The Transitional Year Programme (TYP) on the St. George campus was established over 50 years ago by Black and Indigenous community educators and graduate students, with the goal of increasing the numbers of Black and Indigenous students enrolled at the University of Toronto and provide a pathway to more viable employment.
Recognizing a need for a similar program to serve residents of the eastern Greater Toronto Area (GTA), faculty and staff from both campuses collaborated in the design and launch of it's first full year of TYP@UTSC in 2022 - 2023. This work was made possible by a grant from the University of Toronto’s Access Programs University Fund (APUF).
The two programs share a commitment to activism and community engagement designed to center Black and Indigenous voices towards the goal of making a university degree more accessible to all disenfranchised adults.
TYP@UTSC application period for Fall 2023 is now closed. We will re-open applications for Fall 2024 in January 2024. Please refer to our HOW TO APPLY page for further information.
History of TYP
The Transitional Year Program (TYP) has its roots in the Black Community in Toronto. It began as two community summer programs in 1969 and 1970, and in 1970 it was restructured as a separate division within the University. TYP has operated continuously since 1970, except for the 1976 – 1977 academic year. Throughout, TYP has remained committed to making university studies accessible to students who have faced barriers in their education.
TYP graduates go on to great things. Our alumni are employed in the Toronto District School Board, the Y.M.C.A, community organizations, business, and the arts. Others have pursued graduate and professional studies in diverse fields, including African Studies, History, Music, Theatre Arts, Urban Studies, Social Work, Midwifery, and Law. A number of former TYP students have won scholarships and awards to support their studies.
