What Can I Study?

Before beginning to determine which U of T faculty is the best fit for your intended studies, please review the English language requirements for exchange at U of T.

What you can study while on exchange at U of T largely depends on which faculty you are admitted to. Below you will find details about eligibility, academic options and restrictions, and application requirements by U of T faculty. All graduate-level exchange students should be nominated to the School of Graduate Studies.

Am I Eligible

What Can I Study?

How Do I Apply?

Admitted Students: What Should I Do Before Arriving?

Bogazici University logo

Bogazici University

Country: Turkiye

Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate, Graduate

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is the gateway to all graduate programs at the University of Toronto. U of T offers approximately 300 graduate programs covering nearly 400 areas of study. Any exchange student wanting to do graduate-level course work or research at any faculty or department at U of T must apply to SGS.

Option ONE: Research only 

If you intend to do research only while on exchange at U of T, your admission will be granted through the International Visiting Graduate Research (IVGS) program. All IVGS placements begin with a key relationship: students need to find a qualified supervisor willing to oversee their research. Once a U of T supervisor has been established, the application can begin. Please visit the IVGS program page for details on finding a faculty supervisor and application instructions.

After you have been admitted, please email your admission letter to inbound.exchange@utoronto.ca. If you have been nominated for exchange by your home institution, we will apply a fee-waiver for the IVGS fees.

For questions pertaining to the IVGS program, please contact sgs.international@utoronto.ca.

Option TWO: Full-time course work for credit

The eligibility, restrictions, and application information below pertains to exchange students wanting to do graduate course-work at U of T. Please note that graduate exchange applications are considered on an individual basis by each graduate unit. Meeting the minimum eligibility does not guarantee admission. If your application is not accepted by a graduate unit, we do our best to find an alternative option for you, including coming as an undergraduate student instead.

Location(s)

Most graduate programs are located on the St. George (downtown) campus, with the exception of the Institute of Management & Innovation Program, which is at our Mississauga (UTM) campus hosting a number of graduate programs.

Campus(es)

St. George

Contact(s)

CIE Inbound Exchange
How Do I Apply?

 

Eligibility

Graduate exchange students doing course work while on exchange need to be registered in the equivalent of a full-time course load, as defined by the graduate unit/department.

To apply for graduate exchange course work at U of T, you must be enrolled in, or admitted to, a similar graduate program at your home institution. You also need to have achieved a mid-B average in the final year of your undergraduate studies. To confirm whether your degree meets the SGS minimum requirements, please use the International Credentials Equivalencies tool.

Before applying for exchange, you need to determine the graduate unit (department, faculty, or centre) and/or program that offers the courses you would like to take at U of T. You will take all/most of your courses from one “home” department. You cannot have a collaborative specialization (CS) as your home department.

STEP ONE: Use this list to determine the area of study that best matches your program of study at your home institution.

STEP TWO: Click on the program link to find the link to the departmental website.

STEP THREE: Use the departmental website to find graduate courses offered by the department.

STEP FOUR: Include your desired home department/program in your Statement of Intent when applying. Your desired home department should match the list of courses you submit in your application.

 

*The Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy has three distinct programs that graduate students can apply to:

You can only apply to one of these programs for your exchange. When you are submitting your application, please make sure to indicate which program that you are applying for in your proposed course list.


Restrictions

Any graduate programs offered by the following faculties/departments are not open to exchange students:

  • Cinema Studies Institute
  • Department of Anthropology
  • Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD) (at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – OISE)
  • Department of Cell and Systems Biology
  • Department of English
  • Department of Nutritional Sciences
  • Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Department of Physical Therapy
  • Department of Physiology
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Social Justice Education (SJE) at OISE
  • Financial Insurance [Statistical Sciences]
  • Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME)
  • Institute for Management & Innovation
  • Institute of Biomedical Engineering
  • Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

 

The following programs, including Progressive Professional Programs, are not open to exchange students:

  • Master of Teaching (MT)
  • Master of Law (LLM)
  • Master of Financial Economics (MFE)
  • Master of Finance (MFin)
  • Master of Mathematical Finance (MMF)
  • Master of Financial Risk Management (MFRM)
  • Master of Arts in Psychological Clinical Science (at UTSC)
  • Master of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin at UTSC)
  • Master of Management & Professional Accounting (at UTM)

 

*The Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology only admits full-year exchange students (one term applications will not be considered).

 

*Master of Business Administration (MBA): Rotman School of Management operates its own MBA exchange program. Please consult their website for more information.

 


Application

After you have been nominated by your home institution, you will be invited to apply for exchange at U of T via our Mobility Online portal. The School of Graduate Studies requires the following documents:

Student applicants must submit:

* All student documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Statement of interest (1-2 pages)
  2. Course descriptions: A typed chart/list that briefly details all post-secondary courses you have/will complete before coming to the University of Toronto. The chart/list should include course titles and a short description or list of the main topics covered in each course (copying and pasting from a course calendar/syllabus is fine).
  3. CV or Resume
  4. Proposed course List – A list of U of T graduate courses you are interested in taking while on exchange
  5. Applicants should provide their home institution’s exchange office with English language test results, if applicable. Please refer to our English language requirement page for details.

  Additional material for Faculty of Music

  • For Performance applicants: At this URL, Faculty of Music audition/interview requirements from the drop down menu, applicants choose the appropriate program (instrument) and degree and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the repertoire guidelines under “Audition Requirements”. Applicants would have to provide the URL for each recording.
  • For Composition applicants: A composition portfolio of three to five works for a variety of media, including some with moderately large instrumentation and some sustained movements of five minutes or more. The portfolio should contain scores, and recordings when available. Hard copies of the composition may be uploaded as a pdf document through the Exchange Portal; the URL should be provided for any recordings.

 

  Additional material for Daniel’s Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design

A portfolio including three to five samples/projects documenting your creative ability. Please submit your portfolio as one PDF file (100 MB or less, total PDF file size).

 

Partner institution staff must submit:

* All partner documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Academic transcripts of all previous post-secondary study. Admission is based primarily on undergraduate grades.
  2. Confirmation of completion of an undergraduate degree OR confirmation of admission to a graduate program
  3. Two academic reference letters
  4. English language test, if applicable: Please refer to our English language requirement page for details.

The University of Toronto Mississauga campus is situated on 225 acres of protected greenbelt along the Credit River, 33 kilometres west of the university’s St. George campus in downtown Toronto. UTM has many of the same Arts & Science departments as the downtown St. George campus, as well as unique courses in Forensic Science and Commerce/Management (open to business students who are not eligible for Rotman Commerce at our downtown campus).

Exchange students admitted to undergraduate studies at UTM are able to take courses from multiple departments within the faculty – there is no restriction on taking courses from within only one discipline/department.

Campus(es)

UTM

Contact(s)

UTM International Education Centre CIE Inbound Exchange
How Do I Apply?
Academic Calendar
Academic Timetable

 

Eligibility

Minimum CGPA of 2.25


Restrictions

All second year Commerce (MGT) and Management (MGM) courses are not available for registration, but selected upper year (3rd + 4th year) courses may have limited spaces available for exchange students. Commerce and Management courses are generally reserved for UTM Commerce and Management students and spaces in these courses are not guaranteed for incoming exchange students. You may request to be enrolled in any upper year Commerce and Management course; enrollment will be based on availability, and you may be placed on a waitlist for courses.


Application

After you have been nominated by your home institution, you will be invited to apply for exchange at U of T via our Mobility Online portal.

Student applicants must submit:

* All student documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Statement of interest (1-2 pages)
  2. Course descriptions: A typed chart/list that briefly details all post-secondary courses you have/will complete before coming to the University of Toronto. The chart/list should include course titles and a short description or list of the main topics covered in each course (copying and pasting from a course calendar/syllabus is fine).

*Students interested in pursuing a research course as part of their academic exchange must connect with the UTM International Education Centre at global.utm@utoronto.ca at the time of nomination to discuss their options.

 

Partner institution staff must submit:

* All partner documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Academic transcripts of all previous post-secondary study
  2. English language test, if applicable: Please refer to our English language requirement page for details.

The University of Toronto Scarborough campus is a 300-acre campus in the Highland Creek Valley, one of Toronto’s most spectacular natural settings, situated in the east-end of Toronto.

Experiential education is the hallmark of the UTSC campus.  Students get a head start on their futures through hands-on research, community engagement and a vibrant campus life.

UTSC is home to the new Aquatics Centre and Field House, which represents Canada’s largest investment in amateur sport infrastructure, opened in 2015 for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

UTSC offers standard Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Management programs (English literature, Statistics, Economics, etc.), but also some interesting and unique programs listed below.

Exchange students admitted to undergraduate studies UTSC are able to take courses from multiple departments within the faculty – there is no restriction on taking courses from within only one discipline/department. There are, however, department-specific restrictions that exchange students should be aware of that are listed below.

