COVID-19 U of T Engineering Graduate Students FAQs

Last Updated:

May 14, 2021 - Added question, "Can I study or do research abroad?" to Travel section
April 30, 2021 - 2 Questions under Graduate Research Students section, I am feeling anxious that I may be stopped by authorities when traveling to and from my research site, is there documentation I can provide to authorities in case this happens? and I wish to conduct Face-to Face or Off-Campus (F2FOC) Research, where can I get more information on this?
April 30, 2021 - The Gerstein Science Information Centre building is closed, in compliance with Ontario's recent lockdown regulations. As of May 3, the Gerstein Science Information Centre will partially reopen to provide computers and wifi through their Technology Access Service. They are still online to support you: Research Help & Teaching Support
April 21, 2021 - SGS Dean Joshua Barker's message on the most recent provincial government stay-at-home order. Please view it here.
April 21, 2021 - Added question, How does the recent provincial government stay-at-home order on April 16, 2021, impact on-site research activities? under Graduate Research Students section
March 11, 2021 - Updated - Under Toronto's current restrictions, can I study on campus? [New: March 11, 2021] under Student Services / St George Campus section
.February 08, 2021 - Added question, How can I enroll in courses outside of University of Toronto and obtain credit for them? under courses
February 02, 2021 - Added question, How will U of T Engineering graduate courses be delivered for the Summer 2021 term? under Courses section
January 29, 2021 - Added question, During the Ontario provincial stay-at-home order, can I study on campus? under Student Services / St. George Campus section
January 12, 2021 - Added confidential incident disclosure form for students who may have witnessed or experienced an incident of discrimination, harassment or harmful unprofessionalism in the Faculty in Resource List
December 22, 2020 - A message from Professor Lori Ferris, Associate Vice-President, Research (Oversight and Compliance) December 21, 2020 on Implication of the Ontario Shutdown Measures on Research Activities - see message here.
December 09, 2020 - SGS Sessional Dates has been updated for course drop date to be extended to be March 1, 2021. Course-add deadline is still January 18, 2021.
December 04, 2020 - Added libraries that have spaces open to students as a study space to the question, "Is the St George Campus open?" under Student Services / St. George Campus section
November 23, 2020 - An announcement from Dean Yip regarding University operations under new restrictions to limit spread of COVID-19. You can view the announcement here. Added question, "Is the St George Campus open?" under Student Services / St. George Campus section. Added question, "How do the new restrictions effective Monday, November 23, impact research facilities?" under Graduate Research Students section.
November 20, 2020 - An announcement from Dean Yip on regarding delaying the start of Winter Term classes by one week. You can view the announcement here. The University will open on Monday, January 4, 2021, as planned. Essential services and supports will be available. The first day of classes for graduate-level engineering courses will be Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. SGS Sessional Dates has been updated for course drop date to be extended to be March 1, 2021. Course-add is still January 18, 2021. Research labs will be running as of Jan. 4, 2021. Research-stream graduate students should speak to their supervisors for the plans in their individual groups. FAQ has been updated, “When do graduate courses start for Winter 2021?” under Courses section. “When will research labs open in Winter 2021?” under Graduate Research Students section
October 05, 2020 - Updated, "My research or program was severely impacted by the pandemic. Am I eligible for a program extension and a tuition relief?" in Financial Aid section
September 24, 2020 - Added question, "How will U of T Engineering courses be delivered in the 2021 Winter Term? " in Courses section
September 9, 2020 - Added question, "Where are students permitted to eat on campus?" in General Section
August 31, 2020 - Added question, "How do I enter Canada as an international student?" in International Students Section; Added, "How will my Post-Graduation Work Permit be impacted if I am a new student beginning my program online?" in International Students Section

Quick Links to Additional Resources

Please find frequently asked questions (FAQs) that are specific to graduate students taking courses with U of T Engineering below. This page will be continually updated as more information is available. If your questions are not answered below, please email us directly at gradstudies@ecf.utoronto.ca

The Faculty’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Professionalism is dedicated to making U of T Engineering a place where all students, faculty and staff feel they belong and can thrive — but we recognize much work remains to be done. If you witness or experience an incident of discrimination, harassment or harmful unprofessionalism in the Faculty, you can now make a confidential disclosure through the new incident disclosure form. Next steps and supports will be pursued according to the wishes of the person making the disclosure. More information and answers to FAQs on the disclosure form page.

