PROGRAM REGULATIONS
ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND STANDARDS
A Ph.D. Admission Committee, a sub-committee of the Ph.D. Council, assesses student applications and makes recommendations for admittance to the Graduate Studies Committee of Trent University. To be eligible for admission to the program, applicants must meet Trent University's admission requirements, that is, the applicant must possess a Master's degree, or equivalent, with at least an upper second class standing (a grade of B+ or better). In their application, students is invited to indicate their area(s) of research interest.The Indigenous Studies Admissions Committee must be satisfied that a student-supervisor team will be able to carry out the proposed research.
Ideally, applicants will possess a Master's degree in the field of Indigenous Studies. However, given the limited number of Master's programs available in Indigenous Studies, highly qualified students from other disciplinary-based graduate programs will be considered for admission. In some cases, students with a Master's degree but without a background in Indigenous Studies will be required to enrol in a make-up or Qualifying Year Program in Indigenous Studies to ensure an adequate academic background in Indigenous Studies. The Qualifying Year will consist of between four and five upper-year undergraduate courses in Indigenous Studies; the number of courses depending on the student's background and qualifications. Successful completion of a Qualifying Year will permit the student to compete for admission on an equal basis with other applicants. Admission to the Ph.D. program is not, however, guaranteed.
It should be noted that all applications to the Ph.D. program must be received by the deadline of February 1st.
Residency Requirements
There is a two year residency requirement. Students are expected to be on campus during the residency period.
Language Requirements
Students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, preferably an Aboriginal language. Proficiency in an Aboriginal language may be demonstrated by:
- Passing an examination in an Aboriginal language administered by the Indigenous Studies department; or
- Presenting a transcript with a grade of "B" or better in an Aboriginal language course taken at an accredited university.
Students who do not meet the Aboriginal language requirement prior to admission may satisfy the requirement by attaining a grade of "B" or better in an introductory Indigenous Studies language course (INDS 280 - Oral Ojibwe or INDS 225 - Oral Mohawk) during the first or second year of their Ph.D. program. Students must advise the Ph.D. program in writing as to how and when they propose to meet the language requirement.
Proficiency in a foreign language may be demonstrated by means of:
1) Presenting a transcript showing a grade of "B" or better in an upper- year course in a foreign language taken at an accredited university.
The Graduate Studies Committee requires proof of proficiency in the English language for candidates whose mother tongue is not English, by means of one of the following:
1) Test of English as a Second Language - TOEFL - Minimum Score of 550 F (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA);
2) Carleton Academic English Language Assessment - CAELA, alternate test only for applicants who do not have access to TOEFL (Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6);
3) The English Language Institute, Testing and Certification Div., North Univ. Bldg., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor., Michigan 48104, USA.
