Author: orientation

Time Management Strategies 

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Sleeping Positions of Different Students

Given the well-known busy schedule of EngSci, Despite your busy schedule, proper time management will allow you to not only sleep well, but have time leftover for extracurriculars, health/wellness, and socializing! 

How You’ll Spend Your Time in EngSci

First-year EngScis have an average of 6.5 hours of class (including lectures, tutorials, and labs) per weekday. 

Let’s assume that every weekday, you’ll need an hour to get ready and have breakfast, an hour to eat lunch, an hour for dinner, and an hour to commute. Finally, factor in an additional 4 hours for self-directed studying on weekdays (this covers learning material, completing labs and assignments, and preparing for midterms). Note that this is an estimate and will vary wildly depending on the day/week.  

Added together, at the busiest estimate we get 14.5 total hours a day spent on classes, studying, and eating/getting ready. That leaves at least 9.5 hours every day for relaxing, self-care, clubs/design teams/sports, socializing, and sleeping. Note that this doesn’t even include weekends, so you’ll have much more time than you think. 

Time Management Tips 

Open your phone and check your screen time. Seriously, do it now! Think to yourself: “With a busy EngSci schedule, can I really afford to spend this much time on my phone? Imagine how much work I could get done in that time!” Try everything in your power to mitigate distractions, whether caused by your phone or otherwise. Set goals for yourself and hold yourself accountable; you might surprise yourself with how easily you can achieve these goals! While your methods may vary, the result should hopefully be an increased amount of time to pursue academics, extracurriculars, hobbies, or sleep. 

Use a calendar, whether physical or digital. With a digital calendar, you can import your timetable from ACORN and build upon that. Afterwards, block off certain sections of your day for eating, commuting, studying for different classes, etc. This will hold you accountable to work on certain tasks and avoid procrastination. Try and update your daily tasks every day. 

Simultaneously, make sure to be flexible and don’t be too tied to your original plans! Plans can change at the last minute due to a variety of factors, so make sure you have appropriate backup plans for how you’ll spend your time.

Not all tasks are created equally. Depending on your own priorities/values, you may choose to spend less time on calculus problems than design team projects, for example. Deadlines approach fast, so keep those in mind; you might want to consider working on a difficult task with an approaching due date as opposed to something due at a much later date. It may or may not be optimal to pour hours into an assignment with a small weightage. It is important that you make and optimize your own plans. 

Know when to leave something for later and move on to the next task. In high school, many of us were used to pouring time into a challenging task until we finished it. In EngSci, you will have more challenging tasks that you must complete in less time. If you’re struggling to finish your calculus problems, you might want to meet with your ESC194 TA the next day and instead move on to the CIV102 problem set. This strategy will save you time in the long run, and you will likely learn better, too. 

When you do get blocks of free time (like at the start of a semester or right after some midterms), balance relaxing with working ahead. You may be tempted to leave off studying for a few days if you have little due that week, but then you may have to work non-stop later. Balance your work and fun each day and you will find a happy medium. In fact, an article punished by John’s Hopkins University on school-life balance states: ”School-life balance is important for optimal academic functioning.” We highly recommend learning to pace yourself if you want a good school-life balance and healthy sleep habits. 

Managing Sleep & Staying Healthy 

Your life will be busy, but you should (and can) set aside time for sleeping. Tell yourself that this time is non-negotiable. Set up a sleep routine and stick to it. This will ensure you are getting enough sleep, i.e., 7-9 hours per night. Here are some tips that can help with this: 

Try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, regardless of what time you have class the next day. Our bodies are wired to work on routines and schedules, so this is very important. It will help you feel more rested and productive.  

Wake up at a reasonable time on weekends. You might be tempted to sleep in, but a few more waking hours in the morning can help you avoid staying up late on a Sunday night.  

Account for wind-down time. Most people are unable to switch from studying to sleeping in just a few minutes, especially if they are stressed. Your mind and body need time to calm down before you can drift off to sleep, so make sure you build that wind-down time into your schedule and sleep routine. Otherwise, you will be promising yourself eight hours of sleep and getting less, every time. 

Burning off energy during the day by working out, playing sports, or just going for walks will help to keep your sleep schedule regular and consistent. Try getting involved in one of our intramural or varsity level sports, or go out and use one of the many athletic facilities on campus. 

Of course, all this is easier said than done. We would be lying if we said we had it all figured out ourselves. Setting up a sleep routine takes time and practice, but if you start early, chances are you’ll succeed early, too! Try it out, iterate, improve – just like with everything else in EngSci. You can also talk to and learn from your fellow EngScis. There are lots more lessons, tips, and strategies upper-year students (such as GEARS mentors) have learned and are willing to share with you to help make your time in EngSci just a little bit easier. 

If you are struggling to maintain a good sleep schedule or manage your time, you can reach out to your Academic Advisor or the Engineering Learning Strategist through the engineering portal website. U of T Student Life also has some resources that may be of interest. 

Libraries

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The U of T library system is the largest academic library in Canada with 44 libraries spread across our 3 campuses and of those 44, 42 of the libraries are on the St. George campus where you’ll be as an engineering student! 

We highly recommend you explore the huge library system to find the resources you need when working on your projects and also many cool study spaces and common areas that fit your personality and study style. 

