University of Toronto Rotman Commerce: The Definitive Guide for Applicants (2023)

This guide is for you if you’re thinking about applying to the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce. 

As a potential applicant, you’re probably overwhelmed by the amount of information out there. 

That’s why we created this guide. 

We’ll break down everything you need to know about the Rotman Commerce program, including the supplemental application/interview, courses, tuition, and much more —all in one place. 

By the way, if you’re serious about getting into Rotman Commerce, our 1-on-1 Youth Coaching services will help you become a stronger applicant, student, and leader. We work on things like improving skills, building self-awareness, and achieving big goals, so you can maximize your post-secondary potential.

Looking for specific guidance on the Rotman Commerce Supp App and video interview? Check out our Rotman Commerce App Prep Guide for interview question breakdowns, templates, examples, and more!

Table of Contents: 

1. Admissions Process: Application criteria; Admission requirements; Acceptance rate; and More.
2. Supplemental Application: Application overview; Question template and examples; Interview tips; and More. 
3. About the Program: Guaranteed Admission (GA); Specialists; Tuition; Internships; Study abroad programs; Scholarships and awards; and More.
4. Common Questions from Students: What are the classes like?; How do I choose a specialist?; Is Rotman hard?; and More. 

U of T Rotman Commerce Requirements & Admissions Process

The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) is a four-year program offered jointly by U of T’s Rotman School of Management and the Faculty of Arts & Science. 

As a student of Rotman Commerce, students gain the tools, knowledge, and experience needed for a bright future in business, accounting, investment banking, and more. 

From day one, students learn a foundation in economics, which informs their understanding of business theory. The program teaches its students how to become innovative leaders and engaged citizens who contribute to the success of organizations in Canada and around the world. 

Rotman U of T – Application Criteria & How to Apply 

All prospective students must submit an application to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science at the St. George (downtown Toronto) campus via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website. 

The OUAC application opens in October 2022 and the final date to submit it is January 12, 2023. 

Here are the different OUAC applications, so you can make sure you choose the one that’s right for you: 

• 101 Application: For Ontario high school students. 
• 105 Application: For Canadian or international students who are not currently enrolled at an Ontario high school, and want to apply to more than one university in Ontario.  
• International Application: For applicants who live outside of Canada, are not currently studying in Canada (or haven’t studied in Canada before), and are not applying to any other Ontario university. 

REMEMBER: All applicants must apply to U of T, select the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at the St. George Campus, and then choose Rotman Commerce from the program list (the Rotman Commerce Admission Code is TAC).

IMPORTANT: Submitting your application to U of T for early consideration as an OUAC 101 applicant will NOT impact the admission decision or give you a better chance of getting accepted. The only difference is that if you are accepted, you might receive an admission decision earlier than someone who applied for regular consideration. Click here to learn more and if you have questions, connect with a coach any time for support.

Around 1-2 weeks after you’ve submitted your OUAC application, you’ll receive an email from U of T confirming that they received your application and telling you how to log on to JOIN U of T. 

In addition to your OUAC application, all Rotman Commerce applicants must submit a Supplemental Application, which is available through JOIN U of T. 

The Supplemental Application is completed through a third-party site. Keep reading to learn more about the Rotman Commerce (and check out our comprehensive Rotman Supp App Prep Guide). 

The deadline for the 2022/2023 Rotman Commerce Supp App (i.e. for students starting the program in Fall 2023) is February 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST. Find other important dates and deadlines here.

For more information about applying to the University of Toronto via OUAC, visit this page.

Rotman Commerce Admission Requirements 

If you are applying as an Ontario student, here are the academic/course requirements for the Rotman Commerce BCom programs:

If you are not an Ontario student, check out these pages for the admission requirements: 

• Outside Ontario High School Students (OUAC 105): Find the equivalent requirements here. 
• US Students: Find the equivalent requirements here. 
• International Students: Find the equivalent requirements here.

For more information on Rotman’s academic requirements, visit this page. 

You might be wondering how the University of Toronto uses these academic requirements in their evaluation of applicants. 

When you apply to the University of Toronto, your application is considered following these steps:

For more information on admission requirements and process, visit this page under the ‘How You Application is Considered’ Header.

