Welcome to the University of Toronto!

We’ve collected some useful resources to help make your transition to U of T (and to Canada) as smooth as possible.

Start with the Business officer or Postdoc Administrator at your home department. They can best advise on what information is needed to facilitate your onboarding and access to U of T systems and services. For example, employee postdocs will need to provide a Social Insurance Number. A work permit and passport will be required for foreign nations. Applying for a SIN number can be done online or in person for same day service at a Service Canada office.

How Can SGS Help

While your home department is your primary point of contact and supports you during onboarding and throughout your appointment, the Postdoctoral Office at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) offers additional supports for postdocs. The Office can help you obtain basic health coverage, enrol your dependents in the benefits plan, and learn about your access to various campus services.

UTORid & U of T email address

Use your UTORid to log into many U of T systems and campus wifi. 

Newly affiliated with U of T: Get Your UTORid and TCard, your department will issue your UTORid and SAK (Activation Key). Once you have activated your UTORid you will be prompted to set up your U of T email address.

Previously affiliated with U of T: You can continue to use your UTORid, email address and TCard. As a postdoctoral fellow you can switch from a mail.utoronto.ca to a utoronto.ca email address if you wish. Instructions can be found on the Info Commons website/help desk: (416) 978-4357 help.desk@utoronto.ca.

Info Commons helpdesk at Robarts Library can help with difficulties activating your UTORid, setting up your email address, and/or logging into Outlook.

TCard

Use your TCard it for payments, building access to libraries, athletic centres, and other university spaces for printing, scanning and photocopying. Please bring government issued photo ID along with your department-issued UTORid Letter.

St. George Campus: Visit the Robarts Library Membership Services desk or the TCard Office to pick-up your card.

UTSC: Visit the UTSC TCard office website.

UTM: visit UTM TCard office website.

Healthcare

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

Non-Canadian residents (international postdocs and dependents) that have a work permit for at least six months and a formal agreement to work full-time for at least six consecutive months are eligible for OHIP. OHIP is a centralized, government-sponsored health care plan provided to all residents of the Province of Ontario who hold an OHIP card. OHIP covers immediate medical care, such as emergency care, in-hospital care, doctor’s visits, and much more. OHIP does not cover prescription drugs, eyeglasses, or dental care. Proof of employment is required at the time of application.

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)

UHIP is mandatory for all postdocs and their dependents who are not covered by OHIP. UHIP coverage is purchased through the SGS Postdoctoral Office within the first 30 days of the fellowship start date. If UHIP is not purchased within 30 days for dependents, a $500 CAD late registration fee will be added to the UHIP premiums.

Who should purchase UHIP? Postdocs who:

a) Do not yet have an permanent Ontario address

b) Are wanting coverage while applying for OHIP

c) Are not eligible for OHIP

To purchase UHIP, login to into the SGS Portal with your UTORid and password:

• If you do not have a UTORid and password yet, you will have to create a “Blue Account” before being able to proceed to the form.
• Your “Member ID” is the letters UT and the number outlined on the top-right corner of your work permit starting with DD replacing DD with UT: e.g. UT240 123 456.
• Your effective date of coverage should be the start date of your work permit
• Once your form & payment are submitted, SGS will receive notification and email you the UHIP coverage card
• Please make your payment with a Canadian debit card, credit card, or by money order in the correct amount. Cash and international bank cards are not accepted.
• For more details, visit the UHIP website; http://uhip.ca/Help/FAQ

Benefits Plan

The GreenShield Canada Benefit Plan (GSC) provides postdocs coverage for prescription medication, dental, vision, travel and some other paramedical services not covered by UHIP and OHIP. For coverage inquiries call GSC Customer Service 1-888-711-1119.

Employee Postdocs are automatically enrolled for single benefits coverage through the payroll process. Family members can be added to the plan by emailing the Postdoctoral Office. Once your Business Officer has completed your onboarding, you should be able to access the CUPE Unit 5 member benefit booklet after logging into the HR Service Centre for detailed information about your coverage. If you are unable to access the booklet, you can submit a ticket to the HR Service Centre. More information can be found on the University HR & Labour Relations website.

Trainee Postdocs are are not automatically enrolled and should contact the Postdoctoral Office to access the benefits booklet and opt into the GSC benefits plan and add family members.

Funding Resources

Funding is key to commencing your fellowship. Learn more about finding funding resources and opportunities.

