University of Toronto Scarborough

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox university The University of Toronto Scarborough (also known as U of T Scarborough or UTSC) is one of the three campuses that comprise the tri-campus system of the University of Toronto. It is located in Scarborough, a district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The campus is set upon suburban parkland next to Highland Creek. It was established in 1964 as Scarborough College, a constituent college of the Faculty of Arts and Science. The college expanded following its designation as an autonomic division of the university in 1972. It is the smallest in terms of enrolment size among the university's three campuses, the other two of which are the main St. George campus in downtown Toronto and the Mississauga campus.

Although the Scarborough campus is at a distance from the university's main location, it grants University of Toronto degrees and credits earned at UTSC are transferable with any of the other two campuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

UTSC also offers more unique and challenging double degree programs, where students can obtain two degrees upon graduation, such as the five-year double degree program (BBA & HBSc) in Management Finance and Quantitative Finance (Statistics). However, the number of students admitted to the double degree programs each year is limited.

The original building of the campus (Andrews Building) was internationally acclaimed for its architectural design. The Dan Lang Field, home to the baseball team of the Toronto Varsity Blues, is also situated on the campus. The campus has traditionally held the annual F. B. Watts Memorial Lectures, which has hosted internationally renowned scholars since 1970.

History

The Template:Convert 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made new additions to the estate, including a swimming pool and change room, and a retaining wall made in stone.

About Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert 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. D. C. 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 main campus in downtown Toronto. First classes were held at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute and Old Biology Building at the St. George campus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Designed by John Andrews, the first building of the campus began construction the following year.<ref name="timeline">Template:Cite web</ref> Due to delays in construction after a strike among workers, the Scarborough College opened in temporary classes at the main campus to 191 full-time students in 1965. The first building was completed in time for the following academic year.

The college included a Template:Convert 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The system grabbed international media attention, and was complimented in the 1967 edition of Time.<ref name="the-underground.ca">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 as a separately governed division of the university's Faculty of Arts and Science, developing its own curriculum. 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 (UTS).

Campus grounds

Geography

File:UTSCValleyTrail2025.jpg
The Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail facing south towards Highland Creek. Wildlife is commonly spotted along the trail.

For much of its existence, the University of Toronto Scarborough was described as a "mid-sized university campus".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It sits on Template:Convert 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.<ref name="Campus map">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 (formerly known as Valley Land Trail) and other pedestrian trails that link the campus to nearby parks and neighbourhoods. The underground passes and three major inter-campus pedestrian walks: Gallery Walk, Illiniaqtiup Aqqutinga (Scholars Walk), and Tsi Yonnenyakéhtó:Ten (Rock Walk) allow convenient travel between buildings in the south campus.<ref name="Campus map" /> Students often use the sidewalks at Military Trail to access the north campus buildings.<ref name="Campus map" />

Architecture

Template:See also

1964–1999

File:John Andrews Building Scarborough 2010 (2).jpg
Looking west: Science Wing ahead, Bladen Building on the left, and the Arts and Administration Building on the right

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="the-underground.ca" /> The design of the Andrews Building, along with its unique closed-circuit television teaching system, was the target of international acclaim during the decade.<ref name="Grant">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:UTSC Alumni Corner.jpg
Alumni Corner (Hall of Excellence after renovation in 2025)

The 1970s and onward saw new buildings being designed in a modernist style.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Recreational Wing, now known as the Bladen Wing (named after Vincent Bladen, former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science) was completed in 1972. The Recreation Wing (R-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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000–2008

File:Sakura Grove at UTSC, May 2025.jpg
Sakura Grove during blooming season

Double cohort 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 (ARC) and Joan Foley Hall were constructed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 (LEED) certification as well as a Green Design Award from the City of Toronto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Kina Wiiya Enadong Building (formerly known as the Management Wing, later renamed the Social Sciences Building due to the relocation of the Department of Management, and then changed to its current name in 2021 in response to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report), 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which holds the principal's office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2009–present

File:UTSC Instructional Centre 2025.jpg
UTSC Instructional Centre
File:Sam Ibrahim Centre Interior 2024.jpg
Interior of Sam Ibrahim Building

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 (built 2014) was one of the main venues of the 2015 Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Harmony Commons, a student residence completed in 2023,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Indigenous House, due to be completed in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2022, the Ontario government announced that the University of Toronto Scarborough would offer medical education.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Public transit

TTC and GO Transit

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Students, staff and visitors can choose the transit bus service by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), GO Transit, and Durham Region Transit (DRT) to arrive at the campus.<ref name=TTC95>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both the TTC and GO Transit stations are located at the bus loop outside of Highland Hall. Students and visitors can also access TTC, GO, and DRT bus services at other bus stops along Military Trail and Morningside Avenue. TTC Wheel-Trans customers may also access multiple Wheel-Trans stops on campus.

