Explore campus and familiarize yourself with academic life in this one-day orientation for incoming students and their families/supporters.
Welcome to Smith Engineering! From our enthusiastic community to the scenic waterfront campus and the wealth of internship opportunities– we can’t wait to introduce you to the vibrant world of Smith Engineering.
For general Queen’s University information, we encourage you to explore the Queen’sUBound resources for admitted students, as well as the Queen’s Next Steps guide for incoming students.
If you still need to accept your offer, please see the OUAC guide: How to Accept your Offer.
Explore campus and familiarize yourself with academic life in this one-day orientation for incoming students and their families/supporters.
Explore Smith Engineering with a tour, an info session, or even a 360˚ virtual tour.
We hope you are excited for Engineering Frosh Week! We have addressed common questions and misconceptions to help you go into your orientation week with a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation.
Indigenous students are invited to STEMInA Transition Week, an on-campus orientation program that begins one week before general move-in. The week includes a family orientation, food and accommodations, and an early move-in to residence.
Exclusively for those who have accepted Smith Engineering, our free self-guided modules are designed to review key concepts, theories, and calculations. Build your skills and confidence as you prepare for your first year.
Class sizes, timetables, GPAs and more - learn all about your degree.
You do not need to register in courses for your first year. You can log into SOLUS early to mid-July to see your timetable. You can find course information on OnQ starting in September.
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome at Queen's. If you have a disability or health consideration that may require accommodations, please contact the Smith Engineering Program Advisor of Accommodations and Considerations, or learn more from Queen's Student Accessibility Services FAQ.
A scientific calculator is required for the program.
The Casio 991 series will be the only calculators approved for engineering exams.
Computers are essential tools for an engineering education, just as they are in the engineering workplace. They are used extensively for modeling, design, and communication. Course resources are distributed through OnQ and assignments are often submitted electronically. Internet access is needed for registration, accessing course materials and grades, and for communicating with instructors and peers. Official communication with all students is via the Queen's email account.
Each student will need high-speed Internet access and a computer with a webcam, headphones, and a microphone. Headphones with a built in-microphone are recommended.
The engineering program uses online materials extensively, including videos and simulations. These activities require a reliable home Internet service. There are usually several options depending on your location including fiber, cable, DSL, and satellite service, but look for a minimum bandwidth of 10 Mb per second per user in the household sharing the service.
Consider a wired connection to your Internet router rather than WiFi for the best performance.
Remote areas may have lower quality options available, and it may be important to ask others in the household to refrain from activities that require significant bandwidth, like video streaming, when you will be participating in classes.
If broadband connectivity is not available, tethering to a mobile device such as a smartphone with strong signal and minimum download speeds of 5 Mbps is an option, although not recommended.
Expanded use of your Internet connections (broadband or mobile) may cause you to exceed your monthly data plan allowance and result in significant overage charges. An unlimited data plan, if available, is highly recommended.
We recommend that students have a laptop, as they are portable, need little space, and are often used for collaborative work and in classes. If you already own a laptop, and it was a mid-range model made in the past few years, you will probably have no problem using it in our program. If you are buying a new laptop, any mid-range model (generally about $1000 or more) should suffice. Low-end netbooks are not a good idea. Some things to consider in buying a laptop:
Software used in the first year engineering program is listed below. Most software is distributed through our application delivery system, Apps.Eng. Some of the software listed will be distributed online by ITServices.
We also recommend that all students install the latest version of Microsoft Office, available for free from MyQueensU, which includes current versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more - find out how. Students may be able to use older versions of Microsoft Office or competing software, but they will be responsible to adapt instructions to those packages.
Any other software that must be purchased must be done so legally. Copying and using someone else's software without buying a copy yourself is illegal, and a violation of the Copyright Act. Following legal and ethical standards is an important part of being a Professional Engineer and is essential for all engineering students.
The following midterm exams are scheduled for the evening. Please keep these dates open. Further details will be available in onQ closer to the date of the exam.
Tues Oct 3- APSC 171
Thurs Oct 5- APSC 162
Tues Oct 17-APSC 141 Final exam
Thurs Oct 19- APSC 111
Tues Oct 31- APSC 131
Thurs Nov 2- APSC 151
Tues Nov 7- APSC 171
Tues Nov 14- APSC 111
Sat Nov 18- APSC 102
Tues Feb 13- APSC 174
Tues Mar 5- APSC 172
Tues Mar 26- APSC 174
Thurs Feb 15 and Tues Mar 19- APSC 112
TBA 132,142,182
Smith Engineering - First-Year Students
General information and resources for first-year students
Please contact us:
Student Services Team
engineering.reception@queensu.ca
613-533-2721