This section will assist you in preparing for your graduate career at York in conjunction with upcoming orientation events offered by your individual program.
This checklist can assist you in preparing for your graduate career at York and help ensure a smooth transition to campus life.
To learn more about your package, use the information provided on this page to determine the standard components of your program's funding offer. Some exceptions may apply.
Incoming 2024 students click to join the Incoming Class Facebook group.
COMING FALL 2024! YU START is your primary online resource for preparing for your academic journey at York. It includes a Discussion Board for incoming students to connect with other students and have their questions answered.
Note: Incoming students will receive an email invitation to log in at yorku.ca/yustart. If you are not able to access the application, please email fgsinfo@yorku.ca.
We are so excited to have you join the Faculty of Graduate Studies as emerging scholars, future leaders and positive changemakers who will make an impact in academia, in public and business sectors, and in our communities.
Pre-Arrival Webinars hosted by FGS
We hope you’re already looking forward to your program orientation events – many of which will take place over the summer or at the start of the Fall semester. But, to help you get started even before then, FGS has put together virtual sessions to help you ensure a smooth transition into your program: think of it as a guide to the steps between acceptance and the start of class.
June 18, 2024 - "You’ve been admitted! What's Next?"
In this session, we will go over a checklist of useful resources such as: how to accept your offer, submitting required documentation to meet conditions, disability accommodations, setting up Passport York and your email account, how to register for academic terms, how to enrol in courses, getting your YU card, the cost of living in Toronto, transit options, health plans and services, attending GRAD@York and more!
To Register: Event Page
July 15, 2024 - "Finding Your Way Online at York"
In this session, we will go over the various web platforms at York that you should become familiar with. This includes: Registering Online, Enrolling in Courses, our Faculty of Graduate Studies’ website, your graduate program website, York’s Events Calendar, Better Together, Appointment Booking Portals, Important Contacts, Incoming Class Facebook Group, and more!
To Register: Event Page
August 15, 2024 - "Discover Graduate Supervision at York"
In this session, we will explore the role supervision plays in graduate studies, highlighting how it shapes your learning experience. Designed for new graduate students, we will unpack the Ontario Principles for Graduate Supervision, focusing on student responsibilities. Hearing from current grad students, participants will learn tips for effective supervisor-student relationships, do’s and don’ts for understanding expectations, and making the most of your supervisory experience.
To Register: Event Page
Pre-Arrival Webinars hosted by York International
Incoming international students will want to attend York International's pre-arrival webinars! These are here to help you prepare for life at York University and in Canada. These sessions focus on key information that incoming international students need to know about immigration, health insurance, campus services, and more. These webinars will provides tips for success and will take you on a virtual journey throughout campus and beyond!
To Register: Event Website
Attending your graduate program orientation is a great opportunity to meet colleagues and learn more about grad studies at York.
If you are a new graduate student, we also look forward to meeting you at the GRAD@York - Fall 2024!
This event will be an opportunity for incoming graduate students to meet with our FGS team and campus partners, to learn about a variety of resources and services available to support your graduate journey. We will have representatives from the following university academic and administrative services:
- York University Libraries
- Teaching Commons
- Graduate Wellness & Counselling
- Student Accessibility Services
- Graduate Student Funding
- Scholarships & Awards
- York University Graduate Students' Association (YUGSA)
- CUPE 3903
- York International
- Supporting Indigenous Graduate Student Enhancement (SAGE)
- Athletics & Recreation
- Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS)
- Graduate & Postdoctoral Professional Skills (GPPS)
When: Tuesday, September 3rd from 12:00 -1:30pm
Where: Zoom (link to be automatically sent once registered)
To Register: Webinar Registration Form
We look forward to meeting with you in the Fall.
For incoming or current graduate students requiring accommodations due to a disability, please review our Accommodations for Graduate Students webpage.
There are a variety of housing options for graduate students while studying at York. Several campus options, as well as Toronto's many vibrant neighbourhoods and downtown core, help make the graduate student experience a memorable one.
On-Campus Housing
Graduate students who decide to live on York’s Keele or Glendon campuses will be within walking distance of everything they need. York’s Keele campus is like a small city unto itself, complete with shops, sports and fitness facilities, art galleries parks and green spaces, restaurants, cafés and pubs, while York’s Glendon campus offers a more intimate university experience that is immersed in mid-town Toronto’s Lawrence Park neighbourhood.
If you choose to live on campus, York University offers many housing options designed to fit your needs.
Keele Campus
Graduate students, Osgoode law students, and students with families (spouse/children) have the option of living on-campus in one of York University’s apartments.
The apartments are conveniently located right on York's Keele Campus within walking distance of classes and a variety of campus amenities such as study space, libraries, food outlets and sports facilities. For students living with their family, York’s graduate apartments contain a community playground and the nearby Atkinson Residence offers a daycare facility, and are in close proximity to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line (York University and Pioneer Village stations).
The York University Apartments offer both furnished and unfurnished apartments and include bachelor, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. There are also adapted units for students who require wheelchair access or visual alarm.
Please visit Student Housing—York Apartments for more information.
Glendon Campus
Please visit Glendon—Residence for more information.
