Author: orientation

Fun Things to Do In Toronto

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We COULD tell you about the CN Tower, the ROM, the Eaton Centre, or Toronto’s numerous world-class attractions. But instead, we’re going to tell you about three things that we, Monika and Amanda, love about the city we currently call home. 

Monika’s favourite activities in and around Toronto: 

1. Canada’s Wonderland 
 
It’s a bit outside of Toronto (it’s in Vaughan), but I love Canada’s Wonderland. Canada’s Wonderland is Canada’s largest amusement park, featuring over 200 attractions. I have gone there for the past two years during Halloween. There are always people in costumes trying to scare you and cool Halloween-themed shows running. It has its downsides, like waiting in line for a long time after every attraction, and if you don’t have a car, it takes a long time to get there, but it is always 100% worth it. My favorite ride at Canada’s Wonderland is Behemoth. Amanda is from Vaughan, so she has probably been there many more times than me—but it did make my top 3. 

2. Toronto Islands 
 
When it’s warm, I love lying on the grass and looking up at the sky. One of my favorite places to do that is the Toronto Islands. 

The Toronto Islands, a group of islands connected by bridges and pathways in Lake Ontario, are just a 10–15-minute ferry ride from downtown. They are essentially one huge, beautiful park with sunny beaches, cute cafés, bike rentals, canoe rentals, frisbee golf, and much more. 

Out of all the activities you can do on the islands, my go-to is bringing some snacks and a blanket and staying on the grass for hours until it’s time to head back. 

3. VEMU Estonian Museum Canada Events & Other Estonian activities 

Something that has been invaluable for me as an Estonian in Canada has been the Estonian diaspora community here and working at VEMU. We have weekly events about everything related to Estonia. If I see tens of people around me speaking Estonian, I sometimes even forget, that I am so far from home. My takeaway from this would be that Toronto is such a multicultural city that you can almost always find people who share your traditions. 

Honourable Mention: The Underground Dance Studio 

Since childhood I have always done a little bit of dance here and there so when I got to Toronto, I was happy to see an ad on Instagram for the Underground Dance Studio. I don’t exactly remember my first time there, but my friend Addie and I started going there about once a week. Last year I was a bit more inactive and put my membership on hold, but now I am going to use up all the classes I still have left.  

Amanda’s favourite activities in and around Toronto: 

1. Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) 

Visiting an art gallery in Toronto is a must! The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art galleries in North America and houses a wide diversity of creative pieces, including a huge collection of Indigenous and Canadian art. Learning that admission was FREE for everyone under 25 was a game changer for me. Plus, it’s literally right down the street from Bahen. Visiting the Art Gallery after classes or exams with friends was such a great way to destress while learning to appreciate so many amazing Canadian artists. I think the most exciting thing to look out for is the limited-time exhibitions. Until October, they have a new exhibition called The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse, featuring pieces by artists like Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Berthe Morisot, Henri Matisse, and more. Many of these Impressionist paintings transformed the art world and changing the way people experienced and created art. Being able to see these revolutionary works up close, right here in Canada and so close to campus, is an incredible opportunity that you should definitely take advantage of! 

A tip for international students: Get to know Indigenous art from Canada. AGO has a huge collection. 

The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse exhibition
Art Gallery of Ontario [Source]

2. Grange Park & Village by the Grange 

The Village by the Grange is, in my opinion, one of Toronto’s most underrated food courts. This year, my friends and I loved going there because it’s so close to campus, and with so many great food options and student-friendly deals, there was always something new to try. Some of our favourites include Fruiteao Bubble Tea daily discounts, Manpuku for its delicious udon, Tasty Chinese Food for its student meals, Coffee Exchange for its fresh maple coffee, and Ka Nom for its strawberry and Nutella crepes. There are so many diverse food options to choose from, making it the perfect spot for a quick lunch between classes. Check out all of the Village by the Grange food options in this blog post. 

Right beside Village by the Grange is Grange Park, a beautiful green space with scenic views of the CN Tower, the city skyline, the AGO, and OCAD University. My friends and I loved coming here for picnics after exams, and it is definitely one of my favorite parks in Toronto. 

3. Kensington Market 

Kensington Market is such a fun neighbourhood, and I definitely recommend exploring it with friends. From rows of vintage stores for thrifting clothes and unique jewelry to its diverse food options, cute cafés and bakeries, and vibrant murals and colourful Victorian-style houses, Kensington Market has something for everyone. 

One of the things that makes the neighbourhood so special is that it’s home almost entirely to independent businesses, so you’ll find unique bakeries, cheese shops, spice stores, vintage boutiques, and local bookstores instead of major chain stores. During the summer, the neighbourhood also has car-free street festivals featuring live music, performers, and a lively atmosphere that are always super fun to attend. 

My friends and I love spending the day exploring everything Kensington has to offer, and we always leave with a new thrift find, a delicious treat, or another favourite spot to come back to. 

Honourable Mention: Riverdale Park 

My friends and I recently had the chance to go to Riverdale Park for a picnic, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It has a beautiful view of the city skyline, especially at sunset. It’s usually pretty busy, but having so many people there made the park feel even more vibrant and lively. It’s the perfect place to relax with friends, enjoy a picnic, and take in one of the best views of Toronto. 

Student Discounts and Free Software

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From public transit to music streaming services to CAD software, many companies offer free or hugely discounted services or products to university students that could help you save hundreds of dollars. It’s usually super easy to get these discounts – all you need is your University of Toronto email or TCard. Regardless of what you’re buying, always check for student discounts! 

Free Software

For a complete list, check out this U of T Libraries site.

AutoDesk is a company that provides software for engineering, such as AutoCAD. To access these products for free, go to this AutoDesk page, select your desired software, and follow the instructions given. 

U of T provides Microsoft 365 for free. This gives you access to programs like Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and more, along with 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Once you’ve installed Microsoft 365 with your U of T account, you’ll be able to access these programs online and offline. To install it, visit the Microsoft support page. 

Mathematica is like MATLAB for computer algebra instead of linear algebra; you can use it for numeric methods, symbolic computation, and more. By creating an account with your U of T email account, you get access to both Mathematica Desktop and Mathematica Online. 

In programming, an integrated development environment (IDE) is a digital environment where you can code, with various features. JetBrains makes IDEs for different programming languages, including Python and C, which you’ll use in first year. To access their products for free, all you need to do is register your account with your U of T email. 

Certain classes will provide you with licenses to obtain specific software for free. You’ll first encounter this in Praxis II; in the second half of the course, the teaching team will provide you with a license for Onshape (a cloud-based CAD software). Some upper-year courses with specific software requirements will give you licenses. 

Engineering student design teams often provide software licenses for their members to use for free. Examples include Altium, Ansys, Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS, and much more. For more information, reach out to your (sub)team leads. 

ECF computers have extra software for student use. All engineering undergraduate students can access these computer labs 24/7 (in-person labs may be affected by closures, but remote access is always available). This will be useful in classes such as ESC190, where you might need to use certain software such as Valgrind (which can be very tricky to configure on your own computer). To access the free software hosted on ECF computers, go to the U of T Engineering remote access information page. Sign in with your UTORID and password, just like when you sign in to computers on campus. From there, you can see all the applications hosted on the computer and use them freely. 

General Student Discounts

These products/services relate to daily expenses and recreation.

Public transit services often offer discounts for students. For example, the TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass offers unlimited travel on the TTC for $128.15 per month. 

VIA Rail Discount  

U of T students receive 7.5% off VIA Rail fares and can extend the discount to up to three accompanying passengers. Visit the UTSU website for the discount code before booking; valid student ID is required when picking up tickets or traveling.   

Bike Share Toronto provides a discount for all U of T students.  

Discounts Include:  

Annual 30: $84/year (was $105) with unlimited 30-minute rides.  
Annual 45: $96/year (was $120) with unlimited 45-minute rides.   

Some subscription-based services offer deep student discounts. To find which platforms might offer student discounts, read this article by Rolling Stone. 

In addition to regular back-to-school sales, tons of technology companies (such as Apple) offer huge student deals on personal technology such as laptops, tablets, and more. Furthermore, check with your cellular provider to see if you can get a student discount on your phone plan. 

Various restaurants and grocery stores will have student discounts; you just need to ask! They’ll probably ask to see your student ID, so make sure to always carry your TCard. 

Theatres, concerts, sporting events, and museums might offer student discounts; make sure to check before you book! Here are some links to some good deals: https://www.utsu.ca/utsu-student-perks-discounts/ 
https://kpe.utoronto.ca/facilities-membershipsmembership-plans-services/exclusive-perks-u-t-students 

Some of these great discounts include:   

  • ROM: U of T students enjoy free admission on Tuesdays or 15% off admission anytime with promo code MUSEUM15.   
  • AGO: The AGO Annual Pass provides unlimited access to the gallery and special exhibitions free for ages 14–25 and $35 for ages 26+.   
  • Ripley’s Aquarium: U of T students can purchase Ripley’s Aquarium Express Anytime tickets for $32 (regularly about $50 + tax) at the Student Commons Welcome Desk.  
  • TSO (Toronto Symphony Orchestra): Students and young adults aged 15–35 can sign up for TSOUNDCHECK to access symphony tickets starting at just $22.  
  • COC (Canadian Opera Company): individuals under 30 can enjoy opera tickets starting at $28 through the Opera Under 30 programs.  

Health and Wellness Resources

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[Source]

 

Your physical and mental well-being are critical – both in general and to your success as a student. We encourage you to take advantage of the resources offered to all U of T students. For more information, visit the U of T Mental Health Care website, the Health & Wellness website, and the Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website.  

Your Academic Advisor

Your academic advisors are amazing resources and supports who are available to you throughout your time at U of T. If you ever want to talk about your mental health, academics, or life in general, book an appointment with your advisor. EngSci has two academic advisors for Years 1 and 2. Stephen Johns, for domestic students (engsci12@utoronto.ca) and Irma Berardi, for international students (engsci12.intl@utoronto.ca). You can read more about Stephen and Irma in our Meet the EngSci Office post, and book an appointment with them through the Advising Portal. 

U of T Health and Wellness

The Health & Wellness Office provides U of T students with medical and mental health services. If you’d like to meet with a doctor and/or sign up for a Health & Wellness program, please visit the Health & Wellness website. The campus doctor’s clinic is at 700 Bay Street, a 15-20 minute walk from Bahen. 

Engineering Mental Health & Wellness 

The Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website outlines all the mental health support specifically for U of T Engineering students. All the listed resources link to their own webpages, making it a great starting point for finding specific and personalized support within U of T Engineering. 

Engineering students have access to a dedicated Wellness Counsellor & Coordinator during the academic year (September–May). Students can book counselling appointments through Health & Wellness by calling 416-978-8030 ext. 5 and requesting the Engineering Wellness Counsellor. During the summer months, support is available through the central Health & Wellness Office. U of T Engineering has a dedicated Student & Community Wellness Coordinator (SCWC) who may be contacted at wellness@engineering.utoronto.ca.  

Health Insurance

Full-time U of T students get a very affordable health insurance plan. To take advantage of your plan, go to a participating office (many are close to campus) and fill out a form with your practitioner. For forms and further information visit U of T Student Care.  For international students, remember that regular doctor visits are covered with a UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) card. Make sure to find medical clinics that accept UHIP. 
If you’re already covered by an equivalent health and/or dental plan (such as a parent’s or spouse’s employee benefit plan), you can opt out during the Change-of-Coverage Period, which is usually open during the month of September. You should determine which plan would be more affordable/effective for your needs. Refer to the Student Care University of Toronto Student Union Opt Out page for more information. 

Navi – Mental Health Wayfinder

Navi is an anonymous virtual agent that’ll help you find mental health resources at U of T. Navi can be more effective than a Google search, as you’ll receive results tailored to U of T students. Navi uses a text chat interface which resembles texting a person, which can make the experience easier and less intimidating.   

Find out more about Navi on the Navi Mental Health Wayfinder website. Keep in mind that Navi is not a person and should only be used to find information about U of T mental health services. Do not provide any personally identifying or health-related information about yourself or anybody else. 

U of T Telus Health Student Support

U of T Telus Health Student Support offers immediate and/or ongoing confidential support and counselling for school, health and general life concerns at no cost for U of T students. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever and wherever you are. Support is available in over 140 languages. The number to call for U of T Telus Health Student Support is 1-844-451-9700 (inside North America) and 001-416-380-6578 (outside North America).   

U of T Mental Health Care

From their website, “U of T Mental Health Care provides a range of health services, including same-day counselling appointments, evidence-based group therapy, short-term intensive counselling or psychotherapy, and more. This is available to all full-time or part-time U of T students.” 

Petitions

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We get it: things don’t always go your way. Maybe you’ve been sick for the past few days or you have two midterms and an assignment this week. Everyone’s been there. You can seek accommodations for certain situations, and petitions are one of the primary ways of doing so.   

A petition is a formal request to the university for an exception to a rule, regulation, or deadline. It’s intended for situations where unexpected or unavoidable circumstances have made it difficult for a student to meet their academic deadlines or responsibilities.  

