University of Toronto facts for kids
Coat of arms
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| Latin: Universitas Torontonensis | |
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Former name
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King's College (1827–1849) |
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| Motto | Velut arbor ævo (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"As a tree through the ages" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | March 15, 1827 |
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Academic affiliation
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AAU, ACU, Universities Canada, URA, U15 |
| Endowment |
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| Chancellor | Rose M. Patten |
| President | Meric Gertler |
| Provost | L. Trevor Young |
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Academic staff
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3,246 |
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Administrative staff
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7,462 |
| Students | 64,218 |
| Undergraduates | 44,763 |
| Postgraduates | 19,455 |
| Location |
,
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Canada
43°39′42″N 79°23′42″W / 43.66167°N 79.39500°W |
| Campus | St. George; Urban, 71 hectares (180 acres) |
| Colours | PMS 655 blue |
| Nickname | Varsity Blues |
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Sporting affiliations
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U Sports – OUA, CUFLA |
| Mascot | True Blue (the Beaver) |
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The University of Toronto (often called UToronto or U of T) is a large public university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located around Queen's Park. The university started in 1827 as King's College. It was the first place for higher learning in Upper Canada.
At first, the Church of England controlled the university. But in 1850, it became a non-religious school and changed its name to the University of Toronto. It is a collegiate university, which means it has 11 different colleges. Each college has its own independence and history. The university has three campuses. The oldest one, St. George, is in downtown Toronto. The other two campuses are in Scarborough and Mississauga.
The University of Toronto offers more than 700 programs for undergraduate students and 200 for graduate students. It gets the most money for scientific research and has the largest fund of any Canadian university. It is also one of only two universities outside the United States that belongs to the Association of American Universities. This group includes top research universities. The university is famous for its ideas in literary criticism and communication theory, known as the Toronto School.
Many important discoveries happened at the University of Toronto. This includes the discovery of insulin and stem cell research. The first artificial cardiac pacemaker was also developed here. It was also the site of the first successful lung transplant and nerve transplant. The first electron microscope was built here. Researchers also developed deep learning and neural network technology. They identified the first black hole called Cygnus X-1. The university has received the largest donations and research grants in Canadian history.
The Varsity Blues are the university's sports teams. They play in college leagues, mainly in U Sports. Football, rowing, and ice hockey are popular sports. The first recorded football game happened at the university in 1861. Hart House is a special building at the university. It is one of the first student centres in North America. It offers cultural, intellectual, and fun activities for students.
Many famous people have studied at the University of Toronto. These include five Prime Ministers of Canada. Two of them are William Lyon Mackenzie King and Lester B. Pearson. Three Governors General of Canada and nine foreign leaders also attended. As of 2019, 12 Nobel laureates and six Turing Award winners have been connected to the university.
Contents
History of the University
How the University Started
John Graves Simcoe wanted to create a college for a long time. He was the first leader of Upper Canada. Simcoe had studied at Oxford and fought in the American Revolutionary War. He believed a college would help stop ideas from the United States from spreading. In 1798, a committee suggested building a college in York, the capital city.
On March 15, 1827, King George IV officially created "King's College." It was meant to educate young people in Christian values and in science and literature. John Strachan, an important Anglican leader, worked hard to get this charter. He became the college's first president. The first college building was a three-story Greek Revival style building. It was built where Queen's Park is today.
Under Strachan, King's College was a religious school. It was closely linked to the Church of England. But politicians who wanted change fought to make the college non-religious. In 1849, after much debate, the government voted to rename King's College the University of Toronto. They also cut its ties with the church. Strachan had already left to start Trinity College, a private Anglican school. University College was then created as the non-religious teaching part of the University of Toronto.
In 1878, the School of Practical Science was founded. This school later became the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, also known as Skule. The Faculty of Medicine opened in 1843. The Faculty of Law opened in 1887. The Faculty of Dentistry opened in 1888. Women were first allowed to attend the university in 1884.
A big fire in 1890 badly damaged University College. It also destroyed 33,000 books from the library. But the university rebuilt the college and refilled its library in just two years. Over the next 20 years, more colleges joined the university. This created the collegiate system. Trinity College joined in 1904. The university also ran the the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Royal Ontario Museum for many years. The University of Toronto Press started in 1901. It was Canada's first academic publishing house.