Jump to:

General

Where are students permitted to eat on campus?

Student Services / St. George Campus

[Updated: March 11, 2021] Under Toronto's current restrictions, can I study on campus?

Under current provincial health guidelines, Toronto remains in the "Grey — Lockdown" zone. Provincial and City of Toronto guidelines outline what kinds of activities are permitted outside your home. U of T Engineering’s remote access guarantee remains in effect, and the vast majority of student services and supports are accessible remotely.

Graduate students whose research work has been identified by their supervisors as requiring essential access to campus may wish confirm that is still the case with their supervisors before proceeding. All those visiting campus are required to complete the UCheck self assessment tool prior to their arrival.

A note, the Robarts and Gerstein libraries are open (hours on the websites) to provide access for students to technology and WiFi. We have reduced seating to five seats per space with large reading rooms subdivided. The Robarts Starbucks is also open to provide some food service for people who must be on campus. We also continue to provide print retrieval from most libraries with no contact pickup in Robarts.

[updated January 29] Is the St George Campus open?

Toronto and Peel Region are in the Grey Zone (Lockdown) effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, November 23, 2020, for a minimum of 28 days under the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The information below has been updated to reflect the new measures.

To limit occupancy and help slow the spread of COVID-19, access to University buildings is restricted to members of the U of T community, with various measures in place to protect the health and safety of community members.

Provincial regulation and public health guidance require that post-secondary institutions implement COVID-19 health screening for anyone coming to campus. This means that all members of our community, including faculty members, librarians, staff, and students, must complete a self-assessment each day they visit any one of the three U of T campuses or any other property owned or operated by U of T. There are two ways to complete the required self-assessment and generate a risk status each time you come to U of T: by using UCheck, or by completing a paper-based or offline self-assessment log. Please visit this COVID-19 self-assessments page for more information.

Under these new measures effective Monday, Nov. 23, 2020:

[Added Jan 29] A note, the Robarts and Gerstein libraries are open (hours on the websites) to provide access for students to technology and WiFi. We have reduced seating to five seats per space with large reading rooms subdivided. The Robarts Starbucks is also open to provide some food service for people who must be on campus. We also continue to provide print retrieval from most libraries with no contact pickup in Robarts.

Facilities

Library service continues with pick-up services, and access to IT services for those who need it.
- Some libraries have spaces open for studying. Please visit the following links below.https://gerstein.library.utoronto.ca/covid-19-updates-services-and-spaces/study-spaces-2020-21 https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/covid-19/library-technology-access-2020-2021
All indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities, including pools and arenas, will be closed. Virtual programming will continue.
Residences will continue to operate with safety precautions in place.
Food service is pick-up only.
University buildings will only be accessible to members of the University community and essential visitors.
Masks remain mandatory in all common-use areas, and visitors to campus must complete a self-assessment using the online UCheck tool or paper-based equivalent.

Courses

Our remote access guarantee remains in place for all students, in both undergraduate and graduate courses. Courses will continue to be executed through remote delivery.
Only essential on-campus work required to deliver virtual instruction and programming will continue.

Research

For on-campus lab research: all researchers may continue with their approved on-campus research plans as long as they continue to follow the public health measures already in place and the processes currently in effect, such as scheduling of time and people in the lab.
As before, if researchers can work remotely they should continue to do so, only coming to the campus as necessary. Anyone coming to campus must complete a COVID-19 Self-Assessment via the University’s UCheck tool.
For in-person human participant research: all research involving face-to-face in-person interaction between researchers and research participants must stop effective 12:01 am Monday and until further notice. COVID-19 research that has been approved by the Research Ethics Board may continue. A further message concerning human participant research will be posted on the VPRI Ethics webpage.

What supports are available to me at this time?

Online programming and student services available to graduate students.

For SGS Programming and student services, please go here.

Student Life is offering workshops online. You can see their offers here.

The Vice-Dean Graduate Office is working with GECoS and the graduate student engineering community to offer online workshops. We will keep you updated when more information becomes available.

Travel

[Added May 14, 2021] Can I study or do research abroad?

Response below from: https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/covid-19/#FAQSafetyAbroad

As of May 12, 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic conditions around the world, the University of Toronto has made the difficult decision to extend the suspension of University activity to international locations by students from September 1 2021 to December 31, 2021. We will review the situation regularly over this period and provide updated communication should pandemic circumstances, public health guidelines, global travel restrictions, and Global Affairs Canada travel advisories change.

We encourage PhD students to postpone or shift travel to a later date or undertake research remotely if able to do so. While Canada’s borders are open to U of T international students, significant travel restrictions remain elsewhere in the world, and it will be difficult to make travel arrangements. As the situation changes in specific regions, we are hopeful that there will be more opportunities later in the 2021-22 year to travel for PhD research. If you are a PhD student planning to travel abroad for COVID-19-related, dissertation research during this time, please contact safety.abroad@utoronto.ca to discuss your specific circumstances. Safety Abroad will work with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) on each case.

For all other students, if you’re able to postpone or shift your travel to a later date or undertake your activity remotely and without travelling internationally, please work with your academic unit to arrange to do so. If you’re unable to change your plans, please note that, regrettably, your activity is cancelled. We are making this decision early so that you can make alternate plans for your fall. We know that your academic pursuits are important to you and the University is committed to maintaining academic continuity. Your academic unit will work with you to help you build an alternate plan for the summer. We want to highlight for you that U of T Safety Abroad is also working with academic programs to support development of placements that can begin as remote and shift where possible to in person as travel resumes.

We’ll continue to update this page with the most current information we have.

I’m from another country or elsewhere in Canada — should I return home?

 I am planning to travel in the coming days. What should I do?

Based on the guidance of public health officials, the University is advising all members of its community to avoid all travel abroad and to avoid all cruise ship travel. Additionally, Green Shield Canada has provided an update on health insurance coverage while travelling. It is recommended that you review your travel insurance before travelling internationally. If you choose to travel, please consult the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 travel advisory website.

I am a student abroad affected by recent travel restrictions and advisories. What can I do?

The University continues to monitor the Canadian government’s latest advisory related to COVID-19 and the Safety Abroad Office is in contact with its registered students. U of T has specific information related COVID-19 that is regularly updated. Find out more about emergency resources or email safety.abroad@utoronto.ca for more information.

We understand that students will have questions about academic activities abroad and how an early return will impact them. U of T is working to offer as much flexibility as possible to minimize impacts on students.

Upon return to Canada from abroad, please follow public health guidance for 14 days of self-isolation.

I am an international student or faculty member currently outside the country. When can I return to Canada?

On March 20, the Government of Canada announced that foreign nationals will be allowed to return to Canada if they have valid study or work permits or had been approved for a study permit when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020.

Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada, will also be permitted to travel to Canada.

Those affected by these exemptions should not try to travel to Canada immediately. Before trying to travel, please check the Government of Canada COVID-19 site to check exemption status.

Once the exemptions go into effect, you should be allowed to board a flight to Canada (as long as you have no symptoms that could be related to COVID-19). Please do the following as you prepare to return:

Review the Federal Government information for travellers returning to Canada so you’re aware of the limitations and expectations for those returning 
Review travel restrictions for any country you’d be passing through on your way to Canada.

Exams

If I'm registered with Accessibility Services, how will my accessibility-related academic accommodations be accommodated for final assessments?

Courses

[Added Feb 08] How can I enroll in courses outside of University of Toronto and obtain credit for them?

[Added Feb 02] How will U of T Engineering graduate courses be delivered for the Summer 2021 term?

U of T Engineering graduate courses will be delivered remotely in the Summer 2021 term, except for a very small number of optional courses for which it is essential to be in-person to meet the learning objectives of the course. Please consult with department websites for summer course offerings, when available. For the majority of courses that will be delivered online, the remote access guarantee remains in place, as Dean Yip shared in several previous Dean’s messages.

This information is specific to courses offered by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and does not apply to courses offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Ontario’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. Changes will likely occur as the province and its municipalities adjust to new data about the virus. In these circumstances, please be advised that the manner of delivery of courses, co-curricular opportunities, programs and services is subject to change, in accordance with University policies. The University thanks its students, faculty, and staff for their flexibility during these challenging times as we work together to maintain the standards of excellence that are the hallmark of the University.

Please keep checking these FAQs, and the University’s UTogether FAQs, for the latest information.

Do I need to use caution when choosing the “dial-in” option on Blackboard (BB) Collaborate?

[July 14] What are some tips to navigate some of the challenges of remote learning?

[July 14] If I am a student located in China, what support is in place to meet some of the technical challenges of a smooth remote learning experience?

There is a new enhanced online learning experience for international students in mainland China –Alibaba Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN). This network service is located in the People’s Republic of China and will allow for a fast, reliable and consistent connection to U of T’s network and in turn its online learning resources such as Quercus, Collaborate Ultra etc. This optional service became available for use at the University of Toronto as of July 9, and will meet some of the challenges, such as high latency connectivity to the internet, faced by international students located in mainland China. It is also available for use by faculty located in mainland China, provided they have a valid UTORid. If you require technical support or help with the Alibaba Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) service visit here. More information about the features and benefits of this service is also available on the ITS website.

Some FAQ questions regarding this service here.

MEng Guide to Working from Home

I’m struggling to shift to learning at home — what changes can I make?

Graduate Research Students

[April 30, 2021] I am feeling anxious that I may be stopped by authorities when traveling to and from my research site, is there documentation I can provide to authorities in case this happens?

On April 16, 2021, the provincial government announced additional measures related to the Stay-at-Home order that has been in place since the declaration of the provincial State of Emergency on April 8. Although this is not required by authorities, students who have been approved through the research re-start process and whose research continues to require them to be on campus during the stay-at-home order may request a letter from their department that they can present to authorities if stopped.

Please contact your department chair on how you can obtain this letter.

[April 30, 2021] I wish to conduct Face-to Face or Off-Campus (F2FOC) Research, where can I get more information on this?

[April 21, 2021] How does the recent provincial government stay-at-home order on April 16, 2021, impact on-site research activities

[November 23] How do the new restrictions effective Monday, November 23, impact research facilities?

For on-campus lab research: all researchers may continue with their approved on-campus research plans as long as they continue to follow the public health measures already in place and the processes currently in effect, such as scheduling of time and people in the lab.
As before, if researchers can work remotely they should continue to do so, only coming to the campus as necessary. Anyone coming to campus must complete a COVID-19 Self-Assessment via the University’s UCheck tool.
For in-person human participant research: all research involving face-to-face in-person interaction between researchers and research participants must stop effective 12:01 am Monday and until further notice. COVID-19 research that has been approved by the Research Ethics Board may continue. A further message concerning human participant research will be posted on the VPRI Ethics webpage.

[November 20] When will research labs open in Winter 2021?

[August 24] What are the latest updates on student concerns on lab-reopening and TAing?

Based on feedback on the GECoS Engineering Graduate Student TA Survey and the GECoS – Engineering Graduate Student Survey on Lab Reopening, GECoS has created a FAQ where GECoS and the mental wellness commission identified the most common concerns from and made recommendations and suggestions. Areas of concern where GECoS did not have suggestions or answers for will be investigated further from FASE. Keep in mind some questions may be more complex and require more time to provide a response. We will work with GECoS to provide responses in a future update. Items that are updated will be posted here. See below.

[August 24, 2020] FAQ on lab-reopening and TA concerns document here.

[June 26] Are there guidelines for students returning to research laboratories during COVID-19?

What is the plan for graduate students to return to research sites on and off campus?

What is the plan for students to reengage research again?

SGS has outlined detailed guidelines here on reengaging research here, which includes a FAQ. Please read over these guidelines and FAQ.

For students who have been deemed eligible to return to campus for research by their supervisor, they are required to complete the *COVID-19 Graduate Students/Postdoctoral Fellows Declaration: Conducting Research On-Campus or at Off-Campus Research Site. When completed, please submit it to your supervisor/principal investigator.

*Note: This form has been updated as of June 12, 2pm. It is now called the acknowledgement form

[updated June 12] Where can I access the acknowledgement form “COVID-19 GRADUATE STUDENT/POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ON-CAMPUS OR AT AN OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH SITE?"

Where can I get updates on the lab reopening process?

I’m a Graduate/Postdoctoral Researcher — how can I shift to working from home?

How can I plan or maintain my academic progress?

To address the concerns of research-stream students and supervisors may have about graduate research and how it may impact a student's academic progress, SGS has shared guidelines with students and supervisors on research continuity planning. Please read the full message here.

SGS asks that supervisors/advisors and their research-stream Master’s and Ph.D. students plan to have an online mentoring meeting to discuss and formally document the impact of the pandemic on the student’s research plans and academic progress. Strategies to mitigate this impact, if needed, should be discussed and recorded. For doctoral students, this mentoring meeting may be part of the Annual Progress Report meeting; or it may be a special meeting. A supplemental form to document the results of this meeting will be provided to you. When completed, please return it to your departmental Graduate Coordinator or graduate administrator, no later than May 15, 2020.

The mentoring meeting will not only serve as an important check-in, but an opportunity for students and supervisors to discuss any concerns surrounding these unanticipated events. Information gathered from the meetings will inform future planning by departments, divisions and institutional leaders aimed at supporting students’ academic progress in these challenging times. SGS is exploring a range of tools to help support students during this pandemic such as departments, divisions and institutional leaders aimed at supporting students’ academic progress in these challenging times.

For continuing students, a follow-up mentoring meeting in October is expected.

SGS also shared Strategies for Graduate Mentoring and Supervision at a Distance.

How will my Tri-Agency student award/fellowship due to end between March and August 2020 be impacted?

The Canadian government has announced that all Tri-Agency student awards and fellowships due to end between March and August 2020 which have been directly impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for a 4 month extension. Note that students who’s research has been largely uninterrupted by COVID-19 are ineligible. Eligible awards include Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS-M, CGS-D, and Vanier), agency-specific doctoral (NSERC PGS D, SSHRC Doctoral), Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships and agency-specific postdoctoral programs.

Potentially eligible award holders will be contacted directly by the relevant granting agency (CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC) in the coming weeks to attest that their research was disrupted by COVID-19 and that they are not currently benefiting from compensation under the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or other income supports related to COVID-19. The extension is optional and may be declined by award recipients.

If eligible, the additional 4 months are added to the award end date. Payment of the additional funds will be dispersed using the same method through which the current award holders are receiving their award (e.g. ROSI), and is expected to be issued by September 30, 2020.

The Tri-Agency Scholarship Extensions Announcement & FAQ webpage has full details on the extension program, including restrictions, agency contacts and Frequently Asked Questions.

The School of Graduate Studies will be reaching out directly to potentially eligible students with the above information as well.

We will also be receiving more detailed information regarding the extension process from the granting agencies within the next two weeks, and hope to provide these details to you at that time.

For any further questions, students may reach out to the relevant contact(s) at the relevant Tri-agency and/or at the University:

Tri-Agency Contacts:
NSERC: schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
SSHRC: fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
CIHR: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Vanier CGS: vanier@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Banting PDF: banting@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

University Contacts:
Vanier Awards & NSERC/SSHRC Doctoral Student Awards (SGS): Pascal Papathanasakis p.papathanasakis@utoronto.ca
CGS-Masters (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC) Awards (SGS): Stacey Kwan staceym.kwan@utoronto.ca

CIHR Studentships/Fellowships with a Research Allowance component (e.g. CGS-D, Post-doctoral Fellowship, HSIF, Banting PDF) (Research Services): Laura Weir laura.weir@utoronto.ca

I am a new award recipient of a Tri-Agency student award/fellowship, what is the deferral policy?

New award recipients may choose to delay their start date due to COVID-19, but must still choose between the currently available start dates, i.e. no later than January 2021. The Tri-Agency is currently not permitting COVID-related deferrals past January 2021 (but students are still eligible to defer for the other reasons, e.g. medical, parental, listed in the Tri-Agency Award Holder’s Guide). The Tri-Agency is open to revisiting this as the situation changes, but currently, the latest start date for recipients is January 2021.

For any further questions, students may reach out to the relevant contact(s) at the relevant Tri-agency and/or at the University:

CIHR Studentships/Fellowships with a Research Allowance component (e.g. CGS-D, Post-doctoral Fellowship, HSIF, Banting PDF) (Research Services): Laura Weir laura.weir@utoronto.ca

Funding

How will my graduate funding and TAship be impacted?

How will my SGS travel and conference grant be impacted?

Graduate students who have received a 2019-2020 travel and/or conference award, and have yet to travel, may alter or delay their originally proposed travel dates or destinations. Using the SGS Change Request Form, students can opt to change or defer their proposed travel or decline the grant and reapply to a future application cycle, should the travel not be expected in the near future.

In either case, students will receive – at a minimum – the same level of support, provided the destination and duration remains the same. Students who must cancel or pay to reschedule their pre-purchased travel, can access the SGS Emergency Grant to help cover the unexpected additional expenses.

Travel grant recipients who are currently traveling with an SGS grant and must either extend or shorten their trip due to COVID-19, can request a reassessment by submitting an SGS Travel Special Circumstances Form along with the usual SGS Conference / Research Travel Grant Payment Activation Form.

SGS Emergency Loans are also available for students who need an advance on their next funding payment (e.g. TA, RA, award).

For more information, please contact:
SGS Conference Grant: conferencegrant@utoronto.ca
SGS Research Travel Grant: travelgrant@utoronto.ca
Emergency Grants and Loans: sgs.financial.assistance@utoronto.ca

How will I schedule a departmental examination?

Placements, Internships and Other Program Requirements

What is going to happen with my placement or internship?

Accessibility

I am registered with Accessibility Services. Can I still access accommodations for my class? 

I am a student registered with Accessibility Services and I’m concerned about doing well in online formats. Can I request accessibility related accommodations?

We recommend you start by contacting your instructor to see what individual accommodations can be considered for your course. If this is not a realistic option, or if you still have questions or concerns, please consult your Accessibility Advisor to discuss next steps. Special updates for students registered at Accessibility Services can be found at: https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as/covid-19-updates.

Health

I am feeling unwell, what should I do?

We all have a role to play in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Everyone should stay at home and self-isolate if they have flu-like symptoms.

At this time, students do not need a doctor’s note or medical certificate for cold or flu-related absences, or for self-isolation. Students should record cold or flu-related absences, as well as self-isolation absences, through the Absence Declaration tool on ACORN (under the Acorn Profile and Settings menu).

This situation has caused anxiety/stress. I do not think I can perform academically in any remaining course work/exams, but I don’t think it’s fair to have to drop the class. What do I do?

What other resources are there I can use to help cope during this period of stress and uncertainty?

My Student Support Program (MY SSP) provides University of Toronto students with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour support for any school, health, or general life concern at no cost to students. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever, wherever you are for a range of concerns. Students who use My SSP still have access to existing campus and community mental health services; My SSP is an additional support service. More info.

Additional resources can be found on the UofT COVID-19 website.

International Students

[August 31] How do I enter Canada as an international student?

[August 31] How will my Post-Graduation Work Permit be impacted if I am a new student beginning my program online?

Will these changes to my courses affect my visa status?

I have plans to come to U of T Engineering as an International Visiting Graduate Students (IVGS). Should I still travel to Toronto?

Financial Aid

[October 5, 2020] My research or program was severely impacted by the pandemic. Am I eligible for a program extension and a tuition relief?

Graduate students whose academic progress was severely impeded due to COVID-19 related disruptions may be required to register in an additional session to complete their program. In that case, they can apply for a tuition waiver for that additional academic session. Students will still be charged fees and system access fees that are associated with the registration session.

It is recommended that all students for whom this applies continue to document the impact of the pandemic on their research plans and academic progress by filling out the Fall 2020 SGS COVID-19 Mentoring Meeting Record form that can be accessed here. The deadline for submitting this form is Oct 30, 2020. Instructions on how to use the mentoring record is also provided by accessing the link. For more information on qualifying for Tuition Exemption On Basis of Progress Delays due to COVID-19 please contact your unit to obtain more information on the application process.

