Clubs

Skule Nite is an engineering student-run musical theater production which performs at the end of March in the Hart House Theatre. This musical and sketch comedy is beloved by thousands, and watching it is a great way to de-stress before exams. Even better, as a F!rosh, you’re eligible for a free ticket! If you want to go a level further than watching Skule Nite, you can also get involved with the production: 

• Cast: Skule Nite features acting, singing, and dancing; by joining the cast, you can expect to be doing all of those things on stage simultaneously! This is a great way to showcase your singing abilities and learn some cool dance moves. Auditions are held in the fall. 

If you feel less comfortable on a stage, there are other positions you can hold: 

• Band: If you play a musical instrument, you should consider joining the stage band. They play all the accompaniments to the acts and really help to bring the entire show together. 
   

• Creative team: Skule Nite doesn’t write itself! They’re always looking for choreographers, vocal coaches, producers, and sketch writers. 
   

• Sets, costumes, props: If you want a lower-key commitment, this is still a great way to get involved in Skule Nite and have your work displayed to the audience. 

• Stage crew: During the show itself, you’ll be managing the technical aspects of the whole production, such as audio and lighting. This behind-the-scenes role is crucial to the success of the production. 

“I am a part of the lighting crew at Skule Nite. I joined since I used to do stage crew during high school, and I love having a place to do creative work outside of my usual engineering life. You’ll meet a fantastic and welcoming group of people in Skule Nite who don’t mind putting in hours for the show.”

“[If you get involved with Skule Nite], know and prepare for busy weeks ahead of time, have a supportive group of friends, and just be responsible for your work. You should have confidence that you can be academically successful and put on a great show at the same time – it is definitely possible and a lot of fun!”

Comprised of 54 musicians from across U of T, Skule Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra based in Skule. They hold weekly rehearsals and various events throughout the year such as concerts, clinics, socials, and trips to music events.  

Whether you play a string, percussion, or wind instrument, you can get involved with the orchestra. To join them, you’ll need to pass an audition on the instrument of your choosing. For more information, check out their website here.  

If you have an academic interest in music, the FASE offers the Engineering Music Performance Minor and the Certificate in Music Technology. These are valuable if you are interested in learning more about musical techniques and theory, as well as the science and technology behind music. Check out the requirements on the Faculty website. 

The most competitive (and time-consuming) level of sports is the varsity level, for which you’ll either be recruited out of high school, or you can try out. If you have top-of-the-line athleticism and the competitive drive to perform at a high level, then varsity sports might be for you. A varsity sport will require a significant time commitment on top of EngSci. However, if you’re an excellent athlete and passionate about your sport, consider playing for the Varsity Blues; to make the team (if you weren’t already recruited from high school), you’ll have to excel in an open tryout. Our varsity teams successfully and proudly represent U of T at competitions against universities across Canada and the world!  

To help manage the demanding schedules of student athletes, the Varsity Blues’ Academic Support for Athletes Program (ASAP) offers various services, including Blues Engineering. This program provides community and peer tutoring, weekly study sessions that align with practice schedules, and more, aiming to help student athletes achieve their academic and sporting goals. 

“A typical week as a student athlete is a busy one. On top of a demanding academic schedule, I train for upwards of 20 hours per week, while also ensuring I put aside time for adequate recovery.” 

“Outside of the classroom and pool I am a VP at the EQUATE Fund (a traditional and quantitative finance club at FASE), and a chair at Blues Engineering, which is a support group targeted towards engineering student athletes.” 

“The support I receive from the EngSci office, [such as] planning with my academic advisor to build a schedule, enables my success both in the classroom and in the pool. The best experience so far in my student-athlete journey was winning USPORTS national championships this year, a goal of mine since coming to U of T.” 

If you’re not ready for the varsity level but are still interested in taking your sport to the next level, check out U of T’s tri-campus league, in which students from the St. George campus compete against students from the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses in fully officiated matches.  

