Admission Requirements
The general regulations and requirements of Trent University for the M.Sc. or M.A. degree apply to this graduate program. Students are normally admitted into the program once a year for studies beginning in the following September. The normal requirement for admission into this program is an upper second class (77 or better) (B+ at Trent) standing or its equivalent, in a joint or single honours B.Sc. or B.A. degree in one of the traditional disciplines (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, or Sociology). Before acceptance, a core faculty member must have been identified who will supervise the student's work. Prospective students must have a university course in differential and integral calculus, and one in probability and statistics or the equivalent. Students will also have some familiarity with linear algebra, and be capable of programming at an elementary level in at least one computational language such as BASIC or FORTRAN. In addition, a course in either differential equations or advanced statistics is required, depending on whether the student's area of research will be mathematics or statistics based. Students are involved both in course work and thesis research in their home discipline and in interdisciplinary study.
Language Prerequisite
A student for whom English is not the native language must have acceptable proof of facility in English (e.g. an undergraduate degree from a university at which English is the language of instruction) or a TOEFL score of at least 580.
Residence Requirements
Trent requires a minimum of one year's residency for its Master's programs. A student may register as full-time off-campus provided that such an arrangement has been approved by the Modelling Council, the Home Department and the Graduate Studies and Research Officer. For part-time graduate students, three years of part-time study shall be deemed equivalent to one year of full-time study, due adjustment being made for any time spent as a full-time student during the summer.
Financial Support
The majority of students accepted are offered a teaching assistantship. These stipends are frequently increased by research stipends provided from research funds. This occurs most often in disciplines in the natural sciences. The program also provides funds to cover minor overhead research costs such as laboratory and computing supplies, equipment, and some conference travel. Canadian candidates are encouraged to apply, before December, for national and provincial scholarships (NSERC and OGS awards).