Author: orientation

Expenses, Working, and Budgeting

Posted on by orientation
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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This is your go-to stop for all EngSci-specific information. The EngSci Info Hub is a Quercus page that you will be automatically added to, where you can find 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

Academic Planning and Advising 

Do you have questions about the EngSci majors or how to enroll in a minor/certificate? You can find all this information plus graduation requirements, academic policies, curriculum information, and more in this section. Additionally, when you’re planning for your thesis in your fourth year, you can find information on available thesis projects and support here. 

Services and Resources

From academic support to campus safety to job hunting, the Services and Resources page has it all. In this section, you can find Mental health & wellness resources, academic supports (e.g., GEARS), job application supports (e.g., resume writing, mentorship, etc.), U of T campus map, and more. 

Opportunities

If you’re looking for opportunities available to you as an EngSci student, look no further than the Opportunities section in the Info Hub. You will find information about employment opportunities (PEY, summer internships, etc.) and research positions (ESROP), grad school positions, volunteer opportunities (student clubs, EngSci, etc.), and awards/fellowships. 

Graduate School Info

While you might not be preparing your graduate school application just yet, it is never too early to start exploring your options. The Graduate School Info section includes information from applying to US grad schools to where to find postings, how to write your statement of interest, advice from professors and much more. 

Profiles

If you’re interested in learning more about the experiences and achievements of fellow EngSci students and alumni, explore the News and Profiles section in the Info Hub. Here, you can read inspiring profiles of alumni and current students and discover how some of our legendary EngSci alums began their careers. 

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 chalkboards and whiteboards available to use. There are also rooms for quiet study, or if you want to work with a group. 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, academic support, they can direct you to resources and answers. The EngSci Club office 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 they’re having lunch. In addition, this is also 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. 

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 shouting 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 

Opportunities Abroad

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The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is incredibly excited to offer students opportunities to study and research abroad, with many different programs, destinations, and time spans available. Dean of Engineering, Chris Yip, has been moving towards creating global opportunities for all U of T engineers, with his eventual 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. In 2018, U of T received $1.4 million in funding, to be allocated over three years, to provide international opportunities to students. There has never been a better time to become a global student than now. And, as a founding member of the International Engineering Science Consortium (amongst schools such as UC Berkeley and National University of Singapore), and its motto of Engineers for the World (E4TW), there is no better program for global opportunities than U of T EngSci! 

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 you locations, and give you different perspectives from around the world. It will almost certainly be out of your comfort zone – and that’s great! Being out of your comfort zone is the only real way to create meaningful change in yourself. Most students don’t have the same perspective, or view their education the same way, after coming back from studying abroad.

Gain Professional Advantages:

As globalization increases around the world, having some global experience is advantageous for your career. You can expand your network, meet with industry partners, work with different divisions of your company, and more. If you were a global conglomerate who needed to do business around the world, who would you rather hire: an engineer who had never left their home country, or one who had traveled through three continents? Past surveys show that 83% of hiring managers in Canada agree that employees who have traveled understand the global marketplace, have knowledge of other cultures, and are more competitive applicants.

Develop Global and Cultural Appreciation:

The world is a huge place with countless natural and societal places to explore. Studying abroad will allow you to gain some 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 will get to choose one of many research universities around the world partnered with EngSci, then spend the summer traveling to this destination while helping conduct 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 Research Opportunities 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]

For students that have secured their own research opportunities at any university or institution outside U of T, they can apply for ESROP – ExOp to hopefully receive funding to perform summer research there. Through ExOp, students can perform summer research anywhere in the world, since the student secures the research placement themselves. To learn more, check out our Research Opportunities blog post or read ESROP Student Stories. 

Pictured is Mohit Verma (EngSci Physics 1T9), during his ESROP – ExOp fellowship at Harvard. He worked on the Advanced Cold Molecule Experiment, in collaboration with groups from Harvard, Yale, and Northwestern. This gave him “a unique experience as [he] was able to partake in a world-class experiment while also working with people from different universities and backgrounds.” Furthermore, “spending the summer at Harvard really expanded [his] network and has allowed [him] to make many friends who might be future colleagues, collaborators and contributors in the field.”