Engineering & Computer Science Library

Main Study Area [Source]
Group Study Room [Source]

Located on the second floor of Sandford Fleming, this library serves both Engineering and Computer Science students. There’s a main study area with lots of seating on the main floor, and individual seating and the quiet study area on the second floor. The library has 29 computer workstations, including 4 Design Space stations, and printers available. 

This is a great place for quiet study, and it is probably the closest library if you are in any engineering building. If you prefer physical books over PDFs, you can look for Engineering textbooks and reading material here. As Engineering students, you can book study rooms equipped with a monitor, HDMI cable, and whiteboard markers and erasers. You can prepare for finals with your EngSci friends here! 

Gerstein Science Information Centre

Wallace Room right by the entrance [Source]
Gerstein Reading Room [Source]

Gerstein is just East of King’s College Circle, and it is less than a five-minute walk from Sandford Fleming. There are group study rooms available for booking and computer stations for individual use.  

Gerstein has an extensive science and engineering collection from textbooks to research papers and more. You can browse the collection on their website, find physical copies on the basement floor, or ask a Librarian for help with research.  

Gerstein also has a 3D-printing studio complete with 3D printers and scanners. Located in the Mobile Application Development Lab (MADLab), the service is available for all valid University of Toronto T-Card holders. For instructions on how to submit print jobs, click here. 

Robarts Library

Exterior of Robarts Library [Source]
Individual Study Spaces [Source]

Robarts (pronounced ROW-barts) is located at the intersection of St. George Street and Harbord Street. It contains the largest single collection of the University of Toronto Libraries. Here you can find Robarts Commons, which is a study space open to all U of T students 24 hours a day. 

Robarts also has dedicated quiet study spaces spanning two floors. These spaces don’t require booking and are first come first served basis. The large study space on the 4th floor has tons of natural light and ergonomic desk chairs, which make it ideal for long study sessions.  

Robarts also has an in-building food court, along with restaurants such as Stone Oven Pizzeria, So Sushi, Starbucks, etc. Multiple food trucks are usually parked right at the front entrance as well. However, most of these restaurants are closed on weekends. So, if you are planning on studying here over the weekend, make sure to pack some lunch and/or snacks.  

Library Resources Available 

The first thing you can do in libraries is borrow books of course! Using your T-Card, you can take out up to 50 items at a time, with a loan period of 14 days. The system will also try to automatically perform a renewal if possible, so you can avoid being fined. You can search for all books, including ebooks, on the library website. You can download many textbooks, research papers, and international standards here. 

It’s also common for Praxis I instructors to explain to the class how to properly search online for credible resources and how to properly cite those resources. So make sure you pay attention in that class because those skills will be useful all throughout your degree. 

Other than books, you can also borrow chargers, board/video games, laptops, calculators, and more from libraries! 

Another thing you can do at libraries is book study spaces. You can study with your friends, work on projects, or have team meetings in these rooms. Many of them have TVs or whiteboards, which is great for collaborative studying! 

As a first year engineering student, you will be assigned a Personal Librarian at the end of September. They are an amazingly useful support! You’ll get research advice and tips as well as answer any of your questions about library resources, services, and research. 

Athletic Facilities

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Whether you want to work out alone, exercise with friends, or participate in an organized sport, there is a place for you at one of U of T St. George Campus’ three indoor athletic facilities or two outdoor fields. As long as you are enrolled in the Fall, Winter, or Summer Semester, you will have access to these facilities during that time. And even if you are not enrolled in the summer term, you can purchase a discounted student summer membership to access the facilities.  

Engineering students can get involved in sports at many different levels, whether that’s recreational, intramural, or varsity. Recreational athletic activities are things that you can do on your own, while intramurals are organized team sports that vary in competition level. Varsity sports are the highest level of competitive sport at U of T; these teams compete against other schools’ teams. 

If you are looking for something fun to do, attending a Varsity Blues game with friends is a great way to spend an evening. 

Hart House

Main gym at Hart House with a running track [Source]

Every indoor facility has different features and offers a variety of classes and equipment. Each has its own atmosphere and it’s important that you find a place that is comfortable for you. Hart House Fitness Centre is a welcoming oasis of wellness for all students looking to improve their health. It is a beautiful historic, smaller-setting gym where everyone is welcome regardless of fitness level.  

Some of the main amenities at Hart House include a weight room, basketball court, pool, indoor running track, dedicated spin bike room, Pilates reformer rooms, etc. You also have access to locker rooms, showers and towel service.  

Hart House offers registered fitness classes during the fall, winter, and spring/summer terms at discounted rates for registered students. The upcoming fall term registration opens on September 3, 2024. These programs can run for 4 to 10 weeks and cover a range of activities, including aquatics and swimming, Pilates, strength and weight training, yoga, and more. Some of these classes are also affiliated with a specific club, such as the Hart House Archery Club.  

Free drop-in fitness classes are available to students of all experience levels throughout each term, with no pre-registration required. These classes operate on a first-come, first-served basis. You can find information about available classes here, but keep in mind that schedules may change. To avoid any surprises, always check the posted schedule on the day you plan to attend for the latest updates.  

You can also purchase personal training sessions with one of 9 Hart House personal trainers, each specializing in different areas of fitness. These sessions are great if you are looking for a more individualized experience. If you have never trained with a personal trainer before, you can also book a fitness consultation session to understand your own strength and areas of opportunities.  