Rotman Commerce Admission Average 

Rotman will use your top 6 Grade 12 U/M courses to determine your admission average. 

For Ontario Applicants (OUAC 101), Rotman Commerce says that mid-high 80s is the minimum average to get into the BCom program (and into U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science more generally). 

In their 2020/2021 Employment Report, Rotman says that the mean average of students entering the program is 92%. 

This means that, if you want to be competitive, you should have an average at least in the low 90s. 

So, even if you reach the minimum average cut-off in the mid/high 80s, your average might not be competitive with other applicants, and it’s still possible that you won’t get in. 

This is where the Supplemental Application becomes REALLY important.

Why? Even if you don’t have a low 90s average, if you ace the written/video interview questions, your application will be pushed into the competitive zone and you could beat out someone with a super high average but a not-so-good Supp App. 

In this way, the Supplemental Application could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. Keep reading to learn more about the Supplemental Application. To learn how you can use it to make your application more competitive, connect with a coach now. 

Rotman Commerce Acceptance Rate & Number of Applicants 

A lot of students are curious about the Rotman acceptance rate. 

Rotman Commerce receives approximately 7,000+ applications each year and has around 500 spots available for the Year 1 class.

This means that the Rotman Commerce acceptance rate is 7%.

However, when determining the acceptance rate, it’s also important to remember that even though there are 7,000+ applicants, the Rotman Commerce cut-off is around mid/high 80s and a lot of students included in the 7,000 don’t meet this requirement. 

This makes the acceptance rate a bit higher than 7%, probably around 12%-15% if you meet all the requirements. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that students also reject Rotman Commerce’s admission offer, so this opens up spots to other applicants since the program has to fill the total 500 spaces. This increases the acceptance rate even more.

While an exact acceptance rate is a bit tough to calculate, if you meet all the admissions requirements and ace the Supp App, then you have a significantly better chance of getting into the program (keep reading to learn how to do a standout interview and check out our Rotman App Prep Guide).

Rotman Commerce Acceptance Dates

Rotman Commerce evaluates all applicants in the spring of every year, and then sends out most of its offers in late February – March to OUAC 101 and OUAC105 students. If you applied for early admission, you will likely hear sooner than this. 

REMEMBER: As mentioned above, submitting your application to U of T for early consideration as an OUAC 101 applicant will NOT impact the admission decision or give you a better chance of getting accepted. The only difference is that if you are accepted, you might receive an admission decision earlier than someone who applied for regular consideration. Click here to learn more information, and if you have questions, connect with a coach any time for support.

As mentioned above, some people actually reject Rotman’s offer, so after this late February – March offer round, Rotman usually sends out some more acceptance letters to ensure that they reach the full 500 students for the incoming class. These letters could arrive as late as mid/late April or May, so if you don’t hear right away, don’t panic!

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Rotman Commerce Supplemental Application 

Rotman Supplemental Application – Overview

In addition to the OUAC application, all prospective Rotman Commerce students must submit a mandatory Supplemental Application, which is an interview with a series of written and video questions. 

Once you submit the OUAC application, Rotman will send an email with a link to sign into the JOIN U of T website, along with the credentials for the JOINid. From there, you can access the JOIN U of T portal (you’ll see the Supp App under the “Required Documents” section). 

Click here for a full walkthrough of how to access and submit your Supp App.

For more information about the Rotman Supplemental Application, visit this page.

Rotman Supplemental Application – Interview Questions 

The Rotman Commerce Supplemental Application has 3 written questions and 2 video questions.

Here’s a quick breakdown: 

• 1 anti-plagiarism acknowledgement written question
• 1 set written question
• 1 set video question
• 2 random written questions
• 1 random video question

Each question must be completed within a specific amount of time, and the written questions have a character limit (learn more here). 

The good news? You will be given some of the questions in advance when you check in through the JOIN U of T portal. Just put in your login information, click the “Check Your Application Status” button, and you’ll see the questions under the “Structure and Content” header on the next page (above the “Check In” button). 

