Toronto Metropolitan University

Overview

Toronto Metropolitan University began in 1948 as the Ryerson Institute of Technology, founded on the site of the Toronto Normal School, later became Ryerson University, and changed its name to Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022. It is a public university in downtown Toronto, with buildings spread among city streets.

TMU grew out of applied, career-focused education. Its programs include journalism, media production, fashion, nursing, engineering and business at the Ted Rogers School of Management, and its law school, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, welcomed its first class in 2020.

How to apply

All first-year applications go through OUAC, using the 101 for current Ontario high school students and the 105 for everyone else; see OUAC 101 vs 105. For fall 2027, TMU's application dates page gives February 1 as the date by which complete applications and changes are considered equally. TMU still recommends applying as early as you can.

Non-academic requirements and grades

TMU calls programs that look beyond marks Grades-Plus programs, and their extra pieces are non-academic requirements. Depending on the program this can be a portfolio, an essay, an interview or an audition. You submit them after applying, through the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal, and deadlines vary by program, so check the program page early.

For academic requirements, TMU says admission is based on competitive overall averages and grades in each program's subject requirements, which are listed on the program pages. Students from other provinces and the US are assessed on equivalent courses. Our IB and AP guide explains how those programs are generally viewed.

Studying downtown

A city-centre campus brings real advantages: internships, newsrooms, studios and offices are a short walk away, and the subway stops at the edge of campus. It also means Toronto housing costs and limited residence space, so many students commute. If you will travel in from the suburbs, build commuting time into your weekly study plan from the start rather than discovering it in October.

Costs and funding

Tuition depends on the program and on domestic or international status, and some programs have extra fees. TMU publishes current figures on its official tuition and fees page. For study permits, see the Government of Canada page on studying in Canada.

Getting ready with StudyBrix

• Essays and interviews for non-academic requirements: practise with the interview skills and academic English bridge decks.
• Business students can preview Canadian business law terms.
• Read what changes in first year before your first term downtown.

See also our guide to universities in Canada.