University of Toronto Scarborough


The University of Toronto Scarborough is one of the three campuses of the University of Toronto, located in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It also serves as a large academic division of the university.
The campus is set upon suburban parkland next to Highland Creek. It was established in 1964 as Scarborough College, a constituent college of the University of [Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science|Faculty of Arts and Science]. The college expanded following its designation as an academic division of the university in 1972. It is the smallest of the university's three campuses in terms of enrolment but the largest in terms of land area, the other two of which are the St. George campus in downtown Toronto and the Mississauga campus.
Although it is at a distance from the historic St. George campus, the Scarborough campus grants University of Toronto degrees, and credits earned at UTSC are transferable with any of the other two campuses. Academics of the campus are centred on a variety of undergraduate studies in the disciplines of management, arts and sciences, whilst also hosting limited postgraduate research programs. Its mental health studies program was the first to be offered in the nation. The campus is noted for being a major provider of cooperative education programs at the university, as well as the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Through affiliation with the adjacent Centennial Science and Technology Centre of Centennial College Morningside Campus, it also offers enrolment in joint programs.
UTSC also offers unique double degree programs, where students can obtain two degrees upon graduation, such as the five-year double degree program in Management Finance and Quantitative Finance. However, the number of students admitted to the double degree programs each year is limited.
The original building of the campus, the Andrews Building, was internationally acclaimed for its architectural design. The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a public sports facility, and Dan Lang Field, home to the baseball team of the Toronto Varsity Blues, are also situated on the Scarborough campus. The campus has traditionally held the annual F. B. Watts Memorial Lectures, which has hosted internationally renowned scholars since 1970.

History

The tract of land along the valley of the Highland Creek was purchased in 1911 by Toronto-based businessman Miller Lash, who developed the site into his summer estate with a mansion, today known as the Miller Lash House. The mansion included 17 rooms, a barn, a coach house, and three houses for his staff to dwell. Over the following years, over 100 acres of the estate were also used as farmland. Following the death of Miller Lash in 1941, the estate was acquired by E. L. McLean, an insurance broker, in 1944 for $59,000. He made new additions to the estate, including a swimming pool and change room, and a retaining wall made in stone.
About of property was later purchased from McLean, just before his death, by the University of Toronto for about $650,000 in 1963, as part of the university's regional expansion. The groundskeeper of the land would continue to reside in the Highland Creek valley for the next 29 years. McLean's additions to the Miller Lash House, which would eventually become the residence of the campus's principal, were modernized, and of surrounding land north of the estate were also acquired. The University of Toronto established the Scarborough College as part of the institution's collegiate university system and declared the campus a branch of the Faculty of Arts and Science. David Carlton Williams was appointed as the principal of Scarborough College and the planned Erindale College, as well as vice-president of the university. The college's faculty, consisting of 16 members, was also established and headquartered at the St. George campus in downtown Toronto. First classes were held at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute and Old Biology Building at the St. George campus. Designed by John Andrews, the first building of the campus began construction the following year. Due to delays in construction after a strike among workers, the Scarborough College opened in temporary classes at St. George to 191 full-time students in 1965. The first building was completed in time for the following academic year.
The college included a television production studio. This was for a unique video lecturing system the college initially planned to have, which relies on the use of closed-circuit television for teaching purposes. The system grabbed international media attention, and was complimented in the 1967 edition of Time. However, the video lecturing system was abandoned after it was condemned for the lack of communicability of students with instructors.
In 1972, the campus was reorganized from a constituent college to a fully-fledged academic division of the university, separate from the Faculty of Arts and Science.
In 1973, it became the first post-secondary institution to adopt a course credit system in Ontario and the first cooperative education program was established. The campus adopted its present official name in 2006 after being renamed University of Toronto Scarborough Campus in 1983 and University of Toronto at Scarborough in 1996. The initials UTSC come from the former name and continue to be used by the university to distinguish the campus from University of Toronto Schools.

