University of Toronto Mississauga facts for kids
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Former names
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Erindale College (1965–1998) University of Toronto at Mississauga (1998–2007) |
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| Motto |
Tantum nobis creditum (Latin)
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Motto in English
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"So much has been entrusted to us" |
| Type | Division (campus) |
| Established | 1967 |
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Parent institution
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University of Toronto |
| Dean | William Gough |
| Vice-President/Principal |
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Academic staff
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1,200 full-time (2019) |
| Students | 17,281 (2024) |
| Undergraduates | 16,379 |
| Postgraduates | 902 |
| Location |
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43°32′54″N 79°39′48″W / 43.54833°N 79.66333°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 225 acres |
| Newspapers | The Medium The Varsity (tri-campus) |
| Mascot | Rawcy the Eagle |
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The University of Toronto Mississauga (also called U of T Mississauga or UTM) is a big part of the University of Toronto. It's one of three main campuses, found in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
UTM started in 1967. It sits on 225 acres of land near the Credit River. This is about 33 kilometers west of Downtown Toronto. The campus offers over 180 different programs. These include courses for students starting university and those studying for advanced degrees. There are 90 areas of study across 15 departments and 3 special institutes. UTM is the second-largest campus of the University of Toronto. The other two campuses are the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto and the Scarborough campus.
Contents
History of UTM
The land where the Mississauga campus is now was once owned by Reginald Watkins. The University of Toronto bought it in 1963. The campus began as Erindale College in 1965. It was part of the Faculty of Arts & Science. Building the main campus started in 1966. This building was supposed to be temporary. However, it stayed part of the North building until 2016.
Erindale College welcomed its first students in September 1967. There were 155 students in that first group. In 1969, the college showed off Moon rock samples. This was the first time Moon rocks were displayed in Canada. In 1970, 70 students were the first to graduate from the college.
In 2003, the campus became its own separate part of the university. It was no longer just part of the Faculty of Arts & Science. In 2007, it was renamed the University of Toronto Mississauga. Around the year 2000, many more students started coming to UTM.
UTM celebrated its 40th birthday in 2007. This was marked by the opening of the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre. The new campus library also opened on June 2, 2007. In 2017, the campus celebrated its 50th anniversary. This happened at the same time as Canada's 150th birthday. The campus is also used as a filming location for the Amazon Prime series Gen V.
Campus Life and Buildings
The UTM campus has many buildings spread out over a large, treed area. You might even see wild deer walking around. Students and teachers really like seeing them. The area around the campus is a nice part of Mississauga.
The biggest building on campus is the William G. Davis Building. It was built in the late 1960s. It's a very strong-looking building made mostly of concrete. This style was popular back then. Many other buildings have been added over the years. As more students joined, new buildings were built even faster.
In September 2014, UTM opened Deerfield Hall. This building has four floors. It includes space for theatre practice, computer labs, classrooms, and offices. There are also places for students to study and eat. In September 2018, a new six-story building opened. It was named Maanjiwe nendamowinan. This name means "gathering of minds" in the Anishinaabemowin language. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, whose traditional land the campus is on, suggested this name.
The Communication, Culture & Technology (CCT) Building opened in September 2004. It has a black and glass outside. Inside, it uses concrete and gray paint. The campus library is in the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre. It opened in October 2006. The Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC) also opened around that time. The library has four floors with different study areas.
The Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM) started in August 2011. It's a partnership between UTM and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. This academy is located in the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex. It has new classrooms, labs, and study areas for medical students. Students can also relax in a lounge or on an outdoor terrace.
In 2013, a large stone monument was built at the campus entrance. This project also included fixing sidewalks and lighting. Some students were not happy about the cost of the monument. They felt it was too expensive and that students weren't involved enough in the decision.
In 2024, UTM celebrated 10 years of its Innovation Complex. This building is a big hub for learning and social activities. It has a central area for people to meet and smaller spots for group work. The complex is home to the Institute for Management and Innovation (IMI). This institute teaches business studies in new ways. The building also has lecture rooms and research labs. It was built to be eco-friendly. The campus registrar's office is also located here.
A new Science Building at UTM opened in Fall 2024. It's designed to be very energy-efficient. This building aims to be certified as "LEED Gold" for its green features. It uses geothermal heating and cooling. It also has solar panels on the roof and collects rainwater. The building is 15,550 square meters and has four stories. It helps different research groups work together. It has modern labs, offices, and meeting spaces. The building is connected to the William G. Davis Building. This new building shows UTM's focus on being sustainable and innovative. It aims to greatly reduce its carbon footprint by 2030.