University During World Wars and Later Years
During the First and Second World Wars, many students joined the military. Some university activities were paused. The David Dunlap Observatory opened in 1935. The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies opened in 1949.
By 1961, the university had over 14,000 students. It opened new campuses in Scarborough in 1964 and Mississauga in 1967. In the 1980s, the university started to raise more money. This was because government funding was reduced.
Recent Developments (Since 2000)
In 2007, the University of Toronto became the first Canadian university to have a fund of over one billion dollars. From 2011 to 2018, the university had a big fundraising campaign called Boundless. It raised $2.641 billion, which was a new record in Canada.
In 2020, the university received the largest donation in Canadian history. James and Louise Temerty gave $250 million to the Faculty of Medicine. Because of this, the Faculty of Medicine was renamed the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. In 2021, the university started an even bigger fundraising campaign called Defy Gravity. Its goal is to raise $4 billion.
Exploring the Campus Grounds
The university's main campus is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of downtown Toronto's financial area. It is north of Chinatown and the Discovery District. The campus covers 71 hectares (175 acres). It is mostly surrounded by Bay Street, Bloor Street, Spadina Avenue, and College Street. Queen's Park, with the Ontario Legislative Building, is in the middle of the campus. The university has many green spaces and courtyards. It feels like a park in the city center. Several subway stations are nearby, making it easy to get around.
The buildings on campus have a mix of Romanesque and Gothic Revival styles. Most of them were built between 1858 and 1929. The main part of the university is called Front Campus. It has an oval lawn surrounded by King's College Circle. The most important building is University College. It was built in 1857. Its design combines different styles. Visitors from Europe were very impressed by it. It was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1968.
Convocation Hall was built in 1907. It is famous for its domed roof and pillars. It is mainly used for graduation ceremonies. But it also hosts many other events throughout the year. The stone buildings of Knox College have a classic Gothic design. They feature cloisters around a quiet courtyard.
Hart House is a large Gothic-revival building. It is a student centre with many common rooms. Its Great Hall has big stained-glass windows. The nearby Soldiers' Tower is 43.5 meters (143 feet) tall. It lists the names of university members who died in the World Wars. The tower has a 51-bell carillon that plays on special days. North of University College, Trinity College has a Tudor-style main building. Its chapel is built in a special Gothic style. Philosopher's Walk is a pretty path that follows a hidden stream. It connects different parts of the campus. Victoria College is east of Queen's Park. Its main building is made of red sandstone and grey limestone.
After World War II, the western part of the campus was developed. It has modern buildings for labs and offices. The Robarts Library is a huge concrete building from 1972. It is known for its unique, strong design. Sidney Smith Hall is home to the Faculty of Arts and Science. The Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building, finished in 2006, is a modern glass and steel building. It was designed by famous architect Norman Foster.
How the University is Run and its Colleges
The University of Toronto is set up in a special way. Its power is shared between the main administration, academic departments, and colleges. The Governing Council is the main group that makes decisions for the university. It handles academic, business, and other important matters. Before 1971, two groups governed the university. The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. The president is the chief executive.
The University of Toronto is a collegiate university. This means it has a system similar to universities in Britain, like Cambridge and Oxford. The colleges have a lot of freedom over admissions, scholarships, and programs. They also provide housing and social activities for students. This system started in the 1800s. Religious colleges wanted to join the university but also keep their traditions. This led to the unique college system.
University College was the first non-religious college. It was created in 1853. Knox College (Presbyterian) and Wycliffe College (Anglican) joined the university in 1890. Victoria University (Methodist) also joined in 1890. Later, Trinity College (Anglican) joined in 1904. St. Michael's College (Roman Catholic) joined in 1910.
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Constituent colleges
Theological colleges
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Federated colleges
Postgraduate college
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After World War II, new non-religious colleges were created. These include New College (1962), Innis College (1964), and Woodsworth College (1974). These are called constituent colleges. They are funded by the main university. Massey College was started in 1963 for graduate students only. Regis College, a Jesuit school, joined in 1979.
