Author: orientation

Exam Centre

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Exam Centre [Source]

Located at 255 McCaul Street, the Exam Centre is where you will be taking many of your midterms and final exams. The Exam Centre has rooms for both larger and smaller classes, so you may find yourself taking exams with both lecture sections at the same time or 30-40 students in the smaller rooms.  

During Exams

EX100, one of the larger exam rooms [Source]
EX320, one of the smaller exam rooms [Source]

Expect strict rules inside. Phones and smart watches off, bags at the front, and no talking. The seating is usually not assigned, so you can grab any seat you like. The invigilators are there to make sure everything runs smoothly, so listen to their instructions. Often the exam will be invigilated by the Professor(s) and TA(s) of the course itself, but this is not guaranteed.  

If you need accommodation, make sure you are registered with Accessibility Services beforehand. Accessibility Services works with Accommodated Testing Services (ATS) to administer and coordinate accommodated quizzes, term tests and exams for registered students. 

Tips

Always bring your TCard to every midterm and final exam. If you can’t bring your TCard for some reason, some professors might accept a government ID instead, but this isn’t guaranteed. To avoid any issues, check with your professors ahead of time to see what they’ll accept. 

Bring all the stationery you will need – pens, pencils, erasers, refills/extras, and an approved calculator (if allowed). Some Professors will only allow you to use a clear case for carrying your stationaries.  

Make sure to bring water, ideally in a clear bottle. For longer exams, you may be allowed to keep a snack on your table as well. 

The rooms can get cold, so having a sweater on hand isn’t a bad idea.  

And finally, once the exam starts, remember to stay calm and focus—everyone else is in the same boat. 

Getting There

The Exam Centre is conveniently located near most engineering buildings, so if you’re cramming in the common room before an exam, you’re just a quick 7-minute walk away. If you’re commuting, it’s also an easy walk from the Queen’s Park subway station. 

For any exam at U of T, especially those in the Exam Centre, be sure to arrive early. Once the exam starts, the rooms are usually closed, and in larger spaces like EX100, it can be tough to get the invigilators’ attention through the two sets of doors. 

Fees and Financial Aid

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You can find your tuition fees on ACORN once you log in: “Dashboard” -> “View Invoice” or “Financial Account” -> “View Invoice”. Your invoice is a complete record of everything you must pay during the upcoming academic year. Here’s a guide to reading your invoice. If you are living in a student residence, you will find your residence fees here as well. The cost of attending U of T can be challenging, however, there are plenty of ways to receive financial aid and help manage the cost.

Here’s how you can view your invoice from your Dashboard on ACORN. You can also view it from the “Financial Account” section on the sidebar to the left of the screen [Source]

Financial Assistance and Exemptions

UTAPS

The U of T Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS) is a funding program that aims to fill the financial gap for eligible U of T students who meet certain eligibility criteria.

OSAP

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program for college/university students offered by the Government of Ontario. This program is only available for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons who are Ontario residents.

There are 2 types of OSAP funding, grants and student loans. A grant is money that you don’t have to pay back, whereas a loan is money you have to pay back after you finish school. One benefit of OSAP loans is that it is interest free until after you graduate. After graduation, you can start to pay back your loan and interest rates will apply.

To learn more about the OSAP program and how to apply, check out the OSAP website and U of T’s Finances page.

Other Provincial Student Aid

Every Canadian province has its own student aid system like OSAP. If you are a domestic student from outside of Ontario, you may be eligible to receive student aid from your province, which you can use even when studying outside of that province. For complete information, visit this Government of Canada site on Student Grants and Loans.  

Note that some provincial aid will arrive only after the deadline for making a deposit payment has passed. In this case, you should apply for a fee deferral, where upon uploading proof of incoming student aid, you can receive an extension on your fee payments to accommodate this. Warning: if you do not have a fee deferral and fail to pay your fees on time, you will be charged interest.

International Student Aid

Some countries or companies will sponsor international students to study at certain universities; if you are an international student, you should check your eligibility for any opportunities associated with your home country.

Other Private Loans

Many banks offer student loans as well; check with your bank to see if you’re eligible. However, unlike government loans, some bank loans will accumulate interest. 

Scholarships

As an incoming student, if you received an entrance scholarship, you would have received it with their offer of admission. If you applied for a scholarship through the Engineering ePortfolio, you can expect to hear back soon. You can check out the Award Explorer to find other scholarships, with the ability to filter awards based on faculty, award type, citizenship, nature of award, etc.

Some scholarships require specific applications, while others automatically consider all eligible students. At the end of each academic year, you can update your ePortfolio to be considered for scholarships for the upcoming year. Many companies and foundations also deliver scholarships to students, so do some research to find anything for which you’re eligible. Some of these internal and external scholarships will be featured in the weekly EngSci Newsletter you will receive starting in September. 

If you are coming from a high school outside of Ontario, find out how to apply for province-specific scholarships; usually, provinces give out scholarships worth a few thousand dollars to anyone with an average above a certain basic threshold; as EngScis, you would have all cleared these thresholds, so don’t miss out on some free money. Make sure to also look for scholarships offered by other organizations or private companies. 

