final draft

Timetables

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Just like in high school, you will have a timetable for each semester of university. In first year your timetables are already 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 2019. 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 until mid-August to report any conflicts 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 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, and that for the Bahen Centre is BA. To learn more about all of the buildings and their codes, check the Campus Buildings section of our blog. 

The three or four numbers indicate the room number in that building, 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/PRAC/TUT label are four numbers. Examples include LEC 0102 or TUT 0107. There are two sections which divide the entire EngSci class into different lecture groups. If your LECs include 0101, you are in section #1, and if they include 0102, you are in section #2. Some lectures, such as those for ESC101, are common to both sections: all shared lectures will be indicated as LEC 0101 by default. 

Within your section, there are smaller groups 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 section 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 work week (Monday – Friday) from 9 AM – 6 PM. In your timetable, there will be a gap spanning a couple of hours during which midterms are scheduled; in the sample timetable above, this midterm timeslot was on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 11 AM (this may be different for your year).

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 amazing 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 only 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! The classes are also within reasonable walking distance, plus there’s U of T time, so you don’t always 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.

We recommend you 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 good justification for doing so, you might be able to speak with that course’s teaching team to request to attend a different time slot. However, if you require recurring accommodation, speaking with your Academic Advisor will be 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! 

Sometimes, things do not go as planned. A petition, which is submitted through the Engineering Portal, is your formal request for an exception to a Faculty or University rule, regulation or deadline. To read more about petitions, check out the Petitions Website. 

Other Engineering Buildings

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Although you might have fewer classes in these buildings, they are still extremely interesting. Perhaps you’ll find yourselves in one of these buildings for design team work or summer research!

Find the Haultain Building (HA) on a map of U of T.

HA as seen from inside the alley

The Haultain Building is located in an alley between the Mechanical Engineering Building (MC) and the Lassonde Mining Building (MB). You may or may not 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 (center), as viewed from King’s College Road. Note MC on the left and MB on the right [Source]
HA401 Classroom

Find the Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories (LM) on a map of U of T.

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.

Find the Lassonde Mining Building (MB) on a map of U of T.

Aerial view of MB from College Street [Source]
MB128 lecture hall

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.

Find the McLennan Physical Laboratories (MP) on a map of U of T.

View of MP from the walkway [Source]
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.

Find the Medical Sciences Building (MS) on a map of U of T.

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.

Find the Wallberg Memorial Building (WB) on a map of U of T.

MB as viewed from College Street. Photo by Philipp Klockner from Google Images.
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.

Find UTIAS on Google Maps here.

Aerial view of UTIAS [Source]
Drone testing inside the UTIAS mars dome [Source]

Composed of multiple engineering 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 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 (for office hours).

*You could say that UTIAS is a “satellite campus”!! Get it??

Engineering Mathematics, Statistics & Finance

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The median and the mode walked into a bar.

The bartender asks, “Where’s your other friend?”

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, econometrics), finance and financial engineering (including economics, option pricing, portfolio optimization, 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. 

Photo by Dylan Calluy on Unsplash

Why Choose MSF? 

Why Choose This Major?

You’re interested in:

  • Math and statistics! Of course, you can’t escape math in engineering, but students who are particularly passionate about math tend 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 very 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.

Interesting Courses in This Major 

MIE375: Financial Engineering 

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. 

MIE377: Financial Optimization Models

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. 

MIE424: Optimization in Machine Learning

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. 

CHE471: Modelling in Biological and Chemical Systems

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. 

Beyond First Year? 

University of Toronto Engineering Finance Association (UTEFA)

UTEFA aims to teach 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. 

University of Toronto Sports Analytics Student Group (UTSPAN)

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! 

Clubs at the Rotman School of Management

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: