Information for Newly Admitted Students

Congratulations, incoming students! We are delighted to welcome you as you begin your work in graduate studies with the Department of Computer Science. Below are some helpful resources that you can use as you prepare for courses to begin in September. As always, feel free to contact gradoffice.cs@utoronto.ca with any questions.

Check your offer of admission to see whether there are any conditions on your offer. Be sure to send the Grad Office (MSc/PhD students) or MScAC Program Office (MScAC students) any required outstanding documents. These may include official transcripts, proof of degree conferral, and submission of test scores.

MSc & PhD Students 

Requests for deferred admission require the approval of both your supervisor and the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. To request a deferral, please submit your rationale for deferral, along with proof of your supervisor's approval (a forwarded email will be sufficient) to gradapplications.cs@utoronto.ca before July 15, 2024.

Starting May 1, you can make an appointment with TCard Services to activate your UTORid. Activating your UTORid allows you to gain access to student services, email, course enrollment (ACORN), library resources, and Quercus.

Visit tcard.utoronto.ca for step-by-step instructions.

Review your student handbook to understand your program requirements.

Registration Status 
Your registration status as an incoming student is Invited. Once you are officially registered as a student at U of T, your status will be displayed as Registered on your ACORN account. This status will appear after you either pay your fees or select the “Tuition Fee Deferral” option on ACORN, if applicable. Note that it can take a few days for tuition fees to clear, so please don’t panic if the change is not immediate. Registration will open in mid-July.

Course enrolment 
You enrol in courses through your ACORN account. You can enrol in courses even while you have an Invited status. However, if your registration status does not change to Registered by the deadline of early September, then you risk being removed from your courses.

If you are an MSc or PhD student, you will receive a detailed funding letter in September with the breakdown of your funding and how it will be released to you. You will be responsible for ensuring your fees are paid.

Fee deferral is allowed only if: 

• You are in the funded cohort (i.e., within your funding period) or have confirmed funding (OSAP, scholarships, or other awards) that exceeds the minimum required payment for the current session (Fall term tuition fee total for Fall–Winter session); and

• All your conditions have been cleared.

For further information regarding tuition fee deferral eligibility, please visit the Student Accounts website. 

For detailed information about everything you’ll need as an international student, please visit the SGS International portal.

Incoming international students (MSc and PhD students) are advised to apply for their study permit as early as possible to avoid delays. When travelling to Canada, we recommend that you carry all related study permit documentation and application materials with you on paper when travelling to Canada, so that you have these readily available if asked.

For further assistance with immigration issues, please review the informational videos provided by the Centre for International Experience (CIE) or book time with one of the CIE’s qualified immigration advisors.

Please ensure that you check all travel advisories close to your date of departure.

You will receive an email in June with information about applying for TAships. To hold a TA assignment you must have received a Canadian social insurance number (SIN) by September.

You can find information about on- and off-campus housing options, resources and services via Student Life Housing. Graduate students can apply for on-campus housing at Graduate House or at Chestnut Residences. Availability is limited.