Welcome to U of T Engineering's 2020 – 2021 Fall and Winter Registration & Enrolment Guide.
Please review the steps below regarding the registration and enrolment process. If you have any questions, please consult the Office of the Registrar or your department's undergraduate office.
Special notes:
- Ontario’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. Changes will likely occur as the province and its municipalities adjust to new data about the virus. In these circumstances, please be advised that the manner of delivery of courses, co-curricular opportunities, programs and services is subject to change, in accordance with University policies. The University thanks its students, faculty, and staff for their flexibility during these challenging times as we work together to maintain the standards of excellence that are the hallmark of the University.
- All U of T Engineering classes, lectures, and course events will be offered online. The Faculty is also making a remote access guarantee, which will allow every one of our students to complete all academic requirements remotely, including final exams. The remote access guarantee means that students who cannot be in Toronto, or choose to stay home, will be able to continue their programs uninterrupted. Students will not be required to attend classes, labs, or tutorials in person during the 2020 Fall Term and 2021 Winter Term.
- Engineering Timetable: Student timetables will include additional information about how the course content will be delivered. The course instructor will provide the specific expectations of the course. For other Faculties, please review their timetables and course delivery plans. The possible delivery methods include:
- Online, synchronous: An online course with scheduled meeting times (posted in ACORN) when a student may be expected to participate in activities. Lectures classified as synchronous will be recorded for students who are not available at the scheduled time. The course may have optional in-person meetings.
- Online, asynchronous: A course delivered online that does not have scheduled meeting times in ACORN. Students are expected to keep up with course work throughout the term.
- In-person: A course that will be delivered in-person and has scheduled meeting times posted in ACORN. Students are expected to attend all meeting sections for in-person courses.
Quick Links
- Dean’s Messages: Latest messaging for Engineering students, faculty and staff regarding COVID-19
- U of T Engineering Undergraduate COVID-19 FAQs
- Office of the Vice-Provost Students, COVID-19 Information for University of Toronto Students
- Academic Calendar
- Sessional Dates
- Degree Explorer: degree planning tool
- 2020 – 2021 Fall-Winter timetable
- Resources for U of T Engineering Students (academic, financial, health and mental heath, safety, campus programming)
- Accessibility Services
- Budget Your Year at U of T
Contact Information
Ensure your contact information, including your emergency contact, is current in ACORN. Your contact information includes your sessional mailing address (where you live during the school year), telephone number(s) and U of T email address. Most, if not all, Faculty and University communications will be sent to your U of T email address.
Each month during the academic year (September – April), the Office of the Registrar sends a new issue of the Engineering Student e-News to all U of T Engineering undergraduates. The e-newsletter contains information on the Faculty, important deadlines, student and faculty awards, event information and much more.
Throughout the year, the Office of the Registrar will send you important emails regarding registration and enrolment, final assessment schedules and post-exam (final assessment) services. Additionally, your department or division may send you additional registration and enrolment information.
Please check your email daily for communications from the University, Faculty, your instructors and the Office of the Registrar.
Academic Standing and Transcript Notations
In advance of the new academic year, please review your academic status. Academic statuses are outlined in detail in the Academic Calendar. If you are on probation or repeat probation, you are encouraged to review the Faculty's promotion regulations in the Academic Calendar.
Note: You may have a new academic standing for the 2020 Winter Term if you finished the term with Honours or had a positive change to your academic standing as defined by the April 5, 2020, "Academic Standing & Promotion Regulations for Winter 2020" Executive Committee Memo. If your 2020 Winter Term academic standing remained the same as it was for the 2019 Fall Term, your previous academic standing (i.e., 2019 Fall Term academic standing) is the standing that will be used in the assessment of your next registered term.
If you are registering for a new term with unresolved grades (ex. "INC", "GWR", "NGA", "SDF", "DNW") from the previous session(s), please consult your Academic Advisor.
Additionally, if during the previous term, you were granted a deferred exam ("SDF") to write the outstanding exam with this term's class, please contact your Academic Advisor to obtain access to the course.
If you find that you are struggling academically, make an appointment to see your Academic Advisor to discuss your situation.
Graduation
The University of Toronto typically offers three convocation ceremonies — two in-person (November and June) and one in absentia (March).
