University of Toronto — Admissions FAQ
Canada’s largest and highest-ranked research university. Grades-first admissions for most programs, with the toughest cutoffs at the St. George campus.
General Admissions
What average do I need to get into the University of Toronto?
It depends entirely on the campus and program — St. George is UofT's most competitive campus, and programs like Computer Science and Engineering there typically require averages in the low-to-mid 90s, while UTM and UTSC (Mississauga and Scarborough campuses) and many direct-entry Arts and Science programs admit at meaningfully lower averages. Always check the specific program and campus page, since "UofT" isn't a single admissions bar.
Does UofT care about extracurriculars or essays, or is it mostly grades?
For most direct-entry programs at UofT, especially on the St. George campus, admission is overwhelmingly grades-based, with no personal essay required for many programs. This is a significant difference from more holistic schools like UBC or Western — a very strong average in required prerequisite courses is usually the dominant factor for UofT admission.
What is the difference between UofT St. George, UTM, and UTSC?
These are three distinct campuses with their own admission processes, program offerings, and typically different admitted averages for equivalent programs — St. George is generally the most competitive and research-intensive, while UTM and UTSC often have somewhat more accessible admission ranges and a different campus experience with smaller class sizes in some programs. Your degree still says "University of Toronto" regardless of campus.
When is the UofT application deadline?
UofT generally follows the province-wide OUAC deadline of January 15 for most programs, though some competitive or supplementary-application programs may have different internal deadlines, so check your specific program page to confirm.
What scholarships does UofT offer to incoming students?
UofT offers automatic entrance scholarships based on your admission average, generally starting in the low-90s range and increasing at higher thresholds, alongside a smaller number of highly competitive, separately-applied-for named scholarships (such as the National Scholarship Program) that are far more selective and often require a distinct nomination or application process.
How competitive is it to get into UofT overall?
UofT's overall acceptance rate looks moderate, but this masks huge variation by program — Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, and Commerce at St. George are dramatically more competitive than many other direct-entry Arts and Science programs. Don't use a single university-wide acceptance rate to judge your odds for a specific competitive program.
Can I switch programs or campuses after starting at UofT?
Internal transfers between programs, and in some cases between campuses, are possible at UofT but vary in competitiveness depending on the specific target program — highly competitive programs like Computer Science at St. George are much harder to transfer into internally than to leave. Research your specific target program's internal transfer requirements if this is part of your plan.
Computer Science
What average do I need to get into UofT Computer Science?
UofT Computer Science on the St. George campus is one of the most competitive programs in the country, with admitted averages typically in the low-to-mid 90s, though the cutoff moves year to year with applicant volume. UTM and UTSC also offer Computer Science with generally somewhat more accessible admitted ranges than St. George.
Do I apply directly into UofT CS, or do I apply to a broader Science program first?
This depends on the campus — St. George uses a "Computer Science" admission stream that students can apply to directly (though some students enter through a broader Arts & Science admission and enroll in CS as their subject of study in second year, subject to competitive enrolment). Check the specific St. George Computer Science admission requirements page, since the process differs from UTM and UTSC, which have more direct program admission.
Does UofT CS require an essay or supplementary application?
No — UofT's admission process for Computer Science, particularly at St. George, is overwhelmingly grades-based with no required personal essay for most applicants, which is a notable contrast to Waterloo's AIF-driven process for the same subject.
How is UofT CS different from Waterloo CS?
UofT CS is grades-first with no mandatory supplementary application, while Waterloo CS requires the AIF and factors extracurriculars and written responses heavily into the decision. UofT does not have a mandatory co-op program built into CS the way Waterloo does, though UofT offers other work-integrated learning and internship opportunities for students who seek them out.
What are career outcomes like for UofT Computer Science graduates?
UofT CS has a strong research and industry reputation, particularly given the university's prominence in AI and machine learning research, and graduates go on to roles across the tech industry as well as strong placement in graduate programs. Because co-op isn't built into the program the way it is at Waterloo, students often need to more proactively seek out internships themselves.
Engineering
What average do I need to get into UofT Engineering?