Research Alerts allows you to stay current with all research activities at the University of Toronto. Sign up to receive emails about the latest funding opportunities and awards, partnership opportunities, commercialization activity, new technologies and startups, and much more! On and off campus training sessions related to research funding and administration will also be advertised through the Research Alerts systems.

Postdoc awards administered by U of T can be found on the Graduate Awards Office website.

Library Access

With 44 libraries at three campuses, U of T Libraries supports learning, teaching and research at the University of Toronto with collections that are unparalleled in Canada in their richness and diversity. Holdings include 12 million volumes in 341 languages, 1,500,000 electronic resources in various formats, 28,000 linear metres of archival material and 500 terabytes of data.

Visit Library Access for Postdoctoral Fellows to learn how to access U of T Libraries based on the type of postdoctoral fellowship you hold (i.e., whether you are a University of Toronto postdoctoral fellow or an Affiliated teaching hospital postdoctoral fellow). Your library access, both online and in person will be automatically activated with the start of your postdoc contract. You can access the Robarts Library online resources  using your UTORid.

Health and Wellness Services

Fitness and Wellness Programs at available through Hart House. Post-doc memberships are available for purchase in person. Please present a recently dated letter on faculty or department letterhead indicating post doctoral status to the athletics reception desk.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is available to postdoctoral fellows as well as their spouses/partners and dependent children. This program is provided at no cost. The EFAP is operated by an external provider, LifeWorks/TELUS Health One. It is available 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year at many locations both near your home or work. Sign up by entering the invitation code is shared with you by by email. Or click on the option I can’t find my invitation code and one will be sent to you. You can also reach out to Wellness Hub @ wellnesshub@utoronto.ca for assistance. More information review the LifeWorks/TELUS Health One EFAP Brochure .

Sport & Rec Programs and Activities

Post-doc memberships are available for purchase in person. Please present a recently dated letter on faculty or department letterhead indicating post doctoral status. Offer Letters or Acceptance of Employment letters are also valid.

Athletic Centre

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport

Athletics and Recreation Centre at UTSC

Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Center at UTM

Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)

The Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) offers free confidential short-term counselling to postdoctoral fellows and their dependants for personal, family, and work-related problems. You and your dependents can receive counselling and referral services related to counselling, coaching, information, and support for all types of issues relating to mental health, health management, and achieving greater personal and workplace well-being.

Family Care Office (FCO)

The Family Care Office (FCO) provides confidential guidance, resources, referrals, educational programming and advocacy for the University of Toronto community and their families. Employee postdoctoral fellows interested in a pregnancy or parental leave should consult the FCO for help with leave forms and information about applying for Employment Insurance.

Enrolling international children in a Toronto-area school

International postdocs will hold a valid work permit once in Canada. This permit allows parents or guardians of international students to enrol their child in a public school free of charge. However, parents/guardians must provide the school with a number of documents prior to entering their child in school. For further information on registering your child in school, visit the school board site that applies to your area. Find a school or school board please visit the following website: Find a school or school board.

The Family Care Office (FCO) has prepared a tip sheet on registering international children in schools. Browse the Family Care Office (FCO)’s tip sheet Resources.

Join the Sport & Rec Community. Drop in for a single session or explore flexible memberships, featuring access to world-class facilities, inclusive hours, and beginner-friendly programming.

Annual Parking Permits

Information about annual parking permits can be found on the U of T Transportation Services website.

Canadian Taxes

All individuals working in Canada are required to pay taxes. Annually, every person earning an income in Canada submits a tax return.

If you have a trainee status at the University of Toronto, you do not have taxes automatically deducted from your paycheques; however, you are still required to pay taxes on your Canadian income and to submit an annual tax return. If you have an employee status, taxes are deducted from each paycheque for income tax, Canada Pension Plan, and employment insurance. We strongly suggest engaging a tax expert when you come to do your taxes. You do not require an HST number, as you are not self-employed.

You can also call the Canada Revenue Agency and get reliable information from their agents at their Individual Income Tax Enquiries telephone service (phone: 1-800-959-8281). The agents will be pleased to respond to your questions in the official language of your choice.

Join the Postdoctoral Fellows Listserv

Do you want to be notified of changes in services, upcoming awards competitions, social events, and workshops?

To join, please email LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UTORONTO.CA and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: SUBSCRIBE POSTDOCS-L.

To: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UTORONTO.CA
Body: SUBSCRIBE POSTDOCS-L

Please note: Subscription requests will only be accepted from University of Toronto email accounts. Requests from non-University of Toronto email accounts will not be added to the listserv.

Questions?

• Email: sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca