do you need an essay for university of toronto

Apply to U of T

How your application is considered.

  • We first verify that you meet the University’s general admission requirements . These are basic requirements that all candidates must meet to be eligible for University of Toronto admission consideration. The general requirements, including our English language requirements, are outlined by educational jurisdiction in the  Requirements  section.
  • Secondly, we assess whether you meet program-specific requirements  for your intended area of study.  Do you have the necessary subject prerequisites and have you completed any required personal statement, supplementary application or audition?
  • The emphasis of our final assessment will be placed on the results of your most recent two years of study, including your marks in prerequisite courses, and on the strength of your supplemental information (personal statement, profile, etc) where this is required. However, we may also consider other aspects of your complete academic record including, but not limited to: consistency; where and when courses were completed; and the number of times any courses have been attempted. 

The University of Toronto does not have the capacity to admit all applicants who meet the minimum general and program-specific requirements. We seek to admit the best possible students on the basis of academic performance and potential, and will select students for admission based on competitive strength.

Full disclosure  of all academic information must be made at the time of application, and any request for special consideration must be submitted to University Admissions and Outreach as soon as possible following your application. 

Special Consideration

If your academic record has been negatively affected by disability-related circumstances, or extenuating circumstances (such as a personal or family illness, tragedy, trauma or hardship), and your academic performance is slightly below the usual requirements for admission, the appropriate Admissions Committee may give special consideration. Although we cannot guarantee approval, each request will be reviewed on its individual merits.

The deadline to request special consideration is the same as your deadline to submit supporting documents, although we do encourage you to submit your request as soon as possible (see  Important Application Dates ). To be considered, you will first need to apply for admission to U of T .  You will then, complete the “Request For Special Consideration” form and submit relevant supporting documentation to University Admissions and Outreach. You’ll be able to access the form through your  JOIN U of T  account after you’ve submitted your application. 

If you have any questions in advance of submitting your request, contact University Admissions and Outreach by telephone at 416-978-2190 for more information.

When Admission Decisions are Made, and Alternate Offers      

You will receive a decision from all of the University of Toronto faculties you selected. Those who are not admitted to their selected program(s) may be considered for alternate programs and campuses, space permitting. Admission decisions are released starting in February and continuing through to late May.

It is always wise to apply and submit required documentation well in advance of deadlines in order to maximize your opportunities for admission consideration.

Living in Residence

If you are interested in residence, you must complete a separate application. Go to  StarRez  to apply and learn about the residence guarantee.

Find out which application you should use , depending on whether you’re a current Ontario high school student, an applicant from another Canadian province or territory, an international applicant, or in another circumstance.

Make sure you check the Important Application Dates to find out when your application, required documents, and other supplementary documents are due.

It depends on what you’re applying to, but most programs do not require additional applications. Some programs, colleges and campuses ask students to fill out an added application or profile. You should receive an email that will indicate if you need to fill out an application, where you can find it and what the deadline is. You can also find this information by looking up your intended program’s requirements in the Program Finder .

Find out about academic requirements for applicants from outside Canada .

Find out about U of T’s English Language Requirements and proof of English facility .

If you have completed college or university studies, AP, IB, GCE, CAPE, or French Bacc. examinations you may be eligible for transfer credit at the University of Toronto. Transfer credits are assessed after admission.

Find out more about transfer credits at U of T.

All changes to your application should be made before the application deadline .

If you have applied using the OUAC Undergraduate Application and wish to make changes to your initial application, you must do this by logging in to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre website .

All other applicants (International/Internal/Part-Time/Non-Degree) should log onto JOIN U of T , click on Check Status, and follow the instructions for making changes to your application.

We do not accept any changes or corrections via email or telephone.

You will receive an acknowledgment from U of T, with login instructions for our applicant website, JOIN U of T , about two weeks after you submit your application.

Telephone & In-Person Inquiries We are available for telephone and in-person inquiries.