 

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

Types of Petitions

There are three types of petitions. For up-to-date information about petitions at U of T Engineering, visit this site – About Petitions.  

Term-Work Petitions are for term work such as graded homework, midterms, quizzes, assignments, and labs. If you missed term work due to illness, personal or family emergency, or other extenuating circumstances, you should discuss the matter with your instructor and academic advisor immediately.    

Depending on the circumstances and the instructor’s decision, a submitted and successfully approved term work petition may lead to an extension that allows you to submit the missed work later. In other cases, the weight of the missed assessment may be redistributed to other course components instead of requiring that you complete the missed work. The specific outcome will vary based on the course and the assignment.  

If necessary, submit a term work petition through the Engineering Portal. The deadline to submit a term work petition and the accompanying supporting documentation (if required) is seven days after the assessment or the due date.    

Note: U of T Engineering students may file one term work petition per term without documentation (i.e. self-declare their own illness) for term work valued at less than 15% through the Engineering Portal. The petition may not cover term work worth 15% or greater and cannot span a period longer than three calendar days.  

Any final exam petitions and accompanying documentation should be submitted within seven days of the missed exam. 

When deciding to submit a final exam petition, you should consider how well you feel at the time of the exam, whether you can obtain supporting documentation for the petition, and how prepared you may feel for a possible later examination date. If you’re having difficulties with a course, always speak with your professor/instructor. If they’re unable to answer your questions, consult with your academic advisor.   

Special Consideration petitions can be submitted to request exemption from a faculty regulation. If you need clarification on any rules or regulations in the Academic Calendar, you should reach out to your academic advisor. Since you have to provide sufficient reasoning for the exemption, it’s also highly recommended that you discuss with your advisor before submitting a petition for special consideration.  

Some of the reasons for submitting a petition are personal illness, illness or death of a close family member, personal or family emergency, and other extenuating circumstances. However, note that these are extenuating circumstances; petitions will not be granted due to personal carelessness. 

Upper-Year Insights

Some of you might feel like you don’t need petitions or that petitions give you an unfair advantage. Of course, petitions should only be submitted when absolutely necessary, and by the end of the term, you’d have still submitted the same assignments and completed the same exams as everyone else (so a petition would leave theoretically leave more work for you in the future). However, you should never avoid petitions out of principle. Even if you have a 4.00 GPA, you can submit a petition; petitions don’t relate to your academic abilities. Your health and wellbeing always come first. If you have any questions about petitions, be sure to book an appointment with your academic advisors.  

EDI-Related Groups

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As incoming students, you have an incredible opportunity to create positive change within U of T Engineering and the broader community. Over the last few years, the University of Toronto has committed to implementing EDI-related actions from several task force reports.  

U of T Engineering and EngSci are working toward achieving these goals. You can help us get there!   

EDI Resources and Initiatives

Below are some of the U of T services and faculty-wide initiatives that aim to create a healthy, creative, and productive university experience for all.   

The EngSoc Equity and Inclusivity Director promotes awareness of equity and inclusivity across the Skule™ community. They collaborate with student clubs, university services, and the Ombudsperson to foster meaningful dialogue, connect students with support, and respond to the evolving needs of the student body.  

EngSci has a grassroots initiative called the EDI Working Group consisting of faculty and staff in the Division of Engineering Science. For more information on updates and upcoming initiatives from this group, check out their webpage.  

The EEDIAG’s goal is open to everyone at U of T Engineering. It creates spaces for conversations about equity and diversity issues and implements initiatives that promote inclusion on campus.   

The EEDIAG hosts Open Discussions and other events open to the entire U of T Engineering community for learning, sharing experiences, and discussing ideas for new initiatives together. If you have any suggestions, questions, or would like to join EEDIAG, please email  eng.equity@utoronto.ca.   

The ARCDO team offers excellent free training workshops for any University member wanting to learn more about their roles and responsibilities, and strategies for advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. These include workshops on allyship and events for racialized community members.  

First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students for supporting academic success, personal growth, and leadership development. They offer learning opportunities for all students to engage with Indigenous communities at U of T and beyond.  

Student Community Groups

In addition to EDI resources and initiatives offered by U of T Engineering, there are a lot of student groups on campus that create community for underrepresented groups. Join them to advocate for change and see the impact of your involvement. 

[Source]

The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) aims to serve and represent the needs of Muslims on- and off-campus. As the first MSA to be established in Canada, it has grown to be U of T’s largest student club at the forefront of social justice, community service, as well as academic and faith-based support. It has a membership of over 1,500 students, faculty and staff.   

NSBEHacks Organized by the U of T Chapter of NSBE [Source]

NSBEHacks Organized by the U of T Chapter of NSBE [Source] 

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) U of T Collegiate Chapter is dedicated to the academic growth and professional development, as well as the personal growth, of its club members. This club focuses on marginalized groups within the U of T space and continually partners with different companies in STEM to provide students with the opportunity to connect and network with them. Of equal importance, NSBE values building a community amongst its members to create a strong support system and build lasting friendships as we navigate the ever-changing social and professional world. Every year, they host NSBEHacks: “The first student-run hackathon dedicated to the experiences of Black individuals in technology and engineering.” 

Pride Parade Organized by Engineering Positive Space [Source]

 From the Engineering Positive Space website:  
 
“Founded in 2010, Engineering Positive Space is an informal group of students, staff and faculty who work together to make U of T Engineering a place where everyone in our diverse community can feel at home. The group meets a few times each year to discuss challenges and plan for events like Pink Shirt Day and Toronto Pride, which have become U of T Engineering traditions.” 

QueerSphere is a part of the Engineering Positive Space initiative. It’s the LGBTQ+ group here at Skule. Getting people involved in and aware of the LGBTQ+ community to make engineering at U of T a more welcoming and inclusive place for all is their goal. Throughout the year, they run socials and fun events such as Pride parties and Gingerbread Bridge Building and run EDI training modules for F!rosh Week and EngSoc – and they’re hoping to do even more this year!  

WISE National Conference 2026 [Source]

U of T’s student chapter of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)  is a community of advocates for gender equality in STEM. Through their mentorship initiatives, high school and community outreach programs, professional development workshops, and National Conference, they hope to empower women, 2-spirit, and non-binary individuals in STEM by building necessary leadership skills and confidence to achieve their full potential in any future ambitions!      

EWB U of T Chapter [Source]

EWB’s U of T chapter invests in people, providing learning opportunities and ownership of projects to nurture their growth as leaders in a community that makes an impact on global development and social and systemic change. They’re committed to challenging our own ideas and misconceptions. They expose members to the realities of poverty and privilege. The chapter experiments, fails forward, and adapts to make meaningful progressive impact for sustainable and equitable change in Toronto and the world. 

