York University, Toronto
Programme Details
Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s English
Agreement Scope University-wide exchange, check with your department regarding compatibility with your degree programme
Exchange Places 1 place for 2024/25
Overview
About: York University or YorkU is a public research university in Toronto. founded in 1959.
Contacts at YorkU:
Incoming exchange student contact - exchange@yorku.ca
York International, 200 York Lanes, York University, 4700, Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3
Highlights: YorkU is Canada's third largest university. Ranked in THE university impact rankings 5th in Canada and 26 in the world. Home to over 55,000 students YorkU welcomes students from over 178 countries.
Location:
The Keele Campus, which is home to nearly 50,000 students, is located at the Northern border of Toronto bordering the York region.
The Glendon Campus, which is home to over 2,500 students, is situated in the heart of Toronto, a vibrant cosmopolitan metropolis.
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
YorkU courses have a 4 digit code and students must select 3000-4000 level courses. Consulting with their supervisor or international coordinator students should check availability of subjects on the YorkU course catalogue
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
15 YorkU credits = 60 York Credits
This has been calculated by the University of York and students should not compare it with the requirements of other universities. Taking insufficient credits can lead to students failing the year. Any alteration to credits/modules must be discussed with your department prior to making any changes.
Teaching Periods:
Term 1 - September to December
Term 2 - January to April
Language:
Classes at YorkU are taught in English.
You may be required to provide evidence of your English language ability if English is not your first language.
Students who wish to take courses in French will be asked take an FSL test. More information can be found in YorkU's FAQ's.
Student life
Accommodation:
Housing at YorkU is not guaranteed. The Housing Application Form will be provided by York International. Students can view the campus housing options
Orientation / Welcome week:
YorkU hold International Student Orientation for all new incoming international students.
Support Services:
YorkU offers a variety of support services for students.
Visas:
YorkU offers detailed information regarding immigration and visa requirements Students should check their individual status regarding immigration.
Health insurance:
YorkU provide full details of the health insurance requirements for international and exchange students.
Costs of living (please note that these are a guide only)
On campus accommodation $5,000 (per term, includes meal plan, $2,900-$5750 CAD)
Textbooks and supplies $1,200 - $1,500 (varies per program) per year
Food $250 - $400 CAD per month
Transportation $130 CAD per month (TTC metro pass)
UHIP (required health insurance) $252 CAD per term
Travel insurance:
If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.
Student experiences
Matt, Politics, Year Abroad 2019/20
'During my year abroad I experienced a new social, educational, and cultural environment. The accommodation, though a little squalid, was shared with dozens of other international students, who formed the bulk of my friends in Canada. Being a commuter university, Canadian students were rarely present outside of lecture hours, and so this reinforced connections between the international students who were living on the campus. Certainly this, in combination with spending two years prior at university, has made me less closed minded as a person.Living in a new country allowed a certain freedom and curiosity too, and perhaps some of my favourite memories involve aimlessly exploring downtown Toronto, that is, before it became too cold. By winter it was very difficult to be outside during certain weeks, so one achievement was staying sane in these hermit periods, a skill that came in handy upon return.
Many of my modules I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly media identity & citizenship, psychology, Islamic politics and public administration, mainly for their variety. This diversity of topics, as well as the exposure to a different nation's political culture, allowed me to approach politics on a wider basis than before. '
Madi, History, Year Abroad 2022/23
I absolutely loved living in Toronto and studying at YorkU! YorkU is an excellent university and it has so many classes to choose from - I studied anthropology, art history, and sexuality studies (all of which I couldn’t do here at UoY), as well as being able to study Canadian history for the first time which was really interesting! It also has great offers for students - the gym was just $20 for the whole year (which also gave you access to classes), you could go to ice hockey games for free as a student, and they have loads of places to eat and shop on campus in York Lanes. Assessments are quite different to the UK - you are being constantly graded on things throughout the semester such as participation and reading responses, rather than your grade being decided based on one big essay, but it doesn’t take long to get used to!
Toronto is an incredible city with so much to explore and such a diverse group of neighbourhoods - my favourites are Kensington Markets, the Annex and the Distillery District, which have loads of great bars and coffee shops. I decided to live downtown in the Annex at a private student residence called Tartu College, rather than living on campus at YorkU. This is because YorkU is generally a commuter university and it’s on the outskirts of the city, and I wanted to live in the middle of Toronto. Tartu was right by the University of Toronto and was full of exchange students from all over the world - others from the UK, but also loads of people from France and Germany, and even Australia and New Zealand! Living there was a great way to meet friends and it was nice to be based in a student-y area which had great transport links (next to Spadina subway station which takes you directly to YorkU on the train)! It is also one of the cheapest places I found to live in the city, and you don’t need to buy a meal plan which you have to do if you live on campus at YorkU.
