Welcome Guide
Step by step. Let’s get started!
Student responsibility:
Whereas academic advisors, faculty, and staff are available to assist, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to keep personal and academic information up to date at all times, and to follow all University, SGS, departmental, and program regulations, requirements and deadlines.
New student steps:
| Professional program (MEng) | ||
| Step | Domestic students | International students |
| 01 | Respond to your offer | Respond to your offer |
| 02 | Clear admission conditions | Clear admission conditions |
| 03 | Get your TCard, etc. | Apply for study permit |
| 04 | Enroll in courses | Find housing |
| 05 | Complete your registration | Get your TCard, etc. |
| 06 | Engage with the community | Enroll in courses |
| 07 | Complete your registration | |
| 08 | Engage with the community | |
Respond to your offer
Students must confirm admission acceptance within two weeks of the offer letter date.
- Review admission documents
- Respond, date, and sign the Confirmation form
- Email the signed form (as a single pdf file)
PhD/MASc students:
-
- To: grad.bme@utoronto.ca; and
- Copy (Cc): Supervisor(s)
MEng students:
-
- To: meng.bme@utoronto.ca
Example:
To the Admissions Committee,
I accept the offer of admission. Please find the signed confirmation form attached to this email.
Sincerely,
(Student)
Cc. Prof. Smith
Clear admission conditions
Conditions must be satisfied prior to the registration deadline.
- Find your Letter of Acceptance/Offer of Admission
- Review conditions identified with an asterisk (*)
- Arrange for documents to be sent by the issuing institution(s)
PhD/MASc students:
-
- To grad.bme@utoronto.ca
MEng students:
-
- To: meng.bme@utoronto.ca
Reminder: student-submitted documents are not acceptable for verification purposes
Note:
- Students must request each university attended to send their transcripts directly to BME
- Digital e-transcripts are preferred over hard copies
- Students must have language test centres send results electronically to the University of Toronto, Enrolment Services.
- TOEFL: The institution code is 0982 (no need to specify a department)
- IELTS Results Account name: University of Toronto – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
- IELTS Results Account address: 172 St. George St., Toronto ON M5R 0A3
- Instruction for other test centres
- Admission offer may be withdrawn if conditions are not met by the deadline
Need help?
Apply for your study permit and SIN (if applicable)
A valid study permit and SIN are required for studying and payments.
- Visit the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website
- Follow the steps to "apply for your study permit..."
- Email a pdf scan of your permit to hr.bme@utoronto.ca
- Visit the "before you arrive" website
- Follow the steps to "getting a social insurance number (SIN)"
Additional for international MEng students:
- Visit CIE website about the co-op work permit
- Follow the steps to "apply for a co-op work permit..."
- Email a pdf scan of your permit to meng.bme@utoronto.ca
Note:
- The university cannot influence permit processing times
- Students should not confirm travel plans until their permit is approved
- Students should not begin their program remotely
- Attend Q&A sessions about the international student experience (e.g., documentation, career discovery, health insurance, etc.)
- See the most up-to-date COVID travel information on the Government of Canada website
Need help?
Find housing
Students are responsible for finding housing, but here are some options/resources (listed below) to help start the search.
Get your UTORid, U of T email, and TCard
- Visit the TCard Office website
- Follow “new student instructions”
U of T email for students
Create your @mail.utoronto.ca email address
Note:
- Applicants receive a JOINid via email from SGS after paying the application fee, which becomes a UTORid when they begin studying
- Applicants must create a password to enable JOINid
Need help?
Enroll in courses
Research program students should consult their supervisor for course selection.
During the enrolment window
Student self-enrolment
- Review the timetables
- Enroll in courses through ACORN
Past the enrolment window (with instructor permission)
Staff-assisted enrolment
- Complete the Add Course(s) form
- Email the instructor-signed form
- To: grad.bme@utoronto.ca; and
- Cc: Course instructor
Tip:
- Monitor your U of T email for course enrollment dates/announcements
- Research trainees should consult their supervisor(s) about course selection
- BME research program course requirements
- BME professional program course requirements
- BME course enrollment limit
Need help?
Complete your program registration
Tuition fees are assessed in mid-July. Students may not see the balance immediately due to admission timing. Do not pre-pay. Students should wait to make payments until fees are posted to their account. Monitor ACORN for fee updates to ensure timely payment.
Pay now
- Note the registration deadline
- Visit the Registration Information website
- Follow “direct payment”
Pay later (if eligible)
- Note the payment deadline
- Visit the Registration Information website
- Review “deferral eligibility self-check”
- Follow “defer payment”, if eligible
Optional: request a Confirmation of Registration letter
TIP:
- Registration requires payment of program fees
- It can take up to two weeks for payments made at the bank to be processed to fees
- Students can check their outstanding balance on ACORN anytime
- Check your status in ACORN (if the status is “REG” then you are registered)
- University fee policies are not negotiable
- Pay/defer your fees on time (registration cancellation results in the loss of all course enrollments)
- Students may not re-enroll in a course if it becomes full
Need help?
Contact SGS (registration issues)
Contact Student Accounts (payment/refund issues)
Set up income payments
1) Submit a supervisor–student agreement annually. 2) Ensure direct deposit is active for both deparmental and supervisor funds, as they are separate payment systems.
- Verify that your Canadian mailing address is valid
- Visit the Direct Deposit Information website
- Follow “procedures”
- Complete the supervisor–student agreement
- Email the signed agreement
- To: grad.bme@utoronto.ca; and
- Cc. hr.bme@utoronto.ca
Tip:
- Students must be registered to receive stipend/award/bursary payments
- Payments will be withheld without a Canadian address or bank account on file
- Check your ACORN invoice to see the departmental and/or award payments
- Use the employee self-service (ESS) tool to check your supervisor and/or TA payments
- Requirements checklist:
- Payroll bank authorization form for direct deposit
- Supervisor–student agreement
- Tax forms
- Study permit (if applicable)
Need help?
Enroll in safety training
Supervisors should advise on required training. Students must complete all safety training before starting lab work.
- Visit the Health and Safety website
- Follow “training”
Tip:
If your work is at an affiliated hospital/institute, you may need additional on-site health and safety training
Need help?
Contact your Supervisor (training requirements)
Get lab access
Access must be renewed annually (in August, if eligible).
Apply for awards
Some awards may not be available due to admission timing. Monitor the Scholarships website for the most up-to-date deadlines.
- Visit the Scholarships website (get access)
- Review “managed awards”
- Apply for “open” awards
Tip:
Advice: how to write a successful application
Need help?
Contact your Supervisor
Contact GCAC (additional support)
Engage with the community (optional)
Showcase yourself
- Join the departmental trainee directory
- Submit a participation consent form
Share your story
- See the editorial opportunities
- Email comm.bme@utoronto.ca to contribute
Tip:
All registered students are part of the Biomedical Engineering Students’ Association (BESA)
Need help?