Your First Year: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Updated June 27, 2024
For information on current office hours and contact information, please visit the First Year Office homepage. Students should also check our weekly First Year News Feed e-newsletter for important updates.
FAQs for Current First-Year Students
(Information for incoming first-year students is located after this section)
A: To pass an individual course, you need 50% in that course. However, if you are in the TProgram (you would have had to sign a TProgram Agreement in January with your Academic Advisor as a result of your fall session results) we also review students’ weighted session average at the end of the summer, and this average should be 60% or higher to proceed to second year.
To figure out where you stand, use a Grades Assessment Chart (PDF). You can read the full promotion regulations in the Academic Calendar, and talk to your Academic Advisor if you have concerns. Learn more about how averages are calculated.
For more information you can also review the 2023-2024 Academic Regulations & the T-Program Info Sheet (PDF).
If you have any questions, please connect with the First Year Office.
A: Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. If something unexpected and beyond your control prevents you from fulfilling your academic responsibilities, you can file a Petition for Final Examination.
Petitions should be submitted through the Engineering Portal, and require appropriate supporting documentation (see the Petitions page for more information).
Petitions for final examination are due within 7 days of your exam.
A: The T-Program, or Transition Program, allows first-year students who have struggled in the Fall term to repeat up to three fall courses during the Winter term and defer up to three courses to the Summer term in order to obtain credit for their fall courses and proceed to the second year on schedule with their classmates.
Students with a Fall term average between 50-60% and who have failed one or more courses are eligible for the T-Program. More information is in the 2023-2024 Academic Regulations & the T-Program Info Sheet (PDF)
A: Not necessarily. You're only in the TProgram if your 2023 Fall term average was <60% and you failed one or more courses. You would have had to sign a TProgram agreement and meet with your advisor in January about this. TProgram students must earn a summer average of at least 60%.
Non-TProgram students do not need to earn a specific summer average.
A: There are a few ways to make an appointment with your advisor!
- Use our online booking system through the Engineering Student Portal.
- If you have any difficulty booking online, or you have an urgent inquiry and would like to see if a same-day appointment is available, you can also contact the First Year Office in person, by email or by phone for assistance.
A: Second-year engineering courses are not available during the summer, however you may be able to take Complementary Studies/Humanities Social Science electives in the summer if you wish. There are a number of implications, financial and academic, that we suggest you speak with your advisor about. You can also learn more in the Summer Enrolment and Registration Guide.
A: Transfer requests will be reviewed and decisions communicated to students by the end of June.
The deadline to submit a transfer request was May 15. If you did not apply by the deadline, you should meet with your academic advisor to talk about your options. Read more information about transfers.
A: You can apply for an Internal U of T Transfer to be considered for admission to another Faculty/campus. However, deadlines for this type of transfer can be surprisingly early, and engineering grades will be taken into consideration when determining your eligibility; we recommend you meet with your academic advisor if you are considering this option.
A: For information regarding on and off-campus housing, please visit the U of T Housing Services website.
A: Academic accommodations are provided when students experience disability-related barriers that prohibit demonstration of their knowledge and skills.
These accommodations are provided through Accessibility Services, which facilitates the inclusion of students with a wide range of disabilities into all aspects of university life.
If you are a student with a disability (including chronic or mental health conditions, sensory or physical disabilities, ADHD or ASD spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, concussion or brain injuries or temporary physical disabilities), and/or had academic accommodations in high school (e.g., extra test time, note-taking assistance, alternative-format textbooks), you may be eligible for similar support through this service.
We encourage you to register as early as possible with Accessibility Services to ensure you can access academic accommodations in a timely fashion if you need them.
A: The University’s Health & Wellness Centre has a medical clinic that is open by appointment to all U of T students and includes both general medical and mental health practitioners (Book an appointment by calling 416-978-8030). They also offer a range of wellness workshops and online information.
Full-time students have extended health coverage through the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) for prescriptions, dental care, psychological services, and other benefits. For international students, visit CIE’s web page on health coverage.
Students also have access to a range of mental health supports, including the 24/7, multi-lingual U of T Telus Health Student Support counselling service. More about mental health and wellness at U of T Engineering.
A: Yes, included in your incidental fees is health and dental coverage. For full-time students, visit the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) website for more details. Part-time students have coverage through the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students (APUS).
International students should also visit CIE’s web page on health coverage.