Finally, if you’re looking for a relatively casual experience through which you can have fun and stay in shape without an enormous time commitment, you should consider joining intramural teams. These teams offer a fun way to meet other engineering students and compete against other faculties and colleges at U of T. The Engineering Athletics Association (EAA) creates and runs all intramural teams for engineering students. They have 23 teams playing ten different sports (including single-gender and co-ed teams). If you’re not interested in intramurals, there exist various sporting clubs such as Skule Badminton Club and Skule Ski Club.   

Iron Dragons deserves a special mention. ID is a co-ed dragon boating team consisting mainly of U of T engineering students. They have competitive and recreational teams, and compete at – and often win — local, national, and international competitions. If you’re interested in an intense (or less-intense) athletic experience alongside an incredible and successful team, consider joining ID! 

“I joined ID because I wanted to do something that was [unrelated to] school; I stuck with it because of the people and the sport. You create so many bonds with the fellow engineers on the team and become fitter than you’ve ever been before. Dragon boating [the sport] is amazing, and it’s organized in such a way that within a couple months of beginning, you can be on a world-class team! At first, I was apprehensive about trying out for the ID competitive team, but the coaches are great, and once you touch a paddle and ride on the water, you just can’t go back.” 
 
“During the fall we have a weekly team gym session to stay fit. It’s not that serious [and is mostly about] having fun and keeping each other accountable (though you are encouraged to exercise on your own). ID [became an outlet, and] helped me maintain and improve my physical health as school got tough. During the winter we had tryouts and began indoor paddling, with the same time commitment as before. Being part of ID [helped me] keep my grades up because it allowed me to recharge my mental battery. In the summer, ID becomes your life, with 3-4 practices per week and competitions on most weekends. Although this seems like a lot, practices are scheduled to give you time for work and summer classes; even with ID, I [am doing] a summer research internship and a class, so don’t worry. Hope to see you in the ID gym!” 

EIA is committed to building pedestrian footbridges for rural communities in Africa and South America, which are geographically isolated due to obstacles such as rivers and ravines. From bridge design to construction, EIA members help improve the lived experiences of thousands of people through their engineering knowledge; since 2015, they have partnered with other North American universities to construct 9 bridges in communities in Bolivia, Eswatini, and Guatemala. To take your engineering design and building skills to the next level, while learning about and practicing the positive global impacts of engineering, you should check out EIA. They have plenty of opportunities from general membership to leadership and project management positions. 

CUBE promotes biomedical engineering at the undergraduate level and was recently awarded the U of T Student Life “Program of the Year” for Promoting Innovation and Collaboration. The Toronto chapter is the oldest and largest club of its type and is open to all students with an interest in biomedical engineering. On the professional development side, CUBE hosts career fairs, information sessions and fireside chats for careers and research, mentorship programs (connecting undergrads with biomedical engineering alumni), and networking opportunities. CUBE also hosts biomedical-themed hackathons, wet and dry lab workshops, laboratory tours, and much more! 

With numerous portfolios and initiatives, EWB provides leadership opportunities and projects to students, to foster a community dedicated to social and systemic change. Some of their portfolios include Youth Engagement, Sustainability & Environmental Justice, Cyber Ethics & Digital Rights, and much more. If you are interested in any of the above topics, be sure to check out the club here. 

SEA works to increase general interest and awareness about sustainability, defining the term as “planning our usage of resources in order to meet our future environmental, social, and economical needs.” With their many events, seminars, career fairs, and competitions, SEA educates students on the technical aspects of sustainable design and supports students to develop and implement their ideas. 

UTNEA seeks to spark student interest in nuclear energy and build a professional network of experts in the field. They host lectures and workshops and connect students with professionals in industry and research to spread information and awareness of the latest innovations in nuclear energy. 

“At UTNEA, we welcome students who are interested in nuclear energy and want to learn more from industry experts, expand their network in the nuclear field and work on exciting projects with collaborative teams. No prior experience is required, just a passion for nuclear science!”
 
“UTNEA mainly did guest lectures with nuclear experts in its founding year and as the club is growing, we are aiming to continue with our guest lecture format as well as potentially compete in design competitions, have networking events with industry experts, go on trips to nuclear power plants and companies, and contribute to research conferences”

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, with their biggest event being 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. 

