New Admits - First YearYOUR NEXT STEPS 2023

Updated: July 19, 2023
 
Please retain your Offer of Admission letter, and bring it with you when you arrive at the university. 
 
First year classes are expected to begin on August 21, 2023 with a two-week course which is a degree requirement. Attendance is mandatory - no exceptions - please plan accordingly.
 
Although they are numbered, some of the steps should be started simultaneously, so read all steps before you proceed with the first step.
 
 

1. Accept your Offer of Admission online, then Pay the Tuition Deposit

WHEN
ALL ADMITS
 
NEW ADMITS
  • Applicants with offer letters dated earlier than March 1, accept by April 1, 2023
  • Applicants with offer letters dated later than March 1, accept by the deadline specified in the letter


ADMITS DEFERRED FROM A PRIOR YEAR

  • Respond to our emailed request for intent to enrol by February 1, 2023
HOW

New Admits who applied to the JD-only

  1. Log into your OLSAS account
     
  2. In the left side menu of Application Links, select Choices/Offers
     
  3. Select the link to the Offer for the program University of Toronto ‐ First Year JD
     
  4. Select your one Response to Offer, from among these options: 

    • Firm Accept
      Is your acceptance of UofT, and you will not be considered further by all other Ontario law schools, regardless of where those law schools are in their admission selection process
       
    • Provisional Accept  
      • is your acceptance of UofT, and you will still be considered by all other Ontario law schools where you have active offers, or where they have yet to make admission decisions.
         
      • this option is available until July 1, after which either an earlier provisional accept becomes a firm accept automatically, see OLSAS Important Dates.
         
      • If your Ontario application was to UofT only, then the provisional accept option will not appear since the other Ontario law schools were never considering you, i.e. only the firm accept option will appear.

  5. Finalize the transaction by completing the Review & Submit step, linked on the left hand menu on the OLSAS webpage  

New Admits who applied to both the JD and a JD Combined program

Read the instructions for accepting your admission offer(s) to either or both programs  

Re-admits: Deferrals from a prior year

Please await an email from the JD Admissions Office, indicating when you may log into your OLSAS account to FIRM ACCEPT the 2023 offer of admission online. 
 
 AFTER accepting the Offer of Admission, to confirm your acceptance at the university, a non-refundable deposit is required. The deposit will be applied to the first session (term) tuition. A Tuition Deposit Form is enclosed in your Offer of Admission package, with the procedures described in Next Step #1.
WHEN
New Admits
  • For offer letters dated earlier than April 1, pay by May 1, 2023
  • For offer letters dated later than April 1, pay by the deadline specified in the letter.
  • The Offer of Admission may be cancelled if the deposit is not received by the deadline.
 
Admits Deferred from a prior year
  • Pay by May 1, 2023
HOW 
$500 in Canadian currency, payable online by Credit Card only via ACORN

CRITICAL
  • Regardless of how you (or a relative) may have made payments to UofT previously, for this acceptance deposit specifically, you must pay by credit card ONLY.

  • Do NOT try to pay the deposit by any other method such as e-transfer, e-banking, certified cheque (bank draft) or a money order, otherwise the payment will not go toward the DEPOSIT. 

 PAYMENT IS BY CREDIT CARD ONLY
Before you pay please note:
  • VISA or MasterCard is accepted only
  • Currently, a non-refundable convenience fee of 2.5% (CAD $12.50) will be added. This is subject to change.
  • Payment is only via your ACORN account, accessed by using your JOINid or UTORid

  • DATA SECURITY CAUTION
    We do not advise sharing your ACORN access information with anyone in order for them to make the payment, since that will provide access to view and change significant data in your official student record. You will assume all responsibility and risk for doing so.

 


 

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS - READ COMPLETELY BEFORE ACTING

  1. EXTREME CAUTION
    • Please follow these SPECIFIC instructions since they are for paying the deposit and differ from the instructions for paying the rest of your tuition.
    • Current UofT students, DO NOT try to pay the deposit by e-banking as you would pay tuition customarily, follow the deposit payment instructions specified.
    • DO NOT follow the menus in the ACORN system intuitively, please have these specific instructions with you when you are paying the deposit.
       
