York University, Canada’s third-largest university, spans three campuses in the Greater Toronto Area.
The largest is Keele in North York, where most student events and festivals take place. Glendon, in midtown Toronto, is known for its French-English bilingual community, while the new Markham campus recently opened its doors to students in 2024.
With campuses spread across the region, York University’s student life extends into different parts of Toronto and, through its international connections, well beyond Canada. Much of it takes place outside regular classes, through diverse programs and activities held throughout the year.
Where York University Students Gather and Get Involved
At Keele, the beginning of the academic year brings orientation events for incoming students. The programs typically include campus tours, introductory gatherings, and opportunities to meet other students before classes begin.
The annual President’s International Student Reception is another early-semester event. New and continuing international students attend alongside faculty members and university administrators for speeches, social activities, photo opportunities, and a variety of refreshments.
In the fall, York hosts the Go Global Fair, where students can speak with representatives from overseas universities about academic exchanges and international internships. The event draws representatives from several York faculties and international education organizations.
Many other activities take place throughout the semester, including York University’s Academic and Communication Excellence Development (ACED) program, which holds workshops on research, writing, presentations, and communication skills.
Student volunteers also help organize some of the university’s social programming. For students coming from abroad, International Engagement Champions help support student gatherings and activities, while Global Outreach Volunteers participate in events focused on overseas study opportunities.
International Connections and Working on Campus
At Glendon, French is especially common, with courses that include collaborations with students at universities abroad.
For example, students taking FRAN 4270, Enquêtes sur les systèmes éducatifs francophones, work with classmates at the University of Orléans in France. The course examines differences in educational approaches, including teaching methods, school structures, and educational equity. Students also collaborate on assignments, such as planning a French-as-a-second-language lesson.
The course is part of Globally Networked Learning, which connects York classes with universities overseas through shared projects and online discussions.
Other collaborations at York include urban economics students examining transportation policies with classmates in India and writing students working with California State University, Los Angeles, on digital publishing projects.
Students can also spend time abroad themselves through international exchange. York University’s academic exchanges generally last one or two semesters, while partner summer schools run for two to six weeks between May and August.
In addition, the university offers paid work-study positions through its international student programming, including roles such as event assistants, student mentors, website editors, and social media staff. These positions are open to domestic and international students, offering opportunities to earn money while getting more involved in campus life.
Connected Campuses and Exploring Toronto
York University offers shuttle buses connecting its campuses, ensuring students from Keele, Glendon, and Markham can access events, festivals, and workshops wherever they are.
Beyond campus, the Neighbourhood Exploration program organizes group walks through Toronto for international students. The outings introduce participants to public transit routes, local attractions, and neighbourhoods with restaurants and places to spend time outside class.
Students can also explore independently using five walking guides created by university work-study students and volunteers.
The routes cover the Danforth, downtown Toronto, St. Lawrence Market, the Harbourfront, and Yorkville, each with suggested landmarks and places to visit, so students can plan an afternoon with friends without having to join a scheduled university activity.
Another popular recurring social program for international students is English Conversation Partners, which pairs upper-year student volunteers with students practicing English. Over seven weeks, participants arrange five hour-long conversations at cafés, libraries, or online, with additional group gatherings organized during the program.
Together, these activities give students opportunities to build deeper connections across York University and discover what Toronto has to offer.
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