Scholarship decision-making committees may consider factors such as your grades, extracurricular activities, leadership, written application, household income, and more. Make sure you craft a well-written and honest application for each scholarship you apply to. Best of luck!

Other Financial Aid Resources

The U of T Finances page has numerous financial aid resources about financial aid for out-of-province students, U.S. students, international students, and more.

Expenses, Working, and Budgeting

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In university, you may have to start managing your own finances for the first time. This can appear daunting, but it is very easy to learn. Advice from friends and family, financial advisors, workshops, and social media can all be great sources of budgeting advice. In this post, we will cover some expenses you’ll have as a university student, how working can help with your expenses and how to approach work as an EngSci, and some great resources and tips to help you become a great budgeter.

Expenses

Here are some common expenses which you might encounter throughout your time at U of T.

You can find all your tuition and academic fees on ACORN; under “Finances”, find “Financial Account” and click on “Invoice & Net Cost”. Since these fees are mandatory, you should become familiar with your tuition fees and account for them when planning out the rest of your finances. Make sure to visit our Fees and Financial Aid blog post.

If you’re not commuting from home, you will need to find a place to live during your time at U of T. Besides tuition, rent will be your greatest monthly expense. Although rent is a mandatory expense, the amount you pay will vary drastically depending on where you’re staying; from personal experience, we have seen monthly rates ranging approximately from $850 to $2500. If you’re staying at a student residence such as Chestnut, these fees will appear on your ACORN invoice. Clarify whether you’ll need to pay utilities and internet fees in addition to your rent, as this will be an additional cost consideration. We cannot stress this enough; your budget must allow you to pay rent. 

Finding a good place to stay within your budget can be a challenge even for the most experienced homeowners. Staying with friends or roommates can help you save significantly. Make sure to reach out to all possible friends and family inquiring if they or somebody they know might have a vacancy for you. Take advantage of services such as real estate agents, the U of T Off-Campus Housing Portal (UTORid login required), Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji. They can be great resources, but as always, be wary of scams and use these external resources at your own risk. For a guide to finding housing and to learn your rights as a tenant in Ontario, make sure to check out U of T’s Housing Resource Library.

We often take our meals for granted; however, their costs can add up. Food prices in Ontario are predicted to rise by over 5.5% in 2024, and eating out has become more costly. It is important to practice smart shopping habits and limit how often you eat out each week. 

At student residences with a meal plan, your food costs are included as part of your residence payments. However, you should still budget for the occasional grocery trip (especially for residences such as CampusOne, where your room will have a kitchen) and eating out. Furthermore, if you are on a declining balance meal plan, you might want to budget your meal plan dollars. Even if you have a prepaid meal plan, you should ensure you’re maintaining proper eating habits; making the right choices at the dining hall can be the determining factor as to whether you’ll be healthy and productive throughout the day. 

If you do not have a meal plan, we recommend cooking instead of eating out as much as possible. Cooking is (almost) always cheaper than eating out, can be much healthier, and is an essential life skill! Plus, the practice of meal prep can help you save time throughout the week. However, cooking requires you to spend money to acquire ingredients, and have time to cook and clean up after yourself. 

There are plenty of ways to optimize your money, time, and enjoyment when cooking. You might choose to meal prep with a friend, watch videos while you cook, or do some work while you’re waiting on your pressure cooker. There are tons of websites, YouTube channels, Instagram accounts, and more that showcase affordable, healthy, and convenient cooking tutorials. Furthermore, you can always microwave your food on campus in the common room. 

In downtown Toronto, you can’t go wrong with grocery stores such as Loblaws, Metro, T&T Supermarket, Walmart, or Longo’s. There are also plenty of ethnic grocery stores that carry ingredients specific to cultural dishes. If you don’t already, accompany your parents to the grocery store to learn about optimal prices, and how to identify and prioritize healthy food/ingredients. 

If all you want is a quick meal, there’s fast food along College Street and Spadina Avenue, but try not to make that a habit; you shouldn’t compromise your health just for some convenience. There are also various food places on-campus, but eating out in general can get expensive.  

There are tons of nearby restaurants (some of which are more elite) where you can get more authentic dishes. For example, Baldwin Street near the Exam Centre hosts many restaurants with weekly or daily specials for their dishes. Here you can find local cafés that serve drinks and sandwiches, and a variety of cuisines such as Italian, Thai, Japanese. Remember that some places offer discounts if you pay with cash! 

Overall, try your best not to compromise your health for the sake of budget. There are endless strategies for healthy eating on a budget. Eating healthy also improves your academic performance, and of course your overall wellbeing.

If you will be living relatively close to campus and are physically able, we highly encourage you to walk to school! Walking is great exercise, allows you to relieve stress and interact with friends, and is completely free! Furthermore, walking can be faster than taking public transit (TTC). 

One of the blog admins stayed at Chestnut during first year (approximately 1.5 km away from the engineering buildings) and only walked. If you live within a similar proximity to campus, we recommend you try walking as much as possible. If you live a little farther away, you might want to consider biking, although this can be challenging in bad weather. 

