Just like in high school, you will have a timetable for each semester of university. In first year, your timetables are made for you. You can access your timetables in early July on ACORN, U of T’s student information service and a hub for everything you need to manage your student life. A timetable provides the times, locations, and sections for the lectures (LEC), tutorials (TUT), and practicals (PRA) for each one of your courses throughout the week. Above is a sample first-year EngSci timetable from 2024 Fall. You’ll see similarities with your timetable for the upcoming semester.
It may seem overwhelming at first glance, but don’t worry! For example, the PRA time slot for ESC101 from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday is optional time allotted for meeting with your Praxis group.
Don’t worry if details such as room numbers haven’t shown up on your own timetable yet – they will be added before the start of classes. It is also typical to see timetable conflicts between courses early in the summer while the timetable is being finalized. We advise you to wait at least until mid-August to report any conflicts to your academic advisors as they should be resolved before then. Also, make sure to check your timetables right before the first day of classes, as last-minute changes may occur.
Sample First-Year EngSci Fall Semester Timetable (2019)
Reading Your Timetable
The Different Classes
Each colour in your timetable corresponds to a different course. For example, all ESC180 classes will be the same colour, while all ESC101 classes will be a different colour from ESC180, and so on. However, while the boxes are coloured the same, the text will be different. Each block will have either a “LEC,” “PRA”, or “TUT,” followed by a number.
Reading Locations
The first two letters indicate the building code. For example, the code for the Galbraith building is GB. To learn more about all the buildings and their codes, check the Campus Buildings section of our blog.
The three or four numbers indicate the room number itself, with the first number indicating the floor the room is on. For example, GB144 is Room #144 on the first floor of the Galbraith Building, and BA2195 is Room #2195 on the second floor of the Bahen Centre. If you’re having trouble locating any of the buildings for your classes, then check out this great interactive campus map.
Sections
On the same line as the LEC/PRA/TUT label are four numbers. Examples include LEC 0102 or TUT 0107. First-year EngSci is a large group, so students are divided into smaller cohorts for lectures. If your LECs include 0101, you are in cohort #1, and if they include 0102, you are in cohort #2. Some lectures, such as those for ESC101, are common to both cohorts: all shared lectures will be indicated as LEC 0101 by default.
Within your cohort, there are smaller sections for tutorials and practicals, which is why TUTs and PRAs can have numbers like 0107 or 0111. These groups are distinct for each class; you will have the opportunity to meet many different classmates throughout your coursework in first year! You will remain in the same cohort throughout first year, but your section may change in second year.
This ESC194 lecture occured from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Sandford Fleming Building (SF), on the first floor, in room 1101. It was for students in Section #2 (hence, the “0102”).
Important Things to Note
All your lectures, tutorials, practicals, and midterms in first year will be during the school week (Monday – Friday) from 9 AM – 6 PM. In your timetable, there will be two-hour gaps during which midterms will be scheduled; in the sample timetable above, this test block was on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 11 AM (this may be different for your year).
Final exam schedules come out later in the semester, but they are usually held Monday – Saturday in either a morning (9:30 AM – 12 PM), afternoon (2 PM – 4:30 PM), or evening slot (6:30 PM to 9:00 PM).
Every day, you will have at least one hour-long break between classes, which acts as a lunch period (this break may not occur at the same time every day). We recommend you use it to take a break and eat with friends! Be sure to check out some of our food recommendations.
One unique thing about U of T is “U of T time”! All classes start ten minutes after the hour. For example, if your timetable indicates you have a class starting at 2:00 PM, the instructor will begin teaching at 2:10 PM. This gives you time to travel between buildings to get from one class to another.
Many of your back-to-back classes will be in different buildings. This may seem odd at first, but walking is an excellent healthy break between the long sitting times in lectures! Due to the proximity of the engineering buildings, the classes are also within reasonable walking distance; plus there’s U of T time, so you won’t need to run.
First-year schedules usually cannot be rearranged unless religious, medical, Varsity athletic, or other important accommodations need to be made. If you have a significant request, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor.
You should follow your timetable and attend your designated lectures and tutorials. However, because tutorials and practicals may include attendance or quizzes for marks, if you have a proper justification for attending a different time slot, you can speak with that course’s teaching team to make a request. However, if you require recurring accommodation, speaking with your Academic Advisor is the best option.
In first year, between going to class, doing homework, and studying, you will likely put in around 50 hours of work per week (this number may increase or decrease based on midterms, projects, and exams). This will likely be more than what you had in high school, and it is okay to feel a little bit overwhelmed! Yes, first year will be challenging, but you can absolutely get good grades, engage in extracurricular activities, and make time for personal endeavours with proper time management, focus, and effort.
Try your best to attend all lectures, tutorials, and practicals (especially those which take attendance). Try and find a schedule that works for you and always remember to take breaks and relax. There are plenty of supports available to you through the university. We also encourage you to talk to upper years to learn their strategies for success in EngSci and beyond; they will always be happy to help!
The right school supplies are essential to your university experience. You’ll use them to take notes in lectures and tutorials, complete problem sets and practice questions, perform calculations and engineering design, and much more! In this post, we’ve compiled a list of important supplies and how they can be used to help your first year in EngSci be as successful as possible.
Digital School Supplies
Laptop – Operating Systems
A laptop can be very useful throughout your time at university. Some students also take notes with laptops, using programs like markdown or LaTeX. A potential upgrade to this setup would be to buy an external mouse and a pair of headphones (especially if you’re commuting). Given the amount of time you’ll spend on your laptop, these investments will pay for themselves through increased comfort, usability, and convenience over the next few years.
In terms of operating systems, a Windows or MacOS laptop is recommended by U of T for remote/online learning. A Windows- or MacOS-based laptop will do you well, especially when it comes to using specialized software. If you aren’t sure which OS to choose between Windows and MacOS, here is a pros and cons comparison of the two based on your blog admin’s experiences:
Pro: Windows is compatible with almost any computer program, including most engineering software you may need in EngSci.
Con: Many engineering design and simulation software, such as SOLIDWORKS, Altium, etc. are not compatible with MacOS.
Con: Windows laptops may include certain features that add to the overall price. Powerful processing and graphics features can be very useful. However, you may be paying for more than what you actually need.
Pro: While some Macs may be more expensive, they generally come with fewer potentially “useless” software and hardware features.
Pro: If you’re hoping to use another OS on the same device, virtual machines and dual-boots are easy to set up on a Windows system.
Con: If you wish to run another OS on a Mac, it can be much more complicated and annoying to setup and use.
Con: Windows devices may not have direct integration with your phone.
Pro: If you have other Apple devices, the convenience of your workflow is greatly improved; you can better integrate/transfer your data and files between them, and various iPhone apps can be accessed on Mac, and vice-versa.
