University of Toronto - UofT Speciality : Politics
programme: Political Science

Despite the University of Toronto being known for its high level of difficulty, I believe that I have developed greatly academically and on a personal level through my studies. My Political Science major has taught me how to write academically and develop a strong thesis supported by a well-developed argumentation. It has also enabled me to think more critically and to remain nuanced in my analysis. It is a rigorous program, however with commitment and discipline one can achieve high marks and a high level of education.

The University of Toronto is known for its prestigious research-based programs. Unsurprisingly, this school motivated me to pursue a career in academia. All classes pushed me to my limits and have made me a much better thinker and writer over the course of only a few months. At this school, you are working with the best of the best, and if you can handle it, it is SO SO worthwhile!

I really enjoy my program because I have a very broad range of courses I can take in all fields of political science. I can take courses in Canadian politics, statistics, comparative politics, European / African / American politics, policy, international relations, and many more. At times, there can be discrepancies between teachers and assistants but there is often help from the registrar to sort out any differences. I also really enjoy student life because it is in the heart of the city, meaning that you get a vibrant and interesting experience on campus. There are students from all over the world and in political science that can help open the door to many new opinions. The facilities can be a bit old sometimes and the buildings do require some renovation but this does not take away from the student experience. I also highly value the familiarity with the teachers and your ability to talk to them casually if you are in need of academic assistance. There are many opportunities organised either by the school or individual professors to gain experience about future career opportunities which has proved to be a very useful tool. The school also has many mental health facilities and is very available for accommodation.

The school itself has a questionable past but many folks I’ve met through the school have supported me in various ways. I’ve also taken many interesting classes that have covered very expansive topics.

The University of Toronto’s Political Science program was an incredible experience for me overall, but it certainly had its highs and lows. First off, the program is extremely rigorous. From the moment I walked into my first lecture on international relations, I was hit with an immense amount of readings, assignments and final exams to prepare for. At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material and the depth of analysis expected. The classes were often large—sometimes hundreds of students in an intro lecture—which made it hard to get personal attention. But once I moved into smaller seminars in upper years, I really felt like I could dive deeper into discussions and connect with professors.

One thing I loved was the diversity of courses. I took everything from political theory to global security, and even got to study Canadian politics, which was an area I didn’t expect to enjoy as much but ended up finding fascinating. The professors are top-notch—many are leading scholars in their fields—and their lectures were always engaging. I remember one of my professors, an expert in comparative politics, who really challenged the way I thought about democracy. Those types of moments stick with you. Another class I deeply enjoyed was my European politics class whereupon I was introduced to new perspectives on European politics and international relations.

Another huge benefit was being in Toronto. As Canada’s political hub, the city offers a lot of opportunities to get involved in politics outside of the classroom. Furthermore, UofT has BEAUTIFUL campus, for the likes of TV shows and Harry Potter movies. If you enjoy romanticizing your life, you are going to love this campus. Every corner of this immense campus is filled with new surprises that truly enhance one’s university experience.

Overall, I think that if you’re someone who enjoys a challenge and is ready to dive deep into political theory and research, UofT’s Political Science program is fantastic. But be prepared for big classes, tough coursework, and a lot of reading. It’s not an easy ride, but the opportunities and the knowledge you gain make it all worth it.

I studied specialist in Political Science at UofT. I’d say that the program has diverse course offerings, ranging from indigenous case studies to international law. Establishing good writing skills are a must have for the program, but overall, you have to be careful when picking out courses. Make sure to check students’ reviews of professors before enrolling into a course to save yourself the hassle of dealing with those you don’t want to be dealing with.

U of T stands out to many as a school with a reputation. Many will call it U of Tears because of its hardcore and challenging reputation, but I personally find this more of a strategic and political move on the university’s part. When you start your first year, you are promised images of world-class education when in reality, you are just 1 out of 2000 students in a class (make use of the seminar courses!). Professors consistently tell you what that they get in trouble for having too-high course averages and TAs will tell you 80 is the new 100 when it comes to grading papers. They tell you 90% is impossible. The truth is that I found my first year in ArtSci fairly easy. If you put in the work in the Social Sciences, the grades are there – the only thing that ends up hindering your experience is the politics of U of T and their ceaseless desire to be seen as a “hard school”.

The amount of facilities that UTSC provides is amazing. I am a first-year student and I haven’t felt odd once at the university. The professors are friendly and very understanding. The TAs are experienced too.

The unspecified program for first years allows them to explore different courses from a range of programs before they settle on a major. Which is good especially if you’re unsure of what you want to study yet.

The University of Toronto is known as the top school in Canada and one of the top schools in the world too. It is renowned for its research facilities, many academic resources and for housing some of the brightest minds in many industries. The St.George campus is magnificent with its beautiful architecture and convenient location.

Despite all of these wonderful attributes, attending the university can be extremely challenging. As a commuter, I found it hard to make friends and find my community. The large class sizes can be difficult to navigate, and connecting with TAs and professors can prove a challenge. Your grades may be several percent lower than you thought you should receive, and attempting to contest an essay grade or any other academic matter may be complicated and long-winded.

Accessing mental health support or accommodations for any kind of disability can have extremely long wait times. Professors may not accommodate any accessibility needs until the paperwork has gone through, which can take months.

In short, it takes a very specific type of person to be able to attend UofT and enjoy it. I was not one of them, and my experiences on campus were unpleasant. I would mostly recommend the university for graduate students or above or undergrads that could survive the challenge.