Relevant majors: Aerospace, Phys, ECE, Robo, Energy Systems, MI 

UTAT is an exciting, award-winning, and record-breaking design team comprising undergraduate and graduate students working on amazing design projects in the aerospace field. Their divisions include: 

• Rocketry: builds and launches hybrid, liquid, and solid engineered rockets, capable of achieving tens of thousands of feet in altitude. In 2022, they launched the first experimental hybrid rocket flown in Canada, and are currently developing their first-ever liquid propellant rocket. 

• Space Systems: builds and launches CubeSats for scientific missions. In 2023, they launched the first fully-student-build and student-funded satellite in Canada, and are planning to launch their next satellite in 2025. 

• Unmanned Aerial Systems: builds aerial vehicles including autonomous multirotor drones (AEAC subteam), remote-controlled aircraft (SAE subteam), and autonomous racing drones (ADR subteam).

• Aerospace Policy: researches the legal and societal implications of aerospace and paves the way to effectively navigate regulatory frameworks, developing methods to address technology gaps in these areas. They present at various conferences around the world and have various outreach initiatives. 

In these divisions, you can work on a variety of sub teams and develop a vast repertoire of technical experience. If you’d like to join UTAT, attend one of their many recruitment events, or simply reach out to the director of the division/portfolio which most interests you! 

“Since my first year, joining UTAT-Space Systems has been a dream come true for me and many others who share a passion for exploring space. This incredible team has allowed me to work alongside a community of the brightest students at U of T, pushing the boundaries of innovation and contributing to the design of a spacecraft that actually goes to space. My favourite moment with UTAT was when the entire team came together to watch our first-ever satellite, HERON Mk II, launch aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket last November. That moment was a testament to our hard work, dedication, and the limitless possibilities of what a student team can achieve.”

“I chose to join UTAT Rocketry two years ago because I was trying to figure out what I liked in the Aerospace Industry. I wasn’t sure what my passion and interests were so I joined hoping to learn more about them. As time went by, I realized that designing is my main interest and focus so getting involved by becoming part of the Aerodynamics Subsystem was essential for me to keep developing my knowledge and skills.”

“Being part of a design team will be challenging and time-consuming, however, it is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had during my first three years of university. Trying out different ways of organizing my time has been the key to figuring out what works for me and my lifestyle. It is always hard at the beginning, but you need to fail to learn and try again. Just keep trying, and as long as you give your best you are improving! Remember that nothing good comes easy.”

Relevant majors: ECE, Robo, MI 

Founded in 2016, aUToronto is dedicated to building autonomous cars. With a Chevrolet Bolt EUV as the basis, the team has developed and implemented their own autonomy stack into the car, which consists of perception, planning, and control, and all the software and electromechanical aspects.  

From 2016 to 2021, the team competed and emerged victorious in the GM/SAE AutoDrive Challenge Round I, taking four consecutive wins. Currently, they are working towards a Level 4 autonomous vehicle capable of complete navigation in urban driving environments to compete in Round II. Their subteams include Perception, Autonomy, Mechatronics and Infrastructure, and Operations. 

Whether you’re interested in perception and artificial intelligence, or control, electronics, or autonomous vehicles in general, apply to aUToronto. You will have the chance to work on the incredible challenge of autonomous vehicles, with world-class mentorship from industry partners and faculty. Even if you’re a first-year student, they are interested in seeing your enthusiasm and commitment to learning; best of luck with your application! 

Relevant Majors: BME, ECE, MI, Robo 

UT BIOME is a design team that develops medical devices. They select high-impact projects and undergo the complete engineering design process, including research, design, prototyping, and testing. Their recent projects have included a device for continuous bladder irrigation, and a modular leg prosthetic for children. Whether you’re interested in biology, software, or mechanical design, UT BIOME has a role for you. 

Furthermore, they collaborate with other Canadian universities to present annual events such as the Canadian Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Conference (CUBEC), and MedSprint biomedical engineering design-a-thon. For more information, check out their LinkedIn and Instagram pages! 

Relevant majors: Aero, ECE, Energy, MSF 

The Blue Sky Solar Racing team has designed, built, and raced solar-powered vehicles since 1995. The cars are highly optimized, weighing less than 1/3 the average F1 car while capable of reaching 100 km/h running entirely on solar energy thanks to the array of solar panels that cover the cars! They compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and consistently place very highly amongst their competition, both for their engineering skills, and their operational and strategic execution.  