For the June 2021 ceremony, all registered 2020 – 2021 fourth-year students will be considered and assessed for June graduation. If you are eligible to convocate in November or March, you must inform your department in writing. Once the Registrar's Office and your department have added your name to the appropriate convocation list, the Office of Convocation will message you with information on the ceremony.
If you would like to submit a name change request for June convocation, you must change your official name by February 2021. Message registrar@engineering.utoronto.ca for details.
Technical Requirements
As the Fall and Winter terms are proceeding via remote access, the University recommends that you acquire a personal computer to support your learning needs. While a suitable system may be Windows- or macOS-based, a laptop can offer you additional flexibility. Please visit www.uoft.me/techspecs for full recommendations. You will also be able to access any software required for class.
Registration & Enrolment Checklist
- Read the registration and enrolment steps and acquaint yourself with the Academic Calendar, especially your curriculum requirements for your academic year.
- Update your personal information in ACORN.
- Review important dates and deadlines.
- View personal timetable in ACORN.
- View available courses in the Engineering timetable:
- Enrol in courses (as needed) on July 15, 2020, at 6 a.m.
- Pay or defer your fees by August 20, 2020.
- Monitor registration status in ACORN; you must be registered by September 3, 2020.
- Confirm your schedule and check the online timetable for updates.
- Classes begin for both U of T Engineering and the Faculty of Arts & Science on September 10, 2020.
There are two stages you must complete to become a registered student for the 2020 Fall Term: enrolment and registration.
Enrolment is the process of adding your courses and creating your personal timetable, although the Faculty automatically adds courses for some students; registration confirms your enrolment. To register, you must either pay the minimum amount to register for the term or defer your fees.
First-year students do not enrol in courses — your courses will be added for you. The First Year Office will send you information on how to view your timetable and tuition invoice.
Students who enrol in courses agree, by virtue of that enrolment, to abide by all of the academic and non-academic policies and rules and regulations of the University and their academic departments or divisions, as stated in the Academic Calendar and confirm responsibility for payment of associated fees.
Timetables
The Engineering Course Timetable shows the dates and times when a course — including lectures, labs and/or tutorials — will take place. Your personal timetable contains your personal schedule of the courses that you are enrolled in.
Complete course dates, times and other timetable details can also be found through the University’s Course Finder service.
Sessional Dates
Sessional dates are listed in the Academic Calendar. Please review these important dates and deadlines. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the dates to avoid missing critical deadlines and opportunities.
General Course Enrolment Information
You will be able to view your course timetables in ACORN in early July. Upper-year students who need to add engineering core, technical, and elective courses (including APS, TEP and JRE courses), or who would like to add a CS or HSS elective from the enhanced enrolment list from the Faculty of Arts & Science can make those changes on July 15, 2020, at 6:00 a.m. Upper-year students who need to add courses from the Faculty of Arts & Science may do so on August 5, 2020, at 6:00 a.m.
Note: It may take two-to-three days for a course you added through ACORN to appear in Quercus.
There are some core and mandatory courses that students cannot add or cancel in ACORN. If you need to add or cancel a core or mandatory course, please contact your Academic Advisor as soon as possible. Additionally, please review the University's refund schedule on the Student Accounts website before adding or cancelling any courses.
The maximum Fall – Winter Session (September – April) course load for full-time students is between 5.0 and 7.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs). The maximum Fall (September – December) or Winter Term (January – April) course load for full-time students is between 2.5 and 3.5 FCEs. Your maximum course load is dependent on your year of study, program, and department. If you have questions regarding your course load, please consult your department's undergraduate office. If you want to overload for a valid reason (graduation, pre-requisite, etc.), please consult with your Academic Advisor.
Part-time students (students with part-time attendance status in ACORN) are limited to three (3) half-credit courses per term (Fall Term or Winter Term). The Registrar's office evaluates students' course loads during the third week of each term (after the deadline to add courses) and updates students' attendance statuses and fees accordingly.
If you are re-enrolling for the Winter Term only (starting in January) and plan to add your technical, HSS and/or CS electives in July or August, please contact your Academic Advisor.
