The following options are available to individuals seeking to engage with a CivMin graduate course but who are not currently registered as a U of T student.
Important note: the instructor of the course you wish to attend cannot independently approve your participation in the course. You are not permitted to attend classes unless one of the following options has been approved by the Civil & Mineral Engineering Student Services Office.
Apply to Audit a Graduate Course
Auditing a graduate course is an excellent way to continue your education and expand your expertise without having to formally apply and register as a student.
An auditor may attend lectures and other class meetings, and take part in class discussions, however, except by special and express permission of the instructor, an auditor will not receive evaluation and will not be allowed to submit assignments or write examinations and tests.
On request, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to an auditor who is confirmed to have attended at least 75 per cent of the meetings of the class - auditors who wish to receive a Certificate of Attendance must notify the instructor in writing at or before the first meeting of the class. Note that a Certificate of Attendance is not part of the official student academic record and will not appear on a U of T transcript; no credit will have been earned to use toward a future degree program.
The cost to audit a CivMin graduate course in Summer 2025 will be $1,275.
The application process is straightforward and streamlined, and there is no application fee. In order to apply, submit the following documents to admissions.civmin@utoronto.ca:
- Graduate Course Audit Form
- Your current resume/CV
- Your most recent transcript
- A brief statement as to why you would like to take the course
As the approval process can take time, and as approval is not guaranteed, individuals are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Apply to become a Non-degree Special Graduate Student
Non-degree special student status allows you to fully enrol & participate in a graduate course without being registered in a program of study that leads to a degree. Courses taken as a non-degree student will appear on the official U of T transcript and will include evaluation and a final grade. Courses may be credited toward a future degree program if the institution offering the program accepts transfer credits.
Non-degree special students registering on a part-time basis pay for each course they enrol in. In 2024-25 the cost per course for domestic students is approximately $3,200. Full details can be found on the Student Accounts website.
A full and detailed application is required, including references and the SGS $125.00 application fee. Applicants must meet the minimum U of T admission requirements for graduate studies (a mid-B average or equivalent in an undergraduate degree from a recognized institution), including meeting the English language requirement. Admission is competitive and subject to availability of space in courses.
Deadlines for applying to be non-degree special student:
- By October 1, for January start
- By June 1, for September start
Contact admissions.civmin@utoronto.ca for instructions on how to apply.
Students Registered in a Graduate Program at another Ontario or Canadian University
Students registered at another Ontario or Canadian university are encouraged to inquire at their home institution about the possibility of taking a course at U of T through a program such as OVGS (Ontario Universities), the Canadian University Graduate Transfer Agreement (certain Canadian Universities), or the Graduate Exchange Agreement (McGill, UBC, U. de Montréal). Courses pursued through one of these agreements are typically for credit and included in normal home institution tuition.
The first step is always approval at the student's current (home) institution - if approved, the home institution will reach out to the host institution (U of T) to request approval. As the approval process can take time, and as approval is not guaranteed, students are encouraged to begin the process at their home institution as early as possible.