- How do I know if I am using the correct Academic Calendar?
- What is the difference between my program requirements and the University requirements?
- Where can I find my require courses?
- What is the difference between a general and an honours degree?
- What is the Indigenous Course Requirement (ICR) and where can I find a course that meets this requirement?
- When can I register in courses?
- If I take 4 courses per semester (fall/winter), am I still considered a full-time student?
- What is the difference between the Academic Calendar, Self-Service, and the Academic Timetable?
- What if two of my require courses conflict with each other?
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 Academic Calendars 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 departments the program falls under. Meeting the requirements ensures students get the degree for the specific subject or program they intend on. 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?
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 a student is entering their first year at Trent, Academic Advising has put together a page of suggested first-year courses based on programs. Visit First Year Courses Suggestions by Major to take a look.
What is the difference between a general and an honours degree?
A general degree require completion of 15.0 credits and a minimum cumulative grade average of 60%. For students completing 5 credits per academic year, this degree can be completed 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 at 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 Approve Indigenous Course List to meet the University requirements, and you must meet any pre-requisites the course requires.
When can I register in courses?
Registrations opens in June for the Fall/Winter semesters and opens in early March for the Summer semester. The Priority Registration Schedule determines when students can register for the fall and winter semesters based on how many credits they 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 considered 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 this academic year, when they are offered (fall/winter/summer), the time 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 students can register for courses, apply to graduate, download tax information, and view final grades each term.
What if two of my required course conflict with each other?
There are a few steps a student can take if two of their required courses conflict with each other. Start off by checking both required courses to see if alternative sections are available for each course. Helpful 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 there is a section that works but it is full, students can also add themselves to a waitlist for a section. After trying out these strategies, if a true conflict remains between the courses, visit the Connect With Us tab to reach out to Academic Advising. You can connect with us through phone and email.