Second-Year Full-Time Students
If you are a second-year student, you do not need to enrol in your core courses; the Office of the Registrar will create a timetable for you. However, if you need to add HSS or CS electives, you may do so in ACORN by adding Engineering courses and Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses on July 15, 2020. All other Arts & Science courses may be added on August 5, 2020.
Third-Year Full-Time Students
ECE students
If you are an ECE student who participated in the pre-registration on Magellan last February, and you have a valid main profile, your course lecture sections will be automatically added in ACORN. You will only need to add your tutorial and/or lab sections in ACORN when it opens July 15, 2020; you may add Engineering courses and Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses starting July 15, 2020, and all other Arts & Science courses on August 5, 2020.
Students in Other Programs
The Office of the Registrar will add all of your core courses, and, if applicable, any technical electives you selected in the Course Option Selection (COS) process. If you did not participate in COS or want to make changes to your timetable, you may add Engineering courses and Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses starting July 15, 2020, and all other Arts & Science courses on August 5, 2020.
Fourth-Year Full-Time Students
ECE students
If you are an ECE student who participated in the pre-registration on Magellan last February, and you have a valid main profile, your course lecture sections will be automatically pre-loaded for you in ACORN. You will only need to add your tutorial and/or lab sections in ACORN when it opens on July 15, 2020; you may add Engineering courses and Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses starting July 15, 2020, and all other Arts & Science courses on August 5, 2020.
Students in other programs
The Office of the Registrar will add all of your core courses, and, if applicable, any technical electives you selected in COS. If you did not participate in COS or want to make changes to your timetable, you may add Engineering courses and Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses starting on July 15, 2020, and all other Arts & Science courses on August 5, 2020.
Part-Time Degree Students (PEY Co-op students, please see PEY Co-op section below)
Your maximum course load is 3.0 full credit equivalents (i.e. no more than 1.5 credit weights per term for the academic year). Tuition is charged per course, according to the Engineering per-course fees listed on the Student Accounts website. As a part-time degree student, you will follow the same registration procedures and deadlines as full-time students.
If you are an OSAP recipient and you have switched from full-time to part-time studies (below a 60 per cent course load), you may have to start repaying your loans. Please consult the Office of the Registrar for more information.
Make note of the refund schedule for deadlines to drop courses and receive a refund for tuition fees. ACORN access fees apply to all students who access ACORN for course enrolment; these fees are not refundable.
Part-Time Visiting or Non-Degree Students
Did you graduate last June? If so, you may be able to enrol in Arts & Science or Engineering courses for the upcoming school year as a part-time non-degree student. Course availability may be restricted due to space, required prerequisites, or other restrictions. Contact ask@ecf.utoronto.ca or 416-978-0120 for more information.
If you are a domestic student (Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee Claimant) and want to attend our Faculty as a visiting non-degree student, all of your course enrolment must be pre-approved by the appropriate Engineering department. Factors that will be assessed include prerequisites, space availability and proof of English Facility (if required). This will be facilitated by the Engineering Undergraduate Admissions Office. Please contact them at ask@ecf.utoronto.ca or 416-978-0120.
Incoming International Exchange Students
Course enrolment for incoming exchange students must be pre-approved and carried out by both the Centre for International Experience (CIE) and the Engineering Undergraduate Admissions Office. If you have questions regarding your course enrolment, please contact the Engineering Undergraduate Admissions Office at evss@ecf.utoronto.ca. Alternatively, you can contact the Centre for International Experience at student.exchange@utoronto.ca. The Faculty will assist you with adding your pre-approved courses and facilitate new course requests. Additional information on next steps will be emailed to you
PEY Co-op Students
If you are beginning your Professional Experience Year Co-op Program (PEY Co-op) work term, the course code “PEY 500Y1” will be added to your timetable. Fees associated with PEY Co-op will be charged to your student account. You still need to follow the same registration procedures and deadlines as other part-time students.
While you are participating in PEY Co-op, you are considered a part-time student. Note: For the purposes of managing OSAP repayments, some insurance registrations and GO Pass discounts, PEY Co-op students are considered full-time students. Arts & Science electives can be added on August 5, 2020 (July 15, 2020, for Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science courses), however, it is strongly recommended that you discuss the possibility of adding courses to your schedule with the PEY Co-op Office and your Academic Advisor prior to enrolling in any.
