Schools 1st Year Physics - Canadian Universities

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Canadian students seeking to fulfill undergraduate physics requirements for professional programs should consider the uniformity of first-year physics courses across universities in the Toronto area. While perceptions of difficulty vary, many students report that the challenges faced in these courses are similar regardless of the institution. For those concerned about maintaining a strong GPA, it is suggested that hard work and preparation are essential, as there is no guaranteed "easy" option. At the University of Toronto, non-calculus based physics may be a viable alternative, and summer courses, particularly at UTM, are noted to be less demanding. Overall, students are encouraged to focus on their study habits rather than relying solely on institutional reputation for easier coursework.
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Hello all!

I was just wondering if the Canadian students here can give me some insight.
I already have my BSc. from U of T, but for application purposes to another professional program, I need to take 1 year undergrad physics with lab. (I didn't take it during my BSc. undergrad). I heard U of T has a VERY hard first year course and that's why I didn't end up taking it.

I was wondering if people from different toronto area universities (york, ryerson etc.) can give me insight into how hard the 1st year courses are and which would be easiest to make sure my GPA doesn't fall. (difficulty of material, quality of professors/TA, assistance if needed etc.)
Please take note that I was a Human Bio/Health Science major so I'm one of "those" : )

Basically which would be most helpful.

THANK YOU!
 
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First year physics courses are pretty uniform - especially in Canada. There are lots of students who will tell you that it's way harder at school A (usually those are the ones that didn't get a great mark at school A). And for first year courses, the professors change quite frequently, so there isn't much point in making a targeted decision.

If you're looking for an easy path to a good mark, the best advice I can give is to assume there isn't one and study hard.
 
At UT you can take non-calculus based physics, which isn't too bad. Depending on what you need it for, it might suffice. The calc based on is on par with most other schools in terms of difficulty, but the labs are a pain. You can also opt to take them in the summer, where the courses are usually easier. I believe both are offered in the summer.

Also, UTM has a very easy summer course for life sci physics.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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