(Pre-) Arrival information
ARRIVING BY AIR
When arriving by plane, you will arrive at Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, a suburb to the west of Toronto. Oshawa, where UOIT is located, is a suburb to the east of Toronto. Oshawa is located in Durham Region.
During the timeframe from August 11 to September 10, 2012, as you leave the luggage area of Terminal One, the City of Toronto, UOIT and others, offer a welcome booth. You can pick up a welcome package and also call home for free! Look for the booth just as you leave the luggage area. The friendly welcome booth staff will be happy to help you in your transition from airport to your destination.
UOIT offers an airport pick-up service for new international students. The service runs the week before each semester starts - Fall and Winter from 9:00 a.m. to midnight (Eastern Daylight Time). If you know your flight details, please register for the service by emailing Mr. Abu Arif, International Student Advisor at abu.arif@uoit.ca. You must register for this service at least two weeks in advance to be eligible. This service is free of charge.
For Winter Semester 2011, the service runs from 27 December to 9 January.
If you are unable to arrive during the Airport Pickup Service dates, you will be responsible for making other arrangements.
You can take a van service to UOIT which will cost about $82 one way. To find the van service, after collecting your luggage and clearing immigration, you must report to "Ground Transportation" counter on the ground level (one floor below arrivals floor) between areas "R" and "S", DO NOT GO OUTSIDE TO THE CURB looking for the van. You must check in at the counter.
Once you check in , remain inside, the driver will be notified that you have arrived. S/he will come inside the terminal, call your name and assist you with your luggage out to the van. IF you can not find the counter, you can use any telephone in the terminal and call for free - dial 1 800 387 5450.
Alternatively, you can take the local Toronto transit system. From the airport, take the express bus 192 to Kipling Subway Station ($3 - exact change required). Take the subway (two trains: one goes to Kennedy Station and then you will change to another train which continues east) east to Scarborough Town Centre. There you will transfer to the Go Bus ($8.10) that takes you to the UOIT north campus. Please note that Go Bus has no service during the summer months nor on weekends.
Driving from Toronto, via Hwy. 401:
Hwy. 401 east to Thickson Road. See map.
North on Thickson to Conlin Road. 8.3km
East on Conlin to Simcoe Street North. 3.3km
The north Oshawa campus is located on the southwest corner of Simcoe and Conlin. Turn right onto Founders Drive and follow it along until you reach Founders Parking Lot 2 and 3. Visitor parking can be found in Founders 2 and 3.
Hwy. 407 east to the end of the highway (at Brock Street).
Continue straight along Hwy. 7, which becomes Winchester Road in the community of Brooklin (east of Baldwin Street).
East on Winchester to Simcoe Street.
South on Simcoe to Conlin Road.
The north Oshawa campus is located on the southwest corner of Simcoe and Conlin.
Driving from Ottawa, via Hwy. 401:
Hwy. 401 west to Simcoe Street/Ritson Road interchange (exit #418). Follow signs to Simcoe Street.
North on Simcoe past Taunton Road.
The north Oshawa campus is located on the west side of Simcoe about 2 km north of Taunton (just before Conlin Road).
When you become an international student at UOIT you are automatically enrolled in two health insurance plans. The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is a basic plan that grants you coverage comparable to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for medical services such as visits to a clinic or hospital and other emergency needs. The Student Association Supplemental Benefits Plan offers you coverage in areas that UHIP does not such as prescription medicine, dental and vision care.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (UHIP)
A UHIP premium (see Student Finance pages for current cost per annum) is added to the account of all international students registered in classes at UOIT. UHIP coverage begins September 1 and ends on August 31 of the following calendar year. If you are arriving in Canada prior to September 1, you must notify the International Student Office immediately so that your UHIP start date can be adjusted accordingly.
Your UHIP Number: is "IT [and your UOIT student number]".
Note: UHIP coverage is compulsory for all international students as well as recent permanent residents and returning Canadian citizens in their three-month OHIP waiting period.
If you pay an annual $30 fee to the Campus Health Centre, they will administer and send the bills directly to UHIP. Otherwise, you pay up front and submit the bill and supporting documents to be reimbursed.
The Oshawa Clinic will process your UHIP claim at no charge. i.e. all paperwork is done by them.To make a claim, please see here for the process and related forms.
For more information about the UHIP plan visit http://www.uhip.ca/ or contact your International Student Advisor at abu.arif@uoit.ca .
STUDENT ASSOCIATION SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS
A health and dental fee of $193.46 is added to the account of all students registered in classes at UOIT. Plan coverage begins September 1 and ends on April 30 of each academic year.
For more information, see the Student Association Supplemental Benefits plan.
At the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), we offer the best of both worlds when it comes to residence - all the comforts of home in a unique campus community experience. Our residences offer convenience, great friendships and the chance to connect with all that campus life has to offer. The Simcoe Village and South Village residences offer accommodations for 1,360 students. If you're a first-year student starting your program in September, you're guaranteed a spot in residence if you meet the deadlines for accepting UOIT's offer of admission and applying to residence.