Note: If you already have either a Windows or a MacOS laptop, switching to another OS solely for specific software is not required. In the rare case that OS-specific software is required, you can use workstations in the Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) labs as well as remote login even when you’re away from campus.
Laptop – Technical Specifications
Throughout your time at EngSci, you will use various engineering software inside and outside of the classroom that require above-average computing power. You will soon find yourself checking the specifications requirements for various computer programs. Below, we have listed some minimum and recommended specifications based on commonly used software in EngSci, to help you determine whether you need to upgrade your laptop.
*Note: many students use their laptops for additional tasks such as computer gaming. If you are interested in doing so, you might want to consider laptop specs more powerful than those listed below, as games are typically more resource-intensive (and new games increasingly so). Typically, if a laptop is good for gaming, it will be more than enough for your engineering work; we recommend you do your own research to learn about these topics. For anything regarding computer specs, you can also ask the Blog Admins; they both have experience with Mac/Windows, laptops and PCs, gaming, and more.
If you decide to major in Electrical and Computer Engineering, you will learn all about Central Processing Units (CPU) and even how to design them in ECE352 Computer Organization. For now, when looking at processor details, you want to pay attention to the architecture type, number of cores and clock speed.
Most windows-based systems will use either Intel or AMD x86 architecture processors. Either will be just fine, but you want to make sure that it is a 64-bit processor as most CAD (Computer Aided Design) software only runs on 64-bit systems.
For MacOS based systems, if you are buying a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, the only options are Apple M2 and higher chips, which will cover most of your needs. If you have an older intel-based MacBook, a processor with at least 4 cores and 2 GHz clock speed will suffice. These are close to the minimum CPU requirements of Autodesk Fusion 360 which have been used by students in Praxis III in previous years.
RAM or Random Access Memory is the storage that your CPU uses to temporarily store and access information. So, more RAM will allow your laptop to run more applications simultaneously without slowing down.
While 4 GB of RAM is deemed the minimum on the U of T Recommended Technology Requirements page, we recommend at least 8 GB, with 16 GB being ideal (anything beyond that might be overkill). MATLAB’s System Requirements, which you’ll use for ESC103, CIV102, and many other EngSci courses, also suggest these minimum and recommended values.
Note: When checking software system requirements, note that if a software lists 8 GB as the minimum and your laptop has just 8 GB, avoid running multiple other programs simultaneously to prevent slowing down.
As a U of T student, you will have access to Microsoft 365 for your personal workstations and an associated 1TB OneDrive storage. This will be more than enough to store your course materials. For reference, one of your blog admins used only 100 GB of the available 1024 GB for Year 1 and 2 course material. You can use other methods such as Google Drive for additional storage.
That being said, you will still need local storage for installing software. Generally, 512GB of SSD storage will be enough if you are using it mostly for schoolwork. But if you think you will need more storage for personal projects and files, a 1TB SSD is optimal. Overall, an SSD (solid state drive) is recommended over an HDD (hard disk drive).
When checking disk space requirements of software, keep in mind that some software will allow you to install the main application without all add-ons, saving disk space. However, consider the disk space required for a complete installation with all plug-ins, as you may need to install these later – which is very true in the case of MATLAB and it’s library of Add-Ons.
In your upper years or when working in design teams, you might need to render complex CAD models that require high-end graphics processing units (GPUs). Other simulation programs, and especially machine learning computations, will require strong GPUs and potentially CUDA-compatible GPUs. However, in those cases, the ECF (Engineering Computing Facility) workstations will usually suffice, which you can log into remotely as well. Some design teams also have their own computers with dedicated graphics cards and high-end CPUs that members can use. Furthermore, there exist cloud services such as Google Colab which can be used for machine learning.
Modern laptops have relatively decent integrated graphics, however, getting one with a dedicated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) would future-proof your device and allow you to do graphic-intensive renderings in upper years, if needed. Most NVIDIA GPUs are CUDA-compatible.
Tablets For Notetaking
While pen and paper is still a very common method of notetaking, many students use a tablet and stylus for. Common setups include an iPad and Apple Pencil, a Samsung Galaxy Tab and its included pen, or Microsoft OneNote with a stylus (certain laptops such as Microsoft Surface Pros can double as laptops and tablets).
We suggest carefully reflecting on your learning style to determine if a digital method is for you! Often, students start with paper notes and transition to tablets later in the year. Here are the pros and cons of the two based on your blog admins’ experiences:
Tablets
Paper
Con: Can be very expensive; touchscreen/2-in-1 laptops cost more than their regular counterparts. Digital pens are typically not included in iPad purchases.
Pro: Taking notes on paper is significantly cheaper. You only require stationery, which is often given out for free.
Pro: Tablets greatly help with organization; they keep all your notes digitally and cloud backups allow you to access them with any device.
Con: To access your notes, you will need to carry around all your notebooks and stationery. Furthermore, you will need to print various assignments.
Pro: Digital notes are easily searchable and allow you to include internal and external links related to the content
Con: Links to online materials will need to be stored separately and searching through handwritten notes can be difficult based on your individual organization methods.
Con: Devices can run out of battery power at inopportune moments. You will need to carry around a charging block and cables to combat this issue.
Con: You will have to carry multiple notebooks or loose-leaf paper for taking notes during lectures. If you’re not regularly restocking, you may run out of paper at inopportune moments.
Pro: Notetaking apps allow you to move, resize, erase, modify, and change absolutely anything in seconds with only a few taps (no more eraser dust, different colors of highlighters, and frustration that your answer didn’t fit in the box provided).
Con: Sometimes professors may erase or change the content they’ve written on the blackboard, needing you to make modifications to your notes. With handwritten notes that means using an eraser or striking through, which can become frustrating and messy over time.
Internet
On U of T campus, you’ll have access to school WiFi. Off campus, UTORvpn can be used for accessing resources restricted to on-campus networks. To stay safe online and protect your privacy, make a habit of using the VPN.
Based on our experience, the Casio FX-991EX and the Sharp EL-W516 are both effective calculators. Keep in mind that calculators in EngSci are almost always used for simple calculations – so your choice of calculator will not greatly impact your success in the program.
Traditional School Supplies
Notebooks and Binders
Notebooks or binders are crucial if you plan to take your course notes with pen and paper. Depending on how many notes you take or your writing style, you’ll range from 150 pages to 500 pages per semester. Many students use notebooks and binders for lectures, scrap work, and practice problems. This can be an efficient method of storing notes.
Here is a pros and cons comparison between notebooks and binders:
U of T Notebook
Notebooks
Binders
Pro: Notebooks keep all notes in a sequential order, making it easy to find information from specific lectures.
Con: If you aren’t regularly organizing your notes into the correct categories in your binders, information from specific lectures may be difficult to locate.
Con: Not as flexible in terms of storing additional materials, such as the occasional handwritten quizzes, printed handouts from lectures, etc.
