Student review [#79737] for Political Science
at University of Toronto - UofT

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.