Some colleges, like Knox, Massey, Regis, St. Michael's, Trinity, Victoria, and Wycliffe, are legally separate. They have their own money. While some still have religious ties, they now allow all students to enroll. They also teach non-religious subjects.
Academics and Learning
The Faculty of Arts and Science is the main faculty for undergraduate students. It offers most courses in the college system. While colleges don't do all the teaching, many have special academic programs. For example, Trinity College focuses on international relations. University College focuses on Canadian studies. Innis College focuses on film studies and urban studies.
The University of Toronto is known for the Toronto School. This is an important way of thinking about communication theory and literary criticism. It explores how communication shapes human cultures and minds. This school of thought comes from the work of scholars like Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan. Since 1963, the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology has continued to teach and advance these ideas.
The university is home to several important academic projects. These include the Dictionary of Canadian Biography and the Collected Works of Erasmus. The Records of Early English Drama collects old documents about plays in England. The Dictionary of Old English compiles early English words.
The Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy brings together the university's programs in international affairs and public policy. It is also home to the G20 Research Group, which studies the Group of Twenty countries. The Citizen Lab researches Internet censorship. The university has offices in Berlin, Hong Kong, and Siena.
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health is a faculty that started in 1927. It became very important after the 2003 SARS crisis. It is now Canada's largest public health school. It has many teachers and students. It works with other groups in Toronto and around the world. It gets over $39 million in research funding each year. This money helps study global health, the effects of tobacco, air pollution, and other health issues.
The Temerty Faculty of Medicine works with ten teaching hospitals. These hospitals provide medical care, research, and advice. Doctors at these hospitals also teach at the university. The Rotman School of Management teaches a special way of thinking called integrative thinking. The Faculty of Law, founded in 1887, helped change how law is taught in Canada. The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is the university's teacher training college.
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Library and Collections
The University of Toronto Libraries is the third-largest university library system in North America. Only Harvard and Yale have more books. It has over 12 million print books and 1.9 million digital books. It also has many journals and archival materials. The biggest library is Robarts Library. It holds about five million books for humanities and social sciences.
The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library has one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts. Its collections include ancient Egyptian papyri and early printed books. It focuses on British, Western, and Canadian literature. It also has books on the history of science and medicine. The Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library has a rare Chinese collection of 40,000 volumes. The university has worked with the Internet Archive since 2005 to make some of its books available online.
The University of Toronto Art Centre has three main art collections. The Malcove Collection has early Christian and Byzantine art. It also has a painting called Adam and Eve from 1538. The University of Toronto Collection features Canadian contemporary art. The University College Art Collection has important works by the Group of Seven painters.
University Rankings and Reputation
| University rankings | |
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| Global rankings | |
| ARWU World | 24 |
| QS World | 21 |
| Times World | 21 |
| U.S News & World Report Global | 18 |
| Canadian rankings | |
| ARWU National | 1 |
| QS National | 1 |
| Times National | 1 |
| U.S News & World Report National | 1 |
| Maclean's Medical/Doctoral | 2 |
The University of Toronto is highly ranked around the world. In 2022, the Academic Ranking of World Universities placed it 22nd globally and first in Canada. The 2023 QS World University Rankings ranked it 21st in the world and first in Canada. In 2023, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it 18th globally and first in Canada. U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking ranked it 18th in the world in 2022–23.
The university is also known for its research. In 2019, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked it fourth in the world for scientific papers. The University Ranking by Academic Performance placed it second in the world in 2019–2020.
The university's graduates are also highly sought after for jobs. In 2022, Times Higher Education ranked the university 11th in the world for graduate employability. QS ranked it 21st in the world for graduate employability in 2022. A 2013 survey by the New York Times ranked it 14th globally for employment.
Groundbreaking Research
Since 1926, the University of Toronto has been part of the Association of American Universities. This group includes top research universities in North America. The university has the largest annual research budget of any university in Canada. In 2021, it was named the top research university in Canada. It received over $1.2 billion in research funding in 2020. The Canadian government provides a large part of this funding. About eight percent of research money comes from companies, especially in healthcare.
