University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a giant among educational institutions in North America, with over 46,000 students attending classes each year.
That said, the virtues of this institution are not about quantity, but about quality. In fact, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings recently named the U of T as the best university in Canada, giving it similar marks to prestigious ivy league institutions like Cornell and Duke.
The institution has a long history in the region since being established in 1827 as the first university in the British colony of Upper Canada as it existed prior to independence in 1867.
Since then the university has pursued rigorous scientific research, developing world-changing ideas across multiple disciplines. Insulin, stem cell research, and multi-touch technology are all discoveries that began their journey at the University of Toronto.
The University of Toronto has educated 4 of Canada’s Prime Ministers, as well as several foreign leaders, including Premier of the Republic of China Liu Chao-shiuan.
University of Toronto – Quick Facts
Rankings:
- 1st in Canada for overall score by Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- 20th in the world for overall score by Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- 17th in the world by the QS World University Rankings
- 4th in the world by National Taiwan University
- 24th in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities
- 10th in the world for engineering and computer science programs by the Academic Rankin of World Universities.
- In the top 3 universities outside of the United States by Newsweek.
Locations:
The U of T has 3 campuses, all in the Canadian province of Ontario. The first is the main campus, referred to as their St. George campus, and it is located in downtown Toronto. The downtown campus is hosts about 60% of undergraduate students and 95% of postgraduate students. The other two campuses are located in Scarborough and Mississauga, two nearby cities located to the east and west of Toronto respectively. Most international students attend the downtown campus.
Percentage of International Students:
Undergrad 15.3% Post Graduate 14%
Scope:
The University of Toronto offers over 700 undergraduate programs, as well as more than 215 Masters and Doctoral programs. There are over 500,000 alumni who have graduated from the U of T living around the globe.
The university employs over 20,000 people and contributes $15,700,000,000 to the Canadian economy every year.
The library system is the 3rd largest in North America, with 44 libraries across all 3 campuses containing over 21,000,000 publications.
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Ideal Toronto Neighbourhoods for Students
With the University of Toronto’s main, downtown campus situated on the grounds that surround Queen’s Park, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the Financial District in Downtown Toronto, and immediately south of the neighbourhoods of Yorkville and The Annex, these three neighbourhoods are the main focus for students looking for homes :
Bay Street Corridor
The Bay Street corridor runs from Queens Quay to Davenport Road and is one of Toronto’s most densely populated neighborhoods. It is conveniently located near the University, the hospital district and downtown Yonge Street. Yonge Street, pronounced “Young” street, is famous for its shopping, dining and entertainment. The busiest and most frequented part of Yonge Street is between Front and Bloor Streets.
Condos in Bay Street Corridor
The Bay Street Corridor has become one of Toronto’s most prime condo markets which has resulted in many young working professionals investing in the neighborhood’s real estate. The neighborhood’s largest age groups in descending order are between ages 25 to 29, 20 to 24 and 30 to 34.
The majority of the housing options in the area are 5+ storey condominium buildings and have been built in the last 10 years. 10 The city also offers charming residential townhomes and houses just east of the Bay Street corridor.
The neighborhood is home to a diverse group of residents due to its proximity to the hospital district, financial district and the University of Toronto. The neighborhood is also ideally situated for exploring the city as it’s near the Yonge Street metro line for quick access to rapid transit.
Toronto is a great city for exploring diverse communities as it’s home to many particular districts such as Little Italy, Little Portugal and Greektown. A person could also quickly explore districts like Chinatown by heading west on Queen Street or Koreatown by heading west on Bloor Street.
The Annex
Bordering the University of Toronto, the Annex has long been a student quarter and is also home to many fraternity housing and members of the university’s faculty.
Due to its proximity to the university, the Annex residents range from university students to older long-time residents. Due to its proximity to the university, the Annex residents range from university students to older long-time residents. Predominantly English-speaking, it is an affluent neighbourhood with well-educated residents.
Charm and history
The Annex is mainly residential, with tree-lined, one-way streets lined with Victorian and Edwardian homes built between 1880 and the early 1900s. Larger homes typically found in the Annex north of Bloor Street.
The stretch of Bloor Street between St. George and Bathurst is a vibrant social and mixed-use area, offering Toronto a wide range of services from moderate-priced dining to independent discount retailers in buildings which often include residential space in upper floors.
Culture
The neighbourhood has a thriving cultural scene, with the Tranzac (Toronto Australia-New Zealand) Club, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, the Jewish Community Centre and Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church where many community events occur. Stores are open late and some restaurants are open well past midnight.
Nearby businesses, while not in the Annex, include Honest Ed’s, west of Bathurst Street, the Bathurst Street Theatre, south of Bloor Street, and the Karma Co-op Food Store. Much of the area’s retail, restaurant and entertainment venues are aimed at the university student demographic – young, educated, telecommunications-connected, non-driving.
The Annex is home to many examples of a uniquely Torontonian style of house that was popular among the city’s elite in the late nineteenth century. Examples of this style survive in the former upper class areas along Jarvis and Sherbourne Street and also within the University of Toronto campus. Most of these buildings are found in the Annex, and the style is thus known by some as the ‘Annex style house.’
Seaton Village
Seaton Village or ‘West Annex’ is west of Bathurst Street and includes the Koreatown shopping district at its southern border. It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as the “West Annex.” While Seaton Village shares several characteristics with The Annex (notably its architecture and its popularity with University of Toronto students), it is generally quieter, more family-oriented, and has smaller, less expensive homes.
Vermont Square Park is near the centre of Seaton Village. The park has a playground, including a wading pool. St. Albans Boys and Girls club and the Bill Bolton hockey arena are also located in the park.