The Skule Mental Wellness Group is comprised of engineering students that’re strong advocates for mental health and wellness. They provide the Skule community with access to mental health resources and run events, workshops, and fun activities throughout the year to help relieve the stress that comes with being an engineering student.  

These are just some of the ways you can get involved in creating change within the Faculty. We can’t showcase all the amazing groups advocating for EDI in one blog post. A more comprehensive list can be found here. We hope you feel empowered to join any group that speaks to you. We’re excited about the future of engineering with all of us working together to make it a more inclusive space!  

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in EngSci

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Where do you call home?

U of T Engineering is home to students from over 40 countries! 

Each person brings a unique combination of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic background, lived experience, and perspectives that make our community such a vibrant place. This fosters a wonderfully rich learning environment that’ll expand your horizons and make you a better engineer. After all, engineers design products and processes for people coming from different lived experiences and from wide-ranging circumstances. Thus, having diverse voices yields engineering solutions that support more people in the community.    

As you join the U of T Engineering community, you’ll begin to understand why this place is so important to so many people. Over the next four or five years, you’ll not only build a foundation for your career but also form friendships and memories that’ll last a lifetime. You’ll have experiences that you’ll recount years from now. You’ll join a global community of over 60,000 alumni who have graduated before you and have a strong emotional attachment to Skule™ for those same reasons.  

U of T Engineering students at the 2023 Pride Parade [Source]
Engineering Students at Godiva Week

We want every single community member—staff, students, professors, and alumni—to feel a strong sense of belonging and support. We want everyone to achieve their full potential through an environment of mutual respect for the dignity and worth of every person.    

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are core values that we all embrace, promote, and put into action. For definitions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, check out this page.  

You have an important role to play in achieving this goal! We hope this post will help you understand your role in helping U of T and EngSci create a unique and supportive community.  You’ll learn how our engineering student body has evolved, what it looks like today, and our goals for the future. 

History of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in U of T Engineering

Today, U of T Engineering is represented by a diverse student body, but this wasn’t always the case.   

Engineering has exclusionary origins. Historically, the engineering profession was primarily open to white males in the middle or upper class. The term “engineer” actually has origins in the military, which was, of course, a very male-dominated domain.   

As social norms changed, so did engineering schools in Canada, albeit slowly. The first woman to graduate with an engineering degree from U of T was Elsie Gregory MacGill in 1927. Our Faculty’s first female permanent academic staff was Marion Bassett in 1958. Students and academics from racial and ethnic minority groups also started to enter the profession. Since then, we have made progress towards gender equity and greater representation of many cultures and minority groups. Our first-year class is now approximately 40% women. It’s also culturally and ethnically diverse with about a third of students coming from outside of Canada.   

Photograph of the past Cannon Guard [Source]
Historically, the engineering profession was male dominated.
Women in the School of Practical Science [Source]
Gradually, more women enrolled & graduated from U of T Engineering.
Photo of U of T Engineering students at a recent Pride Parade [Source]
There is now a much greater representation of genders (binary and non-binary), as well as racial and ethnic minority groups within U of T Engineering.

What Is the Mission? Where Are We Going? And How Will We Get There?

Diversity is necessary in engineering.

It’s important to remember that engineers design solutions for real-life problems. Their work impacts everyone. If engineers don’t represent the lived experience of diverse populations, they’re unlikely to address everyone’s needs in their work, or even know what problems need addressing in the first place.      

In our view, there are three main reasons why diversity is essential to successful engineering.   

Access to fulfilling and lucrative careers should in no way be restricted by race, ethnicity, culture, sexuality, gender, religion, or any other identity factor, both visible and hidden. 

Opportunity and success should be a truly level playing field based on abilities and character.  

On the flipside, all communities should benefit from engineers who understand and address their specific challenges.    

Second, we need more engineers and should recruit the best talent from the broadest pool possible. Engineers are in high demand and we have not been educating enough engineers to replace those retiring, let alone expanding the field at large. Diverse groups must be welcomed into the profession for the benefit of society, the economy, and our collective human technological capabilities.  

Finally, creativity is key to engineering innovation and diverse groups are more creative. Engineers are called on to design solutions to new, never-before-seen problems for diverse stakeholders every day. Creativity relies on one’s ability to draw connections between previously unconnected knowledge and ideas. Engineers from different backgrounds bring diverse skills, experiences, values, priorities, and knowledge to the table. The more unique the connections that can be drawn, the more creative we can be. And innovative and creative thinking is what engineering is all about. Anyone can read a manual; not everyone can write it. 

Diversity in engineering represents justice, progress, and success in allowing equal opportunity for all people, regardless of externalities. Canada needs diversity in engineering to generate the innovation necessary for effective leadership.  

Your Role

Student Participation in ESEC 2020 [Source]

No matter your background or identity, we are all responsible for treating each other with respect and support, and to speak up – whether in person or online – when we witness disrespectful behavior.  

Be curious and educate yourself through U of T Engineering’s cultural competencies toolkits. You’re going to meet people who are not like you or who are from places very different from your home community.  Use this chance to learn from them and about their experiences.  This’ll help you grow as a person and as an engineer, and will help you avoid misunderstandings, e.g., while doing teamwork. U of T Engineering has many ways for you to learn about the experiences of your classmates from different backgrounds. (E.g., check out the Black Cultural Competencies Toolkit (BCCT) or the Indigenous Cultural Competencies Toolkit (ICCT)). 

Familiarize yourself with the Student Code of Conduct.

The code covers not only the rules around academic integrity but also the expectations about respectful behaviour inside and outside of the classroom, including in online spaces.  It is your responsibility to know the rules.

U of T Engineering is a professional faculty. Your degree will qualify you to join the engineering profession.  You are expected to develop professionalism during your time here, which includes learning how to interact courteously with anyone you meet. 

Join student groups, technical projects or social initiatives that promote equity, diversity and inclusion. A great place to start is the Engineering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Group.   

Above all, be respectful, supportive, and inclusive of all your peers in engineering to help make this community even better. 

All of us play a part in calling out disrespectful actions. We encourage you to speak up. There are several ways you can make a confidential (and anonymous) disclosure about bias, discrimination, harassment, or unprofessionalism.   

Sharing this information helps us not only to address specific incidents, but also to better understand where there are recurring issues or gaps in education, or supports.  

The EngSci office encourages you to use any of the methods below to make a disclosure.   

If you experience or witness potential incident(s) of discrimination, harassment or harmful unprofessionalism in our community, you can choose your level of involvement:  

  1. Speak to a professor or staff member you feel comfortable with to disclose the incident.  
  1. Contact your academic advisor . They are knowledgeable and compassionate individuals who can connect you with the right supports.  
  1. Use one of U of T’s’pathways for raising a concern and/or getting support.

