Undergraduate
Exploration Year: Arts
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- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
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- Peterborough & Durham GTA
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- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Humanities & Social Sciences (Arts)
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Campus Peterborough Durham GTA
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes RCX - Peterborough ROY – Durham
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Start with the freedom to explore your interests before choosing a major. This flexible first-year pathway allows you to sample courses across the Humanities and Social Sciences before selecting your B.A. degree of choice in your second year.
Through Trent’s Exploration Year in the Arts, you will spend your first year taking various courses across the Humanities and Social Sciences such as English, History and Philosophy, Media Studies, Business, Anthropology and Global Development Studies. You can also explore courses across the Sciences too. Discover new subjects, build on your strengths, and earn credits toward your degree while taking the time to find the academic path that’s right for you.
- Discover where your interests lead by exploring different subjects and areas of study in first year.
- Get guidance along the way from academic advisors who can help you explore B.A. options and plan your degree pathway.
- Stay on track by choosing first-year courses that count toward your degree and keep you on a four-year graduation timeline, before committing to a major.
Program Possibilites
Add an Option to your Exploration Year: Arts degree to explore an additional area of interest
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Digital Humanities
Electronic media has become an integral part of how we view and explore the world. Through this new option you will bring a human-centred perspective to the innovations that continue to transform our shared digital landscape.
Working alongside Trent’s world-renowned faculty, including Canada Research Chairs, you will gain a deeper understanding of how digital tools are applied to solve research problems, and how research within the humanities impacts developments in the digital world.
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Creative Writing
The ability to think creatively, write effectively, and craft interesting stories are extremely valuable skills for any degree major to possess. Through workshops and writing assignments, this fun and practical option helps you develop new writing techniques, create invaluable writing communities, and build a growing portfolio of work in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and script writing.
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Leadership
What does it mean to be a leader? How does one learn to lead? In this option you will learn all about the importance of building relationships and directing people to work together to achieve common goals and objectives. With opportunities to learn from Trent University’s Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, and take courses from across disciplines, you will develop comprehensive perspectives on leadership and earn a formal designation that signals your leadership capacity to future employers.
Career experience while you learn
Every Exploration Year: Arts student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Research Opportunities
- Benefit from opportunities to conduct hands-on research alongside leading experts starting as early as your first year.
- Build your skills in a variety of Trent’s world-class facilities and student spaces.
- Interact with renowned professors and expert faculty across the humanities and social sciences.
Study Abroad
- Take your Trent education global. Spend a semester or year studying at one of Trent’s 50+ international partner universities, participate in a summer field course, or gain international experience through a placement or internship.
- With opportunities in more than 35 countries, you can broaden your academic perspective, experience new cultures, and build skills that prepare you for a global career.
Placements
- Put your learning into practice through hands-on placement experiences in real-world settings, connecting what you learn in the classroom with opportunities to make connections and gain new skills in your field of study.
Internships
- Gain professional workplace experience by working within a business or organization on a paid internship, building career-ready skills, making industry connections, and exploring potential career paths.
Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Policy Analyst
- Communications Specialist
- Journalist
- Marketing Manager
In Their Own Words
The Exploration Year gave me the freedom to start in the Arts, where I took a mix of courses in business, history, cultural studies, and psychology. During my first year, I met with my academic advisor and decided Business Administration was the right fit for me.
Megan Patterson ‘10
Admissions
Whether you're graduating from an Ontario high school, looking to study in Canada, or training for a second career, Trent has clear pathways for students to apply and be admitted to study at either of our campuses.
Requirements
If you are coming straight from high school in Ontario or are a recent grad, the general admission requirements are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program-specific prerequisites
- ENG4U with a minimum of 60%
| Admission Requirements | Recommended Admission Requirements | Estimated Admission Average | Co-op Admission Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG4U | 70-75% |
Requirements
Students from across Canada can use their grades from their home province to apply to Trent.
Requirements
International students from outside Canada can apply based on the curriculum of their home country.
Requirements
Mature students can apply to Trent based on previous education and professional or volunteer experience.
Requirements
With many transfer agreements and flexible pathway options, Trent University makes it easy for students to make the most of the credits you have already earned.
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition
Base Tuition Fee
$6,240.85
Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees (non-tuition costs supporting student services, such as athletics, campus safety, college fees, etc.)
$2,122.22
Total:
$ 8,363.07
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Scholarships
If you’re a top scholar with an average of 80% or higher, you qualify to automatically receive an entrance scholarship to Trent. Scholars with 95% or higher? You earn free first-year tuition – no application required.
| Entrance Average | Maximum Scholarship Potential | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 95%+ | $18,241 | $6,241 first year Full Tuition + $4,000 x 3 years |
| 90-94.9% | $12,000 | $3,000 x 4 years |
| 85-89.9% | $8,000 | $2,000 x 4 years |
| 80-84.9% | $6,000 | $1,500 x 4 years |
* Available to Domestic students only. Based on 2026/27 tuition for a general arts and science program
Explore additional funding for domestic and international students