A: Unfortunately, emails of this type are common, so it's important to be cautious! Be sure not to click on any links, do not reply to a suspicious email, and do not make payments/provide any personal information through links in a suspicious email.
The University of Toronto's Information Security team has detailed information here about email phishing and how to report it, as well as how to avoid scams targeting your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
FAQs for Incoming First-Year Students
Are you a newly-admitted first-year student joining U of T Engineering in September 2024? The First Year Office has done our best to address common questions new students have. Have a question that is not answered in the FAQ below? Email us at firstyear@engineering.utoronto.ca.
A: Welcome to U of T Engineering! At a minimum, we expect all incoming students to carefully read the Guide to First Year to understand your options, responsibilities and next steps.
You should also check your email regularly for important updates.
A: There are several opportunities you can take advantage of this summer to help you prepare for September; however, none of these opportunities are mandatory.
Summer Academy: If you are looking to ensure your incoming knowledge is as strong as possible, consider registering for these non-credit, flexible, six-week online programs held in July and August. Summer Academy programs will help you make sure your high school fundamentals are in place, and help you to connect your past learning with the courses you are about to embark upon in September.
Later in the summer, you can opt to participate in our First Year Foundations programs. Meet classmates, future professors and teaching assistants, while learning more about the social and academic aspects of university.
If you are eager to get started on your Fall courses, you can even take one of our Early Start courses in July – August to ease your Fall Term course load and get a sense of university-level courses.
A: First-year students do not have to select their courses. You can simply view your timetable on ACORN in early August. Additionally, the Guide to First Year outlines which courses you will take in your first year of studies in U of T Engineering.
A: 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.
The Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) provides in-person computer lab access when on campus, and is available 24/7 through remote access to computers and software within U of T Engineering.
A: Please visit U of T Student Accounts website for detailed information. Tuition invoices will be posted to your ACORN account in mid-July.
In our experience, for students within Canada, the easiest way to pay is an online bank payment. Your account number with U of T is on your invoice in the "Financial Account" section of your ACORN account. U of T does not mail invoices.
The deadline to register (pay or defer your tuition fees) for the 2024 – 2025 academic year is August 13, 2024.
Additional information is available in the Guide to First Year.
A: For information regarding on and off-campus housing, please visit the U of T Housing Services website.
A: The University of Toronto’s Centre for International Experience (CIE) has a number of pre-arrival and welcome services for international students.
You will receive further information via email from the First Year Advisor, Intercultural Learning & Experience, including details on our E-Buddy peer mentorship program.
A: The Centre for International Experience (CIE) provides services specifically designed for international students.
The CIE has also prepared this helpful web page about getting your study permit
A: Academic accommodations are provided when students experience disability-related barriers that prohibit demonstration of their knowledge and skills.
These accommodations are provided through Accessibility Services, which facilitates the inclusion of students with a wide range of disabilities into all aspects of university life.
If you are a student with a disability (including chronic or mental health conditions, sensory or physical disabilities, ADHD or ASD spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, concussion or brain injuries or temporary physical disabilities), and/or had academic accommodations in high school (e.g., extra test time, note-taking assistance, alternative-format textbooks), you may be eligible for similar support through this service.
We encourage you to register as early as possible with Accessibility Services to ensure you can access academic accommodations in a timely fashion if you need them.
We recommend registering by July 12, 2024 to have accommodations guaranteed for the start of the school year in September.
A: Yes, included in your incidental fees is health and dental coverage. For full-time students, visit the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) website for more details. Part-time students have coverage through the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students (APUS). If you already have equivalent health insurance coverage (e.g. through a parent's employer), you can opt out of the health and dental plan in September.
International students should also visit CIE’s web page on health coverage.
A: Unfortunately, emails of this type are common, so it's important to be cautious! Be sure not to click on any links, do not reply to a suspicious email, and do not make payments/provide any personal information through links in a suspicious email.
The University of Toronto's Information Security team has detailed information here about email phishing and how to report it, as well as how to avoid scams targeting your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Have a question that is not answered in the FAQ above? You can visit the First Year Office in person at GB 170, contact us by phone, or email us at firstyear@engineering.utoronto.ca. You can also follow us on Twitter for timely information and fun updates and read the First Year News Feed, our weekly e-newsletter sent to all Core 8 and TrackOne students.
(Short link to this page: http://uoft.me/fyfaq)