TTC routes

Route<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=TTC95/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Destination Availability
38B Highland Creek To Kennedy Station (westbound) via Scarborough Centre Station All week
938 Highland Creek Express To Kennedy Station (westbound) via Scarborough Centre Station Weekdays only
95B York Mills To York Mills Station (westbound) All week
995 York Mills Express To York Mills Station (westbound) Weekdays only
905 Eglinton East Express To Kennedy Station (westbound)
To Conlins (eastbound) (905A only) 		All week
154 Curran Hall To Kennedy Station (westbound) All week

GO Transit routes

Route<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Destination Availability
41 Hamilton/Pickering To Hamilton GO Centre (westbound)
To Pickering GO (eastbound) via Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal 		Weekdays only
41A Hamilton/Pickering To Square One (westbound)
To Pickering GO (eastbound) 		Weekdays only
41F Hamilton/Pickering To Square One (westbound) Weekdays only

DRT

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The DRT bus stops are located at Centennial Circle (Behind the Environmental and Chemistry Building). There is also another bus stop at Ellemere Road at Military Trail.

DRT routes

Route<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Destination Availability
900 Oshawa Pickering Express To Ritson Northbound @ Richmond (eastbound) All-week service
N1 Harmony Pickering Express To Harmony Northbound @ Conlin (eastbound) All-week night service only

Public Transit connects UTSC to nearby transportation hubs such as Scarborough Centre Station, Kennedy Station, and Guildwood GO Station. These hubs offer transfer to downtown Toronto, the St. George campus, Union Station, and Via Rail.

Bike Share Toronto

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Bike Share Toronto operates a docking station at UTSC, located near Parking Lot A and Highland Hall Bus Loop.<ref name="Campus map" /> This provides students, staff, and visitors with access to the citywide bike share system, offering both standard bicycles and e-bikes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

UTSC Bike Share Program

File:UTSC Bike Share Program Cage.jpg
UTSC Bike Share Program cage

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="Campus map" />

Academics

Departments

File:UTSCBookstore.jpg
The University of Toronto Bookstore operates a branch at Scarborough. Due to disrepair and the bookstore's future relocation to the north campus,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the sign on the wall was removed in 2025.

The campus is primarily an undergraduate institution, thus it attracts the most direct-entry applicants from secondary schools among the university's three campuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The campus has 16 academic departments:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • The Department of Anthropology
  • The Department of Arts, Culture and Media
  • The Department of Biological Sciences
  • The Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences
  • The Department of English
  • The Department of Global Development Studies
  • The Department of Health and Society
  • The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies
  • The Department of Human Geography
  • The Department of Language Studies
  • The Department of Management
  • The Department of Philosophy
  • The Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
  • The Department of Political Science
  • The Department of Psychology
  • The Department of Sociology

Students are diversified among concentrations that are specialists (9-16 credits), as well as the majors (6-9 credits) and minors (4-5 credits). 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (Joint Centennial), Media Studies, Media, Journalism & Digital Culture, Music, Music Industry & Technology (Joint Centennial), New Media Studies (Joint Centennial), 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 (students can complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree through these programs, depending on the subject). 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 (students can choose to complete their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees through this program, depending on the subject). The Department of Health and Society offers programs in Population Health and Paramedicine (Joint Centennial) 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 (with the option of a combined degree in Master of Accounting & Finance), 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.[1] One of the Double Degree: BBA, Specialist (Co-operative) program in Management and Finance/Honours BSc, Specialist (Co-operative) 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.[2][3]

Co-operative education (co-op)

The University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) is distinguished by its extensive offering of co-operative education programs across the Arts, Sciences, and Management disciplines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (IDS) Co-op, established in 1984, was the first undergraduate co-op of its kind in Canada, focused on international development field work.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The UTSC Co-op Office currently facilitates programs in approximately 50 different subject areas, with an annual enrollment of nearly 4,000 students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Program structure

Co-op degree requirements combine academic study with mandatory work terms, which are integral and mandatory components of the program curriculum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • All co-op work terms are full-time and salaried, with the requirement to be paid at least minimum wage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (UTSC) hosts a diverse and growing research body, spanning life sciences, natural sciences, health, community engagement, sustainability, and innovation.<ref name="UTSCResearch">Template:Cite web</ref>