  2. If you have not already done so, enable your JOINId see Next Step #3; or use your existing UTORid.

  3. Log in to ACORN

  4. In the DASHBOARD main display area, look for the block titled FINANCES
    • In that block, your ability to pay by credit card is enabled if it displays these specific lines of text:
      1. Outstanding Admission Deposit
      2. Juris Doctor (Faculty of Law)
      3. with a value of $500
    • From that block select the button Make a Payment to proceed to the option to pay by credit card, then make the payment.

  5. After the completion of the payment
    You should receive two separate emails, to your email address on file in ACORN, with receipt of payment information. One email will be from UofT Student Accounts using the sender name noreply.easi@utoronto.ca , the other from Moneris, the agency which handles the payment transaction.

  6. Once received, forward the appropriate Receipt of Payment email to JD Admissions
    Without delay, of the two emails:

 
VERIFICATION OF RECEIPT OF TUTION DEPOSIT AT THE UNIVERSITY 
To verify that Student Accounts has received and processed the credit card deposit:
  1. Log into ACORN
  2. From the Finances menu, select Financial Account, then go to Payment History or Account Details to view.
  3. The payment is listed as Credit Card Admission Deposit with a value of $500

2. Financial Aid: Get an immediate estimate and Apply

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are seeking financial aid are expected to apply to their provincial government student financial aid programs and also the UofT JD Student Financial Aid program.

International students on an immigration Study Permit are not eligible for Canadian government student financial aid programs or the UofT JD Student Financial Aid program, and are encouraged to seek aid from other sources, such as their local governments.

WHEN
Get an immediate Aid Estimate
At any time. 
 
Apply for JD Student Financial Aid
  • For offer letters dated earlier than May 15: the application is due at the JD Admissions Office no later than June 1, 2023
  • For offer letters dated later than May 15: the application is due at the JD Admissions Office no later than two weeks from the date of the offer letter 
HOW
Get an immediate Aid Estimate
Use the UofT Law Financial Aid Calculator
Currently, the Calculator is using program expenses for the 2022-2023 academic year. We will email when the updated values for 2023-2024 are installed.

Apply for JD Student Financial Aid
The 2023-2024 online aid application is expected to become available by May 1.

In the interim, for a comprehensive understanding of how the aid is determined, please read the current 2022-2023 Financial Aid Program Policies and Procedures Booklet for JD Students

Financial Aid & Awards
Visit the UofT Law financial aid website

  

3. Enable your JOINid & Log in to ACORN

WHEN
JOINid
Without delay, to gain e-access to key student services, including student housing listings on and off-campus.
HOW
New students to UofT
The JD Admissions Office will email your UofT Student Number, the JOINid username and activation instructions.

Continuing/Returning UofT students
If you have a UTORid then use it instead of the JOINid. With a UTORid there is no need to obtain and activate a JOINid.

CAUTION
If you try to log into UofT online services that do not pertain to new law admits, you will receive login error messages. Therefore, do not assume that your JOINID has malfunctioned. After you have enabled your JOINid , please test that it works by accessing ACORN only. Do not try to test it with any other e-service.

  
WHEN
ACORN 
This is the Student Web Services (SWS) portal for the student record system that allows you to update your contact information, view your grades, see the details of program fees and payments etc.
 
Within 5 to 7 business days after submitting your acceptance of the Offer of Admission log in to ACORN:
  1. To verify that your credit card tuition deposit has been received by Student Accounts
  2. To verify your mailing and contact information.
  3. To add to your personal information, one or more Emergency Contacts, who the university should contact on your behalf, in the event of an emergency.
HOW

Go to www.acorn.utoronto.ca
Your JOINid must be enabled in order to use ACORN.

  1. To verify that your tuition deposit has been received by Student Accounts
    From the Finances menu, select Financial Account, then go to Payment History or Account Details to view.

  2. To verify your mailing and contact information
    From the Profile & Settings menu, select the relevant options

  3. To add to your personal information Emergency Contacts
    From the Profile & Settings menu, select Emergency Contact
 

4. Join us for WELCOME EVENTS Updated

WHEN
Updated January 26
 
YOUR WELCOME EVENTS!
  • VANCOUVER WELCOME RECEPTION
    Monday February 13 from 6:00-7:30 pm Vancouver time, in-person in downtown Vancouver at nation-wide law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
    Register by February 8

  • WELCOME DAY
    Friday February 24 from 9:00-5:00 pm Toronto time, in-person at the law school
    Register by February 13

  • WELCOME SHOWCASE
    Monday February 27 to Thursday March 2, various Toronto times, online
    Admits register by February 13 | Parents/partners register by February 21 for your session

This is your initial introduction to the student perspective of UofT Law, featuring comprehensive programming with the law school community including current JD students, alumni and your student services team. 

Best of all, you may attend as long as you have not declined our offer of admission. Accepting the offer is not a prerequisite to join everyone at the event.

HOW
Review the details of each event, and register online accordingly at law.utoronto.ca/welcome-events-2023 
  

5. If desired, seek Housing

WHEN
As soon as possible, due to the variety of options and availability of units which may suit your preferences.
HOW
Review the housing options on-campus and off-campus online at UofT Housing at housing.utoronto.ca

ON-CAMPUS HOUSING: UofT Residences & Guarantee 
  • Incoming first year JD students admitted by May 15, can access guaranteed spaces for at two on-campus University residences at Graduate House (Grad House) and at University Family Housing (UFH).

  • Approximately 30 guaranteed spaces are usually available at the Graduate House residence
     
  • Students with families seeking housing for the family should consider the UofT University Family Housing high rise units, located a 15 min walk east of the law school. There are two guaranteed units for new JD admits. 

  • New students to UofT
    Your enabled JOINid is required for applying to university residence housing.

  • Continuing/Returning UofT students
    Use your UTORid for residence housing applications.

  • Requesting a Guaranteed Residence Space
    Please await our email invitation for requests which will sent in early May. Do not request in advance of that email.
    In the interim, for Grad House and for UFH, please review their respective accommodation specifications, eligibility and the instructions for requesting a guaranteed space. 

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING: Non UofT Options 
For off-campus housing, in addition to private landlord listings provided via UofT Housing, take a look at the online classifieds for apartments at viewit.ca and PadMapper. In your searches on PadMapper, please filter out any short-term/Air BnB listings.
 

6. Engage your new colleagues on Facebook

WHEN
After we have offered admission get connected on our new admits group page.
HOWThe JD Admissions Office will send an invitation by email. Depending on your mail spam settings, the email may go your inbox and spam/junk folder. In the email select the web link to join the group.
 

7. Get your UTmail+ & T-Card

WHEN
UTmail+  
Access begins May 1

CRUCIAL: Get your UTMail+ activated no later than June 1 
HOW
UTmail+ is the only email used by the university to communicate officially with students. You must perform this step before you can obtain your UofT T-Card (student card), so act promptly.
 
The process is conducted remotely and can sometimes take 2-4 weeks since it must be done by the thousands of new students, from every program at UofT.  Once more, act promptly to avoid lengthy delays.
  • FIRST - Convert your JOINid to your UTORid 
    • Conversion for New students to UofT

    • Returning/Re-registering UofT Students and UofT alumni should continue to use their UTORids. If you forgot your UTORid or it is inactive, please see the T-Card web site for the section INSTRUCTIONS TO GET YOUR UTORID & TCARD FOR OTHER AUDIENCES for Upper Year/Returning students

    • The UTmail+ activation instructions will be given to you at the end of the conversion 
       
    • Once activated, to log in to your account go to http://mail.utoronto.ca
       
       
  • SECOND - Everyone, using your UTMail+ email JD Admissions to update that you've got it
    • Unless you used your UTMail+ for your OLSAS application, EVERYONE, including current/former UofT students please email us at JD Admissions from your UTMail+ to let us know its email address.
    • Please remember to do so as soon as it's obtained.
 
WHEN
TCards 
This is your official UofT student card. It is issued only after you have obtained your UTORid, so act promptly.
Get your card no later than August 1.
HOW 
TCard is your official UofT identification for access to athletic & student services, to sit exams and obtain select retail & transit discounts. Note that transit discounts are effective from the start of the fall session in September. 

Get a new card if you have not been a UofT student for two or more years. You'll need to provide a new photo and verify legal immigration status.
Follow the INSTRUCTIONS TO GET YOUR UTORID & TCARD FOR OTHER AUDIENCES for Upper Year/Returning students
  

8. Enrol in courses & the impact of COVID-19

WHEN
Anticipated to be in mid-late August, typically during the week prior to the start of classes
HOW
 
First year classes begin on August 21, 2023
The first year of the JD program consists of mandatory courses, please adjust your plans in order to attend.
 