Sustainability Efforts
The University of Toronto was named the most sustainable university in the world in 2024 and 2025. The Mississauga campus works hard to be sustainable. It was the first campus in Canada to get a Silver Fair Trade Campus award. This means it offers food that is sourced locally and ethically. Every new building at UTM since 2006 has been certified as "LEED Silver" or better. The Science Building and the Instructional Centre use geothermal heating to save energy. Some buildings also use recycled rainwater for their plumbing.
UTM has a Gold certification from AASHE. This group tracks how sustainable colleges and universities are.
Academics at UTM
The campus offers over 180 programs. These cover 95 areas of study. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in arts, science, commerce, and business. Some popular programs include Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Other popular choices are Criminology, Economics, English, and Psychology.
Many courses at UTM are similar to those at the Faculty of Arts & Science on the St. George campus. Students can take courses at any of the three University of Toronto campuses. UTM also has special programs with Sheridan College. These include Art and Art History, or Theatre and Drama. Students in these programs get a university degree from U of T and a college diploma from Sheridan.
UTM has some unique programs. It has the oldest Forensic Science program in Canada. It also has a Biomedical Communications program, which is the only one of its kind in the country. The campus is home to the Continuum Robotics Lab. Here, researchers create machines for things like surgery. Students can take advanced robotics courses that use this lab.
The campus offers a Game Studies minor. This program looks at video games as art, culture, and technology. It explores how games are designed and their history. This program is supported by the Syd Bolton Collection. This is Canada’s largest video game archive. It has over 14,000 games and many consoles. This collection helps students learn and research games. UTM also partnered with EP Media to save 10,000 videos from Canadian gaming shows. The Game Studies minor and the Syd Bolton Collection make UTM a leader in this field.
UTM also has one of the few palaeomagnetism labs in Canada. This lab studied Moon rocks from the Apollo missions in the 1970s. Dr. Henry Halls, a professor, ran this lab. Dr. J. Tuzo Wilson, a famous geologist, was a former leader of Erindale College. A research area in the William G. Davis building is named after him.
How to Apply to Programs
Students applying to UTM for their first year choose from 12 general categories. Five are for arts, two for business, and five for sciences. After their first year, students apply to their specific program of study (POSt). Some programs are very popular and have limited spots. Certain programs might need students to have specific grades to get in. Applications for these programs usually open in the summer after the first year.
UTM Co-op Internship Program
In 2024, UTM started its Co-op Internship Program (UTMCIP). This program is available in five departments. Students in 20 programs can join a stream that prepares them for a paid internship. These internships last 12 or 16 months. Six more programs in the Department of Management will join this program in Fall 2025.
Departments and Study Areas
Undergraduate Programs
UTM has many departments and institutes for undergraduate students. Departments that offer the UTMCIP-stream programs are marked with CIP.
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Biology [CIP]
- Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences [CIP]
- Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (ICCIT) [CIP]
- Department of Economics [CIP]
- Department of English & Drama
- Institute of Forensic Sciences
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment
- Department of Historical Studies
- Department of Language Studies
- Department of Management (UTMM) [CIP coming Fall 2025]
- Department of Mathematical & Computational Sciences [CIP]
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Political Science
- Professional Accounting Centre
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Department of Sociology
- Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities
- Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy (ISUP)
- Centre for Urban Environments
- Department of Visual Studies
- Environment Programs
- Women and Gender Studies Program
Graduate Programs
The University of Toronto offers advanced study and training across all three campuses, including UTM. Many of these programs work with other faculties and departments. These include the Faculty of Arts & Science and Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Here are some of the study areas available at UTM:
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Cell & System Biology
- Chemistry
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Geography & Planning
- Earth Science (Geology)
- Medicine (Mississauga Academy of Medicine)
- Occupational Therapy
- Management (Institute for Management & Innovation)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- Sociology
Academic Skills Support
The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) helps students learn and improve their skills at UTM. It's on the third floor of Maanjiwe nendamowinan. The centre offers workshops and study groups. It also provides one-on-one help for writing, math, and study skills.
Student Life at UTM
UTM has many places for students to eat, study, and hang out. Students can go to The Student Centre. There are also two Starbucks and a Second Cup Cafe. The Davis Building has a food court. Other dining spots include Oscar Peterson Hall's Colman Commons and CCT's Circuit Cafe. There are also outdoor areas to enjoy the campus's nature.
