Your Graduate Experience
There is life beyond the classroom and the lab. Explore this page to find some ways to make the most of your graduate experience.
On This Page
Get Involved
Getting involved is a great way to meet like-minds and build your skill set. Best of all, many opportunities can be included on your co-curricular record. Whatever you’re into, we’ve got a club for that. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, start one!
Campus Athletics
Video: Cheer on your Varsity Blues
Just for Graduate Students
Here are some graduate spaces, events, resources, and opportunities just for you.
Explore U of T
There are thousands (yes, thousands) of social media accounts, events, and channels affiliated with U of T. Discover new and interesting things about the university below!
Beyond U of T
Toronto is Canada’s most populous, multicultural city and a world leader in business, finance, entertainment, culture and technology. Don’t forget to explore and connect!
Keep exploring…
Student Organization Portal
Explore the diversity of student groups, events and opportunities from across U of T’s three campuses. With hundreds of options to choose from, there’s bound to be something for everyone!
Co-Curricular Record
The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) is designed to help you find opportunities at U of T beyond the classroom and to have your skills and experiences captured on an official document.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to explore different types of work and gain experience. You will find a wide variety of volunteer positions on- and off-campus, part-time, and short-term unpaid opportunities that may or may not include a stipend.
Centre for Community Partnerships (CCP)
The Centre for Community Partnerships (CCP) collaborates with students to advance community-engaged learning and research through building community, enhancing capacity and learning together.
Alternative Reading Week (ARW)
During Alternative Reading Week (ARW), hundreds of U of T students immerse themselves in four days of volunteering with local community organizations. Students make meaningful contributions, build relationships and learn more about the City of Toronto.
Varsity
Varsity Blues
U of T teams have won every major Canadian university sporting championship over the past century, from football’s Vanier Cup to women’s ice hockey. Varsity Blues swimmers have the longest running championship record of any swim team in Canada and several hundred members of Varsity Blues teams have qualified for Olympic Games and FISU (international university) Games, as well as Commonwealth and Pan Am Games.
The Varsity Blues teams are coached by one of the most talented, acclaimed and successful coaching staffs in North America, including national team and Olympic coaches.
Varsity Blues teams participate in two leagues: OUA (Ontario University Athletics) which oversees provincial university sports and U SPORTS, the body that oversees national university sporting competition.
Intramurals
Co-funded by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) and the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU), SGS Intramurals offer different levels of competition in many sports through leagues, tournaments and special events. Participate in a faculty or college team, or form/join open teams.
Visit U of T Intramurals for available sports, detailed registration procedures, and deadlines.
Fitness
Athletic Centre
With seven gyms, three pools (including the only Olympic-sized pool in downtown Toronto), a strength and conditioning centre, indoor track, dance studio, cardio machines, tennis and squash courts and steam rooms, there’s something for everybody! Visit the Athletic Centre online.
Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
This beautifully designed sport and exercise facility houses a 2,000-seat, internationally-rated field house for basketball, volleyball and other court sports, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning centre, fitness studio, and more. Open to all students, not only high-performance athletes! Visit the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport online.
UTM – Recreation, Athletic and Wellness Centre (RAWC)
Sport and fitness activities at UTM are based in the Recreation, Athletic and Wellness Centre (RAWC) in the William G. Davis Building. Visit the RAWC online.
UTSC – Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC)
The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre hosts athletics and recreation at UTSC. Programs include drop-in and registered fitness classes for all skill levels, aquatics, outdoor recreation and a tennis club. TPASC is also home to a 41-foot climbing wall, with multiple routes for varying levels of experience. Visit the TPASC online.
Back Campus Fields
The Back Campus Fields on the St. George campus offer outdoor synthetic turf fields, perfect for recreational field hockey, soccer, Ultimate, lacrosse and other field sports during non-programmed activity times. Learn more about Back Campus Fields.
Hart House Fitness Centre
Open 365 days a year, the Hart House Fitness Centre features an art deco pool, squash courts, multilevel fitness facilities, suspended indoor track and a variety of spaces for everything from basketball to archery. Membership is automatic during fall/winter semesters when you are registered and have paid Hart House incidental fees; summer memberships may be purchased for an additional fee. Visit Hart House Fitness Centre online.