To learn more, visit the Faculty’s EDI page and EngSci’s EDI page. If you’re a member of an underrepresented group we hope that the resources highlighted in our other EDI post are helpful for finding community and support.  

Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC)

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ESEC 2024 Speaker Raffaello D’Andrea and his audience [Source]

What is ESEC?

The Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC) is a student-run, EngSci-exclusive annual conference held every January, mandatory for Year 1 and 2 EngSci students and optional for Years 3 and 4. The goal of ESEC is to let you explore the many opportunities available to you with an EngSci degree.  

You’ll hear firsthand from professionals from a wide range of career paths—broadly related to the subjects taught in EngSci, who will talk about their professional and personal lives after graduation.   

Details for ESEC 2027 will be posted in the Fall. You can view details on ESEC 2026 here. 

Follow ESEC on Instagram right now @esecuoft! That way you’ll learn about this year’s conference as soon as details are announced.

Past Speakers

ESEC 2023 speaker Leila Kheradpir [Source]
ESCE 2025 speaker Dr. Robert Thirsk Canadian Astronaut [Source]

In the past, we’ve had highly accomplished speakers like Dr. Robert Thirsk (Canadian astronaut), Donna Strickland (recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics), Anna Goldenberg (AI Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Chair and Senior Scientist in the Genetics and Genome Biology program at SickKids Research Institute), Geoffrey Hinton (Vector Institute, U of T and recipient of 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics), and Raffaello D’Andrea (EngSci ECE 9T1, co-founder of Amazon Robotics and founder of Verity, as well as a professor at ETH Zurich).   

Fireside Chats and Lunch & Learn

ESEC 2026 Fireside Chats with Alan Mackworth, UBC Professor Emeritus [Source]
ESEC 2025 Lunch and Learn [Source]

On top of inspiring talks, you are given opportunities to chat with the speakers and ask them personalized questions in informal settings. The first of these is Fireside Chats the night before the conference. The second is the Lunch & Learn session in the middle of the conference day.  

ILead ESEC Prep Workshop

If you’ve never attended a professional conference before or want to hone your skills for interacting with senior professionals, sign up for the ESEC Prep Workshop, organized by ILead specifically for Year 1 and 2 students! By attending the workshop, you can learn:

  • How to navigate new interactions with ease 
  • How to view “networking” as “relationship-building”  
  • How to prepare for a networking situation  
  • How to be a good listener  
  • The art of asking good professional questions at a conference or 1:1  

Keep an eye out for registration information on ESEC’s website and Instagram page (@esecuoft) once details for ESEC 2027 are posted this fall.

ESEC Student Executive Team

ESEC is run in part by upper-year EngScis, for younger EngScis! This student executive team works hard to find speakers for the conference and bring students’ perspectives to ESEC’s planning. Your ESEC 2027 student executive team is:   

Co-Chairs: Sara Parvaresh Rizi and Jessica Fu (both Year 3 ECE);  

Director of Operations: Perry Xu (Year 2);  

Director of Communications: Jiaxu Zhao (Year 2)  

Photo of the speakers, volunteers, and the executive team from ESEC 2026 [Source]

Fun Things to Do On Campus

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Academics can be fun, but you’ll want to make sure you spend time outside the classroom doing other things! A big part of the university experience is hanging out with friends and enjoying life in a new setting. Here are some (budget-friendly) fun things on U of T’s campus.  

Go to Hart House

Hart House is essentially U of T’s community center. Whether you want to catch a game of chess at U of T’s official chess club, play basketball, eat at a nice restaurant, see a play, attend Skule Nite, swim, or just admire some neo-Gothic architecture and ivy-covered walls, you can do it all at Hart House!  

To learn more about the Hart House Fitness Centre and other athletic facilities on campus, check out this blog post!  

Hart House Wellness Classes [Source]

EngSci Common Room

Yes, we’ve talked about the EngSci Common Room before, but it really is a lot of fun! From just hanging out on comfy chairs and chatting, to playing board games, competing in high-stakes foosball, or settling your differences in Super Smash Bros, Fortnite, or one of the many video games on the consoles there, the Common Room is where you can have some of your most fun moments as an EngSci.  

Play 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. In addition to just working out, the Athletics Centre offers drop-in sessions (i.e. no booking needed) for sports such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, and yoga. You can also book courts for squash, table tennis, badminton, and more. All of this is covered by your tuition!  If you don’t have the equipment, you can rent rackets and balls at the Athletic Centre equipment counter.  

Attend a Varsity Blues Game

Show your pride for U of T by cheering on the Varsity Blues with all your friends. The Varsity Blues play almost every sport you can think of, and their games are always free for U of T students – just remember your TCard! You can check their schedule online. Go Varsity Blues! 

Aerial view of Varsity Stadium [Source]
Basketball at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport [Source]

Join Clubs and Design Teams

We’ve talked about these extracurriculars quite a lot, but we’re serious when we say that you can have tons of fun in clubs and design teams. In addition to engineering-specific clubs/teams, feel free to check out some university-wide clubs; U of T truly has something for every interest under the sun.  

Play Board Games

U of T libraries offer tons of board games which can be loaned for two weeks at a time. For example, here you can find all the board games offered at the Engineering & Computer Science Library. The U of T library has classic games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry which are quick and easy to pick up, in addition to 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 that the library lets you access them for free makes it easy to host an awesome board game pizza party.  

Innis College Movie Night

Nestled right in the heart of U of T St. George Campus, Innis College hosts free movies every Friday night at 7 PM through their “Free Friday Films”. Their selection of weekly movies is posted in advance on social media. These movies tend to be acclaimed films that allow you to learn as you watch. To learn more about these movie nights, check out the Innis College Movie Night.  

Sign up for the Innis College mailing list to get updates on upcoming movie nights and events.  

Musical and Theatrical Performances

The Faculty of Music offers regular free live classical music concerts and recitals, both in-person and virtual (through a livestream on their Youtube channel). U of T also has many different musical theatre groups, such as Skule Nite, Trinity College Dramatic Society, Hart House Theatre, and the brand-new Engineering Drama Society, which is currently working on its production of Come from Away. As a student, you can get discounted tickets to their shows and also get involved with the productions. 

Skule Nite Crew at Hart House Theatre [Source]

Visit the U of T Art Museum

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’s exhibits are in Hart House and University College. They run all year round with free admission and showcase the wide diversity of art and art history. 

Just Walk Around!

