Student Life - The Daily Grind

This page is designed for UTMIE first year and prospective students. For many, the transition from high school to university is a daunting one. Daily Grind is intended to familiarize you with engineering at the University of Toronto -- a Survival 101 guidebook.

	Academic Life
	Hangouts on Campus
	Places to Eat on Campus
	Great Libraries for Studying
	Student Services

Academic Life

In the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, 1st year students have two 4 month terms, from September to December and January to April. First year mechanical and industrial engineering students take 10 courses and 1 seminar course during the year. Generally, classes are from Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm. Students on average have 25-30 hours of classes per week, which is more like 50 hours in total, when studying time is considered. Below are courses that UTMIE students take in 1st year:

Class sizes are approximately 80-120 students in 1st and 2nd year and 20-40 students in 3rd and 4th year. This is the result of specialization, not attrition! However, incoming students should expect an average drop of 10-20% between high school and 1st year. Don't despair - marks usually improve over time as students adjust. For students who have problems adjusting in first year, the Faculty has created "T-program" to allow students to take make-up courses in the summer and begin second year with their peers.

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Hangouts on Campus

Engineering students, especially the commuters, often make the mistake of limiting themselves to the engineering side of campus. Many are reluctant to explore campus. Avoid trapping yourself in “Engineering Land” by searching out these places on campus:

• Philosopher’s Walk
• UC Quad
• Earth Sciences Complex
• Victoria College Grounds
• Trinity College Inner Courtyard
• Knox College Gardens
• Hart House

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Places to Eat On Campus

There are a variety of places to eat on campus that are often overlooked. Besides the obvious Engineering Cafeteria, here are some places which offer a variety of food at reasonable prices:

• Innis Café
• Hart House Arbour Room
• Radical Roots, International Student Centre ($5.00 veggie meals!)
• Southside Cafe, Sidney Smith Cafeteria
• Sylvester’s Cafe
• Graduate Student Pub

If you're feeling more adventurous, try wandering off campus for some delectable dishes. One block south of College (directly south of engineering) is Baldwin Street. This street contains many outdoor-patio restaurants. Diverse dining is a notable feature of Baldwin Street, with its mix of Indian, Chinese, Italian, Korean, and Japanese restaurants. Further south near the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) is the Village by the Grange. Cafeteria-style, students can find affordable food here for under $5. Next on the list is Bloor Street, west of Spadina which is a popular with the upper-year crowd. Many upscale coffee-shops and Japanese restaurants can be found on Bloor. A personal favourite is Future Bakery, at Bloor Street & Brunswick Avenue, voted Best Bakery in Toronto by EYE magazine. For the upscale, King Street is the place to be, where many of Toronto's young and wealthy hang out at night. For the best Thai restaurants in the downtown core, visit Yonge Street to try Spring Rolls, Zying, and Green Mango.

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Great Libraries for Studying
Some students are not particular with their studying and environment. Others need quiet places to study, away from noises and distractions. With these students in mind, a list of comfortable libraries has been compiled below:

• E. J. Pratt Library
• Emmanuel College Library
• Gerstein Science Library
• John W. Graham Library
• Caven Library

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Student Services

Part of your student incident fees are invested into student services. Whether you're living away from home or you need any special assistance, the University of Toronto offers essential services to address your needs. Please take particular note of the First Year Initiative Program and First Year Office.

Accessibility Services
Counselling and Learning Skills Services (CALSS)
Discount Metropass
Engineering Career Office
First Year Initiative
First Year Office
Health Services
LGBTQ
U of T Bookstore
U of T Career Office

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