Whether you’re interested in the mechanical, aerodynamic, electrical, operational, or solar energy aspects of the vehicles, Blue Sky Solar Racing is a great place to learn technical skills and contribute to the future of sustainable vehicles. If you’re interested, attend one of their recruitment sessions. You can even see their cars on display in the Bahen Centre! 

“Back in my first year, I was on the hunt for a design team to join for more hands-on experience outside of school and something to beef up my resume, but I found it tough to stick with a team and put in good effort. Then, at the start of my second year, I joined Blue Sky, and everything changed. I realized I needed more than just technical experience — I needed a team where I could really enjoy the work and the people around me. That’s exactly what I found with Blue Sky. It wasn’t just about the field I’m interested in; I genuinely enjoyed working with the team members.” 

“A lot of new students worry about balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars. For me, when you really enjoy what you’re doing and have a great group of people to do it with, it doesn’t feel like work at all. It’s fun, and you learn a ton along the way. My advice to incoming EngSci students? Take your time to find something you love doing, and you’ll have an awesome experience!” 

Relevant majors: BME, ECE, Energy, Phys, Robo 

UTCV builds small vehicles powered by chemical reactions. Divided into the mechatronics, operations, power, and reactions subteams, as a UTCV member you will gain hands-on chemical lab experience and get to practice technical skills. 

They compete in the American Institute for Chemical Engineers’ Chem-E-Car Competitions against universities from around the world; at their most recent competition in Orlando, they placed 6^th out of 46 teams. Currently, UTCV continues to build their chemically-powered electric cars, while researching how to scale them up into real, full-sized vehicles. 

Relevant majors: Aero, Phys 

Concrete Toboggan builds toboggans with fully concrete running surfaces. Their design subteam designs and manufactures the toboggan, including its concrete “skis”, carbon fiber superstructure, and braking and steering systems. Their spirit subteam focuses on the presentation, marketing, sponsorship, and aesthetic aspects of the team. 

Concrete Toboggan competes against over 20 North American universities in the annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR), at which they are evaluated based on their performance through a challenging course, design, technical presentation, and team spirit! They consistently achieve top placements, including winning first place overall at GNCTR Toronto in 2020. If you’re interested in anything from aerodynamics and manufacturing, to presentations, artwork, and wacky costumes, you should check out their team. You can also check out one of their toboggans in the Myhal lobby! 

Relevant majors: Aero, ECE, Robo, Energy, MI

Founded in 1997, UTFR is an award-winning team that designs and builds a electric formula racecars, and competes in various Formula Racing competitions around the world. Every year, their subteams develop the electrical, autonomous, and mechanical aspects of a new racecar. UTFR members undergo extensive training in various technical skills, and have plenty of chances to contribute to the car’s development. 

Their 2023 model, UT23, placed 1^st place in the New Hampshire Formula Hybrid and Electric competition, and 5^th and 6^th place at Formula SAE Electric Michigan and Formula Student Czech Republic respectively.  

If you’re interested in everything to do with cars and want to contribute to future successes, keep an eye out for UTFR’s recruiting cycle. 

HPVDT focuses on the design and construction of innovative, high-performance human-powered vehicles. Currently, they are working on a speedbike and a human-powered plane. In recent years, their vehicles have broken world speed records! As a team member, you might work on mechanical or electrical computer-aided design (CAD), finite element analysis (FEA), embedded programming, vehicle aerodynamics, microcontrollers and microprocessors, and machining skills. If you’re interested in accelerating human biomechanics to a whole new level, feel free to sign up here! 

“Hello! I’m Jaden, EngSci Robo 2T6 and Head of Electronics at HPVDT. I joined HPVDT initially as a mechanical subteam member in September 2022, but I quickly redirected my focus to the electrical subteam when the magic electronics caught my attention. A unique aspect of HPVDT, and what initially drew me in, is the combination of an engineering and athletic competition; our projects test the limits of athletic achievement and engineering design, which to me is an appealing endeavour 👀. Above all, I’m beyond stoked to be working on a variety of groundbreaking projects with a close-knit team of passionate individuals, and I look forward to seeing many new faces in the workshop this coming Fall. Welcome to SKULE!”

Relevant majors: ECE, Robo, MI, MSF, BME 

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the world’s largest organization for the advancement of technology. IEEE U of T, while less of a traditional design team, provides plenty of opportunities in which students can build plenty of diverse, interesting projects and accelerate their technical skills. 

IEEE hosts programming and interview workshops, tech talks, and has recently started design teams dedicated to building Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Micromouse robots. Their Tech Team always builds fascinating projects through electronics and software. Most importantly, IEEE hosts huge hackathons such as NewHacks (a beginner-friendly hackathon), MakeUofT (Canada’s largest makeathon) and Hack the Student Life (an AWS-centered hackathon).  

If you’re interested in developing both your technical and professional abilities, make sure to sign up for the IEEE U of T Newsletter to never miss an event, and take the next step towards your career in tech! 

“IEEE U of T [shares] similar values of technological progress and innovation, but we focus on empowering students with the skills and exposure needed to tackle the problems of the future. IEEE is not only for those who like computers; we want to instill the skills for students to truly get into the EngSci spirit of interdisciplinary engineering! This coming year IEEE will host all of its staple events, […] with some new additions […]” 

“I joined IEEE last year as the Co-Director of the Tech Team. As someone who values practical experience, I learned so much from being hands-on and applying my learning through unique projects like a Pepsi Turret, and creating workshops for U of T Students! I can’t recommend enough for curious students to get involved with IEEE, especially through our unique First Year Associate program, to get mentorship and guidance from our amazing team.” 

Relevant majors: BME, MI, MSF 

iGEM is a design team focusing on synthetic biology. Every year since 2007, the team designs a synthetic biology research project and competes with other schools at the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine Grand Jamboree.

IGEM’s primary subteams include Wetlab (hands-on experiments bringing biology to life), Drylab (the digital tools of synthetic biology, modelling, bioinformatics, and machine learning), Hardware (creating electronic solutions for synthetic biology projects), and Human Practices (engaging with stakeholders and researching societal implications of the research).

“iGEM Toronto excites me about bioinformatics, from cracking DNA codes to designing disease-fighting proteins. This year, my Dry Lab team is building machine learning models for plasmid generation and using sequence analysis to validate the ORIs. I hope to leverage these skills in designing biocompatible interfaces for my bioelectronics research.”

Relevant majors: MI, ECE, Robo, MSF

UTMIST is a team consisting of over 60 undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to clearing “the MIST around machine intelligence for the eager young minds.” Their Academics Department hosts lecture series dedicated to machine learning topics such as introductory workshops with PyTorch and Large Language Model seminars. Their Engineering Department consists of a number of subteams led by student directors, who submit proposals to recruit their own development team to pursue machine learning research projects in a six-month development cycle (these projects may be selected towards product deployment or academic publications). Overall, if you want to immerse yourself in machine learning and gain academic and professional experience, check UTMIST’s website and get involved! 

Relevant majors: Robo, ECE, MI,  

Founded in 2004, UTRA has built robots for all kinds of purposes. Their teams include Sumo, RoboSoccer, Combat, Pacbots, Autonomous Rover, Robonars workshops, and even an annual hackathon called UTRAHacks. Their most popular subdivision is the Autonomous Rover Team, which builds a fully autonomous rover to compete in the annual International Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, while Sumo robotics is a beginner-friendly competition in which you can compete against your peers! 

Robots are complex systems; UTRA members learn about the mechanical, electrical, software, and artificial intelligence systems that comprise various different types of robots. Check out their website to learn more about their teams, and how to get involved. 

“I joined UTRA ART to extend my hardware skills; as a member of the embedded systems subteam, I’ve had the chance to test and implement electrical systems, use electronic computer-aided design, and learn software such as the Robot Operating System. I’ve gained an invaluable amount of mentorship from the amazing team leads (almost all of whom are upper-year ECEs and EngScis)!” 

“Along with some teammates, I attended the 31^st IGVC, which was an amazing experience; it was great to engage in the fast-paced development of our rover, and witness that of tens of teams from around the world.” 

Relevant majors: Robo, ECE, MI, Aero 

RSX is U of T’s Mars Rover Team. They design and build Mars Rovers for competitions such as the University Rover Challenge, European Rover Challenge, and Canadian International Rover Challenge. 

RSX’s subteams resemble those of NASA Rover teams, and include CANSAT (designing a space probe), Science (developing the rover’s ability to perform research tasks while on “Mars”), Software (focusing on control, autonomy, and communications), Arm (creating a robotic arm), Mechanical, and Electrical teams. 