The first working electron microscope was built by the physics department in 1938. During World War II, the university created the G-suit. This suit saved the lives of Allied fighter pilots. It was later used by astronauts. In 1963, an asteroid was discovered and named 2104 Toronto after the university. In 1972, studies on Cygnus X-1 helped prove that black holes exist. Toronto astronomers have also discovered moons of Uranus and dwarf galaxies.
The university is a leader in computer technology. It designed and built UTEC, one of the world's first working computers. Multi-touch technology was also developed here. This technology is used in many devices, from phones to drawing tablets. The AeroVelo Atlas, a human-powered helicopter, was developed by university students and graduates. It won a major competition in 2013.
The discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921 is a huge event in medical history. Stem cells were discovered at the university in 1963. This discovery led to bone marrow transplantation and all modern stem cell research. Toronto researchers also found cancer stem cells in 1997. Medical inventions from Toronto include the glycaemic index and the baby cereal Pablum. The first successful single-lung transplant happened in Toronto in 1981. The first nerve transplant was in 1988.
The University of Toronto is a key part of one of the world's largest biotechnology areas. Over 5,000 researchers work near the university. They conduct $1 billion of medical research every year. MaRS Discovery District is a research park that helps companies and the university's technology projects. In 2008, the university reported 159 inventions and had 114 active start-up companies. Its SciNet Consortium runs Canada's most powerful supercomputer.
Student Life and Culture
Hart House is the heart of student life at the University of Toronto. It is a large, beautiful building that opened in 1919. It was designed to bring students together. At Hart House, students can read, eat, get a haircut, visit an art gallery, watch a play, listen to music, or debate. They can also play billiards or go for a swim. All these activities are under one roof. This helps create a complete educational experience. Hart House influenced how student centers were planned at other universities.
Hart House supports student clubs. Its committees are mostly made up of undergraduate students. The main student unions are the University of Toronto Students' Union and the Graduate Students' Union. Each college and faculty also has its own student groups.
The Hart House Debating Club is famous for its debating style. It combines American analysis with British wit. The club won the World Universities Debating Championship in 1981 and 2006. The North American Model United Nations (NAMUN) hosts a yearly conference on campus. The Toronto chess team has won the top title six times at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship.
Greek Life at U of T
The University of Toronto is home to Canada's first college fraternity, Zeta Psi. Its Toronto chapter started in 1879. Many other fraternities and sororities also have chapters at the university. These include Alpha Delta Phi, Sigma Chi, Pi Beta Phi, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. There is also a secret society called Episkopon at Trinity College.
Theatre and Music
Hart House Theatre is the university's student theatre. It usually puts on four plays each season. It helped start Canadian theatre by bringing the Little Theatre Movement from Europe. Many famous performers got their start here. These include Donald Sutherland and Lorne Michaels. Three members of the Group of Seven painters designed sets for the theatre. The theatre also hosts annual shows by student groups from different colleges.
Hart House has many musical groups. These include an orchestra, a choir, and a jazz ensemble. The Jazz at Oscar's series features big band and vocal jazz. Open Stage is a monthly event for singers, comics, and poets. The Sunday Concert series has performed classical music concerts since 1922. These concerts are free for everyone.
Student Media
The Varsity is one of Canada's oldest student newspapers. It has been published since 1880. It is now a weekly paper during the school year. Hart House Review is a literary magazine that publishes writing and art from new Canadian artists. The Newspaper is another independent student newspaper. CIUT-FM is the university's radio station. University of Toronto Television broadcasts student-made content. Each college also has its own student publications.
Students in the media have often supported important causes. In 1880, The Varsity supported allowing women to attend the university. In 1895, students boycotted classes after the university suspended the editor of The Varsity. This happened because he criticized the government. In 1969, after homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada, a student newspaper advertisement led to the first university gay rights group in Canada.
Student Residences
Each college at the University of Toronto has its own residence halls and dining halls. They are located in different parts of the campus. Most colleges reserve their dorms for undergraduate students. But some spots are for students from professional and graduate programs. Massey College is only for graduate students. Knox and Wycliffe Colleges mainly house graduate theology students. Annesley Hall was the first university residence for women in Canada. Today, Annesley Hall and Loretto College are the last remaining women's halls at the university.