Here are questions from the Rotman Commerce 2022/2023 Supplemental Application (i.e. for students starting the program in Fall 2023): 

• Question 1 (Written): Plagiarism Statement 
• Question 2 (Written): Please list two activities which you spent a significant amount of time on outside of class. Focus on activities from the last 4 years – they can be any kind of pursuit, including sports, clubs, employment, volunteer activities, research activities, or hobbies. For each activity, provide the following information: 
  1. Briefly describe what you did,
  2. State how long you were involved in the activity (in months or years)
  3. If applicable, list any achievements, awards, leadership positions, etc. that you consider noteworthy. Use approximately 75 words for each activity.
• Question 3 (Video): Briefly introduce yourself, Tell us about one thing you are passionate about, and Describe what unique perspectives or experiences you will bring to the Rotman Commerce community. 
• Question 4-6 (Written/Video): These are randomly generated written/video responses. Unlike questions 1-3, you won’t know what the question is until you’re doing the interview. 

To help you prepare for the interview, check out Youthfully’s Rotman Commerce App Prep Guide. We go through every single question and give you answer templates and examples, as well as helpful prep tips and strategies. Trust us, this will be key as you prep for your Rotman interview. 

If you are a bit nervous about doing an interview, that’s TOTALLY normal. Most students haven’t been taught how to do effective interviews and communicate their interests, skills, goals, and experiences. That’s why we created a comprehensive Interview Prep Guide, where we go through all stages of the interview process. This Guide will help you ace those random written/video questions using our unique and effective interview prep strategy (check it out here).

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Rotman Supplemental Application – Evaluation & What is Rotman Looking For? 

You might be wondering why you have to submit a Supplemental Application and do the interview. 

Just remember that the Rotman BCom admission committee only knows your surface level information, like your name and high school grades — they know nothing about who you are as a person, where you come from, and how your experiences have shaped your personality, interests, skills, and goals. 

The Supplemental Application gives them the chance to go beyond grades and learn all of the things that make you, you. 

Use this interview to show your leadership skills, community involvement, and overall potential. This is your chance to make a lasting first impression and prove that you’re a perfect fit for the program. 

As mentioned above, the Supplemental Application can mean the difference between getting in the program or not. 

If you have an admission average in the mid/high 80s, this means that your application might not be as competitive as those with higher grades (the mean average for students last year was 93%). 

However, if you ace your written/video interview questions, you will make your application more competitive and the lower admission average might matter a little bit less. And, even if your average is high, a solid Supp App can secure your position in the program even more.  

This is why it’s REALLY important to spend a lot of time preparing for your written/video questions and improving your interviewing skills. You need to prepare answers that show you have developed important skills like communication, critical thinking, problem solving, staying calm under pressure, and being the leader that Rotman is looking for. 

This might seem easier said than done, but don’t worry — we’ve got your back! If you want to take your interview prep to the next level, connect with a coach to do some mock interviews, prepare your interview questions, and more. Many of our coaches are Rotman alumni and have helped hundreds of students ace this interview and make their application more competitive. 

Rotman Supplemental Application – Examples and Templates 

No matter what questions you get during the Rotman Commerce interview, you need to make sure that you effectively communicate your interests, experiences, skills, and goals. 

How can you do this? By telling a memorable story that connects with the audience on an emotional level and emphasizes character development and learning outcomes. 

To help you do this, we developed an effective storytelling structure called the Narrative Communication Approach™. This approach uses 5 components (Hook, Context, Catalyst, Outcome, Reflection) to showcase your unique experiences, skills, and interests in all your application questions so you can stand out from the crowd. All of our templates and examples follow this structure. 

Here’s a sample answer for the question, “You win the lottery and are awarded $1 million. What do you do with the money?What would you do with 1 million dollars?”.  

In this video, Youthfully coach, Marina, will go through her answer and tell you exactly how to prepare for random questions like this, so you can ace them during your interview.  

For templates and examples for all 6 Rotman written/video questions, check out our Rotman Commerce Supp App Prep Guide. This comprehensive guide will show you how to create memorable, unique, and authentic answers so you can stand out from the crowd and improve your chances of admission. 

Rotman Supplemental Application – Interview Prep Tips 

Many students ask us for tips for the Rotman Commerce Supplemental Application questions.

