, and extracurricular opportunities.
ESEC
Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC). This annual two-day conference aims to broaden students’ horizons by connecting them with world leaders from a wide range of sectors open to graduates of the Engineering Science program.
ESROP
Engineering Science Research Opportunity Program. These competitive programs provide funding for EngSci students with the opportunity to work on engineering research projects over the course of the summer. ESROP – U of T is for students who have found their own placements with U of T faculty; ESROP – ExOp is for students who have found their own placements at non-U of T institutions; ESROP – Global is arranged by the Division of EngSci, and allows students to apply to a number of non-U of T partner institutions; ESROP – E4TW (Engineers for the World) is arranged by the Division of EngSci, and allows students to work on research related to the social, ethical, political, and human rights impacts of technology.
EWB UofT
Engineers Without Border U of T Chapter. The largest student chapter of EWB in Canada, the club works locally and globally to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
F
F!rosh Week
An event-filled, weeklong orientation program for incoming engineering students, run by upper-year engineering students.
Frosh
A frosh is a first-year student. From September to May of the upcoming school year, you will all be frosh!
G
GB
The building code for the Galbraith Building. It’s one of the main engineering buildings on campus and houses the Office of the Registrar and the Math Aid Centre.
GEARS
Guided Engineering Academic Review Sessions. GEARS are like free tutoring sessions with successful upper-year EngScis. GEARS sessions are drop-in and run multiple days per week and are great opportunities to connect with upper years who can help you review course content and prepare for exams, as well as answer your questions about course content, student life, and opportunities outside the class. EngSci has its own EngSci GEARS, which is different from GEARS, the program for Core 8 students.
GPA
Grade Point Average. Used alongside percentage and letter grades to gauge your academic performance. The types of GPA are SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average), which are calculated by taking the average letter grade you receive in your courses and converting it to a number from 0.0-4.0 using a scale.
GTA
Greater Toronto Area. This officially means the City of Toronto and four surrounding regional municipalities: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York.
H
HA
The building code for the Haultain Building. One of the engineering buildings on campus. Houses small classrooms which may be used for tutorials and midterms.
Hackathon
An event often organized by engineering or computer science groups, where individuals or teams compete to create the best software, hardware, or conceptual project, based on certain themes and criteria.
Hart House
The student community center at U of T. Hart House houses athletic facilities, the U of T Art Museum, a restaurant, a theatre, and much more.
Hatchery
The U of T Engineering startup incubator. If you have a startup idea that you want to develop or if you just want to learn more about entrepreneurship, you should consider applying to the Hatchery’s programs!
HPVDT
U of T’s Human-Powered Vehicle Design team. They are a record-breaking team that builds vehicles such as superfast bikes and planes, powered entirely by people.
HSS
Humanities and Social Science Elective. HSS courses are a subset of Complementary Studies courses, and they refer to electives offered through the Faculty of Arts and Science. The accreditation board requires you to take a certain amount of these courses for graduation.
I
IB
IB, or International Baccalaureate, is a program offered for students around the world which provides an enriched and challenging education. IB courses involve college-level curricula, projects, and examinations.
ID
Iron Dragons is the dragon boating team at U of T engineering. ID consists of casual and competitive teams and is open to all students with an interest in dragon boating and physical activity!
IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. There is a student chapter at U of T, which builds cool technological projects, hosts professional development and technical skills workshops and hackathons, and more!
iGem
International Genetically Engineered Machine. iGEM Toronto is a student design team which develops a synthetic biology research project and competes in the annual iGEM jamboree.
Intramurals
Casual or semi-competitive team sports in which you can play against other faculties and colleges at U of T. Intramurals are organized by the Engineering Athletics Association (EAA), and there are 23 teams across ten different sports!
L
LEC
Lecture code on timetable. These are where you and your cohort(s) will be in large lecture halls, learning new content from a professor.
LFF/MYFab
Myhal Light Fabrication Facility. The facility is equipped with 20 workbenches, a variety of hand tools, and basic power tools and allows for light-duty fabrication with materials such as timber, foam, plastics and soft metals. There is also equipment for electronics work and 3D printing.