Research labs and centres

  • Black Health Equity Lab (BHEL) – 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Clusters of Scholarly Prominence Program (CPSS) – Funds interdisciplinary faculty teams conducting collaborative projects.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Leadership (SICIEEIL) – Housed in the Sam Ibrahim Building, this centre supports student entrepreneurship and leadership training, funded through a donation by entrepreneur Sam Ibrahim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SoundLife Scarborough (SLS) – Launched in 2023, this initiative fosters community-engaged research through music, creating collaborations between UTSC, local musicians, and cultural organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Therapeutic Interventions for Psychosis Lab (TIP Lab) – This lab investigates the causes and treatment of distressing symptoms of psychosis, developing interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive remediation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sustainability in infrastructure

File:Exterior of the UTSC Sam Ibrahim Building.jpg
Exterior of the Sam Ibrahim Building

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The Sam Ibrahim Building, which features geothermal heating, high-efficiency insulation, and a green roof, designed to lower energy consumption by ~40%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Centre for Global Disability Studies (CGDS) – 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 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 (NMR) Centre – Opened in 2004, this facility conducts environmental research using NMR spectroscopy to study molecular-level environmental processes and metabolomics.
  • Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience (IBN) 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 (PCMP) 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

File:UTSCStudentCenter.jpg
The Student Centre is a landmark for student activities at the campus.

The Student Centre is a three-story Template:Convert building, where the office of the Scarborough Campus Students' Union (SCSU), 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Food on campus

UTSC provides a variety of dining options across campus, ranging from subsidized student-run venues to university-managed dining halls.

Student Centre Food Court

The Student Centre contains a food court that serves as a central hub for student dining.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The food court offers a selection of vendors, including popular chains lke KFC and Subway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is frequently used by commuting students due to its central location and extended weekday hours.

1265 Bistro

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 (SCSU). The venue offers relatively affordable food due to subsidies from the union.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The space has gone through multiple rebrandings since the Student Centre opened. A Chatime is also located adjacent to 1265 Bistro.

Harmony Commons Dining Hall

The Harmony Commons Dining Hall is the primary all-you-care-to-eat facility at UTSC, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> First-year residents are required to purchase a seven-day meal plan, which is valid only at Harmony Commons.<ref name="University of Toronto Scarborough">Template:Cite web</ref> The dining hall also emphasizes sustainable dining practices and provides vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and halal options.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Market Place

The Market Place in the Humanities Wing offers a variety of international cuisines and grab-and-go options.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Standalone food options<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (TPASC). 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

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File:The interior of the renovated UTSC Library.jpg
Interior of the renovated UTSC Library

As one of the University of Toronto Libraries, the University of Toronto Scarborough Library (UTSC 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Study spaces on campus

File:The interior of the UTSC Humanities Wing.jpg
Interior of the Humanities Wing with study carrels

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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • 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 (TPASC).

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC)

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File:TPASC.jpg
TPASC's entrance

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) 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 (CEBL).<ref name=viewbook202627>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, more than 11,000 students made use of TPASC.<ref name=viewbook202627/>

Opened in 2014, the facility includes:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Two Olympic-sized (10-lane, 50-metre) 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to student use, TPASC regularly hosts local and international competitions, as well as national team training camps.

Varsity sports<ref name=viewbook202627/>

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 (Men's)
  • Basketball (Men's)
  • Cross-country running
  • Curling
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey (Women's)
  • Figure skating
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Mountain biking
  • Rowing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Softball (Women's)
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo
  • Wrestling

Unless otherwise noted, all programs offer options for men and women.

Intramurals<ref name=viewbook202627/>

Intramural programs provide opportunities for organized competition among all three campuses. Each year, about 827 intramural athletes participate. Sports include:

  • Badminton (Co-ed)
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Field hockey (Women's)
  • Flag football
  • Ice hockey
  • Indoor soccer
  • Lacrosse (Women's)
  • Outdoor soccer
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee (Co-ed)
  • Volleyball

Unless otherwise noted, all programs offer options for men and women.