As a PEY Co-op student, you may not take courses in excess of a part-time course load or enrol in technical electives unless you have received written permission from both your Academic Advisor and the PEY Co-op Office.
PEY Co-op students must pay their PEY Co-op placement fees and course fees (if applicable) by August 20, 2020.
Technical Electives
If you selected your technical elective(s) during Course Option Selection (COS) in March and would like to change your selection, or if you did not select a technical elective during COS, you may add or drop technical electives in ACORN starting July 15, 2020.
HSS and CS Electives
If your program curriculum requires a Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) elective or a Complementary Studies (CS) elective, you may add an approved Engineering course or Enhanced Enrolment Arts & Science course on July 15, 2020, or any other approved Arts & Science course on August 5, 2020, through your ACORN account.
Avoid adding courses that conflict with your core Engineering courses. Please ensure you have met all the requirements to take an elective course for academic credit, including, but not limited to prerequisites, before enrolling. Failure to do so will result in you incurring financial and academic penalties.
Capacity-Enhanced Enrolment in Select Faculty of Arts & Science Courses
The Faculty of Arts & Science reserves a limited number of seats in selected courses and sections for U of T Engineering students. If you plan to enrol in one of the courses below, you are strongly encouraged to do so when enrolment for these courses opens at 6 a.m. on July 15, 2020.
In some cases, as determined by U of T Engineering’s Registrar’s Office, unused seats will be returned to Arts & Science before the deadline to add or substitute courses.
A few more courses may be added, so please check back to confirm. For additional timetable information regarding the courses below, please visit the A&S timetable.
In the event that demand for the above course sections exceeds the number of spaces available, waitlists will be in effect until September 18, 2020, (F and Y courses) and January 14, 2021, (S courses). Please note that sections will be posted once they are confirmed.
Enrolment in all other Faculty of Arts & Science courses (including other sections of the above courses) will open to Engineering students on August 5, 2020, at 6 a.m.
If you are graduating in the current academic year and are unable to find an HSS or CS elective to fulfill your program requirements, contact your Academic Advisor immediately.
Faculty of Arts & Science Resources
If you are considering an Arts & Science course to fill an elective in your curriculum, consult the Arts & Science Academic Calendar.
While the best resource for understanding enrolment in Arts & Science courses is the Faculty of Arts & Science course enrolment page, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering summarizes the most important conditions to choosing Arts & Science courses in the Guide to Taking Arts & Science Courses.
Understanding Enrolment Indicators & Waiting Lists
To avoid timetable conflicts, ensure you are familiar with your Engineering schedule before you choose Arts & Science courses. The Office of the Registrar cannot modify your Engineering schedule to accommodate your electives. If you cannot enrol in a particular Arts & Science course, it may be that you are not eligible to enrol in the course.
Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) Option in Arts & Science Courses
Engineering students enrolled in courses offered by other Faculties are not permitted to choose the credit/no credit option that is available to Arts & Science students. Instead, engineering students may choose to designate a course as an extra credit ("EXT") or submit a request for late withdrawal from the course ("LWD).
Minors and Certificates
During your undergraduate degree, you may consider pursuing a Faculty minor or certificate or a self-initiated Arts & Science minor. Detailed information is available on the Current Engineering Undergraduates website.
Extra Credit ("EXT")
Extra credits are credits that will not be counted toward a student's engineering degree requirements. Extra credit courses will be excluded from the calculation of sessional average and GPA. Extra credits may be used to fulfill course pre-requisites and minor and certificate requirements.
Letters of Permission and Transfer Credits
If you are interested in taking an accredited course at another university to earn credit toward your University of Toronto degree, you must apply for a Letter of Permission in advance from U of T Engineering's Admissions Office.
If you have taken an accredited course at another university and would like credit for it on your U of T transcript, consult your Academic Advisor. Typically, transfer credit courses may only count toward fulfilling HSS or CS elective requirements.
Your registration is not complete until you have paid your tuition and incidental fees or deferred the fees.