Even if you will be living close to campus, you should keep some space in your budget for transportation. There will be times when the conditions are too harsh for walking, or you might need to travel to meet with your community/stakeholders for Praxis II, or you just want to get out of downtown and explore the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Furthermore, if you’re from the GTA, you might want to visit home a couple of times per month. If you’re an out-of-province or international student and you plan on visiting home during a break, your budget should include airfare; make sure to book your flights well ahead of time to avoid extremely high prices. 

If you will be commuting via public transit, make sure that your budget accounts for your transit fares. You can learn more about TTC, GO Transit, and other fares on their respective websites. Take some time to calculate logistics such as monthly passes versus individual fares, and more. If you will be driving to school, you will need to account for gas, car insurance, and parking. 

For more information, check out our Blog post about Commuting in Toronto.

You will need some basic school supplies such as stationery, but your most expensive supplies will be textbooks and electronics. 

We recommend that you don’t buy textbooks unless your professor tells you to! Not all professors use the listed textbooks, and some will only use them for problem set questions. Some professors also make their own textbooks, which they will provide you for free. 

Laptops or tablets can be very expensive; make sure to consider the pros and cons to see if buying one is the right choice for you. Furthermore, make sure to do your research to get the most bang for your buck. If you choose not to buy a laptop, the Engineering Computing Facilities (ECF) always have available desktop computers. Furthermore, for first-year courses, you won’t have to worry about the computing power of your device; you can run programs such as C, Python, and MATLAB (which are all the programs you’ll use in first year) using an SSH (Secure Shell) remote connection. 

To learn more, visit our School Supplies post.

Your budget should never come at the cost of your health. As a student, you have access to U of T sports and recreational facilities. This access is part of your incidental fees which you pay along with your tuition, so use athletic facilities to your heart’s content. You can also watch movies for free through the library or get student discounts for many streaming services, such as music, TV, and movies. 

Regarding entertainment, while Toronto is a major entertainment hub, there is no shortage of budget-friendly fun. In fact, as a university student, some of your most fun moments may come from working on design teams or simply hanging out with friends in your room; we say this from personal experience! Regardless, you should set aside a certain amount for things such as shopping, hobbies, and other fun things.

Working

Working is a common way to help pay off some expenses. Even after taxes and other associated costs, you might be able to subsidize a couple of your expenses through your paycheck.

As an EngSci, you will be able to apply to many summer internships and paid research opportunities, which will allow you to gain practical work experience while earning some money. Your salary from a summer position can help with your expenses for the upcoming school year, and this is especially the case if you choose to do a PEY Co-op (of course, your jobs after undergrad can massively help with your expenses and debts, but that won’t be for at least four more years). It is important to consider some factors: 

  1. Summer positions have their own expenses associated with them. If your workplace is very far from home, you will have to once again consider costs such as rent and food. If you’ll be staying at home, transportation will be an expense. Regardless of the position, make sure to do the math and budget appropriately. 
  1. Have realistic expectations. The economy is complicated and unpredictable, and the job market will have ups and downs throughout your time as a student. Don’t place unreasonable pressure on yourself to find an extremely high-paying job for every summer and your PEY, but at the same time, it’s important to be ambitious and not to sell yourself short. Talk to relatives and upper-years and learn about their experiences with the job market, and make sure to try your hardest to achieve your definition of academic and professional success to shape yourself into the ideal candidate 
  1. If your financial situation allows it, try to consider more than just salary when chasing a job.

The U of T Work Study program offers paid, on-campus positions where you can strengthen and develop meaningful skills through your work. Students typically work ten hours per week, which is less than what may be expected in a part-time job outside of campus. That said, the engineering workload is the heaviest of all programs; expect 30-35 hours of classes each week, so make sure to evaluate whether the Work Study program is worthwhile for you. To learn more about the program, check the CLNX website (UTORid login required).

Some examples of other part-time jobs are retail positions, tutoring, and even becoming a GEARS mentor or teaching assistant after first year. Part-time job experiences in EngSci vary a lot based on your academic abilities, transition to university, and the nature of the job. We have seen both extremes where students either really enjoyed their part-time job, or found it difficult to juggle the two.

Learn More

If you want to learn more about finances and budgeting, you should check out the Skule Financial Literacy Club. Here you can learn about taxes, investments, budgeting, and more. There are also online resources for students, such as www.savethestudent.org (based in the UK).

If you have any questions about financial aid programs, scholarships, grants, and/or bursary programs, you can contact Pierina Filippone, who is the Assistant Registrar for Scholarships & Financial Aid.

Guide to Professionalism

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Make sure to read the U of T Code of Student Conduct.

U of T Engineering is a Professional Faculty accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Your degree will make you eligible to become a professional engineer (P.Eng.). Because of this, engineering education has some different requirements than other non-professional degrees. 

As a U of T Engineering student you are expected to learn workplace etiquette and how to conduct yourself in a professional manner. This is built into our curriculum and many co-curricular activities. Every day in EngSci is a chance to learn and practice professional behaviour so you are well-prepared to step into the working world. 