LGMB
Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad. As Skule’s most noisy, chaotic band, the LGMB loves to show up to events (uninvited) and blast their tunes for all to hear!
M
MB
The building code for Lassonde Mining Building. Houses the Mining Hall of Fame and classrooms for some of your classes.
MC
The building code for the Mechanical Engineering Building. Features a large lecture hall, which is one of the most spacious lecture halls you’ll see in your first year, as well as a machine shop (MC78) and thermodynamics laboratory.
MI
MI is an abbreviation for “Machine Intelligence”. It refers to the EngSci Machine Intelligence major.
MIE
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. “MIE” is the course code for mechanical and industrial engineering courses.
Minor
A minor is like an extra “mini degree” completed alongside your degree, through which you can explore a vast field of specialized engineering disciplines by completing a particular set of six courses.
MSE
Department of Materials Science & Engineering. “MSE” is the course code for materials science & engineering courses.
MSF
MSF is an abbreviation for “Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance”. It refers to the EngSci Engineering Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance” major.
MY
Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The newest engineering building on campus, with an enormous lecture hall, many classrooms and study spaces, a fabrication facility, the Robotics Institute, the Hatchery, and much more!
MYFab/LFF
Myhal Light Fabrication Facility. The facility is equipped with 20 workbenches, a variety of hand tools, and basic power tools and allows for light-duty fabrication with materials such as timber, foam, plastics and soft metals. There is also equipment for electronics work and 3D printing.
N
NSBE
National Society of Black Engineers. This group’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
NSERC
The National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. NSERC is a federal agency which funds research in the fields of natural sciences and engineering, by providing research grants to university faculty and students.
O
Office Hours
Instructor-specific sessions during which students can have their questions about course content answered by professors and teaching assistants.
OSAP
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides grants and student loans to financially assist Ontario residents in funding their university education.
P
PEY Co-op
Professional Experience Year Co-op. A paid 12-to-16-month co-op program offered to engineering students that have completed third year. Students that have completed second year are eligible for a summer-long PEY.
PRA
Practical code on timetable. Hands-on sessions held in lab settings, which will be a component to many of your courses throughout your degree.
Prof
Professor. Professors run your lectures and run weekly office hours.
Q
QueerSphere
QueerSphere is the engineering LGBTQ+ group here at Skule. They get people involved in and aware of the LGBTQ+ community, to make engineering at U of T a more welcoming and inclusive place for all.
R
Robo/ROB
Robo is short for “robotics engineering.” It could refer to the EngSci Robotics Engineering major, or the field of robotics engineering in general. EngSci courses related to Robo have the course code “ROB”.
Robotics Institute
The U of T Robotics Institute is the official unit for robotics research and innovation at U of T.
RSX
Robotics for Space Exploration is a student design team which builds Mars rovers. RSX competes at competitions such as the University Rover Challenge and hosts an engineering design competition about space exploration.
S
SEA
Sustainable Engineers Association. This student club is fueled by the drive to increase interest and awareness about sustainability; they run events throughout the year where students can meet and engage with industry professionals.
SF
The building code for the Sandford Fleming Building. As one of the main engineering buildings on campus, SF houses lecture halls, research labs, and many EngSoc-run services such as the Engineering Stores and Hard Hat Cafe.
SGPA
Sessional Grade Point Average. sGPA can be thought of as the GPA you earned in each semester, based only on courses from that semester.
Skule™
An incorrect spelling of the word “school” in honor of a longstanding joke that engineers can’t spell. Skule™ refers to the name of our student community at U of T Engineering! That said, no single definition encompasses what it is. Skule™ refers to a diverse set of statements:
the spirit of what it means to be a U of T Engineering student, where we value fairness, honesty, diversity, inclusivity, and above all, respect for yourself and your fellow peers
a community of people referred to as Skuligans
a place where bright minds come together to collaborate, celebrate, and care for each another
a network of over 56,000 alumni and a community that’ll last beyond your undergraduate years
Teaching Assistant. Teaching Assistants are third/fourth-year, master’s-level, or PhD students that run your tutorials, help grade exams and assessments, and often run their own office hours.