Campus grounds

Geography

For much of its existence, the University of Toronto Scarborough was described as a "mid-sized university campus". It sits on of land, forming the west side of the Highland Creek neighbourhood. It is bounded entirely by Morningside Avenue to the west, adjacent to the Morningside campus of Centennial College. The campus is bounded to the east by residential areas and Military Trail. The campus extends the north to south of Highway 401 and south to the north of Old Kingston Road. Unlike the university's downtown St. George campus, the University of Toronto Scarborough is located in a suburban area, consisting of residential houses along its eastern side and urban forestry on its southern and western side.
The Ellesmere Road separates the south and north portions of the campuses. The neighbourhood's namesake river runs through the lower campus, and its valley consists of Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail and other pedestrian trails that link the campus to nearby parks in Toronto|parks] and neighbourhoods in Toronto|neighbourhoods]. The underground passes and three major inter-campus pedestrian walks: Gallery Walk, Illiniaqtiup Aqqutinga, and Tsi Yonnenyakéhtó:Ten allow convenient travel between buildings in the south campus. Students often use the sidewalks at Military Trail to access the north campus buildings.

Architecture

1964–1999

The Andrews Building, the first completed building of the campus, named after its designer, John Andrews, was built in a brutalist architectural style and completed in 1964. Andrews objected to the term "brutalist," since the architecture was built with human needs and logic in mind, aiming to create a connected space that limited outdoor exposure in the winter. The interiors were made to mimic the streets of a city, with wide hallways and balconies on upper floors. The building is divided into two wings, known as the Science Wing and the Humanities Wing. The Meeting Place, a large atrium at the center of both wings, is often used to hold events. The design of the Andrews Building, along with its unique closed-circuit television teaching system, was the target of international acclaim during the decade.
The 1970s and onward saw new buildings being designed in a modernist style. The Recreational Wing, now known as the Bladen Wing was completed in 1972. The Recreation Wing housed the University of Toronto Scarborough Library, then known as the Vincent W. Bladen Library. The N'Sheemaehn Child Care Centre, one of the university's non-profit child day care facilities, opened in 1990. An underground corridor completed in 1995, known as the Hall of Excellence, connects Bladen Wing and the Humanities Wing.

2000–2008

brought challenges to the teaching, study and residence spaces at the campus due to an increase in first-year enrollment. In response, the Academic Research Centre and Joan Foley Hall were constructed. The ARC was built in 2003 as an extension of the Bladen Building with a copper finish. It allowed for the relocation and expansion of the UTSC Library to its present state and introduced the campus's first near-500-seat lecture theatre, which has since held the Watts Lecture series, after formerly being held in the Meeting Place. The Doris McCarthy Gallery, also found in the ARC, exhibits works by local artists and campus alumni, Doris McCarthy. The Student Centre was opened in 2004 through a project that was initiated and funded by students through a levy from 2002 to 2027. Constructed using 18 tonnes of recycled steel from a demolished gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum, the three-storey Student Centre earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification as well as a Green Design Award from the City of Toronto. The Kina Wiiya Enadong Building, which opened in 2004, was originally the home of the Department of Management. After the completion of the Instructional Centre in 2011, it became the new home of the Department of Management, the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and the offices of cooperative education programs. Brick and limestone were used to create the Arts and Administration Building, completed in 2005, which holds the principal's office. In 2005, the Consulate General of Japan donated 50 cherry trees to UTSC to symbolize the friendship between Japan and Canada. The trees at Sakura Grove bloom annually, attracting students, faculty, and staff to enjoy the fleeting beauty of the blossoms. The Science Research Building, where post-graduate research facilities and a lecture hall are located, is an extension of the Science Wing that was completed in 2008.

