What is the advantage of the M.BEMA program over other Master's program?
If you are a recent BSc graduate, or an early career professional, the M.BEMA degree can allow you to get a Master's degree in just one year that can help you help jumpstart your environmental career and increase your earning potential faster. The practical skills and knowledge gained through coursework for the environmental monitoring and assessment field are valuable for many environmental sector employers, while the professional placement allows you to get valuable experience and your foot in the door. Many M.BEMA graduates continue to work for their employers after their placements, whether through short-term contract extensions or longer term employment offers. Early and mid-career environmental professionals can complete the M.BEMA in 2 years, with the part-time option, while continuing to work.
Are placements paid or unpaid?
The professional placements can be paid or unpaid, but the majority of placements are paid.
Is the BEMA program fully online or can I take any in-person classes on the Trent Peterborough campus?
The G.Dip is fully online for 8 months (Sept to end of April). The M.BEMA is mostly online (Sept to end of April), followed by an in-person placement from May through August (unless there is a remote placement sought by employer and/or student), and the in-person Capstone course on the Peterborough campus in mid-August. There are no in-person course options on campus from September to May.
How are the online BEMA courses structured?
BEMA online courses were designed & developed with best practices for online learning in mind. Courses are asynchronous (pre-recorded), with modules released weekly to bi-weekly, that include mini-lectures within each module. Thus, you can go at their own pace, as long as you contribute to discussion boards and complete assignments by required due dates. Assignment due dates are on different days for each course, to allow for more manageable workloads. Students can engage with each other and instructors through discussion boards, group projects, online 'office hours', and through live discussions for certain courses (recorded for students who are unable to attend).
When do MSc, M.BEMA & G.Dip programs start and what are the application deadlines?
The M.BEMA (course-based) & G.Dip programs have September intakes only (with application deadlines of February 1st, or until programs are full). The MSc (research-based) program has September, January & May intakes but students should reach out to potential MSc supervisors prior to applying (see question below). The application deadline for September intake is February 1st, and ongoing for January & May intakes, dependent on supervisor capacity to fund & supervise. International students need to apply well in advance of MSc intake periods, to allow for time in issuing of study permits.
What are the admission requirements?
To be considered for admission, applicants will normally have completed a BSc Honours degree (a 4-year Bachelor's degree) from a recognized university AND have a minimum B+ (77%), or equivalent, in the work of the last four semesters, or the last two undergraduate years (typically last 20 courses). The program will consider other Bachelor degrees, eg. Bachelor of Environmental Studies or BA (Geography or Environmental Studies), if the applicant has taken upper year science and/or environmental courses AND at least one statistics course.
The following documents are required for a complete application (apply here):
- Current 'unofficial' transcript
- Personal Statement (outlining why you want to take the program & why you think you would be a good fit, including relevant skills & experience you have from prior environmental roles)
- Two (2) references (academic and/or professional)
- Resume/CV (not required but also helpful)
How much does the M.BEMA program cost?
Fees for the M.BEMA program are updated yearly by Graduate Studies (click here) & are charged on a per course basis, i.e. depending on the number of courses students take in each term. There are 10 courses in the M.BEMA program, including 8 online courses and the Placement and Capstone courses.
How M.BEMA Program fees are calculated:
- Student fees include course fees (charged each term) and student fees (charged in Fall term)
- In 2025/26, per course fees are $1170 (Ontario students), $1437 (other Canadian students), OR $3114 (international students)
- Full-time student fees are $925.18 in 2025/26, including ancillary fees & TGSA levies ($361.18) and the Student Health Plan fee ($564, opt-out available)
- Part-time student fees are $702.50 in 2025/26, including ancillary fees & TGSA levies ($138.50) and the Student Health Plan fee ($564, opt-out available); part-time students pay student fees each Fall term
Cost of M.BEMA Program for full-time students in 2025/26 (per term & total cost):
- Ontario students will pay $5605 in the Fall term (4 courses + student/Health Plan fees), $4680 in the Winter term (4 courses), and $2340 in the Summer term (2 courses). Total cost is $12,625 (with Health Plan).