In addition to competing in Rover Challenges across the world, RSX hosts their annual Space Exploration Engineering Kompetition (SEEK) and performs outreach at various Space Conferences. If you’re interested, make sure to check them out at a club fair, or reach out directly! 

“I joined RSX’s Arm subteam because [coming into university], I knew I loved robots, but wasn’t sure which areas [most interested me]. The Arm subteam gave me opportunities to engage in all aspects of robot design, including mechanical, electrical and software, […]. I’ve learned valuable skills in PCB design and ROS, and designed the mechanics of the arm around the harsh environments and tasks in which we compete.” 

Relevant majors: Phys, MSF 

UTSD, comprised of engineering and architecture students, designs and builds an earthquake-resistant high-rise structure out of balsa wood. They design the structure and floor plans of the tower with CAD software, and test their designs using industry-grade analysis software, custom-built simulation scripts, and real dynamic testing apparatuses at U of T labs! 

UTSD competes in the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Annual Seismic Design Competition. If you’re interested in physics, design, software, and construction, consider joining their team. Check out their Seismic Academy video series on their YouTube channel, through which you’ll learn the theoretical and applied math and physics behind earthquake-resistant buildings! 

Relevant majors: ECE, BME, Robo 

Spark builds interactive mechatronic displays that are placed around campus and at various events. These displays are often inspired by board games, video games, interesting experiments, art displays, and just about anything you may find at a science museum! Spark is divided into mechanical and electrical subteams; members learn about mechatronics design, human-machine interactions, and more, to design and build amazing technology that hundreds can have fun with. If you just want to see their builds, check out their list of projects, or find (and play with) an actual display on-campus! 

Relevant majors: MSF, MI 

UTSPAN combines many mathematical fields to study and predict the performance of sports teams. The student group’s goals are to connect members who share a passion for sports analytics, organize and conduct research, and connect members to industry leaders in the field. UTSPAN is always working on cool projects involving math and machine learning, and they host many seminars about these topics. In the past, they’ve even worked with Canada’s national basketball team! If you want to combine programming, math, and sports, you can’t go wrong with this club. Fun fact: they consistently place highly in the NFL’s annual Big Data Bowl, and even earned first place in 2023! 

Relevant majors: Aero, ECE, Energy, Phys 

UTSM designs and builds extremely fuel-efficient vehicles. They are currently developing a Prototype Battery Electric Vehicle, and an Urban Concept Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (with the only fuel being hydrogen and oxygen, and the only byproducts being energy and water). 

In UTSM, you can expect to strengthen your skills in mechanical and aerobody design, gain a deep understanding of efficient vehicles and sustainable energy, and build some sleek-looking cars, one of which is on display in the Myhal Lobby. UTSM competes in annually in the Shell Eco Marathon Americas competition, and even placed 1^st in 2015!  

Relevant majors: Phys, MSF 

After you complete CIV102 (Structures and Materials), you may want to engage in further bridge-building endeavors; the Troitsky Bridge Building Team incorporates engineering design and calculations to create bridges to withstand great loads. 

The U of T division is further divided into multiple teams. These teams compete at the annual Troitsky Bridge Building Competition at Concordia University, and are judged based on their bridge’s performance under a hydraulic press, as well as a structural analysis report and write-up. For the last 3 years, the first place prize has gone to teams from U of T! 

Relevant majors: Aero, ECE, Energy, Phys 

UTWind unites students across engineering and environmental sciences to design and builds a small-scale wind turbine. Their subsystems include aerodynamics, controls, mechanical and manufacturing, power systems, and sustainability. They compete against many universities from across the world at the annual International Small Wind Turbine Contest, held at the Hanze University of Applied Science in Delft, Netherlands. In 2022, they won first place overall! If you’re interested, feel free to drop in during a work session in the Myhal Arena! 

Before committing to a team, you should explore the available options. There are around 1000 clubs and design teams at U of T and most design teams also have different sub teams (mechanical, electrical, project management, etc.). This means that the possibilities for involvement are almost endless, so check out skule.ca for a complete list. 

Attending Club Fairs (which will occur near the end of August during F!rosh Week), will introduce you to each team/club and teach you about their work. You also get to see exactly what you would get to do in the team/club and speaking to the team leads in-person at these events is the best way to demonstrate your interest. 

