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The entire University community is focused on maintaining a safe and healthy environment on our campuses, preserving your educational experience, and communicating any updates and new information. We will update this page regularly with important information for students.
Check the University of Toronto’s coronavirus updates and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for updates relevant to the whole U of T community.
This page contains information for U of T students regarding the University’s responses and actions related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Please continue to check your U of T email, since you may be receiving emails directly from your divisions, residences, and Deans of Students.
Graduate Students, please also visit the School of Graduate Studies webpage for specific updates.
We know this situation brings uncertainty and stress for everyone – and some will experience this more than others. Please know that if you are struggling, there are resources and supports available.
Article: Managing stress and feelings of powerlessness can be a challenge in times of uncertainty. U of T’s Dr. Suze Berkhout shares seven tips for mentally coping with the challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
We know that your academic pursuits are important to you and the University is committed to maintaining academic continuity. Your academic units are working hard to provide options to help resolve any concerns regarding transfer credits, academics, etc. If you have questions about academic continuity and how your classes are affected during COVID-19, undergraduate students should contact their registrar, and graduate students should contact their program.
U of T My Student Support Program (U of T MySSP) provides University of Toronto students with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour support for any school, health, or general life concern at no cost to students. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever, wherever you are for a range of concerns.
Download the MySSP app: Apple App Store | Google Play and keep reading so that you understand what to expect.
You can also access the service 24/7 by calling 1-844-451-9700. Outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578.
U of T has partnered with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to launch an online discussion forum where University of Toronto students can share stories about how they are dealing with their new reality.
This online peer-to-peer discussion offers space for support, encouragement, and to share experiences with managing stress and anxiety related to the COVID-19 virus. Students can also get tips and suggestions for how best to cope in this difficult time.
Students can sign up with their U of T email address to join the online discussion board, or view the topics and follow along without signing up. The forum will be monitored by social workers who can volunteer advice and refer students to additional mental health resources.
Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Phone: 1-866-797-0000 or TTY: 1-866-797-0007
8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Call if you have questions about COVID-19. Translation is available in multiple languages.
Telephone: 416-338-7600
TTY: 416-392-0658
Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca
If you have questions about COVID-19, review the following information, or call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
Call centre hours are 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week.
Last updated: Friday, May 22nd at 12:20pm EST (New question #1 added)
The University has posted a roadmap for a safe U of T experience, which you can read here.
Many co-curricular events and workshops have moved online, so you’ve got fantastic content from all three campuses right at your fingertips. From Career Chats and Mindful Moments, to resources that help you do your best learning from home, you’ll find just what you need to stay motivated, focused and connected.
U of T Libraries has a dedicated student support page where you can find out how to chat with a librarian, do research, find old exams and more.
U of T has formed a partnership with HathiTrust Digital Library that gives current students and faculty access more than 2.5 million digitized versions of the library’s in-copyright print books published before 2004 through the HathiTrust Digital Library.
To access, follow the instructions on the HathiTrust Digital Library terms of use page. The ETAS collection will only be available while library buildings remain closed.
Additional information on this service can be found on this webpage. Please contact your faculty liaison librarian or email libraryhelp@utoronto.ca for help finding a specific title.
The University is temporarily suspending the need for a doctor’s note or medical certificate for absences from academic participation. Please use the Absence Declaration tool on ACORN to declare an absence if you require consideration for missed academic work. You are responsible for contacting your instructors to request the academic consideration you are seeking. Record each day of your absence as soon as it begins, up until the day before you return to classes or other academic activities.
Yes, however to help limit the spread of COVID-19, courses that start in May (F and Y summer courses) will be delivered remotely. If you’ve registered for a course that can’t be accommodated online, you’ll be contacted directly. A decision about the delivery mode for S courses will be made by June 13. In order to make that easier, we have created a central directory where you can find information on the summer session classes from all Faculties and divisions.
Accessibility Services continues to provide support for students and their instructors to deliver academic accommodations. Accessibility-related COVID-19 updates can be found here:
Students with disabilities seeking academic accommodations should continue to contact the Accessibility Services office on their campus to receive support.
Instructors should continue to work with the offices (listed below) on their campus on the implementation of final exam and assessment accommodations:
The University of Toronto, has outlined the minimum technical requirements (computer specifications), recommended accessories, internet connection and frequently asked questions about learning remotely.
If you’re unable to afford the recommended technology, please contact your college or divisional registrar, or the School of Graduate Studies (for graduate students), for information about financial support. Grants or bursaries may be available for students requiring financial assistance.