Athletic Centre

Athletic Centre [Source]

In contrast to the smaller Hart House, the Athletic Centre is the biggest athletic facility on campus. This means it has a wider variety of equipment and more of each type of machine. The Athletic Centre is located on the west side of the campus, right at the intersection of Spadina Ave. and Harbord St. 

Some of its main amenities include an indoor track, an Olympic sized pool, dance studio, fencing salle, pedal zone, squash courts, basketball courts, badminton courts, table tennis courts, etc. You also have access to lockers and change rooms with both open and private cubicles for showering.  

The Athletic Centre has amazing drop-in classes ranging from a variety of field to target and racquet sports to skating. If you’re looking to learn something new, you can also register for their Learn to Move program that offers beginner-level instruction on swimming and court sports, weightlifting exercises, group fitness activities and more! 

If you are looking to work out with a group of friends or meet students from different programs with the same fitness goals, you can join the wide selection of group workouts offered at the Athletic Centre. These group fitness workouts range from barre, yoga, HIIT to boxing and olympic weightlifting classes! You can find a full list of programs offered here.  

Note that some of these programs require pre-registration and an additional fee, while others are free for registered students and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Athletic Centre houses the largest number of exercise machines/equipment on campus that you can use at your own pace. The open gym areas at AC are the Strength & Conditioning Centre (SCC), Bruce Kidd Field House Periphery and the Weightlifting Zone (WLZ). You can access these spaces for free as a registered student.  

In addition, SCC and WLZ also offers Women-Only Hours & Programs. Open Gym hours are updated for each term here. 

If you want to learn a new sport or improve your skills, you can sign up for an instructional class that matches your level. Classes are available from beginner to advanced in sports like tennis, gymnastics, parkour, trampoline, fencing, skating, and more! 

You can register for Fall 2024 starting on September 3 and classes will begin the week of September 16. 

If you are looking to be part of a more competitive team environment, you can also join a club, intramurals or the Tri-campus league. For more information on all sports and clubs offered, check out the KPE website here. 

Goldring Centre for High-Performance Sports

Goldring Centre for High-Performance Sports is the gym that facilitates training for most varsity athletics programs. It has a 2,000-seat, internationally rated fieldhouse for basketball, volleyball, and other court sports. It is close to one of the outdoor fields, and it has nice big windows, so you get a beautiful view while exercising. It is also used as a teaching facility and includes a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning centre, fitness studio, sports medicine clinic, and research and teaching laboratories. 

Many programs and classes offered at the Athletic Centre are also offered at the Goldring Centre. When browsing programs on the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education KPE’s website, check the Location(s) and Schedule sections to see if a particular program is offered at the Goldring Centre. 

Gym at Goldring Centre with views of Varsity Centre [Source]

Chestnut Residence Gym

Chestnut Gym [Source]

Many engineering students live at Chestnut Residence. A huge perk of this residence is that it has its own small gym in the basement! Nothing too fancy, but it’s perfect for a quick workout that’s close to home. 

International Student Resources

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Front entrance of the Centre for International Experience located at 33 St. George Street (across from Bahen Centre) [Source]

Centre for International Experience (CIE)

The Centre for International Experience is the main hub of information for international students. They offer a range of services and programs to support your transition to U of T.   

Throughout the summer, the CIE offers online Q & A sessions about documents required to enter Canada. You can also find information about immigration, the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), and more. They provide a roadmap for international students all the way from pre-arrival documents to transitioning out of university.  

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) provides mandatory health care coverage for registered international and exchange students in Canada. As a registered international student, you will be automatically enrolled in UHIP for a 12-month period, (September 1st – August 31st). For more information on UHIP, you can attend the Health Services Overview or the UHIP 101 events organized by the CIE.  

CIE offers several programs for meeting with international advisors or peer mentors. If you have questions, why not ask your fellow upper-years who have gone through the same thing? Schedule a one-on-one chat on Career and Co-Curricular Learning Network (CLNx) with International Student Experience (ISE) Ambassadors! They are current U of T international students who are here for you. 

For help with anything related to your study- or work-permit, you can connect with International Student Immigration Advisors (ISIAs). They can clarify document requirements, answer your questions in Q&A sessions, and locate additional appropriate services and resources. You can also reach out to them throughout the academic year as your academic success is connected to your study-permit. 

The CIE also helps coordinate international experiences, such as programs for studying abroad and global research fellowships for graduating students. 

Faculty of Applied Engineering and Science (FASE)

EngSci’s Academic Advisor for International Students

Your international academic advisor, Irma Berardi, can refer you to different resources, such as immigration advisors or mentorship programs. She can help you grow your intercultural understanding and global awareness through exploring your cultural and global identity, recognize how culture impacts behavior and expectations, and apply frameworks of intercultural communication in team collaboration. 

E-Buddy Program

In this program, upper-year engineering peer mentors provide support to you through structured workshops and events. You can ask them about anything, and they are more than happy to share their experiences. Register for online E-Buddy workshops and summer meetups here. 

Irma Berardi
Academic Advisor, Years 1 and 2 (International)

Other Important Buildings

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While you won’t have any classes in them, these buildings contain valuable facilities and resources. We have separate blog posts for Athletic Facilities and Libraries.

