On this page you will find common questions students might have regarding course selection and registration. If you don't see your question here or would like some more clarification, visit the Connect with Us tab for options to connect with Academic Advising in the Colleges.
How do I know if I am using the correct Academic Calendar?
Students must normally satisfy the program requirements in effect at the time of their declaration of major to the program. As changes are made to program requirements, students may choose to complete their studies under the program requirements of any subsequent Academic Calendar provided they were enrolled in the program during that academic year and meet these requirements in their entirety.
For more information on the Academic Calendar and Program Requirements, visit the Understanding your Degree Requirements page.
What is the difference between my program requirements and the University requirements?
Program requirements are established by the academic department the program falls under. Meeting your program requirements ensure you get the degree for the specific subject or program you intend to. We use the term program often to refer to majors, but this also includes minors, specializations, options, and streams.
University requirements can be completed through courses that apply to your program requirements and electives.
For more information on University and Program Requirements, visit the Understanding your Degree Requirements page.
Where can I find my required courses?
Your program requirements can be found in the Academic Calendar. The Academic Calendar lists the offered programs alphabetically. Different program requirements for single major, joint major, minors, and general degree options are listed under each program, where applicable.
If you are entering your first year at Trent, Academic Advising has put together a page of suggested first-year courses based on your program. Visit First Year Course Suggestions by Major to take a look.
What is the difference between a general and a honours degree?
A general degree requires completion of 15.0 credits and a minimum cumulative average of 60%. For students completing 5 credits per academic year, this degree can be completed in in 3 years with fewer requirements for upper-year courses. An honours degree requires completion of 20.0 credits and a minimum cumulative average of 65%. For students completing 5 credits per academic year, this degree can be completed in 4 years with more requirements for upper-year courses and opportunities to complete a thesis or research project.
What is the Indigenous Course Requirement (ICR) and where can I find a course that meets this requirement?
All students are Trent are required to take at least 0.5 credit from the Approved Indigenous Course List. This requirement applies to all students beginning studies at Trent in the Fall 2018 term or thereafter. The course(s) you take is entirely up to you, but it does need to be listed on the Approved Indigenous Course List to meet the University requirements, and you must meet any pre-requisites the course requires.
When can I register for courses?
Registration opens in June for the Fall/Winter semesters and opens in early March for the Summer semester. The Priority Registration Schedule determines when you can register for the fall and winter semesters based on how many credits you have already received. Keep an eye on the Priority Registration Schedule offered by the Office of the Registrar to know when you can register.
If I take 4 courses per semester (fall/winter), am I still considered a full-time student?
Trent University defines a full-time student as a student who is taking 3.5 credits to 5.0 credits in a full academic year (fall and winter terms). A student taking 3.0 credits or fewer is consider a part-time student by the university. Please note that the definition may differ depending on a variety of circumstances such as OSAP, international students, accessibility needs, athletics, and more. Please reach out to the respective departments if any of these apply to you. For more information regarding course load, visit the Determining your Course Load page.
What is the difference between the Academic Calendar, Self-Service, and the Academic Timetable?
The Academic Calendar will give you information about academic undergraduate and graduate programs and requirements, course descriptions, and policies and procedures. This is typically described as the big rule book of Trent.
The Academic Timetable provides up-to-date information regarding courses that are offered each semester. In the Academic Timetable you will find which courses are offered this academic year, when they are offered (fall/winter/summer), the times the courses are offered, location of the course, and more. Take some time to explore the Undergraduate Academic Timetable.
Self-Service is available to all Trent students actively enrolled in a program. It is a platform for course registration that includes course search tools and provides optional degree planning tools. In Self-Service you can register for courses, apply to graduate, download tax information, and view your final grades each term.
What if two of my required courses conflict with each other?
There are a few steps you can take if two of your required course conflict with each other. The first thing to do is check both required courses to see if alternative sections are available for each course. Reminder that there may be multiple pages of sections available to view in Self-Service for a course, so make sure to check them all. Check out the Creating a Schedule page for a video tutorial on how to add sections of a course. If you find a section that works but it is full, you can also add yourself to a waitlist for a section. After trying out these strategies, if a true conflict remains between the courses, visit the Connect with Us to reach out to Academic Advising. You can connect with us through phone and email.
How do I register for a course without the required prerequisites?
If a student attempts to register for a course and they receive a Prerequisite Error Message (appears as a yellow text box in the top-right corner of Self Service after the attempted registration), they may choose to submit a Prerequisite Waiver Request Form. The department offering the course will review the request and either approve, deny, or request further information or documentation.
How can I register for a course section that doesn't have a waitlist?
If a specific course section (ex: CHEM-1000H-A-F01) is full (“Closed” according to the Academic Timetable), students are encouraged to find a different section of the course that is still “Open” for registration. If a specific course section is full, but a waitlist is available, the student will have the option to “Waitlist” rather “Register” in your Course Plan on Self-Service. Waitlist availability can also be reviewed by clicking the hyperlinked Course Section title, and a pop-up box will appear with more information.
As space becomes available in the specific course section, the first waitlisted student will receive a notice to their Trent University email account to register within 72 hours. If a student receives this notice, the student can return to their Course Plan to register for the specific course section. The blue Register button will be activated for them to complete registration in this course section.
If the student does not register for the specific course section within 72 hours of receiving the notice to their Trent University email account, they will be removed for the waitlist. The specific course section will then appear as “Planned” and the student will be given the option to add themselves to the waitlist again.
It is important that the student has ensured that no errors (ex: Prerequisite Error) will prevent them from registering into the specific course section if they are offered a seat into the course (notice sent to Trent University email account).
Will I get a refund if I drop a course?
Students withdrawing or fully de-registering from Trent University on or before the Add/Change deadline will be billed a non-refundable deposit fee. After the Add/Change deadline, a refund of tuition fees will be calculated according to the effective withdrawal date and the refund schedule on the Student Accounts website.
Find more information about refunds and the refund schedule from Student Accounts