A small, research-active public university on the Otonabee River known for close student-faculty contact, interdisciplinary study and strong Indigenous education.
Trent University is a public university in Peterborough, Ontario, with a reputation for small classes, personal attention and an emphasis on undergraduate teaching. Its collegiate system gives students a smaller community within the larger campus, and the setting along the Otonabee River is one of the most scenic in the province.
Trent is recognized for interdisciplinary programs in areas such as environmental studies, Indigenous studies, forensic science and international development. Its Indigenous studies offerings, grounded in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, are among the longest established in the country.
Students can pursue arts, science, business, nursing, education and professional programs, many with co-operative, work-integrated or experiential components. Trent also operates a second campus in Durham, serving the Greater Toronto Area's eastern communities.
Tuition in CA$, 2026-2027
Students who live in Ontario apply for student aid through OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program); students from other provinces apply through their own province’s program. A provincial application also covers the federal Canada Student Grants and Loans.
Trent offers its own bursaries and entrance awards to help students with financial need and academic merit.
Tuition for 2026-27 from the school’s own published fees, for a typical first-year arts program, rounded. Ancillary fees, books and housing are extra. Confirm the current figure on Trent University’s fee page.
Scholarship names and amounts are estimates and change every year; confirm them with Trent University.
Applications to Trent University go through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
Applicants typically need the Ontario Secondary School Diploma with six 4U or 4M courses, including English, and any program-specific prerequisites. Some programs have additional requirements.
Apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), listing Trent as one of your choices and submitting any supplementary materials the program requires.
The admission average and deadline are estimates; confirm them with Trent University and OUAC.
Peterborough is a mid-sized city of the Kawarthas region, about 130 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The Symons Campus sits on riverside land with trails, woodland and a mix of historic and modern buildings.
Student life at Trent is centred on its colleges, which host events, dining and residence communities. Students enjoy an active campus culture with clubs, arts, volunteering and outdoor recreation.
Trent competes in select U Sports and provincial-level sports and offers varied recreational and intramural opportunities.
Figures are estimates for exploration — verify current costs, deadlines, and requirements on the school’s official website.