Innis College
Population: 2,200
History: Founded in 1964, Innis is one of the newer colleges. The only college to be named after a professor at the University of Toronto, political economist Harold Innis, Innis College has had three different homes on campus. First located in a small building (affectionately named “The Biscuit Box”) on King’s College Circle, the College moved after several years to the current home of the School of Graduate Studies, at 63 St. George St. Since 1974, Innis has stood at the corner of St. George and Sussex, and the residence was built across the street at 111 St. George in 1994.
Ethos: Tight-knit and inclusive, the Innis community values every student’s voice and ensures strong student involvement in college governance and decision-making. The Innis College Council (and all of its supporting boards) constitutes the first and only governing body at the University with parity representation, a system of governance in which students comprise 50% of members. The college always aims to enhance student experience in a manner that is respectful and encouraging, offering students support for growth and fulfilment. The college strives to provide community to every Innis student, whether that student lives in the residence or commutes to the university.
New College
Population: 6,300
History: Founded in 1962, New College is one of the youngest colleges at the University of Toronto, with its name evolving from the originally proposed “New King’s College.” Located on the west side of campus, bordered by Spadina, Willcocks, and Huron, New College is composed of three distinctive buildings — Wetmore Hall, Wilson Hall, and 45 Willcocks — which evoke the spirit and ideology of 1960s architecture. The first of the university’s residential colleges, New College was designed to directly integrate student life, with residence units on upper floors and the library, dining hall, academic facilities, and administration offices on the lower floors.
Ethos: New College has developed its own progressive traditions and identity, focusing on personal attention to students, innovative interdisciplinary programs, career mentorship, and community outreach. New College is a friendly and informal community, which places a high priority on student support services, diversity, fostering social justice and responsibility, and promoting equity and global awareness for all students, faculty, and staff. New College aims to provide a rich learning community for students that encompasses academic support, facilities for study and social interaction, and opportunities for community engagement.
St. Michael’s College
Population: 5,300
History: St. Michael’s College was founded in 1852 at the request of the second Catholic bishop of Toronto, Monsignor Armand Compte de Charbonnel. The Congregation of Basilian Fathers, an order located in Annonay, France, responded by sending a contingent of Basilian priests to Toronto. Together with St. Mary’s Lesser Seminary, they began offering classes in 1853. In the subsequent year, St. Michael’s College was established on land donated by one of the founding donors to the University of Toronto, Sir John Elmsley. The campus was situated in an area of Toronto known as Clover Hill, on the east side of campus, where it remains today, bordered by Queen’s Park and Bay Street, along St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Street.
Ethos: St. Michael’s College, the undergraduate division of the University of St. Michael’s College, which is federated with the University of Toronto, offers a wide variety of programming on its campus, including four sponsored undergraduate programs and a suite of first-year course offerings designed to prepare students for studies in year two, three, and four. The college undertakes to educate all students from diverse backgrounds and faith communities, seeking to support and empower them to lead lives of service to others.
Trinity College
Population: 2,200
History: Founded in 1851, Trinity College is a small, distinctive college at the heart of the University of Toronto. Trinity, which began as its own university, federated with the University of Toronto in 1904 and moved to its current campus location in 1925.
Ethos: Trinity College is a small college with a long and illustrious history within the University of Toronto, the largest university in Canada. A small, distinctive college at the heart of a great university, Trinity offers an exceptional academic experience and fosters community, responsibility, and leadership.
University College
Population: 5,600
History: The founding college of the University of Toronto, University College has served as a beacon for open education since 1853. University College is located at the very centre of the U of T campus. The main University College building opened in 1859 and is now a national historic site. Our campus also includes three residences and the UC Union Building.
Ethos: University College was established as a non-sectarian institution of higher learning, and since its inception, UC has committed itself to challenging undergraduate students to excel intellectually and preparing them to engage in the wider world. As a community that celebrates diversity, UC is home to students and professors from a range of disciplines, staff dedicated to supporting student success, and alumni who are leaders in their fields.
Victoria College
Population: 4,112
History: The oldest of the seven Colleges in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Victoria College (“Vic”) was established in 1836 and has a distinguished reputation for excellence and creativity. With its beautiful buildings, stunning gardens, and diverse residence options, Vic provides a warm and welcoming environment for its students.
Ethos: Victoria College is an open, friendly academic community with a long tradition of social engagement, locally and internationally. Members of the college discover meaningful and supportive connections within a diverse academic community. Vic is committed to fostering student success and well-being with individual guidance, academic advising, and distinctive co-curricular programs that help students make smooth transitions to, through, and beyond university.
Woodsworth College
Population: 5,500
History: Woodsworth College is located at the gateway to the University of Toronto on the southwest corner of St. George and Bloor Street. It was founded in 1974 and named after J.S. Woodsworth, who was an advocate for social justice, a Member of Parliament, and a founder of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the forerunner of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Woodsworth College is committed to promoting accessibility and equity, and our core mission is to provide “the best educational experience for a diverse student body.”
Ethos: Woodsworth College is a warm and inviting learning environment with a thriving community of more than 5,000 students. The college is dedicated to creating opportunities for all to become engaged and to succeed. Our diversity makes us strong and we welcome students from multiple pathways, and a myriad of cultures and lived experiences. We promote inclusivity and respect, and create spaces to learn from one another.