The UTM Student Centre hosts many events and programs. These include movie nights every Monday. Sometimes, guest speakers visit. The Student Centre also has student groups. These include the campus newspaper, a radio station, and the UTM Student Union.
The Blind Duck Pub is a popular place to eat on campus. Students and staff can socialize there. The menu has chicken wings, halal meats, and vegetarian dishes. The Blind Duck Pub also hosts student events. These include parties with artists like Shawn Desman and Mia Martina. Students can even work at the Blind Duck Pub. It is owned and run by the UTM Students' Union.
In 2024, UTM opened the new Student Services Hub. It's on the main floor of the William G. Davis Building. This space is a "first stop" for students needing help. It brings together many important services. These include the Career Centre and Accessibility Services. The International Education Centre is also there. The Hub has a main service desk and a bigger area for career exploration. It also has spaces for workshops and meetings. It makes it easier for students to find help with careers, housing, and wellness. The Hub aims to make the student experience better at UTM.
The campus has its own radio station, CFRE-FM. It broadcasts 24 hours a day at 91.9FM from the Student Centre. It plays Canadian and independent music. Students and community members can apply to have their own show. No experience is needed. There is also a student newspaper called The Medium.
The main practice area for the Toronto Argonauts football team was on campus until 2014.
Students who do a lot for student life get special awards. These include the University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards (UTSLA). Individual departments also give awards for involvement and good grades. The Centre for Student Engagement and UTM Student Union also give awards to successful student groups.
Athletics and Sports
The Recreation Athletic and Wellness Centre (RAWC) is connected to the Davis Building. It expanded its sports programs in 2006–07. The RAWC provides sports equipment for students to use. You just need your student card or membership. You can play basketball, soccer, volleyball, and table tennis. They also offer classes in dance, martial arts, yoga, and swimming. There are two gyms, squash courts, a pool, and a fitness center. The RAWC often has drop-in times for students to play sports for fun.
The University of Toronto has a Tri-Campus Intramural League. Students from all three campuses, including UTM, can join. These teams are competitive. They include men's ice hockey, soccer, and women's basketball and volleyball.
Varsity Sports
UTM became a member of the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) in April 2014. The Eagles' first varsity sports included badminton, cross country, and men's and women's indoor soccer.
The program stopped competing in 2020. It did not start again when OCAA sports resumed. The program officially ended after the 2021-22 school year.
University of Toronto students from all three campuses can play varsity sports through the Varsity Blues. These teams are based at the St. George campus.
Student Housing
UTM has housing for over 1,600 students. They guarantee a spot for all first-year students. Student residences include Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH), McLuhan Court, and Putnam Place. Other options are Leacock Lane, Roy Ivor Hall, and Erindale Hall. First-year students can live in OPH, McLuhan Court, Roy Ivor Hall, and Erindale Hall. Older students can live in Putnam Place and Leacock Lane.
OPH is a traditional residence. It has single rooms and shared bathrooms. Colman Commons, in OPH, is the main dining hall for students living on campus. Putnam Place and Leacock Lane are like townhouses. Each has four single rooms, a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Roy Ivor Hall and Erindale Hall are apartment-style suites. They have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. All residences have laundry machines and common lounges.
UTM started building a new student residence in 2024. It is set to open in 2026. This will be UTM's first new housing since 2007. It's part of a plan to add 1,446 new student beds across all three campuses. The new building will have 115 single rooms and 135 double rooms. It will also have rooms for support staff, totaling 400 beds. The building will be six stories tall. It will include study spaces, lounges, and laundry rooms. This will increase UTM's housing to about 1,900 students. The residence is designed to fit in with UTM's natural ravine setting. It aims for "LEED Silver" certification. This means it will use eco-friendly systems like solar panels. This project is part of UTM's 2021 Campus Master Plan. This plan also includes better outdoor spaces and bike paths.
Getting Around Campus
Many city bus routes stop at UTM. Most are run by MiWay. There are express routes for students on weekdays. These connect the campus to transit hubs. These hubs include Mississauga City Centre and Clarkson GO Station. They also connect to the Kipling Bus Terminal and TTC subway station.
The University of Toronto also has a shuttle bus service. It runs between the Mississauga and St. George campuses. It runs often throughout the day. It is free for UTM students.