TCard
Your TCard will be your Student Identification Card throughout your time at U of T. It includes your photo, UTORid, student number, and a barcode. It provides access to services and facilities such as the EngSci Common Room, libraries, athletic facilities, exams, meal plans, online learning portal, and printing services.
Troost ILead
Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering. The institute provides various courses, programs, and workshops to help train the next generation of engineering leaders – that’s you!
TUT
Tutorial code on timetable. TUTs are smaller sections, often run by a TA, that allow you to learn more about and practice concepts introduced during lectures.
U
UHIP
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). This is a mandatory medical insurance plan for all international students. It’s also offered to domestic students who don’t have their own medical insurance. Everyone is automatically enrolled in this plan, but domestic students who have their own medical insurance, such as OHIP (Ontario’s mandatory health coverage), can opt out. Read more about the insurance plan at the StudentCare webpage.
U of T Time
“U of T Time” refers to the practice of starting lectures, labs, and tutorials ten minutes after their scheduled hour. For example, if a lecture is scheduled for 2:00pm on your timetable, the prof. won’t start until 2:10pm. This buffer time allows students ample time to get to their next class without missing anything. NOTE: non-academic events like workshops or appointments with staff sometimes start on the hour, NOT U of T Time! When in doubt, ask. U of T Time is not applicable to tests and examinations, which begin at their scheduled start times.
UT BIOME
UT BIOME is a student design team that develops medical devices, and hosts conferences and competitions related to biomedical engineering.
UT BIONIC
UT BIONIC is a volunteer-based bioengineering consulting team at the University of Toronto, dedicated to designing and donating accessible medical devices such as prosthetics and writing aids to individuals in need.
UTACE
U of T Association of Chinese Engineers. ACE is a student-run group dedicated to promoting Chinese culture on campus. They also work towards fostering friendship and communication between members.
UTFR
U of T Formula Racing is an award-winning student design team that designs, builds, and competes with a fully electric formula race car. Every year, the team develops the mechanical, electrical, and autonomous aspects of a new car.
UTAT
U of T Aerospace Team. An award-winning design team that works on aerospace projects such as rockets, satellites, and much more.
UTEFA
U of T Finance Association. An educational organization which aims to provide students with extensive knowledge about the financial industry by engaging them in investing activities.
UTESCA
U of T Engineering Consulting Association. UTESCA connects engineering students with real-world consulting projects and hosts various networking and professional development events.
UTM
University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus. Located in Mississauga, this is one of U of T’s three campuses.
UTMIST
U of T Machine Intelligence Student Team. This team works on research projects all about machine learning and software engineering.
UTORid
University of Toronto Identity. Your UTORid is your key to several services like your email, enrollment services, and campus wifi.
UTRA
U of T Robotics Association. UTRA designs and builds various types of robots to compete in international competitions such as the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition and RoboGames.
UTSC
University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus. Located in Scarborough, this is one of U of T’s three campuses.
UTSG
University of Toronto, Saint George Campus. Located in Downtown Toronto, this is one of U of T’s three campuses. As an engineering student, this will be your campus!
UTSM
U of T Supermileage. UTSM is a student design team that designs and builds extremely fuel-efficient vehicles. They compete annually in the Shell Eco Marathon Americas Competition.
UTSPAN
University of Toronto Sports Analytics Student Group. UTSPAN is an award-winning student team that conducts sports analytics research challenges using mathematical methods and machine learning.
UTSU
University of Toronto Student Union. The official student government of more than 38,000 students at the University of Toronto. UTSU was founded in 1901.
W
WISE U of T
Women In Science and Engineering U of T. WISE is a student club that promotes the education of women in the fields of science and engineering.
Y
YNCN
You’re Next Career Network. This club provides professional opportunities to students through career development programs, corporate and startup career events, and massive career fairs in the fall and winter.
If you have questions that haven’t been answered by our other pages, we’ve gathered a list of external resources and links to provide you with additional support and information. Whether you’re looking for more detailed information on EngSci majors, important dates and deadlines, accessibility services, or research and internships, these official U of T and trusted external sources will help you find the answers you need.