Here are the ones we think will help you the most:

• Always answer the entire question.
• Prepare common themes that you can talk about, so you’ll be prepared for any question that comes up (learn more about how to do this in our Interview Skills Guide). 
• Pay special attention to your physical, vocal, and mental cues during the interview (learn more about these here).
• Take your time when answering and don’t speak too quickly. 
• Be clear and concise.
• Be professional but remember to have fun and show your unique personality.
• Focus on highlighting experiences, learning outcomes, skills, and focus on the future.

For more interview tips and strategies, check out our Rotman Commerce App Prep Guide and connect with a coach to become an interview pro.

Ace your Rotman Commerce Supp App.

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Victor

Rotman BCom
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About the U of T Rotman Commerce Program 

Rotman Commerce – Guaranteed Admission

Did you know that, once you’re accepted into the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science, you AREN’T actually admitted into the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)?

Instead, you will have Guaranteed Admission (GA) to the Rotman Commerce program. Then, at the end of your first year, you must apply to officially enter the program beginning in your second year. 

This is one of the biggest surprises to students after they’ve received their acceptance letter from the University of Toronto.

Don’t worry too much, though. Your place in Rotman Commerce is guaranteed, as long as you meet these all of these GA requirements:

• Complete RSM100H, Introduction to Management, with a mark of 67% or more.
• Complete ECO101H, Principles of Microeconomics, and ECO102H, Principles of Macroeconomics, each with a mark of 63% or more in each course. Remember that ECO101H is a prerequisite for ECO102H.
• Complete MAT133Y, Calculus and Linear Algebra for Commerce (with a mark of 63% or more) OR MAT135H1 with a final mark of 60% or more) AND MAT136H1 with a final mark of at least 60%; OR MAT137Y1 with a final mark of at least 55%; or MAT157Y1 with a final mark of at least 55%.
• Accumulate a minimum of 4.0 credits.

REMEMBER: No matter what program you’re studying, you need 20 credits to graduate. At the University of Toronto, 1 credit is one FULL year (i.e. 2 semester) course, and a 0.5 credit is a HALF year (i.e. 1 semester) course.

COACH’S TIP: Many students have told their Youth Coaches™ that the GA requirements were much harder to meet than they originally thought. Students seem to struggle the most with ECO101 and ECO102, just because these are usually some of the first courses they’re taking at university and the material can be tough to understand. They also tell us that MAT133 is not so bad if you did Calculus in high school, while RSM100 is a course that requires a ton of memorization, which is tough for some. Our Youth Coaches™ have graduated from Rotman Commerce and they can help you learn the tools and skills you need to do well in this program, right from your first day. Connect with us to learn more. 

If you fail the required courses in your first try, you’ll be able to take it again over the summer. If you pass it the second time, you will be admitted into the Rotman Commerce program. You can only redo a course once.

For more information about Guaranteed Admission into the Rotman Commerce program, visit this page. 

Rotman Commerce Specialists and Focus Areas 

The Rotman Commerce BCom program offers 3 Specialists that can help you build a strong foundation so that you’re prepared for a wide range of careers. 

Once admitted into the program, you will choose an 1 Specialist and then a Focus area, which is a field of study within that Specialist. 

You must choose your Specialist at the end of your first year (once you meet the requirements for Guaranteed Admission, see this section above). When doing this, you’ll also choose your electives based on your Focus. 

For each Focus, students must complete specific courses to help them become experts in that area. Once the requirements are completed, the Focus designation will be shown on your final transcript.

REMEMBER: A Focus requires 2.5-3.0 credits each. This equals 5-6, 1-semester courses. Keep reading for a full breakdown of courses and other requirements.

Here are the 3 Rotman Commerce Specialists:  

1. ROTMAN COMMERCE – SPECIALIST IN MANAGEMENT 

The Specialist in Management covers a wide range of topics that teaches students about many areas of business. 

This Specialist is ideal for someone who wants a broader management education to get them prepared for a range of careers across various industries, like marketing, sales, finance, etc. 

Many students like this Specialist because it’s so flexible, and they can pursue a Minor or second Major in other fields in the Faculty of Arts & Science. This is great if you have interests in areas other than business, like history, anthropology, or psychology.  

This Specialist in Management teaches key business subdisciplines while also gaining expertise in their particular area of interest. 