2009–present

Since 2009, the university has undertaken a proposal to substantially expand the campus north of Ellesmere Road, starting with the construction of the Instructional Centre, funded by Canada's Economic Action Plan, completed in 2011. The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre was one of the main venues of the 2015 Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games. The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre brought pool facility to campus and significantly expanded the size of the gym. The Parapan American Games also brought an addition of seven accessible tennis courts to the Highland Creek valley. The Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, completed in summer 2015, was the third building to open in the north grounds. The most recent addition to campus architecture is Highland Hall, built on the footprint of the old gym and athletic centre. Highland Hall houses the Registrar's Office, Admissions & Recruitment, classrooms, a lecture hall, and an Event Centre. Recent expansion plans include the opening of the Sam Ibrahim Building in 2024, the "second instructional centre," to be completed on the north campus to house offices for the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and several lecture halls., Harmony Commons, a student residence completed in 2023, and Indigenous House, due to be completed in 2025.
In 2022, the Ontario government announced that the University of Toronto Scarborough would offer medical education. The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will train approximately 40 physicians, 56 physician assistants, 30 nurse practitioners, 40 physiotherapists, and 300 undergraduate students in Health Sciences each year starting in September 2026 and 2027 at the Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex.

Academics

Departments

The campus is primarily an undergraduate institution, thus it attracts the most direct-entry applicants from secondary schools among the university's three campuses. The campus has 16 academic departments:
Students are diversified among concentrations that are specialists, as well as the majors and minors. The cooperative education programs, which require students to complete three semesters in workplaces pertaining to their field of study, are the most comprehensive at the University of Toronto. Joint programs with Centennial College, which award both a university degree and a college diploma, are offered in journalism, new media, paramedicine, and Music Industry and Technology.

Bachelor of Arts

Thirteen departments of the campus contain programs that award a Bachelor of Arts degree, most of which also offer a Co-op option. The Department of Anthropology offers courses in Anthropology: Socio-cultural and Anthropology. The Department of Arts, Culture and Media offers courses in Art History & Visual Culture, Arts & Media Management, Arts Administration, Journalism, Media Studies, Media, Journalism & Digital Culture, Music, Music Industry & Technology, New Media Studies, Studio Arts, and Theatre & Performance Studies. The department is one of only two universities in Ontario to offer an undergraduate degree in Arts Management. The Department of English offers courses in Creative Writing, English, English Literature, and Literature and Film Studies. The department also offers a double degree in Psychology and English in partnership with the Department of Psychology. The Department of Global Development Studies offers programs in African Studies and International Development Studies. The Department of Health and Society offers programs in Health Humanities, and Health Studies: Health Policy. The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies offers courses in Classical Studies, Food Studies, Global Asian Studies, History, and Women's & Gender Studies. The Department of Human Geography offers courses in City Studies, Geographical Information Science, Human Geography, Physical and Human Geography, and Urban Public Policy & Governance. The Department of Language Studies offers courses in Chinese and English Translation, French, Linguistics, and Psycholinguistics. The Department of Management offers courses in Economics for Management Studies in addition to the Bachelor of Business Administration program. The Department of Philosophy offers courses in Biomedical Ethics and Philosophy. The Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences offers courses in Environmental Studies in addition to the Bachelor of Science. The Department of Political Science offers courses in Political Science, Public Law, and Public Policy. The Department of Sociology offers courses in Critical Migration Studies, Culture, Creativity and Cities, and Sociology.

Bachelor of Science

The university has seven departments in the sciences, which award a Bachelor of Science degree. Most of which also offer a Co-op option. In addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Department of Anthropology also offers a program in Anthropology: Evolutionary. The Department of Biological Sciences offers courses in life sciences, including Biology, Conservation and Biodiversity, Human Biology, Integrative Biology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Immunology and Disease, and Plant Biology. The Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences teaches Applied Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. The Department of Global Development Studies offers a program in International Development Studies. The Department of Health and Society offers programs in Population Health and Paramedicine in addition to the Bachelor of Arts. The Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences offers programs in Applied Climatology, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Environmental Physics, Environmental Science, Global Climate Change, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, Natural Sciences & Environmental Management, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Physics & Astrophysics. Students may also pursue a combined degree program that combines a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Engineering. Some programs in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences can also lead to a combined degree with a Master of Environmental Science. The Department of Psychology offers programs in Psychology, Mental Health Studies, and Neuroscience. Students may also pursue a joint degree program combining a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Studies and a Master of Social Work. In addition, some Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts programs also offer a combined degree with a Master of Education.