U of T Bookstore 2nd Floor [Source]

U of T Bookstore

Whether you’re finding a textbook for a class, need to do some last-minute holiday shopping, or just want to get some nice clothes for yourself, the U of T Bookstore has you covered. You can go in-person to check out various physical books and clothing items. The website is a full digital catalogue, and your professors will direct you to the appropriate links to purchase course textbooks, if applicable. The Bookstore is also in the same building as the original Koffler Student Services Centre (which has been temporarily relocated for renovations).

Convocation Hall

One of U of T’s most iconic buildings, Convocation Hall (CH) will be the first and last building you enter as a U of T student, during matriculation and graduation, respectively. Some popular ArtSci courses are also held here, so depending on which Complementary Studies (CS) or Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) courses you take later on, you might have classes here.

CH as seen from front campus [Source]

U of T Student Life Centre

800 Bay Street, where most of the services offered by the Koffler Student Services Centre are located [Source]
Temporary location of the Health & Wellness Centre at 700 Bay Street [Source] For more information and updates, visit uoft.me/renovation

The Student Life offices are the primary student centre on the U of T St.George Campus. It is currently located at 700 and 800 Bay Street at the intersection of Bay St. and College St., about a 10 minute walk from Bahen. Its permanent home is right next door to Bahen at the Koffler Student Services Centre, but it is currently under renovation. 

The Health & Wellness Centre is temporarily located at 700 Bay St. The new Health & Wellness Centre, which is currently under renovation at 800 Bay St. will offer spacious meeting rooms, offices for consultations, a smudging room, and indoor gathering spaces.

It houses a variety of student services such as the T-Card Office, the central U of T Career Centre, the Health & Wellness Centre and more. This is most likely where you will be picking up your T-Card unless you have made alternative arrangements. You can find more information about their departments and services on the Student Life website. 

Here is a list of services offered by U of T Student Life, all located at 700 and 800 Bay St.: 

  • Academic Success 
  • Communications 
  • Career Exploration & Education 
  • Housing 
  • Information Technology 
  • Office of the Chief Administrative Officer 
  • Student Crisis and Student Progress & Support 
  • Student Experience 
  • Student Life Programs & Services 
  • Student Success 
  • TCard Services 

Cumberland House

Front entrance of the Centre for International Experience located at 33 St. George Street (across from Bahen Centre) [Source]

Located in-between the Galbraith and Wallberg Buildings on St George St, Cumberland House is where you can find the U of T Centre for International Experience (CIE). As described by the CIE, “the CIE is a meeting place for a diverse community of international students coming to U of T and domestic students looking to go abroad.” To learn more, read our post about International Student Resources.

Hart House

Hart House is essentially U of T’s community center. It houses a large fitness centre, restaurants (The Arbor Room and Gallery Grill), U of T’s official chess club, a courtyard, a theatre (where Skule Nite is performed!), and more. You will most likely have your final Praxis II design showcase in the Great Hall at Hart House! Hart House Circle was recently landscaped for more walkability and greenery. Overall, Hart House is definitely worth a visit.

Hart House

Academic Accommodations

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To find information about the Accessibility Services registration process, please see Accessibility Services registration & documentation requirements. 
 
The deadline for submitting the Student Intake Form to receive academic and practical accommodations at the start of the Fall 2024 term was July 12, 2024.     
 
However, you can still submit your student intake package after the deadline. Late submissions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and can get you registered for at least the Fall 2024 final exams or the Winter 2025 term. 

Overview

U of T Accessibility Services provides accessibility accommodations to help students with suspected disabilities who may be experiencing difficulties in their learning. Below, we have compiled a non-exhaustive list of accommodations offered to U of T students. Accommodations depend on the impact of the disability within a particular program of study.

Visit this U of T Accessibility Services page for a comprehensive list of academic accommodations.   


The following content is based on the U of T Engineering Accessibility Services page and on the Accessibility Undergraduate Student Handbook. The Handbook is a great resource — we highly encourage you to check it out!   

Register for accessibility services if you think you might need them! They will check to see if you are eligible, so don’t worry. Eligibility may include undiagnosed and suspected disability. However, Accessibility Services receive a high volume of emails, so ask early. Moreover, don’t worry about accommodations being an unfair advantage: you will only be given those accommodations you need, and you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to (e.g. deadline extensions). 

Classrooms, Labs, and Coursework Accommodations

These accommodations may include (but are not limited to):   

  • Sign language interpreters;
  • Reasonable extensions on individual assignments and papers;
  • Access to materials in alternate formats (e.g., Braille, large print digitized text, voice-activated software, assisted-hearing devices).  

Test and Exam Accommodations

These services are coordinated by U of T Accommodated Testing Services. Information about these services can be found in the Student Guide: Writing Quizzes, Tests, Exams, and Online Assessments with Accommodations and at Accommodated Testing Services – Information for Students. 
 
Test and exam accommodations may include (but are not limited to):  

  • Arranging a space in which accommodations may be provided for tests and exams (e.g., fewer distractions, additional time, breaks);  
  • Access to alternate formats like large print or braille; 
  • Use of adaptive furniture and equipment (e.g., using a keyboard for writing or screen-reading software).  