Our residences offer a number of different room options:
South Hall and Central Hall: You can choose from two variations of a spacious open-concept model. These fully furnished suites include two double beds separated by a partial wall, a three-piece bath, a kitchenette, a workspace and plenty of space for creativity and relaxation.
North Hall: These fully furnished suites include two private bedrooms, a three-piece bath, a large kitchenette and a workspace.
South Village: This residence facility features fully furnished suites that include two private bedrooms, a three-piece bath, a small kitchenette, a workspace and a small seating area.
All residences feature:
- TV, cable, phone and high-speed Internet access;
- Double beds;
- Private bathrooms;
- On-site laundry, additional kitchen facilities and storage space;
- 24-hour security;
- Controlled building access;
- On-site management;
- Furnished lounges;
- Individually controlled air conditioning/heating;
- A movie lounge with a large-screen TV and theatre-style seating;
- A games room, meeting room and common study areas; and
- Light housekeeping every two weeks.
B. Village Suites Oshawa is a privately-run apartment-style building located just 0.6km from the North Oshawa campus. Village Suites is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students. Rental agreements are for a period of 12 months.
C. West Village: these beautiful, apartment-style residence units are designed for students in their upper years of study. Three and six bedroom units are available and include five appliances, parking, networked internet and large bedrooms with spacious closets. Each 27-unit building can house a total of 108 students.
ON CAMPUS MEALS: Aramark offers a variety of meal plan options to suit every nutritional need and lifestyle, including Flex Dollars, which enables you to dine at all on-campus food service locations.
The Student Housing Office is just one of the many resources available to help our students locate safe and secure living accommodations, both on and off campus.
BANKING
Most Canadians deal with one of the big-five chartered banks which have extensive nation-wide coverage and offer many international services. These banks are:
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC);
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC);
- Toronto-Dominion Canada Trust (TD Canada Trust);
- Bank of Montreal (BMO); and
- Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank).
One bank is located on the north Oshawa campus (Bank of Montreal) and provides several 24-hour Automated Teller Machines (ATM) using the Interac system. There is also a TD Canada Trust branch located at Campus Corners at the southeast corner of Simcoe Street and Conlin Road.
a. Opening an account
It is easy to open an account in Canada provided that you have funds in Canadian or U.S. dollars and have appropriate identification. There are a variety of account types (savings, chequing, term deposits, etc.) which have differing fees, service charges and requirements. It is necessary to review these carefully before opening an account to make sure the account type matches your needs.
b. Transferring funds
We suggest the following:
- Paying by NorthStar through a bank transfer
INCOME TAXES
Students must complete an income tax form if they earned income from employment, or received a scholarship, bursary or fellowship while in Canada. By completing a tax form, you are often eligible for a refund. You are eligible for a refund or payment if you have had any of the following income or expenses: UPASS, rent expenses off campus, assistantships as a TA or RA, scholarships, salary or hourly pay, and tuition expense (you will need your T2202A form issued by UOIT).
Income tax forms must be completed and mailed by April 30 of each year. The taxation year runs from January 1 to December 31.
You must either have:
a) Social Insurance Number In order to a have Social Insurance Number, students must have active employment on campus or a work permit.
b) If you do not have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) because you did not earn income in Canada, you will need a Individual Tax Number (ITN) to file your tax return. You will also need to submit a) certified copy of your study permit and b) passport. The International Student Advisor is able to certify your copies as true copies as long as you bring in the original of both documents.
Low-income wage earners, including students, are entitled to apply for a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) credit, which is Step 2 on your income tax form. If you are eligible for a HST credit, quarterly or semi-annual credits are either mailed to you or (when relevant information is provided on the form) directly deposited in your bank account. You must have been in Canada for at least six months during the taxation year to be eligible for a HST credit.
Income Tax Workshop: An Income Tax Workshop is held annually, in March, to assist students to complete their income tax return forms.
Students planning to attend this session must bring with them the following:
- Your laptop - the forms are completed online so you MUST have a laptop with you in order to complete this process.
- T2202A form (available from your personal My Campus account).
- T4 slip (if you have worked at all during the calendar year).
- Rent receipts (if you lived and paid rent off-campus).
- T5 form (if you earned interest from your Canadian bank account on savings, you will have received this form your bank).
- ITN form if you do not have a Social Insurance Number (see webpages mentioned ablove for information, required supporting documentation and how to certify the documents.
For more information about the income tax process for international students in Canada, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency Website at http:www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/ndvdls/ntl-eng.html .
Students filing their tax return the first time (or if they are in their first or last year in Canada), must send their tax return forms (along with the ITN application form) to the International Tax Services Office address at:
International Tax Services Office
Canada Revenue Agency
2204 Walkley Road
Ottawa ON K1A 1A8
CANADA
Related information can be found under Newcomers to Canada section from the CRA website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/t4055/t4055-e.html#P272_23806.