Toronto's Biggest Move-In Week of the Year Is Happening Right Now
Thousands of University of Toronto students are moving into residence this week, spread across the university's three campuses: St. George downtown, UTSC in Scarborough, and UTM in Mississauga. Move-in dates run from August 30 through September 6, 2026, with each residence building assigned its own day and time. Whether you're a student moving in yourself, a parent helping from out of town, or a neighbour near one of the campuses, it's a week where a little booked support goes a long way.
Move-In Dates Across U of T's Three Campuses
These dates cover university-run residences at each campus. Federated colleges on the St. George campus with their own residences, such as Trinity, Victoria, Innis, and Woodsworth, set their own separate schedules not covered here.
St. George Campus
New College: First-years move in from 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. Upper-year and returning residents move in any time from Friday, September 4. Both groups have until Sunday, September 13 to arrive.
University College: The main move-in day for first-years is Sunday, August 30, from 8 a.m. The main move-in day for upper-years is Sunday, September 6, from 8 a.m.
UTSC (Scarborough)
First-year move-in is Thursday, September 3. Upper-year and graduate move-in is Saturday, September 5.
UTM (Mississauga)
Erindale Hall, the New Residence Building, Putnam Place, and Schreiberwood move in on Friday, September 4. McLuhan Court, Oscar Peterson Hall, and Roy Ivor Hall move in on Saturday, September 5.
What to Book Instead of Doing It All Yourself
Moving and Furniture Assembly
Loading, unloading, and putting together flat-pack furniture is faster with an extra set of hands, especially if you're managing it solo or driving in from out of town with a tight schedule. Moving and light assembly support typically runs $35 to $70 per job on HelperGen.
Dorm and Apartment Cleaning
A clean pass before boxes and furniture arrive makes the whole move-in feel less chaotic. Cleaning sessions typically cost $80 to $120 on HelperGen, and providers can usually accommodate a same-week booking during move-in season.
Last-Minute Errands and Grocery Runs
There's always one more thing: a forgotten bedding item, a first grocery run, a supply store trip. Errand running typically costs $35 to $60 per job, and all errand and pet care jobs under $120 carry zero lead fees on HelperGen.
How to Book on HelperGen
Use Gen Lightning to post in one sentence, for example, "Need assistance with moving boxes into a UTSC dorm this Thursday afternoon" or "Book a move-in cleaning for a New College room this weekend," and get a complete listing in seconds. Review applicants by their Verified Helper badge and reviews before confirming. All payments are held in Stripe escrow and released only when you confirm the job using your Quick Pay Code, so there's no cash changing hands during an already busy week.
If you're moving into a longer-term Toronto rental rather than residence, see our broader guide to booking cleaning, assembly, and move-in support for the details that apply beyond move-in week specifically.
Sources
- Fall Move In — New College, University of Toronto
- Move-In Day at University College — University College, University of Toronto
- Moving In — UTSC Student Housing & Residence Life
- First Year Move-In — UTM Student Housing & Residence Life
Frequently Asked Questions
When is University of Toronto move-in week in 2026?
Move-in dates are staggered across U of T's three campuses between August 30 and September 6, 2026. At the St. George campus, New College first-years move in from 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, with upper-year and returning residents any time from Friday, September 4. University College's main move-in days are Sunday, August 30 (first-years, from 8 a.m.) and Sunday, September 6 (upper-years, from 8 a.m.). At UTSC, first-year move-in is Thursday, September 3, with upper-year and graduate move-in on Saturday, September 5. At UTM, Erindale Hall, the New Residence Building, Putnam Place, and Schreiberwood move in on Friday, September 4, while McLuhan Court, Oscar Peterson Hall, and Roy Ivor Hall move in on Saturday, September 5.
What services should I book during move-in week?
The three most useful bookings are moving and furniture assembly for the actual move-in day, a cleaning pass once the room or apartment is set up, and errand running for the last-minute pharmacy, grocery, or supply run that always comes up once you're unpacking. Posting through Gen Lightning takes under a minute: describe the job in one sentence and it generates a complete listing for local providers to respond to.
Do all three U of T campuses move in on the same day?
No. Move-in is spread across a full week rather than a single day, with each campus and residence building assigned its own date between August 30 and September 6. Even within the St. George campus, New College and University College run different schedules from each other. If you're helping a student move or coordinating pickup and drop-off around campus this week, it's worth confirming the exact date and building first, since traffic and parking near residences are heaviest on that building's specific move-in day.
Is this only useful for students, or can anyone in Toronto use HelperGen during move-in week?
Anyone in Toronto can use it, not just students. Parents and family driving in from out of town often book a local cleaner or errand runner rather than trying to fit everything into a short visit, and neighbours near campus sometimes find this week is a good time to book moving-day support of their own, since local providers are already thinking about moving-related jobs. HelperGen isn't limited to any one audience during move-in week.
Find local pros for Moving services on HelperGen.