International Student Orientation

Welcome

Welcome to the YorkU community! We are so excited to meet you as you begin your university life no matter where you are in the world! International Student Orientation is a great way to start the first semester and prepare yourself for university life. Although we aren't together in person, we can still come together virtually! York International and so many other supports, services and resources at York are all still available to you no matter where in the world you are. Worried about meeting other students, classmates and new friends while studying remotely? We got you! International Student Orientation will still be a great way to connect with other international students.

International Student In-person Picnic

We can't wait to meet you In-person at our International Student picnic. Come join us for a fun afternoon of activities and food. Confused about where to find your classroom and important buildings? We got you! There will be a campus tour towards the end of the picnic. This picnic is a great way for First- and Second-year students to learn more about the Keele campus and to connect with students from the same Faculty and make new friends!
 
Session # Date Time: sessions for all faculties (Times in ET)
Session 1 Thursday, September 2, 2021 10:30am-2:00pm
Session 2 Monday, September 6, 2021 10:30am-2:00pm
Session 3 Friday, September 10, 2021 10:30am-2:00pm

International Student Virtual Orientation

We can't wait to meet the next group of YorkU Lions from all over the world joining our fall international student orientation sessions!  Our team is working hard on preparing for Fall 2021 dates and we welcome you to register for one session that fits in your schedule. Note: Zoom information on how to join a session will be sent directly to students who have registered.   **Fall 2021 registration now open!
 
Session # Date Time: sessions for all faculties (Times in ET)
Session 1 Monday, August 23, 2021 2:00-4:00pm
Session 2 Wednesday, August 25, 2021 2:00-4:00pm
Session 3 Friday, August 27, 2021 8:00-10:00am

Schedule of the Day - In-person Picnic

Sessions will be divided based on Faculties. It is recommended that you choose a session based on your Faculty but NOT required.
  • Session 1 (11:00-12:30 pm): LA&PS (Liberal Arts & Professional Studies), School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, Glendon
  • Session 2 (12:30-2:00 pm): Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Education, Lassonde School of Engineering, Schulich School of Business, Osgoode Hall Law School
 
 
 
Activities
Charades
Soccer Billiards
Human Rock, Paper, Scissors 
Human Bingo 
Campus Tour 
YorkU Photo Booth 
Raffle Prizes 
Learn the YorkU Lion Cheer

Schedule of the Day - Virtual Orientation

We will have so much planned for you during the sessions to help you successfully kick off the fall term!  Here’s a snapshot from our summer virtual orientation to see what you can look forward to during the future sessions.
Activity Description August 23 & 25,  2:00-4:00pm  August 27,  8:00-10:00am  
Pre-Session Hangout
  • Registration check-in.
  • Start getting to know each other as you wait for the session to begin.  Our DJ will also be spinning some tunes and our awesome volunteers will join to chat with you.
1:30-2:00pm 7:30-8:00am
Welcome to York University! An official welcome from the executive team. 2:00-2:10pm 8:00-8:10am
What to Expect in Today’s Session We’ll tell you more about what is happening during the session. 2:10-2:15pm 8:10-8:15am
Getting to Know Each Other You will participate in a fun activity to get to know each other better! 2:15-2:30pm 8:15-8:30am
Health & Wellness Learn about all the key information related to your health and health insurance in Canada. 2:30-2:40pm 8:30-8:40am
Immigration Essentials Our immigration team will walk you through what you need to know as you prepare for your studies and what to keep in mind regarding your immigration status. 2:40-2:55pm 8:40-8:55am
Building a Virtual Community and Connecting Remotely Our programming team will help you learn how you can build a community even though you are all in different parts of the world. 2:55-3:15pm 8:55-9:15am
Supporting Your Academic Success
  • Learn more about YorkU's Library Services and discover the array of supports, services, resources and people available to help ensure your continued success during your academic career.  
  • The Learning Commons team will show you how they bring together academic learning supports to help students with areas such as writing, library research, citing and much more.
  • They will also give you tips what to expect from the Canadian academic culture, and how to successfully navigate the system.
3:15-3:35pm 9:15-9:35am
Academic Advising 
  • Academic advisors will join us to tell you more about why academic advising is essential during your time at YorkU.  
  • Learn more about where you can find help on Faculty legislation and policies, program and degree requirements, degree options, understanding your grade report and academic standing, the petition process, peer mentoring, study groups, and so much more.
3:35-3:55pm 9:35-9:55am
Summary of Upcoming Events and Next Steps We’ll tell you what else you can look forward to in the upcoming weeks.   3:55-4:00pm 9:55-10:00am
Faculty Specific Sessions  Faculty-led sessions where you can learn more about your Faculty and what they have to offer.  The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies will be joining us for these sessions.   4:00-4:30pm 10:00-10:30am
 

Stay Engaged!