Students who defer their tuition payments or whose payment is deferred pending receipt of OSAP funds or awards are responsible for the payment of all charges, including any service charges that accrue. Additional information is available at Student Accounts.
Students must pay of defer their fees by August 20, 2020. It is important that you monitor your status in ACORN to ensure that you are registered ("REG") by September 3, 2020. It can take 5 – 10 business days for a payment to appear in ACORN; if the payment was made outside of Canada, it may take longer. Alternatively, you can provide the Office of the Registrar with proof of payment (registrar@engineering.utoronto.ca), so that staff can register you manually.
Registration Status Definitions
The following registration statuses appear in ACORN according to your eligibility to register and fee payment/deferral status:
"INVIT": You are eligible to register subject to any subsequent updates to your academic standing.
"REG": You are registered. The University received your payment, including arrears (if applicable), or your fee deferral. You must pay all of your outstanding fees from the previous session before you can register in any subsequent session.
"CANC": Your registration has been cancelled without academic penalty. Please review your fees account for details.
"FINCA": Your registration was cancelled for financial reasons. Please review your fees account for details.
OSAP Funding
Full-time OSAP funding is now directed to the University to pay for tuition and other fees (e.g. residence). Some or all of the credit balance for a full-time OSAP student is sent to the National Student Loan Centre (NSLC) to pay off the loan.
This information is summarized in a set of guides from Student Accounts:
Tuition Payment Deadline
In mid-July, you will be able to view your invoice in ACORN. At that time, you will need to make a payment or obtain an approved deferral to complete your registration.
You may pay the total amount or the minimum amount required as listed on your invoice. Fees need to be paid or deferred by August 20, 2020. Tuition and non-tuition fees are billed on a yearly basis. However, you have the option to pay fees annually — Fall and Winter terms combined — or by individual term. Please visit Student Accounts for details.
If you decide to pay by individual term, full payment of Fall Term fees is due August 20, 2020.
Please note that a student with an unpaid balance from a previous academic session is not permitted to register in a new academic session before the outstanding balance is paid. Visit the Student Accounts website for more information.
Students with FT attendance class on ACORN are billed FT fees, according to that FT status, regardless of their actual course load.
Students enrolling in both the Fall and Winter terms are encouraged to maintain an even course load for each term (5 and 5, 6 and 4, or 4 and 6); no term should fall below four (4) courses (2.0 credits). If a student plans to overload one term and take a reduced course load for the other (3 and 7 or 7 and 3) without the advice of, and making specific arrangements with, their Academic Advisor, they will still be charged the flat program fee for each of the two terms. If you have any questions, please consult your Academic Advisor well before the 100% refund deadline. The refund schedule can be found on the Student Accounts website.
Students with a full-time attendance class who are registered with Accessibility Services and have a reduced course load as part of their accommodations will be billed on a per-course basis (includes full-time incidental fees) instead of the flat program fee. While the Registrar’s Office receives regular updates from Accessibility Services, if you have concerns regarding your status, please contact your Academic Advisor as soon as you have been approved for a reduced course load. If you enroll in 1.5 credits or less in a term (Fall or Winter) you will be billed as a part-time student.
If I only pay the minimum, when is the rest due?
Fall Term: For all students, with the exception of those who have a sponsorship, scholarship deferral or tuition waiver deferral, service charges of 1.5% per month (compounded monthly) will be applied to your unpaid balance starting October 15, 2020. We recommend you make your payment by the end of the month to avoid service charges the next month.
Winter Term: For all students, with the exception of those who have a sponsorship, scholarship, OSAP, tuition waiver or other government assistance deferral, Winter Term fees are due November 30, 2020. Service charges of 1.5% per month (compounded monthly) will be applied to your unpaid balance starting December 15, 2020.
For students who have OSAP or other government assistance deferrals, Winter Term fees are due January 31, 2021. Service charges of 1.5% per month (compounded monthly) will be applied to your unpaid balance starting February 15, 2021. For students who have a scholarship or sponsorship deferral, tuition is due April 30, 2021. In all cases, tuition must be paid in full by April 30, 2021. Future registration will be refused if there is an outstanding balance.
How long before my payment appears in ACORN?