Off-Campus Housing
The many neighbourhoods found in the Downtown and Midtown areas of the city are always popular with York students who chose to live off-campus because of their close proximity to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line, and an abundance of student-friendly businesses and housing options. This interactive map of Toronto’s neighbourhoods can help you to understand the characteristics of each area.
In addition to online listings from various third parties, please visit Off-Campus Housing.
Incoming graduate students are encouraged to complete all applicable administrative responsibilities as soon as possible in order to assist the transition process.
Passport York
Passport York is York’s primary method of online authentication – You must sign up for your Passport York username and password to log in to York’s online services for students. While at York, students can have the same Passport York username throughout their academic period.
Please visit Computing Services—Passport York for more information.
Email Account
Students can have a centrally-supported @yorku.ca email account, called MyMail. This account may be used for official correspondence and may also be required for some courses. You may forward this email address to a personal email address, but if you do you are responsible for ensuring that you can receive any forwarded messages.
Please visit Computing Services—Email for more information.
YU-card
The YU card is York University's official photo identification and campus debit card -- it's the one card you need to access key services such as the Library, recreation facilities, exams, food, meal plans, shopping, events, discounts and more.
Please visit YU-card for more information.
Parking
All community members and visitors are required to pay for parking while on campus. You may either purchase a parking permit or pay the daily fee at our visitor lots/garages. With approximately 9200 parking spaces, the Keele and Glendon campuses are comprised of 32 various lots/garages. They include permit only, visitor, and mixed usage lots.
Please visit Parking Services for more information.
Keys
Keys issued to occupants and users of University facilities, including offices, laboratories, rooms and other interior areas of buildings remain the property of York University and must not be duplicated. Keys are issued only to those persons who require access to space as part of their University responsibilities.
Please visit Security Services for more information.
YUGSA Health and Dental Plan
Graduate students have access to several health plan options on campus.
The York University Graduate Students' Association (YUGSA) Health plan is a supplementary health and dental plan designed to provide comprehensive and low-cost coverage to students for prescription drugs, dental, vision care, extended health services and travel insurance. The plan is compulsory for all full-time graduate students without comparable coverage for drugs AND dental and is optional for those registered part-time. The plan provider is ClaimSecure.
Please visit YUGSA—Health Plan for more information.
CUPE 3903 Extended Health and Benefits
The purpose of the “Extended Health Benefits Fund” is to support members with health care costs that would cause an undue financial burden and that are not covered by the Sun Life Insurance plan provided by our collective bargaining agreement.
Please visit CUPE 3903—Extended Health and Benefits for more information.
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)
UHIP is the University Health Insurance Plan in place for international students who are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The UHIP insurer is Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Sun Life).
Please visit York International—Health Insurance and Health Care for more information.
Many students choose to live off campus. Estimated costs of life in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) can be found on our Cost of Living in Toronto webpage.
For additional information on the cost of living in Toronto, visit the Numbeo website. Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database. It is also a crowd-sourced global database of quality of life data: housing indicators, perceived crime rates, healthcare quality, transport quality, and other statistics.
Graduate students have access to several health services on campus, from specific care to health strategies that can be used to support academic as well as social experiences.
Graduate Student Wellness Services
Our Wellness Services aims to support and enhance the mental health and well-being of York University graduate students as they pursue their academic goals through the development and implementation of resources, services, and supports designed to help graduate students connect with their wellness.
Please visit Grad Student Wellness Services for more information.
Student Counselling & Development
Student Counselling & Development (SCD) helps York students realize, develop and fulfill their personal potential in order to maximally benefit from their university experience and manage the challenges of university life.
Please visit Student Counselling & Development for more information.
Medical Centre
The Appletree Medical Centre is located in York Lanes and has doctors and nurses on staff to assist with any non-emergency illness.
Please visit Appletree Medical Centre for more information.
York Lanes Dental Office
The York Lanes Dental Office is located in York Lanes and provides a full suite of dental services to patients.
Please visit York Lanes Dental Office for more information.
Health Education
A professional health educator is available to students for individual information on health-related needs. The health educator can help answer questions or find appropriate resources to get students closer to answers. All services are entirely confidential.
Please visit Health Education for more information.
A&F Opticians
A full service optical located in York Lanes at our Keele campus. A&F Opticians carries a wide range of eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses and have in-store deals for students, faculty and staff of the university.
Please visit A&F Opticians for more information.
York University provides support for international graduate students who have joined York to pursue a graduate degree. Incoming international students should take into account procedures and programs in addition to the housing and administrative responsibilities applicable to all students.
Before You Arrive
Because international students require specific documents in order to study in Canada, it is very important that you follow certain steps as soon as you have accepted your offer from York University. Visit the York International website for details.
York International - Pre-Arrival Webinars
Pre-arrival webinars are here to help you prepare for life at York University and in Canada. These sessions focus on key information that incoming international students need to know about immigration, health insurance, campus services, and more. These webinars will provides tips for success and will take you on a virtual journey throughout campus and beyond!
To Register: Webinar Registration Form
For more information or to connect with a team member, please visit International Student & Immigration Advising.