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. Furthermore, different countries specialize in different industries, so getting jobs abroad can help introduce you to career paths within diverse fields, while interacting with globally significant companies. During long-term internships, you’ll be spending more time abroad, which will allow you to immerse yourself more 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 internship programs for this time frame. 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, and beyond, EngScis complete amazing PEYs all over the world.

Joining design teams is an excellent way to gain not only practical engineering experience, but global experience as well! 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 are extremely significant and 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 help 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 into a global context based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You and your team will develop mechatronics projects to address global engineering opportunities. Last year, teams developed projects to improve quality of life in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2021, teams collaborated with business students from Georgia State University to develop solutions for organizations in Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Uganda, and South Africa.

Again, although you probably won’t leave Toronto for this opportunity, this Minor 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 will open in March, and there will be multiple information sessions during this time as well.

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).

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 

Guide to Internships

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Work experience is integral to a complete engineering education. As a student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (FASE), you will be required to complete 600 work hours to be eligible for graduation as per the Practical Experience Requirement. 

The FASE’s Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op program can help you achieve your Practical Experience Requirement through a 12–16-month PEY Co-op work term after 3rd year and an optional 12–16-week Summer Co-op Work Term after 2nd year. Outside of the PEY Co-op program, you can also do 4 month “external” summer internships that will not count towards degree credit. PEY work terms and external internships are paid, professional, learning-oriented work experiences for students. They provide hands-on experience and skills specific to the student’s desired field.

PEY Co-op students working in the Intel Lab, at the Intel, Toronto office [Source]

Through work experiences, you can earn a competitive salary, gain real-world industry experience at top companies before even graduating, develop practical skills related to your field of study and career goals, and place yourself at an advantage for return offers or higher salaries after graduation! 

How EngSci Prepares you for Internships

EngSci’s specialized majors and coursework let you learn advanced, discipline-specific concepts that give you a foundation for internships. Simultaneously, the multidisciplinary curriculum exposes you to many different fields, giving you a broader perspective and skillset; this can allow you to work in a variety of industries/roles. The advanced coursework also means that your labs and assignments (in addition to your theoretical knowledge) are also more advanced. Building strong practical skills are essential for getting and succeeding in internships. 

ESC180/190 and CIV102, unlike their Core 8 counterparts, involve major projects (difficult programming projects in ESC180/190, and an engineering design project in CIV102). A lot of your upper-year courses will be project-based. These projects will provide you with invaluable practical experience that you can discuss on your resume and cover letters. 

The expectations in Praxis II are very high – higher than most first-year engineering design courses outside of EngSci – but this leads to very cool projects and a lot of knowledge/skill acquisition! You’ll work with real clients on interesting projects; you can discuss the products of your work on your resume, and the process/backstory behind it can make for compelling cover letters and interviews! 

PEY Co-op 

The PEY Co-op program lets you earn degree credit for the internships that you complete, with its focus being a continuous 12-to-16-month paid work term that students complete between third and fourth year. PEY Co-op is unique in that students work for a much longer period compared to many other co-op programs. This longer term allows students to take on greater responsibilities for larger projects and build closer connections with their colleagues/employers. 

On top of the amazing experiences and connections you will make during your work term, there are a lot of professional development activities provided to outgoing PEY students as they are applying for jobs. The Engineering Career Centre supports your transition into your PEY job by running mentorship events with industry alumni, hosting sessions to help you improve your resume, planning practice interviews, and more. The ECC helps you prepare for your PEY, but it also helps you make the most of your PEY while you’re working. Most importantly, talk to upper-years to gain valuable advice on internships. 

Find up-to-date information on the Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op Program and how to register. 

Components of the PEY Co-op Program

PEY Summer Co-op Work Term (PEY300)​

  • Optional 12-16 weeks work term during the summer after second year. 
  • Must begin between the last week of April and the first week of June after second year and end by the first week of September of the same calendar year. 
  • Will appear on the transcript as CR upon completion of all requirements. 

PEY Co-op 12-16 Month Work Term (PEY400) 

  • Full-time, paid work, with a single employer for 12 to 16 months. 
  • Must begin between May and September following third year and must end no later than the first week of September of the following calendar year. 
  • Will appear on the transcript as CR upon completion of all requirements. 

Aside from these, you can also do “External” 4-month long summer internships outside of the PEY Co-op program. These will not appear in your transcript; however, they can be great ways of gaining professional experience, especially if you choose to not participate in the PEY Co-op program. During which summer breaks you can do these depend on whether you are participating in the PEY Co-op Program or not. 

If you are registered for the PEY Co-op Program​

You can do external summer internships during:

  • Summer after 1st year  
  • 4 months possibly between 3rd and 4th year if your 12–16-month work term is only 12 months, starts in May or September and you don’t request to extend it 

If you are NOT registered for the PEY Co-op Program​

You can do external summer internships during:

  • Summer after 1st year  
  • Summer after 2nd year  
  • Summer after 3rd year 

PEY Co-op Program Timeline

[Source]

Indicate your interest in joining the PEY Co-op program when applying to U of T OR register anytime during your first or within a deadline during your second year. 

Complete two learning modules on Quercus – Introduction to PEY Co-op (Year 1) and PEY Co-op Preparatory Program (Year 2). Once you are registered for the PEY program, these courses will be added to your Quercus dashboard automatically and you will be notified of any deadlines on the Quercus calendar as well as by the ECC office via email. 

Completing the Preparatory Program modules on Quercus by the deadline will give you access to the ECC Job Portal, where you can view and apply to jobs. Don’t worry if you can’t access the job portal during the school year. If you have completed the required modules by the deadline, you will be granted access during the recruitment cycle (usually in October/November for summer work terms and September for 12-16 month work terms). 

Upper year tip: Apply through external portals too.

Declare your summer work term by submitting the Summer Work Term Agreement Form (and the Independent Work Term Approval Form as needed). Towards the end of the recruitment cycle, you will be notified via ECC about submitting these documents. 

Important Note: Make sure to declare your work term and submit all work term deliverables within deadlines. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting an NCR (No Credit) on your transcript. 

Submit two assignments during the work term:  

  1. Early Self Reflection Form  
  1. Final Reflection Report 

Detailed information on work term deliverables can be found here. 

Similar to the summer recruitment cycle, you can view and apply for jobs through the ECC Job Portal. Upper year tip: Apply through external portals too.  

Similar to the summer work term submit the required forms and documents. 

Submit three assignments during the work term:​

  1. Early Self Reflection Form  
  2. Final Self-Reflection Form  
  3. Final Reflection Report 

For the most up-to-date information on PEY Co-op program requirements, refer to this page here: Engineering Career Centre – PEY Co-op program requirements. 

External Job Search Platforms​

Registering for the PEY co-op program and completing the requirements gives you access to the ECC job portal, which contains exclusive job postings from various reputable companies. However, regardless of whether you’re in PEY, you should search for internship positions outside of the ECC job portal, especially if you are hoping to work in a specific role at a certain company/industry. 

Platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Job Bank (Govt of Canada), etc. can give you a great starting point for exploring a broader range of companies and positions. 

For engineering/tech specific job postings, you can use job boards such as Engineeringcareers.ca, MaRS, communitech.ca, etc. You may notice the same posting/companies on these job boards after a few search sessions, so once you have an idea of what positions you are interested in, it’s useful to set up job search alerts. 

If you are interested in a particular industry within the broader engineering sphere, you may need to do some extra research to find job boards that cater to that specific industry. Some examples include Le Spot (Aerospace), BioTalent Canada (Biomedical), ECO Canada (Environmental), etc. 

Many big companies post their jobs on their own website rather than external job boards. If you’re particularly interested in working for a specific company, here are some tips:  

  • Regularly check the Careers page on the company website. 

  • Sign up for applicant accounts and/or set up job alerts, if available. 

  • Follow the company on LinkedIn and keep an eye out for hiring related posts. 

Upper year tip: Once you have access to the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus, use the “External Job Search Resource” and the “Labour Market Research Sources” page for guidance on finding relevant job boards. And while you are doing job search, use a job application tracker (template available on the PEY Co-op Resources Hub) to keep track of where you found a job posting, when deadlines are, etc.) 

Job Search & Application Process

The following guide gives a general overview of the job search and application process. For more personalized advice, reach out to your ECC Co-op Coordinators during recruitment cycles. You can also talk to ECC staff outside of recruitment cycles or to upper-year students to get tips and learn from their experiences.

