New Admits - First YearYOUR NEXT STEPS 2023

Updated: June 12, 2023
 
Please retain your Offer of Admission letter, and bring it with you when you arrive at the university. Upper year students begin on Tuesday September 5, 2023.

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 & Pay the acceptance Tuition Deposit

WHEN
Accept the Offer by the deadline in your Offer of Admission letter.
HOW

All Admits - do this first

  • Email the JD Admissions Office, stating your intent to accept and provide your current contact information: mailing & permanent addresses; mobile and home phone numbers
     
  • Log in to your OLSAS account and, if new, update your contact phone numbers, home and mailing address, indicate which address is to be used after June 1

JD-only Admits

  • Log in to your OLSAS account
  • In the left side menu of Application Links, select Choices/Offers
  • Select the link to the Offer for the program University of Toronto ‐ Transfer JD

  • Select your one Response to Offer, from among these options:

    • Firm Accept
      Accept UofT Law, and not be considered further for all other Ontario law schools, regardless of where those law schools are in their admission selection process.
       
    • Provisional Accept
      • Accept UofT Law, and still be considered for all Ontario law schools program choices at OLSAS that have un-responded offers, or have yet to make admission decisions. 

      • option available before August 1, since on August 1,  a provisional acceptance will change to a firm acceptance automatically at OLSAS.
         
  • Finalize the transaction by completing the Review & Submit step, linked on the left hand menu on the OLSAS webpage. 

 
 In addition to 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 with these payment instructions is also enclosed in your Offer of Admission package. 
WHEN
Pay the deposit using ACORN, by the deadline to respond to your Offer of Admission at OLSAS.
The Offer of Admission will be cancelled if the deposit is not received by the deadline.
HOW 
$500 in Canadian currency, payable online by Credit Card only via ACORN
 
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD
Before you pay please note:
  • VISA or MasterCard accepted only
  • A non-refundable convenience fee of 2.5% (CAD $12.50) will be added
  • 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

  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.
       
    • Former 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 Tuition Deposit at the University
Regardless of payment method, to verify that Student Accounts has received and processed the 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 
As soon as possible, after you have received an Offer of Admission, please see the financial aid timelines.
HOW
Get an immediate Aid Estimate
Use the online UofT Law Financial Aid Estimator

Apply for JD Student Financial Aid
Read the 2023-2024 Financial Aid Program Policies and Procedures Booklet for JD Students, then the application instructions, then submit the web form for 2023-2024 JD Financial Aid Application.

Financial Aid & Awards - overview & details
Visit the UofT Law financial aid website

  

3. Enable your JOINid & Log in to ACORN

WHEN
JOINid
For UofT applicants, the id provides e-access to key student services, including housing resources.
HOW
New students to UofT
The JOINid and UofT Student Number (UofT applicant number) are listed on your Offer of Admission letter.
Separately, we will email your JOINid and Student Number with the instruction to go online to enable your JOINid.

Returning UofT students
If you have an active UTORid then use it instead of the JOINid. With a UTORid there is no need to obtain and enable a JOINid.  Likewise, use your UofT Student Number instead of the UofT Applicant Number.

Caution 
If you try to log into applicant services that do not pertain to law students, you will receive login error messages. Therefore, after you have enabled your JOINid, for services other than university housing applications, simply await further email updates.

  
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 3 to 5 business days after submitting your acceptance of the Offer of Admission log in to ACORN:
  1. To verify that your 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 History 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 an Emergency Contact
    From the Profile & Settings menu, select Emergency Contact
  

4. If desired, seek Housing

WHENAs 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 studentlife.utoronto.ca/hs  
 
Law students are considered for UofT-operated residence accommodation in Graduate House.
 
Students with families seeking housing for the family should consider the UofT Student Family Housing high rise units, located a 15 min walk east of the law school. There is no guaranteed housing for these units, so for the best chance of securing a space, we recommend that you apply early, with the intention of moving in before July or very shortly thereafter.
 
For off-campus housing, in addition to listings provided via UofT Housing, take a look at the online classifieds for apartments at viewit.ca or at PadMapper. In your searches on PadMapper, please filter out any Air BnB listings.
 
New students to UofT
Your enabled JOINid is required for applying to university residence housing, and for viewing off-campus listings provided to the university.
 
Continuing/Returning UofT students
Use your JOINid for residence housing applications, and for viewing off-campus listings provided to the university.
 

5. Engage your new colleagues on Facebook

WHENAfter we have received your acceptance of the Offer of Admission, get connected on our admissions group page for the JD class of 2025.
HOWThe JD Admissions Office will send an invitation by email. 
 

6. Get your UTORid, UTMail+ and TCard

WHEN
Get your account activated without delay, starting the next day after accepting your offer of admission at OLSAS.
HOW
UTMail+ is the only email used by the university to communicate officially with students. 
  • 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 for Returning/Re-registering 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, provide JD Admissions with your UTMail+ address
    • Please let us know that you've set up your UTMail+ account, by emailing JD Admissions from your UTMail+ account.
 
WHEN
TCards may be obtained in-person at the university after you obtain your UTORid, ideally by August 1.
 
Get your card before the first day of classes. Note due to the volume of UofT students, it may take two weeks to obtain a TCard appointment. Therefore, the sooner you act, the sooner you will obtain your TCard for accessing student services
HOW 
TCard is your official UofT identification (student card) for access to athletic & student services, to sit exams and obtain transit & retail 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, or
- your card has been misplaced, lost or damaged.
 
Follow the INSTRUCTIONS TO GET YOUR UTORID & TCARD FOR OTHER AUDIENCES for Upper Year/Returning students
 

 7. Enrol in courses

WHENUpper year course enrolment process is likely to begin in early July.
HOW
 
Upper year student classes begin on September 5, 2023

The Records Office at the Faculty of Law handles course enrolment solely, and will send access information for the course enrolment system and general enrolment instructions and reminders by email.
 
Please await the email from the Records Office.  In the interim, please read the online Academic Handbook for course selection procedures and timelines.  
UPDATE
COVID-19 impact on the Fall 2023 term 
We expect to be in-person and students should plan accordingly. The law school will email pertinent updates as they become available. 
 

8. Submit the Minimum Payment to be Registered and Pay 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 for 2023-2024 are expected online on July 17.
In the interim, please view the ESTIMATED 2023-2023 fees.
 
Tuition is a program fee by academic year, not by term or by individual course or credit. Payment is billed by academic session (term).
 
For the dates by which payments are to be RECEIVED at the university, refer to our Student Fees website.
HOW
Refer to our Student Fees website

In general, for paying fees from:
  • Inside Canada
    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 through Western Union GlobalPay for Students, or
    • obtain a bank draft or money order, in Canadian funds
 

9. Obtain a Peer Mentor & Submit a Headshot Photo

WHENObtaining a Peer Mentor begins in July
HOW 
To be fully supported throughout your starting 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 Mentoring Program.

  
WHEN
Submit your Headshot Photo by August 1
HOW
Your professors and support staff like to familiarize themselves with incoming students before you arrive. 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.
  

10. UofT Vaccination Requirement

WHEN
The requirement must be met in-time for the start of classes on September 5, 2023
We expect to be in-person and students should plan accordingly. The law school will email pertinent updates as they become available. 
HOW 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.

  

11. Attend Orientation

WHENOrientation - held in early September  
HOW
An event will be held to welcome new upper year students and familiarize you with the workings of the law school and the university. You may expect an email closer to the event date with the details.