Accommodations for Practicum and Placements 

Practicum and placement accommodations focus on accommodating your needs during U of T internship or work programs. For Engineering students, this may include accommodations for PEY, capstone courses, or field courses (i.e., survey camp). If you have any questions about possible accommodations for experiential learning, please connect with your Accessibility Advisor. 

Outside of the Classroom 

U of T also provides accommodations to support students outside of the classroom environment. These services may include but are not limited to:   

  • Working with residences regarding disability-related housing needs; 
  • Offering peer mentoring and co-curricular programming;  
  • Connecting you with student and community support and discussion groups. 

Accessibility Services

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What is Accessibility and Why is it Important? 

Accessibility is the practice of making things available to and usable by as many people as possible. It is based on ensuring equity among the student body by recognizing that everyone has different circumstances which require different support. Facilitating an equitable environment allows everyone to access the necessary resources they need to thrive and succeed. 

Accessibility Services at U of T 

U of T Accessibility Services support students who experience difficulties that affect their learning in lectures, tutorials, practicals and academic evaluations. They provide a variety of resources to support students including but not limited to residence accommodations, accommodated testing, note-taking support, and a variety of workshops, a few of which are highlighted below. For a full list of programs and services and how to access them, please refer to the Programs and Services sections of the Accessibility Services webpage here.  

This program is open to incoming students entering their first year at any post-secondary institution in Canada who self-identify as having disabilities. Moving Forward is a one-day program that supports students living with disabilities by: 

  • helping you navigate academic accommodations at the post-secondary level 
  • introducing you to online, hybrid, and in-person learning, lectures and note-taking 
  • giving you strategies for managing life in and out of the classroom (including tips for virtual and hybrid learning) 
  • teaching you university-level academic learning strategies and skills 
  • connecting you with a community of peers and Accessibility Services staff 
  • helping you transition to the next stage of your academic career 

This program is offered several times throughout the summer. Moving Forward offers general programming for students at any study level, and specific programming for: 

  • incoming students on the Autism Spectrum 
  • incoming students who are international/living outside of Ontario 

In these sessions, you can get in-depth information on all the accessibility and accommodation services offered throughout the year, along with a series of workshops, panels, and strategy sessions. For detailed information on program eligibility and event dates, you can check out the Moving Forward Program overview here. 

The Access Us Peer Mentorship Program pairs students who are new to Accessibility Services or new to U of T with a peer mentor and gives them access to a supportive community that includes 

  • mentorship by an upper-year student 
  • social events throughout the semester 
  • academic workshops led by a learning strategist or other professional (e.g. time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking, etc.) 
  • leadership, professional, and career development opportunities 

You can read more at U of T Accessibility Services – Access Us Peer Mentorship Program. 

Accessibility Services offers the ASD Peer Connections for Women & Trans Students program for women and trans students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the ADHD Peer Connections program for students who currently have a diagnosis of ADHD or suspect that they do.  

The Peer Connection programs provide eligible students an informal space to connect and discuss topics relevant to their disability and identity. For detailed information on program eligibility and registration, check out the Accessibility Services page on Peer Connection programs here. 

If you are registered with Accessibility Services, you can meet with their in-house learning strategists individually or in small groups. These sessions are designed to help you develop strategies for achieving your academic goals and addressing any challenges your disability may pose to your learning.  

An adaptive technologist can help students with disabilities find ways in which technology can support them in their learning. If you are registered with Accessibility Services, your accessibility advisor can refer you to an adaptive technologist for an assessment. 

Accessibility Services aims to provide a culturally supportive environment for Indigenous students with disabilities. If you are an indigenous student who satisfies the eligibility criteria listed here, you can book a consultation with the Accessibility Services Indigenous Liaison, Erin Martin, to discuss available pathways, the registration process, and documentation requirements.  

U of T provides an optional registration process for service animals to minimize the need for producing health documentation and allow seamless integration into campus life. Students can register their service animal to receive a TCard sticker that notifies others that their animal qualifies as a service animal under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). For more information about life on campus with a service animal, you can check out the Service Animals Guideline page here.  

Note: There may still be circumstances where a service animal may need to be excluded from certain spaces. Please refer to the guidelines on the Service Animal Registration page here.  

If you require residence accommodations, you are encouraged to register with Accessibility Services as soon as possible. For important dates and deadlines regarding residence applications, you can refer to the Student Life Housing page here.  

If you require accommodation for course assessments, such as quizzes, tests, exams, and online assessments, you will have to first register with Accessibility Services and request approval to write your assessments with accommodations. Once approved, you will then have to register with Accommodated Testing Services (ATS). For more details on the process, check out the Accommodated Testing Services page here.  

If you require assistance with notetaking in class, you register to receive peer-written notes for certain classes. 

If you are not registered with Accessibility Services, you may want to become a volunteer notetaker! As a volunteer notetaker, you will help contribute to others’ academic success and an equitable learning environment. All you need to do is sign up to become a volunteer (usually at the beginning of the semester) and then upload your class notes to a portal. Based on certain conditions, your volunteering may be eligible for a co-curricular record. To learn more, visit the Accessibility Services page on Volunteer Notetaking. 

Contacting Accessibility Services 

If you have any questions or concerns about registering with U of T Accessibility Services, or about the programs they offer, feel free to reach out to their office. Their friendly staff is here to support you with your transition into and time in university. To book an appointment with your assigned accessibility advisor, an adaptive technologist, or a learning strategist, please contact reception (contact information provided below and on the Accessibility Services webpage here).  