What is Professionalism?

Professionalism is the practice of conducting yourself with responsibility, integrity, and accountability, and communicating effectively and respectfully, in all circumstances. Throughout your time at U of T and entire career, professionalism will be of utmost importance. Acting professionally makes you appear more reliable to others, which is a critical part of advancing your career. Etiquette and expectations at U of T Engineering and the workplace may be different from what you are used to in high school, so here are some tips for effective professionalism.

[Source]

You’ve probably heard this before, but when interacting with people face-to-face (or on a phone call or virtual meeting), remember the following: 

  • Be friendly and respectful. Learn and use the person’s name or title properly. At conferences or networking events, don’t be shy about approaching new people. Your professional demeanor will help put you and them at ease. 
  • Take a sincere interest and practice active listening. 
  • When at a conference, an interview, or another important meeting, ensure your clothing and grooming is formal. At work, ensure that you follow your organization’s dress code, usually business or smart casual standards. 
  • Speak clearly and avoid using colloquial language. 
  • Maintain regular eye contact and proper posture, and avoid fidgeting or looking around; it is necessary that your body language indicates engagement with what the other person is saying. 

At conferences or networking events, remember to be outgoing and talkative, while still being respectful and professional.

Online professionalism is as important as in-person professionalism! Remember: anything you write down could become public. Think about the impact on your future before posting thoughtlessly. 

When writing emails to professors, teaching teams, supervisors, staff, and colleagues: 

  • Create an email signature with your name, university affiliation and major, and preferred pronouns. 
  • Use a descriptive subject line. An email with the subject line “Question” is unlikely to get priority in someone’s busy inbox and might look like spam. “U of T Engineering student requesting advice on AI career” is an example of a better subject line. If emailing for academic purposes, include the course code in the subject. 
  • Emailing a working professional (including university staff and professors) is NOT the same as texting your friends. Look up your recipients’ name and title and address them how they would prefer (e.g. “Greetings Dr. [Name], …”). “Hey” is NOT an appropriate way to address a professional person. 
  • Ensure your email has the right tone. It should be at least as formal as how you speak to the recipient in real life. This will vary depending on your relationship with that person. Don’t forget to check for grammar and spelling mistakes.
    • Sometimes, you might produce an extremely well-written and formal email, only for a professor to give a very short response. Professors are busy people, and don’t have the time to invest as much effort into their reply as you did with your inquiry. Regardless, ensure that you speak professionally.
  • Remember to use an appropriate salutation (e.g. “Dear …”, “Greetings …”) and valediction (e.g. “Sincerely …”, “Best regards …”).  When in doubt, use the most respectful salutation. 
  • Before sending the email, review it to make sure it includes all necessary information while being clear and concise. Consider setting up delayed delivery, so you get some buffer time to modify your email if you spot any mistakes with it. 
  • In the professional world, the general expectation is that you will respond to an email within 1-2 business days, especially if you are the more junior person. Keep this in mind when you get an email from staff, professors, TAs, employers, professionals, etc. 
  • Professors and the teaching team receive a high volume of emails. The convention is to wait 3-5 business days before sending follow-up emails. Be sure to also check out the course page on Quercus for their recommended channels of communication. 

Digital professionalism extends beyond emails! Having a good digital footprint is extremely important. 

  • Setup a strong LinkedIn profile so that your peers and other professionals can connect with you. LinkedIn is also a great platform for job hunting, learning about different companies and careers, and seeing what people are up to. 
  • Refrain from disrespectful or inappropriate behavior online. Remember, even if you think something is private, nothing on the internet is private.
    • Use good judgment and your common sense when posting online. Disrespectful behaviour online directed at members of our community can be an offense under U of T’s Student Code of Conduct.  

Have you ever had to give a talk in front of a big group of people? Nothing is quite as demoralizing as looking out at the crowd and seeing that nobody is paying attention. Here’s how to respect your instructors and classmates: 

  1. Silence your phone and put it away to minimize distractions for yourself and those around you. Remember that in a darkened lecture hall, your lit up screen is highly visible and distracting to others. Classes are very important; please don’t disrupt the valuable learning experience for you and others by being on your phone. Turn off notifications on your laptop and other devices, to help you focus on lecture content.
  1. Do not spend time in lectures chatting with your friends, even if you’re at the back of the room.  The speaker can see and hear you, as can everyone around you.  If you don’t want to pay attention, leave the room out of respect for others.
  1. Go to office hours and talk to your professors – this is a hugely underused resource!  Getting to know profs and having them get to know you will help you:
    • Develop relationships so you can ask for letters of reference for jobs, scholarships, etc. Remember that you’re going to need reference letters for jobs and graduate school applications; if none of the professors get to know you personally, they won’t be able to write you letters.
    • Learn about summer research and other opportunities.
    • Get a leg up on coursework.

Commitment is a core aspect of professionalism, and it can show others just how trustworthy you are. If you say you will do something, follow through on your promises. Do not overcommit to activities or tasks – make a firm commitment! 

Why is this important? 