Orientation continues year round!  Join us for many of the ongoing orientation activities outlined below that we will have in the upcoming months.  Topics range from remote academic essentials to managing your health and wellness.  We guarantee that at least one of these sessions or activities is for you.

Prepare for YorkU Webinar Series

The York International Prepare for YorkU webinar series is here again!  These sessions focus on some key information that new international students need to know as they prepare to begin their studies. Current students and campus partners will share their experiences and tips for success and will take you on a virtual journey throughout campus and beyond!   
Topic Date Time (Canada/Eastern) What to Expect
Remote Learning Starter Kit May 12, 2021 9:00-10:00am Maximizing online learning and class participation.
Health Insurance Basics May 19, 2021 9:30-10:30am Info about UHIP coverage, where to find a doctor, how to pay for medical expenses with UHIP. Basic health insurance vs extended health coverage and resources for health and well-being at York.
Making Virtual Connections  May 26, 2021 9:30-10:30am Learn how to get involved as an international student in a virtual setting, how to make friends online.  Get tips on understanding Canadian culture in making friends and safety for online connections.
Generating Ideas for Writing & Advice for Writing in University June 9, 2021 9:00-10:00am Learn how to generate ideas for writing and how to get into good habits for writing in University.
Health Insurance Basics June 16, 2021 9:30-10:30am Info about UHIP coverage, where to find a doctor, how to pay for medical expenses with UHIP. Basic health insurance vs extended health coverage and resources for health and well-being at York.
Secrets of Academic Success June 23, 2021 9:00-10:00am An intro to Learning Skills services & other academic resources on-campus and tips on navigating Canadian academics.  
Understanding Academic Assignments July 7, 2021 9:30-10:30am Learn strategies for reading assignment instructions that will help you feel confident in your work and about fundamental issues to consider when writing assignments in university.
YorkU and You July 14, 2021 9:30-10:30am Understand what to expect during your time as a YorkU student.  We will introduce you to some aspects of campus life, campus culture, academic basics and how to get involved.
Life in Toronto & in Canada July 20, 2021 9:00-10:00am Get to know the city virtually, learn about transit, neighbourhoods and cultural diversity in Canada.
Academic Integrity for Academic Success July 27, 2021 9:30-11:00am An introduction to academic integrity and why it’s important.  You'll learn how to properly cite works and also get useful info about resources available at York.  
Remote Academic Life at York U August 11, 2021 9:00-10:00am Navigating your academics in the remote learning environment doesn’t have to be a challenge!  This webinar will give you tips on what to expect in the remote classroom, help you learn the Canadian academic culture, provide suggestions on how to communicate with professors and TAs and give you tools for general academic success e.g. how to take notes and how to study.
Day 1, Week 1 Prep August 18, 2021 9:30-10:30am The time has finally come for you to start your program at YorkU!  This webinar will give you tips on what to focus on during your first day and the first week and how to prepare for school with ease.  Current students will also share checklists for what you will need e.g. reading material, timetables, schedule builders and so much more!
Health Insurance Basics August 18, 2021 2:00-3:00pm For those planning to arrive in Canada in the fall and are curious about health insurance coverage in Canada.
Note: The pre-arrival webinars are virtual and a Zoom link will be sent directly to those who register.

Virtual Coffee Breaks

Virtual Coffee Breaks

Looking to connect with members of the YorkU community? Join us for our Virtual Coffee Breaks! It's an online space for international and domestic students from across programs, Faculties, countries, and cultures to connect and get to know each other! Students, Staff & Faculty are welcome!

Visit our Calendar to sign up!
 

Summer Preparation Webinars

Whether you're starting with us online for Summer 2020, or preparing to join us in the Fall 2020, we've got Summer Preparation Webinars to help you prepare for life at York University and in Canada. Our multilingual and diverse team of students leads a series of online information sessions throughout the summer term. These sessions focus on some key information that new international students need to know. They will share their struggles and tips for success and will take you on a virtual journey throughout campus and beyond! Check out our videos below and stay tuned for more sessions over the summer with tips from students about online learning, meeting new people and more, all geared towards our semester online. View Webinars Here

Consent Talks with York International

Stay tuned for Fall 2021 sessions.