Orientation Guide: Find Your Path | Transition and Orientation

On this page:

Click on each drop-down item to find the relevant orientation information tailored to your status as a student. Please note that regardless of the
following, you are REQUIRED to attend Academic Orientation (Faculty Orientation Events), which is specific to your faculty. You can find more
information about such components of orientation here: COMPONENTS OF ORIENTATION

If you are an International or an Exchange student, there is an International and Exchange Student Orientation that you are required to attend. If you
are a domestic student, there is no such required orientation.

If you are a Residence student, there is a Residence Orientation that you are required to attend. If you are a Commuter student, your college/faculty
may host a commuter orientation. Please keep an eye out for communication regarding your college/faculty social orientation schedule.

If you belong to one of the ten colleges and faculties at the Keele campus, the majority of your orientation events will take place at the Keele Campus.

If you are a Glendon student, the majority of your events will take place at the Glendon Campus.

Finally, if you are a Markham student, your orientation events will take place at the Markham Campus, with social orientation occurring at the Keele Campus.

If you are an Indigenous student, there is an Indigenous Student Orientation that you are required to attend.

Sample Orientation 2024 Schedule

This website will be updated with information as details are confirmed.

Below is an example of what you can expect for Orientation 2024:

Aug 25	Aug 26	Aug 27	Aug 28	Aug 29	Aug 30	Aug 31	Sep 1	Sep 2	Sep 3
MOVE-IN			Faculty Orientation Events	Faculty Orientation Events	Faculty Orientation Events	Markham Family Welcome			Markham Family Welcome
Indigenous Orientation	Indigenous Orientation	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Social Orientation Programming	Markham Family Welcome
International & Exchange Orientation	International & Exchange Orientation
Residence Orientation	Residence Orientation

Frequently Asked Questions

Orientation Week is the week prior to classes starting in September. It is filled with events and activities designed to connect students to helpful resources, make friends, and create memories. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about their college/faculty and the resources they offer to help and support you throughout the year.

During Winter Orientation in January, this week is called Frost Week.

To register for Orientation Week, simply visit your college’s or faculty’s orientation website and follow the prompts to sign up. You can find the links to college and faculty websites here: https://www.yorku.ca/orientation/york-university-orientation/transition-orientation-events/orientation-week-events/. Please note that kits will become available sometime in July 2024.

Alternatively, you can visit the college and faculty O-Week Instagram pages to find links to ticket purchase and additional O-Week information. When registering, you’ll be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and payment details. Once you complete the registration on your college/faculty website, you’ll receive confirmation details via email. Any further information regarding O-Week following your registration will be communicated to you by the college or faculty via email or other contact details you provide.

September’s Orientation Week usually falls in late August/early September. It will vary slightly from year to year.

January’s equivalent, known as Frost Week, varies slightly each year but is generally held very early in January.

For questions about Glendon Campus Social Orientation, you can email glfrosh@gmail.com. For other Glendon orientation programming, you can contact studentaffairs@glendon.yorku.ca.

For questions about Markham Campus Orientation you can email: markhamstudentlife@yorku.ca

Events held at Orientation Week (August/September) and Frost Week (January) will vary from year to year but generally include games, fairs, sporting events, athletic showdowns, and other social events that allow students the opportunity to meet and make new friends. There are also opportunities to learn about colleges and faculties and the various resources available to support students.

All Orientation events are in person unless specifically stated. Virtual events are occasionally held to accommodate students and/or families from far away.

Many events at September Orientation are tickets and require the purchase of an Orientation Kit which contains tickets to various events.

All events at Winter Orientation are free in January 2024.

Yes. In addition to the social orientation activities that will be hosted by your respective colleges and faculties, the faculty you belong to will also host a mandatory Academic Orientation. This Academic Orientation is program-specific and will introduce various academic resources and student support systems available to you during your time at university.

You are encouraged to attend the O-Week of the college/faculty you belong to. You can find your college/faculty here: https://www.yorku.ca/orientation/college-finder/

Note that if you belong to a faculty first (Schulich or Lassonde), you are encouraged to attend their O-Week over the college the faculties belong to.

However, you are ultimately welcome to attend whichever O-Week interests you. Note that you can only purchase a kit for one O-Week.

Yes, depending on how late you arrive. You would still need to purchase a kit from your college/faculty to attend. We encourage you to contact the Orientation Chairs or President of your college/faculty via email or social media for further clarification on your specific situation. If you notify them in advance, they will likely be able to make accommodations. See all college/faculty email contacts and social media information here: https://www.yorku.ca/orientation/york-university-orientation/transition-orientation-events/orientation-week-events/

Details of the locations for each event will be conveyed to you upon registration. If not then, the Orientation team for your college/faculty will send details via email closer to the start of the event (s). You will also receive an event primer prior to the start of O-Week with all relevant times, locations, and details necessary for attending the event.

It is recommended that you bring a water bottle, snacks and clothing and footwear appropriate to the weather conditions and the activities you are planning to participate in.

It is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. Orientation Week is a great way to make friends, learn about student services, and get a good sense of campus communities. It is a week filled with fun activities and the perfect way to start your time at York.

Orientation Week at York University is a completely dry event.

SLACK

OPEN TO ALL INCOMING STUDENTS!

Connect with other new students, get your questions answered, and learn more about life at YorkU.

Connect with us!

INSTAGRAM

All the student life you handle at YorkU. Stories, successes, events and activities form orientation to graduation, and everything in between.

DISCORD

OPEN TO ALL SOCIAL ORIENTATION WEEK PARTICIPANTS!

Build community and meet your peers by joining our Discord.

Join us!

EMAIL

Got general new student questions? Email our New Student Transition Team.

Email us

Toronto Area Campuses

Keele

Keele Campus offers a vibrant and welcoming, large-scale campus experience for over 52,000 students, as well as faculty, staff, partners and the surrounding community.

Learn More

Glendon

Schedule

Lassonde

The Lassonde School of Engineering is the professional engineering school of York University.

Social Media:

IG: @lassondeweekzero

TikTok: @lassondeweekzero

Get Tickets

Schedule

McLaughlin

Affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, McLaughlin College serves students in many programs, primarily in Criminology, Law, Political Science & Public Policy.

Social Media:

IG: @mclaughlincollegecouncil

IG: @mac_oweek

Get Tickets

Schedule

New College

Affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, New College serves students in many programs, primarily in Administrative Studies,

HR Management & IT, as well as the BComm program.

Social Media:

IG: @newcollegeyu

IG: @newcollegefrosh

TikTok: @newcollegeyu

Get Tickets

Schedule

Schulich

The Schulich School of Business is the business school of York University.

Social Media:

IG: @schulichubs

IG: @schulichoweek

Get Tickets

Schedule

Stong

Stong College is affiliated with the Faculty of Health, serving students from Kinesiology & Health Science, and Nursing.

Social Media:

IG: @stongoweek24

TikTok: @stongcollege

Get Tickets

Schedule

Vanier

Affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Vanier College serves students in many programs, primarily in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Social Media:

IG: @vaniercollegecouncil

IG: @vanieroweek

TikTok: @vaniercollegecouncil

Get Tickets

Schedule

Winters

Winters College is affiliated with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, as well as the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Educational Studies.

Social Media:

IG: @winterscouncil

IG: @yeoldewinters

Get Tickets

Schedule

New Markham

Have any questions about finding your O-Week or anything related to transition and orientation? Contact us at newstudent@yorku.ca

Social Media:

IG: @yorkumarkham

Explore Markham Campus Orientation

Sample Orientation 2024 Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Social

SLACK

INSTAGRAM

DISCORD

EMAIL

Toronto Area Campuses

Keele

Glendon

Markham

Find Your O-Week

Bethune

Calumet

Founders

Glendon

Lassonde

McLaughlin

New College

Schulich

Stong

Vanier

Winters

*New* Markham

Connect with Student Community & Leadership Development

New Markham