If you are not yet registered with Accessibility Services and would like to have accommodation in place for the start of classes in Fall 2024, the early registration deadline is July 12, 2024 by 5 p.m. To have accommodations in place for the Fall final exam period, you must register by 5 p.m. on October 11, 2024. For a regularly updated list of registration deadlines, please refer to the Accessibility Services Registration page here. 

You can sign up for academic accommodations with Accessibility Services at any point during your time at U of T after you’ve accepted your admission offer and have your UTORid or JOINid. However, it’s essential to complete your registration by the deadlines specified above to ensure accommodations are available at the start of each semester and during exam periods. 

You can follow the three steps below to register with Accessibility Services; more details can be found on the Accessibility Services registration & documentation requirements page here. 

1. Gather the necessary documentation and obtain your UTORid. 

2. Fill out the online Student Intake Form and include all required documentation. 

3. Schedule and attend an intake appointment. 

Accessibility Services Reception

Contact Information

Address: 455 Spadina Avenue, 4th floor, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2G8 

Phone: 416-978-8060 

Email: accessibility.services@utoronto.ca 

Accessibility Services reception is available by phone and by email Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone lines close at 4:30 p.m. 

Accessibility Services will be closed: 

  • Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. for scheduled staff meetings 
  • Friday, June 28, 2024 – Presidential Day  
  • Monday, July 1, 2024 – Canada Day 
  • Friday, August 2, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. 
  • Monday, August 5, 2024 – Civic Holiday 
  • Friday, August 30, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. 
  • Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labour Day 
  • Friday, October 11, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. 
  • Monday, October 14, 2024 – Thanksgiving Day 
  • Tuesday, December 24, 2024, to Friday, January 3, 2025 – U of T Holidays 

Electrical and Computer Engineering

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Q: Why do programmers frequently confuse Halloween and Christmas?

A: Because OCT 31 = DEC 25

What is Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)?

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) underpins the foundation of many of the modern technologies we use every day. The “electrical” half involves concepts like signals, materials science, and power, and the “computer” half involves programming, computer science, and computer hardware. The ECE major offers you opportunities in a diverse range of industries and research areas; ECEs create signal processors for wireless systems, tools for medical diagnostics and imaging, control systems for automated manufacturing, consumer electronics, high-speed communication systems on Earth, underwater, and in space, and more! 

The major includes five focus areas:

  • Photonics and semiconductor physics
  • Control, communications, and signal processing
  • Electromagnetics and energy
  • Computer hardware and networks
  • Software

The major has an extremely broad range of technical electives. Courses are taught by world-renowned professors from U of T’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science – two of the largest and top-ranked departments in Canada. Students have access to advanced facilities and close research collaborations between professors and global partners, including the Fujitsu Co-Creation Research Laboratory. Students also benefit from the university’s affiliation with organizations like the Vector Institute, U of T’s SciNet supercomputing consortium, and the vibrant tech and startup landscape in Toronto. 

Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash

Why Choose ECE? 

Why Choose This Major?

You’re interested in:

  • everything to do with computers, including both the hardware and software sides
  • research related to electricity and magnetism, on topics such as superconductive materials, wireless systems and signals, and electromagnetic radiation
  • modern technology such as self-driving cars, personal electronics, and more.
  • a flexible major that will allow you to follow almost any field you want and has a diverse range of applications across nearly every industry
  • creating a cutting-edge tech startup with an impact upon the world

EngSci ECE is quite different from the Core 8 Computer Engineering and Core 8 Electrical Engineering majors. In EngSci, taking many science and math courses in years 1 and 2 enables you to learn more advanced topics later on. Furthermore, the core courses in EngSci ECE cover fundamentals of both the EE and CE majors, so that EngSci ECEs can legitimately claim the “ECE” label! 

Where Can This Major Take You?

Recent EngSci ECE graduates have pursued graduate studies at top universities such as: 

  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Cornell University
  • Columbia University
  • MIT
  • Stanford University
  • UC Berkeley
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Waterloo

Sample employers for recent ECE graduates include:

  • AMD
  • Apple
  • Google
  • McKinsey & Company
  • Meta
  • RBC
  • Toronto Hydro

EngSci ECE graduates have also started companies such as SoundHound and Ergeon. 

Upper Year Insights

Rishabh Iyer
EngSci ECE 2T4 + PEY, Summer Researcher @ U of T, Electrical Lead @ Blue Sky Solar Racing

“The EngSci ECE major is structured such that you get a broad exposure to various subfields within the discipline. In my third year, I was required to take core courses that covered every fundamental aspect of ECE, giving me a [deep and broad] understanding of the field. Having the ability to appreciate a system at all its different levels – from the semiconductor level to the hardware and up to the software level – has been perhaps the most rewarding experience for me. This holistic understanding allows me to see how each component and layer interacts and contributes to the overall functionality of a system.”

“One of my favorite courses was ECE350 (Semiconductor Electronic Devices). These devices are the fundamental building blocks for almost all the electronics that we use. I find the intricate and complex design of these nanometer-sized structures incredibly fascinating.“

Courses in Year 1 and Year 2 That Relate to Electrical and Computer Engineering

Year 1

ESC180 will be your first programming course in university. This course gives you an introduction to programming using Python, which will open up the world of computer software.