It takes approximately 5 – 10 business days for payments made at a Canadian financial institution to reach the University and appear in ACORN. Payments made from outside of Canada can take up to ten business days. If your status is not registered ("REG" in ACORN) by September 3, 2020, your courses will be removed from your schedule. Beginning October 15, 2020, a service charge of 1.5% per month compounded (19.56% per annum) will be applied to outstanding fees for the Fall Term. The service charge is applied even if you are waiting for additional funding from OSAP or other government assistance funding.
If you pay your fees after August 20, 2020, you must show proof of payment to the Office of the Registrar (registrar@engineering.utoronto.ca) before September 3, 2020, or your courses will be removed from your schedule.
International students who have recently become permanent residents of Canada or who qualify for an international fee exemption must provide documentation of their status to the Office of the Registrar in order to have their fees adjusted. There are two deadlines for fee adjustments: November 1, 2020 (to have the Fall and Winter term fees adjusted) and February 1, 2021 (to have the Winter term fees adjusted). Additional details are available at Student Accounts.
Internal scholarships
If you received a scholarship from the Faculty or University, the funds will be applied against your fees prior to October 15, 2020. If there is a credit in your student account, it will be paid to you via direct deposit. If you did not input direct deposit information into ACORN, the credit will be issued by a cheque sent by mail.
To register, you can deduct your scholarship from your tuition fees. For example, if you have received a $2,000 scholarship from U of T, you may deduct that $2,000 from your minimum payment to register. Have questions? Email awards@ecf.utoronto.ca.
Reinstatement fee
If your courses are removed from your schedule due to late payment, please contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@engineering.utoronto.ca). You will be charged a $61 reinstatement fee to register for your engineering courses again (provided that spaces are still available in those courses). Reinstatement in Arts & Science courses and popular engineering elective courses (e.g. JRE300H1) is unlikely due to space limitations.
RESP Forms
If you are required to provide proof of your enrolment to your RESP company, please contact the Registrar’s Office: registrar@engineering.utoronto.ca.
Annual Fee Increase Level Commitment
The annual fee increase limit for full-time continuing students is set by the Provost's Office. Students who are enrolled on a full-time continuing basis, including PEY students, without any absences (gaps in enrolment) will be protected under this framework. Students whose study period exceeds the typical length (e.g. repeat probation, voluntary absence, non-PEY work year, etc.) will not receive this level of fee increase protection in their additional year(s) of study. Additional information is available on U of T's Planning and Budget website.
The Faculty maintains a list of internal and external scholarship and grant opportunities on the Current Engineering Undergraduates website. Before the academic year gets busy, we encourage you to review the opportunities and note those you would like to apply for.
Tip: If you would like to apply for a scholarship that has a January 2021 deadline, make a note in your calendar to work on the application a month or two in advance.
If you have a question about a scholarship or would like help with an application, email Pierina Filippone, Assistant Registrar, Financial Aid & Scholarships at awards@engineering.utoronto.ca.
Additionally, registered students in the Faculty are considered for scholarships after each academic year. While some scholarships are based solely on academic achievement, others have additional criteria. Don't miss out: ensure your Online Engineering Portfolio is current and complete. The e-Portfolio is turned off in the summer; however, it will be switched on in early September.
The Faculty and University have a number of resources to help you succeed in your undergraduate studies:
- Guide to First Year: everything you need to know to prepare for your first year of studies.
- Resources for U of T Engineering students: List of resources for academic concerns, financial concerns, health and mental health concerns, safety, online learning and campus programming.
- Academic advisors: Did you know that all students have an academic advisor? Your Academic Advisor can assist you with a variety of matters including, but not limited to, your program of study, course selection, academics, personal matters and graduation.
- Commuter resources: Information for U of T Engineering commuter students.
- Accessibility Services: Facilitates the inclusion of students with disabilities into all aspects of university life.
- U of T Engineering Learning Strategist: Book an appointment to improve your learning skills.
- U of T Engineering Mental Health & Wellness resources and information.
- U of T Engineering Equity, Diversity & Inclusion resources, outreach, student groups, annual events and more.
- Health & Wellness: Provides the same services as your family physician.
- U of T Map: An easy-to-use online map of the St. George campus.
- Stay connected: A list of U of T Engineering's social media accounts.
