Admissions blog: Resources for International Students
Deciding to study abroad can be intimidating. You have to readjust to a different culture, perhaps a different language, and relearn things that were once second nature to you. The University of Toronto prides itself on being an international university in an international city. Thus, we have a wealth of resources that are aimed at making the transition as seamless as possible for our international students. Below you will find a preview of just some of the resources that are available to you as an international student in the MD program.
Financial Advising
The Undergraduate Medical Education Enrolment Services Office includes a financial aid team who are able to counsel you on finances as an international student. We are able to connect you with banks that will best serve your needs, offer advice on where/how to obtain a line of credit as well as counsel you on how you can manage debt. We will work with you to determine if you are eligible for any scholarships, and will liaise with your sponsorship where applicable.
Transition Advising
Moving to a new country has its challenges. Our Center for International Experience office can advise you on everything from transitioning to the Canadian climate, to how to build a community and support network in Toronto, to dealing with homesickness.
Career Counselling
The Office of Health Professions Student Affairs (OHPSA) office is equipped with a career counsellor to help you meet your career goals. Our experienced advisor is able to help with everything from deciding on a medical specialty, to your options when applying for residency.
Academic Coaching and PREP
Also through OHPSA, we offer Academic Coaching and the Peer-facilitated Review Enrichment Program (PREP). Our academic coach is able to help you with everything from time management, to dealing with academic stress – and how you can optimize your learning experience while in the MD program. PREP is available to all first-year students; through this program students are able to participate in small and collaborative learning communities. PREP is run by our second-year students, so you are able to learn from someone who knows exactly what you are going through and build community within the program.
Personal Counselling and Student Wellness
Student wellness is paramount to success in the MD program. We believe that it is so important that we have embedded it into our Foundations Curriculum. Physician resilience is a topic of discussion in the first year. During first year students have Wednesday’s off so that they are able to study, volunteer, or catch up on much-needed sleep. As an international student, this extra time will give you an opportunity to build community and aid in your transition to life in Toronto. We also have personal counsellors specifically for our MD students, who are able to help you work through personal or professional issues.
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)
All international students are required to enroll in the UHIP plan. This health care insurance gives you access to a wide variety of healthcare services both on and off campus. We would recommend visiting the UHIP website to see all of the healthcare resources that are available to you.