  1. Respect: If you sign up for an event and don’t show up, the organizer’s reputation (and EngSci’s!) suffers. They or our program might be embarrassed if too few people show up for an external speaker, or they may have purchased food that will go to waste. Put yourself in the organizers’ shoes: what’s at stake for them? How would you feel if you organized the event and no one showed up and you wasted time and money? This also goes for meetings, whether that’s with your team for a group project, a design team, executives of a company. In the professional world and in EngSci, the expectation is that if you commit to attend an event or meeting but your plans change, you will give the organizer AT LEAST 48 hours’ notice. Again, communication is key 🔑
  1. Teamwork and Trust: When working in teams, you have people who depend on you and trust that you will complete your task. If you can’t follow through on your commitments, that trust can be lost and you may not be given further responsibilities.  Communication is key!  If you are struggling with workload, talk to your teammates and work out a plan. 
  1. Your own Development: If you agree to do something, it is probably something that you wanted to do or that will benefit you. By following through, you can develop yourself professionally, take pride in your reliability, and build confidence; the only way to gain experience is to commit and do things. Furthermore, you can always learn from and enjoy an experience. Do yourself a favor and follow through with what you committed to!

Conflicts can occur in class, extracurriculars, or the workplace, and it is vital to handle them professionally. Learning how to resolve them and reflecting upon the experiences contributes to your personal and professional growth: 

  1. Take a step back and analyze the situation as a whole. Try to calm down and do not let your initial frustrations get the better of you.  
  1. Challenge your assumptions. Many (most) conflicts are the result of poor communication with both parties assuming things that aren’t quite true. Ask yourself: what do I really know about the situation? What am I assuming? Is there another possible explanation for the other person’s behavior? Note that people around you may have different backgrounds, personal situations, and cultural norms. 
  1. Express your perspective respectfully and listen to others’. If a group member is unresponsive, try to get them to engage in the conversation. Ask questions to make sure you aren’t missing important information. Explain your concerns factually rather than emotionally. You can also contact your instructor or supervisor for help. 
  1. Try to find some common ground. Emphasizing common interests can help create a sense of collaboration and establish team values to resolve conflicts. 
  1. Brainstorm solutions and explore various options that will address the needs/interests of all parties. 
  1. Remember, clear communication is very important! Be proactive and don’t let conflicts fester. 

Remember to always be your best self, even if the other person is acting unprofessionally.

Equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility are critical parts of professionalism in today’s workplaces. U of T puts emphasis on creating inclusive and accessible spaces for everyone and students, and YOU play a vital role in this. Educating yourself through U of T’s free training resources during your time in EngSci will give you highly valuable skills. 

As well, check out our 2 blog posts about EDI in EngSci and EDI-related groups. Remember to treat others how you’d like to be treated and respect everyone.

EngSci Info Hub

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When you start your studies in September, this will be your go-to stop for all EngSci-specific information. When you are enrolled in your courses, you’ll automatically see the EngSci Info Hub on your dashboard in U of T’s course portal, called Quercus. Here, you can find FAQs, resources, opportunities within the EngSci community, and general updates. You’ll see it on your dashboard right next to your courses, so it’s easy to find. 

Below is a list of sections within the EngSci Info Hub and what you can expect from each. The hub is regularly updated by the EngSci Office and may include additional sections and information based on the latest resources and services.

Be sure to check it out when it becomes available to you in early September! 

EngSci Info Hub as found on the Quercus Dashboard

Program

Info for all years of study including study supports, ESEC, professional experience requirement, and thesis.

Research

Info on finding summer research jobs and the Engineering Science Research Opportunities Program (ESROP).

Jobs

Job hunting supports, job listings and recruitment events.

Graduate School

Resources and listings for those interested in graduate studies after EngSci.

Community

Events and competitions, student clubs, volunteering, and our alumni community. 

EngSci Common Room

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EngSci Common Room Front Entrance

Welcome to the EngSci Common Room! This is a place only open to EngSci students. It offers study spaces, foosball tables, video games, vending machines, and more. Located in Bahen Centre, the Common Room is open 24/7 during the school year and to access it, all you need is your T-Card. 

The “room” is actually two rooms connected by internal doors: a study space in the front (BA 2128) and a lounge at the back (BA 2124). It holds a lot of people: we once found more than 90 chairs in the room! You can see flyers, notices, and memes plastered all around the room. There are also cabinets filled with old textbooks, handbooks, and solution manuals. 

Study Spaces

Study Spaces
Study Spaces
Study Spaces
Study Spaces in the Common Room

The Common Room has ample space for studying, mostly concentrated in the front room. Most of the space is designed for collaborative studying with a chalkboard and several whiteboards available to use. There are also rooms for quiet study, or for group work. The Common Room can get quite noisy when it gets busy during the day, especially during lunch. 

EngSci Club Office

The Common Room is also home to the EngSci Club office. If you have any questions about university, EngSci, or academic support, they can direct you to resources. The EngSci Club also offers lockers that students can rent throughout the year. This can be helpful for commuter students who want to store some of their belongings on campus. 

Read more about what the EngSci Club does here. 