Bachelor of Business Administration

The Bachelor of Business Administration with Co-op option degree is also unique to the campus. It is awarded by the programs in the Department of Management. It offers specialist degrees The university offers joint master's degrees in Management, Management & Accounting, Management & Finance, Management & Human Resources, Management & Information Technology, Management & International Business, Management & Marketing, Strategic Management, and Economics for Management Studies. UTSC is the only campus that provides double degree programs. One of the Double Degree: BBA, Specialist program in Management and Finance/Honours BSc, Specialist program in Statistics, Quantitative Finance Stream, is one of the top programs at the University of Toronto, set up in 2018. This program is a double specialist program, rather than a double major, consisting of two more specialized fields. After graduation, students will receive both a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree, it usually takes five years to complete.The admission difficulty is comparable to that of the engineering program, and is slightly higher than that of computer science. The admission difficulty for programs with Co-operation is even higher. This project involves a greater course load, but at the same time, it also has greater competitiveness. Only 20 students are admitted to this program each year. This new degree is the first of its kind at any university in the Greater Toronto Area.

Co-operative education (co-op)

The University of Toronto Scarborough is distinguished by its extensive offering of co-operative education programs across the Arts, Sciences, and Management disciplines. Often referred to as "U of T's co-op campus," the program has been a core component of UTSC's academic model for over 50 years.
The campus established the first cooperative education program in Ontario in 1973, following its reorganization into a separate division of the Faculty of Arts and Science. The International Development Studies Co-op, established in 1984, was the first undergraduate co-op of its kind in Canada, focused on international development field work.
The UTSC Co-op Office currently facilitates programs in approximately 50 different subject areas, with an annual enrollment of nearly 4,000 students.

Program structure

Co-op degree requirements combine academic study with mandatory work terms, which are integral and mandatory components of the program curriculum.
  • Students are typically required to complete a minimum of 12 months of work experience, most commonly fulfilled through three, four-month work terms, or a combination including one 8 or 12-month term.
  • All co-op work terms are full-time and salaried, with the requirement to be paid at least minimum wage.
  • Placements for UTSC students occur across local, national, and international industries, including major employers in finance, government, technology, and non-profit sectors, such as Microsoft, CIBC, RBC, and The [Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)|The Hospital for Sick Children].

Graduate programs

Four graduate programs are based on the campus. The Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences offers masters and doctoral degrees in environmental science. The Department of Psychology offers a combined MA and PhD program in clinical psychology. The most recent graduate program offered through the Department of Management is the Masters of Accounting and Finance, which provides accreditation pathways for both the CPA and CFA designations.

Research

The University of Toronto Scarborough hosts a diverse and growing research body, spanning life sciences, natural sciences, health, community engagement, sustainability, and innovation.

Research labs and centres

  • Black Health Equity Lab – Established in 2022 in the Department of Health & Society, BHEL focuses on improving health equity for Black communities in Scarborough. Its projects include HIV prevention and treatment programs developed in partnership with local health organizations.
  • Clusters of Scholarly Prominence Program – Funds interdisciplinary faculty teams conducting collaborative projects.
  • Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Leadership – Housed in the Sam Ibrahim Building, this centre supports student entrepreneurship and leadership training, funded through a donation by entrepreneur Sam Ibrahim.
  • SoundLife Scarborough – Launched in 2023, this initiative fosters community-engaged research through music, creating collaborations between UTSC, local musicians, and cultural organizations.
  • Therapeutic Interventions for Psychosis Lab – This lab investigates the causes and treatment of distressing symptoms of psychosis, developing interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive remediation.

Sustainability in infrastructure

UTSC integrates sustainability into research and campus planning. Recent projects include:
  • Harmony Commons was built to Passive House standards, projected to reduce energy use by 40–60% compared to conventional designs.
  • The Sam Ibrahim Building, which features geothermal heating, high-efficiency insulation, and a green roof, designed to lower energy consumption by ~40%.