As mentioned earlier, first-year students are allowed and even encouraged to join design teams and clubs. However, you shouldn’t feel pressured to do so right away. Given the demanding schedule of EngSci, you might be wondering whether you will have enough time outside of school to engage in extracurriculars. That is a valid concern, but at the same time, you should know that many EngScis before you have managed to excel in academics while also dedicating time to design teams, clubs, and personal projects they are passionate about. We encourage you to ask upper-year students for advice. Hearing from them will not only inspire you to pursue your own passion projects, but you can also pick up on a lot of time management and learning skills to help you realize your goals outside of academics.   

Some of you may have a clear career goal and know which design teams to join for experience. If that’s the case and you want to dive right in when classes start, go for it! Others might be exploring career options and prefer to focus on academics at the beginning of your first year. If you find yourself in the latter group, rest assured that design teams and clubs at U of T recruit students regularly, typically at the start of each term (fall, winter, sometimes summer). So, if you prefer to settle into university life and EngSci during your first year, you can join these teams at any point throughout your journey at U of T. 

Once you have decided which teams/clubs most interest you, follow them on social media (Instagram, LinkedIn) and sign up for their mailing lists so that you don’t miss further information. This is usually how teams send out important announcements regarding recruitment.  

Almost every design team/club will have a general information session, during which the leads will describe the team’s/club’s structure, timeline, sub teams (if applicable), and available opportunities. We recommend attending sessions for multiple teams to strengthen your overall understanding. Once you decide which design team(s)/club(s) most interest you, we recommend unsubscribing from the mailing lists of other design teams/clubs. Otherwise, all the constant emails may cause you to miss the information you value! 

*Specific to design teams:

Every design team has different subteams. It is important that you learn what these options are andpick the one that fits you best. You may choose to join certain subteams to learn specific skills (e.g. joining a mechanical subteam to learn CAD or a software subteam to learn C++), or you might just see something that looks cool and go with that. 

*Specific to clubs:

Some clubs (especially those related to music and sports) will have limited spaces. To enter these positions, you will likely have to try out and demonstrate how your musical, athletic, or other abilities make you a great candidate.  

If you’d like to hold a position on the Engineering Society (EngSoc) you will likely have to run a campaign and get voted in by the student body. To learn more about the various ways to get involved with EngSoc, visit skule.ca. 

*Specific to design teams:

Some teams such as aUToronto, UTMIST, and the Computer Vision subteam of UTRA’s Autonomous Rover Team, will have limited spaces on their roster. To enter these positions, you will likely have to apply, describing how your prior experiences and interests align with your desired position on the team. Depending on the selectivity of the team, you might have to pass a technical interview. Don’t be discouraged if you do not acquire your desired position; try a different opportunity and apply again next semester/year with your newfound experience.  

*Specific to design teams:

Congratulations on making it onto your desired team and subteam! Some teams will require you to complete an introductory task to gauge your familiarity with the team’s work. The task may be integrated into one of the early team meetings, or be separate. It could range from setting up the correct software environments on your computer, to completing a brief design challenge, to completing an online course. While this may sound daunting, keep in mind that you’re already on the team, and you are encouraged to seek support. 

The point of this task will be to ensure that new members will put in the time and effort to learn the necessary skills – it isn’t meant to test what skills you already have. Do not let the task deter you from staying on a design team!   

The only way to gain practical experience through design team or club positions is to put in the effort! Attend every meeting and work session, engage actively in your tasks, complete any assignments on time, and maintain a positive attitude towards your fellow members. Balancing academics with extracurriculars and other responsibilities can be challenging, but with determination and effort, you can manage it. 

Design teams seek driven first-year students who bring fresh ideas and a willingness to learn and grow in their roles. As long as you have a genuine interest in your work, you can make the most of this amazing opportunity. 

Clubs offer another avenue to become a well-rounded engineer, allowing you to engage in diverse activities and develop skills in ways you might not have imagined. By participating actively, you can expand your horizons and enrich your university experience. 

*Specific to design teams:

What would design teams be without competitions? By putting in the work and proving your commitment, you might be invited to join the team for competitions not only in Canada, but in the U.S. and around the world! Competitions are amazing environments to partake in fast-paced and high-stakes engineering work and provide you with opportunities to network with other universities and potential companies. 

Your team/club leads will eventually need someone to take over their position; apply to sub team lead or other positions within your design team/club to grow your leadership abilities.