With more than 15,000 faculty, over 700 undergraduate programs and 97,000 students on three campuses, the University of Toronto is in a class of its own. St. George, the leafy downtown campus, has historic stone buildings alongside sleek modern architecture. The Scarborough and Mississauga campuses are located in the east and west ends of the city, respectively. The Mississauga campus borders on protected greenbelt land; the Scarborough campus offers co-op in all of its program areas.

U of T’s School of Cities brings together researchers from across disciplines to address the challenges facing urban areas. The university supports student start-up companies; aspiring entrepreneurs can grow their ideas through over 10 accelerators and more than 250 courses. Given U of T’s size, one might think professors would be too busy for undergraduates, but the university fosters small-group learning opportunities, such as first-year seminars. Incoming engineering students can join the U of T Engineering Academy for a free refresher program on high school math, chemistry and physics.

This year, U of T is implementing a new model for mental health services that aims to get students the help they need faster and in ways that address individual needs. In 2022, U of T was named the top-placed Canadian university in Times Higher Education’s global ranking on employability of graduates for the tenth year in a row. “The university has worked hard to make sure graduates are equipped with both the academic credentials and the core competencies they need to succeed,” says president Meric Gertler.