Last updated: April 22 at 3:00pm EST
Please note that Question 1 is also posted on the main U of T COVID-19 FAQ page.
For the Winter 2020 term, there are no changes to tuition or ancillary fees (e.g. lab materials fees). There are reductions to non-tuition incidental fees such student services and recreation programs (please see Q. 2 for details of reductions).
All academic programs are continuing through alternative delivery modes, and the majority of activities supported by ancillary fees were already complete when courses transitioned to remote learning in Winter 2020.
For summer session courses that begin in May (F and Y courses), there will be no changes to tuition fees. All academic programs will continue through alternative delivery modes and students will receive academic credit for their courses. In some cases, ancillary fees for Summer 2020 may be reduced or eliminated. The University is currently reviewing fees and will waive those fees for services or materials that will not be part of summer course offerings.
If you have questions about the ancillary fees on your 2020 Summer session ACORN invoice, please contact your College or Faculty registrar.
We encourage undergraduate students who are facing financial hardship to contact their College or divisional registrar to apply for emergency bursaries, and graduate students to contact the School of Graduate Studies for support.
Fees have been reduced and, in some cases, refunded for the Summer 2020 term. While the majority of these services are offered on-line or through alternative platforms, there are services that have a reduced cost because buildings are closed.
Students continue to have access to supports including Health and Wellness, career centres and, academic support offices. A range of programming continues to be offered online by Hart House and sport and recreation staff on all three campuses including online fitness classes, nutrition discussions, virtual board game cafes and workshops. These services are being provided at a reduced fee.
The fee changes include the following:
Fees for athletic services (KPE Sport & Rec, UTM Athletics, UTSC Athletics):
Summer 2020 fees for full-time and part-time students have been reduced by 40%.
Hart House:
Summer 2020 fees for full-time and part-time students have been reduced by 30%.
Student Life/Student Affairs:
Fees related to access to space for student groups have been waived.
Fees for the Early Learning Centre on the St. George and UTM campus have been waived. (Note: at UTM, the bursary portion of the fees continues to be charged.)
For information on services provided, please see the links below:
Athletics facilities continue to provide access to services in different formats. Fees have been reduced for the summer session based on the reduction in costs to maintain the physical space.
Please refer to the following pages for ways to keep active including daily online workouts and classes, mindfulness sessions, and wellness tips and tools, during this time:
In partnership with Mi-Way, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and the University of Toronto Mississauga Association for Graduate Students have waived U-Pass fees and suspended the service for Summer 2020.
The UTM shuttle services to/from the St. George campus and Sheridan College has been suspended and the related fee for Summer 2020 has also been waived, and there was a slight reduction in the Winter 2020 fee given the extraordinary circumstances that resulted in the cancelling of the shuttle service.
We look forward to having you join our U of T community this academic year. Visit the Futures FAQ page for information about residence offers, orientation, what you can expect in September, and questions about admissions
Last updated: Friday, May 22 at 12:10pm EST (New question #1 added)
We are planning to have students in residence this fall and look forward to welcoming you when you arrive. We want you to have a rewarding experience and know that for some students, residence is an important part of the university experience.
Your health and safety is our top priority and planning is underway to determine the appropriate physical distancing measures in residence following the guidance of our local public health officials. As we prepare for your arrival, we are also focused on delivering a residence experience to help you transition into University. We know you have lots of questions about your residence experience and we will keep you updated when we have new information.
Our process for accepting residence applications this year is designed to help you maintain your residence space even if you are not able to arrive on campus in September. We will be providing more details shortly.
U of T is providing summer residence accommodation to students who were unable to return home at the end of their residence contract (April 26, 2020). Please contact your relevant residence office for further information.
Please contact the residence directly for information. If you have other questions regarding summer 2020 residences, please contact housing.services@utoronto.ca.
We know that some students may not be able to leave residence because of exceptional circumstances. That’s okay. Please contact your Dean of Students or Director of Residence and let them know. They’ll be able to answer questions and discuss options with you.
We will be implementing some changes to residence life in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and keep you as safe as possible.
Changes you can expect to see include:
We will continue to have supportive staff available to you and are creating ways to deliver residence life programming in ways that follow social distancing guidance.
If you left residence without officially moving out, are still in possession of your residence keys, have belongings in your residence room or would like to officially move out of residence, please call or email your residence office for instructions. Due to the public health measures in place, we do not advise that you return to campus to pick up your belongings. If there is something you need for your academic work or health (academic books; medication, etc.) please contact your residence office for advice.