EngSci Club Office in the Common Room

Community

In the back room (lounge), there is a large table next to a blackboard, where you’ll see EngScis hold group review sessions, draw memes, and work on problem sets, among other things, often while having lunch. In addition, this is a space where you can play foosball or video games, stream movies on the TV, and/or microwave your lunch. This is where you can relax and hang out with friends. 

Note: Please remember that this is YOUR shared space. Treat it like your home, cleanup after yourself and do not damage anything.

Back Room of Common Room

Etiquette

The Common Rooms are spaces for EngSci students only. When studying or socializing with non-EngSci students, you are encouraged to use other U of T spaces. To find study spaces around campus, you can also use the Sync Search app here.  

Please do not admit students you don’t know to the rooms.  This is to protect everyone’s safety. 

EngSci students are responsible for keeping the EngSci Common Rooms clean and tidy! Eat only in the designated areas and clean up any mess you make. There are recycling and waste bins in each room—use them! Do not do anything that would leave stains or permanent marks on common room facilities, including the furniture. 

Respect others who share the space. When partaking in loud activities in the back room (e.g. watching movies, playing foosball), close the doors so others can study in the front. Talking is of course allowed, and collaboration is encouraged, but limit your volume to avoid disturbing others. The common room also shares a wall with the EngSci office and boisterous activities disturbs work there. 

Regarding security, thefts have happened in these rooms. Never leave your belongings unattended. Do not let anyone you don’t know into the common room, and do not prop the door open. U of T buildings are open to the public much of the week. Never leave valuables unattended because laptops have been stolen. This applies to U of T spaces in general. 

Please note that the rooms are equipped with video cameras for everyone’s safety and security. Your activities may be recorded. 

Most importantly, use your Common Room common sense! 

Commuting in Toronto

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Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

There are many ways to get to Skule™ in Toronto, whether you live uptown or if you rent somewhere far from campus. Here are some common methods of transportation, along with tips. You may want to plan out your daily commute before the term starts, so pay attention! 

Biking

Do you know biking is often faster than driving downtown? Some students bike to school because it’s healthy, fast, and fun! Biking is also one of the more common options if you live close to downtown, since downtown Toronto has numerous bike lanes. However, if you’re commuting from further away and will be using public transit like the TTC along with biking, make sure to check their policy on taking bikes.  

Be sure to check out the City’s guide to cycling in Toronto for information including maps, parking, laws, and integration with public transit. If you have not biked in the winter before, it is also worth checking out the City’s guide to Winter Cycling for safety tips. Lastly, for a list of bike shares, bike racks, and bike storage/parking, take a look at U of T’s Maps. Enjoy your rides and make sure to lock your bike! 

For a list of bike shares, racks, storage/parking, and maintenance spots, check out U of T’s Maps

If you have your own bike and are living in a residence (e.g., Chestnut Residence), bike rooms are available for storing your bike. Otherwise, Bike Share Toronto is also available 24/7, and their bikes are found across the city.  

When it comes to bike maintenance, U of T has its own on-campus educational bicycle repair space, called Bikechain that offers a range of services from free bike rentals to do-it-yourself maintenance space.  

Public Transit – TTC  

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs subways, streetcars, and buses across Toronto, reaching into the York and Peel regions. The closest subway stations to campus are Queen’s Park, Spadina, Museum, and St. George, depending on your exact destination. 

Queen’s Park is ideal if you have morning classes, especially in Engineering buildings like Sandford Fleming (SF), Bahen (BA), and Myhal (MY). It’s about a seven-minute walk from Queen’s Park to the EngSci Common Room in BA, according to Google Maps. If you’re heading to the Athletics Centre for a workout or to physics classes in the McLennan Physical Laboratories (MP), Spadina station is the nearest. If it’s exam season and Robarts Library is your destination, St. George is usually the best choice.

Photo by Point & Shoot on Unsplash

Lastly if you’re looking to enjoy a sunny day with a run around Queen’s Park, Museum station is perfect. (Can you tell that one of your blog admins has put way too much thought into optimizing their commute route?)

A single ride on the TTC is $3.35 if you are paying cash, and $3.30 if you are paying with a PRESTO card or your debit/credit card. If you do have PRESTO, there’s a two-hour transfer period, meaning you can enter the TTC unlimited times for free within two hours of the first tap (you do not need to tap when you exit). Check out the TTC website for the latest information on fares and passes. 

If you will be taking the TTC regularly, you may want to buy a PRESTO card at customer service outlets, where you can also set up a student or youth discount. You can find details on how to get a Post-Secondary Monthly Pass here which offers unlimited travel on the TTC for a month for $128.15. 

Note: Do your own calculations to see if a monthly pass will save you money based on the average number of rides you take on the TTC per month. 

GO Transit

Go Transit may be an option for you if you are commuting from farther away within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. According to one of the blog admins, if you need to transfer between multiple public transit agencies, for example, the TTC, York Region Transit, MiWay, etc., or if your commute is longer than 2 hours using the TTC, it may be worth looking into the available Go Transit routes. With Ontario’s new One Fare Program, you can transfer for free between some of these agencies with a two/three-hour transfer window. 