U of T campus is beautiful and unique. Take some time to just walk around and gaze at some of the impressive architecture, try to find a new study spot, check out some state-of-the-art labs, and more! There are lots of hidden gems like the courtyards in the colleges and quiet spaces in the many libraries.  

Check out Philosopher’s Walk, a beautiful, green path which extends from Hoskin Avenue to Bloor Street. Photo by Charles Birnbaum, 2014, The Cultural Landscape Foundation [Source]

Opportunities Abroad

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The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering offers students exciting opportunities to study and research abroad, with many different programs, destinations, and time frames available. Dean of Engineering, Chris Yip, has been moving towards creating global opportunities for all U of T engineers, with the goal to have every U of T Engineering student participate in an opportunity abroad before graduation.  

“It really is about building a global community and experience for everyone,” says Dean Yip. As a founding member of the International Engineering Science Consortium (amongst schools such as UC Berkeley and National University of Singapore) living up to its motto of Engineers for the World (E4TW), there’s no better program for global opportunities than U of T Engineering Science!  

But what’s the advantage of studying or working abroad?

Bangkok, Thailand, is one of many destinations for ESROP – Global students. Photo by Braden Jarvis on Unsplash

It’s Just a Cool Thing to do:

Traveling abroad will broaden your horizons, let you explore new locations, and give you different perspectives from around the world. It’ll almost certainly be out of your comfort zone – and that’s great! It’s the only real way to create meaningful change in yourself. Most students return from studying abroad with a new view of their education and their place in the world.

Gain Professional Advantages:

In an increasingly interconnected world, having some global experience is advantageous for your career. You can expand your network, meet with industry partners, learn cultural differences, work with different divisions of your company, and more.  

Develop Global and Cultural Appreciation:

The world is a huge place with countless natural wonders and urban communities to explore. Studying abroad lets you gain global competence – the ability to appreciate and understand different global perspectives and cultural diversity in a way others cannot.

Opportunities Abroad for U of T Engineering Students

If you have questions about exchange programs and research abroad, please contact Don Newton, Engineering Science Curriculum and Research Officer (curric.engsci@utoronto.ca).

ESROP – Global is a summer research opportunity at a university abroad and is unique to Engineering Science students. Successful applicants choose from one of many research universities around the world that are partnered with EngSci, then spend the summer traveling to this destination and conducting research with the university. From the midwestern United States to countries such as Thailand, ESROP – Global students have had incredible academic and travel experiences. To learn more, check out our Guide to Summer Research blog post or read ESROP Student Stories. 

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is one of many destinations available for ESROP – Global students; there are multiple spots available for first-years! [Source]

Students who have secured their own research opportunities at any institution outside U of T can apply for ESROP – ExOp to help fund their summer research. To learn more, check out our Research Opportunities blog post or read ESROP Student Stories.  

Mohit at Harvard [Source]

U of T’s Centre for International Experience (CIE) provides many opportunities for international exchanges, including the CIE’s Summer Research Exchange Program (SREP). Visit the Learning Abroad website to find information on available exchanges.

Internship opportunities can be found all over the world. Different countries specialize in different industries, so working abroad can expose you to diverse career paths and provide opportunities to collaborate with globally significant companies. During long-term internships, you’ll spend months abroad, which will allow you to immerse yourself deeply in other cultures and even become fluent in a new language!  

Your four month-long summer breaks are a perfect time to seek out internships, as many companies have summer internship programs. Through company websites, platforms such as LinkedIn, and networking events such as career fairs or design team competitions, you can identify and apply for tons of internships across the world. 

Your 12-16 month Professional Experience Year (PEY Co-op) is also an excellent time for an international opportunity. Many non-Canadian companies consider U of T PEY students when hiring for internships, so as a U of T engineer, you have the potential to take your year of co-op almost anywhere in the world. From big tech in the United States to aerodynamics in the United Kingdom to space robotics in Germany, EngScis complete amazing PEYs all over the world. .

Joining design teams is an excellent way to gain global experience. Design teams compete against universities from around the world at competitions hosted worldwide. For example, U of T Robotics for Space Exploration (RSX) competes in the University Rover Challenge (URC). In 2024, they were one of 38 teams to qualify for finals at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah out of 102 teams. In Utah, they competed against teams from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, and USA. 

For design team competitions, you can travel to different places and interact with diverse teams from around the world. As a result, you can learn a lot about engineering from a global perspective, while spending time in some cool places. 

These competitions often attract large international companies as sponsors. Students who network effectively can sometimes earn themselves interviews for these top companies. 

Note that while design teams try to take as many members to competition as possible (including first years), there is often a limit due to budget or other constraints. To maximize your chances of attending, make sure you invest time and effort into your design teamwork, and demonstrate your engineering and collaborative competencies through your interactions with your team leads. While at the competitions, be outgoing and interact with different teams and sponsors.

EWB is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on improving life in Sub-Saharan African countries. They tackle a wide variety of problems, from social injustices and business development to improving water and sanitation access for communities. As an undergraduate engineer, you can apply for a Junior Fellowship in EWB, which can mean helping with EWB work locally or traveling with the organization to Africa to cultivate development. 

Even though you’ll still be in Toronto during this course, Praxis III is an engineering design course in which you will apply your learnings from Praxis I and II in a global context based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You and your team will develop mechatronics projects to address global engineering opportunities. In 2026, teams developed projects to improve quality of life in Sub-Saharan Africa and communities in British Columbia. 

The minor in Global Leadership will teach you how engineers can interact with global issues. The required courses focus on topics such as sustainability, social sciences, globalization, and policy. This minor requires an application which opens in March; information sessions will be held during that time to discuss the minor and the application process. 

People often think international opportunities have to involve travelling abroad, but they can also be found right here on campus. U of T Engineering is home to a student body that is 30% international and represents more than 100 countries, giving you the chance to gain global perspectives by learning, collaborating, and building friendships with classmates from around the world.

Questions?

If you have questions about exchange programs and research abroad, please contact Don Newton, Engineering Science Curriculum and Research Officer (curric.engsci@utoronto.ca).

Guide to Summer Research

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For up-to-date information on the various ESROP programs, please refer to the EngSci Info Hub on Quercus. You can access the Info Hub starting in September. You’ll also receive emails about ESROP from Don Newton, Curriculum and Research Officer, in the fall. To learn more about research opportunties in the program, join us at our fifth meetup on July 22nd.  

What is Engineering Research?

Engineering research involves development, optimization, and discovery in engineering fields. It takes place at universities, research institutes, and companies that are creating innovative technologies. Despite the term, engineering research requires both theoretical knowledge and excellent practical skills to put knowledge to use. 

