Undergraduate Program FAQ

Faculty of Arts & Science References

Frequently Asked Questions for St. George (Downtown Toronto) Campus Students 

The only way to register in a non-restricted ENG course is through the ACORN System, except for late enrollment for Y courses at the College Registrars. The Department of English cannot override the system. Because of the popularity of English studies, most of our courses reach their enrollment limits quickly. However, places may become available from time to time as students adjust their programs. Our best advice is that you register for available and appropriate courses in July, and only then consider placing yourself on the waiting list for your preferred choice(s).

For ENG 390Y1/392H1

Students must email a signed proposal form, available here, to the Office of the Associate Chair, c/o the Undergraduate Advisor, Department of English, by no later than Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

For ENG499Y1

A seminar designed to provide students with the opportunity to practice their skills of research and interpretation at a particularly advanced level, especially suited for students considering a graduate degree in English or a related discipline. The course is open to students in English Specialist and Major programs who have achieved 80% in all English courses they have taken at the 200 level or above. Prerequisite: 4.0 ENG credits (including ENG202H1, ENG203H1, ENG250H1, ENG252H1) and any 9.0 credits.

Students who wish to pursue their education beyond an undergraduate degree are urged to check the requirements of the School or Faculty which they plan to attend. Programs in fields allied to English Language & Literature studies include other Languages and Literatures, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Linguistics, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Journalism, Psychology, Drama, Cinema Studies, Political Science, etc. It is recommended that students planning to do graduate study in English enrol in the Specialist Program in English. Although no specific course is a requirement for graduate school, it should be stressed that graduate programs, including those at the University of Toronto, normally seek students who have a good knowledge of the major literary forms and periods of English literature from Chaucer to the Twentieth Century. Some knowledge of contemporary criticism and theory is also useful. Students seeking detailed information about graduate English Programs offered at the University of Toronto should contact the Department of English Graduate Office. Early each fall, the Department offers a "Going to Graduate School" seminar to provide information and advice to students planning to go on to graduate schools, and it is strongly recommended that potential Graduate Students attend this event.

For detailed information about Letters of Permission and transfer credit, please refer to the information on Transfer Credits and Transfer Explorer, and students may seek advice from their College Registrar's office as to how transfer credits may apply to their degrees. We encourage students to fulfil their English program requirements with courses offered at St. George campus. Students may also take courses at UTM and UTSC upon receiving approval of the Undergraduate Counsellor in advance. St. George students may also take courses at UTM and UTSC. All ENG transfer credits, except ENG100H1 and its equivalents, will be accepted toward our programs, and each transfer would specify the program group it fits into, if any.

The Centre for International Experience (CIE) allows Arts & Science students to participate in Canadian and international exchanges while earning credits toward their U of T degree. For information regarding eligibility, destinations, and application procedures, please contact the CIE at 416-978-2564 or visit the CIE web page.

The International Summer School Programs administered by Woodsworth College give students the opportunity to take undergraduate degree credit courses for a period of one to two months. For further information visit the Summer Abroad website or contact the Professional and International Programs office at 416-978-8713. If you are interested in taking a course outside of North America (but not through this summer abroad program), please email foreign.summer@utoronto.ca.

Each college at the University has its own writing centre with trained instructors who teach academic writing. In addition to free workshops and non-credit courses, writing centres offer individual consultation on planning, writing, and revising course assignments. The website Writing at the University of Toronto contains many useful advice files that answer common questions about academic writing, and includes the Writing Centre page with a link to the online system for making appointments. Students may email geatutoring@gmail.com in order to ask about our Graduate Student Tutors and their hourly fees. English Professors will announce any special writing workshops offered by the Department in their classes. For other academic help, please visit the Academic Success Centre. For English Language Learning: Reading eWriting and Communication Café, visit the website for New College.

If you have any questions about your English undergraduate program requirements, or wish to book an advising appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor, please contact Vanessa Andres at english.undergraduate@utoronto.ca.