Your First Year: Frequently Asked Questions

A: To pass an individual course, you need 50% in that course. However, at U of T Engineering we also review students’ weighted session average at the end of every semester, and this average should be 60% or higher for Clear academic standing.

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.

If you have any questions, please connect with the First Year Office.

A: Many students find their first semester is a big adjustment from high school, but don’t get discouraged. We encourage you to explore academic help resources in the First Year Hub as there is lots of help available.

If needed, it is possible to drop a fall semester course up until November 6, 2023. To do so, you must meet with your Academic Advisor.

Usually, the course will be pushed to your winter semester, and a winter course will need to move to the summer semester (May-June).

For students who wish to drop more than one course, part-time studies are also an option, and the deadline to switch to part-time is November 6, 2023. A typical part-time course plan would involve spreading first-year courses out over two academic years.

After the November 6 course drop deadline, and until the last day of classes on December 6, 2023, you can also consider making use of the Late Withdrawal policy if needed.

If you'd like to explore these options, please book an appointment with your academic advisor.

A: You can request a transfer to a different Core 8 engineering program at the end of your first year. The approval of your request is subject to the availability of places reserved for internal transfers. For the past few years, several programs have been unable to accept all students seeking transfers.

In most cases, if a transfer is approved you will not have to take additional courses. However, those students who wish to switch from a Core 8 program into Electrical or Computer Engineering must take the APS105H1: Computer Fundamentals course (C Programming) instead of the regularly-scheduled APS106H1: Fundamentals of Computer Programming (Python) in the winter semester.

Starting in mid-October you will be able to apply through the Engineering Portal by November 25 to switch this course. Please speak with your Academic Advisor about this decision.

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 may be taken into consideration when determining your eligibility; we recommend you meet with your academic advisor about this as soon as possible if you are considering this option (ideally before November 6, 2023).

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 Term Work.

Petitions for missed term work (including midterms/tests/quizzes/labs/assignments) should be submitted through the Engineering Portal, and require supporting documentation in most cases (see the Petitions page for more information).

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: Please visit U of T Student Accounts website for detailed information.

In our experience, for students within Canada, the easiest and most cost-effective way to pay is an online banking payment. Your account number with U of T is on your invoice in the "Financial Account" section of your ACORN account.

A: Congratulations! All University and Faculty scholarships will be automatically applied to students’ ACORN invoices by October 15.

A: For information regarding on and off-campus housing, please visit the U of T Housing Services website.

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.

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 (formerly My SSP) 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).

If you have equivalent insurance coverage already (e.g. through a parent's employer), you may be able to opt out of the above health and dental plan (this must be done by the end of September; see the websites above for more information).

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).