How to get into the University of Toronto? This article has the answers.
One of the top research universities in Canada, with a reputation of academic and research excellence worldwide, the University of Toronto ranks 21st according to QS World University Rankings. Located in three campuses across the Greater Toronto Area and Missisuaga, it comes as no surprise that Indian students love to attend this university.
So, in this article, we will be looking at
The University of Toronto is dedicated to fostering an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of every member may flourish, with vigilant protection for individual human rights, and a resolute commitment to the principles of equal opportunity, equity and justice.
Source: UToronto
There have to be great reasons why the international enrollment at UToronto crosses 20,000 every year. Let’s take a look at some of those reasons.
Ranked 21st in the world, the tale of the university’s academic excellence is well known. Internationally, U of T was ranked among the top 50 schools in 48 subjects – more than any other university in the world. (QS Subject rankings). Their degrees are recognised worldwide. The university also provides academic flexibility, allowing you to choose between a full-time and part-time workload and courses from across disciplines to create a niche area of study.
The coursework at U of T emphasises practical learning. The university provides a number of co-op and internship options for most of its courses so that you as a bachelor’s or graduate student can gain a sense of the industry that you will be a part of.
The university’s campus facilities are considered to be some of the best in the North American continent. It has over 40 libraries spread across the three campuses and the main university library is considered to be the third largest in the continent. Numerous clubs and extracurricular activities are also part of the campus life.
University of Toronto is a research intensive institution. Be it cutting edge research in cancer studies, computer science, evolutionary biology or sociology, the university promotes and supports a research ethos, inspiring its students to push the barriers of their respective disciplines. Moreover, you will have opportunities to network with peers and professionals from all corners of the globe.
As an economic and cultural hub of Canada, your life in Toronto is bound to be bustling. Be it internship options or spending your leisure time, you can find everything that you are looking for in this city.
Let us take a look at how much you will have to invest to be a student at U of T and live in Canada. Please note that these are ballpark figures that will aid you in financial planning. The exact amount will vary depending on your choice of course, ancillary fees, the campus, lifestyle choices, your choice of accommodation, and other such factors.
Another important thing to note is that, as an Indian student or any international student in a Canadian university, the tuition fee for you can be as high as almost ten times the fees for a domestic Ontario student. So, when you are looking up the fees for your specific course, ensure you are checking the fees for your category.
That said, let us take a look at the tuition fees at U of T.
| Course | Fees for International students |
| General Bachelor’s Degree Courses | CA $62,580 |
| Undergraduate Medicine | CA $95,147 |
| Graduate Level Courses | CA $39,000 – CA $70,000 |
Besides your tuition, you should also account for “Incidental and Ancillary Fees” charged by the university. Incidental Fees are charged for services such as student societies, campus-based services, athletics and recreation facilities, and student insurance (health and dental plans). While you can opt out of some of these services, a major part of it is compulsory to all international students of U of T.
On the other hand, ancillary fees cover things like field-trip, or special equipment provided for coursework or lab, as well as other administrative costs you might incur such as transcript fees or library fines. This part of your fees is extremely specific to your course of choice and the activities you choose.
After this major chunk comes your actual cost of living in Toronto. You have to take a call between on campus accommodation or living outside the university campus. You should also account for transport, food, phone/ internet bill, personal care, books and some entertainment expenses.
If you are choosing U of T student accommodation, the fees per year for your stay can range between CA $12,000 and CA $22,000, depending on if the room is private or shared and the residence that you choose. Most housing options are closer to the lower end of the above mentioned range.
Here’s a sample budget for an undergraduate student, studying in the faculty of applied science and engineering, living on campus.
If you choose to live off campus, you can budget around CA $2,000 to $2,500 per month for rent. With the current housing crisis in Canada, the costs of renting a place has increased and there is a shortage of student-friendly accommodation. This has also led to the Canadian government capping the number of international student visas. While this has caused a lot of worry for international students, it should not outright stop you from applying to a world-class university such as the University of Toronto. If your application is eligible to be selected by UoT, the probability of you getting your student visa is also very high.
If the numbers look staggering, do not worry. The university has a number of scholarship options, if you are looking for financial aid. The next section will cover the scholarships for Indian students in detail.
According to the Canadian government mandate, you are required to show proof of financial support to prove that you can support your life in Canada. Starting January 1, 2024, an international student must prove their ability to afford CAD 20,635 per year as cost of living, not including tuition.
Disclaimer: This video reflects details and rankings from 2023
As mentioned earlier, the University of Toronto is a publicly funded university. The federal government provides the majority funding for the university. Due to this, the university cannot offer direct financial aid to international students.
However, drawing from other endowments and funds, the university does have specific scholarships for international students. However, considering the profile of students that apply, these scholarships are limited and highly competitive.
As part of the admissions review process, undergraduate students are automatically awarded merit-based scholarships. Since all students are considered, it does not require a separate application. The two major admission awards are
In addition, international applicants can also be considered for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship program if nominated by their high school. Awarded annually, the goal of these scholarships is to recognise outstanding students from around the world. It covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto for first-entry, undergraduate programs. Each year approximately 37 students will be named Lester B. Pearson Scholars. It is U of T’s most prestigious scholarship.
The university also has over 5,900 in-course scholarships every year. These are awards offered to motivate students to work towards academic excellence. It varies with each course/ faculty. You can explore the range of these awards here.
It also helps to research scholarships and awards offered by the Government of India, your respective state governments and other philanthropic organisations that offer financial aid to Indian students studying in Canada. Some such scholarships to look into are
This is, in no means, an exhaustive list. Make sure you also look into scholarships that are tailored for your course/ department/ school/ area of research as well. The number of external benefactors offering funding for graduate and research level programmes is phenomenally higher when compared to bachelor’s degree courses. You can find them on your own research or ask the experts at TC Global to help you.
If you are considering applying for scholarships, you will have to rework your timeline. Even though it is not official policy, we have observed that early applicants have a better chance of getting some form of financial aid. Scholarship agencies and admission decision committees are particular about deadlines and carefully filled out application forms. Considering the stress of application that you might be going through, it is easier to have an international education consultant who is far more experienced in the planning and documentation side of things. It is a lot of research and even more paperwork but it is a worthwhile effort to ease the financial burden of global education.
If you look up the acceptance rate of the University of Toronto, you will see numbers around the 40% mark. This number is a lot less scary than the 4% of MIT or Harvard, no doubt. However, this is the overall average of undergraduate admissions of the entire university. So, it is safe to assume that the actual number can vary, quite significantly, among the specific courses. Specialisations and the more sought after courses are bound to have a much lower acceptance rate.
Ultimately, it is about being the most prepared, meeting all the admission prerequisites.
High School Certification: International Baccalaureate, All India Senior School Certificate (awarded by CBSE) or Indian School Certificate (awarded by CISCE) will be accepted. Year 12 State Board Exams with excellent results will also be considered on an individual basis.
The University of Toronto is test optional. If you are considering taking standardised tests, SAT or ACT test scores will be considered/
Here are the minimum requirements of the accepted English proficiency tests.
Bachelor’s Degree:
Some of the more common entrance exams such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT might be required, depending on your course.
Here are the minimum requirements of the accepted English language proficiency tests.
Here are some things you can do to increase your chances of getting into U of T.
There are many such little things that you must look into, as you prepare for your journey. This process can get overwhelming. So, you can choose the easier path and get onboard with TC Global where all your application needs can be taken care of at one go. From counselling sessions to choose your course and test prep all the way to getting help with your visa (and even after you reach your destination), TC Global stands with you every step of the way.
Here’s how to apply through TC Global.
The first step is to know what you want to do. With the number of interdisciplinary options available, you delve deep into the different programs or even disciplines and see what combinations will work the best for you. It is also a good idea to reach out to current or past students and get a more realistic view of how things work.
You can also reach out to us at www.tcglobal.com and schedule a counselling session or aptitude test to figure out which course would be the right fit for you.
Once you have logged in, update your profile, especially your Education and Work background and your Study Plans. This will help us tailor-fit our recommendations for you.
This page provides all the information you need, collated logically, in one page. You don’t need to go hunting under each department page of the university website. The list of all the courses will appear here. You can even use our filters to narrow down on what you are searching.
The website will give you the top options, keeping in mind your profile and your preferences. Click on any of the courses or search for them and get an overview in one go. All of these are accessible to anyone, for free. All you need to do is sign up.
Want the latest updates about a country or an industry? Are you looking for in-depth reviews about top universities? TCG Insights has it. Plus, it comes with an easy search option for you to specifically look for our research on any of the countries or courses. Check out our insights, here
It is important for you to look into each of the courses, in addition to just knowing the specialisation. You must keep yourself updated on the scope, employment opportunities, and transferable skills. Insights might just be the place that will give you insights into how each of the universities designs their courses.
Once you have all the information that you need and have shortlisted all the courses, you begin the application process by logging into the TC Global Student Portal. You can schedule a meeting with one of our Relationship Members through Calendly.com/tcglobal. From here on in, an experienced member of our team will guide you through the process of applying to all your shortlisted universities.
TC Global Student portal will support you with your application – from search and discovery to application and visas. Our RM will be with you every step of the way. Now that you know the process on how to get into the University of Toronto as an Indian student, you can try to apply by giving it your best shot.
Keep an eye out for the dates when they open applications, and begin to gear yourself a year in advance, with TC Global.
Choose Insight topics that you are interested in to subscribe for your personalized newsletter.
