University in Canada
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
University profile
Trent University is a public university in Ontario, founded in 1964, with its main campus in Peterborough and a second campus, Trent Durham GTA, in Oshawa. It describes itself as one of Canada's leading undergraduate universities, with more than 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students (10,967 at Peterborough and 2,800 at Durham) and more than 100 academic programs across the arts, sciences and professional fields. Its motto is 'Nunc Cognosco Ex Parte' ('Now I know in part').
The Peterborough (Symons) campus covers 1,400 acres along the Otonabee River and the Trent-Severn Waterway, about 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, in a city of roughly 220,000 people in the Greater Peterborough Area. Trent Durham GTA is near the shore of Lake Ontario, minutes from downtown Oshawa and 40 minutes from Union Station in Toronto, in a region of 608,124 people.
Trent is a collegiate university: every undergraduate and graduate student, faculty and staff member belongs to one of its colleges, each with its own character and a dedicated team of staff. The five Peterborough colleges are Catharine Parr Traill, Champlain, Lady Eaton, Otonabee and Peter Gzowski; Gidigaa Migizi College is planned for the east bank of the Symons Campus. Programs span 14 subject areas, including arts and humanities, business, economics and finance, computer and data science, environment and sustainability, forensics and biological sciences, health and life sciences, Indigenous and Canadian studies, law and criminology, nursing, social work and teaching. Dual-degree programs with Swansea University (Wales) include Chemical Engineering and Arts & Science/Medical Sciences, and many programs offer co-op. Trent Online, continuing education, summer courses and study abroad extend the offering beyond campus.
Student life centres on the colleges and on residence: Peterborough has traditional and suite-style residences in each college (Wallis Hall and Crawford House at Traill), townhome-style annexes opposite the Symons Campus, and upper-year, graduate and family housing. Durham has a residence and academic building with a campus cafe. First-year and international students who apply by the stated deadline are guaranteed a residence place. Trent fields 12 Excalibur varsity teams.
International applicants apply through OUAC or the Trent applicant portal. The university cites 9 Canada Research Chairs and, in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, fifth place in Ontario for SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Canadian students entering from a Canadian secondary school, and transfer students with at least two full-time semesters at an accredited Canadian college or university, are automatically assessed if their admission average is 80% or higher; no application is needed. Awards: 95%+ receives full first-year tuition ($6,118) plus $4,000 a year for three more years (up to $18,118); 90-94.9% receives $3,000 a year for four years ($12,000); 85-89.9% receives $2,000 a year ($8,000); 80-84.9% receives $1,500 a year ($6,000). Renewal requires an 80% average in a full course load, for up to four years of a first undergraduate degree. Entrance scholarships
Canadian students entering first year with a final admission average of 80% or higher and enrolled full-time may apply (one application covers all): Champlain Scholarship (2 awards, $7,500 a year, up to $30,000); Board of Governor's Leadership Scholarship (1 award, $7,500 a year, up to $30,000); Special Admission Scholarship (10 awards, $4,500 a year, up to $18,000); Canada-Wide Science Fair Scholarship ($4,500 a year, up to $18,000). Renewable for up to four years with an 80% average in a full course load; only one major entrance scholarship may be held. The application is on the myTrent applicant portal, Finances tab; the stated deadline is March 21, 2027. Prestigious Scholarships
International undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for renewable entrance scholarships of $2,500 to $5,500 a year based on academic excellence. International finance and scholarships
Entrance bursaries for students with demonstrated financial need entering post-secondary study for the first time have an application deadline of July 30, 2027. Other awards include the New Student Entrance Bursary ($500 or $1,000), Athletic Entrance Bursary ($500), City of Peterborough Entrance Award ($2,000), Green and White Athletic Scholarship ($500 or $1,000), Trent Work Study Program (up to $2,000), plus the Specialist High Skills Major, International Baccalaureate, Children of Alumni and Bursary for Students with Disabilities awards. Applications are on myTrent; OSAP and aid forms go through the Financial Aid Office ([email protected], [email protected]). Bursaries
Graduate scholarships, assistantships and awards are listed by the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate funding
Trent University National Entrance Scholarship Guarantee →
Trent University Prestigious Scholarships →
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View scholarships for Trent University →Ontario applicants apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC 101) for either campus. Applicants from other provinces and countries use OUAC 105 or the Trent direct application; mature, transfer and some other applicants use the direct application. Ontario high school grades are sent to Trent through OUAC.
Six Grade 12 4U/4M courses including program prerequisites, a minimum 70% overall final average and at least 60% in ENG4U. Many programs set higher averages or specific prerequisites: for example Arts & Science 75%, Biomedical Science 75% (with ENG4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, MHF4U or MCV4U, SPH4U or SES4U), Trent/Swansea dual degrees 80%. Holding the minimum average does not guarantee entry to competitive programs.
Minimum 70% average, with course equivalencies assessed by province; a high school transcript (in-progress with Grade 12 first-term results, or final) is submitted via MyTrent.
Applicants whose first language is not English normally submit one of: TOEFL iBT 86 with writing 20 (before 2026) or 4.5 with writing 4.0 (2026 onward); IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0; Duolingo English Test 115 (undergraduate only); CAEL 60; Cambridge B2 First/C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 176 with no sub-score below 169; PTE Academic 59; Oxford ELLT 7 with no band below 6; LanguageCert Academic 70-74 with no score below 65. Exemptions: IB Diploma with English A; British curriculum with C in O-level English; at least 3 years full-time in English-medium secondary school, 2 years in an English-medium college, or 1 year in an English-medium university, without ESL courses.
Applicants must be 21 or older on the first day of classes, out of secondary and post-secondary study for at least two years, not eligible under other requirements, and able to show academic potential. Nursing, Teacher Education Stream and Forensic Science are not open to direct mature admission.
Credits from accredited colleges and universities can be applied to almost all degrees and are assessed automatically at no cost; domestic transfer applicants apply free through the direct application.
Most master's programs require a four-year bachelor's degree with at least B+ (77%) in the last two years of full-time study; doctoral programs require a master's degree with at least B+ (77%) overall. Program pages set specific requirements. A Pre-Master's Pathway leads to Applied Modelling & Quantitative Methods and Management.
For Ontario secondary applicants starting in September, offers are issued in early December, early February, mid-March and early May, with final grades reviewed in July for those without a May offer; Bachelor of Education offers begin in mid-January. Other applicants receive offers on a rolling basis. Residence guarantee deadline: June 3, 2027. Tuition deposit: $500 domestic, $2,000 international, due June 15, 2027.
Peterborough (Symons Campus), 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough: main campus on 1,400 acres along the Otonabee River and Trent-Severn Waterway, home to the colleges, the library, research facilities (including water-analysis and wildlife forensic DNA laboratories, a forensics crime-scene facility, a certified zero-carbon building and an accredited nursing simulation lab), Cleantech Commons and the Peterborough residences. Traill College sits near downtown Peterborough.
Durham GTA, 55 Thornton Road South, Oshawa: urban campus near Lake Ontario with a combined residence and academic building, a cafe, and programs offered in the Greater Toronto Area.
Online: Trent Online offers courses remotely.
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