- Other Canadian students will pay $6673 in the Fall term (4 courses + student/Health Plan fees), $5748 in the Winter term (4 courses), and $2874 in the Summer term (2 courses). Total cost is $15,294 (with Health Plan).
- International students will pay $13,382 in the Fall term (4 courses + student/Health Plan fees), $12,457 in the Winter term (4 courses), and $6,228 in the Summer term (2 courses). Total cost is $32,067 (with Health Plan).
M.BEMA Program tuition in 2025/26 for part-time students on 2-year degree path:
- Ontario students will pay $3042.50 in Fall term (Year 1, 2 online course + $702.50 student/Health Plan fees), $2340 in Winter term (Year 1, 2 courses), $0 in Summer term (Year 1, no courses), approx $3100 in Fall term (Year 2, 2 online course + student/Health Plan fees), $2340 in Winter term (Year 2, 2 courses) and $2340 in Summer term (Year 2, 2 courses). Total cost would be approx. $13,163 (with Health Plan).
- Other Canadian students will pay $3576 in Fall term (Year 1, 2 online course + $702.50 student/Health Plan fees), $2874 in Winter term (Year 1, 2 courses), $0 in Summer term (Year 1, no courses), approx $3700 in Fall term (Year 2, 2 online course + student/Health Plan fees), approx. $2950 in Winter term (Year 2, 2 courses) and approx. $2950 in Summer term (Year 2, 2 courses). Total cost would be approx. $16,100 (with Health Plan). Note: 2026-27 tuition fees will be posted in July 2026.
- International students must enroll in full-time studies
How much does the G.Dip cost?
Fees for the G.Dip program are updated by Graduate Studies (click here), but since the fees are charged on a per course basis, the full program costs for all 6 courses in 2025/26 are:
- Ontario students (full-time) - $1,275 per course plus ancillary fees/levies ($246.38) & Health Plan ($564, opt-out available) charged in the Fall term. Fall term fees are thus $4635 & Winter term fees are $3825. The total cost is $8,460 for Ontario students.
- Other Canadian students (full-time) - $1,565.86 per course plus ancillary fees/levies ($246.38) & Health Plan ($564, opt-out available) charged in the Fall term. Fall term fees are thus $5508 & Winter term fees are $4698. The total cost is $10,206 for other Canadian students.
- international students (full-time only) - $3,535 per course, plus ancillary fees/levies ($246.38) charged in the Fall term. The total cost is $21,458. This is a fully online program, with no in-person option.
How much does the M.Sc. in BEMA cost?
Tuition and ancillary fees are charged in all 3 terms and are updated by Graduate Studies (click here). For the 2025/26 academic year, Ontario students will pay $3470 in the Fall term ($2697 tuition + $209 fees + $564 Student Health Plan), $2906 in the Winter term ($2697 tuition + $209 fees), and $2906 in the Summer term ($2697 tuition + $209 fees). Total tuition is $9,282 (with Health Plan, opt-out available).
Other Canadian students will pay $4085 in the Fall term ($3312 tuition + $209 fees + $564 Student Health Plan), $3521 in the Winter term ($3312 tuition + $209 fees), and $3521 in the Summer term ($3312 tuition + $209 fees). Total tuition is $11,128 (with Health Plan, opt-out available).
International students will pay $9443 in the Fall term ($7878 tuition + $209 fees + $792 UHIP + $564 Student Health Plan), $8087 in the Winter term ($7878 tuition + $209 fees), and $8087 in the Summer term ($7878 tuition + $209 fees). Total tuition is $25,616.
Do I have to pay a deposit upon acceptance of my offer?
For the course-based M.BEMA & G.Dip programs, a $500 deposit is required from domestic students to hold your place in the program for full- and part-time studies, and is due June 1st (unless otherwise stated in your offer letter). International students must pay a $2,500 deposit. The deposit must be paid in order to become a registered student for the August 1st course registration period. A deposit is not required for the MSc (thesis) program.
When is tuition due?
