Undergraduate
Water Sciences
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- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
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- Peterborough
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- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Environment & Sustainability
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Campus Peterborough
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes RWA - Peterborough
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Study alongside internationally recognized water scientists at Trent’s riverside Peterborough campus utilizing the Trent-Severn Waterway as your living lab while gaining hands-on experience in leading facilities including Trent's Water Quality Centre, the most comprehensive mass spectrometry facility in Canada.
Explore the science of freshwater and build the knowledge and skills to address water quality challenges in Canada and around the world. Drawing on biology, chemistry, geography and environmental science, this degree combines scientific theory with practical learning in the renowned Trent School of the Environment.
- Learn in a living laboratory featuring wetlands and the Otonabee River, all on Trent’s 1,400-acre campus, with 100 lakes and rivers nearby, offering unprecedented access to diverse aquatic ecosystems.
- Gain hands-on research experience in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Trent Water Quality Centre, alongside internationally recognized water scientists.
- Tackle real-world water challenges through a community-based capstone research project with conservation authorities, environmental nonprofits and other community organizations.
Accelerated Masters
Fast-track your education, by earning your M.Sc. in Environmental & Life Sciences in only 12-20 months of graduating from your Honours B.Sc.
Program Possibilites
Add an Option to your Water Sciences degree to explore an additional area of interest
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Circumpolar Studies
One of only a few programs of its kind in the world, the Circumpolar Studies option offers you a unique opportunity to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the lands, peoples, and critical issues of the Arctic. The Circumpolar Studies Option is open to all undergraduate students at Trent.
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Climate Communication
Leveraging Trent’s academic and research strengths in arts-based and environmental education, the Option in Climate Communication blends courses across disciplines to teach you a new storytelling approach that examines how to better understand media's effect on audiences’ morals, values, and behaviours. Equipped with this knowledge, this new offering at Trent University aims to use more effective climate change communications and environmental storytelling to foster a more sustainable and equitable world where our collective well-being is at the heart.
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Indigenous Reconciliation & Resurgence
Over the last few decades, the resurgence of Indigenous peoples has largely animated the Canadian national project of reconciliation. In this option, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively contribute to this nationwide conversation.
Career experience while you learn
Every Water Sciences student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Paid Co-op Available
- Put your skills and knowledge to work in a paid co-op stream, launching fall 2027. You’ll graduate with a distinct career advantage – building valuable connections and gaining hands-on experience all as part of your Trent degree.
Research Opportunities
- Pursue your interests through an honours thesis or senior research project in hydrology, biology, limnology and emerging environmental issues, supported by researchers across Biology, Chemistry and the Trent School of the Environment.
- Apply your expertise to local water challenges through the Trent Community Research Centre and U-Links, contributing to projects such as assessing aquatic organisms as indicators of water quality in Kawartha-area lakes.
Field Schools and Hands-On Courses
- Develop advanced research and field skills in the Trent Water Quality Centre, Canada’s most comprehensive mass spectrometry facility, and outdoor living labs including campus wetlands and the Otonabee River, studying contaminants, river systems, groundwater and water chemistry.
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
- Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant
- Fisheries Manager
- Drinking Water Policy Specialist
- Regional Land and Water Resources Manager
- Water Quality Analyst
In Their Own Words
I had a lot of opportunities at Trent from course work to lab work to field work, spanning geography, chemistry, biology, environmental science. It is a very multidisciplinary experience.
Freddy Liu
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 | 4U Math | 70-75% | 80-85% |
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