If you take GO Transit to commute between home and U of T, you will usually transfer from Go to TTC at Union Station. When taking GO trains and buses, make sure to schedule your trips, because they usually come once an hour and you don’t want to be stuck at Union Station! To save time, you can get some light work done during the commuteon the top floor of the train, also known as the “Quiet Zone.” If you need to charge your devices, accessibility coaches usually have functioning AC outlets. 

You can use your PRESTO cards to pay for GO Transit as well. Unlike TTC however, GO Transit has a ‘Presto Monthly Savings’ system where your single ride fare in any given month depends on how many trips you have taken that month. You can use the GO Transit Fare Calculator here to find out the price for your commute and details about the monthly savings system as well. Similar to TTC, GOTransit also offers discounts to post-secondary students – check out details on applying for a GO Student ID here. 

Walking

Many who live in residence or rent nearby choose to walk to school. If you are an international student, you should familiarize yourself with Toronto signals and laws, which may be different from what you are used to.  

When walking to school, you should also take more precautions during the winter, especially if you aren’t used to snow yet. Sidewalks can be slippery, and concussions are no joke. Vehicles also take longer to stop on icy roads, so give them lots of room. You should walk more slowly and plan your commute accordingly. Dress accordingly, because you will be spending a short while outdoors. 

Tips for Commuting

Students commute from various places around Toronto, so here are some tips for how you can make the most out of your commute!

You will be carrying your backpack around most of the day, so pack light and avoid bringing extra things that are available on campus, e.g., scrap paper. Pack a healthy and filling lunch/dinner and bring some snacks. If you do not feel like bringing your own lunch every day, there are commuter meal plans available from U of T Food Services.   

You can rent lockers in the common room from EngSci Club (as well as multiple other locations on campus), so you will not have to carry everything back home and back to school again. With the extra space, you will have access to items such as chargers, stationery, and extra clothing without having to carry them. 

Check to see if a monthly pass is cheaper for you. Make sure your Presto card is set up for a post-secondary student discount and remember to tap off when exiting GO buses and GO trains. You may want to download the PRESTO app so you can check your balance and load funds in advance. Better yet, set up autoload! 

If you are taking public transit to get to class, check for service updates on their respective websites (TTC, Go Train, etc.) and always give yourself extra time to avoid delays or being late.  

Aim to arrive at school at least 10-15 minutes before classes start. If possible, avoid rush hour (rush hour is generally from 8 am – 9am, 3 pm – 7 pm). And it’s always good to know alternative routes to get to your location in case of service changes or disruptions. 

During midterms/exams, be sure to plan and arrive early. Before heading out, check ACORN to see if your exam is relocated because it can change at the last minute.   

Prioritize your travel time, whether it’s listening to music, reading, studying or sleeping. If you choose to work during your commute, note that reading is easier than working on a problem set, for example, so plan accordingly. Make sure you can work (or relax!) offline, as Wi-Fi may not be stable.  

Practice your time management skills. Schedule your travel time in your calendar or agenda, which will help you figure out how much time you have to complete schoolwork, study, partake in extracurriculars/hobbies, etc. If you plan for it, you can still be active in clubs and design teams as a commuter. 

Outside of the commute itself, be sure to plan to get enough sleep. If you want to sleep before twelve, you should probably leave an hour or two before that, depending on commute time. 

Additional Resources

For a thorough list of transportation services available to you, please check the U of T’s Transportation Guide. You can also use the interactive map of U of T here for details on all things campus-related from buildings, amenities to transportation, food, etc. 

Learning Strategies

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In high school, you may have had your work laid out by teachers, with easy-to-follow instructions and homework check-ins to make sure you stayed on track academically. In university, you will learn to build your own schedule, as homework and problem sets aren’t always mandatory, and your plan must be feasible while still allowing you to attain your goals. After the first few months of EngSci, you might notice that it takes a while to adjust to a heavier workload and that your learning strategies might change. There are various initiatives (listed below) that can help you develop your academic skills, including task management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and coping with stress and anxiety.  

Get to know the resources available to you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. For example, you can ask your professors what you are expected to know, ask upper years for advice, or check out some of the programs listed below. Positive learning strategies will help you throughout university and beyond! 

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Available Resources

Most of these initiatives are run by U of T’s Engineering Learning Strategist, who you can also speak to individually to create a learning plan that works for you. Learn more about the role of a Learning Strategist here. 

For a list of updated initiatives and programs run by the Learning Strategist check out the U of T Engineering Learning Strategist website. 

There are four modules on time management skills created and developed by the Engineering Learning Strategist. If you would like to build better time management to prepare for EngSci, you can try these out right now and learn about organization and planning, scheduling, and self-reflection. 

engSuccess is a mentorship program that starts in September where you can meet upper-year engineering students across disciplines with diverse backgrounds. Book appointments with them to help enhance your time management, work-life balance, healthy habits, and more.  

Guided Engineering Academic Review Sessions (GEARS) mentors are upper year EngSci students who can also help you build academic and time management skills based on their own experiences, in addition to helping you with course content. 