Interdisciplinary research centres and clusters

UTSC hosts a variety of interdisciplinary research centres and extra-departmental research clusters that facilitate collaboration across disciplines and support innovative projects.
  • Centre for Biological Chemistry – Focuses on research in molecular biology, biochemistry, and cellular processes, supporting both basic and applied research initiatives.
  • Centre for Ethnography – Established in 2007, this centre promotes ethnographic research and writing at UTSC, hosting an annual speaker series, workshops, courses, and a fellowship competition for ethnographic writing.
  • Centre for Global Disability Studies – Founded in 2020, CGDS brings together researchers across U of T campuses to conduct interdisciplinary disability studies research, emphasizing anti-ableist, intersectional, and transnational approaches.
  • Centre for the Neurobiology of Stress – Established in 2000, this state-of-the-art facility supports research on brain and nervous system functioning, including electrophysiology, microscopy, and behavioral studies.
  • Centre for Planetary Sciences – Hosted by the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, it provides a platform for cross-disciplinary research on planetary science, supports postdoctoral fellows, and engages in public outreach.
  • Culinaria Research Centre – A multidisciplinary initiative exploring food studies, including cultural identity, diaspora, production, and social impacts of food. Combines fieldwork, archival research, GIS, and digital humanities approaches.
  • Environmental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre – Opened in 2004, this facility conducts environmental research using NMR spectroscopy to study molecular-level environmental processes and metabolomics.
  • Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience Group – Founded in 2001, focuses on functional and evolutionary aspects of animal behaviour, bridging genomic data and phenotype using integrative experimental approaches.
  • Plant Cellular and Molecular Processes Group – Operates in an open-concept laboratory with advanced plant growth chambers. Research spans biochemistry, molecular genetics, physiology, and microscopy to investigate plant growth, development, and stress responses.

Student life

Student Centre

The Student Centre is a three-story building, where the office of the Scarborough Campus Students' Union, office of Student Affairs of the University of Toronto Scarborough, as well as other offices of student clubs and organizations, are located. It also contains a food court, health and wellness centre, and multifaith prayer room. Located on the first floor of the Student Center, 1265 Bistro is a bar and restaurant operated by the Student Union. Originally called "The Bluffs," the venue opened shortly after the opening of the Student Centre and reopened in 2009 as "Rex's Den" with improved service. After a brief closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Union decided to permanently close Rex's Den and rebrand it as the existing 1265 Bistro in 2022 based on student feedback.

Transportation

Public transit

Several public transit connections can be made at the campus bus terminal, which serves routes operated by the Toronto Transit Commission, GO Transit, and Durham Region Transit.

Bike Share Program

The UTSC Bike Share Program offers UTSC students a free bicycle rental service on weekdays from 9 to 4:30 pm for same-day rent and return. It supports short‑distance trips near campus. Students can rent bikes through the Student Residence Centre by completing an online form using their UTORid and student number. Upon approval, renters receive a bike lock, a lanyard with the bike number, a key, and a swipe access card for the outdoor bike cage. Bikes are collected from the outdoor cage beside the Highland Hall bus loop, behind the Bike Share Toronto docks. The program also promotes sustainable transportation.

Parking lots

Drivers can choose to park their cars in the campus parking lots. Most parking spots are located at the north campus. They can also park at nearby GO stations for free and then arrive at campus by TTC or bike share.