ESC190 will be your second programming course. This course introduces the C programming language, which is much more low-level; as you learn C, you will learn more about computers themselves, including memory management and runtime complexity, as well as many algorithms and data structures found in modern software.

ECE159 will start from the basics of circuitry such as DC circuit analysis with different methods, before eventually leading to more intermediate topics such as Op-amps, transient circuit analysis, and AC circuits. The practicals are very hands-on and will require you to build many interesting circuits and analyze them with a variety of electrical measuring instruments. Combined with the theory-focused lectures, this course gives you a strong foundation for the hardware side of ECE.

Year 2

ECE253 combines features of circuits with programming, bridging the gap between the small electrical components that build computers and the programming we use the components for. You will learn everything from basic logic circuits to logic computation to computer processors. You will also learn to program simple processors in the ultra-low-level Assembly language.

AER210 combines two concepts. The first half of the course is an extension of Calculus II and focuses on vector calculus, which is math in higher dimensions. Electrons, wires, insulators, and other objects in electronics exist in three dimensions, so this math is crucial.

The second half of the course covers fluid mechanics, which is the study of the motion of fluids (liquids and gases). Many things in fluid mechanics are analogous to things in electricity. For example, conservative fields appear in both fluid mechanics and electric field theory!

ECE259 combines fundamental physics with useful techniques from vector calculus to explore features of electricity like electric force, voltage, current, and field strength.

Interesting Courses in This Major 

ECE421: Introduction to Machine Learning 

This course introduces the theory, algorithms, and computational toolboxes of machine learning, balancing the practical and theoretical approaches, along with experience with relevant software packages. Supervised and unsupervised learning models will be covered. 

ECE446: Sensory Communication 

This course covers everything related to acoustics, such as signal processing, electroacoustic transducers (such as speakers and microphones), speech processing and recognition algorithms, noise and hearing, and electrical models of acoustic systems. Fun fact: this course can be counted towards a Certificate in Music Technology! 

ECE463: Electric Drives 

This course discusses how electric drives comprise electric machines, alongside power electronic actuation, to enable the control of mechanical motion. Topics include electro-mechanical mechanisms for torque production, DC machine analysis, motion control, and much more. 

ECE532: Digital Systems Design 

This course covers practical applications of advanced topics in digital systems design, such as embedded processors, hardware/software interfacing and interactions, software drivers, embedded operating systems, and much more. You will implement significant design projects on FPGA development boards. 

Where To Get Some Experience Before Deciding? 

There are so many clubs involving ECE that we couldn’t list them all. For example, almost all design teams have subteams for circuitry and programming, so if you are interested in ECE, you can join just about any design team and get relevant experience. Your choices can include software and AI-focused teams that’ll give you experience with programming. Here is a short list of design teams, all of which have strong ECE components.  

Visit the Skule Clubs and Design Teams pages to find more extracurriculars. 

Check out the EngSci majors website here for more info:  

Interview with Professor Scott Ramsay

Posted on by orientation

Can you share about yourself and what students can expect from MSE160?

I am from Vancouver originally. I did my undergrad at UBC, and did grad school at U of T, with a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. In terms of my academic appointment, I’m a teaching stream faculty member, so my primary appointment is to teach. The only research that I do is pedagogical.

“[MSE160] is meant to be a course that will be useful for you as an engineer, regardless of your future specialization.”

It’s about understanding solids, and we go through everything from mechanical to optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. There is some thermodynamics in there as well, and we try to show how all the topics are interrelated. We start with one topic, and after we build up more about it, we connect it with the next topic, so hopefully by the end of it, people have a good understanding of solid materials, how they work, and the underlying structure property relationships.

Professor Scott Ramsay [Source]

We want this course to help you choose the most appropriate material for a design, or understand how, for example, temperature will affect the properties of material, if you ever need it later on in your engineering career. You either know it or you know the fundamentals to go and figure it out later yourself.

How can students succeed in this course?

CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It depends on the educational system that students have come from. I think most people have seen the structure of the atom and electron configuration, so we go into that fairly quickly and we try to build on new concepts for most people, like the band theory of solids and semiconductors. Then there’s a little bit of reviewing. Some people have done crystal structures or thermodynamics in high school. We don’t assume that people have the knowledge, but we will go a little bit more quickly for some parts if we feel that most students have some background in it.

To sum it up, there’s a lot of topics that build on things that students have seen before. As for doing well, I would say probably one of the most important things is to keep up. There’s a lot of topics that are covered as I mentioned, so if you fall behind, it becomes more challenging. Also, you sometimes lose the ability to make those important connections I was talking about earlier.

What is your teaching style and favourite part about teaching?

I try to be engaging, and I like lecture demonstrations. What we have been doing every week is to build up to a good-sized lecture demonstration, probably on Friday. Hopefully that makes it memorable and reinforces concepts from the lecture.

“I suppose my style or philosophy is to convey excitement I have about the subject material and convey a sense that you can figure out so many things if you understand these underlying concepts.”

When I see a student get inspired, see a connection, or even have a Eureka moment. When they say “I understand this” or “I see how this relates to something in my life” or “that broke and I fixed it.” Those moments of learning or sudden realization of something that students have are probably my favorite.

How does this course connect to your research?

