Overview

The University of Toronto (often called U of T) is a large public research university. Its main campus is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near Queen's Park. It started in 1827 as King's College — the first place for higher learning in Upper Canada. In 1850, it became the University of Toronto and was no longer controlled by the Church of England.

The University of Toronto is the largest post-secondary institution in Canada by enrolment, with more than 100,000 students across its campuses and colleges. It offers over 700 undergraduate and 200 graduate programs. The university receives the most annual scientific research funding and endowment of any Canadian university. It is one of two members of the Association of American Universities located outside the United States, alongside McGill University. 

Its three campuses are known as St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. Its large downtown Toronto campus — St. George — is the oldest of the three and operates as a collegiate university comprising 11 colleges, each with substantial autonomy on financial and institutional affairs and significant differences in character and history. Its suburban campuses in Scarborough to the east and Mississauga to the west were established in the 1960s and together make up nearly half of the university's undergraduate student body. 

The University of Toronto has made important contributions in many areas of scholarship and research. The discovery of insulin, stem cells, and the first electron microscope, as well as the development of Pablum and liquid helium, took place at the university. Noted alumni include authors Margaret Atwood, Farley Mowat, and Michael Ondaatje, as well as actor Donald Sutherland, film directors David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson (Nobel Peace Prize), and astronaut Roberta Bondar.

With more than 102,000 students enrolled across three campuses, U of T has expanded its reach while strengthening its reputation as a global powerhouse in research, innovation, and education. It leads the world in sustainability, dominates national and international research awards, and provides robust support for students through financial aid, experiential learning, and global opportunities. U of T's 12 business incubators and accelerators support almost 1,000 entrepreneurial teams annually, and in the past five years, entrepreneurs from the U of T community have launched 941 startups which have secured over CAD 12 billion in funding and created 17,000 jobs. 

As of 2024, 13 Nobel laureates, 6 Turing Award winners, 100 Rhodes Scholars, and 1 Fields Medalist have been affiliated with the university. University of Toronto alumni additionally include five Prime Ministers of Canada, three Governors General, nine foreign leaders, seventeen justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, and eight mayors of Toronto. 

Intakes

The University of Toronto offers over 300 graduate programs. Most programs begin in September (Fall intake). A smaller January (Winter) intake is available for select graduate and professional programs only. 

• September Intake (Fall) — Primary intake; all undergraduate and most graduate programs
• January Intake (Winter) — Available for select graduate, professional, and MBA programs only

Application Deadlines (Indicative for 2026–27):

Note: Application fee: CAD 180 for most programs. Non-Canadian students require a Canadian Study Permit. Always verify program-specific deadlines at future.utoronto.ca/apply.

Top Courses

The University of Toronto offers over 700 undergraduate and 200 graduate programs across its 11 faculties and schools. The university covers virtually every field of study across its three campuses, with particularly renowned programs in medicine, computer science, engineering, business, law, and the natural and social sciences. 

Key faculties and flagship programs include:

Faculty of Arts & Science (largest faculty — St. George campus):

• BA in Economics, Political Science, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, English, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, International Relations
• BSc in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Astronomy
• MA/MSc in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Computer Science, Mathematics
• PhD programs across all disciplines

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering:

• BEng in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Industrial, Biomedical, Computer, and Engineering Science
• MEng / MSc in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering
• MEng in Aerospace Science and Engineering
• MSc in Artificial Intelligence, MSc in Data Science (#10 globally — QS)

Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Canada's most research-intensive medical faculty):

• MD in Medicine (4-year graduate-entry program — highly selective)
• BSc / MSc in Nursing (#4 globally — QS)
• BSc in Medical Radiation Sciences, Radiological Technology, Occupational Therapy
• MSc in Epidemiology, MSc in Global Health, MSc in Biomedical Engineering
• PhD across all biomedical disciplines

Rotman School of Management:

• BComm in Commerce (Rotman Commerce — St. George)
• Full-Time MBA (#76 globally — FT 2025; #1 in Canada)
• MSc in Management, MSc in Financial Risk Management, MSc in Business Analytics
• MSc in Finance, Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA
• PhD in Management

Faculty of Law:

• JD in Law (3 years)
• LLM in International Law, LLM in Law & Technology, Global Professional LLM
• Joint JD/MBA, JD/MSW, JD/PhD programs

Faculty of Information:

• Master of Information (MI)
• MSc in Library & Information Science (#11 globally — QS)
• MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE):

• MEd / PhD in Education (#11 globally — THE 2026)
• MA in Counselling Psychology, MSc in Child Study and Education

Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design:

• MArch in Architecture
• MLA in Landscape Architecture
• Master of Urban Design

Cost of Studying at University of Toronto

Tuition cost for international undergraduate students in first-entry programs for 2025–26 ranges from approximately CAD 48,090 to CAD 70,060 depending on the program. Tuition cost for international graduate students for 2025–26 ranges from approximately CAD 6,210 to CAD 70,730 depending on the program. Most international PhD students at the University of Toronto pay tuition fees equivalent to those of domestic students. 

