Is Toronto university a great place to study at? (best schools, living)

[Bcc 0]

Hello everyone.

I would absolutely love to study there, however I'm a New Zealand citizen and there are so many processes I would have to go through to study there.

In any case, can you torontorians tell me how's toronto like? As in would it be possible to thoroughly enjoy studying/working in toronto.

[King of Kensington]

The University of Toronto is an excellent institution - on the level of Michigan and UCLA in the U.S. It has a leafy and pleasant campus right in the heart of the city. However it is VERY large and can be quite impersonal at the undergrad level. Are you studying at the undergrad or graduate level?

[Bcc 0]

I'm going to be studying at an undergraduate level, hopefully the bachelor of international relations.

[TOkidd]

I got my H.Ba there (in English and Medieval Studies), and also studied at OISE to get my teaching degree. I think U of T is an excellent institution, with the very highest standards of learning, and some of the best professors in the country. For undergraduates, it is especially well-known for its humanities programs, as well as engineering. However, its real prestige comes from its graduate programs, as well as its law and medical schools.

So it really depends on what you are studying. If you are aiming for a BA in computer studies or something in the technology field, I would say go to Waterloo instead of U of T. But for humanities and arts degrees, engineering, a wide variety of graduate studies, law, and medicine, I think U of T is not only one of the best schools in the country, but is regularly ranked among the best in the world. It has some amazing research libraries, including Robarts, which is one of the largest in North America, a beautiful campus, and is divided into a number of colleges, each with their own specialty, faculty, residence, and student body. I personally attended St. Michael's College, which specializes in Medieval Studies, literature, Slavic Studies, and has a seminary for those who want to be Catholic priests. But as a student of St. Mike's, I was able (and am able) to take courses at any of U of T's colleges, plus courses from U of T's many faculties, which are often spread out among the different colleges.

Another great asset of the university is the fact that it is in the heart of Toronto. Having a great city at your doorstep doesn't hurt, though it does increase your cost of living.

So yeah, U of T is a great school in a great city. Studying International Relations would mean a degree in Political Science, which is part of the Faculty of Arts & Science. You could do a three-year BA with a Major in Political Science (and a Minor in any other subject you are interested in), or a four-year H.Ba with a Specialist in Political Science, or a Double Major in Political Science and any other subject you might be interested in. It's up to you. I actually took an Intro to International Relations course at St. Mike's and it was an excellent course. I think you would be very happy with the program, with the university, and with the city of Toronto.