Pro: You can keep your handwritten quizzes in a binder for easy reference when studying for midterms/exams.
Pro: Instead of needing to manage many individual sheets of paper, you can keep track of your notes based on sections in your notebook.
Pro: Binders offer flexibility – you can move papers around and insert pages into existing categories without having to start a new notebook.
Con: Can be bulky if you are carrying separate notebooks for all your classes.
Pro: You can simply carry a pack of loose-leaf papers to your classes and then sort them into the relevant categories in your binders.
The takeaway is that the best system is the system that works for you. Some people will use notebooks, others will use binders – and some may not use paper at all!
Andy’s Personal experience with Binder vs Notebook
One of your blog admins, Andy, has chosen to use a binder for one semester and a notebook for the other. These are some of his honest personal recommendations:
While it is true that a binder has more flexibility when it comes to pages, it became a bit of a chore to carry loose leaf paper and insert them into the binder. He decided to go with a five-course, 400-page U of T notebook (available at the bookstore for $12.99 before tax) for second semester and found it far more convenient. Although there are six courses, some courses just don’t lend themselves as well to notes. The 80 pages for each course was enough even for the busiest notetaking courses (second semester ESC195). In extreme cases, you could always write back -to-front in another section with fewer notes should one section run out. The serrated edges allowed for easy tearaway formula sheets, and any extra loose paper such as quizzes can be handled with a simple pocket folder, so essentially all you ever needed to carry was the one notebook. As much as this sounds like an ad, it’s genuinely his honest recommendation if you choose to take physical notes.
Cover of Andy’s U of T notebook (penguin sticker not included)
Subject Separator in notebook
Serrated pages allow for easy tearaway
Stationery
You should bring pens, pencils, erasers, and rulers. Optionally, you can also purchase set squares, protractors, and compasses.
Invest in good pens. For many midterms and exams, submissions in pencil are not eligible for regrade requests, though pencils may be allowed for diagrams. Pencils are useful for scrap work, math, and drawings, but some prefer tablets.
Rulers are important in exams for drawing charts and diagrams. For classes, a ruler can keep your notes straight, draw that perfect truss bridge, or create the cleanest Cartesian plane axis.
Textbooks
Most courses will use a textbook for problem sets or just course material. Having the textbook is (usually) not mandatory, and it’s often up to you to decide how often you want to use it. It’s recommended to check with your professors during the first week of classes before purchasing one!
Personal Take #1: Historically, some courses (e.g. PHY180) have required students to purchase textbooks for online homework. However, make sure to check with professors to see if there is a homework-only option. In previous years, students were often offered a textbook + online submission package for ECE159 but were able to get only the access codes for homework for a cheaper price by emailing the professor.
Personal Take #2: If you really want a physical copy, you should consider getting the Stewart textbook, which is used in ESC194 and ESC195 in first year and AER210 in second year. You can also find extra copies of older editions in the common room.
Stewart Calculus Textbook used in ESC194, ESC195 and AER210
Bags
No matter how you study, you’re probably going to need a solid backpack or bag to bring all your supplies to class. The size and type of bag that’s right for you will vary depending on your study strategy and learning style. If you’re planning to just bring a tablet for note taking you can select a small, compact bag. However, if you’re bringing every one of your notebooks/textbooks, you’ll need a heavy-duty backpack with industrial straps. Regardless of your pick, we recommend a bag or backpack that fulfills these requirements:
Water resistant material to help keep your electronic devices safe in case of a downpour
Comfortable straps and padding so that your walks to class don’t ruin your posture
Quick-access pockets so you can easily access your T-Card, keys or PRESTO cards
Other Organizational Materials
The list we’ve compiled above is not comprehensive and may not be exactly right for you. We recommend that you explore tools, supplies, and other resources that help you stay organized. Many students love to highlight their notes using a variety of neon colors, some mark each page in the textbooks with different tabs, and some like just writing everything down in a plain old notebook. The supplies that you need are the ones that will help you study and stay organized the best, so keep an open mind and try some new things until you find the right strategy for you.
About Me: Hello! My name is Andy. I’m EngSci 2T8 + PEY, which means I’ve just completed my first year in Engineering Science. I was born in Shenzhen, China, and have lived in China, Germany, and Canada. In my spare time, I like photography, origami, skiing, reading fantasy and detective fiction, and listening to city pop and jazz/bossa nova. Feel free to chat about any of these — I’m always down to yap about Eragon or some Laufey songs 🙂 I’ve also acted in musical theatre, given a TEDx speech, and broken an arm and a leg (technically ACL).
Why I Chose EngSci: I grew up as a typical STEM kid, but I knew I wanted to go into engineering because I’ve always loved more hands-on activities like arts and crafts; engineering would be the perfect way to combine my technical skills with my fine motor skills, you could say. As to which specific engineering discipline, that is still something I’m hoping to figure out in the next couple of months. Part of the reason I ultimately chose Engineering Science was because of the wide range of different fields you’re exposed to in your first two years in the program. In this past year, I’ve really appreciated exploring the different flavors of engineering – something I’m looking forward to continuing in second year.
My EngSci Experience: I’m sure we all started the year with the impression that it was going to be rough. Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying it’s not tough, but it is far from impossible and I was able to find everything I needed and more to help me succeed. The first month, maybe even the first semester, was tough as I adapted to university. The most important thing is to keep calm and find your own groove. Personally, I found I was most efficient when studying at the library with some of my friends. But that may not work for you, so take time to experiment. Remember that in the long term, your first year marks will be about as insignificant as your Grade 9 marks were when applying to university.
I found lectures to be quite helpful in general. But the additional resources were also crucial. For example, I found the CIV102 practicals and office hours to be of tremendous help, perhaps even paramount to my success in that course. Also, don’t underestimate the power of friendship. For assignments that allow collaboration, working with your peers can make the assignments a lot easier and more enjoyable. I would also argue that reviewing for midterms or final exams is far better with friends as you can share notes, help each other with questions, and tackle difficult problems together.
It’s also important to have fun outside of class. U of T Engineering is a very vibrant place with lots of Skule™ spirit — for example, crash with the Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad like I did. Joining clubs or design teams is a great way to pivot your brain away from the coursework. Personally, the weekly Skule™ choir rehearsal helped me mentally reset during some of the busiest weeks. Plus, getting involved is a fantastic way to get to know people across the Faculty.
If you have any questions at all, or would just like to chat about random things, feel free to message me 🙂
Jung Che
About Me: Hey everyone! I’m Jung, an EngSci 2T8 + PEY, which means that I will be going into my second year this upcoming September. I moved to the Greater Toronto Area when I was three and have lived here since. Before that, I lived in Seoul, Korea, and have visited several times since. Outside of school, I like reading, skiing, and hanging out with friends.