The campus residences can only house about 6,400 students. So, the university guarantees housing only for first-year undergraduate students. Most older students and graduate students live off-campus. The nearby neighborhoods of The Annex and Harbord Village are popular places for students to live. In 2004, the university bought a hotel and turned it into the Chestnut Residence. This residence houses students from all colleges and faculties. There are also many fraternity houses and student housing cooperatives.
Student Demographics
The University of Toronto has many international students. In 2016–17, nearly 20 percent of students were from other countries. In 2017, the University of Toronto had more international students than any other Canadian university.
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
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| Male | 45.4% | 42.6% |
| Female | 54.6% | 57.4% |
| Canadian student | 63.9% | 74.9% |
| International student | 36.1% | 25.1% |
In 2011, 78 percent of new first-year students identified as a visible minority. In 2014–15, about 56 percent of students were female and 44 percent were male. The average high school grade for first-year students in fall 2014 was about 86 percent.
Athletics and Sports
The Varsity Blues have 44 sports teams. They represent the university in college competitions. They mainly play in U Sports for national games and the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) for provincial games. The name "Varsity Blues" became common in the 1930s. The song The Blue and White is often played at games.
North American football started at the University of Toronto. The first recorded game was played at University College on November 9, 1861. The Blues played their first college football game in 1877 against the University of Michigan. The Blues have won four Grey Cup championships and two Vanier Cup championships. They also won 25 Yates Cup championships. Varsity Stadium has been the main field for football and soccer since 1898.
The Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team started in 1891. They have a rich history in hockey. Conn Smythe played for the Blues and coached them. When he took over the Toronto Maple Leafs, his new team adopted the Blues' blue-and-white uniform design. The Blues hockey team competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics and won the gold medal for Canada. They have won the national hockey title ten times. Varsity Arena has been their home since 1926.
In men's basketball, the Varsity Blues have won 14 conference titles. The University of Toronto Rowing Club is Canada's oldest college rowing club. It won a silver medal for Canada in the men's eight rowing event at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Notable People from U of T
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William Lyon Mackenzie King, the longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada, BA, MA
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Lester B. Pearson, Canadian Prime Minister and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957, BA
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Paul Martin, 21st Canadian Prime Minister, LLB
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John Kenneth Galbraith, famous economist, B.Sc.(Agr.)
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John Charles Fields, mathematician who started the prestigious Fields Medal
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Harold Innis, professor of political economy, helped develop the Toronto School of communication theory
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Frederick Banting, Nobel Laureate in Medicine and the first person to use insulin on humans, MB, MD
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Roberta Bondar, CSA astronaut and the first Canadian female in space, PhD
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Julie Payette, CSA astronaut and the 29th Governor General of Canada, MASc
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Jennie Smillie Robertson, First female surgeon in Canada, MD
Many famous people have studied or taught at the University of Toronto. These include 12 Nobel laureates. As of 2006, University of Toronto professors made up a large number of Canadian members in important academic groups.
Alumni from the University of Toronto have become leaders in many fields. In government, Governors General like Vincent Massey and Julie Payette attended. Prime Ministers such as William Lyon Mackenzie King and Stephen Harper also graduated from here. Seventeen justices of the Supreme Court of Canada are alumni. World leaders like President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga also studied at U of T.
Famous thinkers from the university include economist John Kenneth Galbraith and historian Margaret MacMillan. Scientists like Frederick Banting (who discovered insulin) and astronauts Roberta Bondar and Julie Payette are also alumni.
In business, alumni include leaders of major companies like Rogers Communications' Ted Rogers and Toronto-Dominion Bank's W. Edmund Clark. In literature and media, the university has produced writers like Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje. Film directors like David Cronenberg and actor Donald Sutherland also studied here. Musicians like Paul Shaffer and journalists like Malcolm Gladwell are also alumni.
Companies started by University of Toronto alumni create about one-quarter of Canada's economy. This was shown in a 2021 survey.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Toronto para niños
- Education in Toronto
- Higher education in Ontario
- List of universities in Ontario
- University of Toronto Campus Safety