Note: The list below is categorized similarly to the navigation menu. Some resources listed here are also featured on relevant pages throughout the blog.
Visit the official EngSci website to learn more about the EngSci program at U of T, the people of EngSci, supports and resources available to EngSci students, and more.
U of T Career Learning Network, or CLNx, lists opportunities available through the university’s Co-Curricular Program, along with over 200+ undergrad research opportunities and career resources.
Find a comprehensive list of upcoming resume workshops, career fairs, interview prep workshops, and much more maintained by the student-run organization YNCN.
The University of Toronto’s emergency notification system. During emergencies or significant disruptions to campus operations, the University uses UTAlert to quickly deliver critical information through email, SMS text and mobile app push notifications.
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ESC180 is an introductory computer programming course. The course is taught with the assumption that students have no prior programming experience. Python will be the only programming language used for this course.
You’ll start by covering fundamental programming concepts, including functions, conditional statements, syntax, and loops. You’ll use these basic concepts to create simple programs, ultimately learn more advanced concepts such as Python data structures and recursion and be introduced to features of computers such as memory storage and time complexity. For assignments, you’ll be writing your own code for interesting applications, practicing the skills and theory from class.
For experienced programmers, much of this course will be repetition. For newer programmers with less experience, this course will require regular practice to build a new skill set.
Instructors
Samantha Unger
Samantha Unger is one of the course instructors for ESC180 this fall. She graduated from EngSci in the Biomedical Systems Engineering major, completing a minor in Artificial Intelligence. She is now in the middle of her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, focusing on the design of devices and algorithms for cardiovascular monitoring. She has been involved in this course as a teaching assistant since 2020.
Nhien Tran-Nguyen
Nhien Tran-Nguyen (pronounced “nee-YEN tran win”) is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering and one of the course instructors for ESC180. She graduated from EngSci in the Biomedical Systems Engineering option. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, during which she developed computational models of blood flow using medical images to better understand failure in coronary artery bypass graft surgery – which is also the topic of her current PhD research. She has been a teaching assistant for ESC180/190 and other EngSci courses since 2020.
Course Highlights
Discovering Python is not just a snake – it’s the programming language you’ll be using for this course.
That eureka moment when your program works after you spend hours debugging it.
Generating code that solves a big, real-life problem with very basic concepts.
Figuring out how recursion works.
Participating in a programming competition.
Life of an ESC180 Student
Lectures
There are typically three hours of ESC180 lectures per week. There are no tutorials, so be sure to pay attention during lecture! The instructors will explain programming concepts and go through example code. Ensure that you attend every lecture, because there will be multiple surprise quizzes throughout the semester!
Labs (Practicals)
There are no tutorials for this course. ESC180 practicals are weekly three-hour slots held in the
Engineering Computing Facility (ECF).
Here, you’ll work in pairs on assigned programming labs, getting feedback from TAs if needed.
Labs are released weekly, and you have three hours to complete them. You’ll be challenged to program functions that complete specific tasks. The labs can be long and difficult, but they’re very beneficial. Try to complete all of them: it’s the best way to prepare for the midterm and final exam. They’ll give you an opportunity to practice coding and build on your programming skills. All labs are graded by TAs, who are also there to help if you get stuck. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if this is your first-time programming. According to the syllabus, “teams that make their best effort toward completing the lab will be awarded full credit.”
Projects
Projects are longer than labs and are typically assigned 3-4 weeks before the due date. They’re more difficult because their scope is larger. Instead of writing one standalone function, you need to write at least 4-5 functions that accomplish a broader goal. For example, you might need to build a program that predicts its opponent’s moves in a board game. You may choose to work with a partner on projects. Projects will be automatically graded based on many programming test cases.
Midterm and Exam
ESC180 usually has a midterm and a final. In these you’ll be asked both conceptual and programming questions. For questions that require you to write code, you’ll have to use pen and paper. The code you write in the exams will be more conceptually challenging, although it’ll be shorter than code from labs. The challenge is writing it quickly and without external aids. Keeping up with the labs and practicing throughout the semester will reduce your prep time and past exams are a great source of practice problems.