The COVID-19 situation has negatively affected my financial situation — what supports are available to me?

If you are experiencing immediate financial hardship, you can apply for an SGS emergency loan or emergency grant. We are usually able to pay out emergency loans within 24-hours and emergency grants within one week.

Faculty of Arts and Science has developed a comprehensive document that provides sources of government support for graduate students. You can view this document here.

The Office of the Vice-Provost, Students has also released resources regarding financial support and funding opportunities here.

CEWILL Canada may also have some resources as well.

Is the Canadian Government providing financial support to students?

May 14: More detailed information on Canadian Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) is now available.

On April 22, 2020, the Government of Canada announced approximately $9 billion in new supports for students and new grads affected by COVID-19. The measures will provide financial support this summer and assist students in continuing their studies in the fall. The announcement also includes new funds to extend federal research grants and expiring scholarships and fellowships.

Initiatives Announced

Key measures include:

Creation of the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, which will provide support to students and new graduates who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This benefit will provide $1,250 per month for eligible students or $1,750 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities. The benefit will be available from May to August 2020.
Extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships and supplement existing federal research grants to support students and post-doctoral fellows, by providing $291.6 million to the federal granting councils. In addition, the government intends to enhance work opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the National Research Council of Canada.

Other measures include:

Double the Canada Student Grants for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and up to $3,600 for part-time students in 2020–2021. The Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependents will also be doubled.
Broaden eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student’s and spouse’s contributions in 2020–2021, in recognition that many students and families will struggle to save for school this year.
Enhance the Canada Student Loans Program by raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020–2021 from $210 to $350.
Create the Canada Student Service Grant, which will help students gain valuable work experience and skills while they help their communities during the COVID‑19 pandemic. For students who choose to do national service and serve their communities, the new Canada Student Service Grant will provide up to $5,000 for their education in the fall.
Increase existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing an additional $75.2 million in 2020–2021.

The announcement can be found online.

Further details on implementation will be distributed as we become aware.

Getting Involved with Student Community

How can I stay involved with the student community?

The Graduate Engineering Council of Students (GECoS) is working on creating a Quercus course with help from Vice-Dean Grad Office to connect our grad student community. Use this platform to connect with students, reach out for help, share resources, and access online events curated for engineering grad students! We will provide more details once it is set up.

If you want to get involved with mental health, you can visit the GECoS Mental Wellness Commission the Facebook page for resources and events.

If you have any concerns or want to volunteer for student initiatives, you can reach out through the GECoS website or contact your departmental student association.

Resource List

Feeling Distressed?

A list of UofT and Community mental health resources and contacts.

My SSP | 1-844-451-9700. Outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578.

My Student Support Program (MySSP). Culturally-competent 24-hr mental health and counselling services in 146 languages for all U of T students. Chat about school, health, general life concerns for free.

Good2Talk Student Helpline | 1-866-925-5454
Professional counseling, information and referrals helpline for mental health, addictions and student well-being.

Student Life

Many events/Workshops and services are available online or by phone:

Events include: Mindful Moments, productivity workshops, de-stress events
The Centre for International Experience - addressing the needs for International Students
Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre - Peer-to-peer chats, big or small!
Academic Success
Accessibility Services
And more!

Accessibility Services

Moving courses to an online format can affect students with accessibility needs. The Accessibility Services team is available via phone or email and is posting updates as they become available.

Canadian Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) - Canadian government financial support for students.

SGS Emergency Grant:

Emergency assistance grants are available for domestic and international students impacted by COVID-19 and who need immediate short-term financial relief because of unexpected expenses.

GECoS Mental Wellness Commission

The Engineering Graduate Student Mental Wellness Commission Facebook Group shares resources, tips, and events (in the future) for UofT engineering grad students.

UofT Central Hub

For most up to date information and resources on COVID-19.

School of Graduate Studies website

Updated information relevant to the graduate community during the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on academic activities, final oral examinations and more can be found on this site.

Faculty of Arts and Science - Sources of Government Support

A document developed by Faculty of Arts and Science. Information found on their document may be helpful for engineering graduate students as well.

Incident Disclosure Form