Toronto was also a great base for exploring places in Canada and the US. It has two airports and is just a short flight away from New York City and Montreal, as well as having regular flights to Calgary, Vancouver, and other incredible destinations. I would definitely recommend trying to travel while out in Canada, and you should definitely try and get out into the woods (Banff was my favourite place for this, but it’s also really easy to get into the wilderness in Northern Ontario, which is a bit closer to Toronto).
Overall, I would definitely recommend studying at YorkU! I made friends for life whilst there and had an absolutely amazing time exploring both Toronto and Canada as a whole.
Top Tips for Studying in Canada
Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad in Canada - Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.
Money and Banking:
I used a Starling card for the whole time I was away, which has no fees for using it abroad. I had friends who opened Canadian bank accounts but they were only really useful for withdrawing cash (if you don’t bank with the bank the ATM is at, you will be charged for withdrawals). Obviously you are susceptible to the fluctuating exchange rate if you choose to use something like Starling or Monzo, but generally it was always in our favour and it was super useful when travelling, especially when going into the US as you could still use the same card.
One thing to note is that they are a bit funny about debit cards in Canada, but international debit cards (like Starling and Monzo) count as credit cards, so when you’re paying at the supermarket or a bar, say you’re paying by credit card!
Tipping culture is crazy in Canada - expect to tip even if you’re just buying a coffee or tea!
To save money on my commute to YorkU I bought a monthly TTC travel pass. It is a reduced price for students and gives you unlimited access to the buses, trams, and subways (including travel to and from the airport)!
Staying Connected:
I bought a pay as you go SIM with Virgin, which was about $50 a month for 8GB of data. Data is really expensive over there, so expect to be paying more than you would in the UK! I would definitely recommend getting a pay as you go sim card because it can be very easily cancelled and you don’t have to worry about being trapped in a contract when you leave. It’s also useful to have a Canadian phone number when signing up for things and to text your new Canadian friends!
I knew some people who managed to use their UK contracts whilst abroad, but you need to be really careful about this as they often have limits on how long you can be away and still use them, so if you think you can do this make sure to check your contract!
Food:
I lived right next to a supermarket called ‘Metro’ in the Annex, which was quite expensive but close by so easy to get to. Other supermarkets such as Walmart and No Frills were quite a lot cheaper but I had to travel to get there on the subway so I tended to go less often.
Coffee shop recommendations: Slanted Door and Mallo / Restaurant recommendations: Sushi on Bloor, Saigon Lotus (vegan vietnamese food), Wanda’s Pie in the Sky (amazing pie and grilled cheeses!) / Bar recommendations: Supermarket, Pamenar, Embassy (all in Kensington Markets). - All in Toronto.
Food is much more expensive than in the UK, so mentally prepare yourself for this!!!
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
You need to go to London to get your biometrics done for your visa well in advance (during semester 2 of your second year). Doing this and all the paperwork for the visa (which includes proving finances etc) is quite time consuming so don’t leave it all until the last minute because you won’t be able to get your Study Permit, which they issue at the border when you arrive!!
You have to plan your own timetable in Canada, so don’t be upset if two classes you want to do clash, you just have to keep your options open! Just remember to change your Learning Agreement if you do switch to a different class so UoY is aware of the change.
What I wished I'd known...:
It’s okay to be lonely! When I first arrived in Toronto I was really overwhelmed - it had been my first time travelling alone, I was super jetlagged, and I didn’t know anybody very well. However, this didn’t last long. I threw myself into making friends and taking opportunities and I quickly met some great people and started to have a good time. Remember that homesickness and times of loneliness are still completely normal, and it can be hard having a five hour time difference from your friends and family at home, but the benefits of studying abroad will outweigh these feelings every time.
Say yes to everything!! It’s a chance to make the most of every opportunity presented to you, and although it is easy to settle into a routine, remember to make the most of the fact you’re living in a different country because it will be over before you know it!
I would probably say not to put too many expectations on the first few weeks; it might take a little while to find your closest friends and feel like you've really settled in but it will happen! Personally I'm so glad I went on the exchange club trip organised early in the term as it really helped me to get to know the people that would become my best friends from exchange.
Useful links
If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk
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