Within this Specialist, students can choose 1 of these Focus areas:

• Finance 
• Financial Statement Analysis 
• International Business 
• Leadership in Organizations 
• Marketing 
• Strategy and Innovation 
• Data Science in Business

The Specialist in Management is good for students who are considering careers in: consulting, sales, marketing, banking, entrepreneurism, administration, strategy operations, human resources, and more.

Based on statistics posted by Rotman Commerce, 22% of students are enrolled in the Specialist in Management.

To learn more about the Specialist in Management, including an overview and required courses, visit this page

2. ROTMAN COMMERCE – SPECIALIST IN FINANCE & ECONOMICS 

The Specialist in Finance & Economics is for students who want to develop a deep understanding of the finance discipline and take advanced courses in this area. This Specialist is a good choice if you plan on pursuing graduate studies or a career in finance/economics, like capital markets and financial services.

You probably noticed that the Specialist in Management has a Focus in Finance, and you might be wondering what the difference between the Focus and the Specialist is.

The Specialist in Finance & Economics offers a more rigorous and in-depth combination of both than the Finance Focus in the Management Specialist, which gives more of a broad overview and sets the foundation for this area. 

The Specialist in Finance & Economics will teach you about subjects like Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Financial Markets in your first year, and then you will take upper courses that teach you about specialized areas like Capital Market Theory, Corporate Finance, and Strategic Management. 

Based on statistics posted by Rotman Commerce, 50% of students are enrolled in the Specialist in Finance and Economics. 

For more information about the Specialist in Finance & Economics, visit this page.

COACH’S TIP: The Finance &  Economics Specialist is typically the most competitive Specialist in the program. The courses are super focused on mathematics with models and they require an in-depth understanding of things like how the market works, equity, etc. If understanding advanced finance concepts like financial distress, the Black Scholes model, etc. are interesting to you, then this is the stream for you. If it isn’t, then this Specialist might seem challenging and tedious.

3. ROTMAN COMMERCE – SPECIALIST IN ACCOUNTING

The Specialist in Accounting is for students who want an in-depth accounting education to pursue a career as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or another accounting/finance focused job. 

You will develop expertise in the core accounting areas of financial and managerial accounting, taxation, and audit, while also studying various sub-disciplines so that you’re prepared to work in many types of business environments. 

This Specialist provides all the requirements for students to continue into the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (GDipPA) or the CPA PEP Education program, and to ultimately obtain their CPA designation (you must complete additional requirements beyond the BCom requirements after you complete the program to achieve this professional designation, keep reading to learn more). 

In the Specialist in Accounting, there are 2 Focus areas to choose from: 

• Public Accounting 
• Financial Reporting and Control 

Based on statistics posted by Rotman Commerce, 28% of students are enrolled in the Specialist in Accounting.

For more information about the Specialist in Accounting, visit this page. 

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Rotman Commerce Course Offerings 

The courses you take in your first year at Rotman are designed to give you a strong foundation in business fundamentals and give you the tools you need to progress through the program into upper years. 

Here are the required courses for Year 1, all of which are requirements for the Guaranteed Admission to Rotman Commerce after Year 1:

• RSM100H Introduction to Management 
• ECO101H Principles of Microeconomics
• ECO102H Principles of Macroeconomics
• MAT133Y Calculus and Linear Algebra OR MAT135H1 AND MAT136H1; OR MAT137Y1; OR MAT157Y1.

Rotman also recommends that students take three other courses (RSM219H Introduction to Financial Accounting; RSM230H Financial Markets; and RSM250H Principles of Marketing) to help you identify your interests and decide on a Specialist. 

For Years 2-4, the courses you take depend on your chosen Specialist in Management, Accounting, or Finance and Economics. 

Every Specialist has different course requirements, electives, and optional electives. 

Here is a complete list of courses you will take for each Specialist, as well as a sample of course progression through Years 1-4:

• Specialist in Management
• Specialist in Accounting
• Specialist in Finance and Economics 

REMEMBER: In addition to the BCom courses, Rotman students must also take Breadth Requirement courses. U of T requires every student to take these courses (regardless of what program they’re in) so that they take courses across many different disciplines in the Faculty of Arts & Science. Rotman students must have at least 1.0 credit in each of Categories 2, 3, and 5. Learn more about U of T’s Breadth Requirement here. 

