Housing
If you are preparing to come to the University of Toronto, you are no doubt wondering where you will live and what accommodation in Toronto will be like. There are many different options available to you and what you choose will depend on your taste, circumstances and needs. This page has information that will give you a sense of what options are available to you and how you can start getting things ready for your time at U of T.
If you are an exchange student, please go directly to the Exchange Student sections at the bottom of the page.
General Housing Information
Full details about housing at the University of Toronto may be found at the following Housing Service websites:
- U of T Student Housing Service (St. George)
- UTM Student Housing & Residence Life
- UTSC Student Housing & Residence Life
The following are links to websites with information and resources regarding tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities, tenant protection, advocacy groups and general information about renting in the City of Toronto:
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Undergraduate Residence
The cost of undergraduate residence — including room and meals — is approximately $7920 to $13 475 per academic year (September to early May). If you are a first-year student, you should indicate your interest in residence on your Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) application to U of T. If you are an upper-year undergraduate, then you must apply directly to the residence.
The list of undergraduate residences and related details, including prices, are available on the Student Housing Service website. Please see the campus specific residence links (St. George campus residence, UTM residence, UTSC residence), as well as the Independent Residences page for a full listing of your residence options.
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Graduate Residence
Several of the residences at the University of Toronto are available for graduate students. If you are a graduate student, you should apply directly to the residence in which you are interested. You may apply before being offered admission to the University.
For details about on-campus housing for graduate students, please see the graduate students section of the appropriate campus on the Student Housing Service website.
Off-Campus Housing
Many University of Toronto students live off campus. If you choose this route, you will find that there is a variety of types of accommodation available to you in Toronto. Your choice will depend on personal preference, needs and the amount of money you wish to spend. Off-campus single rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom cost an average of $370 to $1000 per month. A bachelor apartment (one room with a private kitchen and a bathroom) costs approximately $525 to $1150 per month. A one-bedroom apartment would be approximately $600 to $1200 per month and a two-bedroom apartment costs approximately $900 to $2000 per month. Please note, however, that these ranges are subject to change, as rents in Toronto have been increasing over the past year. The Student Housing Service has information about finding off-campus housing that is specific to each of the three campuses.
The Housing Service has a listing of rooms, apartments and houses which are available for students to rent. You can search the rental ads through the Student Housing website. You may also find it useful to check listings in the local papers or online communities. Since this type of accommodation is not inspected by the Housing Service, the quality cannot be estimated or guaranteed. Therefore, it is very important for students to meet with the owner and inspect the premises before entering into any agreements. Independent Residences — which are located on or near the St. George campus, but owned independently — may also be an option for you.
The Housing Service and the Centre for International Experience cannot make any arrangements or reservations for permanent accommodation on your behalf, but staff and volunteers will be pleased to assist you when you arrive in Toronto. You can find housing available within forty-five minutes of the campus and within the above price guidelines.
Additional support may be available to students participating in an exchange program. Please review the documentation sent in your acceptance package carefully.
Student Family Housing
Both the St. George and Mississauga campuses have housing designed for students with families: At UTM, accommodation is in townhouse style complexes. Downtown, there are two high-rise towers on Charles St. East, as well as a small number of apartments available in the vicinity of Robarts library. The units come in varying sizes (i.e., bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom). Children are welcome, although regulations do not normally permit families with more than two children to occupy a two-bedroom apartment. Demand for these apartments is great — you should submit an application for Family Housing as soon as you are seriously considering attending the University. You may submit an application prior to receiving an offer of admission to the University. For further information & the online application form, please visit the Family Housing page of the Student Housing Service's website.
It can be difficult to find moderately priced short-term accommodation for families. If your spouse and/ or children plan to accompany you to Canada, you should arrive in Toronto alone about 3 weeks early in order to find appropriate accommodation before your family arrives. Where this is not possible, it may be necessary for you and your family to spend time in a hotel or other interim accommodation (in the summer, many of the U of T residences also offer short-term accommodation). As this can be expensive, you should plan accordingly. For more information about rental housing in Toronto or to search the rental ads, please visit the Student Housing Service's website.
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Temporary Housing
You may find that you need temporary accommodation for yourself or a family member while you are getting settled in. The Student Housing Service is also a good source of information about temporary housing.Back to Top
Exchange Students
The University of Toronto cannot guarantee accommodation to exchange students. We do, however, try our best to assist you in securing suitable housing. In order to facilitate this process, we ask that you review the information carefully and be attentive to university deadlines.
All residences are operated either by a U of T College or by an independent organization, and once you enter into a residence contract you are bound by their rules and regulations. If you have any special needs that we should be aware of, please indicate them in an attached note on your application (or contact CIE directly).
The Centre for International Experience (CIE) is responsible for arranging all on-campus housing placements for exchange students. These placements are arranged after the student is formally admitted. You should not contact the on-campus U of T residences directly. You will be contacted about housing after you are formally admitted.
The cost of U of T residences (room + meal plan) varies a great deal. For a list of current fees please refer to the Student Housing Service (SHS) website. Exchange students should budget between $800 and $1200 per month for both food and accommodation together.
Please note that virtually all U of T student residences have a mandatory meal plan, and most accommodation is shared with a roommate. Single rooms do exist, but they are rare and usually cost a lot more than a shared room.
Residences on or near the St. George campus:
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On-Campus Residences |
Off-Campus Residences (students should apply directly) |
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89 Chestnut Residence (includes Fall-only rooms) |
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St. Michael's College Residence (includes Loretto College, an all-female residence) |
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Exchange students who apply for registration at Mississauga or Scarborough campuses will receive a residence offer at the time of admission.