Food on campus

UTSC provides a variety of dining options across campus, ranging from subsidized student-run venues to university-managed dining halls.
The Student Centre contains a food court that serves as a central hub for student dining. The food court offers a selection of vendors, including popular chains lke KFC and Subway. It is frequently used by commuting students due to its central location and extended weekday hours.
Located on the first floor of the UTSC Student Centre, 1265 Bistro is a student-run bar and restaurant operated by the Scarborough Campus Students' Union. The venue offers relatively affordable food due to subsidies from the union. The space has gone through multiple rebrandings since the Student Centre opened. A Chatime is also located adjacent to 1265 Bistro.
The Harmony Commons Dining Hall is the primary all-you-care-to-eat facility at UTSC, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. First-year residents are required to purchase a seven-day meal plan, which is valid only at Harmony Commons. The dining hall also emphasizes sustainable dining practices and provides vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and halal options.
The Market Place in the Humanities Wing offers a variety of international cuisines and grab-and-go options.
Two Tim Hortons can be found on campus. One is located between the Academic Resource Centre and Bladen Wing. The other one is at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. There is also a Starbucks at the Meeting Place, a La Prep at the Instructional Centre, CAFÉ DÉPÔT at the Sam Ibrahim Building, Hotpot and Tea at Highland Hall, and more.

UTSC Library

As one of the University of Toronto Libraries, the University of Toronto Scarborough Library serves as an academic hub for students, faculty, and researchers, providing access to a wide range of scholarly resources, study spaces, and digital services. In addition to traditional library services, the UTSC Library supports experiential learning, digital literacy, and research skills development through workshops, peer tutoring, and partnerships with faculty.

BRIDGE

The BRIDGE is a joint initiative of UTSC's Department of Management and the UTSC Library, blending academic, research, and experiential learning in the domains of business, data, and entrepreneurship.
As a multipurpose academic space, BRIDGE functions as a business research library, data lab, collaboration lounge, and student innovation hub. It equips students with access to advanced tools and platforms, fostering hands-on learning in business analytics and research.
BRIDGE also serves as a hub for co-curricular programming, workshops, events, and partnerships with industry, aiming to connect classroom knowledge with practical applications, and to support student formation, community engagement, and innovation.

Study spaces on campus

UTSC provides numerous study environments across campus. Students can also use empty classrooms as long as there are no scheduled lectures, tutorials or standing bookings. Some notable study spaces include:
  • UTSC Library — Offers quiet study zones, group study rooms, and individual carrels across two floors.
  • Science Wing and Humanities Wing — Contains rows of study carrels next to classrooms.
  • Bladen Wing — Designed for both individual and small-group sessions.
  • Highland Hall — Includes lounge furniture, desks, and smaller study corners to blend studying and socializing.
  • Sam Ibrahim Building — Includes a wide variety of modern study spaces such as study carrels, lounge seating, and desks.

Athletics

UTSC provides opportunities for students of all skill levels to participate in sports and fitness, whether for recreation, competition, or general well-being. All UTSC students have access to athletic facilities across all three University of Toronto campuses, including the world-class Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is a major athletic facility located on the UTSC campus. It was constructed for the 2015 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games. It is co-owned by the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto. It also serves as the home arena for the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. In 2024, more than 11,000 students made use of TPASC.
Opened in 2014, the facility includes:
  • Two Olympic-sized swimming pools and a 25-metre diving pool.
  • A field house with multiple courts for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sports.
  • A fitness centre, running track, and climbing wall.
The centre is used extensively by UTSC students, varsity teams, and community members. Students enrolled at UTSC receive membership access as part of their incidental fees, granting use of the gym, pool, and other fitness amenities.
In addition to student use, TPASC regularly hosts local and international competitions, as well as national team training camps.

Varsity sports

The University of Toronto's Varsity Blues gathers elite athletes from across all three campuses to compete against other universities. Varsity sports include:
  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross-country running
  • Curling
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey
  • Figure skating
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Mountain biking
  • Rowing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo
  • Wrestling
Unless otherwise noted, all programs offer options for men and women.

Intramurals

Intramural programs provide opportunities for organized competition among all three campuses. Each year, about 827 intramural athletes participate. Sports include:
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Field hockey
  • Flag football
  • Ice hockey
  • Indoor soccer
  • Lacrosse
  • Outdoor soccer
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
Unless otherwise noted, all programs offer options for men and women.