Email Inquiries Connect with us by email for:

  • Admissions: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/questions
  • Ask a Student: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/askastudent

Contact Client Services for financial aid inquires including:

  • OSAP (Ontario Student Assistant Program) full and part-time
  • BSWD (Bursaries for Students with Disabilities)
  • UTAPS (University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students)
  • Part-Time Financial
  • OOP Funding for other provinces outside of Ontario
  • US student aid – for United States citizens (US Federal Student Aid loan opportunities, private loans (non-government), Veteran Affairs certification requests for benefits & education tax credit

Your feedback is important to us. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know how we did by completing our  University Admissions and Outreach Satisfaction Survey .

If you are unable to begin your degree studies in the fall, you may request a one-year deferral of your offer of admission. Deferrals are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Check out further information on deferring an offer of admission .

Go to the University of Toronto home page

What Guides Student Life

  • Mission, vision & values
  • Student Life organizational chart
  • Student Life Strategic Plan & Annual Report
  • How students help guide us
  • The Council of Student Services (COSS)

DOING BUSINESS WITH STUDENT LIFE

  • Collaborate with Student Life
  • Submit a compliment, comment or concern
  • Submit a communications request
  • Submit an assessment request
  • Contacts for the CAO
  • The Division of Student Life is located in several locations across the St. George campus.

THE STUDENT LIFE ESCALATION PROCESS

If you have a concern about a student service located on the St. George Campus, your first step is to talk to the Director of the service .

If your concern has not been resolved after taking this step, your second step should be to contact the Executive/Senior Director of the service .

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Feeling distressed? Click for help

Student Life Tasks & Topics

Write your personal statement.

Personal statements are part of the application package to many professional and graduate school programs. Sometimes they are responses to a specific question, but often the questions are open ended. Although they vary in length, 500 words is a common length.

They are also known as letter of intent, personal essay, statement of purpose or application essays.

Attend a CV and Personal Statement Event to draft and refine your CV and/or personal statement in a semi-structured environment. Access workshops and small group chats, and receive advice, feedback and support from career educators

Download Guide to Writing Personal Statements for Further Education (PDF) for advice on writing personal statements for grad school.

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800 Bay Street, 5th floor Toronto, ON M5S 3A9

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How to Apply to University of Toronto

Last Updated: February 19, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Daniel Santos and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Daniel Santos is a College Admissions & Career Coach and Prepory's co-founder and CEO. Prepory is a leading college admissions consulting firm that has guided over 9,000 students from 35 countries through the US college admissions process. Prepory is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and a trusted admissions counseling partner to several competitive high schools across Florida. Prior to founding Prepory, Daniel worked at various leading law firms and the United States House of Representatives. Daniel has been featured as a college admissions and career coaching expert across several major publications, including the Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, and The Harvard Crimson. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 29,763 times.

The University of Toronto (U of T) has a reputation as one of the most prestigious colleges in Canada, so it’s a great place to continue your education. You can apply to the university online as either a domestic or international student. The University of Toronto's acceptance rate is 43%, so it’s a highly competitive school. Don't let that discourage you! To help you have the best chance of gaining acceptance, submit your application early and make sure you provide all of the required supporting documents. [1] X Research source

Ask the wikiHow College Coach

wH

Filling out Your Application

Step 1 Check that you meet the admissions requirements for your program.

  • Canadian high school students: 6 grade 12 courses and a diploma [4] X Research source
  • Canadian college students: B grade point average or higher and met high school standards or have 2 years of college credits [5] X Research source
  • International students: Requirements depend on your country, so check the U of T website here: https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/requirements/international-high-school-secondary/

Tip: You’re still expected to meet the same academic requirements even if you’re a “mature” student. However, U of T may allow you to transfer after you complete an Academic Bridging Program through the St. George campus of Woodsworth College or U of T Mississauga. If you didn’t graduate high school, apply for their Transitional Year Programme. [6] X Research source

Step 2 Create an Ontario Universities’ Application Centre user ID and password.

  • You can create your account here: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/nonsecondary/en_CA/user/create

You only need one OUAC login, so use your existing account if you have one.

Step 3 Complete the correct application depending on your background.