Job Search Process:

First, you need to search for Co-op positions! As previously discussed, after completing the requirements, you will gain access to the ECC job portal during the recruitment cycle where you can browse through job postings and apply. Make sure to search through independent company portals and job search platforms outside of the ECC job portal as well, especially if you are looking for a very particular opportunity. Some tips to help you at this stage of the process: 

  • Use a job application tracker as soon as you start looking through job postings. This is especially useful during the school year when you may not have enough time over the week to work on your job application. In these cases, a tracker will help you keep track of positions you are planning to apply for. 
  • Attend networking events such as career fairs, design team competitions, conferences, etc. to learn about available opportunities and potentially talk directly with recruiters. 
  • Review all job descriptions carefully and apply only to jobs for which you meet the eligibility requirements and conditions. For example: citizenship, work term duration, access to transportation, location, etc. 
  • Balance the number of jobs you apply for with the quality of your applications and your interests. Applying to many jobs increases your chances, but it’s crucial to focus on positions that genuinely interest you and tailor each application to meet the specific job requirements. 

Job Application Package:

Typically, you will be asked to include a resume, a cover letter and a copy of your most recent transcript in your job application. When applying for multiple positions, you are highly encouraged to tailor your resume and/or cover letter for each application based on the job posting. Once you have access, refer to the ‘Resumes and Cover Letters’ section of the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus. 

Some tips to help you at this stage of the process: 

  • Familiarize yourself with the ADR (Action Description Result) Method and always tailor your resume. 
  • Design teams/clubs, hackathons, and personal projects provide really valuable experience. If you don’t have experience in a paid full-time or part-time position, include relevant volunteer experiences and school projects. 
  • Write a strong master resume and you won’t have to spend as much time tailoring it for every job posting during the school year. 
  • Book resume/cover letter review appointments with Co-Op coordinators at the ECC office during recruitment cycles. Use the advice from your Co-Op Coordinator for future applications and limit your weekly appointments, as they assist hundreds of students. 

Interview Process:

Usually, you will go through two types of interviews: general and technical. In the general interview, you will mostly be asked behavioral and situation-based questions. In the technical interview, you will be given an engineering task related to the role, which you will need to complete and submit within a certain timeframe. Some tips to help you at this stage of the process: 

  • Once you have access, use the Interview Preparation module in the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus.  
  • To prepare for technical interviews, use industry-relevant platforms like LeetCode for software or SOLIDWORKS for mechanical design. Additionally, find interview preparation guides specific to the position, such as YNCN’s guide for software internships. 
  • Ensure you thoroughly understand your past experiences/projects in-and-out, as you will be asked specific questions. Your design work from Praxis I, Praxis II, and CIV102 can also help you as you develop and communicate engineering design decisions in the interviews and potentially any take-home assignments. 
  • Review basic concepts from school related to the role (e.g. physics for a mechanical job, data structures and algorithms for a software job). Some technical interview questions require this knowledge. 
  • You can book mock interview appointments with ECC staff through the Resource Hub as well. While you will be given priority if you have an interview coming up, you can book a general mock interview session as preparation for future interviews as well. 

Job Offers:

For positions you found through the ECC Job Portal, you will be extended offers by an ECC Co-op Coordinator or by the employer directly. If you have received multiple offers, the first step in this stage would be deciding which offer to accept. You are expected to honor your commitment after you accept an offer, so it is important for you to consider all aspects thoroughly. Once you’ve made a decision, you can accept an offer, usually by replying to the job offer email you received, usually followed by signing a contract. 

If you are registered with the PEY Co-op Program, once you have accepted a job offer, these are the steps you need to take: 

  • Within 48 hours of accepting the job offer, upload the appropriate work term agreement form to the ECC portal to inform the ECC Office. 
  • Upload a copy of your signed Offer Letter/Contract to the ECC Career Portal as soon as it is finalized with the employer. 
  • Cancel any remaining interviews for that recruitment cycle. 
  • Complete all necessary prerequisites (e.g., Quercus modules) for your work term. 
  • If necessary, take the required steps to obtain work visas, etc.