Residences

South and North Residences (Townhouses)

UTSC was not originally planned to include any residence halls. Prior to 2023, student housing was primarily located at the southernmost end of campus. In 1967, students proposed additional on-campus housing. This led to the construction of the South Townhouses : Aspen Hall, Birch Hall, Cedar Hall, Dogwood Hall, and Elm Hall, which opened in 1973 and housed approximately 250 students. The townhouses feature shared common areas, kitchens, and bathrooms for student use. With growing demand and increased enrollment, the South Townhouses : Fir Hall, Grey Pine Hall, Hickory Hall, and Ironwood Hall were completed in 1984 to house 144 students. By 1989, the North Townhouses : Juniper Hall, Koa Hall, Larch Hall, and Maple Hall were built adjacent to the Science Research Building, adding 142 beds.

Joan Foley Hall and Student Residence Centre

To meet the needs of the growing student body, Joan Foley Hall, named after UTSC's first female president, opened in 2003. Joan Foley Hall offers 58 suites, accommodating up to 229 students. Each unit has a shared common area, kitchen, and bathroom. The building is also equipped with an elevator. The Student Residence Centre, a blue building adjacent to Joan Foley Hall, oversees residence administration and serves as a common area for all townhouse and Joan Foley Hall residents. It handles student mail, accepts food delivery, and provides some daily necessities for student use.

Harmony Commons

In 2023, UTSC opened the nine-storey Harmony Commons. This passive house provides 748 additional beds and features a sustainable design, integrated dining, and flexible study and recreational spaces. Currently, Harmony Commons and South Townhouses are for first-year students. Upper-year undergraduates and graduate students can only apply to live in Joan Foley Hall or North Townhouses. If there are vacancies, first-year students may be assigned to North Townhouses, too.

Amenities

All housing has both shared and single bedrooms available, with a limited number of "super single" bedrooms in Harmony Commons featuring private bathrooms. With limited exceptions, the duration of accommodation is based on the length of the semester. Student housing has a 'first-year guarantee' where first-years who apply before a certain deadline are guaranteed to find housing. Since not all first-year residences do not have kitchens where cooking is possible, first-year residents, regardless of their residence, must purchase a seven-day meal plan that is valid only in the Harmony Commons dining hall.

Undergraduate campus groups and student organizations

Students at UTSC have access to a wide variety of student-led groups and organizations that support academic, cultural, social, and professional development.

Scarborough Campus Students' Union

The Scarborough Campus Students' Union is the official undergraduate student union at UTSC, representing and advocating for the interests of the student body.
Established in 1966, SCSU has led numerous student-driven initiatives, such as the construction of UTSC residences and the student centre and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the face of the Gaza War. SCSU operates and manages the UTSC Student Centre, owns and runs the 1265 Bistro restaurant, supports and recognizes departmental student associations and clubs, and offers various services including bursaries, health & dental plans, lockers, photocopying, and graduation photos. The union also provides discounts, organizes events, and supports student initiatives across campus.
An executive team, a board of directors, and full-time staff lead SCSU. This includes the president, along with vice presidents overseeing operations, academics and university affairs, equity, campus life, and external relations. The board of directors represent each academic department and certain student populations.

Departmental Student Associations (DSAs)

Supported by SCSU, each academic department at UTSC has its own departmental student association, which provides academic support, advocacy, and social programming for students. Examples include the Biological Sciences Student Association and Psychology and Neuroscience Departmental Association.

Clubs

SCSU recognizes and supports a wide range of student clubs, covering cultural, academic, and recreational interests. Examples include the Emergency Medical Response Group and Twelve65. Students can browse existing clubs or register a new club through the SCSU Club Services portal.

Volunteer networks and equity services

UTSC offers students opportunities to participate in volunteer initiatives through the SCSU, including programs in street teams, food centres, academic support services, and racialized student collectives. Participation provides students with certificates, reference letters, co-curricular record recognition, and opportunities for community outreach scholarships.
SCSU operates three main equity service centres: the Academic Support Centre, Food Centre, and Racialized Student Collective. These centres provide academic advising, free food resources, professional development workshops, and social programming aimed at fostering student development.