Library Resources

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U of T has the third-largest library system of all North American universities, behind only Harvard and Yale! As a student, you have unlimited access to millions of invaluable resources. Whether you’re researching for a Praxis project or need to read an online article with a pesky paywall, or just want to flip through treasure troves of comic books in your spare time, the U of T Libraries have got you covered. 

You can access the University of Toronto Libraries website here. It lets you search for all volumes across the catalogues of all U of T libraries, with links to each individual library’s website. As an EngSci, you will likely frequent the Engineering & Computer Science Library. 

Engineering and Computer Science Library in Sandford Fleming Building [Source]

Personal Librarian Program

The Personal Librarian Program pairs incoming undergraduate students from all programs with a librarian during their first year. You are automatically paired with a librarian and will receive an email within the first two months of starting your studies. 

Throughout the program, you can receive research advice from your personal librarian. This is a great resource to use when you have any questions about library services. If you have a research question, you can consult your personal librarian on possible avenues of research. You can also ask for advice on validating sources, such as through the CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) test. 

Your personal librarian will also send information about upcoming events (e.g., a mindfulness contest), fun things to do around the city, and academic resources that may be helpful for your courses throughout the year. 

Remember, there are no dumb questions. For many of you, this is the first time you are doing research, and it can be hard to figure stuff out alone. Asking for help saves you a lot of time. 

Reference Desk

If you have specific questions regarding research or a project, the Reference Desk has people that can give you advice one-on-one and help you find the resources you are looking for. If you have questions about where to begin your search for a standard or how to use a database, the Reference Desk is located in the Engineering and Computer Science Library and available seven days a week. This is especially helpful for courses like Praxis, where you need to back up your arguments and ideas with research. 

In some of your first-year courses, you might also find that a lot of the research or referencing you are doing is different and more advanced than high school. This can be difficult and challenging, so reach out to the people at the Reference Desk for help early in your project. 

Online Resources

The Engineering and Computer Science Library has a lot of information and resources on its website. This is often the starting point on your research journey. Here you can find major databases where you can use to access academic journals, standards, handbooks, and more. You can also reserve books, book study rooms, and find upcoming workshops. It may feel overwhelming, but there are supports (like the ones mentioned above!) to help you navigate all the resources. 

If the material you need is not available, reach out to a staff member at any library. They can often get it for you from a different library at no cost! 

Group Study Spaces

Group Study Spaces in the Engineering & Computer Science Library [Source]
Study Room in Robarts Library [Source]

Want to study with friends or have a team meeting on campus? You can book a group study room! Most libraries in U of T offer these rooms that can be booked by any student for up to 3 hours up to 2 weeks in advance. If you want to find a space that is immediately available, look for group study spaces or certain rooms (e.g. Gerstein Room 1230) where no reservation is required. In general, you can also use unoccupied rooms, if they are booked but unoccupied after 15 minutes, or if the group has vacated the room for longer than 20 minutes. Check out the group study room policies of the respective library (displayed when you book a room) for more details. 

Computers

Did you know that there are over 700 workstations available on campus? If you ever need to use a computer for schoolwork, to print out notes, or to scan documents, you can find available computers at https://go.utlib.ca/computers 

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 an EngSci 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 for you to expand your horizons to the many opportunities open to you with an EngSci degree. You’ll hear firsthand from professionals from a very wide range of career paths broadly related to the EngSci majors who will share insights about their professional and personal lives post-graduation. 

Details for ESEC 2025 will be posted in the Fall. You can view all the details of ESEC 2024 here. Since this year is ESEC’s 20th anniversary, keep an eye out for special surprises! 

Past Speakers

ESEC 2023 speaker Leila Kheradpir [Source]
ESEC 2020 speaker Ajay Kochar [Source]

In the past, we have had highly accomplished speakers like 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 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 2020 Fireside Chats [Source]
ESEC 2020 Fireside Chats [Source]

On top of attending remarkable talks, EngSci students are given the unique opportunity to chat one-on-one with the speakers and ask them personalized questions in informal settings. The first of these opportunities is fireside chats, which happen the night before the conference. The second opportunity, Lunch & Learn, occurs in the middle of conference day.

ILead ESEC Prep Workshop

If you have never attended a professional conference before or need some guidance on interacting with senior professionals, you can register for the ESEC Prep Workshop organized by ILead, specifically for Year 1 and 2 EngSci students. By attending the workshop, you can learn: 

  • Strategies for networking in a professional setting (with speakers, faculty, and fellow classmates) 
  • Networking skills, approaches, & mindsets 
  • How to prepare for a networking situation 
  • The art of asking good professional questions 

Keep an eye out for registration information on ESEC’s website and Instagram page (@esecuoft) once details for ESEC 2025 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 2025 student executive team is: 

Kevin Wang, Co-Chair | EngSci 2T6 ECE 

Yijie Wang, Co-Chair | EngSci 2T6 Robotics 

Amyna Ismail, Operations Director | EngSci 2T7 

Riann Po, Communications Director | EngSci 2T6 Aerospace