For a full list of the courses, including course descriptions, syllabi, requirements, and more, visit this page.

Rotman Commerce Ranking 

The Rotman School of Management is the leading business school in Canada (graduate studies), while the Faculty of Arts & Science has Canada’s top-ranked economics department. 

Rotman Commerce is also a top-ranked program in Canada, along with programs like Queen’s Commerce, UBC Commerce, and York Schulich.

With over 16,000 Rotman Commerce alumni, 90% of which get employed within 9 months of graduation, Rotman is a great choice for anyone who’s ready to achieve a rewarding career in all areas of business.

Rotman School of Management, Photographer: Tom Arban; image credit

Rotman Commerce Undergrad Tuition 

Like many programs at the University of Toronto, tuition is a bit less expensive in the first year, and more expensive in upper years. 

Rotman Commerce – Year 1 Tuition

In your first year, students can expect to pay the same tuition as all other Arts & Science students because they do not officially enter the program until their second year (see the section above about Guaranteed Admission). 

In addition to the base tuition fee, students must also pay mandatory incidental, system access, and ancillary fees (and UHIP fees if applicable). These additional fees cost about $1,800-$2,000 in addition to tuition. 

On top of these fees, you should also add other costs like housing/residence, food, transportation, textbooks, parking, University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), etc. to you budget. This can equal approximately $20,000 or more (if you are in residence).

Here are some approximate Year 1 for students in the Faculty of Arts & Science:

REMEMBER: Tuition prices will also depend on which U of T College you’re enrolled in as well as your course load and full/part time status. 

Rotman Commerce – Upper Years Tuition

From your Years 2-4, Rotman Commerce students pay a set full-time program fee for a full-time course load.

As mentioned on their program page, Rotman has deregulated tuition fees that are higher than regular Arts & Science fees…so get ready to pay a bit more. Students will pay these fees until they complete all the requirements of the BCom program. 

Here are some approximate tuition fees for Years 2-4:

• Domestic: ~$17,568.70 (depending on college)
• International: ~$68,534

Just as in the Year 1 costs, other costs like incidental/ancillary fees, housing, food, transportation, textbooks, parking, University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), etc. are in addition to the program fee and can cost around $20,000 or more extra. 

Check out U of T’s planning and budgeting tool here and for a comprehensive list of other fees, visit this page and this page.

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Rotman Commerce Scholarships and Awards

Even though the tuition and fees might seem overwhelming, the University of Toronto has over 4,400 admission scholarships and 5,900 in-course scholarships that you can wn to help with these high costs. 

For a full list of scholarships at the University of Toronto, visit this page.

COACH’S TIP: When you’re searching the above page, make sure you put in the keyword “commerce” and look for awards that are offered by your specific college (e.g. Woodsworth, Innis, St. Michael’s, etc.). This will help narrow down the eligibility criteria a bit (and give you a better chance at winning).

When you submit your OUAC application, you’ll automatically be considered for a number of admissions awards. 

For other scholars and awards, applicants must complete a University of Toronto Awards Profile, as well as a separate application (if applicable to that specific scholarship). The Profile can be completed on the JOIN U of T portal.

There are also a few awards that are for Rotman Commerce students only. Here’s the full list: 

• Peter P. Copses and Judith V. Mueller 1980 Commerce Scholarship; Value $10,000
• Allen X. Ma Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership; Value $2,500
• Kong Ming Lee and Yip On Lee Memorial Scholarship; Value $900-$4,000
• Donald S. McKeracher Scholarship in Rotman Commerce; Value $1,000
• Frank Wiliam Moore Scholarship in Rotman Commerce; Value TBD
• The Fred Vanvleet Scholarship; Value $57,800 over 4 years + $1,000 for books annually

For information about Rotman Commerce specific awards and a breakdown of how to apply, click here. 

Did you know that we’ve helped our students win more than $5 million in scholarships?! Connect with a coach to get the full list of scholarships for Rotman and learn how you can get some of this cash for yourself 🙂

Rotman Commerce Clubs & Student Life

Beyond academics, Rotman and the University of Toronto offer a lot in terms of clubs and extracurriculars. 

Whatever your interests are, there’s an abundance of clubs and activities for everyone. 