Living in Toronto — Canada's largest city — can be expensive. Students need to budget for accommodation, food, transportation, health insurance, books, and personal expenses. On-campus residence can range from about CAD 8,000 up to CAD 15,000 per academic year depending on the type of room and meal plan chosen. International students are automatically enrolled in health insurance (UHIP) at approximately CAD 750 per year. 

Note: Toronto is Canada's most expensive city. U of T's international tuition is among the highest of any Canadian university — comparable with leading US institutions. All fees are in CAD. PhD students generally pay domestic-equivalent rates. Verify at future.utoronto.ca/fees before applying.

Scholarships

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships cover tuition fees, books, incidental costs, and residence support for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto. Each year, around 37 students are selected as Pearson Scholars. Applicants must be international students requiring a study permit, in their final year of high school, and nominated by their school — which may put forward only one student each year. 

The University of Toronto International Scholar Award is offered upon admission to selected outstanding international students on the basis of merit to the Faculty of Arts & Science. The value of the award is equal to the cost of international tuition, including tuition fees, incidental fees and UHIP fees for four consecutive years, or until degree completion, whichever comes first. Beyond admission scholarships, University of Toronto students have access to over 5,900 in-course scholarships every year. 

Key scholarships for international students:

Admissions

The University of Toronto acceptance rate for international students is approximately 43–45% for undergraduate programs and 35–43% for postgraduate programs. The acceptance rate may vary from one course to another, with the majority of the more competitive courses demanding high test scores. Two-thirds of U of T's new students have a 90%+ high school average — reflecting the extremely high academic calibre of its student body. 

For Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's):

International students need to prove that they have completed their high school education with a GPA acceptable to the university. For English proficiency, IELTS Academic overall band score of at least 6.5 with no section below 6.0, TOEFL iBT total score of at least 100 with writing section at least 22, CAEL overall score of at least 70, or Duolingo English Test overall score of at least 120 are accepted. 

• Completion of Class 12 (CBSE/ISC or equivalent) — high achieving grades required (85%+ for competitive programs)
• IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) / TOEFL iBT 100 / Duolingo 120
• Application via OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre) for most international students
• Application fee: CAD 180
• Supplementary applications, portfolios, or auditions required for select programs (Management, Architecture, Kinesiology, Music)

For Postgraduate Programs (Master's):

• Bachelor's degree with minimum GPA 3.0–3.5/4.0 (varies by program; competitive programs require 3.5+)
• IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 100 (some programs require higher)
• GRE/GMAT required for MBA, some science, and engineering programs
• Statement of Purpose, CV, 2–3 Letters of Recommendation, certified transcripts
• Application fee: CAD 180

For MBA (Rotman School):

• Bachelor's degree with strong academic record
• Minimum 2–5 years of professional work experience
• GMAT (preferred) or GRE
• IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100
• Two essays and two professional references

For PhD Programs:

• Master's degree (or strong bachelor's for direct-entry PhD in some faculties)
• Potential supervisor agreement strongly recommended before applying
• IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 100+
• Minimum CAD 40,000/year guaranteed funding for qualifying PhD students from Fall 2025

Placements

U of T is ranked 20th in the world for graduate employability by the Times Higher Education Global Employability Ranking 2025. The university's 12 business incubators and accelerators support almost 1,000 entrepreneurial teams annually, and entrepreneurs from the U of T community have launched 941 startups that have secured over CAD 12 billion in funding and created 17,000 jobs. 

In the QS Graduate Employability Rankings, U of T ranks 21st globally, with 95% of graduates employed within six months. Toronto's status as Canada's economic powerhouse — home to Google, Shopify, RBC, and hundreds of major multinationals — offers internships and jobs that qualify for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), allowing up to three years of work experience post-graduation. U of T alumni earn an average starting salary of CAD 60,000. 

In the Times Higher Education's 2022 global employability ranking, the University of Toronto ranked 11th in the world and first in Canada. In a 2013 employment survey conducted by The New York Times, the University of Toronto was ranked 14th in the world. 

Toronto — Canada's financial capital and largest city — is a global hub for technology, finance, healthcare, consulting, and media. The city hosts the Canadian headquarters of Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Shopify, Deloitte, McKinsey, RBC, TD Bank, and hundreds of other world-class employers — giving U of T graduates unparalleled access to Canada's most important careers.

Key career sectors for U of T graduates:

• Technology & AI — Google Canada, Microsoft, Amazon, Shopify, Thomson Reuters, IBM, Accenture, Mila (Toronto AI cluster)
• Finance & Banking — Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto-Dominion (TD), Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, OMERS, CPP Investments, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan (Toronto)
• Consulting — McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, EY (all with major Toronto offices)
• Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences — Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi Canada, AstraZeneca Canada, Pfizer Canada, MaRS Discovery District
• Medicine & Healthcare — University Health Network (UHN — affiliated with U of T: Toronto General, Princess Margaret, Toronto Western, Toronto Rehab)
• Research & Academia — NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, Fields Institute for Mathematics, SciNet (supercomputing), leading global universities

Jobs After Graduating from University of Toronto

Note: Salary figures are indicative annual gross values in CAD. International graduates may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allowing them to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduation. Toronto salaries reflect Canada's highest cost-of-living city.

For personalised guidance on University of Toronto admissions, scholarships, and the Canadian student visa process, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.