Looking to get your foot in consulting? UTESCA combines engineering design with the consulting industry to help provide solid solutions for local organizations, while engaging its members in mentorship and professional development events. UTESCA members get to work on real consulting projects, network with industry leaders and top companies, compete in case competitions, and much more. To learn more about how you can strengthen your skills in consulting and business alongside a talented group of peers, learn more about UTESCA here. If you’re interested in U of T’s main consulting club (not focused on engineering), check out UTCA here. 

UTEFA teaches students about the financial industry through engaging investment activities. As of 2021, UTEFA has 60 active members, with over $14,500 in cash and equity. 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. 

“I initially joined UTEFA purely out of curiosity and eagerness to meet new people. I’ve always found financial markets intriguing and soon realized that there’s so much potential for people in quantitative fields to advance this industry. Upon joining the club, the exec team was incredibly welcoming and I found a supportive group of peers who shared the same passions and ambitions as me.”

“[…] This year, I’ll be the president of UTEFA and am excited to lead a group of extremely talented individuals. The exec team focuses on organizing various networking opportunities and workshops for engineering students interested in entering the finance industry. We are proud to have a vast network of alumni who are always happy to help the club grow and often come back for our events.”

“UTEFA invites alumni from different sectors to speak at multiple panels throughout the year. Our execs will also be hosting workshops on different asset classes, technical skills, and career growth strategies.
Our largest event, however, is the Stock Pitch Superday, which execs help teams prepare for so no prior experience is required! This year we’ll be starting two new programs – an internship and a mentorship program – learn more about all of our events/programs on our website UTEFA”

Brew of T is dedicated to making all sorts of fermented food and drinks. Members will receive hands-on brewing experience and gain industry connections with breweries and people. As a general member, you’ll get to engage in various brewing activities. You can also join their Research & Development team (R&D) to source the most optimal ingredients and processes for brewing. Furthermore, if you have an interesting recipe, feel free to send it to them! 

If you’re a Minecraft fan, then SkuleCraft might be the club for you. They host Skule’s official Minecraft server, on which you can see some awesome builds, play some survival with friends, and network in their wonderful virtual world. For a preview of some of their activities, check out their Instagram page. 

The U of T chapter of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) was established to empower cis and trans women in STEM fields (including 2-spirit and non-binary individuals who feel comfortable in women-centered spaces). With over 700 members, WISE focuses on various professional development, mentorship, and outreach initiatives throughout the year, such as networking events, career nights, annual conferences, and much more. By being a part of WISE, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills, network with industry professionals, give back to the community, and inspire diverse opportunities in STEM. 

“I joined the WISE conference team as a competitions director in my first year, panels director in my second year, and will be the co-chair this year. Being on WISE has been an incredible journey and a highlight of my last two (soon to be three!) years at the university. The WISE conference is an annual two-day event attended by 400+ delegates, featuring panels, workshops, competitions, a career fair and graduate fair, and much more. I’ve really enjoyed working with people from all across UofT to make WISENC happen. I find the fact that our events are entirely student-ran to be very inspiring.”

“On balancing extracurriculars with school, I would encourage all incoming students to experiment until they find a routine that works for them. Personally, though I highly value academics, I am never willing to entirely cut my most personally valued extracurriculars out of my day to day. Instead, I try to find balance holistically. I may spend some days only studying, and some days entirely focused on a club. As long as holistically across a week I have achieved most of what I was supposed to do for both, I am satisfied. I find that extracurricular involvement has also pushed me to become a more efficient student, since I am trying to find more time for things outside of school!”

The U of T chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was founded in 1999 with the aim of increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. Today, NSBE U of T is the largest chapter in Toronto, hosting various professional development events such as the NSBE National Convention and NSBEHacks. By becoming a member of NSBE, you will not only get the chance to participate in all these initiatives, but also become part of a network of diverse engineers and scientists, gain access to jobs, internships, scholarship opportunities, and much more.