For your convenience the Records Office at the Faculty of Law will enrol you in your courses automatically and will email enrolment information in August, usually a week before the start of classes. 
 
COVID-19 impact on the Fall 2023 term 
As you may expect, it is premature to know the impact. Currently, we expect to deliver the program in-person at the law school. We will update as warranted.
 

9. Get Registered: Pay the Minimum Payment to be Registered and the remainder of Tuition & Incidental Fees

WHEN
In order to be officially registered, a Minimum Payment is due by August 2.
 
By request a deferral (delay) of this Minimum Payment may be permitted for eligible students who are receiving external student aid (e.g. government student aid)
 
Official tuition fees and fee invoices for 2023-2024 are anticipated to be posted online no earlier than July 17
  • For planning purposes, based on the current 2022-2023 fees, for 2023-2024 the DOMESTIC tuition fees might increase by 3%, while the INTERNATIONAL tuition fee might increase by 5%. For all, the incidental and ancillary fees might differ only slightly.  
Fees will be billed by academic session (term), and not by individual course or by credits.
 
For the deadline dates by which payments are to be RECEIVED or may be deferred (if eligible) at the university, refer to our Student Fees website
HOW
Please AWAIT the display in ACORN of your fees invoice in mid-July, before making (or requesting a fee deferral for) this Minimum Payment. 
 
Refer to the Student Fees website for fee payment and fee deferral procedures.

In general, for paying tuition and incidental/ancillary fees from:
  • Inside Canada
    E-banking may be used.
    Pay through a Canadian financial institution (e.g. your bank, credit union etc.) in-person at the bank, by online or telephone banking if offered by your bank or by credit card (with a service fee).

  • Outside of Canada
    In collaboration with your local bank:
    • pay electronically through Convera (formerly Western Union GlobalPay for Students) or Flywire
    • Updated July 19: No longer acceptable: obtain a bank draft or money order, in Canadian currency
 

10. Obtain a Peer Mentor, Sign-up for Orientation & Submit a Headshot Photo

WHEN
Obtaining a Peer Mentor begins in June
HOW 
To be fully supported throughout your first year of law school, obtain an upper-year student mentor who will help to ease your transition. 

In order to match you with a mentor with similar interests, you will be invited to provide basic information about yourself and your preferences on an online questionnaire. The JD Admissions Office will email the link to the questionnaire on behalf of the Peer Mentorship Program.

  
WHEN
Orientation begins in August, sign-up in June
HOW
Upper year students will plan a series of fun, social and practical events to familiarize you to the workings of the law school, the UofT and the city of Toronto.  Orientation activities will be interspersed with classes for your first course (Legal Methods intensive) which spans the last two weeks of August.
 
The JD Admissions Office will email the sign-up and event details in July on behalf of the Orientation Committee.
 
WHEN
Submit your Headshot Photo by July 1
HOW
Your professors and support staff like to familiarize themselves with incoming students. A well-lit headshot photo taken with a smart phone will suffice.
We will email the detailed specifications on photo dimensions, file format and how to submit the photo.
 

11. Additional Arrangements, including Final Transcripts

WHEN
As soon as possible, no later than June 30, 2023
WHAT
Official Final Transcripts 
This is a standard OLSAS requirement, see Final Transcripts.

If you enrolled in post-secondary studies during the 2022-2023 academic year then arrange for your official final transcript to be sent to OLSAS for your file. This includes exchange transcripts.
 
If a degree will be completed, order a transcript that will show both the notation and date of degree awarded/conferral/completion. This is also indicated at the OLSAS website 
 
If you are unable to meet this deadline then please notify us without delay by email at admissions.law@utoronto.ca
  

12. UofT Vaccination Requirement 

WHEN
The requirement must be met in-time for the start of classes on August 21, 2023
WHAT
Please carefully review the University of Toronto Vaccination Guideline.

Under the Guideline, students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in any in-person activities on university premises, which may include off-campus activities carried out under the auspices of the University, such as a student placement.

Under the Guideline, students are also required to provide the University proof of being fully vaccinated. In rare situations where students cannot be vaccinated, they may seek a University of Toronto approved vaccination exemption.

By accepting your offer of admission, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the Guideline and agree to comply with the Guideline and any amendments made to align with evolving public health guidance.

The possible consequences for non-compliance with the Guideline may include, at the University’s sole discretion: prohibition from attending University premises and ineligibility to enroll in courses.