Why I Chose EngSci: Like most people, I chose EngSci for its myriad options. In this program, you are required to take courses from all sorts of different fields, thus having the opportunity to explore many different areas of study. As I have always been interested in all sorts of subjects, I figured EngSci would be my best bet at exploring my interests and finding out what truly stands out to me.
My EngSci Experience: Coming into university, we are constantly being fearmongered about how terrible it is, how bad your marks will be, how little sleep you’ll get, etc. This is especially true for the University of Toronto Engineering Science program, which is known to be academically challenging. However, after finishing first year, I can confidently tell you that it is not as difficult as people say it is. Not even close. With the right friends and attitude towards a work-life balance, it is more than possible to not only survive but thrive in this program. I encourage you all to walk into your first year with a positive mindset, focusing on adapting to the new environment as quickly as possible.
Our professors are amazing people who are always happy to help out or chat with students even outside of office hours. All of your courses will be covered from the ground up, assuming you have high school knowledge at most. However, you will still learn a massive amount of new material. Most of the lectures are taught in a very engaging way, which makes it easier to learn, and keeps classes fun.
Many are concerned that due to U of T’s large size and number of students, it will be hard to make friends. In my experience, U of T Eng, and EngSci in particular are very close-knit communities, and it is extremely easy to make friends and connect with your peers. Since all EngScis have the same curriculum in first and second year, you will be seeing familiar faces in every single one of your lectures, and you’ll even have the exact same schedule as many others. This makes getting to know people, hanging out with friends, and coordinating group studying sessions a snap.
If you have any questions or feel like chatting with me for any other reason, don’t hesitate to reach out!
How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb?
None. That’s a hardware issue.
What is a Design Team?
A design team is an engineering student group that works to design, build, and showcase engineering projects through global competitions, journal publications, and more. Examples are autonomous robots, machine learning research papers, space satellites, solar-powered vehicles, bridges, self-driving cars, and much more. Design teams cover all areas of engineering and often require a diverse group of interdisciplinary engineers to complete all aspects of their projects.
Why Join a Design Team?
On a design team, you’ll work on innovative projects, solve unique and interesting problems, apply knowledge from your classes, and develop significant real-world experience, all of which can help you land internships and research positions. Many engineering students join design teams to strengthen technical skills, explore a particular industry or major, meet new people from U of T and around the world, advance their career, and build cool things!
If you want to get a head start, be sure to attend the Club Fair meetups happening in person on August 6, 2025, from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. EDT, and online on August 7, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT. The registration link will be sent through the EngSci Orientation Newsletter a week before the session. If you haven’t subscribed yet, it’s not too late. We hope to see you there!
U of T Engineering has over 20 design teams. With so many options how do you decide on the right design team? We’ve compiled some of the most popular design teams in which EngSci students may be interested. That said, this is not a complete list, so we recommend you explore for yourself, attend club fairs and introductory meetings, and talk to peers and upper-years to find the perfect design team for you. Remember: while it’s common for students to join design teams, it’s not mandatory; there are other ways to further your career and get involved at U of T. If you want to take some time during your first year to settle into university life, you can join these design teams at any point during your time at U of T.
Vehicular Design Teams:
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.
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!
Khang Nguyen (EngSci Aero 2T4 + PEY)
“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.”
Nat Espinosa Quintero
EngSci 2T5 + PEY (Aerospace), Aerodynamics Lead @ UTAT Rocketry
“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 2024, the team emerged victorious in the GM/SAE AutoDrive Challenge six times, taking four consecutive wins. They’re now working towards a Level 4 autonomous vehicle capable of complete navigation in urban driving environments to compete again. Their sub teams 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’ll 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’re interested in seeing your enthusiasm and commitment to learning; best of luck with your application!
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 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!
Ben Boyd, EngSci 2T6 + PEY Research Assistant @ Balloon Astrophysics Group, Blue Sky Mechanical Co-Lead and Aerodynamics Team Member
“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’ll 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 sixth 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 Canoe transforms regular concrete into a strong, not-very-dense, and fast canoe! Their process includes material science as they find the optimal concrete composites, mechanical design for the canoe’s physical structure, and manufacturing with industry-grade tools and precision. You’ll engage with CAD, proprietary software for simulation, and CNC machining (and of course, some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease).
They compete in the annual Canadian National Concrete Canoe Competition, at which they’re evaluated based on their final product, technical report, presentation, and paddling race. The race categories include the men’s endurance, women’s endurance, men’s sprint, women’s sprint, and co-ed sprint. If you want to combine engineering design with athletic performance, get involved with Concrete Canoe!
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’re 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 in 2025. 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, Energy, Phys
UTSM designs and builds extremely fuel-efficient vehicles. They’re 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 first in 2015!
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!
Sunny Zhang, EngSci Robo 2T6 Hopes to pursue a career in surgical robotics
“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: Aero, ECE, Robo, Energy, MI
Founded in 1997, UTFR is an award-winning team that designs and builds electric formula racecars and competes in various Formula Racing competitions around the world. Every year, their sub teams develop the electrical, autonomous, and mechanical aspects of a new race car. 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 first in the New Hampshire Formula Hybrid and Electric competition, and fifth and sixth place at Formula SAE Electric Michigan and Formula Student Czech Republic respectively. Read more on the team’s success here.
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’re working on a speed bike 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, or machining. If you’re interested in accelerating human biomechanics to a whole new level, feel free to sign up here!
Jaden Stanshall, EngSci 2T6 + PEY Electrical Design Intern @ Engineering Design Lab | Head of Electronics @ HPVDT
“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!”
Non-Vehicular Design Teams:
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 so you never miss an event, and take the next step towards your career in tech!
Vraj Prajapati, EngSci 2T6 + PEY MI Currently researching on how to make AI smarter through neuromorphic computing and hardware acceleration
“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, 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: 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).
Jacqueline Zhu, Intended Major: Biomedical Systems or Robotics Passionate about bioelectronics, neurorobotics, control systems, and public health
“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 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 types of robots. Check out their website to learn more about their teams, and how to get involved.
Eshan Sankar (previous blog admin), EngSci 2T7 + PEY Intended Major: ECE/Robo (with potential minor in AI) | Interested in cool tech
“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 31st 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: 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: 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 three 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!
The Haultain Building is located in an alley between the Mechanical Engineering Building (MC) and the Lassonde Mining Building (MB). You may have some tutorials in this building. HA also houses the U of T Formula Racing Team (UTFR) and their workshop.
Entrance to HA through the alley (centre), as viewed from King’s College Road. Note MC on the left and MB on the right [Source]
LM as seen from the McLennan Physical Laboratories. Photo by Chris Thomaidis. [Source]
The Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories houses the Department of Chemistry. You may have some physics-related lectures in this building. Fun fact: LM is currently undergoing a huge expansion for the new home of the Acceleration Consortium, which is a global network for materials discovery doing research in materials science, artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum chemistry.
The Lassonde Mining Building houses the Lassonde Institute of Mining. You will most likely have calculus lectures in this building, in the iconic old-school MB128 lecture hall, in addition to some labs in your later years. The hallway outside this room is home to the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame, which contains long display cases which showcase various Canadians that contributed to the mining industry, such as Joseph Tyrell and Pierre Lassonde.
MP102 lecture hall. These lecture halls have multiple screens with a large demonstration table at the front
The McLennan Physical Laboratories houses the Department of Physics. Since EngSci has so many physics-related classes, you’ll have many lectures and labs in this building. In first year, you might have CIV102, calculus, and PHY180 lectures, as well as PHY180 labs labs/tutorials, in MP. The entrance to MP from St. George Street is a long, canopied walkway, which looks great all year round.
MS as viewed from King’s College Circle. Note that this area has been recently renovated. Photo by Bob Krawczyk. [Source]
The enormous Medical Sciences Building (AKA MedSci) houses the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. It is located close to the engineering buildings. You might have a lecture or exam in MS, but most importantly, MS is home to the Medical Sciences Cafeteria, a popular lunch spot with a variety of food options. To learn more, read our post on Where to Eat.
WB116 lecture hall, where you may have some lectures and exams
The Wallberg Building houses the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) and the Department of Material Science & Engineering (MSE). As an EngSci, you might have the occasional lecture, tutorial, or lab in WB. Some professors, such as Professor Chan from ESC103, have their offices here, so you might come to WB for office hours as well.
Composed of multiple buildings, the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) is located 17 km from campus in North York*. It houses world-renowned labs in aerodynamics, propulsion, aircraft flight, structures, space systems, physics, robotics, and artificial intelligence. EngSci Aerospace students might have one or two upper-year classes here. If you’re involved with the University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) or aUToronto, you will likely have regular team meetings here. Furthermore, many professors from your first-year courses like Professor Stangeby from ESC194, Professor Davis from ESC194 and ESC195, and Professor Seiler from MAT185 are affiliated with UTIAS, so they will have a main office at UTIAS in addition to a smaller office somewhere on the St George campus.
*You could say that UTIAS is a “satellite campus”!! Get it??
You as 2T9s are the next generation of U of T engineers. Throughout your time studying here, you’ll have a chance to participate in and learn more about the rich Skule history and traditions. You’ll also create your own traditions, community, and experience and put your own spin on what it means to be a U of T engineer. Are you ready to make your mark on over 150 years of engineering legacies?
The Start of U of T Engineering
Founded in 1873 as the School of Practical Science (SPS) —later renamed Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (a.k.a U of T Engineering)—our Faculty has grown and evolved to become the vibrant, diverse, and innovative place that we now know today. The SPS. was created to serve the needs of the growing economy and rise of technology at the time. Initially, the subjects spanned mining, mechanics, and manufacturing. Below is a timeline of the evolution of U of T Engineering:
1873-1890
The first five Departments to in the SPS. were Civil, Mechanical, Architecture, Applied Chemistry and Mining Geology.
1913
The Department of Electrical Engineering became independent.
1925
The first Iron Ring Ceremony is conducted. The idea was proposed by University of Toronto Professor H.E.T. Haultain. Learn more about the ceremony here.
The Engineering Science program was founded as “Engineering Physics.” The program’s name was changed to Engineering Science (EngSci) in 1962.
1949
The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) opened for graduate studies in aeronautical and space sciences.
1962
The Institute of Biomedical Electronics (now known as the Institute of Biomedical Engineering) was established for graduate studies.
1979
The Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op Program is created.
This is just a brief overview of the history of U of T Engineering. Today, the engineering disciplines are split into the Core 8 Programs and Engineering Science. To learn more about the history of U of T Engineering in general the U of T library has created a detailed exhibit that covers Engineering student life from 1878-1906. In addition, check out the Faculty’s official history page.
Important Traditions
The Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences has always valued a tight-knit community with strong traditions, many of which have survived from the very beginning of the Faculty while some new ones have been created along the way.
Over the years many students have helped document the SkuleTM community’s rich history and traditions. We can’t mention them all, but here are some notable ones:
F!rosh Week
Just before the start of class each September, the Engineering Society hosts F!rosh Week, a weeklong series of events to introduce students to campus, welcome them to the community, and have some fun! Events include U of T Engineering traditions such as purple dye, the Hard Hat Oath, and much more.
To read more about F!rosh Week and keep up to date on registration and events check out their Instagram page @froshweek, and register for the event.
Chariot race held in King’s College Circle in January 2020 [Source]
Godiva Week
Godiva Week kicks off the winter semester each year; the Blue & Gold committee organizes a week of charity events, competitions, and fun traditions. These primarily focus on deciding the Spirit Heads for the next year. These Spirit Heads include Mr. Blue and Gold, Lady Godiva, and Ultimate Frosh, all of whom you’ll get to meet this year at F!rosh Week. You’ll also see the infamous chariot race!
Iron Ring
At the end of your journey to becoming an engineer you’ll get to celebrate your hard work and receive a symbol of the responsibilities and obligations of your profession through the Iron Ring Ceremony. It’s during this ceremony that you’ll be presented with a small, faceted iron ring which you can wear on the pinky finger of your drafting hand. The scrape and sound of the ring dragging when you’re writing and drafting is there as a symbolic reminder of the importance and responsibilities of being an engineer. As you continue to work over your career your ring will become worn down and polished to mirror the honing and perfection of your skills.
Graduating EngSci students holding up their pinky fingers to celebrate their Iron Rings.
Voted as the #1 Engineering Newspaper on campus, the Toike Oike is “The University of Toronto’s Humour Newspaper Since 1911.” Its name comes from the early days of the Faculty, when a caretaker would ask students working in labs till later hours to “take a hike”. However, due to his Irish accent, the phrase was heard as “toy-kee-oyk.”
Each monthly issue has its own theme, and everyone can participate in brainstorming meetings and submit their articles and graphics. You can also help with “Distros,” or distributing the newspapers. Do you know there’s a Toike wagon just for that? You might even be promoted to senior wagon engineer!
U of T Engineering’s mascot is a cannon! It’s fired (without actual cannonballs, but with the loud bang) at events such as F!rosh Week, Godiva Week, and other major internal and external events. The Cannon is protected and fired by the Chief Attiliator (whose identity remains a secret) and the rest of the Cannon Guard. It’s been the subject of various (attempted and successful) heists by other universities over the years. You’ll get multiple chances to see (and hear!) the Cannon throughout your time at U of T.
Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad
Created back in 1950, the Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad (intentional misspelling) is a band comprised of engineering students who love to make noise with anything from buckets to drums, to trombones and even stop signs. They’re characterized by their blue jerseys, hats, and of course, their instruments and noise. They perform (crash) at various SkuleTM events throughout the year and have even made appearances at public events!
If you want to join the Bnad, follow along with their music, or just learn more about this beloved group, check out their website.
LGMB celebrating Toronto Subway System’s 50th anniversary
[Source]
U of T Engineering offers lots of ways for students to get involved outside the classroom. Even before you get to campus, you’ll probably hear a lot about different clubs and design teams that you can join. This raises an important question: how do you actually get involved with them?
First-year students are allowed and encouraged to join design teams! You usually don’t need any prerequisite knowledge or skills to join because you’ll be taught by upper years. Design teams connect students from various engineering disciplines and years, and they even run specific recruitment initiatives to engage first-year students.
The Skule Club Directory divides student clubs into athletic clubs, community involvement clubs, fine arts clubs, hobby clubs, musical clubs, and professional development clubs. You can also find a complete list of affiliated design teams here. While there’s a club for everyone, nobody can be involved in all clubs. It’s important to review your options before selecting which clubs most interest you.
Steps To Join
While different design teams and clubs will have their own recruitment cycles, in general, the steps to getting involved are below.
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 there’s something for everyone; check out skule.ca for a complete list of clubs affiliated with the Engineering Society.
You can get to know each team or club at the Club Fairs during F!rosh Week. You also get to see exactly what you would get to do in the team/club. 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’ll have enough time outside of school to engage in extracurriculars. That’s 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’re passionate about. We encourage you to ask upper-year students for advice. They will not only inspire you to pursue your own passion projects, but also share time management and learning tips.
Some of you may have a clear career goal and know which design teams to join for experience. If you want to dive right in, go for it! Or you 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’ve decided which teams/clubs most interest you, follow them on social media (Instagram, LinkedIn) and sign up for their mailing lists. This is usually how teams send 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, it’s important to unsubscribe from the mailing lists of other design teams/clubs to minimize emails. Otherwise, the clutter may cause you to miss the information you value!
*Specific to design teams:
Every design team has different sub teams. It’s important that you learn what these options are and pick the one that fits you best. You may choose to join a sub team to learn specific skills (e.g. joining a mechanical one to learn CAD or a software one 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, have limited spaces. You’ll likely have to try out and demonstrate how your abilities make you a great candidate.
Specific to design teams:
Some teams such as aUToronto, UTMIST, and the Computer Vision subteam of UTRA’s Autonomous Rover Team have limited spaces. You’ll likely have to apply by explaining how your prior experiences and interests align with your desired position on the team. You may also need to pass a technical interview. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the position; try a different opportunity and apply again next semester/year with your newfound experience.
Specific to student governing bodies:
If you’d like to hold a position on the Engineering Society (EngSoc) you’ll 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 (https://skule.ca/).
Specific to design teams:
Congratulations on making it onto your desired team and sub team! You may need 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 a separate thing altogether. It could range from setting up the correct software environments on your computer to completing a brief design challenge to doing an online course. While this may sound daunting, keep in mind that you’re already on the team, and you’re encouraged to seek support.
The point of this task is ensuring 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. Be a team player! 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 these opportunities.
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? If you’re a dedicated team member you might be invited to join competitions in Canada, the U.S., and around the world! Competitions are amazing environments to partake in fast-paced and high-stakes engineering work and network with other universities and potential employers.
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 those highly marketable leadership abilities.
University-wide clubs and teams
U of T has hundreds of clubs outside of Skule™. Joining a non-engineering-related club is a great way to broaden your horizons, meet new people from other faculties, and engage in some unique activities.
The Mechanical Engineering Building (a.k.a. MC) is home to the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE). Initially constructed to accommodate the expanding needs of MIE, this building has undergone several renovations and expansions to keep pace with technological advancements and the growing student body.
Front of Mechanical Engineering Building
Notable Classrooms
MC102 Lecture Hall
The Mechanical Engineering Building houses several key lecture halls. Noteworthy among these is MC102, which is one of the most spacious lecture halls you’ll see in your first year. In your first year, you may have MSE160 lectures in this room. Like MY150 in the Myhal Centre, MC102 can usually accommodate both cohorts of EngSci students, giving you a chance to meet with the other half of your peers that you may not see very often. Some other lecture halls that you may use in your second year include MC252 and MC254 on the second floor.
Thermodynamics Lab
You will have some of your second-year labs (likely including CHE260) in these lab spaces.
There are multiple round tables and chairs near the labs on the second floor of MC. You can also find stool-like tables and chairs on the third floor.
Tables and Chairs on Upper Floors of MC
Nearby Food Spots
While the Mechanical Engineering Building does not have dedicated dining facilities, you can easily access several nearby food spots. The nearby Sandford Fleming Building is home to the Hard Hat Cafe and Veda. The MedSci cafeteria, which is full of many different food options, is close by. Several restaurants on College Street are also minutes away.
Notable Facilities & Institutes
The offices of many faculty members and professors in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering are in this building. The department’s main office is room 105.
There is a Machine Shop at MC 78, on the lower level of the Mechanical Engineering building. This shop is fully equipped with milling machines, lathes, laser cutters, and other essential tools. You can use this shop for design consultation, machining, and assembling prototypes. Note that you can only gain access to the shop after you have completed the access/training requirements.
The median says, “We don’t like him anymore. He’s mean.”
What is Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance?
The EngSci Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance major (MSF) teaches the theory behind the financial instruments and markets that impact our global economy, giving students a strong background in using engineering mathematics to tackle problems in any domain. The first of its kind in Canada, MSF provides students with the mathematical, statistical, and engineering tools they need to be successful in many industries. These include consulting engineering, finance, the public sector, energy, mining, insurance, banking, aerospace, supply chain management, risk management, manufacturing, and more.
Course themes include mathematics and statistics (including probability, stochastic processes, statistical computation, and econometrics), finance and financial engineering (including economics, option pricing, portfolio optimization, and real options), and computation (including numerical methods, optimization, Monte Carlo methods, and partial differential equations). MSF courses are taught by professors in U of T’s Departments of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry in cooperation with the Department of Statistics, the Department of Mathematics, and the Rotman School of Management.
Math and statistics. Of course, you can’t escape math in engineering, but students who are particularly passionate about math might lean towards MSF (or Engineering Physics). The math in MSF is more related to data, statistics, and optimization.
Economics or finance. MSF courses cover plenty of economic and financial theory, and techniques to analyze and predict economics. Knowing this theory is especially helpful if you want to study these subjects in graduate school.
Combining math and programming through data processing, simulation, and computation.
Generalizing data and modelling to many fields, especially in graduate studies.
Working in almost any industry. Everyone relies on mathematics, statistics, and finance, so you can put your degree to excellent use.
The program’s location in downtown Toronto, extremely close to Canada’s financial heart, provides students access to professionals, companies, and excellent opportunities in this vibrant sector.
Where Can This Major Take You?
Recent EngSci MSF graduates have pursued graduate studies at top universities such as:
Columbia University
Cornell University
MIT
Stanford University
University of Michigan
University of Toronto
Sample employers for recent MSF graduates include:
BCG
BMO Investment Banking
CPP
Goldman Sachs
IBM Consulting
JP Morgan
McKinsey & Company
Yahoo.com
Upper-Year Insights
Matthew Wilson EngSci MSF 2T3 + 1 + PEY
“Some of the most interesting MSF courses are Financial Engineering (MIE375) and Financial Optimization Models (MIE377), both of which are taught by Roy Kwon [the chair of the MSF major] […] The foundation years give you the ability to understand and work with financial instruments, with a level of technical detail beyond what you can find almost anywhere else.“
“[My] advice when going into MSF is to connect the new content you’ll be learning back to the foundation years. MSF, more than most majors, will look and feel entirely different from [the foundation years]. The foundation will still be useful for everything in years 3 and 4, but you’ll have to apply it to contexts that you’ve never seen before. […] In [courses] taught through the Department of Mathematics, you’ll see similar concepts to the math and stats you’ve done before, but with different philosophies and styles behind how they’re studied and used. Similarly, in courses such as MIE375 and MIE377, you’ll be using the same math that you’ve learned in Ordinary Differential Equations (MAT292) and Calculus II (ESC195), but now applied to the world of financial instruments. The [key is to] relate the content back to what you’ve learned, rather than trying to start from scratch and understand everything all over again.”
Courses in Year 1 and Year 2 That Relate to Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance
Year 1
ESC103 will give you the basics of computer-assisted computation. The lab portion of this course introduces you to MATLAB, one of the world’s most popular programming languages for computation. You will also be introduced to a fundamental domain of math: linear algebra! MAT185 will give you a more rigorous, pure mathematical perspective to linear algebra.
ESC180 will introduce you to computer programming, an essential tool in computation and modelling. ESC190 will teach you how to implement algorithms, such as searching, sorting, and optimizing, as well as data structures, which are objects or systems in computers that store data in a useful way. With modern finance being so dependent on data and computers, the skills you will gain from these courses are indispensable.
What would math be without calculus? ESC194 and ESC195 will cover a lot of calculus from a proof-based approach. A strong foundation of calculus is essential to understanding further concepts in math and stats, especially when applied to finance.
ESC101 and ESC102 will involve a lot of stakeholder communication, risk management, and collaboration as you and your team solve a real-world engineering opportunity. You might need to consider factors such as budget, and the management, project planning, and project execution skills you will develop during these courses will be essential for a career in MSF (or any field, for that matter).
Year 2
MAT292 will build upon the differential equations you learned in Calculus I. There are only a few types of differential equations for which we can produce exact answers using mathematical techniques. We can find an approximate solution for the rest using a computer. Differential equations are extremely important to the finance field. A derivative (the main part of a differential equation) is really just the trend of a function at any point. A trend gives us some hints about what’s going to happen next. On a simplified level, when we make predictions in finance, we’re analyzing these trends/derivatives to make a prediction.
MIE286 will cover the basics of probability and statistics. You’ll apply the techniques of these courses in MSF to gain powerful analytical and predictive tools.
ESC203 teaches you about the global implications of engineering. Since markets impact and are impacted by global events, it is crucial to be knowledgeable about world events, policy, and sustainability throughout your engineering career.
This course will cover the fundamentals of financial engineering through interest rate theory, fixed income securities, bond portfolio construction, term structure of interest rates, mean-variance optimization theory, the capital asset pricing model, arbitrage pricing theory, forwards and futures, and an introduction to option pricing and structured finance.
In this course, you will learn how to create optimization models for the design and selection of an optimal investment portfolio through risk management, mean variance analysis, models for fixed income, scenario optimization, dynamic portfolio optimization with stochastic programming, index funds, designing financial products, and scenario generation. Applications of these topics include international asset allocation, corporate bond portfolios, and insurance policies with guarantees.
This course is about applying machine learning into optimization problems within finance and marketing, such as stock return forecasting, portfolio management, fraud detection, and customer segmentation.
This course applies differential equations into problem-solving within biological contexts such as environmental issues, chemical and biochemical processes, and biomedical systems. Topics include physical laws, compartmental and distributed models, conservation laws for discrete and continuous systems, and more.
See the full course listing for each EngSci major in the academic calendar.
UTEFA aims to teach students about the financial industry through engaging investment activities. UTEFA hosts weekly meetings where you can learn about capital markets, compete in stock pitches, network and learn from experienced industry professionals, and more. To learn about their upcoming events, check out their schedule here.
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, including working 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! Here is a link to their Big Data Bowl report in the past year: 2024 NFL Big Data Bowl Projects by UTSPAN
The Rotman School of Management, much like our own Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, has many associated clubs through which you can connect with industry leaders, conduct research, and engage in community and university events. The clubs cover a variety of topics related to MSF such as asset management, venture capital, finance, and more.
Visit the Skule Clubs and Design Teams pages to find more extracurriculars.
Check out the EngSci majors website here for more info:
Q: Why is it best to teach physics at the edge of a cliff?
A: Because that’s where students have the most potential.
What is Engineering Physics?
The Engineering Physics major applies cutting-edge research in physics and engineering to innovations in modern technologies. Engineering physicists work across a variety of industries, developing instruments for use in experiments (such as a gravitational wave observatory) or devices that harness physical phenomena (such as advanced nanomaterials for solar energy, quantum computers, and cancer therapies). They may model complex natural phenomena, from the inner workings of cells to the formation of entire solar systems.
The Engineering Physics major is suited for those with a strong interest in pure or applied physics who see its creative possibilities. It provides students with both specialized physics and engineering courses. Having been a part of the EngSci program for almost six decades, EngPhys has a long history of innovation and successful graduates.
Engineering Physics includes specialized physics and engineering design courses. Courses cover concepts from theoretical and applied physics to pure and applied math and computer science. They are taught by professors from U of T’s Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and more.
Particle physics, cosmology, quantum optics, planetary physics, theoretical physics, mathematics, and more
Combining physics and engineering design in fields such as optics, energy generation, astrophysics, electronics, climate, geophysics, economics, and more
Research! Physics is a field that is always rich in researchers and research topics, both theoretical and experimental. In Engineering Physics, you’ll learn about recent experiments regarding current theories. Your coursework will provide an excellent foundation for graduate studies.
The “Science” part of “Engineering Science”
Many fields and industries require physics where you might not expect it. Engineering physicists might work at environmental agencies to develop models of complex systems, like Earth’s atmosphere. Furthermore, the fields of econophysics and quantitative finance are growing rapidly as financial companies recognize the usefulness of math and modeling from physics in predicting systems like the stock market.