Currently, I’m not directly involved in discipline-based research like engineering research. I had a master student a few years back and she did an engineering design project, but the data we collected was more pedagogical in nature. We collaborated with some people growing lung tissue using a machine she designed. MSE 160 is really about fundamental topics. It is the basis for understanding so much of the world using bits of Physics and Chemistry.

“It’s all this structure/property relationship that really helps us understand so much of what’s key to engineering.”

Any advice or comments for incoming first-year students?

I have really enjoyed teaching EngScis in the past three years. They are a fantastic group, and I’m always impressed with how even from 3:00-4:00pm on a Friday afternoon, they seem energized and they’re happy to come to class and be polite and professional. It is really nice to get to know the EngScis and I look forward teaching them. I’m excited and looking forward to meeting everyone.

Interview with Professor Philipp Seiler

Posted on by orientation

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Philipp Seiler. I studied Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics in my undergrad in Germany, at the TU Braunschweig. I did my PhD in a completely different topic, in Material Science. After that, I went to the US, where I went to Purdue University to do a post-doc, then to the UK where I was a research associate at the University of Cambridge for 6 years. After that, I became a lecturer (assistant professor) at the University of Kent. I transferred very recently to Canada.

In my research, I work on materials under extreme conditions – for example, materials for rocket engines or gas turbines. I would like to answer questions like how we can design systems that can withstand very high temperatures. The other part of my research is about lightweight materials: how can you make these material structures light weight, but still make them very strong, stiff, and tough. For that, linear algebra is very important.

Professor Philipp Seiler [Source]

“I don’t think there is a single day where I don’t use linear algebra.”

There are many tools, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a tool that can predict stresses and strains that use linear algebra. This tool basically solves a system of differential equations. But instead of solving two or three equations, you’re looking at a system of millions of equations. So, it’s very important to know the underlying physics as well as the algorithms used, to understand and interpret the results.

Could you describe your teaching style and your favorite part of teaching?

CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Teaching is an integral part of being a professor. I like interacting with students, and I really enjoy seeing students grasp complex concepts during a lecture. It is amazing to meet former students a few years later and see them on track to get into their dream career.

I have an active teaching style, even with a large cohort size.

“I like going on academic detours – I would change the lectures when I see what students are interested in a certain topic.”

I do not plan lectures down to the minute. I come to lectures with a brief outline, then I see how the students follow and react. In particular, teaching linear algebra is like teaching a programming language. I start with the basic “commands,” such as vector spaces, vectors, matrices, etc., and then I apply these tools to solve equations in real world problems.

Why do engineers need to learn proofs, and do you have any tips for mastering them?

If I were to simply teach how a tool like matrix multiplication works, e.g. just by following an algorithm, students would quickly forget it. By knowing the proofs, you can understand why and how matrix operations work. Even if you forget the details, it will be easier to relearn it. Moreover, proofs can help students understand linear algebra conceptually.

“I want students to understand why certain concepts are true and why they work.”

Reading the textbook over the whole term is very important, so don’t just start before any midterm or exam. Also, continuously put work and effort into learning and following the lectures. While the learning curve isn’t steep in the beginning, it picks up very quickly, so you have to be on top of things. If you have questions, come to office hours or ask me after the lectures. I hope students are engaged and ask as many questions as possible.

Example of a Linear Algebra Proof [Source]

What can students expect from this course, and what is the key takeaway you want them to learn?

“I would like students to forget what they learned in high school”.

One by one, I will introduce the necessary concepts for them to understand what matrices are. Lectures are typically based on proofs, where I introduce a tool and explain why it works. Lectures are in general more theoretical, but there are plenty of opportunities to get examples, exercises, and additional material.

[In terms of takeaways, ] they should know the fundamentals – what a matrix is, what a vector is, what are vector spaces, and how to use them. If I teach you the concept, that way you can learn to use it and apply it to different applications.

How does linear algebra connect with your work, research, or engineering in general?

Colored finite element analysis (FEA) plot of a gear shaft, illustrating stress distribution. The legend indicates varying stress levels from blue (low) to red (high).
CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Novel methods of artificial intelligence are typically highly non-linear. The question becomes, why is linear algebra still important? Linearizing a system of equations is still very powerful.

“Even machine learning technologies are all based on linear algebra.”

As I mentioned earlier, I’m doing research in materials science. If you are designing structures or materials, you are typically interested in predicting stresses and strains. One tool we use for these predictions is FEA and this is nothing but solving matrix equations. Here you could have a million-by-million matrix. Methods of linear algebra are used to efficiently solve these systems of equations. Nowadays, I don’t solve these systems by hand, but I should know how the results will look like and be able to interpret them. FEA produces colorful pictures, but just because they are colorful doesn’t mean they are true. You need to understand how stresses are computed and how the numerical solver works.

A second application of linear algebra is robotics. Let’s say you want to model a robotic arm by direct kinematics. Again, you are using matrix operations to describe the robotic system. For example, each joint of the robotic arm can be described as a matrix, representing translation and rotation. By using a matrix multiplication of the matrices of each joint, we can calculate the behaviour of the whole robotic arm.

Any other comments or thoughts to share?

For this course, ChatGPT is not a very useful tool to understand the proofs in the textbook. Currently, problems solved with ChatGPT can be false while still looking plausible.