Emergency Assistance Grants are available for undergraduate students affected by COVID-19 who need immediate, short-term financial relief because of unexpected expenses.
Information about SGS emergency grants is available from the School of Graduate Studies.
Please also see COVID-19 Financial Support & Funding Opportunities page for information on University as well as provincial and federal government programs.
We understand the government of Canada is aware of these types of issues, and we are working with the government and expect announcements soon. Current or future international students should reach out to a University of Toronto Immigration Advisor as follows:
Staff from the International Centres at all three campuses are currently working remotely and continue to answer all questions and support international students’ needs.
Please review your study permit and other immigration documents for the expiry date before you leave the county.
If your study permit and temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), will still be valid for your return to Canada, your main focus should be on making a clear plan for where you will isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Canada.
If your study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), expire before your return to Canada, you should be aware of new procedures regarding applying for a new temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA). This is particularly important if you’ve already applied for a study permit extension because there are additional actions you must take. You may speak with the international student immigration advisors on your home campus (UTM, UTSC, or St. George to work out what you need to do in this situation. You can book a phone or virtual appointment or email.
We also recommend that you reach out directly to your consular office. There are approximately 100 countries with foreign representatives in Toronto.
On March 20, the Government of Canada announced that foreign nationals will be allowed to return to Canada if they have a valid study or work permit or had been approved for a study permit prior to March 18, 2020.
If your study permit and temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), will still be valid for your return to Canada, your main focus should be on making a clear plan for where you will isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Canada (please check website for latest requirements).
If your study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), expire before your return to Canada, you should be aware of new procedures regarding applying for a new temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA). This is particularly important if you’ve already applied for a study permit extension because there are additional actions you must take. You may speak with the international student immigration advisors on your home campus (UTM, UTSC or St. George) to work out what you need to do in this situation. You can book a phone or virtual appointment or email.
Your study permit grants you legal status in Canada and controls what you can do and for how long. A temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), is what allows you to enter Canada, depending on your citizenship. Make sure your study permit doesn’t expire while you’re still studying whether you’re in Canada or away temporarily.
Check the expiry date right now. The best thing to do is apply for a study permit extension several months before the expiry date. Learn how to apply by attending one of the CIE “apply online” webinars. Your temporary resident visa (TRV), or electronic travel authorization (eTA), may expire while you’re in Canada, but you must have a valid one for re-entry. Once a study permit has been extended, students from visa-required countries may then apply for a TRV to match their study permit’s new expiry in a separate application.
If you want to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you have 180 days from completing your degree program to do so. The best thing to do is apply within 90 days of completing your degree program, so that you’re able to remain in Canada and start working while awaiting approval.
Your study permit automatically becomes invalid 90 days from the date you complete your degree requirements (I.e. get your final grades), despite any future expiry date printed on the permit. This means that you must apply to change your legal status to a visitor if you’re not planning to apply for the work permit within 90 days of degree program completion. You won’t be able to work during the processing time of your work permit if you don’t apply within 90 days from completing your degree requirements.
You may speak with the international student immigration advisors on your home campus (UTM, UTSC or St. George) to work out what you need to do in this situation. You can book a phone or virtual appointment or email.
If you had a study permit while you were studying and you want to continue studying, you need to extend your study permit.
If you didn’t have a study permit while you were studying, and won’t continue studying, you should extend your stay as a visitor. As a visitor, your legal status usually expires six months from the date you entered Canada.
If you didn’t have a study permit while you were studying and would like to continue studying, you need to apply for a study permit. First-time study permit applications can’t always be submitted within Canada. Please book an appointment with an international student immigration advisor to discuss the details of your situation.
Non-essential travel between Canada and the USA is currently suspended. Travelling to the US-Canada border to apply for a work or study permit is considered non-essential travel and you’ll be turned away from the border if you attempt to do so.
If your in-class courses are being moved to an online-only format because of COVID-19, your eligibility won’t be affected. This includes students who have a study permit or who have been approved for a study permit for a program starting in May or June but are unable to travel to Canada due to travel restrictions. International students in this situation may begin their classes while outside Canada and may complete up to 50 percent of their program while outside Canada if they cannot travel to Canada sooner.
There are no changes to UHIP coverage due to COVID-19, but specific questions can be addressed to uhip.information@utoronto.ca. Staff members from the international centres on all three campuses are working remotely and continue to answer questions and support the needs of international students.
