Director’s Message

Chris Damaren, Professor and Director
Chris Damaren,
Professor and Director

Welcome to the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) website.

The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) has a long tradition of excellence in aerospace engineering education and research. UTIAS is responsible for much of the undergraduate teaching in the Aerospace and Robotics Options of the Engineering Science (EngSci) program which leads to the degree of Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Engineering Science. Learn more on EngSci’s website. Application to the EngSci program and the Aerospace and Robotics Options is handled by the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.

UTIAS is home to the graduate programs leading to the degrees of M.Eng., M.A.Sc., and Ph.D. The M.Eng. is a professionally-oriented degree which is coursework based and can be completed either full time or part time. It is available to students with a broad range of background preparation and is an excellent way for students to acquire the skills they need for a career in aerospace engineering. The M.A.Sc. is a research oriented degree which is ideal preparation for doctoral studies leading to the Ph.D. or a career in industry involving research. The Ph.D. is the pinnacle of research-based education and is a requirement for those students wanting to pursue an academic career as a professor. It is also excellent training for those who wish to pursue senior research positions in industry. Application procedures for all of our graduate programs are described in detail on this website.

The faculty at UTIAS are internationally recognized for the excellence of their research programs and have won many significant awards for their work. Most areas of modern aerospace engineering are covered by our faculty including many facets of aeronautical engineering (with an emphasis on green aviation) and space engineering (with an emphasis on robotics and microspace). This website describes these areas in detail. Graduate students working in computational disciplines have access to world-class computing resources. UTIAS is home to many exceptional experimental facilities including a flight simulator, a large wind tunnel, and a water channel. UTIAS is also home to the Space Flight Laboratory which is Canada’s only facility dedicated to the design, construction, launch, and operation of small (micro- and nano-) satellites. UTIAS researchers have strong connections with the Canadian aerospace industry including Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt and Whitney Canada, and MDA. We welcome the chance for further collaboration so please contact us if you see the potential for common interests.

High school teachers who wish to arrange a tour of UTIAS for their students should contact us at 416-667-7700. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student who is motivated to obtain further information about our research activities, then our professors would be happy to hear from you.
Graduates of our programs are very successful in obtaining employment in the aerospace sector and have made many significant contributions to Canada’s aerospace achievements in air and space. If you wish to continue this tradition, please take a look at the rest of this website. UTIAS provides an excellent working environment for faculty, staff, and students. We look forward to welcoming you in person.

Chris Damaren,
Professor and Director