Theatre and Arts
The Erindale Studio Theatre is a "black box theatre." This means its stage and seating can be changed. It can hold up to 85 people. The building used to be a bus garage and science lab. It was turned into a theatre in 1993. It has modern lighting and sound systems. It also has shops for building sets, making costumes, and painting.
Theatre Erindale is a theatre company at UTM. It's for students in the joint Theatre and Drama Studies program with Sheridan College. The company puts on 5 plays each season in the Erindale Studio Theatre. These plays include old classics and new works. Students from Sheridan College's Technical Production program help with stage management, lighting, and sound.
The Multimedia Studio Theatre (MiST) is a modern, flexible theatre space. It's used for drama classes and performances. It also hosts student productions. The Blackwood Gallery on campus has used MiST for events and art shows. The theatre is in the CCT building.
Blackwood Art Gallery
Mississauga's first public art gallery started on campus in 1969. It was called the Erindale College Art Gallery. In 1992, it was renamed The Blackwood Gallery. This was to honor Canadian artist David Blackwood. He was an artist at UTM from 1967 to 1973. The gallery is in the Kaneff Centre. It collects and shows over 450 artworks from UTM's collection. It also shows student art from the Art & Art History Program. The gallery also has light box art exhibits around campus.
UTM Students' Union
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students' Union (UTMSU) helps represent the undergraduate students at UTM. It does this through various clubs and events. There are many clubs for different religions and cultures. Students can meet others who share their interests. Some clubs include the Arab Students for Peace and World Change and the Muslim Student Association. There are also clubs for hobbies like Music, Drama, Anime, and Cricket.
Almost every academic department at UTM has a student society. These groups are led by students. They focus on specific programs offered at the campus. Students can work with others in the same program. They can discuss and work on academic goals together.
Before the school year starts, the UTM student union organizes Frosh Week. This event welcomes new first-year students to the university. About 1,200 students attend each year. Frosh Week has many events and activities. These help new students get used to university life. They also help first-year students meet each other. Frosh Week events happen both on and off campus. In 2011, Shawn Desman performed for students at The Blind Duck. Other activities included trips to Medieval Times and Canada's Wonderland.
Student Demographics
The Mississauga campus has 17% of the University of Toronto's total students. It has about a quarter as many students as the St. George campus. At UTM, the number of male and female students is more balanced for undergraduate studies. However, there are more female students in graduate programs. UTM also has the smallest number of international students among the three campuses, with 25.7%.
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
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| Male | 45.5% | 34.1% |
| Female | 51.7% | 64.0% |
| Canadian student | 74.3% | 73.7% |
| International student | 25.7% | 26.3% |
Notable People from UTM
Alumni (Former Students)
- Roberta Bondar – a doctor and astronaut, the first Canadian woman in space
- Kirstine Stewart – a media leader and author
- Dionne Brand – a poet, writer, and community activist
- Claire Carver-Dias – an Olympic synchronized swimmer and writer
- Alicia Brown – an Olympic track athlete (two-time Olympian)
- Ruslan Gaziev – a competitive swimmer and 2020 Olympian
- Susan Fennell – former mayor of Brampton, and founder of a women's hockey league
- Lesley Hampton – a fashion designer
- Bruce Dowbiggin – a journalist
- André Dae Kim – an actor, known for Degrassi: The Next Generation
- Vikas Kohli – a musician and music producer
- Richie Mehta – a film director and writer
- Nisha Pahuja – a documentary filmmaker
- John Roberts – a journalist
- Wali Shah – a singer-songwriter and speaker
- Zaib Shaikh – an actor, writer, and director
- Andrea Scott – a screenwriter and playwright
- David Yee – a playwright and actor
- Cody Caetano – an author
- Lindsey Middleton – an actor
- Sven Spengemann – a politician, former Member of Parliament
- Belinda Karahalios – a politician, former Member of Provincial Parliament
- Fares Al Soud – a politician, Member of Parliament
Faculty (Teachers and Researchers)
- Sanja Fidler – a professor in Mathematical & Computational Sciences, and a director at NVIDIA
- John Tuzo Wilson – former Principal of Erindale College, a geophysicist known for his work on tectonic plates
- Daniel Zingaro – a professor in Mathematical & Computational Sciences, specializing in computer science education
- Tanjim Hossain – Chair of the Department of Management, known for research in how people make economic choices
- Henry Halls – a retired professor in Chemical & Physical Sciences, known for research in geophysics and tectonic plates
