For Parents & Supporters

If your student is interested in residence, it is vital that they confirm their interest in residence before March 31 to be eligible for our first-year residence guarantee. This step is only confirming their interest; there is no commitment in accepting the residence offer or deposit required.

Applicants should log in to the U of T Residence Portal and follow the instructions to confirm their interest in residence.

Students who are not Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents must apply for a study permit in order to study in Canada. Your student’s offer letter will include a letter that can be used to apply for a student visa through a Canadian embassy or consulate. Students may also require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for their study permit application. The PAL will be issued after a student accepts an offer and makes the admission deposit.

Find more about the study permit process.

Most academic divisions 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 summer. Registrar Offices will hold orientation sessions over the summer to explain the course selection process.

Note that first-year Engineering students and students in the International Foundation Program do not choose courses and will be provided with a class schedule. 

The University Health Insurance Plan (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 account balance. Find out more about UHIP.

Details can vary by program area. Each student will receive information on university fees and how to pay them during the summer. 

Students who will be living in residence typically move in around the Labour Day weekend (the first weekend of September). Remind your students to watch their mail.utoronto.ca email for guidance and other updates from their residence.  

Orientation programming is generally held during a student’s first week at U of T. The events and activities are designed to support a student’s transition to U of T and help them engage with campus life. Details about orientation will be sent throughout the summer. 

U of T’s academic year begins in September and consists of a fall term (September-December) and a winter term (January-April). Within each term there are some statutory holidays, a study break, as well as a two-week campus closure during the winter holiday season. Classes and final exams for the fall term generally conclude in mid- to late-December; winter term courses and exams conclude by late April. We recommend to avoid making firm plans or booking any travel until students have confirmed their exam schedules. 

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. 

Find academic calendars for all faculties here.