If you’re exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and are unsure if you have UHIP coverage, please follow the advice of public health authorities, take the self-assessment and then contact uhip.information@utoronto.ca. The Government of Ontario has confirmed that COVID-19 treatment will be available for all those currently in Ontario.
If you have active UHIP coverage as an international student, your coverage is not affected by COVID-19.
On March 20, the provincial government announced that it is waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. The province also announced that it will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who don’t meet the criteria for OHIP coverage.
Specific questions should be addressed to uhip.information@utoronto.ca. Staff members from the international centres on all three campuses are working remotely and continue to answer questions and support the needs of international students.
Last updated: Friday, May 22nd, 2020 at 10:20am EST (Questions 3, 4 and 6 are new)
If you’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and plan to study in Canada for more than six months you will have to apply for a study permit. You should apply for your study permit online as soon as you get your letter of acceptance.
We recommend that you register for one of the webinars offered by our International Student Immigration Advisors. Our International Centres at each campus are offering webinars for newly-admitted students on applying for a study permit for the first time. Follow the links below:
You can begin your program through online courses outside Canada, even if your study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) have not yet been processed. Remember you should apply for these documents now.
Apply for a study permit as soon as possible so you will be ready to join in-person classes when you are able. You can begin your studies remotely in September if you are unable to be on campus for any reason.
Yes. Visa offices around the world continue to process study permit applications. The current travel restrictions to Canada will not prevent your study permit application from being processed. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently announced that they will notify successful applicants about when they can travel to Canada. We recommend that you apply for your study permit as soon as possible as it may take longer to process applications this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your PGWP eligibility will not be affected if you start your Fall 2020 courses online due to COVID-19. You may begin your fall classes online while outside Canada and complete up to 50% of your program through distance learning if you can’t travel to Canada sooner. Also, you won’t have time deducted from the length of a future post-graduation work permit for studies completed outside of Canada up to December 31, 2020.
Yes. All registered international students are automatically enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). UHIP is a basic health insurance plan which allows international students to access healthcare in Ontario and covers doctor visits, hospitalizations and other services. International students are also registered in supplementary health plans offered by their student unions which can also be found on the UHIP Page. Supplementary plans cover prescription medications, corrective lenses, dental care as well as other medically required needs.
Questions updated: May 25, 2020 at 12:00pm EST (All questions, with the exception of #3, are updated or new).
As of May 25, 2020 , the University of Toronto has cancelled future University activity to international locations for all students until December 31, 2020. University activities abroad on or after January 1, 2021 are scheduled to continue at this time. If you’re able to postpone or shift your travel to a later date, please arrange to do so. If you’re unable to change your plans, please note that, regrettably, your activity is cancelled.
PhD students planning to travel abroad for dissertation research during this time should contact safety.abroad@utoronto.ca. Given the current situation, there are significant travel restrictions and it will be difficult for you to make travel arrangements. We encourage you to postpone or shift your travel to a later date if you’re able to do so. If your work abroad can be carried out safely and in consideration of government advisories regarding travel, you may be able to proceed. Safety Abroad will work with you, your supervisor, and your academic unit to minimize disruption to your research.
We’ll continue to update this page with the most current information we have.
We understand this is an anxious time for you and can appreciate the stress you must be under through this evolving situation. If you are still abroad and would like support in returning to Canada or your home now, please contact safety.abroad@utoronto.ca.
Our immediate priority is to ensure all our students are safe. If you haven’t already done so, and have chosen to remain in your current location or are unable to leave at this time, please notify safety.abroad@utoronto.ca. Please let us know if you’re staying at a partner institution. The University understands the need to be flexible and your academic units will work with you on your return. Again, we want to be sure that each of our students are safe wherever they are.
We know that your academic pursuits are important to you and the University is committed to maintaining academic continuity. Your academic units are working hard to provide options to help resolve any concerns regarding transfer credits, academics, etc. Our priority at this time is the safe return of all our students to their home destinations.
We’re happy that you’ve returned home safely. If you have not already done so, please email us at safety.abroad@utoronto.ca to let us know that you’re now safely home and following public guidelines regarding self-isolation. Please consult our FAQs for further details. If you are an exchange student, please copy learning.abroad@utoronto.ca on your message.
If you have questions about travel related expenses incurred as a result of the University’s COVID-19 recall of all students abroad, please refer to this comprehensive directory of financial support available during the pandemic.
If you have additional questions not addressed here or have questions about your specific situation, please reach out to us at safety.abroad@utoronto.ca.