Campus(es)

UTSC

Contact(s)

CIE Inbound Exchange
How Do I Apply?
Academic Calendar
Academic Timetable

 

Eligibility

Minimum CGPA of 2.25


Restrictions

The following courses/programs of study are not available to exchange students:

Scarborough (UTSC) Campus

  • Co-op (work placement) programs
  • Applied Microbiology (IMC)
  • Environmental Science and Technology (STE)
  • Journalism (JOU)
  • New Media Studies (NME)
  • Paramedicine (PMD)
  • Studio Art (VPS)

Courses with Limited Spaces

The following is a list of high demand courses where there are very few spaces available for exchange students:

  • Selected Biology courses: BIOA11H3F, BIOB12H3S, BIOB32H3S, BIOB35H3S, BIOC10H3S, BIOC14H3S, BIOC17H3S, BIOC23H3S, BIOC62H3S, BIOD17H3S, BIOD19H3S, BIOD23H3F, BIOD26H3F, BIOD27H3F, BIOD29H3S, BIOD33H3S, BIOD48H3F, BIOD43H3S, BIOD65H3F/S
  • City Studies C and D-level courses
  • ENGA10
  • ENGA11
  • FREA96
  • FREA97
  • Geography GGR D-level courses
  • All Health Studies courses
  • LGGA80
  • LGGA81
  • LGGA60*
  • LGGA61*
  • Management C and D-level courses
  • Neuroscience C-level courses, specifically: NROC60H3, NROC63, NROC64
  • Neuroscience D-level courses
  • Selected Political Science courses: POLB30H3, POLC32H3. POLC36H3, POLC38H3, POLC39H3, POLC56H3, POLC68H3, POLD30H3, POLD42H3, POLD45H3
  • Psychology C-level courses with a lab component: PSYC70, PSYC71, PSYC72, PSYC73, PSYC74, PSYC75, PSYC76
  • Psychology D-level courses
  • Computer Science D-level courses

Housing

UTSC Student Residence provides ~765 self-catered spaces on-campus to both international and domestic students.  Students generally live in their own room with shared cooking and common areas, either in the Townhouses or Joan Foley Hall (apartment-style). Students on exchange are not guaranteed a space but are given priority provided they apply by deadlines.


Application

After you have been nominated by your home institution, you will be invited to apply for exchange at U of T via our Mobility Online portal. The Faculty of Arts and Science UTSC requires the following documents:

Student applicants must submit:

* All student documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Statement of interest (1-2 pages)
  2. Course descriptions: A typed chart/list that briefly details all post-secondary courses you have/will complete before coming to the University of Toronto. The chart/list should include course titles and a short description or list of the main topics covered in each course (copying and pasting from a course calendar/syllabus is fine).

 

Partner institution staff must submit:

* All partner documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Academic transcripts of all previous post-secondary study
  2. English language test, if applicable: Please refer to our English language requirement page for details.

At U of T, the Faculty of Arts & Science incorporates all arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences (including computer science) programs/departments. U of T Arts & Science is one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in North America and the heart of one of the world’s leading universities.

Exchange students admitted to U of T Arts & Science are able to take courses from multiple departments within the faculty – over 4,000 courses in a wide range of disciplines. There is no restriction on taking courses from within only one discipline/department.

The Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the Department of Chemistry offer summer research programs to students from their select partners. You can find more information on our undergraduate summer research page.

St. George Campus

U of T’s downtown St. George Campus blends historical architecture and inviting green spaces as a backdrop to a truly remarkable community.

Set in the centre of Toronto, one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities, it is a place where students, staff and faculty engage with a vibrant academic life and countless co-curricular activities.

Just beyond the campus are the many events, neighbourhoods and industries that Toronto has to offer. From Nuit Blanche, an annual art festival that runs from dusk until dawn, to sports games at one of the Varsity Centre’s high-performance facilities, this location is intrinsically linked with the city’s renowned cultural offerings to create a rich and unique experience for everyone.

Campus(es)

St. George

Contact(s)

CIE Inbound Exchange
How Do I Apply?
Academic Calendar
Academic Timetable

 

Eligibility

Minimum CGPA of 2.25


Restrictions

While we do our best to keep you informed of any exchange student course restrictions, this list is not necessarily comprehensive, as course offerings and availability vary from year to year. We cannot guarantee enrollment in any course. It is important to maintain an expectation of flexibility in your course load.

