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.

How Can SGS Help You?

The SGS Postdoctoral Fellows Office is located at 63 St. George Street, Room 101. Bring your questions in person, or email us at sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca. Visit us to receive instructions on getting your TCard, obtain basic health coverage and enrol your dependents onto the benefits plan, and find out about your access to various campus services.

Finding 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. You will 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.

To receive customized notifications on research topics, sign up to Research Alerts on U of T’s Research & Innovation website.

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

Registration and Library Access

Registration

Start with the business officer at your department. If you are an employee postdoc, you will need to provide your business officer with your Social Insurance Number and fill out forms for taxes. Applying for your SIN number can be done online or in person at a Service Canada office. It will be faster to go in person to Service Canada as they will issue your SIN number on the spot. If you are an international postdoc, you will also need to provide your business officer with a copy of your work permit.

UTORid & U of T email address

For new to U of T Postdocs, your Business Office 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. You will use your UTORid to log into the U of T system and use wifi on campus. 

If you were 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.

Note: If you have any difficulties activating your UTORid, setting up your email address, and/or logging into Outlook you can contact the Info Commons helpdesk at Robarts Library.

TCard

You can visit the Reader Registration Desk on the 2nd floor of Robarts Library (UTSG) to pick up your TCard. You will need to bring government issued photo ID along with the department-issued UTORid Letter.

If you are closer to UTSC, details for obtaining a TCard can be found on the UTSC TCard office website.

If you are closer to UTM, details for obtaining a TCard at UTM can be found on the UTM TCard office website.

Annual parking permits

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

Work Permits

All international postdocs training in Canada require a Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) work permit and usually must apply for a work permit prior to arriving. This requirement applies to postdocs who were previously students at U of T, but have not been granted permanent residency status. If an international student wants to work in Canada after graduating, they must apply for a work permit under the Post-graduation Work Permit Program, even if the student permit is still valid.

Please note that in most cases you must have finished all requirements for your degree and be able to obtain a letter from your institution confirming this before a Canadian embassy will issue you a work permit.

Previous postdocs have applied for advance confirmation of employment by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) under Regulation 205(c)(ii), C44 of the Immigration Manual. Learn how to obtain a Work Permit.

Healthcare

Postdocs

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (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.

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 after a three-month waiting period. Proof of the engagement terms must be provided to the OHIP office. The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is required for the three-month waiting period for international postdocs and dependents.

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is mandatory for all postdocs and their dependents who are not covered by OHIP. UHIP coverage must be purchased from the Postdoctoral Office within the first 30 days of arriving. If UHIP is not purchased within 30 days for dependents, a $500.00 CAD late registration fee will be added to the UHIP premiums.

To obtain UHIP, please bring the following items to the Postdoctoral Office:

• your passport
• your work permit
• the passports of any family members
• your contract letter

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.

GreenShield Health Benefit Plan

The Green Shield Health Benefit Plan provides postdocs with many important services, and covers some expenses not covered by OHIP or UHIP. This benefit includes some dental coverage, prescription drug costs and some additional health benefits (such as health practitioners and medical equipment). This plan is mandatory for all postdocs who are receiving their stipend payment through the university’s payroll system and have their postdoctoral engagement at U of T confirmed in the Postdoctoral Fellows Registration Database (this is done by your graduate unit). Please consult the GreenShield benefit booklet for detailed information about your coverage. Employee Postdocs are automatically enrolled in the benefits plan for single coverage, trainee postdocs and postdocs who want to add family members should contact the Postdoctoral Office.

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 tipsheet Resources.

Athletics

Athletic Centre

On the St. George campus, the Athletic Centre is located at 55 Harbord Street. If you would like to join this facility you must first obtain a letter from the Postdoctoral Office. You can purchase a four-month, one academic year or one-year plan.

Hart House

If you would like to join Hart House you must present a letter verifying your postdoc status to the athletics reception desk. Hart House is located at 7 Hart House Circle on the St. George campus.

Please check the UTSC Athletics Facilities website for their membership rates.

Please check the UTM Athletics Facility’s website for membership rates.

Wellness Services for Postdocs

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 to you. 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.

More information can be found on the EFAP website. For a summary of their services, please refer to the LifeWorks/TELUS Health One EFAP Brochure .

On the LifeWorks/TELUS Health One sign up page, there is a field to enter your invitation code. The invitation code is usually sent approximately one month after new staff, including Postdocs start. If you didn’t receive an invitation code 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 an invitation code.

Once you have your invitation code, you can follow the prompts to sign up and take advantage of their services.

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.

Dependents

When entering Canada with an adult holding a valid work permit, school-aged or dependent children (under the age of 18) do not need a permit to study in Canada. Indicate on the work permit application that dependent children will be entering Canada with the applicant. Parents/guardians must provide the child’s birth certificate, citizenship card, health records, and passport when entering Canada.

It is the responsibility of the postdoc to carefully review the application procedures and permit limitations prior to submitting their application to IRCC. Some children will be required to submit a study permit application independently of their parent’s/guardian’s Work permit.

Please consult with a IRCC representative at a Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate to ensure that any child that will be entering Canada receives a proper permit or is indicated as a dependent on the postdoc’s permit. For more immigration information, see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Questions?

• Email: sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca
• In-Person: SGS Postdoctoral Office, 63 St. George Street, Room 101