Resources for Counsellors

Connecting with U of T

We value our relationship with the counselling community. We engage counsellors through online information sessions, school visits, and individual meetings. Join our counsellor mailing list to stay up-to-date with the latest application news and receive invitations to events for the counselling community.

Counsellor Webinars

We’re hosting a series of webinars for counsellors, which will cover a full range of details and updates concerning the admissions process and how you can support your students who have applied to the University of Toronto.

Register for a Webinar

Prospective Student Webcasts

Encourage your students to register for one of our online information sessions. These webcasts will feature an overview of U of T, details about the application process, and a Q&A session.

Browse All Webcasts

Request a U of T Visit

If you’re interested in having U of T visiting your school to meet with your students, complete our visit request form here. Virtual visits can be scheduled for your junior students this spring, or for this fall for your seniors.

Request a Visit

U of T Spring Update For Counsellors

The University of Toronto hosted a webinar for all counsellors on April 18, 2024 sharing updates and walking through the application process.

View Counsellor Update

Special Tours – IACAC Attendees

The University of Toronto will be hosting special group tours for international counsellors attending the 2024 International ACAC Conference at Western University. Book your tours today!

Special Tours – IACAC Attendees

Counselling Your Students

We understand that it can be stressful applying to any university. Here is some guidance and pieces of advice you can give your students who are interested in U of T.

Guidance for Students Who Have Applied to U of T

U of T will make conditional offers of admission based on available Grade 11 and Grade 12 marks, provided that the OUAC record indicates enrollment in all required Grade 12 courses, including ENG4U. If a Grade 12 mark in a prerequisite subject is not available, we will use the mark in the corresponding Grade 11 course.

Remind your students to click the Admitted link on their application and follow the prompts to officially accept their offers. Students with offers of admission to Engineering should check their application status through the Engineering Applicant Portal: uoft.me/myportal.

Offers of admission are typically conditional upon a student’s final grades, along with submission of any outstanding documents. To check their conditions, students should go to the “Check Your Application Status” page and then click on their target application. If you or your students have any questions about an offer’s terms or conditions, please contact the admitting faculty or campus directly.

Students should log into residence.utoronto.ca and confirm their interest in residence before March 31 to be covered by our first-year residence guarantee. Students admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science should log back into StarRez and rank their choices.

Students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents must apply for a study permit. Their offer letter will include a letter that can be used to apply for a student visa through a Canadian embassy or consulate. Learn more at the Centre for International Experience.

Final transcripts should be submitted electronically through Parchment, Naviance, OUAC, or provincial document system when possible.  For more details about document submission, students should go to the “Check Your Application Status” page and then click on their target application.  

Most program areas allow students to design their own weekly schedules. Course selection occurs online and begins in July or August. Students will receive specific instructions on how and when to select their courses in the spring. In advance of this, Registrars will hold orientation sessions to clarify processes and misconceptions. Note that first-year Engineering students and students in the International Foundation Program do not choose courses and will be provided, instead, with a readymade class schedule.

UHIP is a mandatory health insurance plan for international students, and helps cover the cost of healthcare services delivered and billed in Canada. Enrolment in UHIP is automatic, with coverage charged directly to each student’s ACORN account balance. Learn more at www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie/uhip.

The first fees instalment is normally due at the end of August or start of September. Each student will receive details during the summer, tailored to their program and, if applicable, courseload. Students may be required to pay a tuition deposit — this will be indicated on their offer page, along with the deposit deadline.

Students who will be living in residence typically move in over the Labour Day weekend (the first week of September). Incoming students should monitor their email regularly for logistical guidance and other updates from their Dean of Residence. We encourage students who wish to learn more about orientation week, sometimes known as Frosh Week, to visit hello.utoronto.ca.

U of T’s academic year begins in September and consists of a fall semester (September – December) and a winter semester (January – April), punctuated by some statutory holidays, one study break per semester, and a two-week campus closure during the winter holiday season. Classes and final exams for fall-winter and winter courses conclude by late April. Registered students who plan to take summer courses should be aware that the summer term consists of two “semesters” (May-June, July-August), each of which is paced twice as fast as a normal four-month semester.

Advice for Students Who Are Exploring Their Options

The University of Toronto continues to soar in global university rankings and is consistently ranked first in Canada. Learn more about our rankings.

The university application process starts in the fall of the year before you intend to begin your studies. We encourage students to submit their application, and the appropriate application fee, well in advance of the deadlines. View all important dates and deadlines.

We encourage applicants to apply by November 7. Applying by our recommended application date ensures that applicants have enough time to complete all of the necessary next steps to be considered in all rounds of admission.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Early Application Date

While the November 7 recommended application date is new for Ontario high school applicants, it is not new to the rest of our applicants. Applicants from outside of Ontario have been encouraged to apply by November 7 for the past few years. 

We encourage applicants to submit the OUAC Undergraduate application by this date. Students are not required to have marks or supplemental applications completed at this time.

In previous years, we noticed that many Ontario students were applying as soon as they received their PINs—some even applied using the old 105 application to get a head start. The November 7 date allows students to get a head start and gives them ample time to understand what next steps they will need to do. This is especially important for students applying to programs with supplemental applications. Submitting the application earlier gives applicants earlier access to prepare their supplemental applications.

It’s important to note that some programs have early recommended dates to submit supplemental information. For example, December 1 for Engineering and December 15 for other programs with supplemental applications

By submitting the OUAC application in November, students get earlier access to the next steps of their applications. They have the opportunity to submit supporting documents early and provide their supplemental applications earlier to the university.

We are expecting the first round of decisions to be released in late February. Submitting the OUAC Undergraduate application in November—and submitting supplemental applications and supporting documents in December—enables the admissions committee to review completed files in time for the first round of decisions.

We will review all applications received by the application deadline, so long as all next steps are completed and any required documents have been submitted. If a student waits to submit an application until the final deadline, they may not have enough time to complete all of the next steps in order to be considered in our first round of admissions. Completed applications—with all required documents submitted—are reviewed in each round based on the strength of the applicant’s record.

This is completely normal. In the first round of decisions, we are looking at whatever results are available at that point (completed grade 11 results, any completed grade 12 courses (either taken in the summer or at any time before their grade 12 year). Additional results (like second semester grade 12 marks) will be reviewed in subsequent rounds, once available. For applicants from an Ontario high school, this would require proof of enrolment in six grade 12 U/M courses, including English. Generally, this information is on the OUAC information we receive.

While some program areas make a large number of offers in the February round, generally our programs do not reach capacity in the first round of admission decisions. We continue to make offers throughout the winter & spring. We admit qualified applicants in each round based on the strength of their academic record and any applicable supporting documentation. Highly subscribed areas of study may have limited capacity in the later rounds of admission.

U of T’s National Scholarship program recognizes original and creative thinkers, community leaders, and high academic achievers. It is U of T’s most prestigious award for Canadian high school students entering university. Learn more about eligibility, nomination procedures, and how to apply.

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships at the University of Toronto provide an unparalleled opportunity for outstanding international students to study at one of the world’s best universities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities. This scholarship program is intended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity, and who are recognized as leaders within their school. Learn more about eligibility, nomination procedures, and how to apply.

If a program requires students to complete a supplemental application, audition, or profile, students will be invited to complete the relevant forms after submitting their OUAC application. Learn more about supplemental applications/auditions for first-entry programs that require them:

For an in-depth look at prerequisites, program options, deadlines, and application guidelines for students in and outside of Canada, please download our international undergraduate admissions bulletin undergraduate admissions bulletin. (The domestic undergraduate admissions bulletin is coming soon!)

Finding and maintaining suitable housing is a key part of a student’s personal and academic success. Housing Services offers the information, resources and support for students to reach their housing goals.

We consistently place first in the country and within the top 15 worldwide for graduate employability—our graduates are well-equipped to achieve career success. Here are just a few of the many ways you can connect your classroom to the boardroom:

The University has comprehensive scholarship programs that recognize outstanding achievement at different levels of study. Students can search our Award Explorer database to discover admissions to in-course and graduating awards.

Get to know the opportunities and experiences waiting for you at U of T — on your own time. Browse through our library of recorded information sessions or take a virtual tour of our campuses and faculties.

Across our three campuses, one of our highest priorities is dismantling systemic barriers to higher education and attracting students who represent the rich fabric of Canadian society. We’re hard at work building community hubs for everyone who might be thinking about a future on our campuses. Here are a few of them—but keep your eyes peeled for more.


Additional Resources for Counsellors

Our campuses and faculties provide additional resources for counsellors on their specific academic opportunities. Find more details on new programs, admission requirements and supplemental applications.