How to Succeed
Quick Tips & Equations
Know your “if” statements, “for” loops, and “while” loops
Indexing Python lists starts at 0, not 1.
For assignments (and programming in general) ensure that you’ve thoroughly debugged and considered boundary cases. If your program produces an error on a boundary case, you’ll likely fail that case, and if your program doesn’t compile at all, you won’t receive any marks for the assignment!
More Details
We recommend starting ESC180 projects as soon as they’re released. They require a lot of thought and iteration; they cannot be completed in one go the night before the due date. You’ll need to brainstorm a solution, try it out, debug, and probably try again. Don’t be fooled by the “simplicity” of the problem statement: even if a function seems easy to write, debugging may take you several hours. While developing your solutions, test them piece-by-piece and try out different combinations of inputs so you’re confident they work.
Some experienced programmers can write their code immediately after seeing a problem. However, we recommend that beginners write an outline in pseudo-code before writing any code. Pseudo-code refers to an informal version of code, written in words explaining what your program does. Plan how your functions will interact and what they need to do to achieve your desired result. This way, you’ll avoid making mistakes, writing unnecessary code, and confusing yourself. Planning and sketching things out on paper is especially important when tackling projects.
Aside from the midterm and the final, you’ll almost always write and practice coding on an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). While you may become very good at writing, debugging and running code this way, solving problems with just pen and paper without being able to test or debug them on an IDE is a completely different experience. During labs, you may get into the habit of writing, running, and debugging code line-by-line; however, during exams, you’ll have to go through the program you have written line-by-line in your head and identify the errors yourself. It’s therefore important to practice without an IDE regularly so you’re better prepared for written assessments along with the labs and projects.
Like any other skill, it’ll take time and practice to become comfortable at programming. You’ll make mistakes and feel frustrated when you don’t know what to do. The key is regular practice. Looking at code will not be as useful as writing code on your computer. Without actual practice, it’s impossible to improve. Experimenting is the best way to learn coding. You’ll learn to use many useful methods and tools by playing around with code. Use the time during lab sessions to stay on track with the course content, rather than trying to catch up right before an assessment.
Python is a very popular language and there are countless free resources to help you along. In addition, lecture recordings will be posted after class. Content from previous iterations of the course can even be found on Professor Guerzhoy’s YouTube channel. You can watch these recordings to make up for missed classes, study for exams, or even to get a preview of what is to come to better prepare yourself. Another helpful tip is to make use of TA support during lab sessions. The TAs usually aren’t very busy in the beginning of the sessions, so they have lots of time to answer questions from things you may have seen in lecture or got stuck on during a previous week.
Beyond First Year
Through ESC180 you’ll learn how to think like a programmer. You’ll be introduced to several programming problem-solving techniques, including:
Sequential: In basic programming, the computer follows a set of instructions one after the other. By thinking sequentially, the programmer tells the computer what information to save when moving between steps and in what order.
Functional: You’ll often need several small, independent functions in your program that come together to solve a problem. Thus, you need to think about the individual components of your problem and how multiple smaller functions can be combined to solve it.
Iterative: By using loops in programming, you can repeat an action as many times as you need to solve a problem. You must therefore understand how to create solutions using these iterative techniques.
Recursive: In some cases, it’s simply impractical to solve a problem iteratively. That’s when recursion comes in handy. Recursion is a method in which you break down a larger problem into its smallest subproblem that has a direct solution. Since the solution to the larger problem depends on this direct solution of the smaller subproblem, your program breaks down the large problem, and once it finds the smallest subproblem, it works its way forwards with the solutions from each step. You’ve then found a solution!
Programming is one of the fundamental skills in science and engineering today. Many technical courses will either use programming or teach you to program, and you can always use programming to simplify calculations in assignments and labs. Many internships and jobs require programming experience, so it’s great that EngSci provides a solid introduction in first year.
Note: The course code for Introduction to Computer Programming used to be CSC180. You may still see it referred to as such on some websites (e.g. courses.skule.ca).