Residences

File:Harmony Commons Residence Building.jpg
Harmony Commons residence building

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 (Phase 1): Aspen Hall, Birch Hall, Cedar Hall, Dogwood Hall, and Elm Hall, which opened in 1973 and housed approximately 250 students.<ref name="History of Residences">Template:Cite web</ref> The townhouses feature shared common areas, kitchens, and bathrooms for student use. With growing demand and increased enrollment, the South Townhouses (Phase 2): Fir Hall, Grey Pine Hall, Hickory Hall, and Ironwood Hall were completed in 1984 to house 144 students.<ref name="History of Residences" /> By 1989, the North Townhouses (Phase 3): Juniper Hall, Koa Hall, Larch Hall, and Maple Hall were built adjacent to the Science Research Building, adding 142 beds.<ref name="History of Residences" />

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.<ref name="History of Residences" /> 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.<ref name="History of Residences" /> 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.<ref name="utsc.utoronto.ca">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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(s). 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,<ref name="utsc.utoronto.ca" /> first-year residents, regardless of their residence, must purchase a seven-day meal plan that is valid only in the Harmony Commons dining hall.<ref name="University of Toronto Scarborough" />

Undergraduate campus groups and student organizations

File:UTSC Frosh 2024 outside TPASC.jpg
Frosh 2024 outside TPASC

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 (SCSU)

The Scarborough Campus Students' Union (SCSU) is the official undergraduate student union at UTSC, representing and advocating for the interests of the student body.<ref name=scsu>Template:Cite web</ref>

Established in 1966 (formerly the Scarborough Campus Students' Council, SCSC), 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.<ref name=scsu/> SCSU operates and manages the UTSC Student Centre, owns and runs the 1265 Bistro restaurant, supports and recognizes departmental student associations (DSAs) and clubs, and offers various services including bursaries, health & dental plans, lockers, photocopying, and graduation photos.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=scsuourteam>Template:Cite web</ref> The board of directors represent each academic department and certain student populations.<ref name=scsuourteam/>

Departmental Student Associations (DSAs)

Supported by SCSU, each academic department at UTSC has its own departmental student association (DSA), which provides academic support, advocacy, and social programming for students. Examples include the Biological Sciences Student Association (BioSA) and Psychology and Neuroscience Departmental Association (PNDA).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Clubs

SCSU recognizes and supports a wide range of student clubs, covering cultural, academic, and recreational interests. Examples include the Emergency Medical Response Group (EMRG) and Twelve65. Students can browse existing clubs or register a new club through the SCSU Club Services portal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (CCR) recognition, and opportunities for community outreach scholarships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Frosh (SCSU Orientation)

File:UTSC Frosh 2024 inside TPASC.jpg
Frosh 2024 inside TPASC

At UTSC, Frosh is the annual ticketed orientation event for incoming students, organized by the Scarborough Campus Students' Union (SCSU).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The event typically spans three days and includes a mix of social and campus-familiarization activities.<ref name=thetrials>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=thetrials/>

ARTSIDEOUT (ASO)

File:ARTSIDEOUT 2024 booth.jpg
ARTSIDEOUT 2024 booth

ARTSIDEOUT (ASO) 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and one fraternity: Xi Alpha Pi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Subreddit

Reddit hosts a dedicated forum for UTSC, known as r/UTSC. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (UTGSU) represents over 18,500 graduate students across all three campuses, offering services such as health and dental insurance, intramural leagues, funding opportunities, and advocacy.<ref name=gradstudentorg>Template:Cite web</ref>

Graduate Students Association at Scarborough (GSAS)

At the Scarborough campus, the Graduate Students Association at Scarborough (GSAS) 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 (CTL), the Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA&CC), and the Graduate Association for Professional Skills (GAPS), GSAS also delivers workshops and professional training.<ref name=gradstudentorg/>

Graduate Management Consulting Association UTSC (GMCA@UTSC)

UTSC also hosts a chapter of the Graduate Management Consulting Association (GMCA@UTSC), 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.<ref name=gradstudentorg/>

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.

Student Demographics (Scarborough, 2024–25)<ref name="student_pop">Template:Cite web</ref>
Undergraduate Graduate
Male 41.3% 34.6%
Female 56.1% 63.7%
Canadian student 69.0% 80.7%
International student 31.0% 19.3%

Notable people

Alumni

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The campus has educated a number of noted persons involved in a variety of fields.

Faculty

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The University of Toronto Scarborough has been used as a filming location for a number of films and music videos. Portions of Enemy (2013) directed by Denis Villeneuve, The Shape of Water (2017) directed by Guillermo del Toro, Dream Scenario (2023) directed by Kristoffer Borgli, and The Weeknd's music video for Secrets (2017) were shot on the campus.<ref name="UTSC on Film">Template:Cite web</ref> The campus's longstanding association with television and film production, as well as its architectural features that make it a notable filming site.<ref name="UTSC on Film" /> The campus was also used by David Cronenberg as the location for his debut film Stereo in 1969.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

Other campuses

References

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