Frosh (SCSU Orientation)

At UTSC, Frosh is the annual ticketed orientation event for incoming students, organized by the Scarborough Campus Students' Union. The event typically spans three days and includes a mix of social and campus-familiarization activities.
During Frosh, students are grouped into "houses" and compete in challenges and games to earn points toward a "House Cup." The program also includes opening ceremonies, performances, campus tours, and opportunities to meet upper-year students.

ARTSIDEOUT (ASO)

ARTSIDEOUT is UTSC's largest multidisciplinary arts festival, held annually in October. The event transforms the campus into an open-air gallery, featuring visual art exhibitions, live performances, interactive installations, and workshops. Organized by students for students, it provides a platform for the UTSC community to engage with and showcase diverse artistic expressions. The festival is free and open to all, fostering creativity and cultural exchange within the campus.

Media

Student media on the campus include The Underground, the campus's official student news outlet. The campus also receives distributions of The Varsity.

Greek life

Greek life at UTSC includes one sorority: Delta Alpha Theta - Gamma chapter and one fraternity: Xi Alpha Pi. None of these organizations has a house. As per the anti-discrimination policy since 1960, the University of Toronto does not officially recognize fraternities or sororities.

Subreddit

hosts a dedicated forum for UTSC, known as . The subreddit serves as an informal digital gathering space where current students, alumni, and prospective applicants share advice, campus news, memes, and discussions about academic and social life at UTSC.
As a student-run platform, r/UTSC is not officially affiliated with the university, but it has become an important venue for peer-to-peer support.

Graduate student organizations

Graduate students at the University of Toronto Scarborough are represented by several organizations that provide academic, professional, and social support.

The University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union (UTGSU)

The University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union represents over 18,500 graduate students across all three campuses, offering services such as health and dental insurance, intramural leagues, funding opportunities, and advocacy.

Graduate Students Association at Scarborough (GSAS)

At the Scarborough campus, the Graduate Students Association at Scarborough is the elected body representing UTSC graduate students. GSAS manages the Graduate and Postdoc Lounge, organizes social and academic events, and publishes The Valley, a journal featuring creative works, research highlights, and stories from graduate students and postdocs. It also collaborates with the Vice-Principal Research and Vice-Dean Graduate on initiatives such as the Graduate Student Seminar Series, the New Frontiers Seminar Series, and the Graduate Student Summer Gym Rebate. In partnership with the Centre for Teaching & Learning, the Academic Advising & Career Centre, and the Graduate Association for Professional Skills, GSAS also delivers workshops and professional training.

Graduate Management Consulting Association UTSC (GMCA@UTSC)

UTSC also hosts a chapter of the Graduate Management Consulting Association, which offers professional development opportunities in management consulting. GMCA@UTSC runs mentorship programs and its signature 10-week miniMBA program, providing students with experiential learning and leadership development.

Demographics

The Scarborough campus has about 22 per cent as many students as the St. George campus. It comprises 15 per cent of the University's student enrolment as a whole. UTSC has the largest proportion of international students of the three campuses with 30.7 per cent, as opposed to 29.0 per cent at UTSG and 25.7 per cent at UTM. The UTSC gender ratio is less balanced than St. George, with a higher proportion of female students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
UndergraduateGraduate
Male41.3%34.6%
Female56.1%63.7%
Canadian student69.0%80.7%
International student31.0%19.3%

Notable people

Faculty

In popular culture

The University of Toronto Scarborough has been used as a filming location for a number of films and music videos. Portions of Enemy directed by Denis Villeneuve, The Shape of Water directed by Guillermo del Toro, Dream Scenario directed by Kristoffer Borgli, and The Weeknd's music video for Secrets were shot on the campus. The campus's longstanding association with television and film production, as well as its architectural features that make it a notable filming site. The campus was also used by David Cronenberg as the location for his debut film Stereo in 1969.