Every year near the start of the year, the University of Toronto hosts a club fair where students can interact with various clubs and explore interests and make connections. 

Rotman itself hosts its own student groups, designed to enhance career opportunities and to help students explore more of the business fields. These student groups are typically led by upper year Rotman students, and getting an executive position at one of these clubs can add tremendous value to a resume in job searches.

COACH’S TIP: In first year, it is important to make friends or join some clubs within the first few weeks. While the campus is at first vibrant and bustling during orientation week and into fall, as the season changes into winter, the campus can start to feel more isolated and desolate. Having friends to hang out with and study with during that time tends to be key in maintaining good mental health and a great university experience.

For a full list of Student Groups and Academic Associations available to Rotman students, visit this page.

In terms of activities to do outside of school, Toronto has a lot to offer. One of the major perks of going to Rotman Commerce is the pristine location in the heart of downtown Toronto. 

Whether you’re into arts, science, or sports, there’s always something going on in the city. Students often enjoy free or discounted tickets at most attractions, so be sure to check out the many museums and art galleries that Toronto has to offer. Toronto is also home to some amazing sports teams, including the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays. At Rotman Commerce, there’s always something fun to do during a study break. 

Want to learn more about what it’s like to be a student at Rotman Commerce? Many of our Youth Coaches are alumni of the program and would be happy to share their experiences and help you apply to this top-ranked program. 

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Rotman Commerce Internships and Employment 

As a Rotman Commerce student, you’ll have access to dozens of internships, summer placements, and part-time/full-time opportunities at hundreds of well-known companies (see some of them here). 

All 3 Specialists (discussed above) prepare students with the expertise and experience they need to excel in various types of roles in many different industries. 

An internship is a great way to get your foot in the door, learn real-world skills, and gain valuable experience to help you get a job when you graduate (a lot of Rotman students get hired for jobs at the same companies they did their internship at). 

Rotman advertises internship opportunities in September each year in the Rotman Commerce Portal.  

Usually, an application consists of a resume and cover letter, and then if selected you will do an interview with the company for the position. 

These interviews can be highly competitive, which is why we’ve developed a comprehensive Interview Skills Guide to ace every step of the interview process before, during, and after the interview.

Our Youth Coaches™ have also helped hundreds of students get their dream jobs and internships by creating standout resumes and cover letters, preparing them for potential questions, doing mock interviews, and more. If you’re thinking about applying for an internship or employment opportunity, connect with a coach to get started on a memorable application.  

Rotman Commerce Study Abroad and Exchange Program 

As a student at Rotman Commerce, you’ll have the opportunity to go on exchange in your third year for a semester or full year, or you can take one of U of T’s 3-6 week courses through the Summer Abroad Program.

Rotman Commerce has 130 partner institutions in over 40 countries, with some extremely reputable and established schools in every country. If you’ve ever wanted a chance to travel abroad and study in another country, Rotman offers the flexibility to not delay your degree while you experience living and studying in a foreign environment.

As a part of this program, you can earn credits towards your BCom degree while gaining invaluable academic and professional experience. 

Students going on exchange usually get an arrangement for houses, and they just have to pay the normal tuition plus living expenses like food, travel to the destination, etc.

For more information about these opportunities, visit this page and find out how to apply here.

Rotman Commerce Contacts

Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone with questions or concerns about the program, student life, or extracurricular opportunities. 

If you ever need to contact Rotman Commerce directly, please use the information below:

Email: 

• General inquiries: rotmancommerce.info@utoronto.ca 
• Career services and portal questions: rotmancommerce.careers@utoronto.ca
• Admissions questions: rotmancommerce.utoronto.ca/inbox 

Phone: 

• General inquiries: 416-978-3339

Rotman Commerce Graduate Studies and Professional Designations

The Rotman School of Management offers business-related graduate business programs and professional designation programs to those who wish to continue their education after the BCom program. 

ROTMAN COMMERCE GRADUATE PROGRAMS 

There are graduate programs in the 3 Specialist areas mentioned above. They are: 

• Finance: 
  • Master of Finance (MF), Rotman School of Management 
  • Master of Financial Risk Management (MFRM), Rotman School of Management 
• Accounting:
  • Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (GDipPA), Rotman School of Management 
  • Master of Management & Professional Accounting (MMPA), University of Toronto Mississauga, Institute for Management and Innovation
• Management:
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), Rotman School of Management
  • Master of Management Analytics (MMA), Rotman School of Management 
  • Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM), University of Toronto Mississauga, Institute for Management and Innovation

To learn more about each graduate program, visit this page. 