Closed Courses

The following courses are not available to exchange students:

  • English Language Learning (ELL)
  • Peace, Conflict and Justice (PCJ)
  • Research Opportunities Program (ROP)
  • Many 100-level courses hosted by our colleges (e.g., VIC1XX, NEW1XX, INI1XX, UNI1XX, WDW1XX, SMC1XX, TRN1XX)
  • Many 100-level courses that are open to Year 1 FAS students only (e.g., ANT19X, AST19X, CHM19X, CSC19X, EAS19X, ENG19X, ESS19X, FAH19X, GGR19X, HIS19X, MAT19X, PHL19X, PHY19X, POL19X, PSY19X, SOC19X, STA19X, etc.)
  • Academic Bridging Program through Woodsworth College
  • Biochemistry (BCH): All courses except BCH210 and BCH311 (BCH210 and BCH311 have limited spaces for exchange students)
  • Economics (ECO): All 100-level courses
  • Human Biology (HMB): All 400-level courses, and HMB322
  • Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (MGY) laboratory courses
  • All Restricted (R1) Sociology (SOC) courses are not available: SOC201, SOC202, SOC204, SOC251, SOC252, SOC254, SOC319-354, and all 400-level SOC courses
  • Statistics (STA): STA130, STA49* courses (STA490, STA492, or the reading courses STA496, STA497, STA498, and STA499), JSC courses

 

Restricted Enrollment

The following departments/courses have very competitive enrollment and/or small class sizes and are therefore difficult for exchange students to get into at the St. George campus. However, many of these programs/courses are also available at our Mississauga (UTM) and Scarborough (UTSC) campuses. If you wish to take a full course-load in Computer Science, Sociology, or Statistics, we strongly recommend you consider one of our other two campuses.

Please do not expect to take a full course-load in these areas at the St. George campus:

  • Computer Science (CSC)
    • Exchange students may request 300- and 400-level CSC courses after the enrollment period for degree-seeking students. However, these advanced CSC courses tend to be over-subscribed once enrollment opens to exchange students, and it is unlikely that all exchange students are able to get in. Historically, many of the 400-level courses and the following 300-level courses tend to be full and exchange students should not expect to be able to take these courses:
      • CSC301H1: Introduction to Software Engineering
      • CSC303H1: Social and Information Networks
      • CSC304H1: Algorithmic Game Theory and Mechanism Design
      • CSC311H1: Introduction to Machine Learning
      • CSC369H1: Operating Systems
  • Drama (DRM)
  • Political Science (POL) 400-level courses
    • Many 400-level POL courses have very small class sizes (10-13 people), so we cannot enroll many exchange students into them
  • English (ENG) 400-level courses
  • Human Biology (HMB)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Statistics (STA)

 

Rotman Commerce (Business) Restriction

Business courses at the St. George campus (course code: RSM) are not available to exchange students from your home institution. If you are pursuing a business degree (e.g., B.B.A. or B. Comm.) or a similar degree at your home institution, and you want to take business courses while on exchange, you should be nominated to one of our other campuses:

  • University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) – management
  • University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) – commerce/management

 

Computer Science 

Eligibility

If you are interested in taking more than 1.5 credits (3 courses) in 300- or 400- Computer Science (CSC) courses at the Faculty of Arts and Science, you must:

  1. Be pursuing a degree or major in Computer Science at your home institution.
  2. You must be nominated to the Faculty of Arts & Science on Mobility Online.

Course restrictions

  • Students who are not enrolled in a Computer Science degree or major at their home institution are limited to a maximum of 1.5 credits (3 courses) in 300-/400-level CSC courses. This program at the home institution must be Computer Science (e.g. students in Computer Engineering, Information, etc. will be limited to 1.5 credits.)
  • There is high demand for upper-level CSC courses, and many courses fill quickly with Arts & Science students. Not all exchange students will receive a space in requested CSC courses, so it is important for all students requesting CSC courses to identify alternative courses for enrolment.

 

Faculty of Law

If you are studying law and your home institution does not have a partnership with the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Arts and Science offers a number of law-related courses that may be of interest to you, such as Ethics, Society and Law or the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. Speak with your home institution’s exchange office to determine your eligibility to be nominated for exchange to the Faculty of Arts and Science at U of T.


Application

After you have been nominated by your home institution, you will be invited to apply for exchange at U of T via our Mobility Online portal. The Faculty of Arts and Science requires the following documents:

Student applicants must submit:

* All student documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Statement of interest (1-2 pages)
  2. Course descriptions: A typed chart/list that briefly details all post-secondary courses you have/will complete before coming to the University of Toronto. The chart/list should include course titles and a short description or list of the main topics covered in each course (copying and pasting from a course calendar/syllabus is fine).

 

Partner institution staff must submit:

* All partner documents must be submitted in PDF (Word or other forms will not be accepted).

  1. Academic transcripts of all previous post-secondary study
  2. English language test, if applicable: Please refer to our English language requirement page for details.

 

Course Enrolment

After you are admitted to U of T Arts & Science, you will receive an email with instructions on how to submit course requests. The course selection process will begin in June for the upcoming fall and winter terms.