As an undergraduate, you’ll likely be working alongside graduate students in research labs run by professors. It’s an incredible way to grow your professional network and gain technical expertise in cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine, autonomous robots, quantum physics, just to name a few. Even if the research relates to a field outside your area of interest, every research lab has tons of interdisciplinary responsibilities, and you may find yourself interested in new endeavors. From working on machine learning for a civil engineering lab, or autonomous robots for material discovery, research is all about exploring, keeping an open mind, and both personal and scientific discovery. 

Kyle Hsu (EngSci Robo 1T9 + PEY) during his ESROP – U of T tenure at the Micro/NanoPhotonics Research Lab [Source]
A rover from Professor Jonathan Kelly’s Space and Terrestrial Autonomous Robotic Systems Lab (STARS Lab) [Source]

Research opportunities in labs are often posted similarly to internship opportunities. Postings include a project description, profile of the ideal candidate, and the details of the opportunity and the application process. 

More importantly, we encourage you to talk to professors and teaching assistants to learn about their research and ask directly whether their labs have openings (Office hours are great for this!). Be proactive, since professors expect to be approached. EngSci hosts info sessions in the fall that’ll teach you how to write a “cold” email (i.e., writing to a person who may not know you), among other things.  

Engineering Science is an academically rigorous program that explores various advanced concepts through its curriculum. EngScis are therefore well-equipped for careers in both industry and academia/research. Regardless of the field they ultimately enter, a lot of EngScis take part in research at some point during their degree.  

Why Research?

Upper-year EngScis have spoken with Professor Arthur Chan, Associate Chair, Year 3 & 4 for the Division of Engineering Science. These were some of their takeaways about the value of research in Engineering Science.

By the very nature of a lab environment, you’ll be constantly learning. Often during research, you’ll be asked to read and summarize scientific papers or improve your understanding of a subject. This is unique, as typical student summer jobs don’t include as much actively learning besides just working. You’ll also become an expert in one specific topic: the subject of your research. 

Although research and industry are presented as two distinct paths after graduation, they aren‘t. Both give you highly transferable skills that are valued broadly.  Those with industry experience are valuable in research settings because they understand how innovation in a lab could be brought to market. In industry, those with research experience are perceived to be at the forefront of development in their field, and often as innovators; people with research experience are in high demand in many companies. Research will distinguish you as a curious, passionate, or ambitious student who’s excited about advancing your knowledge and abilities. EngSci is all about being multidisciplinary. It’s worth working in industry before you decide to pursue a career in research, and it’s worth trying research before pursuing a career in industry. You can easily get experience in both areas during your time at U of T. 

How EngSci Prepares you for Research

In addition to EngSci-exclusive research opportunities (read more below), the program itself is designed to prepare you for grad school and research.

In EngSci’s specialized majors and coursework you’ll learn advanced, discipline-specific concepts that give you a foundation for graduate studies and research. The multidisciplinary curriculum exposes you to many different research fields, giving you a broad perspective and skillset.

All fourth-year EngScis are required to complete an undergraduate thesis. This is an independent engineering research project in which you conduct a deep investigation into a particular advanced field of interest. Your thesis will give you an excellent foundation for research.

You’ll have plenty of project-based courses throughout your EngSci journey. These projects will provide you with invaluable practical experience that can strengthen your grad school/research applications. 

What are Research Fellowships?

Research fellowships are financial awards offered by organizations outside of EngSci (e.g. government agencies, professional organizations) that support undergrads doing research. You apply to them like you would for a scholarship, but instead of helping you pay for tuition, these awards specifically fund your research. They’re an important part of your research funding, with the rest typically coming from your supervising professor. Some professors require you to secure a research award before taking you on as a summer researcher.  

It’ll be your responsibility to identify and secure labs/professors to work under. After that, you can apply for various fellowships with the approval of your professor.  

Summer research fellowships usually span 12-16 weeks between May and August. Some labs will have part-time openings during the academic year (which may or may not be paid). 

Non-ESROP Research Fellowships for EngScis

As a first-year EngSci, you can apply for many different research fellowships. The EngSci Info Hub and EngSci Newsletter will notify you of opportunities that’ll likely be of greatest interest to you. You can also view U of T’s Undergraduate Research Hub for a full list of university-wide opportunities; there are some other opportunities such as the U of T Centre for International Experience Summer Research Exchange Program.  

Note: the exact details of some of these fellowships may be subject to change for the upcoming academic year. Please refer to the EngSci Info Hub for updated information. 

  • Details: Support first years in their engineering research
  • Eligibility: Must be a first-year engineering student and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or visa student with valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship
  • Logistics: Applicant must first find a potential faculty supervisor for their research activities
  • Award: $7000, with further funding at the discretion of the supervisor
  • Application Components: ACORN academic history, resume, statement of personal research interests, project description (to be completed by supervisor)
  • Dates: Application closes around early March; applicants will be notified in April, research will occur between May and August

  • Details: Support undergrads in research projects that are co-supervised between two U of T faculty members, where at least one faculty member is from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
  • Eligibility: All domestic and international undergraduate students. International students must hold a valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship 
  • Logistics: Applicant must first find two potential faculty supervisors for their research activities with at least one supervisor being from FASE
  • Award: $6000, with supervisors contributing an additional $2000, for a total of $8000
  • Application Components: ACORN academic history, CV, application form with project description (to be completed by supervisor)
  • Dates: Application closes around early March, applicants will be notified in April, research will occur between May and August

  • Details: Support undergrads in research projects related to natural sciences and engineering
  • Eligibility: Second-year students (and above) with a cumulative average of at least B- who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
  • Logistics: Students must find a faculty supervisor from an eligible Canadian university, and then complete the NSERC application
  • Award: $6000, with the supervisor contributing at least $1500, for a total of $7500
  • Application Components: ACORN academic history (if applying with a U of T faculty member) or official transcript (if applying with a non-U of T faculty member) and applicant’s basic personal information. The supervisor will then be contacted to complete the rest of the application
  • Dates: Deadlines will vary based on the home department of the faculty member with which you are applying. Deadlines can range from January to March. Research will occur for at least 16 weeks between May and August

  • Details: Provide undergrads with research experience in the natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health and life sciences
  • Eligibility: Students with a cumulative average of at least B+ who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or visa students with a valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship
  • Logistics: Students must find an eligible U of T faculty member
  • Award: $5250, with the supervisor contributing at least $2250, for a total of $7500
  • Application Components: ACORN academic history, applicant’s basic personal information, and supervisor-completed form including details of the research project
  • Dates: Application closes around early March. Research will occur for 14 weeks between May and September

