admitted
students
Information for Newly Admitted Students
Congratulations, we are delighted to welcome you to the MScAC program!
Below are some helpful resources you can use as you prepare for your studies to begin in September. As always, feel free to contact admissions@mscac.utoronto.ca with any questions.
Save the date for Orientation 2025: Aug 25 – Sept 5
PLAN TO ATTEND ORIENTATION: The MScAC program and Department of Computer Science (DCS) will be hosting orientation events to welcome all new graduate students from the 2026-2027 cohort from approximately Monday, August 24, to Monday, September 3, 2026. More details will be announced closer to the date. Please plan to be in Toronto by August 23, 2026.
MEETING OUTSTANDING ADMISSION CONDITIONS: Almost all students will have conditions in their offer letter. Check your offer of admission to see what these are. Please send the MScAC Program Office any required outstanding documents. At minimum these will include official transcripts for all post-secondary studies attended and proof of degree conferral.
OFFER DEFERRAL: The deadline to request a deferral of admission has now passed. Requests submitted after the deadline will generally not be considered unless supported by documentation demonstrating circumstances beyond the applicant’s control and are subject to approval by the Program Director. Please contact the program office if you believe your situation may qualify for an exception. Information regarding the deferral process can be obtained by emailing admissions@mscac.utoronto.ca.
ACTIVATE YOUR JOINID/UTORID AND PICK UP YOUR TCARD: Activating your UTORid allows you to gain access to student services, email, course enrolment (ACORN), library resources, and Quercus. Your TCard is your university identification. It includes your photo, UTORid, student number and a barcode. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
STUDENT HANDBOOK: Review the MScAC 2026–27 Student Handbook to understand your program requirements.
TUITION FEE DEFERRAL: Fee deferral is allowed only if you have confirmed funding (OSAP, scholarships, or other awards) that exceeds the minimum required payment for the current session (Fall term tuition fee total for Fall–Winter session), and all your conditions have been cleared. Students receiving OSAP will be able to defer their fees on ACORN using the “Tuition Fee Deferral" option. Students receiving scholarships or other awards, like the Vector Scholarship in AI, must contact the MScAC Program Office to confirm their eligibility to request a fee deferral. For further information regarding tuition fee deferral eligibility, please visit the website of the University Registrar's Office.
HOUSING: You can find information about on- and off-campus housing options, resources and services via Student Life Housing. Graduate students can apply for limited on-campus housing at Graduate House , Oak House, and CampusOne Student Residence.
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP (TASHIP) APPLICATIONS: You will receive an email in June with information about applying for TAships. To hold a TA assignment, you must have received a Canadian social insurance number (SIN) by September.
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Registration Status
Your registration status as an incoming student is Invited. Once you are officially registered as a student at U of T, your status will be displayed as Registered on your ACORN account. This status will appear after you either pay your fees or defer your fees, if applicable. Note that it can take a few days for tuition fees to clear, so please don’t panic if the change is not immediate. Registration will open on July 13, 2026.
Course Enrolment
You enrol in courses through your ACORN account. As part of course planning, you will receive instructions in June on how to submit a study plan for approval and, if eligible, be pre-enrolled in approved Computer Science graduate-level courses. A webinar will be held, and students can ask any course enrolment-related questions during this session.
You can enrol in courses even while you have an Invited status. However, if your registration status does not change to Registered by the School of Graduate Studies registration deadline (September 18, 2026), then you risk being removed from your courses.
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Applying for your study/co-op work permit
The MScAC Program has provided you with all of the documentation you need to apply for your study and work permit. We recommend that you apply for any required permits as soon as possible, noting that there can be delays in IRCC permit processing at this time of year.
New Policy Updates for 2026:
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): Study permit applications for graduate study submitted on or after January 1, 2026 no longer require a PAL. Review U of T’s Apply for Your Study Permit webpage for further details and study permit application tips.
- Co-op Work Permit: Post-secondary students engaging in mandatory work placements, such as internships, no longer require a co-op work permit to authorize their work as of April 1, 2026. See U of T’s Mandatory Work Placements webpage for details of the eligibility criteria and study permit application tips.
For further assistance with immigration matters, please review the informational videos provided by the Centre for International Experience (CIE) or book time with one of the CIE’s qualified immigration advisors.
For additional detailed information about everything you’ll need as an international student, please visit the SGS International portal.
Travelling to Canada
When travelling to Canada, we recommend that you carry all related study permit documentation and application materials with you in hard copy, so that you have these readily available if asked.
