List of University of Toronto Alumni
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List of University of Toronto Alumni

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Feb 4, 2025 17:55 IST

University of Toronto has grown some really smart people who shaped politics, business, science and even the arts. From Nobel Prize winners to leaders around the world, its graduates made big contributions that last everywhere.

university of toronto alumni

The University of Toronto is the #1 in Canada. No student would miss the chance to enrol in this Canadian university if they have plans to study in Canada. Ranked 24th globally in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, U of T offers more than just prestige. There are 679,671 names in the University of Toronto alumni network. The U of T alumni network includes the names of famous leaders like prime ministers and people who have won the Nobel Prize.

For Nearly two centuries, the University of Toronto has been fostering the minds who shaped the world today. This article will be about the top names whose journey began at the University of Toronto and who sat on the student chairs of this esteemed institution. 

Table of contents
  • Notable Alumni of University of Toronto
  • Arthur Meighen (9th Prime Minister of Canada)
  • William Lyon Mackenzie King (10th Prime Minister of Canada)
  • Lester B. Pearson (14th Prime Minister of Canada)
  • Paul Martin (21st Prime Minister of Canada)
  • Jim Balsillie (Co-founder and Former Co-CEO of Research In Motion)
  • Frederick Grant Banting (Discovery of Insulin)
  • Geoffrey Hinton (Godfather of AI)
  • Roberta Lynn Bondar (Canada's First Female Astronaut)
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Notable Alumni of University of Toronto

Here we’re sharing some of the most notable alumni of the University of Toronto, and we put them in different groups so it’s easier for you to look through. 

Categories

Notable Alumni of University of Toronto

Politician

1.     Arthur Meighen (9th Prime Minister of Canada)

2.     William Lyon Mackenzie King (10th Prime Minister of Canada)

3.     Lester B. Pearson (14th Prime Minister of Canada)

4.     Paul Martin (21st  Prime Minister of Canada)

Business and Entrepreneurship

Jim Balsillie (Co-founder and former co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM) the company behind the BlackBerry smartphone)

Arts and Culture

Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (Canadian Singer)

Science and Technology

1.     Frederick Grant Banting (Won the 1923 Nobel Prize for the discovery of Insulin)

2.     Geoffrey Hinton (Known as the “Godfather of AI,” also won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics)

3.     Roberta Lynn Bondar (Canada's First female Astronaut)

Arthur Meighen (9th Prime Minister of Canada)

Arthur Meighen was the 9th Prime Minister of Canada, and he actually served two times, first from 1920–1921 and then again for a short bit in 1926. He was known as a strong speaker and a lawyer who took part in big policies like wartime conscription. Even though his terms were short, his impact on Canadian politics stayed pretty strong. He finished his B.A. degree in mathematics.

William Lyon Mackenzie King (10th Prime Minister of Canada)

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After Meighen, William Lyon Mackenzie King became the 10th Prime Minister of Canada, and he ended up being one of the longest-serving leaders ever. He was in office in three different periods: 1921–1926, 1926–1930, and then 1935–1948, which shaped a big part of Canada's political and economic growth. He earned a BA, LLB, and MA from the University of Toronto.

Lester B. Pearson (14th Prime Minister of Canada)

Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada, played a big role in world diplomacy. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for helping solve the Suez Crisis. People also know him for starting Canada’s universal healthcare system. His leadership still matters to Canada and the world today. He earned a BA from the University of Toronto.

Paul Martin (21st Prime Minister of Canada)







Paul Martin served as the 21st Prime Minister from 2003 to 2006. He became well known for focusing on financial stability and social programs. He also helped bring in the Canada Health Transfer. His time in office is often remembered for his public service efforts. He received a BA and LLB from the University of Toronto.

Jim Balsillie (Co-founder and Former Co-CEO of Research In Motion)

Jim Balsillie co-founded Research In Motion (RIM), the company that made the BlackBerry phone, which changed mobile communication worldwide. He is also active in innovation, tech, and education fields. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto.

Frederick Grant Banting (Discovery of Insulin)

Frederick Grant Banting is famous for discovering insulin in 1921, which completely changed the treatment of diabetes. He won the Nobel Prize in 1923 for this discovery, and his work has saved millions of lives. He remains one of the most respected University of Toronto alumni.

Geoffrey Hinton (Godfather of AI)

The “Godfather of AI” is Geoffrey Hinton. His research in deep learning and neural networks shaped almost all modern AI development. In 2024, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his major contributions to machine learning.

Roberta Lynn Bondar (Canada's First Female Astronaut)

Roberta Lynn Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut and also a well-known neurologist. She flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1992, doing scientific research in space. After that, she worked in medicine, neuroscience, and environmental causes, inspiring many young science learners.

That’s all about the topic. We have tried to cover the most influential U of T alumni. If we missed any important names, let us know in the comments below! In case you want to get admission in University of Toronto, don't forget to check the page. Else, you can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors team.

Q:   What is the acceptance rate for Fairleigh Dickinson University Canada for international students?
A:

For FDU Vancouver, the acceptance rate has not been mentioned but, this is one of the campuses of FDU New Jersey University, so, the acceptance rate can be considered as 87%. The acceptance rate signifies that the university is less selective during admission, but, there are a few of the master’s programs of the university that are highly competitive to get into such as MSc in Applied Computer Science.

 

Q:   When does the University of Guelph send out acceptance?
A:

The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies of the University of Guelph collects application documents / information. It distributes these documents or information to each programme in the application. Each department of the University of Guelph makes admission decisions on the basis of its own timeline.

About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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Prayas
UG & PG expert
Armed with a decade of professional experience, Prayas is a connoisseur of the overseas education industry. He holds a post-graduate diploma in marketing and has the knack for finding ideal study options for student Read Full Bio
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