Frequently Asked Questions

All graduate students are automatically members.

All full-time and part-time graduate students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are automatically members of the TMGSU upon enrollment. Your membership is part of the graduate student experience and ensures that you have access to all of our services, including health and dental coverage, legal aid, travel grants, and social events. There’s no need to sign up, your student fees already include your membership.

Membership is included in your student fees.

No additional payment is required to become a member. A portion of your student fees each semester goes directly toward TMGSU initiatives, services, and events. These fees allow us to maintain valuable resources for graduate students, advocate on your behalf, and create a sense of community on campus.

You can’t opt out of membership, but some services are optional.

Membership itself is automatic and cannot be opted out of. However, certain optional services, like the Health & Dental Plan, have specific opt-out periods at the beginning of each academic year for students who already have equivalent insurance coverage. More information, including opt-out deadlines, is available on our Health & Dental Plan page.

Prescription drugs, dental, vision, mental health & more.

The TMGSU Health & Dental Plan provides coverage that complements your provincial health plan (e.g., OHIP). It includes reimbursement for prescription medications, routine and emergency dental procedures, vision care (eye exams, glasses, contact lenses), mental health counseling, physiotherapy, and travel insurance. This coverage is designed to help offset expenses not fully covered by provincial plans, ensuring that students have access to comprehensive healthcare while pursuing their studies.

Yes, if you have comparable insurance coverage.

Yes, if you have comparable coverage through another plan (such as a parent’s or spouse’s benefits), you can opt out during the opt-out period, which usually falls within the first few weeks of each academic term. You’ll need to provide proof of alternative coverage when completing the opt-out form. Visit our Health & Dental Plan page for the exact dates and instructions.

Family coverage is available for an additional cost.

Absolutely! Students have the option to extend coverage to their spouse and/or dependents for an additional cost. Family enrollment must be completed during the opt-in period at the start of each semester. Visit our Health & Dental page for step-by-step instructions and fee details.

Yes. Travel, course union, and event funding is available.

Yes. TMGSU provides multiple funding options to support graduate students, including Travel Grants, Course Union Funding, and Student Project/Event Funding. These grants are meant to help students with academic or community initiatives, such as attending conferences, organizing student-led workshops, or launching projects that benefit the graduate community. Details, application forms, and eligibility criteria can be found on our Grants & Funding page.

Up to $500 per academic year for eligible students.

Graduate students participating in academic conferences as speakers, panelists, or poster presenters can apply for up to $500 to help with travel, registration, or lodging expenses. You’ll need to provide documentation of your participation and submit a short application.

Free legal support for housing, employment, immigration & more.

We offer confidential legal advice from our in-house lawyer to help with issues such as tenant disputes, workplace concerns, immigration matters, and academic appeals. Our legal aid clinic ensures that students have access to justice, no matter their background or budget.

Email our legal clinic to schedule a consultation.

To book an appointment, email [email protected] with a brief description of your issue. Appointments are usually offered weekly and fill up fast, so we recommend reaching out as soon as possible.