Where Can This Major Take You?
Recent EngSci Engineering Physics graduates have pursued graduate studies at top universities such as:
Cambridge University
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Harvard University
MIT
Stanford University
UC Berkeley
University of Toronto
Sample employers for recent Engineering Physics graduates include:
AMD
Citigroup
HP
MDA
McKinsey & Company
RBC
Courses in Year 1 and Year 2 That Relate to Engineering Physics
Work in modern physics requires a large skillset; almost every course in first and second year will provide you with some necessary skills for Engineering Physics. Below are some brief overviews of how each course relates to this major.
Year 1
PHY180 will introduce you to classical mechanics, which can describe anything on a human-sized scale. The principles of classical mechanics, such as energy and momentum, are also frequently used in modern physics. Furthermore, the semester-long pendulum lab report is a great introduction to physical experimentation and scientific writing.
MSE160 is divided into two parts. The first half of the course will cover fundamentals of molecular science such as electrons, photon emission, the electromagnetic spectrum, and crystal structures of materials. The second half will discuss material properties derived from classical mechanics, such as stress, shear, and tension (which you would have first encountered in CIV102).
CIV102applies the physics of materials and static systems in structural design. The questions you will see on assessments involve solving systems with many unknown variables, which is common in physics.
ECE159 will start from the basics of circuitry, eventually covering more advanced circuit analysis techniques. Electricity is a fundamental force in physics; this course provides a strong foundation for future coursework in the field. Through the hands-on labs, you’ll learn how to build certain types of circuits and use various electrical measuring instruments.
What would math be without calculus? ESC194 and ESC195 will cover a lot of calculus from a proof-based approach, which will provide an excellent foundation for future calculus courses. Calculus is the most important field of math for physics!
ESC103 and MAT185 will introduce you to the basics of linear algebra, and computational programming with MATLAB. Linear algebra is used all over physics, such as in Hermitian matrices in quantum mechanics, which you will learn about in second year. Computational programming is one of the most useful skills you can have for research or modeling, especially for physics.
ESC180 will introduce you to computer programming in Python, which is commonly used for scientific computing and machine learning (both of which are important to an engineering physicist). ESC190 will introduce you to C, a low-level programming language better suited for embedded programming and high-performance code. The course focuses on data structures and algorithms, which can help solve complex real-world problems.
ESC101 and ESC102 take you through the entire engineering design process, from research, prototyping, testing, and verification. While these courses may not involve very complex math and physics, they will expose you to common practices in the development of experiments, devices, and instruments. For example, Praxis I and II will require you and your team to conduct scholarly research into engineering opportunities, reference designs, and design decisions. Furthermore, you will be required to verify the validity of your solutions through codes, standards, and testing, approximating rigorous industry-standard testing practices for your own purposes.
Year 2
PHY293 covers waves and the basics of general relativity. In physics, you can model objects and phenomena as waves, and this course gives you the mathematical tools to do so. This course’s introduction to general relativity is essential, since the two largest branches of physics today are quantum mechanics and general relativity.
PHY294 is divided into two halves, with quantum mechanics and thermal physics in the first and second halves, respectively. Both fields are essential in modern physics. The quantum mechanics part covers mathematical theory and the crucial experiments that resulted in important observations in quantum mechanics. The thermal physics part covers statistical mechanics and gas laws.
CHE260 is another two-part course, where both halves are built upon basic chemistry and classical mechanics. The thermodynamics half covers energy, heat, work, and entropy. The heat transfer half covers conduction, convection, and radiation, and how an object’s geometry and material can affect the rate at which it heats up and cools down.
ECE259 combines fundamental physics with useful techniques from vector calculus to explore features of electricity like electric force, voltage, current, and field strength.
AER210 is another two-part course which extends your calculus knowledge from first year. In the first half, you will extend your calculus knowledge into 3D and learn about multiple integrals and vector calculus. In the second half, you’ll study fluid mechanics and apply your knowledge in areas such as dimensional analysis, hydrostatics, and viscous flows. You’ll also conduct two hands-on laboratory experiments involving microfluidics and flow visualization.
MAT292 will build upon the differential equations you learned in Calculus I. You’ll see how important differential equations are to physics through the various examples presented in the course.
ECE286 will introduce you to the fundamentals of probability and statistics. ECE286 will provide you with the tools you need to begin studying statistical mechanics, one of the most important fields in modern physics with wide applications to quantum mechanics. Statistics and probability are also of deep interest in experimental physics, especially when considering the validity of an experiment’s results through error and uncertainty.
Interesting Courses in This Major
In Engineering Physics, you’ll have a large selection of technical elective courses with which you can customize your degree. You can study topics including theoretical physics, electrical and computer engineering, and more. There are two types of courses in this major: Group A courses (which apply physics and math fields such as artificial intelligence, computer hardware, and energy) and Group B courses (which involve topics such as theoretical physics and Earth science). In Engineering Physics, you must take a certain number of courses from both Groups.
This course will introduce you to modern experimental research, focusing on different instrumentation used in physics experiments. In addition to the standard set of experiments, which include molecular, atomic, nuclear, and particle physics, there are a limited number of research projects available.
PHY483 will introduce you to Einstein’s theory of relativity. You’ll learn about gravitational physics and general relativity, starting from solutions of Schwarzschild, Kerr, and more. PHY484 will apply general relativity to astrophysics and cosmology, introducing black holes and the large-scale structure of the universe.
This course prepares you for research in atmospheric physics. Themes may include techniques for remote sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere and surface, atmosphere-ocean dynamics, the physics of clouds, precipitation, and convection in the atmosphere.
This course will cover the basic physics of fusion reactions, which is highly relevant to sustainability, as it forms the basis of an essentially inexhaustible energy resource. Nuclear reactions are the energy source for stars, so they could form the basis of an inexhaustible fuel source on earth. Topics include reaction cross-sections, particle energy distributions, Lawson criterion and radiation balance, plasma properties, plasma waves, plasma transport, heating and stability, and fusion plasma confinement methods.
See the full course listing for each EngSci major in the academic calendar.
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 Aerial Robotics, Rocketry, Space Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Aerospace Policy, and Outreach. You can work in a variety of subdivisions, such as propulsion, aerodynamics, and autonomy. 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!
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 aircraft. 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 any of that interests you, feel free to sign up here!
The ASX’s main purpose is to educate and excite people about astronomy and space. ASX holds over 10 events each year with hundreds of attendees; their biggest event is the Annual Symposium, which has attracted up to 500 people. ASX has invited many prominent professionals in astronomy and related fields as speakers, including Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield! You can find recordings of some of their past events here.
Visit the Skule Clubs and Design Teams pages to find more extracurriculars.
Check out the EngSci majors website here for more info:
