Free museum passes for U of T students

For the second year in a row, U of T students 18 and older can visit select museums and cultural institutions for free, thanks to a U of T Libraries partnership with the Toronto Public Libraries (TPL).

But students should hurry – supplies are limited.

To get a pass, students need to stop by with their TCard in one of several libraries (OISE, Engineering & Computer Science, Gerstein, U of T Scarborough, U of T Mississauga or Robarts libraries) and request a museum pass booklet at a library circulation desk. Booklets will be available at these locations until supplies run out. 

To activate their pass, students need to bring their booklet and their TPL card to one of the following TPL branches: City Hall, Lillian H. Smith, Parliament, Scarborough Civic Centre and Toronto Reference Library).

The pass can be used for free admission for two visitors to one of the following venues: The Aga Khan Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada and City of Toronto Historic Sites.

“Students are on a budget,” Julie Hannaford, U of T’s deputy chief librarian told U of T News when the initiative began. “Some are coming to a brand new city and that can be pretty overwhelming. With the pass, they can access art and culture in the city for free, and this is a great way to learn about the city.”

The free pass is part of TPL’s Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass (MAP) initiative and is valid for three months after the date activated.

TPL started the initiative as part of an effort to drive more university students to its public libraries. To get a TPL card, students need to live, work, go to school or own property in the city of Toronto.

Read about the start of the partnership between U of T Libraries and TPL last year

Students can also participate in the larger MAP program as long as they have a TPL card. Those passes can get them a free visit to the Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre and more. 

Read more about the MAP program