ROTMAN COMMERCE PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

After completing the requirements for the Bachelor of Commerce program, many students choose to complete a professional designation to further their skills in a particular area. 

For those who completed the Rotman Commerce Specialist in Accounting or Specialist in Finance and Economics, continuing on to a professional designation like a CPA might be a natural step towards their career goals. 

Here are the professional designations at Rotman:

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Designation
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation 

There are various paths you can take to completing the CPA after you complete the BCom.

For example, many students apply for the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (GDipPA) course, which is a 12-week summer program that speeds up the process of getting the CPA by about one year.

To learn more about professional designations, visit this page and connect with a coach now.

Rotman Commerce – A Day in the Life

To see what Rotman Commerce is really like, check out this video by one of our Youthfully Insiders:

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Common Questions From Students About Rotman U of T

Here are some of the top questions our Youth Coaches™ get from students about the Rotman Commerce program and life as a BCom student. 

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES AT ROTMAN LIKE?

Rotman Commerce blends various styles of learning, including lectures, case studies, group projects, guest speakers, etc. This ensures that students are able to build a solid foundation in all areas of business, while building key still and adapting to different learning environments. 

Upper year courses are capped at 55 students so that there’s the opportunity for discussion and the exploration of various subjects of interest,

Students are also evaluated in classes in different ways, like group projects, essays, tests, exams, interviews, and presentations. This will help build various skills that students can take with them as they start their careers. 

WHAT IS ROTMAN COMMERCE KNOWN FOR?

Rotman Commerce is known as one of Canada’s premier business programs. 

In terms of location, alumni and career network, Rotman is unmatched in opportunities. Many Rotman Commerce students are able to land dream jobs in finance, accounting, sales, law, and a plethora of other career paths. 

The community, networking opportunities, and overall strength of the program at Rotman Commerce are world-class for an undergraduate program, and will help prepare you for your dream career in the future.

IS ROTMAN COMMERCE HARD?

As an extremely competitive undergraduate program, Rotman Commerce is definitely not an easy program. 

As with most university level programs, there is a noticeable step up in difficulty between Rotman Commerce and high-school classes that you may be used to. 

In particular, students often struggle with the economics core course requirements, ECO101 and ECO102, as it is often not something that they are used to studying. 

However, with the right mindset, approach to studying, and a Youthfully mentor to help you succeed, any student can graduate from Rotman Commerce with confidence and a stellar GPA.

HOW DO I CHOOSE BETWEEN THE 3 SPECIALISTS?

While it might seem like a daunting decision to make, luckily this isn’t a choice that you’ll have to make right away. 

Rotman will give you a taste of what each specialization focuses on in first-year, with core courses allowing you to understand a bit more about each one and some of the concepts that you’ll be learning more about. 

Typically during this time, students find that they will lean towards one specialization more than another. For example, if you like economics, you may want to pursue a finance and economics specialization. 

If you’re still unsure by the end of first year, guidance counsellors are available to help walk you through the pros and cons of each specialization. 

Luckily, these specializations aren’t set in stone. There’s typically great overlap between requirements in the specializations, and if you find that the path you chose isn’t for you, you can typically switch out without much hindrance on graduation timing. 

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For over a decade, we have worked with thousands of students to help them achieve more than they ever thought possible. 

Our coaches have a strong success rate supporting students as they apply to U of T Rotman Commerce, among other top university programs.

 Our 1-on-1 Youth Coaching fills that gap that most high schools miss. We can help you build self-awareness through probing questions and assessments, set bigger goals to elevate your extracurriculars and future career plans, and improve skills that matter on supplementary applications, such as interviewing, written communication, critical thinking, and creativity. 

We use a coaching methodology, called ‘full student’ development, that’s been proven to increase your chances of admission to top-tier universities and obtaining competitive jobs/internships. 

So, what are you waiting for? Fulfill your post-secondary potential with the mentorship and coaching you’ve always wanted! 🙂

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