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Recommended Technology Requirements for Remote/Online Learning

Home > COVID-19 Information for University of Toronto Students > Recommended Technology Requirements for Remote/Online Learning

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Financial Support
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.
Students Learning Abroad

International students in areas with internet content restrictions, or who are working remotely on sensitive research, may require access to the University’s general purpose virtual private network (VPN). If you do require the U of T VPN to connect to university resources, please see this page for more information and instructions.

To help students located in mainland China, the University offers the Alibaba Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) which provides a lower latency connection from mainland China to the U of T’s online learning resources. Details can be found here.

Please note that VPNs do not typically enhance a user’s underlying internet service connectivity and will not assist with connectivity issues caused by the recent general increase in web traffic.

Cybersecurity Considerations at Home

Access the University’s Remote Security Matters page to learn more about creating a cyber secure home.

Minimum Technical Requirements

Minimum Technical Requirements

The University of Toronto has identified the following minimum technical requirements needed for students to access remote/online learning:

UTORid is also Required

Your UTORid and password provide access to online services like email (UTmail+), course content on Quercus, webinars, library resources, Microsoft365 applications, network services for international students, WiFi for those on campus, and more. For more information about getting your UTORid visit tcard.utoronto.ca.

Please reference the information below for additional information regarding recommended accessories, internet connectivity and frequently asked questions.

If you have additional questions, please contact your local IT help desk:

  • UTSC Information & Instructional Technology Services
    Phone: 416.287.4357
    Email: helpdesk@utsc.utoronto.ca
    Website: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/iits/
Adaptive Technology

Students operating adaptive tech software at home for remote learning may have a need for a system with greater capabilities. If there are questions or concerns it would be best to reach out to the adaptive tech point person on the respective campus for further discussion.

Recommended Accessories

  • Many courses will have synchronous (live) online meetings using webinar software. While many PCs are equipped with speakers and a microphone, using headphones with an attached microphone for these sessions is recommended. 

  • Many courses will have synchronous (live) online meetings using webinar software. While many laptop PCs are equipped with a video camera, some laptop PC and most desktop PC users may need to use a compatible USB video camera.

  • In some cases, students may need to provide an image of physical work completed. A compatible scanner or camera may be required. A mobile device equipped with a camera may also be acceptable.

Internet Connectivity

  • High speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) with minimum download speed of 5Mbps is strongly recommended. 

  • A wired connection (ethernet) to the home router is also recommended over WiFi connectivity to achieve the most reliable results. 

  • If broadband connectivity is not available, tethering to a mobile device such as a smartphone with strong signal and minimum download speeds of 5 Mbps is an option, although not recommended. Mobile Internet connectivity through a tethered mobile device will likely not be adequate for online video collaboration as the network latency and unreliable nature of cellular connectivity can result in poor video quality. 

  • Expanded use of your Internet connections (broadband or mobile) may cause you to exceed your monthly data plan allowance and result in significant overage charges. An unlimited data plan, if available, is highly recommended.

    Note: Many internet service providers (ISP) are suspending usage limits on their home internet plans to accommodate the surge of customers who are working remotely. ISPs including Bell, Rogers, and TekSavvy have confirmed they are waiving internet overage charges for customers on limited home internet plans for respective time periods. Check your ISP’s website for their COVID-19 accommodations and to confirm how long their overage suspension is in effect.

  • Alibaba Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN): This network solution provides a lower latency connection to University of Toronto (U of T) services specifically for students connecting from mainland China. To learn more read the recent announcement, check out the  frequently asked questions and technical documents. Note: Please only use this solution if you are connecting from mainland China.

Frequently Asked Questions
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