Academics can be fun, but you’ll want to make sure you spend time outside the classroom doing other things! A big part of the university experience is hanging out with friends and enjoying life in a new setting. Here are some (budget-friendly) fun things on U of T’s campus.
Go to Hart House
Hart House is essentially U of T’s community center. Whether you want to catch a game of chess at U of T’s official chess club, play basketball, eat at a nice restaurant, see a play, attend Skule Nite, swim, or just admire some neo-Gothic architecture and ivy-covered walls, you can do it all at Hart House!
To learn more about the Hart House Fitness Centre and other athletic facilities on campus, check out this blog post!
EngSci Common Room
Yes, we’ve talked about the EngSci Common Room before, but it really is a lot of fun! From just hanging out on comfy chairs and chatting, to playing board games, competing in high-stakes foosball, or settling your differences in Super Smash Bros, Fortnite, or one of the many video games on the consoles there, the Common Room is where you can have some of your most fun moments as an EngSci.
Play Sports
Studying hard is a sedentary activity, but U of T has tons of ways for you to stay active and healthy and reduce stress. In addition to just working out, the Athletics Centre offers drop-in sessions (i.e. no booking needed) for sports such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, and yoga. You can also book courts for squash, table tennis, badminton, and more. All of this is covered by your tuition! If you don’t have the equipment, you can rent rackets and balls at the Athletic Centre equipment counter.
Attend a Varsity Blues Game
Show your pride for U of T by cheering on the Varsity Blues with all your friends. The Varsity Blues play almost every sport you can think of, and their games are always free for U of T students – just remember your TCard! You can check their schedule online. Go Varsity Blues!
Join Clubs and Design Teams
We’ve talked about these extracurriculars quite a lot, but we’re serious when we say that you can have tons of fun in clubs and design teams. In addition to engineering-specific clubs/teams, feel free to check out some university-wide clubs; U of T truly has something for every interest under the sun.
Play Board Games
U of T libraries offer tons of board games which can be loaned for two weeks at a time. For example, here you can find all the board games offered at the Engineering & Computer Science Library. The U of T library has classic games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry which are quick and easy to pick up, in addition to well-loved newer games such as Tokaido, Dixit, and Catan. Board games are an amazing way to connect with your university friends, and the fact that the library lets you access them for free makes it easy to host an awesome board game pizza party.
Innis College Movie Night
Nestled right in the heart of U of T St. George Campus, Innis College hosts free movies every Friday night at 7 PM through their “Free Friday Films”. Their selection of weekly movies is posted in advance on social media. These movies tend to be acclaimed films that allow you to learn as you watch. To learn more about these movie nights, check out the Innis College Movie Night.
Sign up for the Innis College mailing list to get updates on upcoming movie nights and events.
Musical and Theatrical Performances
The Faculty of Music offers regular free live classical music concerts and recitals, both in-person and virtual (through a livestream on their Youtube channel). U of T also has many different musical theatre groups, such as Skule Nite, Trinity College Dramatic Society, Hart House Theatre, and the brand-new Engineering Drama Society, which is currently working on its production of Come from Away. As a student, you can get discounted tickets to their shows and also get involved with the productions.
Visit the U of T Art Museum
If you’re an art lover or just want to have a relaxing time looking at beautiful works, drop by the U of T Art Museum! The museum’s exhibits are in Hart House and University College. They run all year round with free admission and showcase the wide diversity of art and art history.
Just Walk Around!
U of T campus is beautiful and unique. Take some time to just walk around and gaze at some of the impressive architecture, try to find a new study spot, check out some state-of-the-art labs, and more! There are lots of hidden gems like the courtyards in the colleges and quiet spaces in the many libraries.
