(4-minute read)
August 2025
By L. Lara, Family Care Programming Assistant, Family Care Office, University of Toronto
When I arrived in Toronto to begin my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), I wasn’t just coming as a student — I was also arriving as a mother and a partner. My husband and I had planned carefully, bringing all the necessary documents from home: translated vaccination records, school reports, a translated birth certificate, passports, and a study permit for our daughter. Still, despite all our preparation, we weren’t sure how enrolling her in school would actually work once we got here.
I reached out to the Family Care Office (FCO) to ask the question that many parents wonder: Do I just show up at a school? Are there any fees to consider? Do kids wear uniforms? What supplies do I need? They sent me a helpful link with information for international families registering for school. They recommended I find our designated public school using the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)’s School Finder tool and visit in person. The school associated with our address was within walking distance of our home.
There, we learned something we hadn’t anticipated: although I am a student, it was actually better to register our daughter under my husband’s open work permit. Otherwise, I could have done so by obtaining a letter of enrolment from my University of Toronto (U of T) department. With the guidance of the amazing staff at my daughter’s school — and thanks to tips from the FCO — we were able to register her that same day. Since we had brought everything with us — including proof of our address in Toronto (our lease agreement) — the process was much quicker than expected.
She was placed in Grade 3 and started school just a few days later. It was her first time in a new country, speaking a new language, surrounded by new classmates. I still admire her courage. And as it turned out, we didn’t have to pay any school fees. That was an incredible relief, especially with the financial pressures of studying abroad.
If you’re preparing to enroll your child, here are some helpful links:
You can also book an appointment with a peer mentor (like me) or connect with an FCO advisor if you still have questions.
A year later, my daughter has just finished Grade 3. She’s made close friends, and so have we — among classmates, families, and neighbours at University Family Housing. Although she arrived with limited English, she picked it up remarkably fast, thanks to the support of her teacher, her classmates, and the inclusive environment at school. We came here for school, but we found something more: a community that has truly supported our journey.