  • Current Ontario high school students use the 101 application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/secondary/en_CA/user/login
  • Full-time Canadian applicants who didn’t attend an Ontario high school or U of T use the 105 application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/nonsecondary/en_CA/user/login
  • International students use the U of T International Application or 105 application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/uoftint/en_CA/user/login
  • Former U of T students use the U of T Internal Application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/uoftugrad/internal/en_CA/user/login
  • Part-time students use the Part-Time Application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/uoftugrad/parttime/en_CA/user/login
  • Graduate students use the application for the School of Graduate Studies.
  • Non-degreed students use the Non-Degree Application: https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/uoftugrad/nondegree/en_CA/user/login

Warning: Only send 1 application to U of T. If you send more than 1, any additional applications will be canceled and your fees will be lost.

Step 4 Include extracurriculars and community service to help you get in.

  • It's helpful to write an academic resume that includes these activities, as well as important classes you've taken. You'll be able to upload your academic resume as part of the application.

Submitting Your Application

Step 1 Send your application prior to the deadline of January 15.

  • U of T recommends you submit your application by November 7 to increase your chances of gaining admission. Keep in mind that space is limited.

Warning: Don't change your program preferences on your online application after the deadline because it can prevent your application from progressing through the U of T application assessment process.

Step 2 Pay your application fee.

  • OUAC application fees are $156 for all students, with an additional $10 fee for international students [12] X Research source
  • If you want to list more than 3 program choices, OUAC charges a $50 fee for each additional program choice
  • U of T fees for domestic students are $90
  • U of T international student fees are $180

Step 3 Expect U of T to acknowledge your application in about 2 weeks.

  • This acknowledgment doesn’t mean you’re accepted to U of T. It just means your application is under review.

Providing Supporting Documents

Step 1 Send your prior school transcripts to admissions by February 1.

  • It’s best to submit your transcripts as early as you can to increase your chances of gaining acceptance.

Step 2 Turn in degree-specific materials if your program requires any.

  • For instance, Applied Science and Engineering students must fill out an online student profile, and Kinesiology and Physical Education students must submit a Statement of Interest.
  • Each program has its own deadlines for degree-specific materials.

Tip: You're more likely to get accepted to the University of Toronto if you you've taken high school or college classes related to the program you want to study. [16] X Research source

Step 3 Provide supporting documentation if a hardship impacted your grades.

  • For instance, you might submit your health records or a note from your doctor to prove you went through a medical hardship.

Step 4 Complete a Supplementary Application Form for the Scarborough campus.

  • This form is due by February 1st.

Step 5 Prove that you’re proficient in English if it’s not your first language.

  • It’s best to submit your scores early.
  • U of T has 13 approved tests. You can find a list here: https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/english-language-requirements/

Expert Q&A

Daniel Santos

  • Admissions begin in mid-December for the next fall semester. Acceptance decisions will continue to be made through May. [20] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • As of the 2018-2019 school year, University of Toronto tuition ranges in cost between $6,780 to $15,760 for domestic students and between $34,180 to 54,840 for international students, depending on the program. Graduate tuition ranges between $6,900 to $51,420 for domestic students and $22,640 to $63,000 for international students. [21] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • The University of Toronto address is 27 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

do you need an essay for university of toronto

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do you need an essay for university of toronto

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about applying to a university, check out our in-depth interview with Daniel Santos .

  • ↑ https://leverageedu.com/blog/university-of-toronto-acceptance-rate/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/requirements/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/requirements/canadian-high-school-canadian-university-and-college/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/requirements/mature-students/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/applying/
  • ↑ https://utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/how-we-make-decisions
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/important-application-dates/#ouac105intern
  • ↑ https://www.ouac.on.ca/guide/105-fees/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/important-application-dates/#tab10
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/important-application-dates/#supporting-documentation
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/applying/#special-consideration
  • ↑ https://utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/supplementary-application-form
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/english-language-requirements/
  • ↑ https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/important-application-dates/
  • ↑ https://www.utoronto.ca/about-u-of-t/quick-facts

About This Article

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