  • You might be interested in research opportunities offered at other institutions. Such opportunities may include other discipline-specific U of T Engineering research programs such as the TRANSFORM HF Undergraduate Summer Research Program, Acceleration Consortium Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Accelerated Discovery, machine learning research internships at the Vector Institute, or even programs at other universities such as a summer undergraduate Research Fellowship at Caltech
  • Some of these opportunities may be posted in the EngSci Info Hub on Quercus, but you may need to look for some of them yourself. Regardless, there are tons of other research opportunities tailored to various interests, and we strongly recommend you do your own searching!
  • Pathways to Science has an incredible search portal for finding opportunities in any discipline (especially STEM) across the United States

Engineering Science Research Opportunities Program (ESROP)

ESROP is an EngSci-exclusive program designed to give EngScis the chance to participate in cutting-edge research early in their academic careers. Through ESROP, you can conduct research at U of T and renowned institutions around the world. It’s incredibly rare for a program to offer research opportunities at this scale for first- and second-year students. ESROP research opportunities occur during the summer after first, second, or third year. All you need is ambition, a passion for learning new things, and a strong written application to potentially secure an amazing research fellowship! Read more about previous ESROP students’ experiences and stories here. 

ESROP – U of T and ESROP – ExOp (Exceptional Opportunities) are student-driven programs designed to support research opportunities for EngScis. To qualify for the programs, students in first and second year independently reach out to professors and researchers. Once students have found a research group that is keen to take them on for the summer (and willing to match the financial stipend from ESROP), they can apply to ESROP – U of T or ESROP – ExOp, depending on whether the research group is at U of T or elsewhere. Successful applicants will qualify for funding from EngSci in addition to compensation provided by the lab throughout the summer.

ESROP – U of T students work at some of the university’s finest research labs at the Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), Institute for Biomedical Engineering (BME), Department of Computer Science, Robotics Institute, and much more. ESROP – ExOp students have worked at labs in Caltech, Harvard, University of Tokyo, University of Waterloo, and more. Note that there are many ESROP – U of T awards given out each year, but very few ExOp awards.

Julien Couture-Senecal (EngSci BME 2T0) during his ESROP – ExOp tenure at the Chung Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [Source]

In ESROP – Global, students apply for research positions at specific host institutions partnered with U of T EngSci (information about the specific institutions, available research projects, and eligibility requirements will be posted on the EngSci Info Hub in November/December). Successful applicants are sent to their preferred research institution along with funding for their summer research. Destinations include top universities in Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and more! Through ESROP – Global, students participate in cutting-edge research while getting the chance to exit their comfort zones and explore a new country and culture; international perspectives are very valuable as an engineer. Past students have had fantastic travel and research experiences. Here’s one ESROP – Global story from an EngSci!

“This summer, I had the opportunity to pursue research for ESROP – Global at the National University of Singapore. My work focused on enhancing the detection of atopic dermatitis, a common skin condition often misdiagnosed as other diseases due to its visual similarities. Our proposed solution was a technique called Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which measures the skin’s resistance to alternating currents to provide a more accurate diagnosis. By developing mathematical models for EIS and learning to effectively present our findings, we aimed to give medical professionals a valuable additional tool for diagnosing skin conditions. Beyond the research, Singapore’s location offered us a unique chance to travel. Following our supervisor’s advice, we worked on weekends and used some weekdays for exploring neighboring countries, taking advantage of less crowded travel periods and competitive rates for transportation and accommodation. This approach allowed us to experience diverse cultures, visit historic sites, and make the most of our time abroad alongside our work. My experience with ESROP Global was enriching both academically and personally, proving that sometimes, the most impactful learning happens outside the classroom!”

-Victor Weng, EngSci 2T7

E4TW channels the global nature of the EngSci program and allows students to participate in research projects related to the social, ethical, political, and human rights impacts of technology. Research projects are generally led by The Citizen Lab based at the U of T Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

Tips when Applying for Research Opportunities

For a complete catalogue of tips, view the EngSci Info Hub’s “Research” page. There’ll also be information sessions hosted in the Fall; read the EngSci Newsletter to stay up-to-date. 

As a first-year EngSci, you probably haven’t narrowed down what specific research you want to do. This is completely okay, since undergraduate research is your opportunity to explore different research areas and identify topics which most excite you. The best thing you can do is to keep an open mind to various opportunities and gain some sense of your interests. Maybe there are some specific concepts you’d like to explore, such as genomics or fluid dynamics, or some fields/industries that interest you, such as autonomous vehicles or material science. While it’s important to know your own interests and articulate them well, it’s also valuable to have an open mind and be willing to explore a field you’d not previously thought of. You never know what surprising interests you might develop! 

Much like with finding internships, you cannot expect the opportunities to magically appear on a golden platter; you need to do your own searching. The EngSci Info Hub will be an excellent place to start for U of T-related placements. If you’re looking for opportunities at another institution, the best method is to check that institution’s website. If you have a specific type of opportunity in mind but don’t know where to find it, look at the websites of some top research universities and see if their programs match what you’re looking for. Most importantly, talk to your professors to learn about their research! They all have connections to researchers and companies around the world, so ask them whom they would recommend for work in an area that interests you. Note that some universities will limit their program offerings strictly to students enrolled at that university, and programs in the United States might restrict programs to American citizens or permanent residents. 

Reaching out to professors can seem intimidating but learning how to do this will greatly increase your chances of landing a summer research position.

University departments list their professors in faculty directories, often grouped by research focus. Once you’ve found research areas that interest you, read more about the work of each faculty member online. Read a couple of their publications to gain a stronger understanding of the type of work that they do so you can potentially identify specific research interests related to their work. You can also view a list of past lab members, which may or may not include undergrad researchers; feel free to reach out to them on LinkedIn or U of T Engineering CONNECT to enhance your understanding of the type of work you might do. 

Remember that professors may have specific instructions that you must follow if you want to contact them for research (that could be as subtle as writing a specific email subject line), and always practice professionalism when reaching out to professors.

Emails to professors are like mini cover letters. They’ll typically include a brief introduction of yourself along with some of your research interests, and how your past experiences enhance your interests and make you an excellent candidate for the lab. You should also attach your résumé and academic history. If they don’t respond to your email after at least one week, send a follow-up; professors are busy and it’s not uncommon to receive no reply at first.

Faculty directories, such as that for the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE) pictured here, are a great starting point for learning about what kinds of research takes place at U of T and provides you with professors to reach out to

Sometimes when reaching out to professors or applying for research positions you’ll have to write a research statement; these differ from traditional cover letters in that they’re more academically focused as opposed to explaining how your past experiences make you a good fit for a job. When you reach out to professors, you might write a mix of a research statement and cover letter; other research internship programs may require a more formal document. There are tons of online resources in the EngSci Info Hub to help craft your perfect research statement.