UofT Engineering (Applied Science and Engineering) at St. George is highly competitive, typically requiring averages in the low-to-mid 90s in required math and science prerequisites, with the exact range varying by specific discipline (Engineering Science, in particular, is generally among the most competitive first-year engineering programs in the country).
What is UofT Engineering Science and how is it different from regular Engineering?
Engineering Science (EngSci) is a distinct, especially rigorous UofT program with a broad first-two-years curriculum before students choose a specialized major (like Machine Intelligence, Aerospace, or Robotics), and it is typically the most competitive engineering admission stream at UofT given its reputation and smaller cohort.
Does UofT Engineering require an essay or supplementary application?
No — like UofT's other St. George programs, Engineering admission is primarily grades-based without a required personal essay for most applicants, differing from schools like Waterloo that build a mandatory supplementary application directly into engineering admissions.
Does UofT Engineering have co-op or internships?
UofT Engineering doesn't have the same fully mandatory, integrated co-op structure that Waterloo does, but it offers a Professional Experience Year (PEY Co-op) option that many students use to complete a substantial paid internship, along with other internship and research opportunities students can pursue.
What are career outcomes like for UofT Engineering graduates?
UofT Engineering has a strong reputation with employers and graduate programs, particularly in research-heavy fields, and students who complete PEY Co-op or other internships graduate with meaningful industry experience despite co-op not being mandatory the way it is at Waterloo.
Life Sciences
What average do I need for UofT Life Sciences?
UofT Life Sciences at St. George is very competitive, with admitted averages commonly in the low-to-mid 90s given the large number of pre-med and pre-health applicants, though UTM and UTSC Life Sciences programs generally have somewhat more accessible admitted ranges.
Is UofT Life Sciences a good pre-med path?
Yes, many UofT Life Sciences students use the program as pre-med preparation, and UofT itself hosts a well-regarded medical school, though admission to medical school is a separate, highly competitive process based on your undergraduate GPA, MCAT score, and other factors — completing Life Sciences at UofT does not guarantee or directly feed into UofT's own medical program.
Does UofT Life Sciences require an essay or extracurricular review?
No — similar to other St. George direct-entry programs, Life Sciences admission is primarily grades-based, without a required personal essay for most applicants.
What can I do with a UofT Life Sciences degree besides medical school?
Graduates go on to a wide range of paths including graduate studies in biological or biomedical sciences, other health professions (dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy), research careers, and biotech or health-adjacent industry roles — it is a broad foundation, not a program that locks you into medicine specifically.
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates in UofT Life Sciences?
Yes, UofT's large research infrastructure and affiliated hospitals give Life Sciences students substantial opportunities to get involved in labs, though positions are competitive and typically require proactively reaching out to professors or applying to structured research opportunity programs rather than being automatically assigned.
Business & Commerce
What average do I need to get into UofT Rotman Commerce?
Rotman Commerce at UofT St. George is one of the most competitive business programs in Canada, with admitted averages typically in the low-to-mid 90s given very high applicant demand relative to available seats.
Does UofT Rotman Commerce require an essay or supplementary application?
No — Rotman Commerce admission is primarily grades-based like most St. George programs, without a required personal essay for most applicants, which contrasts with business programs at schools like Queen's or Western that weight essays and personal profile more heavily.
How is UofT business different from Ivey (Western) or Queen's Commerce?
Rotman Commerce is a direct-entry, grades-first program from first year, while Ivey at Western uses a two-year model where students apply competitively into the business program after completing a first year in another faculty, and Queen's Commerce is direct-entry but weighs personal statements and extracurriculars more heavily alongside grades. Each has a different admission philosophy despite all being well-regarded Canadian business programs.
Are there internship or co-op opportunities in Rotman Commerce?
Rotman Commerce doesn't have a mandatory co-op structure, but students have access to internship programs, recruiting pipelines into finance and consulting, and career services support, and many students pursue self-arranged internships during summers, similar to the norm at most non-co-op business programs.
What are career outcomes like for Rotman Commerce graduates?
Rotman Commerce has a strong reputation and recruiting pipeline into finance, consulting, and corporate roles, particularly given its downtown Toronto location near major financial firms, and many graduates pursue competitive internships during their degree that lead directly into full-time offers.
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