Prospective graduate students attended Grad Visit Days to learn about our research programs and life at U of T. (Photo: Hayley Fry-White)
Grad Visit Days is a three-day, in-person program designed to give newly admitted MSc and PhD students a clear, research-focused view of graduate study in the Department of Computer Science (DCS) at the University of Toronto.
What sets this event apart is its emphasis on substantive engagement with research and faculty, featuring faculty research presentations, one-on-one meetings with potential supervisors and small-group interactions within specific research areas.
This year, the department welcomed prospective students travelling from Canada, the United States, Ukraine, Iran, India, Europe, South America, Asia and Africa, reflecting the department’s international reach.
For first-year PhD student Tristan Lueger, who attended Grad Visit Days during his own application process, the department’s research culture stood out early.
“Grad Visit Days painted a very clear picture: you’re coming to U of T to do research,” he said. “That emphasis made a real difference in my decision — and so far, it’s matched my experience.”
Prospective grad students, current grad students and faculty connected over lunch during the three day event. (Photo: Hayley Fry-White)
He also pointed to the depth of interaction with faculty and students as a defining feature of the event.
“You don’t just hear about the research, you actually get time with the people doing it, and that makes it much easier to understand how the department works day to day.”
Throughout the three days, students meet department leadership, faculty and current graduate students, while learning about funding, housing, entrepreneurship supports and life in downtown Toronto. Group-specific socials, lab tours and student-led events are designed to reflect the department — illustrating what it means to be part of the DCS graduate community.