Tuition is due by September 28 (Fall term), January 28 (Winter term), and May 28 (Spring/Summer term) and will be placed on your student account.
How are the online courses structured, i.e. pre-recorded (asynchronous) or real-time (synchronous)?
The online courses allow for asynchronous learning, with pre-recorded mini-lectures organized into modules that are released for each course bi-weekly (every 2 weeks). This allows you to go at your own pace, as long as you contribute to discussion boards and complete assignments, as required for each course. There are opportunities to meet with instructors via Zoom for class 'check-ins' or problem-solving sessions.
How do I find a supervisor for the M.Sc. BEMA program?
You should apply to the M.Sc. program with a supervisor that is interested in taking you on, as this will expedite your application process. Please visit the Faculty page to view potential supervisors and then follow the links to their lab websites for more information on available M.Sc. positions. If there are no current positions listed, you should contact the professor most aligned with your research interests to see if they have openings available.
Is there financial support for the M.Sc. BEMA degree?
Financial support is provided to all full-time M.Sc. students admitted to the program. Financial support comes from diverse sources, such as internal scholarships, external scholarships, Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) or faculty research funds. Support levels are reviewed annually. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships (NSERC, OGS) on their own behalf during their last year of undergraduate or M.Sc. programs. Application deadlines for these and other external scholarships are typically in October or November. More information about financial support and scholarships is available from the Graduate Studies Office and through Trent University's Financial Aid office.
Can I complete the M.BEMA or G.Dip while working full-time?
We do not recommend working full-time while trying to complete the program full-time, as you can expect a full course load with 4 graduate level courses per term. Online courses are as demanding as face-to-face courses in terms of expected reading, online discussion participation and assignments (expect approx 10 hrs of work per course per week). If you plan to work, we would recommend applying for part-time studies, as 2 courses per term can be quite manageable for most students.
Are there exams for any of the courses?
There are no in-person exams, but there may be 'take-home' exams for some courses that are submitted online.
When do I need to be at the Trent University campus in Peterborough for the M.BEMA degree?
You will need to be on campus for one week for the face-to-face Capstone course in the 4th week of August.
Will there be accommodations & meals available on campus for the Capstone week?
There are accommodations in one of the residences on campus that is affordable at approx. $50/night (Aug 2023). Students staying in residence are responsible for finding dinner options off-campus, since cafeterias are closed at Trent in July/August, where the BEMA Program can provide some breakfast grocery items in the communal kitchen area. The BEMA Program provides light lunch fare (sandwiches & cookies) through Trent Catering Services as much as possible since cafeterias are not open during the Capstone week.
How much should I budget for the Capstone week?
You should budget for approx $600 for the week, aside from travel costs .
What kind of visa will I need for the M.BEMA degree as an international student?
You will need both a Study Permit and a Co-op Work Permit for the 4-month placement portion of the degree if it is completed in Canada. International students will have to present their Letter of Acceptance to the Immigration Officer at the border upon traveling to Canada, you should receive both a Study Permit as well as a Co-op Work Permit. The Immigration Officer should check your Letter of Acceptance; specifically, section 24 and section 28 where it details that an “internship / work practicum” is a part of your graduate program.
Will I be eligible for a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after finishing my M.BEMA or G.Dip programs as an international student?
International students are not eligible for a 'post-graduation work permit' (PGWP) if they take either the M.BEMA or G.Dip programs. Current Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) eligibility criteria for a PGWP (see Distance Learning tab), state that, "You must complete at least 50% of your program in class inside Canada" (PGWP information link). The 12-month M.BEMA program requires students to complete online courses (distance learning) for 8 months (>50%), while the 8-month G.Dip program is completely online (100%). There is no option to take in-person classes for the M.BEMA or G.Dip programs, as these programs were developed as online programs prior to the COVID 19 pandemic.
For more information or questions, please contact:
Jennifer Bull (Program/Placement Coordinator)
BEMA Program Office - Env Science Building (ESB), Room B313
Trent University (Peterborough Campus)
jenniferbull@trentu.ca or bema@trentu.ca
School of Graduate Studies - for admissions, tuition fees and registration questions