Sport & Rec @ U of T
Sport & Rec is a division of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education that provides sport and physical activity programs for U of T students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members at the St. George campus. Learn more about Sport & Rec @ U of T.
Event Calendars
The University of Toronto is a busy place – every day offers new opportunities to explore, experience and learn about what makes U of T special. Here are just some of the upcoming events happening across our community.
Mailing Lists
Find out what’s happening across campus by joining mailing lists. Here are few to start:
- Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC)
- Hart House Weekly
- Rotman Events
- Centre for Ethics
- U of T Entrepreneurship
- Jackman Humanities Institute’s Humanities At Large
- H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (subscribe at the bottom right of the web page)
- Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society
- Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS)
Do you have a favourite mailing list? Let us know!
Graduate Student Spaces
SGS Rooms
Need to find on-campus space for your next graduate student group meeting? Consider booking one of the rooms available through the School of Graduate Studies. Reservations can be requested up to four weeks prior to your meeting’s date. Book a meeting room.
SGS Graduate Student Lounge – UTSG
A comfortable space to relax, read, or socialize while you’re on St. George campus located at 63 St. George Street, 1st floor.
Grad Lounge – UTM
The Graduate Student Lounge, located in Room 2068B in the Davis Building, is your space on campus to eat, hang out or meet other grads! All UTM graduate students can can gain access to the lounge at any time using your TCard. Learn more about Grad Lounge.
Graduate Student Lounge – UTSC
The UTSC graduate student and postdoc lounge is located in the Science Wing Building in room SW-524A (map) and is open to all University of Toronto graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Learn more about Graduate Student Lounge.
Grad Room
Please note: Grad Room is currently closed.
Gradlife
Gradlife is a hub for graduate support and finding community that helps registered graduate students (master’s and PhD) at the St. George campus navigate the grad school experience at U of T.
Gradlife programming includes skill building sessions, conversational chats, social opportunities and other special events that are tailored for graduate students. Orientation programming is also offered in the fall and winter to help incoming graduate students transition to grad life.
Hidden Gems
On St. George campus
- Free talks at the Fields Institute (not just for math majors!)
- Grad Loft at the UTGSU
- Exhibitions at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto
- Events and lectures at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
- Family Study Space at Robarts Library
On UTSC campus
- Wednesday Farmers’ Market
- New Frontiers Seminar Series and workshop
- Events & Coffee Breaks at the Graduate Students’ Association at Scarborough
- The Instructional Centre (IC) rooftop garden
- Highland Creek Ravine
On UTM campus
- UTM Grad Lounge
- UTM’s Nature Trail and Erindale Park
- Graduate Student Study room 3 (Level 1) in the UTM library
- The Blackwood Gallery
- Lecture Me! Series by UTM faculty
Grad Life at Hart House
Find all of the Hart House events, workshops, opportunities and exhibits of particular interest to Graduate Students. Visit Grad Life at Hart House.
Opportunities
There are many fantastic opportunities to connect and get involved in Toronto. Check out professional organizations, mailing lists, meetups, and more to build your network and make the most of living in Canada’s largest and most diverse city.
Culture
Toronto is home to world-class festivals, galleries, museums, and cultural attractions. Check out the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, National Ballet of Canada, Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper Theatre, OCAD U’s annual Graduate Exhibition, Nuit Blanche, Luminato Festival, and more. And be sure to check for student rates!
Business
Check out this list of companies based in Toronto. There is no shortage of fantastic business networking events, co-ops, internships, professional associations, and more you can get involved in. Keep your eyes peeled for networking events and mentorship opportunities throughout your degree to make the most of this outstanding network.
Technology
There’s no doubt Toronto’s tech scene is booming and there are fantastic ways to get involved, from joining a MarS Discovery District e-newsletter, plugging into U of T’s entrepreneurship network, taking part in a hackathon, and more.
Get to know Toronto
University Health Network
The University Health Network (UHN) is the largest hospital network in Toronto. The UHN has four hospitals including Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Rehab – University Centre, and Toronto Western Hospital, which are affiliated teaching and research hospitals of the University of Toronto.
Learn more about hospitals in Toronto.
Recreation and places to visit
Enjoy Toronto by going to festivals & events, visiting beaches, gardens and other attractions, and exploring Toronto’s rich history, art and culture.
Social Media
U of T has countless social media accounts for whatever you’re into! Check them out in the Social Media Directory.